The meeting room had never seen this level of… chaos disguised as professionalism.
At the head of the table sat Ji-Ah and Seo-Jun.
Both with arms crossed.
Both wearing expressions so serious it looked like they were about to approve a billion-dollar merger.
In reality?
They were judging.
Hard.
A line of women sat across from them, each one styled differently, like a runway collided with a personality test.
Ji-Ah leaned slightly toward Seo-Jun without breaking her "professional" face.
"…This feels illegal."
Seo-Jun adjusted his glasses.
"…We're screening for compatibility."
"We're screening for a wife," she whispered back. "That sounds worse."
"Focus."
Ji-Ah straightened immediately as the first candidate stood.
Candidate #1
Soft pink dress. Gentle smile. Voice like warm tea.
"Hello, my name is Hana. I enjoy baking, volunteering, and—"
Ji-Ah nodded slowly.
"Mhm… mhm…"
Then leaned slightly toward Seo-Jun.
"…Too sweet."
Seo-Jun nodded once.
"Agreed. She will apologize even when Ha-Joon is wrong."
"Dangerous," Ji-Ah muttered.
"Next."
Candidate #2
Sharp suit. High heels. Confidence that could cut glass.
"I'm Lee Ara. I run my own company. I don't tolerate nonsense—"
Ji-Ah blinked.
Then whispered—
"…She will fight him."
Seo-Jun nodded.
"Daily."
"Hourly," Ji-Ah added.
"Next."
Candidate #3
Model-level beautiful.
Like… distractingly beautiful.
"Hi~ I'm Yumi."
Ji-Ah squinted.
"…Too beautiful."
Seo-Jun didn't even hesitate.
"Ha-Joon will get a headache."
"From stress."
"From attention."
"From life."
"Next."
Candidate #4
Quiet. Calm. Minimalist outfit.
"I like reading… and staying home."
Ji-Ah tilted her head.
"…Wait."
Hope.
Tiny.
Fragile.
Then—
"She's too quiet," Seo-Jun said.
Ji-Ah sighed.
"…Yeah. He'll think she disappeared."
"Next."
Candidate #5
Bright colors. Loud energy. Already waving.
"HELLOOO!"
Ji-Ah flinched.
"No."
Seo-Jun shook his head immediately.
"No."
"Absolutely not."
"Next."
Ji-Ah leaned back, rubbing her temples.
"This is impossible."
Seo-Jun flipped a page calmly.
"You said you'd try."
"I am trying," she whispered aggressively. "But his standards are—"
She gestured vaguely.
"—confusing."
"Cute, calm, funny, caring, independent," Seo-Jun listed.
Ji-Ah stared at him.
"…That's not a person."
"That's a wishlist."
"That's a fantasy character."
Before Seo-Jun could reply—
The door opened.
Silence fell instantly.
Ha-Joon walked in.
Calm.
Composed.
Slightly curious.
His eyes moved from the line of candidates—
To Ji-Ah and Seo-Jun sitting like strict judges.
A pause.
"…What is this?"
Ji-Ah sat up straighter immediately.
Professional mode: activated.
"We are conducting interviews."
"For?" he asked.
She gestured dramatically toward the room.
"Your wife."
Silence.
Ha-Joon blinked once.
Then looked at Seo-Jun.
"…You're participating in this?"
Seo-Jun nodded.
"I was assigned."
Ji-Ah leaned forward slightly.
"We rejected twelve already."
"Fourteen," Seo-Jun corrected.
"See?" she pointed. "We're efficient."
Ha-Joon looked back at the candidates.
Then at Ji-Ah.
"…And your criteria?"
Ji-Ah straightened proudly.
"Strict."
"Very strict," Seo-Jun added.
She began counting on her fingers.
"Too sweet? No."
"Too aggressive? No."
"Too beautiful? Suspicious."
"Too loud? Headache."
"Too quiet? Missing."
Ha-Joon stared at her.
Long.
Hard.
Then—
"…What exactly are you looking for?"
Ji-Ah froze.
Opened her mouth.
Closed it.
Then pointed at him.
"You."
A beat.
"…But not you."
Seo-Jun looked away slightly, hiding something that might have been a smile.
Ha-Joon exhaled slowly.
Then stepped further into the room.
"Well," he said calmly, "continue."
Ji-Ah blinked.
"…You're staying?"
"I'm curious now."
She turned to Seo-Jun slowly.
"…We're in trouble."
Seo-Jun nodded.
"…We are."
And just like that—
The interview resumed.
Only now?
The main character was watching.
ok.
The meeting room doors swung open again—
But this time?
Not calm.
Not composed.
A girl rushed in, slightly out of breath.
"Sorry—I'm so sorry, I'm late!"
Every head turned.
Even Ji-Ah paused mid-note.
The girl straightened quickly, brushing back her hair.
