MR YING'S POV
"What are you thinking about?" Huang asked as I stared at the sword. I couldn't help but wonder why Mr. Lee was so obsessed with obtaining it. Did it have something special about it that I wasn't aware of? After all, I did purchase it at a high price back then.
"He wants this in exchange for an investment in our hotels," I explained. "He is more than willing to give us a blank check, which means any kind of money..."
"Then why are you turning down his offer?" she pressed.
"I'm not... I just want to know why he wants this sword so badly," I replied, feeling a mix of curiosity and unease.
"Well, there is nothing to know. You need to revive the hotel in just a few months; otherwise, you step down as CEO. Now, I don't care how valuable you think the sword is. What I care about right now is that you don't lose that position. If not for you, think about me and Hana—your family. Where would we go if you lose your position and wind up on the streets? Give him the damn sword. I've never liked the thing anyway. We might as well get rid of it this way." She concluded, her frustration evident as she left.
I took a moment to think, her words weighing heavily on my mind. After a few moments of contemplation, I pulled out my phone to call Mr. Lee. The decision was looming over me, and I needed to act.
*
*
LEE YI / SHI YI'S POV
I woke up to a phone call from Mr. Ying. To be honest, I hadn't expected him to get back to me so quickly. "Hello!" I replied, trying to shake off the remnants of sleep.
"Good morning, Mr. Lee. Hope I am not bothering you," he said, and I could hear the tension in his voice as I sat up in bed.
"No, it's all good," I assured him.
"Can we meet?" he questioned, and I could feel my heart rate quicken.
"Well, yes... where would you like us to meet?" I asked, eager to know what he had in mind.
"I have a lunch reservation at my very own Essence Hotels... if you would like to join me," he replied, and I felt a sense of relief.
"Okay, I'll be there," I said, trying to keep my tone casual.
"Okay, I look forward to seeing you there," he concluded, and I couldn't help but wonder what he was going to say. I had spent most of the night pondering all the possibilities.
As I got ready to leave, Haejun asked, "So is he accepting the offer?"
"Not sure... it could be that or something else," I replied, still feeling uncertain.
"Well, let's have our fingers crossed then," he said, and I picked up my car keys, heading out the door.
The drive to the hotel was filled with anticipation, and when I arrived, I was led to the private room booked by Mr. Ying. "Mr. Lee, please come in and have a seat," he said, gesturing for me to sit across from him.
"Shall we order?" he asked, and I pulled out the menu, quickly deciding on my meal. He ordered too, and as we waited in silence, he filled both of our glasses with wine.
"Cheers!" he said, and we clinked our glasses together. I took a sip, trying to gauge his mood. I wasn't sure what he was up to; he just wasn't saying anything I wanted to hear. Was he stalking me? I asked myself, feeling a knot of anxiety in my stomach.
Finally, the meals arrived, and as we began to eat, he started to speak.... "I have been thinking and I've decided to take up on your offer but before anything... I'd like to ask why? Why the sword?" he asked, his eyes searching mine for an answer.
I paused, taking a deep breath before responding. "I mean the sword is something I purchased valuably because of my love for art and I thought it would look great amongst my many collections of antiques... so what's it for you?" His question hung in the air, and I could sense the importance of my response.
"Well, just like you, I love art... and the sword is my key to freedom... if that makes sense," I replied, sipping my wine as I gauged his reaction. He chuckled lightly, a sound that eased the tension just a bit. "Maybe..." he mused, and I could see the wheels turning in his mind.
"So what are the conditions for your investment?" he asked, leaning in slightly. I knew I had to be clear. "There was only one condition... you give me the sword, I invest in your revival project for your hotels," I stated, keeping my tone steady.
"That's it?" he questioned, a hint of disbelief in his voice. "Definitely..." I assured him, feeling the momentum building.
"And how much are we talking...?" he pressed, clearly intrigued.
"How much do you think is enough?" I countered, wanting him to consider the value of what I was offering.
