Chapter 25: Will you date me?

Before the overseas branch managers arrived, he was doing a final inspection of the overall condition of the Yeryeo Hotel.

To the Executive Director of Yeryeo Trading Company, it was an unnecessary hassle—but as Jung Hwayoon’s older brother, it was a plausible excuse.

“I’m… General Manager Ha Jinyoung.”

“…Good day.”

He hadn’t informed anyone of his visit, not particularly keen on being scolded by Jung Hwayoon

If she found out he was still keeping an eye on things, it would only provoke needless resistance.

He had just planned to check whether preparations for the overseas managers’ reception were in order, then quietly leave.

There was nothing else scheduled, but since there was a chance Jung Hwayoon might hear about his visit, he didn’t plan to stay at the hotel for long.

Didn’t plan to… but…

Step, step.

Step, step.

‘…Security team?’

A group of hotel security staff were rushing toward the elevator hall, catching Jeong Doyoon’s attention.

A bad feeling crept over him.

Something seemed to have happened.

Before he could guess what, his body moved on its own.

He slipped into the elevator just before the doors closed. Inside, the security team leader, Kang, looked surprised.

“Executive Director Jeong…?”

A voice filled with confusion.

But Jeong Doyoon spoke first—there was no time for them to ask why he was at the hotel.

“What’s going on?”

“Well… there’s been a minor disturbance on the VIP floor, we’re heading to check it out. We don’t know the full situation yet…”

Which meant he would have to see it with his own eyes to know for sure.

A bad feeling grew stronger, stiffening his expression.

Finally—ding—the elevator arrived at the top floor, and the doors opened.

Standing right at the front, Jeong Doyoon stepped out first.

And at almost the exact same moment—

“Ah… Ugh…”

“Fu—ck…!”

He witnessed a scene that shattered all of his expectations.

Two young men were groaning on the floor, and another man lay pinned under the knee of a woman he recognized.

Yes—that woman.

At the center of all the chaos stood Yoo Seoa, and her presence alone left Jeong Doyoon visibly stunned.

“Seoa…? What happened here…”

Yoo Seoa’s pupils momentarily shook—clearly not expecting to see Jeong Doyoon.

Even her characteristically graceful expression briefly stiffened.
But she slowly stood, wearing an unaffected expression.

She gave a polite nod and spoke first.

“What brings you here, Executive Director?”

Her voice was calm—unbelievably so for someone who had just been in a violent scuffle.

Just as he was about to respond, the man who had been pinned shouted and swung his hand toward Yoo Seoa’s cheek.

Smack.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

Without thinking, Jeong Doyoon blocked it.

He caught the man’s wrist in one swift move, and Yoo Seoa’s eyes widened again.

Her knee, which had been poised to strike the man’s solar plexus, lowered slightly and quietly.

“You bastard… Who the f—”

Thud-thud-thud.

Before the man could finish, the security team rushed in and restrained him.

Jeong Doyoon’s expression grew even colder. He turned to Yoo Seoa.

“What on earth happened here?”

“Hmm… The VIPs got drunk and caused a disturbance in the hotel. There was a bit of a clash while trying to stop them.”

It was a brief, overly simple explanation.

Not much was made clear.

He was about to press her for more when he noticed a faint redness on her forehead, peeking through her fine hair.

At the same time, loud protests echoed from down the hall.

Jeong Doyoon made a decision.

“Team Leader Kang. Escort those men back to their rooms immediately. Then investigate and report back.”

“Y-yes, sir.”

“Ms. Yoo Seoa, come with me. I need to hear more details.”

“Yes.”

Even then, it didn’t look like she had any serious injuries, which was a small relief.

Still, Jeong Doyoon brought her to the hotel infirmary—too many things were weighing on his mind.

Once there, while the medical staff cleaned and treated Yoo Seoa’s minor bruises, his gaze darkened further.

“Ms. Seoa.”

“Yes?”

“Please explain. Why were you wrestling on the floor with those men?”

‘I wasn’t the one wrestling… it was them.’

Yoo Seoa fell silent for a moment, then calmly began a more detailed explanation in her usual composed tone.

She’d been inspecting the hotel’s facilities.

Ran into “Sunrise” by coincidence.

“They tried to drag me into their room without consent. I felt threatened and called security—”

“While waiting for them, I thought it necessary to take appropriate action.”

“Considering they’d been drunk since lunch, wandering the hotel…”

“I was worried it might reflect poorly on Executive Director Jung Hwayoon, so I acted in advance.”

Unwavering voice.
Professional tone.

Even when the general manager, who had rushed over upon hearing the incident, bowed deeply to Jeong Doyoon, Yoo Seoa remained calm and unshaken.

She didn’t look like someone who had just escaped a traumatic experience.

Was that why…?

