He returned her polite smile with one of his. Now that he had consent, he was free to experiment and see how this would play out. He held out his arm, “Well first, I think it would be convincing to look the part. Shall we?” Jaebum’s smile never wavered from being a polite one, though he did allow a little more genuineness to slip through. After all, there had to be something to differentiate this interaction from the ones he had with sleazy executives.
“From here, I suppose we could just walk around. See whether this acts as enough of a shield to deter conversation, though we’ll have to act engrossed in each other.” He chuckled quietly, walking along the side of the hall. “So tell me about yourself, so we have our stories straight. What is my date of the evening like?”
Though his gaze was focused on her, Jaebum could feel the pressure of other people’s eyes on them. This was definitely something new, for those who bothered to pay attention to his actions. He usually never showed up to these parties, and if he did, he was usually pushed into conversations in large groups, rather than off on his own.
Her initial and rather obvious irritability had simmered down significantly. “Yes, I suppose that’d be best.” She smiled courteously as she looped her arm around his. She could go into a rather elaborate rant about how archaic these ridiculous customs of high society were, but it was best not to indulge at that moment.
Sera sauntered leisurely by Jaebum’s side, “I can hardly see that being a problem. I’m sure we’ll find something to talk about to... enhance this act.” She breathed a soft chuckle, nodding her head in greeting to a few of the other guests as they passed by them. Must maintain her mother’s pristine image and seem pleased about it, after all. That was essential for the success of the plot she was cooking with Jaebum.
“I would've normally said that, to your lack of luck, your date works as a CSI, with the Seoul Police Department. That yes, I do get involved with murdered victims, mutilated bodies, just body parts even, or worse... just gooey disgusting remains of severe decomposed human parts... and that yes, I am aware that my job is not fit for a lady of my supposed position, and no, I don’t see myself giving it up, nor was I placed in any negative circumstance in my life for me to seek that job out.” She paused, a soft chuckle escaping her lips after she had not so subtly hinted at her frustrations, “but I suppose that’s not much to your lack of luck in any way now, is it? It doesn’t quite matter.”
“So now that you’re aware of the nature of my scandalous profession,” her words were laced with obvious sarcasm, “we can move on to why I am placed here to begin with. To my lack of luck, I’m one of the last remaining bachelorettes in our family. My mother cares a great deal for appearances, and she somehow thinks that finding a supposed significant other for me would ‘balance’ my life.”
She’d assumed he was aware of her maternal family’s involvement and influence in politics. That was the main reason she was there, although, it was arguable that coming from a family line of military and police personnels on her paternal side, too, played a role. She truly hated having to talk about her supposed ‘good breeding’. What an atrocious (due to its unfair privilege), and unbelievably archaic matter to give such high importance to.
“But enough about me. After all, this has to be mutual for it to work, right?” She smiled a little playfully; feeling a little more at ease. “What can I learn about my date, tonight?”
