Chapter 11 : Oppa, Who’s That Girl?
“…What’s this?”
Every thought in Kang Bada’s mind came to a halt.
Not only because she hadn’t even considered the possibility of Kim Ha-neul preparing a gift, but also because the contents were extraordinary.
“A bracelet?”
She received a bracelet.
Kang Bada was proud to have seen quite a few accessories in her life, but honestly, she had never seen a design like this before. According to her instincts.
“Did you make this yourself by any chance?”
“Just the design. No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t find anything ready-made that seemed suitable to give to Bada-ssi. So I put in some effort with my limited skills.”
‘Oh my god!’
Kang Bada was fully aware that she was ‘broken,’ but she was so confused that she couldn’t easily control her expression.
The fact that Kim Ha-neul had personally designed it for her was incredibly moving, but the pure astonishment was even greater.
‘He designed this himself?’
The essence of jewelry is to make the wearer stand out. However, if the design is too flashy, it can overpower the owner.
On the other hand, if it’s too plain, it loses its value as an accessory. Thus, maintaining that delicate balance is what determines the skill of a designer.
‘…I want it.’
Kang Bada found herself unfamiliar with her own emotions. Putting aside the fact that it was a gift from Kim Ha-neul, the bracelet reignited her long-lost passion for collecting.
On the whole, it exuded a subtle and unpretentious vibe. It seemed like it would complement any attire while still possessing its own distinct presence.
If Kim Ha-neul hadn’t mentioned that he designed it himself, she could have thought that a world renowned artist had been involved in its creation.
“It might be difficult to satisfy Bada-ss’s taste, but please accept it as a gesture of my sincerity…”
“I like it.”
“Yes?”
“I mean, I really like it.”
In reality, it was more than that.
It felt as though someone had opened his mind, examined the synapses, and custom-crafted the bracelet to perfectly align with her preferences. However, she struggled to find the right words to adequately express her feelings.
Gently cradling the bracelet in her hands, Kang Bada couldn’t hold her admiration as she meticulously examined each intricate detail.
“Is there writing on the inside?”
The engraving was so small that it wouldn’t be visible from a distance. It consisted of alphabets, but it didn’t appear to be in English. Could it be Latin?
“I wanted to present something meaningful.”
“What does it mean?”
“Mors sola. It translates to ‘until death separates us.'”
Uh…
She nearly made a stupid sound in her momentary confusion.
Fortunately, Kim Ha-neul seemed oblivious to her slip-up. He simply continued to explain the intentions behind the bracelet’s design.
“The spiral structure here represents…”
As Kang Bada stared blankly at his earnest face, she found himself involuntarily holding her breath.
“…it’s impressive.”
Can someone really be this impressive? If I were to possess it exclusively, I fear the world would resent me. Nevertheless, I still want to own it, even if I have to bear the consequences.
“I had this thought in mind when I designed it. It was helpful to study while writing a novel with a dwarf artisan as the main character. Ah! I’m talking too much to myself…”
“Ha-neul-ssi.”
“Yes?”
“I’d like to try wearing that bracelet.”
Kang Bada raised her hand.
In response, Kim Ha-neul tilted his head as if he didn’t fully grasp the meaning. Kang Bada found his gesture cute, and she felt like she would burst into laughter anytime.
“Since it’s a gift, please wrap it in my hand by yourself.”
Kim Ha-neul stared at Kang Bada’s face for a moment, as if he came to his senses, hesitantly reaching for the bracelet.
He appeared uncertain and uncomfortable while filling the bracelet. Even in the process, his efforts to avoid physical contact were amusing to witness.
‘Am I his first?’
He was clumsy.
It was probably Kim Ha-neul’s first time putting an accessory on someone else. The mere thought of it excited her inexplicably.
‘It looks so good.’
That was the only thought that crossed her mind.
If only this moment could last forever.
However, time treated everyone equally. Despite his initial struggles, Kim Ha-neul eventually succeeded in putting on the bracelet, rendering his worries pointless.
