BYB 2

Chapter 2

One month later.

Jiwoo had jumped into her dad’s shop with the grand dream of becoming the god of business, but she had not made any good results. She sat in the empty shop and let out a deep sigh. This neighborhood was not like before, either. A lot of franchise bars and cute pubs had popped up, making business very difficult.

Or is it? Maybe I just don’t have a talent for business?

“Hmm.”

She kept giving extra food for free to college students who didn’t have much money in their pockets. It was because they felt like her younger siblings and she felt sorry for them. Also, she scolded them if they ordered too many side dishes unnecessarily. It was because she hoped they wouldn’t leave any food behind.

Jiwoo was worried about the bad effect that food waste had on the Earth. As expected of a former environment reporter, she was especially sensitive to environmental problems.

Do actions like that affect our sales?

“Phew! What a headache.”

Jiwoo shook her head and stood up quickly. Whether there were customers or not, it was time to prepare for business. So she tied her apron with a serious look, and just then, the part-time worker Ju Minhyuk came close to her.

“Noona! I prepared all the tteokbokki.” “Good job.” “Yup.”

Minhyuk, who answered playfully, drank all of the instant coffee he was holding in one shot and crushed the paper cup with one hand. Then, he threw it toward the trash can next to the entrance as if making a basketball shot.

“Goal…! Oh, missed.” “Hey! Don’t throw paper cups like that. That’s for recycling.”

Jiwoo grumbled and tried to hit Minhyuk’s shoulder, but he lightly dodged it. Jiwoo felt teased, so she poured out a nag and walked toward the entrance to pick up the paper cup.

“Ugh! Seriously.”

Jingle.

Right at that moment, the front door swung open without warning.

Jiwoo, who was about to pick up the cup, almost crashed into the door and barely dodged, taking a step back. Gasp. As her feet got tangled and she was about to fall flat, someone’s firm hand caught her waist.

“!”

Expecting a huge crash, Jiwoo shut her eyes tight, then slowly opened them a tiny bit to check the situation.

Broad, firm shoulders, a face she had to lift her head even higher just to barely see, a calm expressionless gaze, sculpted features, and a cool, refreshing scent. Huh, what is this situation that feels so familiar?

The other person seemed to think the same thing, as a faint question mark appeared on his expressionless face.

Surprised, Jiwoo quickly stepped out of his arms, picked up the paper cup at last, threw it in the trash, and patted her apron for no reason. While doing so, she checked the man again out of the corner of her eye. My goodness, it was really the man she saw in Seoul that day. How could a thing like this happen? Her heart dropped in shock.

Why is that man at our shop?

The man scanned Jiwoo with a persistent gaze, and after a short moment, he opened his mouth quietly.

“Back then… that planner?”

The annoyed look on the man’s face turned gentle, and the corners of his mouth rolled up slightly. Jiwoo missed the timing to say he had the wrong person. As she stumbled over her words without knowing what to answer, he smiled a little bigger.

“We’ve met before.”

No. Well, can you really call that a first meeting…?

“But you are quite aggressive. Do you usually throw your body forward like that? You did that in Seoul, too.”

The man, who pulled a memory she tried hard to bury right up to the surface all at once, spoke to her with an interested expression.

Why does this man remember that short meeting?

Bumping into someone in the middle of Gangnam, where people were packed like crazy, could not even be called an event. It was nothing special. When Jiwoo was running around busy every day because of reporting, she was someone who bumped into people dozens of times a day.

Ah.

But why haven’t I forgotten this meeting, either?

She felt uneasy as her heart felt strangely unsettled. Even though she knew the man’s last words were a joke, Jiwoo wanted to draw a line, so she replied sharply on purpose.

“The one who threw themselves was you. I was just going my way.”

The man wrinkled his brows playfully.

Just then, the front door opened again. Looking like his companion, a man wearing glasses came in and looked at the situation with a face that showed he didn’t know what was going on. Only then did Jiwoo realize that these people were customers.

“By the way, aren’t you going to guide us to a seat?”

It seemed the man thought the same thing.

At the man’s words, Minhyuk came over nervously holding the menu. The awkward confrontation came to an end. Jiwoo returned to the counter, turned on the music, and escaped to the kitchen. Then, she let out a long breath only after coming into the place where nobody was around.

“What is happening…?”

How could a thing like this happen? For a coincidence, it was truly perfect.

“But there’s no reason why it can’t be a coincidence, right? It’s not like that man followed me here.”

Yeah. Hanju City might be his hometown, or he might have come to meet a friend. Although it was a strange situation, he was a person who would leave after drinking a glass of beer.