"Are you serious about this whole blank check?" he asked, clearly surprised.
"Yes... money isn't really my problem... hand over the sword, let's sign a contract, and I'll wire the money to you," I replied, my confidence growing with each word.
He chuckled again, this time with a sense of understanding. "Okay..." he said, raising his glass in a toast. "To our collaboration."
As our glasses clinked, I felt a surge of excitement.
*
*
Back home, I told Haejun the news. "So we finally have the sword..." he said cheerfully, his excitement palpable. But I felt a knot in my stomach. "Why aren't you happy?" he questioned, concern creeping into his voice.
"I don't know... doesn't it all feel too easy?" I replied, uncertainty lacing my words. Haejun looked at me, disbelief written all over his face. "Too easy? Are you being serious right now? You waited years for this... years! And we're not talking 10 or 20, but over 100. There is nothing too easy about waiting and searching that long."
His words hit me, and I felt the weight of my own doubts. "Unless... you are starting to rethink your decision," he said, his eyes searching mine for the truth. "No, I am not... I have to go through with this," I insisted, my heart racing as I spoke.
"I'll call Xiao Mei and tell her that we found the sword... hopefully, she has some great news for me about the powerful witch," I added, trying to shake off the lingering unease. "Okay..." he replied, but I could sense his concern as I walked away.
If I'm being honest, I was excited about the thought of having the sword, but then suddenly, I wasn't anymore. I couldn't shake the feeling that even after waiting so long, it still felt like everything was happening too quickly. The thrill of the moment mixed with a strange apprehension, leaving me in a whirlwind of emotions.
After a few days, I was finally handed the sword. As I opened it, memories flooded back—fighting Moon Kyung, the intensity of our battle, the curse she cast, and ultimately, me slaying her. It all felt so fresh, as if it had just happened yesterday.
"Mr. Lee!!" my assistant Ying called out, breaking me out of my thoughts. "Yes," I replied, trying to shake off the memories. "You already seem attached," he said with a chuckle. I laughed softly, "Yeah... well, now that we're done signing the contract, I'll have my assistant get back to you with the money."
"Okay, thank you so much, Mr. Lee," he said, shaking my hand. "No, thank you," I replied, feeling a mix of gratitude and relief.
Back at home, Haejun looked at the sword with a mix of awe and disbelief. "Is this really it... the Wuyi sword?" he questioned. "Yeah, it's exactly like I remember it," I said, feeling a sense of pride. "Wow..." he exclaimed, staring at it as if it were a relic from another world.
"Oh, by the way, Xiao Mei is coming over in a few days," Haejun mentioned. "She is?" I asked, surprised. "Yes, she said she needs to see the sword herself to believe it's the real one," he replied. "Okay then," I said, closing the sword carefully.
"By the way, I talked to the interior designers, and the house is soon to be ready. We should probably move in next week," I added. "Awesome! Okay, we're getting good news after good news; this calls for a celebration," he said, his eyes lighting up.
"What are you thinking?" I questioned, curious about his idea. "Uhmmm, let's go to a club. I mean, we've been busy with the whole sword thing. I need to let loose, and what better way to do that than at the club—with drinks, music, and dance?"
His enthusiasm was infectious, and I felt a smile creeping onto my face. Maybe a night out was exactly what we needed.....
*
*
MALIN'S POV
....."What do you mean? You clearly said I could pay the other half as I entered the house... what changed?" I questioned, frustration creeping into my voice. The realtor's response was just as I feared—"It's not me, it's the landlord. She said that she needs the rest of the payment in order for her to take care of the renovations... the water, the electricity..."
"Well, I don't have any money on me right now, so I'll probably stop by tomorrow," I said, feeling the weight of the situation settle heavily on my shoulders. "Okay then," he replied, and I sighed deeply. I knew it wasn't going to be too easy.
