Chapter 338: Ah yes, the true purpose of life
Just then, a gray-suited man with hair slicked back and a pin that screamed "old money" walked over, bowing slightly toward Jin-Yeok.
"Chairman, there’s someone who insists on a word with you."
I froze. Wait, didn’t that mean he had business to handle right now?
No, no, I think I was only this confident because Jin-Yeok was right next to me. But if he leaves now... what if I lose my other persona?
Jin-Yeok’s lips curved faintly, the kind of smile that was polite but cold at the same time. He really hated entertaining people with a smile, I could tell.
Was he going to reject them?
"Tell him I’ll be there shortly." Shoot! He’s not.
Then he turned to me, leaned in with that soft, secretive smile of his, and whispered smoothly into my ear,
"Stay by the food table and don’t wander. I’ll be back soon." My eyes immediately lit up.
Food table? Oh. My heart perked up instantly. This was as if real love was calling.
"I’ll guard the buffet with my life," I said dramatically, lifting my champagne flute like a knight swearing an oath, my other hand pressed to my chest.
Jin-Yeok chuckled under his breath, the corner of his mouth lifting softly, and that move earned us more curious glances before he turned and walked off with the gray-suited man.
The moment he was gone, I didn’t even hesitate.
I drifted toward the long, glorious table like I was being drawn by a magnet. Ah, yes, it was a magnet indeed.
The love of my life was calling, after all.
My eyes glistened as I beheld the food table.
Plates stacked, silverware glinting, roasted meats dripping with juices, pastries lined like art pieces, and a flute pyramid filled with champagne.
Except for that pyramid that spelled danger zone, everything else was perfect.
I took a deep breath, inhaling it all in, and then exhaled in satisfaction.
Ah yes, the true purpose of life.
I would’ve pledged myself to the buffet if I could.
Without much time wasted, I picked up a plate and loaded it like a man starved in the desert, my eyes practically glistening with devotion. No matter what anyone had to say, I didn’t care.
We would only have issues if they dared to deprive me of this delicious heaven.
For a while, it was quiet and I was left to myself to stuff my belly, dancing into the bliss of food. But then I felt it again.
Eyes from different corners were fixed on me.
I raised my head and found the owner of the eyes that were on me. They certainly didn’t belong to Jin-Yeok, since he was nowhere around.
Gosh, could they be any more obvious?
Their eyes were sharp, invasive, crawling all over me like bugs. It made me shudder in disgust.
Why did I have to think of this while I was in the middle of my dinner?
"Maybe I can take this and hide somewhere. The eyes are doing me no good," I thought, but when I turned, three men stood just a little too close, glasses in hand, their smirks dripping with amusement.
Had they been there the whole time?
My eyes rolled from one to another. They looked smug, as if they had me in the palm of their hands.
How arrogant. Did they even know who I was?
I mean, I wasn’t anyone important in society, but they don’t know that. So, they can’t be careless if they don’t want to get on Jin-Yeok’s bad side.
"Well, well," one of them spoke up first, his eyes sliding from my face to the plate I held, "it looks like Chairman Jin-Yeok brought himself a... new type of pet."
The other two chuckled under their breath, not loud enough to draw attention, but clear enough to grate my nerves.
Pet? Oh no. Oh hell no.
I frowned. I thought they had some sense, but to mess with someone who came in with Jin-Yeok — it looked like they had their graves dug in advance.
I know how to deal with the likes of them.
There was no way they knew my identity, so all this was just speculation.
I set my fork down slowly, lifted my chin the same way I’d done under the chandeliers, and gave them the faintest smile.
They wanted a show? I’d give them one.
"Pet?" I repeated, rolling the word over my tongue like it was some exotic delicacy I’d never heard before. Then, with a faint laugh, I shook my head. "How quaint. To think that’s what you call people you can’t afford to understand."
Their smirks faltered, just a little, but they had definitely faltered.
I was right when I said they didn’t know who I was but were just trying to exert dominance over Jin-Yeok’s companion.
Even if Jin-Yeok was amazing and untouchable, I guess there are still people who can’t come to terms with his brilliance.
Jealousy and envy. The very traits that eat up a man’s heart and ambition.
I shifted my stance, straightening my shoulders and tilting my head with an elegance I didn’t even know I had. It was all part of the plan, you could say.
"You see, where I come from, pets are... disposable." I tapped my fork on my plate once, making just enough sound to startle them. "We don’t parade them in public; we put them down, play with them, feed them, and when we get tired of them, we toss them away." I tapped the fork once again, then raised my gaze, sharp and dark. "Do I look disposable to you?"
The three men glanced at each other, eyes asking what to do when the situation was turning in a way they certainly didn’t expect.
Yes, that’s right. You can’t afford to mess with someone who knows what they’re doing.
didn’t give them time to answer and continued with a scoff.
"What’s this? Cat got your tongue?" I asked, my sharp gaze darting from one to another. "Did you really approach me thinking you could handle me?" I pointed the fork at them. "Who do you think I am?"
"Who...?" They gulped, not knowing if it was the right choice to know my identity or not. "Who are you?"