Win | Chapter 1

The man drew attention wherever he went. It wasn’t because of any peculiar behaviour or outrageous remarks. His natural status as the second son of the Namwon Group, the pitiable yet free-spirited atmosphere it gave off, his tall and handsome appearance akin to that of a movie star, and his relaxed demeanour in dealing with others attracted people like a magnet.4b2be15a74c398d8

Doah rolled down 428062c6c7 the backseat window 166cb0c46a halfway. She was quietly e8f082493f watching Nam Sion, 88c4c588cf who was standing 4153134182 at the centre d35f90b03f of the entrance 4aeb79cba3 to the event 937262a0be venue crowded with 11a07e991c onlookers.eca0e3c8e0d6133f

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“This is Reporter Kim Kyung-hee from Seonhai Daily. I heard that Mr. Nam Si-on also donated a cherished item to today’s charity auction. What kind of item is it?”19eb51dd3eee1238

Nam Si-on, with a charming ab81fb1d66 smile on his lips, responded 00d97c91e8 with a good-natured retort.ff5b2fb1947b1297

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“Take a guess.”74c5391c486295e3

“This is Kim Seok-hyun from Yuhan Daily. I understand that Madam Namwon Group is also included in the Dalsem Association, the organiser of the charity event. Have you heard anything from her directly?”e22e1f28ef4e9deb

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“My mother’s words are always the same every day. Be careful with the car, don’t skip meals, don’t say unnecessary things. But I’m doing it right now.”b45dd93e6e019896

Small laughs erupted here and fdc8aab7ff there. Nam Si-on moved through the bc77e583fe crowd with an unfazed expression. Even amidst this, reporters thrust 88208aa69d their microphones forward, hoping to 29205a349b get even a single word 0208a75df4 from him.06e8572cc928f08c

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“I heard you were preparing to marry Ms. Han Do-ah, the esteemed daughter of the HX Group. Why didn’t you come together? Wasn’t Ms. Han also supposed to participate in today’s event?”ae1ea3c1bdf85932

In an instant, Nam 4d2b8f8c1f Si-on came to a 8d519ad3a2 sudden stop. It seemed as if a e02020fd45 slight wrinkle formed on his 82427d03be forehead, but it was just e301a1812f for a moment. Soon, he wore a mischievous 49a34b3f26 smile.d8b480ad01546212

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“Isn’t it something that no one will know until we enter the asile?”cf9bce4ee4e43053

“Are you saying that you’re also considering the possibility of breaking off the engagement?”ec9454accb396479

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Nam Sion closely 80aa0db5e3 scrutinised the face 41751f0260 of the reporter ca292a9580 who had just a94b5e3bd9 asked the question. The smile still lingered 502feca49e at the corners of 98eadbdb5e his mouth, but his 427a43c586 eyes were cold.33cc913f56acca66

“Your name?”08cfc506822bb960

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When he slightly leaned forward b2c3370b72 and asked in a low f09a81ee4e voice, the reporter, who had 404603fcfd hesitated, visibly stiffened.a81042333f25c1f4

“…This is No Seung-chan, a reporter from the Economic Industry Department of Kyungshin Ilbo.”41cc375b2aa1d42f

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“The quality of your questions is exceptional, so I thought you were from the entertainment department. Your name is beautiful.”d74dba49a8ca2d7a

With a vague 90b6c28930 expression, Nam Si-on b835efcc9f stared at the d55fcd84ff reporter for a 4edff6d05c long time before 953c2e2d3a calmly disappearing into 4a92f0aa9a the building.3abbbc465ba05db8

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Only then did Doah roll up the car window completely. Although she couldn’t hear the questions and answers exchanged between the press and Nam Si-on from a distance, it was something that could be confirmed through articles. After all, Nam Si-on was so newsworthy that every word he said was reported.11774f5fe4a397e1

“Executive Director, should we wait until the reporters disperse?”8e0170e823124c3d

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The driver, Yoon, who was sitting in the driver’s seat, observed Do-ah’s expression in the rearview mirror and asked.cb371fda79df65f8

“Drop me off at the underground parking lot. I can’t stand people who make a fuss like that.”f975a38b848420b5

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Yoon drove around the 184e248b07 building and headed to d963a7981e the underground parking lot. As Doah had expected, 9a775410de it was quiet there. It was hard to 36f5be8786 understand why Nam Sion 6ecb94a74f chose to go through 8329f2f9eb the crowd of reporters 7ee733213c to face a barrage 25561ce941 of questions instead of eede217a3a taking the easier route.95e2ea1d99054561

“Such a show-off.”f45b68b9b53efdc8

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Doha quietly muttered to herself.31a110b512f23e10

 7fb0acd784b079e4

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🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁2d5d30cec87f1f7e