When I got home, I headed straight to my usual spot to check for the money, but to my shock, it wasn't there. I searched everywhere, clearing out all my things, but it was as if the money had vanished into thin air. Confused and frustrated, my eyes landed on a bracelet that looked eerily familiar. "Hana!" I exclaimed, my heart racing as I clenched my fists. I stormed downstairs, ready to confront her.
"Where is my money?" I demanded, standing right in front of her. She feigned innocence, "What money?" I could feel my anger boiling over. "Stop acting dumb! I found this in my room. What was your bracelet doing in my room? What were you doing in my room? Hand over my money right now!" I said, my voice rising in intensity.
As she attempted to walk away, I grabbed her hand, pulling her back. "Stop acting clueless! You took my money!" I snapped, my frustration spilling over. Just then, Mrs. Huang appeared, her presence looming as she approached us. "What's happening here?" she asked, pulling Hana away from my grasp. "She took my money..." I said, my voice trembling with a mix of anger and desperation. I could feel the tension in the air, and I knew I had to get to the bottom of this....What money?" Mrs Huang's question echoed in my mind, and I felt my frustration boiling over. "The money I had saved up and kept in my room... it's missing," I explained, trying to keep my voice steady. "And you think Hana took it?" Mrs. Huang questioned, her tone skeptical. "Yes..." I replied, feeling the weight of the accusation settle heavily on my shoulders.
"Where is the evidence?" she pressed, and my heart raced. I had to make her see. "This bracelet... she always has this on her hand, but for some reason, it was lying in my room. What was she doing in my room?" I demanded, my voice rising with each word. Hana shot back, "I didn't go to your room to steal your money. I went to borrow a workbook. It might have dropped there by then. Plus, you said you had this money of yours hidden away, so how could I have spotted it?"
I scoffed at her response. "I said I had the money kept, not hidden... unless you saw me hiding it and even saw where I hid it," I retorted, my anger bubbling to the surface. "Enough!" Mrs. Huang interrupted, her voice sharp. "You can't make baseless accusations without proof. Think about other ways your money could have disappeared and stop disturbing my daughter." With that, she walked away, pulling Hana with her. As they left, Hana looked back and smirked at me, and I felt a sinking feeling in my gut.
It was clear to me now: she had taken the money, and I was back to square one. Without that money, how was I going to come up with the other half of the payment? The walls felt like they were closing in, and I knew I had to figure something out fast.
"Look, Malin, I really can't give you your month's payment in advance... I'm sorry," the lady at the bookstore said, and I felt my heart sink further. I had already made stops at my other part-time jobs—the convenience store, the tutoring gig, and even the internet café. "I'm really sorry... I can't come up with the money right now," I explained to the realtor, my voice trembling with desperation.
"I really don't know what to say now. The landlady is waiting for the money. If you can't make the full payment, she might give back your half and sell the place to someone else," he replied, his tone flat and businesslike. "I'll give you until tomorrow to either bring the money or come for your refund of the first half of the rent." With that, he hung up, and I couldn't help but feel teary-eyed with helplessness and frustration.
"Malin!" someone called out, and I quickly wiped my tears away. "Yes... Heejo," I said as she approached me. "I heard you asking for your monthly advance payment today," she said, concern etched on her face. "Yes, I am in some urgent need for money," I replied, feeling the weight of my situation pressing down on me. "Well, I can help you with that," she offered, and I couldn't believe my ears. "You?" I questioned, surprised. "Why are you surprised? You have helped cover many of my shifts, so I can do this much for you."
"Cover for me at my other job... I'll ask my boss to give you my payment of the day. I'm sure that money can help you," she suggested. "What job are we saying?" I asked, my curiosity piqued. "It's just a waitress at a club... you serve drinks and even get tips," she explained. "A club!" I exclaimed, taken aback. The idea of working in a club felt daunting, but I was desperate. If this was my chance to get the money I needed, I had to consider it....I felt a mix of anxiety and determination as I stood there, the weight of my decision pressing down on me. "So will you accept?" Heejo's question echoed in my mind. I paused, contemplating my options. There really weren't any other ways to get the money I needed, and I couldn't afford to delay my stay with the Ying family any longer. "Yes, I'll go," I finally said, my voice steadier than I felt.
