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.dbcbec57b55f36c7

Doah rolled down the backseat 7165fea49c window halfway. She was quietly b5ca72048c watching Nam Sion, 92340badcf who was standing 7459c698d4 at the centre 5567cb069e of the entrance 246380b52b to the event ec041577ba venue crowded with 51d54ef3dd onlookers.e637d86e728611a5

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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?”959fc499057d60a6

Nam Si-on, with a charming 3e037c7bcf smile on his lips, responded 7b5c6ae2af with a good-natured retort.3c26ea7737ad31a3

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“Take a guess.”d35933d0461a28f8

“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?”7519884f238ff457

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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.”b38e9c13dc04c964

Small laughs erupted here and 8738f6d5b2 there. Nam Si-on moved through the 6aa098543d crowd with an unfazed expression. Even amidst this, reporters 0c5332ffea thrust their microphones forward, 851a56d50e hoping to get even cf6f87a355 a single word from 31ae061fdd him.7b72b92e62927c67

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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?”a43ce57e41c863b8

In an instant, Nam Si-on 0324db800d came to a sudden stop. It seemed as if a 56ae5e6c09 slight wrinkle formed on his 44374585de forehead, but it was just a7b616e15b for a moment. Soon, he wore a mischievous f5d2baa9f4 smile.6c4270b6960991f4

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“Isn’t it something that no one will know until we enter the asile?”00464b8f5ad1dda6

“Are you saying that you’re also considering the possibility of breaking off the engagement?”671e3665fbb12fdc

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Nam Sion closely 0238713a16 scrutinised the face 4d3505b641 of the reporter 686e8b46ea who had just 2383264e8c asked the question. The smile still e91ba3cee1 lingered at the f0d611a21e corners of his 49b77f86b6 mouth, but his 20d836a1ae eyes were cold.47ba20e873fd86a1

“Your name?”c071abb6cd523856

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When he slightly leaned 0ff1b47c95 forward and asked in 6648398e88 a low voice, the 13ffa47d32 reporter, who had hesitated, c7381e7a97 visibly stiffened.2bdc408d1a5ae6d3

“…This is No Seung-chan, a reporter from the Economic Industry Department of Kyungshin Ilbo.”8d442141f6d63c76

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“The quality of your questions is exceptional, so I thought you were from the entertainment department. Your name is beautiful.”94dfa6326753b103

With a vague 9f665311b0 expression, Nam Si-on c9a3ae039a stared at the 3528a4e857 reporter for a 4261a63f85 long time before 7c894d4e71 calmly disappearing into 4565986a54 the building.35e5690b2025104b

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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.15edac5d35737425

“Executive Director, should we wait until the reporters disperse?”109b44211914f3f5

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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.8c0529b22d951c55

“Drop me off at the underground parking lot. I can’t stand people who make a fuss like that.”d626e2f4d604653b

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Yoon drove around 8d49a7eb87 the building and db2158b26f headed to the f6f3507ebe underground parking lot. As Doah had expected, it 29ef21361c was quiet there. It was hard to understand 376ee67cc7 why Nam Sion chose to d25de3384e go through the crowd of 15c8c0cfb2 reporters to face a barrage b858cb5610 of questions instead of taking 4f8dc52102 the easier route.849073d60919164d

“Such a show-off.”3d682dbeed4c1702

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Doha quietly muttered to herself.d0ed024c112bfbbf

 9e1f65ee1238fed5

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🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁9d1bcdd3fa529c8e

 e99b2c4d4b3f0093

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 47fc596e9a8bfeed

As always, the ef16511d4d event was just 833660a060 boring. This space, filled b7ca10ab11 with overly flashy 7dbb6e1105 lights and forced f697095d0a laughter, was suffocating e0b60c72fb every time. It was more 8c83bac6f3 comfortable to sit 57825c2d98 in a meeting 2014046206 room, pulling out e722508974 cards one by 42a6109c68 one and negotiating 4471d62344 deals.9ad908a1647614e7

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When exchanging formal 0c01eda806 greetings with acquaintances, cbd18feb4c sitting down to a052bfc974 eat at designated 3799f06d0e seats, the host dbe129d628 would come forward, 06452208dc give a brief bdef2f612f greeting, and then ccdb14f776 the performance would c245844514 follow. It was always afbd3636a5 the same repertoire.08bc0e34fac68aef

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.6e2acf5dfcd3f90b

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“Even so, he’s going to be your husband soon. Doesn’t it make sense to at least greet him?”cc64db4cfbbc2ede

The person sitting next 6245cf9c9e to me whispered. Without changing her expression, a307f010b3 Doah put the morning 22eaad6d81 glory in her mouth. I had heard that famous a88c987726 chefs were donating their talents, e3601b8607 and indeed, it was quite 390ec7f429 delicious. After chewing the food thoroughly, f95391545d she responded.8a8e76cc6d798c0c

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“It’s a face I’ll get sick of seeing in the future, but here too? Seriously?”f5d4f48dbbcca8ed

“Look at that face. Is that a face you’d get tired of seeing even after a lifetime?”e9e958daf2153748

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Following Wookyung’s gaze, Doah rolled her eyes and glanced at Nam Sion.b0d99aa7ed8dd8cf

