Thirty minutes later, Hye-rin arrived at the infinity pool, her posture composed and her thoughts calm as she just finished her spa treatment and was now here for a swim at this infinity pool, a serene blue, stretched seamlessly into the skyline, giving the vibes of a sea merging with the horizon when looking from a distance.
She adjusted the strap of her one-piece swimsuit—a modest yet elegant design—and stepped forward to dive into it, only to halt in her tracks.
There, floating lazily in the water on a pool lounger, was him. Han Sungjun.
The fellow who troubled her thoughts and embarrassed her, back at the gym.
And here he was once again in the same space as her, lying back on a floater, eyes closed, his toned chest and abs visible for everyone to see.
Hye-rin felt a sudden hesitation.
She had come here to enjoy a quiet swim for cool down, but now... should she even go in? A small and same irrational thought crept into her mind as no other person was in the swimming pool apart from this same fellow and she wasn't the type to think that it was fate or something. "Is he here because of me? The coincidences are too much."
Theories popped up in her head automatically to fulfill the logic.
He hadn't spoken to her at the gym, perhaps because of the staff. Maybe he had been waiting for a more private setting to make his move.
After all, that was also a common move among some young, wealthy men. And she was a celebrity herself, a known face throughout the country.
Hye-rin glanced at him again, observing his relaxed form. But he looked too at ease—too indifferent for someone with ulterior motives.
Still, she hesitated for a few more seconds before deciding not to let his presence dictate her actions or thoughts. With quiet resolve, she stepped into the water, letting the cool sensation wash over her.
The two of them remained in their own worlds—Hye-rin swam at a leisurely pace, occasionally glancing his way as if to wonder why wasn't he approaching her yet, while he remained undisturbed, drifting weightlessly.
The only sound between them was the occasional ripple of water.
Then, a sharp buzz broke the silence. Without checking the caller ID, he answered with a smile. "Hey, my Baby."
Hye-rin, who had been floating a few meters away, paused.
His tone was affectionate and warm—completely different from the stoic aura he carried before.
Meanwhile, Sungjun continued speaking. "Mm. I told you—you shouldn't stay up so late, watching those music shows. I don't even know why you are obsessed with those things. Anyway, did you eat breakfast yet? You were out of the shower already? When did you wake up?"
"Girlfriend?" Hye-rin couldn't help but narrow her eyes slightly, contemplating. Then a sudden thought appeared in her head. "What if it is just an act?"
She had also seen it before. Some men—especially the handsome, successful ones—deliberately make it seem like they were taken. And then they make it seem like they were going through rough patches, giving a hint that they were breaking up.
It's a psychological tactic. Not that common in South Korea, but it's still there, nevertheless.
Men who appeared unavailable were often desirable by women who were successful but lonely. After all, if someone was already claimed, didn't that mean he was worth having? And some single women, strange as it appears, are attracted to those traits and would want to snatch such men when those men seem like they are about to become available.
She glanced at him once more, watching as he listened attentively to the voice on the other end of the line.
Was it real? Or was he just playing the game better than most? Or perhaps he was waiting for her to approach him or something? Her thoughts were filled with curiosity.
And the best way to be known is to see to what end he will try acting this way. Or so she concluded.
However, contrary to her expectation, after finishing his call, Sungjun placed his phone back on the side table, stretched briefly, and then—with the same quiet indifference he had maintained all morning—got up from the floater and wore his t-shirt that lay below his head earlier.
Water dripped from his t-shirt as he stepped out of the pool, grabbing a towel and running it through his damp hair.
Hye-rin, who had been subtly observing him, expected at least a glance in her direction—a smirk, a comment, anything.
But he walked past her without hesitation.
No lingering stare. No playful remark. No acknowledgment that she even existed.
Her grip on the pool's edge tightened slightly. "Seriously? C'mon…"
It wasn't that she wanted his attention. Not really.
But the fact that he completely disregarded her after she had debated so much about his intentions embarrassed her once again.
"Did he really not care at all? Or perhaps he was truly committed and not putting on any airs. Maybe I misunderstood the situation all along?" Hye-rin concluded it and stared at his back until he disappeared into the elevator in her sight.
Back in his suite, the room was now filled with the soft hum of hairdryers and the faint scent of perfume.
Jiyeon was already dressed, standing in front of the mirror as she carefully adjusted her white turtleneck sweater. Her dark hair, still slightly damp, cascaded over her shoulders in soft waves.
She turned at the sound of the door opening.
"Dad!" she chirped. "I thought you were at aunt's house. Where were you?"
Sungjun picked up the towel on the floor and tossed it onto a nearby chair. "Came back earlier. Then hit the Gym. Then pool. And please don't throw things around. Look at the clothes on your bed. It is so much of a mess."
"I'll do it later." Jiyeon wrinkled her nose. As an afterthought, she added. "It would be nice if we brought Amy with us. She would have done everything in a jiffy."
"South Korea's customs are a bit strict compared to ours. It will take time to transport it." He shrugged, walking to his bed, which was placed a few feet away from hers. Taking a seat, he looked at her. "Now, young lady, you have fifteen minutes. I'll go to shower, and by the time I return dressed up, I should see the bed empty and your clothes in your bag or neatly folded in the wardrobe. Or else, you are staying back at the hotel."
She pouted, crossing her arms. "That's not fair."
Sungjun smirked slightly at her reaction but didn't respond. Instead, he grabbed a fresh set of clothes and disappeared into the bathroom.
By the time he came out dressed in a fitted black coat over a casual white sweater, he saw Jiyeon already had put on her coat and boots, quite matching his attire. All of her clothes disappeared from the bed. She was sitting there, playing with her smartphone.
She bounced on her feet. "Let's go."
Sungjun shook his head, chuckling under his breath. "Alright, alright."
—
Just as they stepped out of their suite, heading towards the elevators, a familiar presence appeared in the hallway.
It's the same beauty he saw in the gym and later at the pool.
This time, she was wrapped in a plush white bathrobe, her wet hair tied loosely behind her. She had just returned from her swim, holding a bottle of water in one hand and her key card in the other.
Her eyes flickered toward them, almost instinctively.
And then she froze as she spotted an excited teenage girl, looking undeniably foreign, yet there was a hint of Asian features on her face.
It wasn't just her exotic appearance that surprised her. The girl's youthful energy, the way she clung to Sungjun's arm while skipping slightly ahead with a bright smile and both of them wearing matching attire—it all once again brought up misunderstanding.
"Is she… a sugar baby?"
The thought came so suddenly that Hye-rin barely registered it at first. But the more she processed the scene, the more her frown deepened.
Everything just fits Hye-rin. Perhaps she couldn't think of other possibilities at all due to the embarrassment and guilt she felt earlier for a possible misunderstanding.
As a result, she assumed that Sungjun had an inappropriate relationship with the girl next to him. Whether the girl gave her consent to such a relationship or not is of use because she is a minor and an outright criminal offense. A flash of disgust crossed Hye-rin's face immediately.
She was about to confront Sungjun, but just as she took a step forward, a flash of another thought appeared in her head. "What if it is his niece?" The fact that she misunderstood two times in a row made her hesitate whether she misunderstood once again. She doesn't want to make a fool of herself.
Meanwhile, Sungjun and Jiyeon already boarded the elevator. After thinking about it for a moment, Hye-rin headed to her suite, intending to get ready and later go downstairs to enquire at the hotel reception.