As we arrived at the club, I felt a rush of nerves. Heejo introduced me to her boss, who immediately questioned my age. I rummaged through my belongings, pulling out my ID, my hands shaking slightly. "Okay... then you just need to get ready," she instructed. I could feel the pressure mounting as she added, "Remember that the customer is boss... don't cause any trouble that even your little pay won't be able to solve." Her warning hung in the air, a stark reminder of the stakes involved.
Heejo led me to the employee locker room, and I quickly changed into the outfit she had picked out for me—a white long-sleeved shirt and a short black skirt. As I reached for the collar button, she stopped me. "Leave the collar button open," she said, and I complied, feeling a mix of vulnerability and apprehension. Once I was ready, we returned to her boss, who laid out the rules. "Just serve the drinks and get out of the private room," she warned. My heart raced at the thought of what could happen if I didn't follow her advice. I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves, and reminded myself that I was here for a reason. I needed this job, no matter how daunting it felt.
"Okay then... you should get to work. Ara here is in charge of assigning work to everyone," Ms. Qi said, and I nodded, feeling a mix of excitement and nerves.
Ara quickly gave me my first task. "Well, there are lots of customers today, probably because it's a Friday... so let's start with private room 54. That's where you're taking this order." I picked up the tray, my heart racing a little as I headed toward the room.
I knocked on the door, and the voice from inside invited me in. To my surprise, there sat Lee Yi with a friend. "Here are your drinks," I said, laying them on the table.
"Malin!" he exclaimed, his eyes wide with surprise. "It's you!"
"Yes," I replied, feeling a bit shy under his gaze.
"You work here?" he asked, and I nodded, trying to sound casual. "Yes... well, I am helping out a friend."
"Like filling in for a friend," I added, nervously.
"Okay..." he said, and I felt the weight of the moment.
"Well, I'll get back to work," I said, picking up the tray and turning to leave when he called me back.
"What time do you get off?" he asked, and I hesitated for a moment. "Me... uhhmm around 11."
"11... okay then, I'll be here till 11 in case you need a ride back home," he said, his tone sincere.
"Oh, it's okay..." I replied, but he insisted.
"No, I'll be here. So in case you need that ride, then you know where to find me."
I smiled at him, feeling a flutter of warmth in my chest, before leaving the private room. He was the last person I expected to see today, and somehow, it made the day feel a little brighter.
*
*
I then set off to work, feeling optimistic about the day ahead. Everything was going smoothly, and I was starting to get the hang of my tasks until that one problematic customer walked in. "Here are your drinks, sir," I said, placing the drinks on the table. "Enjoy," I added, turning to leave when suddenly, he grabbed my hand, giving me a scare. "What are you doing, sir?" I questioned, trying to pull away as he smiled at me.
"You haven't opened the bottle for me. Also, help me pour the wine in my glass," he said, and I reluctantly complied, pulling my hand out of his grasp. As I poured the wine, I felt his hand touch my butt, and instinctively, I pulled back, spilling the wine all over him. "What's wrong with you?" he screamed, drawing the attention of the other customers. "What's wrong with me? What's wrong with you?" I shot back angrily, feeling the heat rise in my cheeks.
Just then, Mr. Qi walked through the crowd, sensing the commotion. "What's going on here?" she asked. The man quickly shifted the blame, saying, "Your employee poured wine all over me, and instead of apologizing, she's been standing there glaring at me." I scoffed at how he was playing the victim. "The only reason I poured the wine on him was because he assaulted me," I said defiantly. "She's talking nonsense," he retorted. I turned to Ms. Qi for support, but she told me, "Go back to your work station; I'll handle this." As I turned to leave, the man grabbed my hand again, insisting, "She isn't going anywhere. I need to see her pay for this." "Let me go," I demanded, feeling trapped in a situation that was spiraling out of control...I could feel my heart racing as Mrs. Qi tried to calm the situation down. "Please calm down, sir, and let her go. We can handle this quietly..." she urged, but the man remained stubborn, his grip on my arm unyielding. Just then, a voice cut through the tension. "Let her go..." I turned to see Lee Yi stepping forward, his expression determined.
