CHAPTER 2: The Perfect Candidate
šSeoul ā Back Alleys, University District
The sound of plates clinking, the sizzling of tteokbokki on the grill, and the faint chatter of late-night students filled the air of the crowded street market. Among the noise, a young man in a beige apron wiped sweat from his brow and stacked empty trays onto a steel rack. His name tag read:
LEE YUVAN
š§ Seoul National University ā Neuroscience Major
Tall, with broad shoulders and an effortlessly lean build, he stood out even among the crowd of young men. But what truly caught attention were his eyes ā deep green, intense, with a storm always brewing beneath the surface.
He moved quickly, efficiently, polite to customers and always with a quiet smile. But behind that quiet smile was a world of burden he never voiced.
Orphaned at thirteen.
No scholarships.
No family.
Just sheer willpower.
By day, he attended rigorous medical classes. By night, he worked at local stalls and delivery shifts. His dream? To become a neurologist and one day open a clinic for underprivileged children. But dreams were expensive ā and reality, brutal.
š
Across the street, inside a sleek black car, Eunbi sat in the passenger seat, her tablet glowing as she observed from the shadows. Her assistant next to her whispered, "That's him, Miss Eunbi. Lee Yuvan."
She watched him finish his shift, bow politely to the owner, and sling his backpack over one shoulder as he walked off into the night. The glow of a passing taxi briefly illuminated the bruises on his knuckles ā likely from his side job as a part-time mover.
Eunbi's fingers flew across the tablet, accessing databases, records, and quietly pulling strings no regular person could.
š YUVAN, LEE
Age: 25
Height: 6'2
Status: Orphan, No Known Relatives
Education: Seoul National University ā Neuroscience Final Year
Part-time Jobs: Food stall, Delivery, Bartender (weekends), Mover
Financial Status: Bank debt, Student loans
Criminal Record: Clean
Personality: Introverted, hardworking, loyal, emotionally reserved
Love life: No relationships reported in the last 3 years
She smirked.
šÆ Target found.
šNext Morning ā Kim Corporation Tower
Jennie sat at her desk, flipping through reports while sipping black coffee. Her dark silk shirt matched the icy mood she always carried. She didn't look up when Eunbi entered.
"I've found him." Eunbi placed the tablet on the table and swiped to reveal Yuvan's profile.
Jennie glanced at it for half a second before returning her eyes to her coffee.
"Looks poor. That's a good start."
"He's brilliant, too. Final year neuroscience student. Has no family, so no extra baggage. Doesn't drink, doesn't party. Keeps to himself."
Jennie raised an eyebrow. "Emotionally unavailable?"
"Perfectly. I doubt he even knows how to flirt."
A flicker of amusement passed over Jennie's lips. "Good. The last thing I need is someone falling in love with me."
"I can arrange a meeting. Casual, accidental... He works at a luxury bar part-time on Fridays. Want me to make a reservation?"
Jennie swiveled her chair toward the skyline. Her fingers tapped the desk slowly.
"No. Tell him someone wants to meet. Don't tell him who. Just say it's a... business opportunity. Offer enough to get his attention."
Eunbi paused. "And when he asks why him?"
Jennie turned her face slightly, her tone sharper now.
"Because he's desperate." š
"And desperate men don't ask questions. They sign deals."
Jennie stood up, her black heels echoing against the marble floor as she walked toward the window. Seoul glistened below ā beautiful, chaotic, gullible.
"Prepare the contract. Full legal terms. One-year marriage. No intimacy, no romantic obligations, no questions about my past or my life. He gets an apartment, monthly allowance, tuition fees paid."
Eunbi nodded, already typing.
"And what does he owe you, Miss Kim?"
Jennie smiled faintly.
"His silence. His signature. And his ring on my finger for the next twelve months." šš¤
As Eunbi left, Jennie looked back at the photo of Yuvan.
So quiet. So invisible. So tragically... perfect.
"Let's see how well you play husband, Mr. Neuroscientist."
A storm was coming. And he had no idea what he was about to step into šŖļø