Ji-Ah finally stopped moving.
For the first time since sunrise.
The hall shimmered alive now. Guests had begun arriving in polished waves of silk and tailored suits.
Diamonds blinked under chandeliers. Laughter floated like champagne bubbles.
At the entrance, Madam stood greeting them.
She wore a structured ivory hanbok-inspired gown with delicate peach embroidery climbing along the sleeves.
The fabric was rich but restrained, her posture flawless.
A single strand of pearls rested at her collarbone.
Her smile was calm, dignified, almost royal.
Every guest who bowed seemed to carry generational wealth in their pockets.
Ji-Ah exhaled slowly.
"Of course they're all rich," she muttered. "Even their perfume smells expensive."
Everything was running.
Everything was smooth.
So she slipped away.
Out of the hall.
Across the path.
Into the mansion.
She walked straight to her room and closed the door behind her.
For a moment, silence.
Then she reached into her wardrobe.
The emerald dress.
The one she bought that day with the others but never wore. She had told herself she was saving it.
For something important.
Now the fabric slid over her skin like poured glass.
Deep emerald. Elegant.
The cut refined and fitted perfectly to her shape.
She turned to the mirror.
Slowly tied her hair back into a tight bun. A few soft strands escaped naturally, framing her face without trying too hard.
She moisturized her lips until they glowed a soft pink.
Then she picked up her necklace.
A simple but striking piece that rested perfectly along her collarbone.
When she fastened it and looked up—
Her eyes widened.
"Wow," she whispered to herself.
She leaned slightly closer to the mirror.
"You look beautiful," she murmured. "So unreal."
The door clicked open behind her.
She froze.
Ha-Joon stepped in.
Midnight blue suit the one she bought.
Tailored flawlessly.
The fabric caught the light with subtle depth, darker than navy, richer than black.
Crisp white shirt. Dark tie. Hair styled neatly but still soft enough to fall slightly over his forehead.
He paused mid-step.
And stared.
Not dramatically.
Just completely.
His gaze moved from her face to the emerald dress, then back to her eyes.
"You're wearing that," he said finally.
She turned fully toward him.
"Yes."
A small beat.
"So," she asked casually, "how do I look?"
He tilted his head slightly.
"Expensive."
She narrowed her eyes. "That's it?"
"Like you're about to bankrupt someone emotionally."
Her mouth fell open. "Is that an insult?"
He stepped closer.
"No," he said calmly. "It's a warning."
She tried not to smile.
Failed slightly.
"You clean up well too," she replied. "Midnight blue? Trying to compete with the groom?"
He adjusted his cuff. "I don't compete."
"Of course you don't."
He looked at her again, slower this time.
"You look…" He paused, searching. "Dangerous."
Her eyebrows lifted.
"In a good way."
She rolled her eyes dramatically to hide the warmth rising to her cheeks. "Please. I have work to do."
She walked past him toward the door, emerald fabric flowing behind her.
He turned immediately and followed.
"Don't trip," he added casually.
She glanced back at him. "If I fall, I'm charging you 100,000 won."
He almost smiled.
"Then don't lose."
And together, they walked back toward the hall.
Ji-Ah stepped back into the hall and the air had changed.
The ceremony music floated softly through hidden speakers. Guests continued arriving in elegant waves.
At the entrance, Madam still stood poised, greeting each person with measured grace.
Each guest bowed slightly and handed over a crisp white envelope.
Chug-ui-geum.
A blessing in paper form.
In return, staff handed them neatly printed food tickets tied with peach ribbon.
Orderly. Refined. Efficient wealth circulation.
Ji-Ah slipped beside Madam and bowed lightly as new guests approached.
Then—
The music shifted.
Softly, a traditional Thai wedding melody drifted through the speakers, subtle but unmistakable.
Several heads turned.
Three figures entered first.
Elegant.
Poised.
Striking.
Behind them followed four attendants carrying carefully wrapped gift boxes.
The woman in front wore a silk Thai dress in gold and deep jade, embroidered delicately along the hem.
Her posture was regal, her eyes bright and sharp.
Beside her stood a tall middle aged looking man in a perfectly tailored traditional jacket with intricate gold detailing.
And slightly behind them, a younger man, equally polished, equally handsome. He had does that unmistakably look like Nisa's watchful.
Their presence didn't scream.
It commanded.
Guests began whispering gently.
"Are they royalty?"
"No, but close."
"Why do they look like they own islands?"
"They are the bride's family."
Ji-Ah resisted the urge to laugh.
Madam stepped forward gracefully.
The Thai woman bowed with palms pressed together in a wai.
Madam returned the greeting with dignified warmth.
"It is an honor," Madam said smoothly.
"We are grateful to be here," the woman replied. "Our daughter is very happy."
Ji-Ah stepped forward politely.
She bowed respectfully toward the woman first.
"Mrs. Rattanahaiyaporn," she greeted gently.
Then she turned to the father. "Mr. Rattanahaiyaporn."
His name truly refused to be memorized by ordinary humans.
He gave her a small approving nod.
"You have prepared well," he said calmly, scanning the hall.
Ji-Ah bowed again. "We did our best."
The younger man smiled faintly at her. "My sister said you're very capable."
Ji-Ah blinked once. " You must be Teerak .She exaggerates."
The Thai guests were escorted toward the front section reserved for the bride's family.
Whispers followed them like trailing silk.
Someone muttered near the buffet, "They sit like they own stock in the building."
Another whispered, "Even their silence is expensive."
Ji-Ah exhaled slowly.
Only Mr. Rattanahaiyaporn remained near the entrance.
He stood slightly apart.
He would be walking in with the bride later.
Father duty.
Sacred timing.
A few minutes later, Arisoo arrived.
She wore a champagne-toned fitted gown with delicate beading along the neckline.
It shimmered when she moved, understated but undeniably stunning.
Her hair fell in soft waves over one shoulder.
Beside her, Nikki wore a tiny beige suit with a bow tie slightly crooked from too much personality.
He looked like a small CEO.
The second the doors opened fully—
He ran.
"Ji-Ji!"
Ji-Ah barely had time to brace before he hugged her legs.
Arisoo laughed softly. "He's been practicing his walk. He thinks this is his runway."
Nikki looked up proudly.
"You look nice," he told Ji-Ah very seriously.
She crouched slightly. "And you look dangerous."
He nodded, satisfied, and then immediately ran toward the dessert table before anyone could stop him.
Arisoo sighed. "I raised that."
Ji-Ah glanced at her gown. "The dress?"
Arisoo grinned. "Perfect. Wait till you see her."
Ji-Ah nodded once. "Good."
More guests entered.
Then—
Min-Hyuk appeared at the door.
Behind him stood Mr. Park, dignified as ever in a charcoal suit.
Seo-Yeon stood beside him in her black silk dress, looking like she belonged on a magazine cover.
Jeon-Seo stood casually with hands in his pockets, scanning everything like a critic.
A staff member near the entrance hesitated.
" Invitation?"
Jeon-Seo blinked. "Of course we have Invitations. We're emotionally invited."
The staff remained firm.
Min-Hyuk stepped forward calmly. "They're with me."
Recognition dawned instantly.
"Oh! Of course. Please, enter."
Jeon-Seo muttered as they walked in, "Power of association."
Seo-Yeon lightly elbowed him.
Ji-Ah watched them enter, shaking her head faintly.
The hall was now full.
White and peach glowing under chandeliers.
Thai elegance in the front row.
Korean precision in every detail.
And somewhere near the dessert table—
Nikki attempting early access negotiations.
The wedding had not even started.
And it was already unforgettable.