"And who are you? Mind your business," the man snapped, but Lee Yi stood his ground. "Well, you are harassing my friend, so it's kind of my business." He stepped closer, pulling my hand away from the man's grasp and positioning himself protectively in front of me. I felt a rush of gratitude mixed with fear.
"You insist that you didn't assault her, so how about we check out the security footage? I'm sure a place like this has those, and maybe once we're done, we can settle this at a police station," Lee Yi suggested, his voice steady. The man scoffed, clearly irritated. Just then, Mrs. Qi chimed in, trying to diffuse the situation. "No one needs to go to the police station. Listen here, sir, I will compensate you for your ruined clothes and even give you a bottle of wine for free... so please, let's settle this quietly."
The man paused, then smirked. "Okay... but I want something else." My stomach dropped as everyone turned to listen. "An apology from your employee." I scoffed audibly; there was no way I was going to apologize to the man who had assaulted me. "What nonsense are you talking about?" I exclaimed, my voice shaking with anger.
"Malin!" Mrs. Qi called my name sharply, her tone leaving no room for argument. "Let's settle this quietly... apologize." Betrayal washed over me as I stared at her, feeling utterly abandoned. "Ms. Qi... he—" I tried to explain, but she cut me off. "Remember the rules I gave you while you were starting to work? Let's not make this any harder... apologize." Her words stung, and I looked up at the man, who was smirking at me, relishing my discomfort. I felt trapped, caught between my principles and the pressure to comply....
"She doesn't have to apologize... no, she won't apologize," Lee Yi said firmly, and I looked up at him, feeling a surge of hope. "I don't know how your rules work here, madam, but I'm sure in such a situation, you should be standing with an employee who almost got assaulted over one problematic customer..." he continued, his voice steady and unwavering.
"Who are you calling problematic?" the man shot back, reaching out toward Lee Yi. But Lee Yi was quick, grabbing his hand before he could make contact. "Why? Do you want to hit me as well? Go ahead... then I can add more charges at the police station," he retorted, his confidence unwavering. The man, clearly flustered, muttered, "You are all crazy people," before retreating and turning to leave. I let out a sigh of relief, feeling the tension in my body start to ease.
"Are you okay?" Lee Yi asked, his eyes scanning me for any signs of distress. "I am fine," I replied, trying to reassure him. But then Ms. Qi spoke up, her tone sharp. "You should get back to work, Malin." I scoffed at her words, feeling a mix of anger and disappointment. "I'm sorry, Mrs. Qi, but I don't think I want to work with someone who won't stand up for me when I need it," I said, my voice steady.
"What are you talking about, kid?" she asked, confusion etched on her face. "I'm quitting," I declared, feeling a sense of finality in my words. "You were only filling in for Heejo... are you sure you want to make that decision for her?" she questioned, but I felt resolute. "I'm sure she will understand," I added, pulling off my apron with a mix of defiance and relief. "Right, the uniform..." I muttered to myself, glancing at the discarded garment. Then I turned to Lee Yi, a hopeful smile spreading across my face. "Does your offer for the ride home still stand?" I asked, and he smiled back, nodding. "Well, I'll go and change quickly," I said, feeling a sense of freedom as I turned to leave.
After changing, I decided to call Heejo; she had the right to know what had just happened. To my surprise, she was calm about it. "Are you sure it's okay?" I asked her over the phone, my voice tinged with concern. "It's okay. I'm glad the man didn't cause you any harm. I'll personally talk about the job with Ms. Qi tomorrow," she reassured me. "Okay... thank you so much," I replied, feeling a wave of relief wash over me.
