The Uncrowned King of the Peninsula

Chapter 287 President Pei's First Experience with Unspoken Rules
A high-end Western restaurant in Banpo-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul.

"Please, this way."

Bae Yong-joon followed the waiter to the door of the private room, pushed it open, and found it empty; Lee Ji-eun hadn't arrived yet.

After sitting in the private room for a while, he glanced at his watch and realized it was past their agreed-upon time. He took out his phone and made a call to her.
Du~du~
The sound on the phone stopped abruptly; Lee Ji-eun had hung up.

Well?
Something?

Bae Yong-joon put down his phone and waited for another ten minutes or so, but there was still no news from Lee Ji-eun. He frowned slightly, wondering if something had happened, when there was a knock on the door of the private room.

"Please come in."

"Guest, this way." The waiter opened the door with a smile and led the person behind him in, and the private room seemed to light up suddenly.

It's Lee Ji-eun.

She wore a simple, pale yellow dress with white flowers that reached past her knees, revealing her two delicate, bright white legs. Her little feet were clad in white socks and shiny round-toed leather shoes, which were neatly placed together.

Her long, black, wavy hair was tied into a braid, hanging diagonally down her chest from one side of her fair neck.

Her makeup was very light, her fair skin had a slight rosy glow, and she looked full of vitality. The small mole on her cheek was just right, highlighting the girl's innocence.

Bae Young-joon raised an eyebrow.

Lee Ji-eun seems a little too innocent tonight.

Their eyes met, and Lee Ji-eun gave him a faint smile, revealing the reserve of a young girl.

"Why are you dressed like this?" he asked.

"President Pei, is there a problem? You should like it, right?" Lee Ji-eun asked in return, her faint smile still on her face.

"No." Bae Young-joon smiled, recalling the selfie Lee Ji-eun had sent him during their phone chat that morning.

The simple white nightgown and the unadorned features, devoid of the elaborate makeup of a big star, revealed a different kind of pure and captivating beauty.

Is this actively fulfilling one's own needs?
Bae Young-joon smiled slightly, thinking that Lee Ji-eun could be quite sensible at times.

He stood up, reached out his hand, and prepared to pull her to sit down. "She's very pretty, like a pure and innocent young girl. I like her very much."

Lee Ji-eun suddenly took a step back, dodging his hand.

"What?" Bae Yong-joon was a little confused about what she was up to this time. "Aren't you going to sit down?"

"President Pei, since you know she's an innocent young girl, how can you just hold her hand like that?" Lee Ji-eun's expression turned serious.

hiss……

Bae Yong-joon looked at her slightly furrowed brows and seemed to understand what game she was playing.

role play?

You like to act, don't you?

“Don’t we like each other? Holding hands isn’t a big deal, is it?” Bae Young-joon said.

If you want to play a game, you should first try out the settings.

The pet's little house is a setting, and Lee Ji-eun's innocent braided hair in front of you is also a setting, but what is his own setting?
Bae Young-joon became a little curious.

"Mutual affection?" Lee Ji-eun gave a polite smile, but her refusal was obvious, showcasing her acting prowess. "I'm sorry, it seems you've misunderstood my feelings for you."

"I have great respect for you."

So that means you don't like it?

Seeing that Lee Ji-eun seemed nervous, Bae Young-joon rubbed the tips of her braided hair with his delicate white fingertips, slowly figuring out the rules of the game for tonight.

"Really?" He smiled and pulled out a chair across the table. "Since you're so willing to invite me to dinner, how could it be that I misunderstood?"

"Perhaps it's something you're hiding in your heart, who knows?"

Ask yourself again, do you like me?

"I don't like it, I'm sorry." Lee Ji-eun took another half step back.

Bae Young-joon felt that tonight wouldn't be a romantic evening.

Forced love?
A glimmer of hope rose in his heart. "Then why did you invite me to dinner if you didn't like it?" he continued. "There must be a reason."

“Because,” Lee Ji-eun looked at him, her pure eyes sparkling with an indomitable light, “because our company president insisted that I come.”

"I was forced into this situation."

"President Pei, please respect me. Show me what you're capable of. Even if I get blacklisted or blacklisted, I will not give in."

"I'm not afraid!"

Looking at Lee Ji-eun, who was as steadfast and chaste as a martyr, Bae Young-joon blinked.

Oh wow, unspoken rules.

So that's the kind of thing they were into.

Damn it, damn it! President Pei is going to personally experience what it's like to be a victim of unspoken rules.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

"Sit down, Ji-eun-ssi. I think you've misunderstood me a bit. I just want to make friends with you." Bae Young-joon smiled and gestured to the chair. "Don't be so nervous."

"Do we need to go to such lengths to make friends? Do we really need to come all the way here?" Lee Ji-eun looked at the beautifully decorated private room. "The soundproofing in these rooms is really good."

"Even if you scream for help inside, or get a spanking, no one outside can hear you."

"You don't have ulterior motives, do you?"

Whether Lee Ji-eun was warning or teaching, her serious words made it hard not to be distracted.

Bae Young-joon shook his head, seemingly amused, "How could that be? We're good friends, of course we have to respect each other's privacy."

"Please sit down and have a meal with me. Then you can go back. Consider it an explanation to your President Yu, how about it?"

Lee Ji-eun didn't say anything, glanced at him, and sat down in the chair.

"Ji-eun, is it okay for you to call me that?" Bae Young-joon asked with a smile.

Lee Ji-eun crossed her arms over her chest, remaining noncommittal.

"Is that all? We're friends, so there's no need to be so polite."

"It's just a meal, why overthink it? Having more friends means having more options, it's always good." Bae Young-joon suddenly wondered why he was so familiar with the situation.
No, no, I'm clearly a respectable person.

"Mmm," Lee Ji-eun responded slowly.

"Actually, I really like your songs, I guess you could call me a fan." Bae Young-joon explored Lee Ji-eun's version of the song little by little.

"I wonder if I'll have the honor of hearing you sing a few lines?"

"I'm sorry, President Pei, I'm not feeling well tonight."

Lee Ji-eun seems a bit stubborn.

"Really? Are you hungry? I ate some lunch and I'm feeling pretty good now." Bae Young-joon smiled.

"Really? You're doing very well?" Lee Ji-eun suddenly asked, seemingly incredulous.

"What, doesn't it look like me..."

Bae Young-joon suddenly stopped.

He lowered his head slightly, and a round-toed leather shoe reached under his eyelids, gently brushing against his calf. The movement was so light that it made him feel a little tingly.

Looking up again, I saw Lee Ji-eun across the table, her innocent face showing a hint of wariness.

"President Pei, how well were you feeling tonight? Talk is cheap."

She snorted and gently lifted his trouser leg with her round-toed leather shoes.

Bae Young-joon swallowed hard.

That wicked woman, she's really wicked.

(End of this chapter)