And then—
Silence.
Because she fit.
Perfectly.
Not loud.
Not flashy.
Just… right.
A soft-toned outfit, elegant but effortless. Clean lines, gentle colors. The kind of style that didn't beg for attention but still held it.
Ji-Ah blinked.
Once.
Then leaned slowly toward Seo-Jun.
"…Wait."
Seo-Jun adjusted his glasses.
"…Wait."
Across the room, Ha-Joon sat still.
Too still.
Like he had already noticed.
And didn't like that he noticed.
The girl bowed slightly.
"My name is Kang Min-Ji. I apologize again for being late."
Ji-Ah sat up straighter immediately.
Professional mode.
But her eyes?
Interested.
"Sit."
Min-Ji nodded and took a seat.
Ji-Ah flipped her pen between her fingers.
"Why do you want to get married?"
Min-Ji paused.
Then smiled softly.
"Not just to get married," she said. "To have someone I can be comfortable with. Someone I don't have to perform for."
Ji-Ah blinked.
"…Okay."
Seo-Jun scribbled something.
Ji-Ah leaned forward slightly.
"What kind of person are you?"
Min-Ji thought for a moment.
"I like quiet things," she said. "But I also like laughing… a lot, actually. Just not loudly."
Ji-Ah's eyes widened just a little.
Seo-Jun paused mid-writing.
Ha-Joon looked away.
Too quickly.
Ji-Ah continued.
"Can you handle someone… difficult?"
Min-Ji smiled faintly.
"I think people aren't difficult," she said. "They just don't like being understood too quickly."
A pause.
Even Seo-Jun looked up now.
Ji-Ah slowly turned her head toward Ha-Joon.
He was still—
Expression unreadable.
But his fingers tapped once against the armrest.
Just once.
Ji-Ah leaned back, whispering to Seo-Jun—
"…She's scary."
"In a good way," Seo-Jun murmured back.
Ji-Ah nodded slightly.
Then, louder—
"What if he ignores you?"
Min-Ji shrugged lightly.
"Then I'll ignore him too," she said simply. "Balance."
Ji-Ah slapped the table lightly.
"YES—"
Then immediately coughed, sitting back up.
"—I mean. Noted."
Ha-Joon exhaled quietly.
"…Enough."
Ji-Ah blinked.
"What?"
He stood up.
Calm.
Too calm.
"Seo-Jun."
Seo-Jun immediately stood.
"Follow me."
Ji-Ah's eyes narrowed.
"…You're leaving?"
"Yes."
He didn't look at her.
Didn't look at Min-Ji.
Just walked out.
Seo-Jun gave Ji-Ah a we'll talk later look and followed.
The door closed.
Silence.
Ji-Ah turned slowly back to Min-Ji.
Then—
She smiled.
Bright.
"You're chosen."
Min-Ji blinked.
"…Excuse me?"
Ji-Ah stood, clapping her hands lightly.
"Everyone!"
The remaining candidates looked up.
Ji-Ah bowed slightly.
"Thank you all for participating—truly—and for… generously donating your time to this chaos."
A few chuckles.
Confused ones.
She smiled sweetly.
"On your way out, there are sweets prepared at the company gate."
That softened everything instantly.
The girls stood, bowing, thanking her, chatting quietly as they filed out.
Soon—
Only Min-Ji remained.
She stood slowly.
"I'll… come back tomorrow," she said politely.
Ji-Ah nodded.
"Yes. Please do."
Min-Ji gave a small bow—
Then left.
The room emptied.
Ji-Ah didn't waste a second.
She rushed out.
Fast.
Heels clicking like urgency had a soundtrack.
She turned the corner—
And caught up just in time to hear—
Ha-Joon speaking.
Low.
Controlled.
"…This is unnecessary."
Seo-Jun stood beside him.
Calm as ever.
"You didn't say she was unsuitable."
"That's not the point."
"It usually is."
Ha-Joon exhaled, clearly annoyed.
Not loud.
Just… tight.
Ji-Ah stepped in.
"…She's a nice girl."
Both of them turned.
She crossed her arms.
Firm.
Confident.
"And you are meeting her tomorrow."
A pause.
Ha-Joon looked at her.
"…You've decided?"
"Yes."
"On what authority?"
Ji-Ah lifted her chin slightly.
"Best friend authority."
Seo-Jun looked away again.
Definitely hiding a smile now.
Ha-Joon stared at her for a long second.
Then—
"…You're overstepping."
"And you're avoiding," she shot back instantly.
A beat.
Silence stretched.
Then she added, softer but still firm—
"You said find someone."
A step closer.
"I found someone."
Ha-Joon didn't answer.
Didn't argue again.
Just looked at her—
Like he was trying to figure something out he didn't like.
Ji-Ah nodded once.
Final.
"Tomorrow."