As we wrapped up our conversation, she asked, "By the way, so what's your plan for the money?" I shrugged, even though she couldn't see me. "I'll figure something out," I said, hanging up with a deep sigh. The night had definitely taken an unexpected turn, and I felt a mix of emotions swirling inside me.
Once I was done, I rushed back to Lee Yi, who was patiently waiting for me. "I'm sorry I kept you waiting," I said, a bit breathless. "It's okay," he replied with a warm smile. I glanced around, feeling the cool evening air. "Your friend? The one you were with earlier, where is he?" I asked, curious. "He left to run some errands," he answered. "Okay," I said, feeling a little more at ease. "Let's go and get something to eat," he offered. "Okay!" I replied enthusiastically as he opened the car door for me. I slid into the seat, and he took his place beside me. With that, we set off into the night...
*
*
"This meal is actually my treat, so you could have done more than just a tin of noodles," Lee Yi said, and I chuckled. "I love noodles... they are my go-to meal when I'm stressed out," I replied, trying to lighten the mood.
"What's stressing you out?" he asked, clearly concerned. I hesitated for a moment, brushing it off. "It's nothing..." I said, but he wasn't having it. "It's something... talk to me," he insisted. I took a deep breath, realizing that maybe I could share a little of what was going on.
"I had a fight with the guys at home..." I began. "Well, I've actually been saving up to leave the Ying mansion and start living alone. It's something I've been planning for a while, and I even found a place and paid half the deposit. But just when I was about to pay the other half, I found out my money was stolen. I'm pretty sure it was taken by Hana, my sort of sister. When I confronted her, she denied it, as expected, and then Ms. Huang just brushed it off." I paused, feeling the weight of my words. "I then left... and if I'm being honest, I haven't gone back. This is my second night out."
"And where are you planning to spend it?" he asked, his brow furrowing in concern. "Well, I spent last night at the convenience store storage, so it might be the same today," I replied with a nervous chuckle.
"No," he said firmly, and I felt a bit confused. "There is no way I'm letting you spend the night at the store..." he continued. "Well... I..." I stuttered, caught off guard. "I can find you a place to stay... you can also stay there for as long as you want," he offered, and I was taken aback. I always felt this way when it came to him..."You actually don't have to... I'll make the second half of the deposit soon and move to my place," I replied, trying to brush off his generosity.
"I'll give you the deposit then," he said, and I felt a mix of gratitude and confusion. "Why are you doing this? Like, why are you always helping me out?" I asked, genuinely curious.
"We're friends," he replied simply, but I couldn't shake the feeling that it was more than that. "Yeah, but you also helped out back when we weren't," I pointed out, and he chuckled softly.
"My conscience," he said with a playful nod, and I couldn't help but laugh. "Your conscience!" I exclaimed, still amused.
"Look, Malin... it's okay to receive help from someone who's offering it," he said, his tone reassuring.
"Okay, how about a loan?" he suggested. "I'll give you a loan, and then when you work, you can pay it back." It wasn't such a bad idea, really.
"What do you think? Can you take a loan?" he asked, smiling at me. I nodded, feeling a sense of relief. I was already stuck, and honestly, I'd rather owe him money than spend another night in that store or the Ying mansion.
"Okay... I'll take a loan," I said, feeling a weight lift off my shoulders.
"Okay... I'll ask my friend and assistant to wire the money into your account tomorrow," he said, and I was surprised at how easy he made it sound.
"I haven't told you the amount," I reminded him.
"I don't care what amount it is," he replied confidently. "I'll give it to you either way." My heart fluttered a bit at his unwavering support.
"Thank you," I said, genuinely grateful.
"My pleasure," he replied, and then he reminded me, "Start having your noodles before they turn soggy."
I quickly picked up my chopsticks, glancing at him. "Are you sure you don't want any?" I asked, hoping he might change his mind.