Just then, Minhyuk, who took the order, came over to Jiwoo.

“Whoa, Noona. We hit the jackpot. He asked for one of everything on the menu?” “…What?”

Minhyuk slid his finger down the A4-sized laminated menu page and spoke. Then, as if he himself found it a bit absurd while saying it, he laughed softly.

“Must be nice. Sales went up.” “How many people? Is it a group?” “Two.” “Why are two people ordering all the menu items?” “I don’t know. Isn’t it great for us as long as we sell?”

Minhyuk, who was in charge of the kitchen, tied his apron and replied dryly. Right as he muttered, “Anyone can see he’s a customer with lots of money, so what are you worrying about,” and headed toward the kitchen—

“Wait, wait!” “Yes?” “Why are the two of them ordering all that? They’ll definitely throw it away.” “What does it matter?” “That’s not right.”

Jiwoo glared as she pointed her finger at the sign hanging on the wall. Reducing food waste was one of the efforts Jiwoo was practicing at this shop for the environment.

<Please Earth food. hurting♥ is leftover reduce ♥The>

Having made up her mind, Jiwoo stepped forward. Her steps walking over were so energetic that they even looked serious, making Minhyuk laugh softly.

“Customer, do you have more people coming?”

The man with his arms crossed slowly raised only his eyes to face Jiwoo. He merely looked at her, but Jiwoo’s heart beat as if they had done more contact than that.

Wow. Looking up close, he’s even more handso— no, this isn’t it!

“It’s because you ordered too many menu items.” “Is ordering a lot a problem?” “I think you won’t be able to eat it all.” “I’m asking, is that a problem?”

As if talking down to people was familiar to him, the man showed his uncomfortable feelings just by raising his eyebrows slightly.

“Are you perhaps going to pack it to go?”

Jiwoo tried not to lose her spirit to that mood and continued speaking. Then, the man with glasses sitting across replied instead.

“No. We are just going to taste a little bit of each. You can just give it to us as ordered.” “Um, no. You are going to leave it all behind, so I cannot give it to you like that.” “!” “Throwing things away is also money.” “…” “I would like it if you order just enough for you to eat properly.”

Jiwoo explained slowly as if teaching a young child, and gave a bright smile. She thought this was enough for him to understand.

Being interested in environmental problems was Jiwoo’s long habit, job, and belief. Even now while helping with her dad’s work, Jiwoo, who still sponsored polar bears, really hated things being thrown away unnecessarily.

“Interesting again.”

Several expressions appeared on the man’s face. At first annoyance, then a blank face, and finally an unbelievable curiosity sparked. Right when Jiwoo was about to look away first—

The man, who smiled brightly, put his hand into his suit pocket and pulled out his wallet. Then, there was no hesitation at all in his hand movement as he pulled out a random card and threw it onto the table.

“Pay for it first.” “Pardon?” “On the condition that you bring out every single menu item one by one. I think giving you double the price will do.”

Jiwoo, whose mouth was half open, did not hide her shocked expression.

Who asked for more money? No matter how much money he gave, she had no thought of bringing out all the menu items. Does this man think everything works with money?

“I don’t accept that much money. And I have no thought of bringing out all the menu items, either.” “Why?” “Because you won’t be able to eat it and will throw it away.”

Just then, Minhyuk came over with big steps and pulled Jiwoo back.

“Ah, customer. I’m sorry. It hasn’t been long since Noona started working here.” “Ju Minhyuk.” “It’s because we can’t make all the menu items with the ingredients we currently have. First, how about trying a few of our main menu items? If you eat and it’s delicious, please come again next time! I’ll remember you and treat you well with extra service.” “…” “Bro, your face is so handsome that I couldn’t forget it even if I tried! Okay? I’ll make it taste amazing for you.”

The man, who thought about something for a moment, eventually nodded his head.

“Alright, then.” “Yes! I will prepare it right away!” “It would be nice if you give us the tteokbokki first. I heard it’s this shop’s signature item. Seafood tteokbokki?” “Ah, ah! You know it!”

Minhyuk shouted excitedly.

“Our shop’s number one sales item, Seafood Tteokbokki! We don’t use store-bought sauce; the owner developed the sauce himself. Yes, I will prepare it right away.”

Jingle.

Jiwoo tried to argue further, but just in time, a rush of customers came in. They were regular students who attended a nearby university. As they took up two tables and got noisy, she had no choice but to turn her steps away. In that split second, her eyes met with the man’s.

His eyes, tangled with curiosity, shone brightly.

What is he?

He is a really strange man.