Morning.
Today we woke up earlier than planned — at four in the morning. We had to go to the hotel where we had booked a room to demand money from the man.
Inner Cha-yeon: "I'm saying, if we demand more, nothing else will happen. We basically got rid of his problems."
Cha-yeon: "He could sue us."
Inner Cha-yeon: "Then we'll kidnap him and use him as a toy."
Cha-yeon: "What a loud statement. Can we really pull it off? No! We need to stop watching so many thrillers."
All I felt that morning was the cold rain creeping down my collar and an overwhelming sense of annoyance. The downpour had started without warning, as if the sky had finally decided to let go of everything it had been holding back. My umbrella? Useless. More of a symbolic gesture than actual protection. I was soaked—from my shoes to the tips of my hair.
Inner Cha-yeon: "What can I say… Spring."
We woke up earlier than planned—at four in the morning. Me and the other me. The one that lives in my head and never shuts up. We had a destination: a hotel. A presidential suite. Reserved. Paid. Under my name.
Not for luxury, of course.
I was going there to demand money. For the taxi. For the suite. For emotional damages. And maybe—with interest.
By six a.m., I stood in front of the hotel, drenched like a street cat but walking like I had just stepped out of a limo. The doorman gave me a quick look but said nothing. Smart man.
I walked straight to the reception. My heels clicked sharply against the marble floor. Behind the desk stood a woman in a perfectly pressed uniform, smiling with the kind of expression that screamed corporate training.
"Good morning," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "My name is Lin Cha-yeon. The presidential suite is booked and paid under my name."
She nodded, turned to the screen, and tapped in a few keys.
"Welcome, Miss Lin. Your room is ready."
Something inside me smirked.
Inner Cha-yeon: "Step one complete. Now all that's left is collecting the money."
Sixteenth floor.
Room 160A.
She didn't knock. She just opened the door and walked in like she owned the place.
Inner Cha-yeon: "Maybe… you should've knocked first?"
Cha-yeon: "Maybe I should've."
She stepped back out, closed the door behind her, raised her hand, and knocked. Once. Twice. No response.
So she opened the door again. Clearly, no one was going to open it for her.
And there he was.
In the center of the suite stood that man — the one in the expensive suit she had dragged in last night. Hair still perfect. Like the rain hadn't dared to touch him.
Cha-yeon: "You say it."
Inner Cha-yeon: "Fine."
Inner Cha-yeon: "My name is Lin Cha-yeon. I demand payment—down to the last won—for saving your life. How do you feel?"
The man blinked slowly. Still calm. Too calm.
Him: "…I'm deeply grateful. Truly. But I don't have any money at the moment. Just 14,000 won. The thing is… I'll repay everything. But I also have a business proposal for you."
Inner Cha-yeon: "Not interested."
Cha-yeon: "Maybe we should at least hear him out?"
He took a step forward, hands open in a gesture of honesty.
Him: "I'm offering you all the money I have. And every single share I own."
Cha-yeon: "I accept."
Inner Cha-yeon: "Where's the catch?"
Him: "A fake marriage. You, Lin Cha-yeon, will appear as the owner of a global fashion boutique chain. I, Han Temu, will continue to run my international corporation. Pure business."
Cha-yeon: "Let's get out of here. He's clearly mistaking us for some namesake fashion tycoon."
Inner Cha-yeon: "Let's leave with dignity. Like his offer was beneath us."
Just as Cha-yeon reached for the doorknob, her phone lit up.
Incoming Video Call: 엄마 (Mom)
She froze. Inner Cha-yeon screamed internally.
Inner Cha-yeon: "Of course she calls now. Of course."
Time zone check: Her parents' town was always two hours ahead. So for her mom, it was already breakfast gossip hour.
Cha-yeon glanced at the luxurious room behind her. Velvet curtains. Crystal lights. A man in a designer suit watching her with a mix of confusion and amusement.
Too late to hide. She accepted the call with the fakest rich-girl smile she could muster.
Cha-yeon: "Hi, Mom~!"
Her mother's face appeared, already frowning.
Mom: "Are you still doing that 'business'? I saw your face on your cousin's social media. You were in Seoul again!"
Cha-yeon: "It's… going well. Very high-end clients."
Her mom narrowed her eyes, lips pressed tight.
Mom: "Cha-yeon. Enough is enough. I told you, come back home. You're not some city heiress. You're my daughter. Honest, strong, simple."
Cha-yeon: "…Mom…"
Mom: "And besides, the farm boy next door—Minjae—he's waiting. A good man! Owns three greenhouses. THREE. You're not going to find that kind of security in Seoul!"
Behind the phone, Han Temu raised an eyebrow.
Inner Cha-yeon: "Kill me. Right now."
Han Taemu's raised brow shifted into a tight frown.
Inner Cha-yeon: "Oh no. He heard the part about the farm boy. Kill me twice."
She was about to toss her phone onto the velvet bed when her mom's voice came again, sharper now.
Mom: "Cha-yeon, listen to me. We already spoke to Minjae's family. You can't keep running around Seoul like this. Just come home!"
That did it.
Inner Cha-yeon: "She's marrying me off without asking?!"
Cha-yeon (aloud, snapping): "I was going to surprise you, okay?! I was going to bring my husband to meet the family next week!"
The room fell silent. Her mother blinked from the screen.
Mom: "W-what? You… You're married? Why didn't you say anything?"
Cha-yeon's voice faltered. She glanced at Han Temu.
He was still standing in the center of the room, arms crossed, unreadable.
Inner Cha-yeon: "We're doing this, I guess."
She turned back to the screen.
Inner Cha-yeon (aloud): "Because you always rush everything! Now you've ruined the surprise. We'll come visit next week. No need to invite everyone. No sisters, no aunts, no one."
Her mother looked like she'd dropped a melon on her foot.
Mom: "How could you hide this from me?!"
Cha-yeon exhaled sharply.
Inner Cha-yeon (muttering): "Because the marriage was offered… a minute ago."
Her mother didn't hear that part. But Han Taemu did.
Cha-yeon stayed quiet. She couldn't meet his eyes.
He spoke, calm and smooth.
Han Temu: "It's true. I made her a proposal just now. She accepted."
The mother only heard the voice of the "son-in-law" but did not see him.