"No... I am good," he said as he sat back and watched me slurp my noodles.
*
*
After the meal...As I stood there, I felt a mix of gratitude and stubbornness. "You really don't have to spend the night in a store," he reminded me, his voice steady and reassuring. I shrugged it off, trying to downplay his concern. "It's okay... you already helping me with the deposit, and that's more than enough."
He seemed to consider my words for a moment before responding, "Well, okay then... I'll call you tomorrow after the money is sent." I nodded, feeling a sense of relief wash over me. "Okay... good night," I said, turning to enter the convenience store.
As I stepped inside, I glanced back one last time. He was watching me, a small smile on his face, and his little wave made me chuckle. It was such a simple gesture, but it warmed my heart. I couldn't help but feel grateful for his support, even if I still felt a bit guilty about accepting his help. But in that moment, all I could think about was how nice it was to have someone who genuinely cared.
LEE YI / SHI YI'S POV
Back home, Haejun looked at me with that curious expression, "And how much are we speaking?" he asked, clearly wanting to get to the bottom of this. I wasn't entirely sure, so I quickly pulled out my phone to text Malin. "Not sure...I'll send her a text and get back to you," I replied, my fingers flying over the screen.
"Shouldn't you be telling Mr. Ying about her daughter wanting to move out and stay on her own?" he probed further, his tone shifting slightly. I hesitated. "I don't want to involve myself in their family's business... plus, I don't know what's going on with them, but I can tell their relationship isn't as simple. I'm just helping her out," I said, trying to justify my intentions.
"Why?" he pressed, and I felt a little cornered. "Because... I just... want to. For some reason, I always want to," I admitted, feeling a bit exposed. His smirk returned, and I knew he was about to make a teasing remark. "You don't like her, do you?" he asked, catching me off guard. "I like her... she is a nice girl. I mean, I like her... we're friends," I replied defensively.
"Like her or like like her?" he questioned, raising an eyebrow. I frowned, genuinely confused. "Is there a difference?" I shot back, trying to understand his teasing. "There is... the two likes emphasize different things," he explained, and I finally got what he meant. "Ohh... no, no, not like that. I just feel for her..." I said, trying to clarify my feelings.
"That's it?" he asked, almost disappointed. "Yes... that's it," I replied, just as my phone chimed with a message. I glanced down to read Malin's text, "So the money is 1000... one thousand dollars." "This is it?" I questioned, looking back at Haejun. "Okay, so I'll deposit 1000 dollars in her account," he said, but I felt a surge of determination. "No... give her 10000," I insisted.
"But she said she wanted 1000... are you sure you don't..." he started, but I brushed him off. "Just do as I've told you," I said firmly. "Okay, okay..." he chuckled, clearly amused by the whole situation...."But seriously, how long has it been?" Haejun asked, his curiosity piqued. "Since?" I replied, slightly confused. "Since you have been with someone... like romantically," he continued, and I felt a wave of hesitation wash over me. "I'm not sure I want to discuss my love life with you," I said, brushing him off.
"Come on... don't tell me that your first and last was that princess... what was her name? Ailee? Dude, that was like 100 years ago," he teased, and I rolled my eyes. "No, no, I've been in relationships after that. I just don't like to feel committed, you know? Considering that I live longer than all my partners, I have to watch them die as I continue to live... I just couldn't do that anymore, so I stopped. So maybe you're right, it's been a really long time," I admitted, feeling a mix of sadness and acceptance.
"That's sad," he replied, and I nodded, knowing he was right. "Yeah, what's stopping you? I mean, you're currently 26; shouldn't you have someone?" I pushed. "And you're like what, 1000 and something and you don't have too," he shot back playfully as I hit him lightly. "Oh, by the way, I got a text from Xiao Mei earlier," he said, shifting the topic. "And?" I questioned, intrigued. "She's arriving to check on the sword tomorrow," he informed me. "Okay then... you will pick her up, and let's see," I replied, feeling a sense of anticipation.
*
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