“···I made the links sturdy because I heard you often lose bracelets. It might be a bit difficult for Bada-ssi to wear it alone.”
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Read from the original site [ https://moonlightnovel.com/ ]
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“Well then, now that Ha-neul-ssi has helped me wear it, it’s fine.”
“Yes?”
“Just kidding. I can ask the nanny for help. It’s alright.”
Kim Ha-neul scratched his head with a slightly embarrassed expression. In that moment, his sleeve slid down slightly, revealing the hidden bracelet.
“Oh!?”
Even Kang Bada couldn’t hide her surprise this time. The design of the bracelet Kim Ha-neul was wearing was an exact match to her own.
“Could this be a couple’s bracelet?”
“Ahaha… Yes, I made a pair of them. Since we’re in a relationship and eventually getting married, I thought we should have something. Rings might feel too cumbersome.”
“······.”
That was a good thing.
Kang Bada struggled to control the twitching of her mouth. How should she react to this and make it appear natural? No matter how much she pondered, she couldn’t find an answer.
‘You don’t normally go around spilling it like this, right?’
Actually, he’s not even someone who plays around, right? The thought naturally crossed my mind, as his actions were so fatally captivating. Her heart felt like it was about to burst, unable to contain the pounding.
“Could it be that you don’t like it?”
‘Could there really be such a thing?’
She wanted to grab Kim Ha-neul’s face right then and give him a kiss. If it weren’t for the patience she had developed as a member of the Daehan Group, she would have done it immediately.
*Phew*
Kang Bada took a deep breath, struggling to suppress the surging emotions. Continuing like this wouldn’t lead to any answers.
“Is there something you want?”
“Something I want?”
“Yes, you’ve given me a gift that I truly like. I want to repay you in some way.”
“No, I made it with a grateful heart for Bada-ssi. It’s already enough.”
He carefully selected his words.
But he couldn’t back down now.
“I have a personality that can’t owe anything.”
“Hmm?”
Honestly, it’s a bit embarrassing for her to admit, but she has rather high standards. She has been fortunate to receive numerous gifts throughout her life, so she could afford almost anything she desired.
“······.”
Meeting those standards isn’t an easy task. If we were to delve into it, she could say that you have given her more than she has given her so far.
It was a form of sophistry.
He was aware of that.
However, Kang Bada found her psychologically cornered, unable to bear it without constructing some semblance of logic, even if it felt forced.
If this continues, the equilibrium will crumble completely. Before that happens, she needed to ease her heart even just a little. Even if it meant weighing it with money.
“As a member of the Daehan Group, I cannot be indebted to anyone. So, please tell me what you desire, Ha-neul-ssi.”
A car would be alright.
A house would be fine too.
She would grant him anything he wished for.
She genuinely hoped to alleviate the tumultuous pounding in her heart, even if it was just a little.
“······.”
Kim Ha-neul remained silent for a while. Observing Kang Bada with his usual calm gaze, he finally spoke after a long moment.
“Would you be willing to listen to anything?”
“Within reasonable limits.”
“Well then…”
Swiftly…
Wearing a mischievous smile, Kim Ha-neul raised his finger. At the sight of it, Kang Bada involuntarily flinched and stumbled over her words.
“W-What does that mean?”
“I want to hire you, Bada-ssi.”
“What?”
“Because I’m a bit short-staffed. Let’s work together for today.”
“······.”
Irritated by his teasing remark, Kang Bada pursed her lips.
* * *
[Ha-neul’s PoV]
“Wow! It’s Ha-neul oppa!”
“Chicken? Pizza? Toys?”
“Do you think I’m Santa Claus?”
Perhaps hearing the sound of the car, the children from the orphanage came out to greet us. The moment they caught sight of my face, they clung to my legs and eagerly expressed themselves.
“I brought chicken feet.”
“Why would you eat chicken feet?”
“I can’t eat them because I don’t have any chicken legs.”
“That’s different!”