 20e1feff1c92d6e7

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 3b7e7e271b9a124a

As always, the event was 00ef3e4841 just boring. This space, filled 1f363a4e0d with overly flashy 903b77ff1c lights and forced c429c1102b laughter, was suffocating cb3adbeed6 every time. It was more comfortable f80f4973b8 to sit in a 00f32c3f19 meeting room, pulling out 033615e9ae cards one by one e30a29462c and negotiating deals.20a328bbb144e93a

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When exchanging formal greetings with 7d119e2f61 acquaintances, sitting down to eat b6bd6cc7b9 at designated seats, the host b5d33d1958 would come forward, give a 91331ecd17 brief greeting, and then the 1776d5b949 performance would follow. It was always the same 9431fd6949 repertoire.f15f3db57064d93a

Nam Sion was walking around the venue as if it were his own home, greeting people without even sitting down. Wherever he went, it became noisy, drawing people’s attention repeatedly.540a0ba302f402b2

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“Even so, he’s going to be your husband soon. Doesn’t it make sense to at least greet him?”3f41c19f87f34221

The person sitting next f2079964fb to me whispered. Without changing her 10c6bcd89c expression, Doah put ba8621d393 the morning glory be5c5f9a98 in her mouth. I had heard 309539c35d that famous chefs 5618f7855e were donating their a565b6dfdd talents, and indeed, 5083063de5 it was quite 58c52603d9 delicious. After chewing the food 8ae655df89 thoroughly, she responded.6c94afa3dfb8f894

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“It’s a face I’ll get sick of seeing in the future, but here too? Seriously?”8d1167a4702ceea6

“Look at that face. Is that a face you’d get tired of seeing even after a lifetime?”6c2bb0ffa53574f8

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Following Wookyung’s gaze, Doah rolled her eyes and glanced at Nam Sion.04d673915f10eed6

The three-piece suit that clung 5d8ac38fd4 to his well-toned body suited 66ac4614bb him perfectly. His face, pale e5ffaf64cf to the point cb15dfd4ff of being almost 1a2f07454b ghostly, with sharp 54b3eaeba6 jawline and distinct df0c87999d features, was flawless. Whether it was because f4d030aa7a he was a head 4bcf5a8714 taller than others, he d59a23cb6a exuded an air of 225207cb86 arrogance yet maintained an cbb01e4cd3 elegant dignity.c9c2aea2db100295

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That said, it was striking that he didn’t give off an entirely neat and proper impression. Every time he lifted the corners of his mouth, a hint of a carefree attitude peeked through. I thought that if he were dressed in a cheap suit, he might look like a swindler ready to pull off a con.d589731f2dae5b46

It was a brief moment, but Doah quickly averted her gaze from Nam Sion after scrutinising him closely. She didn’t want to meet his eyes while secretly observing him. She couldn’t leave the impression of being disappointed.574844de8fa9b4b4

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“What’s so important about looks?”aebee90733e6d98f

I never wished for a spouse with excellent looks. It was enough if they didn’t embarrass me when we went out together. As long as they didn’t have a big belly, were at least 10 centimetres taller than me, and their face wasn’t something that looked like it had been smashed with a fist, I could gladly accept them.4e49974f12507e31

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Last autumn, Wookyung, 9a45d2be16 who married the 5f3238b639 eldest son of 0eb993b4fb Hansoo Group, let 41623d9849 out a heavy fccb4248d0 sigh.77b4aaab1b34298b

“It’s important. You’ll understand as you live. You can’t thank your parents enough.”4b82d009760813af

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“…That could be the case.”8869d907e0f1a9cc

Do-ah, who had conjured up fdcb7d934b the eldest son of the ef3c444c8b Hansoo Group in her mind, 05ff68f42d no longer objected.ac1b86cf130c8ec6

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“We will now begin the auction. Please take your designated seats, esteemed guests.”88e61c02d00baaf2

As everyone sat down and 42d4369c43 focused on the front, the 9581278caf host gave an opening speech 0f1cbd90e6 and then explained the auction a6299c4fe4 methods and rules.7d074f5fe9afcbd2

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“Auction item number 1, let me introduce it to you.”b58515938bf84e0d

An object covered with a white cloth was brought up to the platform. The host, after building up the audience’s anticipation, unveiled the cloth. It was a pure white, elegant porcelain piece boasting perfect symmetry. A faint gasp of awe spread among the breathless crowd.8293a14a01b4b203

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Since the organisation hosting the charity event is the Dalsem Association, a gathering of the wives of conglomerate families, valuable and rare items were put up for auction. Old cars and fountain pens with historical narratives that couldn’t be brought up to the podium were introduced through a screen.aa0459a8016c2889