Or maybe it was because her repeated mention of protecting Hwayoon kept ringing in his ears…

“I apologize, sir. We failed in our supervision—”

“…The overseas branch managers are arriving tomorrow. We cannot afford even the slightest disturbance.”

“Then…”

“Evict those men immediately. Put them on the blacklist today. I’ll speak to Hwayoon myself.”

With a face that had grown noticeably colder, he ordered the immediate removal of everyone from Sunrise.

He gave the general manager, whose face had turned pale, no room for objection.

In the end, the general manager couldn’t even muster the courage to respond to Jung Do-yoon’s firm tone.

And so, the general manager bowed once again to Jung Do-yoon and left.

Just as the heavy atmosphere began to settle in the infirmary, Jung Do-yoon, who had been troubled by the thought that he had acted for Jung Hwa-yoon’s sake, was the first to speak.

“Someone getting put in danger because of us… Hwa-yoon and I hate that the most.”

Still firm.

But tinged, however faintly, with bitterness.

Perhaps even with a trace of belated regret toward the person from his memories.

A complicated voice like that—

“This matter… keep it a secret from Hwa-yoon.”

—reached Yoo Seo-ah’s ears.

“As for the expulsion order, we’ll have to let her know. But anything involving you, Ms. Seo-ah, should be kept quiet. For Hwa-yoon’s sake, and yours.”

For a brief moment, a genuinely concerned look appeared in his eyes as he gazed at Yoo Seo-ah.

Even though his gaze was as calm as always, for some reason, a part of her heart…

“Always take care of yourself first, Ms. Seo-ah. Don’t ever do something reckless like this again.”

…trembled, however faintly.

It was for this reason that she had murmured a meaningful remark to herself without realizing it.

“…He’s grown up.”

Whether it was fortunate or unfortunate that Jung Do-yoon didn’t hear those softly spoken words, barely whispered through her unmoving lips, remained unclear.

The child who used to try so hard to act mature had now become a real adult.

She watched in silent acknowledgment.

Yoon.

But in that moment, when Yoo Seo-ah’s aura shifted slightly, Jung Do-yoon’s phone began to buzz.

The caller was Jung Hwa-yoon.

‘…Has word already gotten out?’

Jung Do-yoon’s brow furrowed slightly.

He could almost hear Jung Hwa-yoon’s reprimand already ringing in his ears.

It seemed he had stayed here too long.

This was troubling.

He was unsure what to say to Jung Hwa-yoon…

As he touched his forehead in frustration, Yoo Seo-ah spoke.

The suggestion that followed was so absurd, his thumb stopped mid-swipe, hovering over the green call icon.

“Director Jung, if you’re free right now… would you like to go on a date with me?”

“…Excuse me?”

He was momentarily speechless from the absurdity of it.

But Yoo Seo-ah continued speaking, and there wasn’t the slightest hint of playfulness in her tone.

“The Saudi prince is scheduled to visit Korea in two or three months, and our Yeryeo Hotel is one of the leading candidates for his stay.”

“I was hoping we could walk around the hotel’s surroundings and talk a bit. If it’s okay with you, I’d like to hear your advice on what to highlight.”

“I’m curious what aspects stand out from a male perspective.”

In the end, he had to delay parting ways with Yoo Seo-ah.

The Saudi prince’s visit.

A potential opportunity for Yeryeo Group.

The reason she wanted even a brief conversation was clear and difficult to reject.

He didn’t have anything scheduled afterward, anyway.

So, he left the hotel with Yoo Seo-ah by his side.

She asked light questions about strategies for attracting the Saudi prince, and Jung Do-yoon answered curtly.

“What do you think stands out the most about the hotel’s exterior?”

Whether the Saudi prince’s visit was truly her only concern, she didn’t bring up anything else.

Still, he couldn’t help the growing questions he had about Yoo Seo-ah.

…Why do you look at me like that?

Because you’re handsome.

…Are you usually this open with people you’ve just met?

I don’t think we’re strangers.

Maybe because their first meeting had already felt unusual.

Or—

‘I’m seeing Ms. Yoo Seo-ah for the first time today.’

—That’s not true. Probably.

‘What do you mean by that…?’

Perhaps it was the unanswered questions about who Yoo Seo-ah really was, lingering in the back of his mind.

Or maybe the déjà vu he felt watching her single-handedly take down the unruly drunk guests just hours ago…

—Srrrk.

At that moment, a spring breeze blew through, sending the fully bloomed cherry blossoms scattering like snowflakes.

Yoo Seo-ah paused and looked up at the sky, framed by the fluttering petals.

Her light brown hair shimmered in the sunlight between the pink blossoms.

Her calm eyes quietly observed the falling petals.

Then, she slowly turned her head.

“…Was I pretty just now?”

That casually tossed question—Made him forget to breathe for a moment.