Eun-soo and her mother descended to the private VIP parking level of Gleam Tower, where a shimmering, custom-painted Rolls-Royce Cullinan was waiting for them.
The driver held the heavy door open as they stepped into the plush, lavender-scented interior, the city lights beginning to twinkle outside the tinted windows.
As the car glided smoothly toward the spa, Shin-hye leaned back and looked at her daughter with a curious glint in her eyes.
"So, tell me more about this Mr. Jin-woo," she began, smoothing her silk skirt. "What exactly does his company do?"
Eun-soo, recalling the way Jin-woo's eyes lit up when talking about his work, felt a small smile touch her lips.
"He's the founder of A2—it stands for Answer AI," she explained. "They create advanced AGI that handles customer service for large businesses."
"It's a very clever system," Eun-soo continued. "It uses a 'human-in-the-loop' approach, so if the AI can't solve a problem, it instantly connects you to a person and then learns from that interaction."
Shin-hye listened intently, her business-minded brain already calculating the possibilities.
"In this economy, AI startups are the ones to watch," Shin-hye remarked thoughtfully. "Perhaps our hospitality group could use a service like that for our hotel bookings."
Eun-soo nodded eagerly, her mind racing with the idea of a professional connection. "You're right, Mom! Dad would love the efficiency of it. Maybe I can suggest a meeting."
The conversation turned back to lighter topics as they arrived at the serene, wood-paneled entrance of the Cheon Kwan Jang spa.
They were ushered into a private, dimly lit suite where two massage beds were prepared with golden linens and the faint aroma of red ginseng filled the air.
As the therapists began the rejuvenating treatment, the room fell into a peaceful, meditative quiet for a long while.
Suddenly, Shin-hye spoke up, her voice dropping to a more serious, motherly tone.
"Daughter, there is a reason I came to visit you today beyond just checking on your apartment," she said softly.
Eun-soo opened one eye, feeling the sudden weight of the shift in conversation. "What is it, Mom? You sound so formal all of a sudden."
"There is a very important marriage proposal for you from the Kang family," Shin-hye revealed, watching Eun-soo's reaction closely.
"They want to arrange a match between you and their heir, Kang Min-ho. Your father asked me to see if you would be willing to at least meet him."
Eun-soo felt a familiar tightening in her chest, the weight of her secret heiress life pressing down on her simple teacher persona.
"A blind date?" Eun-soo asked, sighing as she looked up at the ceiling. "Mom, you know how I feel about these strategic mergers."
"I know, darling," Shin-hye said gently. "But please, just go on this one date. If you don't like him, you can say no. Your father just wants you to give it a chance."
Eun-soo thought about her quiet life and the fact that she wasn't currently seeing anyone. "Fine. If it's just one meeting, I can go."
"Wonderful!" Shin-hye exclaimed, her excitement returning. "He is free tomorrow evening. It's Sunday, so it won't interfere with your school work."
"Tomorrow?" Eun-soo asked, surprised by the speed. "Well, I suppose I don't have any plans. I'll go, but no promises on a second date."
"That's all we ask," Shin-hye said with a satisfied nod.
The rest of the afternoon was spent discussing the latest art exhibitions in Seoul and the newest fashion trends from Paris.
By the time the sun had set, the Rolls-Royce was pulling back up to the grand entrance of Gleam Tower.
"Now, remember," Shin-hye said as Eun-soo stepped out of the car. "Go upstairs and get plenty of rest."
"No binge-watching those romantic dramas tonight," she teased. "You need to look your absolute best for your date with Min-ho tomorrow."
Eun-soo laughed and waved as the car pulled away. "I hear you, Mom! Goodnight!"
As she entered the lobby, she couldn't help but wonder how different her life was—one floor she was a teacher, the next an heiress, and somewhere in between, she was just a girl who liked a CEO's black coat.