However, there was nothing particularly interesting to catch Doah’s attention until the fifth item was auctioned off.b11685c60f9a3d60

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“Lastly, I will introduce auction item number 6.”3b6542d6c5975967

The spotlight crossed the stage. Two staff members 8481120884 carefully placed the 04203e3a58 final item onto 76416fb069 the podium. The object hidden under 68eb6370f5 the white cloth slowly 58f01c4554 revealed itself.82ac5fdbbd4d8d2e

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It was a 32547bcdb5 simple rectangular canvas. In the tranquil b2bf381ef0 landscape, lines and 9c595e658d colours rising like 7f05fda35d flames created a 1fa25d9f44 mysterious harmony. The contrast between the c363b516e1 dark indigo and the b2dc440cce intense red captured the 0513e8a83a eye.979aa895a9d744a2

“At the beginning of the 20th century, this is the only unpublished work and final piece left by the master of the Korean art scene, Jang Eun-wook.”5b9048518cbc74ce

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Doa, who had been bored throughout the event, couldn’t take her eyes off the canvas. It was a moment when her heart fluttered for the first time in a while.29f0a7c13cc66425

A painting that captures dynamism 21459ed3de with bold brush strokes against 811688db09 the subtle night sky. It was just a painting, 3317be1675 but it felt like it a88b1837ef had explosive energy, as if 60ed0ab992 it were alive.392a6d6f26ddc240

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As I watched, the painting ad655c091b made my stomach feel strangely 2b9dd758c7 hot, as if a fire 0d4e2bd8f5 had been lit at the c5325e15da base of my sternum. Excitement, stimulation, desire. Emotions I rarely felt 9d1a4c31dc were swirling inside me.7ed46b3b00c4963c

“I will start with one million won.”4b8a88032dd84f56

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The audience’s reaction was not much different from Doah’s, as everyone raised their hands and shouted out their bids.eea2155f5dfdfa8d

“Two million won!”17e9889255b0cdf7

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“Two hundred fifty!”93d7f313da7956ea

“Three hundred!”ee479c986a7a00a9

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Doha, who had 97459ca6ea been quietly observing, dac4f83d53 raised her hand.ea8089a2314bc9e9

“Five Hundred.”7cf0d1c2a316d213

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People’s attention turned to Doah. She didn’t want to be noticed like this, but there was no other way to get what she wanted.5bb64ee77b01b039

A silence fell over the sudden spike in the bid. For the people gathered here, a few hundred thousand won was nothing, but it seemed they weren’t inclined to donate that much to a charity event.4f5edb08abdada17

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“Here, five million won has come out. If there’s nothing more…”c34a00607ba182a0

“Ten million won.”eb357a301cea728f

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Confident that the painting would be hers, Doah’s hand, which was holding the glass of water, paused. Following the gathered gazes, she saw Nam Sion at the end, raising his hand.b7ad6038595856cc

Why is that suddenly….4ebdf5244fde061c

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The moment Doah slightly frowned, their eyes met. The relaxed smile hanging at Nam Sion’s lips came into view and stuck.914e811a37b4a24e

“One thousand two hundred.”ff3d53f0c6af774d

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As she raised 5a8c923cda her hand while d9c3ecf785 making eye contact c756933f19 with him, Nam 4ac221841e Si-on also immediately 4d03184d11 raised his eyebrows 7a8f9c3751 and increased the 71acd58664 price.59007cdbfc9d9fa3

“Fifteen million won.”c03d8414cf4a2d22

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“Two thousand!”072784eb36c25778

Do-ah clenched her teeth and shouted to seal the deal. If it was a posthumous work by Master Jang Eun-wook, it was worth this much. However, since it was a charity auction, it wouldn’t be wrong to say it was somewhat overheated.a5c485048574800d

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After a brief e790498d28 silence, Nam Si-on fc99011bc3 burst into laughter 34517a900d and lowered his 86f2ae6065 hand. It meant he 3f6ff85f34 had given up 9e4f7ccb33 on the bid. However, his shoulders, wrapped in f157a0d97e a luxurious suit, were still dfdfcffc4e shaking.70383fc0c4bdeb48

Why are you smirking…?3b40e67909f323c8

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Since there was nothing a342fc308d funny about it, the abffa59d64 audience looked at Nam 8824438f01 Si-on with puzzled eyes. Why is he acting 11cd7eb488 like that? The murmuring noise swelled like 7f4d9b63cd a snowball.669d1822bd7e7b9b

“Twenty million won, sold! Please give a round of applause.”5e27f841a5bb8f27

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At the sound of the auctioneer striking the gavel, Doah’s mind snapped back to attention. Although the painting she wanted was now hers, she couldn’t shake the feeling of having been caught up in something.265fd2743e5a0019