“They’re still young. They don’t know any better.”
I handed over the bag filled with food to the children. As they saw the pizza and chicken inside, they cheered with excitement.
“Of course, only Hyung[older brother] can do this.”
“Only in times like this?”
“I’m glad you’re here, Hyung, even in times like this.”
“When children can’t speak.”
With a smirk, I stifled my laughter while observing those who remained silent. They might be rough around the edges in general, likely due to their circumstances, but they weren’t bad kids.
“···Oppa, who’s that girl?”
The girls spoke up, hiding behind my legs. Eventually, even the boys turned their attention to the newcomer.
“···Wow.”
“I’ve never seen a celebrity before.”
“You fool, she’s not a celebrity, she’s an idol!”
“Aren’t they the same thing?”
“They’re different!”
Since they were young children, it seemed they didn’t have much of a filter. Fortunately, it seemed like all their comments were expressions of admiration, at least?
When I turned my head slightly to the back, Kang Bada stood there with a slightly perplexed expression. She seemed unsure of how to handle this unfamiliar situation.
“It’s okay. They’re all friendly and won’t bite.”
“They’re not dogs!”
“Well, sometimes they bark like that… Ah! Why is this person biting and causing a scene!?”
Phew-
Witnessing the unfolding comedy in real-time, Kang Bada burst into laughter. Perhaps some of the tension had eased, as she waved her hand towards the children.
“Hello?”
“···Wow.”
“Noona, Noona! How old are you?”
“Are you a celebrity? Do you appear on TV?”
Just with that, the guard of the girls loosened, and they rushed over to Kang Bada’s side. Watching that, I suppressed a bitter smile.
“···As expected, having a cheat code face does wonders.”
How much bribery did I have to offer to win the hearts of the orphanage children? But Kang Bada effortlessly dispelled their wariness with just a smile.
“Noona, you’re really pretty.”
“Yena’s eyes are clear and she’s really pretty, right?”
“Boys always tease her about her big eyes…”
“Oh my, maybe it’s because Yena is so beautiful. Well, even unnie envies Yena to some extent.”
“Really!?”
And she even has a good personality.
I brought her to the orphanage without saying a word, but she effortlessly blends in like that. Truly, the genes of an insider cannot be hidden.
“Oh, Ha-neul, you’re here?”
“Oh, Director-nim. Are you feeling well?”
“I’m healthy. But who is this person…?”
The director looked at Kang Bada with a puzzled expression. As their eyes met, she sought permission from the children and approached us.
“This is Kang Bada, who will help with today’s work. And this person is the Director ‘Kim Seong-ryeong,’ who is in charge of the orphanage. She helped me a lot when I was doing research before.”
“Hello! I’m Kang Bada.”
“Nice to meet you. But…”
The director kept her words short. Her eyes alternated between Kang Bada and me, and soon a compassionate smile appeared on her face.
“It seems like your expression has improved compared to before. Ha-neul must have welcomed a very special guest.”
“Ahaha…”
It was an answer that couldn’t be denied or fully affirmed, so I responded with laughter. Then Kang Bada stepped forward.
“Director, do you happen to need an extra hand?”
“Well, we’re always short-staffed, but…”
“Then we’ll help!”
Kang Bada’s social skills were fully displayed as she continued speaking with charm. This caught the director off guard, and she responded with a slightly bewildered tone.
“Oh no, it’s all very physically demanding work. Next time when college students come for group volunteering…”
“Ah, then just wait a moment. Manager!”
“······!?”
The director’s eyes widened as her gaze followed Kang Bada’s. It was because a group of men in suits had gathered near the entrance of the orphanage.
“Ha-neul, what about those people…?”
“They said there’s a lot of work to do, right?”
I could fully understand the director’s emotions. Kang Bada was far from being within the category of ‘ordinary.’
“Let’s finish everything today.”
With a light smile, I reassured the director. The men who appeared before us were security guards from Daehan Group, so there was no need to worry.