The three-piece suit that 2f2914947a clung to his well-toned 8f18a1faf2 body suited him perfectly. His face, pale to the 204f78af3e point of being almost ghostly, 22344238ff with sharp jawline and distinct 0f09d3224c features, was flawless. Whether it was because he 8ef0964b48 was a head taller than 13ea25d257 others, he exuded an air 050cde2c3f of arrogance yet maintained an d2f3ecf235 elegant dignity.de4ac80fddcd2161

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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.ea28de299902f0b0

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.798c4f1068291024

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“What’s so important about looks?”5edf0700790edfe0

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.e037df13fbd24514

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Last autumn, Wookyung, 32c6a2c53e who married the 74714bede2 eldest son of f287607d11 Hansoo Group, let 9351dbf1cb out a heavy 705474a600 sigh.a5a374f2a67b0621

“It’s important. You’ll understand as you live. You can’t thank your parents enough.”ffb75cb40f6c6486

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“…That could be the case.”bef6198d239a007f

Do-ah, who had conjured 77bc120f3e up the eldest son 8d37c07d4f of the Hansoo Group 1252fb9033 in her mind, no 32554c2b48 longer objected.f8f31a568a229755

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“We will now begin the auction. Please take your designated seats, esteemed guests.”d554d63603cb6fcd

As everyone sat down and 1e94905f21 focused on the front, the 51830af3c6 host gave an opening speech dda1b73a5a and then explained the auction e704fbe380 methods and rules.a0460148b95e4dd7

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“Auction item number 1, let me introduce it to you.”e2583081f434d1cc

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.cf4719a730bb26d8

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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.b6cb918a69236ae3

However, there was nothing particularly interesting to catch Doah’s attention until the fifth item was auctioned off.2ae1255617e0c669

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“Lastly, I will introduce auction item number 6.”339135c6430017d5

The spotlight crossed the stage. Two staff members 5e4dc647b7 carefully placed the f9c920f63d final item onto 277192ee62 the podium. The object hidden 84476a4928 under the white dca30d8e99 cloth slowly revealed 3fb9b7efae itself.32f911935d51d1b8

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It was a 7d34bc26a4 simple rectangular canvas. In the tranquil 66e0f09797 landscape, lines and 52b1e9d581 colours rising like 92e5356c0a flames created a 0f19874dd9 mysterious harmony. The contrast between 52759c912c the dark indigo 993ef3ae7d and the intense 124ac30e98 red captured the ee8fffe884 eye.64afa66dd710444b

“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.”c4f47566b89cbb51

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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.ca4e8a81f9db5fa6

A painting that captures a008f51409 dynamism with bold brush 0c4a71ea5f strokes against the subtle 3662febe21 night sky. It was just 95e9ad58c5 a painting, but b9bf355043 it felt like 0da571fa64 it had explosive 1a7bd20dfd energy, as if 38a8b52038 it were alive.83d56b5f9d456007

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As I watched, 4733fa4d69 the painting made 6bd859e7fa my stomach feel 07c14f58a3 strangely hot, as 2f2a2aa726 if a fire 9aa8274162 had been lit 7905587b28 at the base 467b438232 of my sternum. Excitement, stimulation, desire. Emotions I rarely felt 84439eec24 were swirling inside me.b0494364e569bf55

“I will start with one million won.”c9fefdeedc8ee254

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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.ee5910c591882ac9

“Two million won!”d9f6487e1ff4b430

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“Two hundred fifty!”3a83fadc7a8b80ec

“Three hundred!”29e9c47dbef5affa

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Doha, who had 0db27fb7b1 been quietly observing, c5654295b1 raised her hand.976a1f483c62271e

“Five Hundred.”b8d76aee243af89e

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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.91bf51f2bfb41a53

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.bb496b00720caf04

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“Here, five million won has come out. If there’s nothing more…”539f4e45a743e795

“Ten million won.”43892fa67473e734

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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.5d711fa9af525311

Why is that suddenly….64096f642348e42b

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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.1c5cb7cbed2d6340

“One thousand two hundred.”093d80241d07b829

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As she raised her 5c72f93257 hand while making eye c216ea9033 contact with him, Nam fccd51eb39 Si-on also immediately raised dd61d65968 his eyebrows and increased f3e4ca1ddb the price.afe387b6a128bd99

“Fifteen million won.”d5c58d672a11808e

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“Two thousand!”ddcef171ccc2939e

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.487b6daaff4a9246

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After a brief silence, Nam 46fc4e36b0 Si-on burst into laughter and 38b8e4ba56 lowered his hand. It meant he had given b73d93a54e up on the bid. However, his shoulders, wrapped in 8aaddbf1f4 a luxurious suit, were still 55d1d7b7b3 shaking.218504ab854c75b2

Why are you smirking…?303b2ca7de3bb29f

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Since there was nothing funny 03af75f9bf about it, the audience looked 44259fc37e at Nam Si-on with puzzled 4a375e5651 eyes. Why is he e98f940b62 acting like that? The murmuring noise swelled like 334f948e13 a snowball.e4aa354c9ff935d2

“Twenty million won, sold! Please give a round of applause.”ffa6b3f57c9d5377

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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.e03eb1f0a4ac9b1c