"Mr. Jiang is Chinese, not Korean, so you can speak either Chinese or English," Cheryl Lee whispered in his ear when she noticed his bewildered expression.
Li Xihuai, sitting across the table, immediately addressed the two girls. Upon hearing him, they exchanged a quick glance, understanding the situation, but a hint of embarrassment lingered on their faces.
Some members of their group had studied Chinese, others were fluent in English, and many had spent time in the United States. But these two were native South Koreans; their Chinese and English were limited to basic introductions. They could manage casual conversation in English, but not much else. And everyone in South Korea already knew them—they were famous idols.
"Hello, my name is Kim Taeyeon (Lim Yuner), and this is…" The other girl introduced herself nervously, "Ismithda. We're from Girls' Generation." Both spoke halting Chinese, forcing themselves to be formal and polite. Jiang Hai nodded politely, speaking instead in English.
Hearing his reply, the girls visibly relaxed.
"Mr. Jiang Hai is a very important friend of our country. He isn't familiar with South Korean culture, so we specifically asked you two to assist with communication. Your agency must have made this clear," Li Xihuai said seriously.
The girls' faces fell. They hadn't come willingly—they were far from eager to participate. They were in their twenties, nearly thirty, no longer trainees, yet they were being called upon to entertain a foreign guest. Once popular globally, the two knew that girl groups thrived on youth, and the South Korean idol economy was notoriously ruthless. Once they lost their appeal to the sixteen- or seventeen-year-old mainstream audience, new groups would inevitably replace them.
One of them had been pursuing a solo career successfully, while the other was focusing on acting, aiming to expand into China. But recent bans on South Korean celebrities there had made things difficult. Still, with the wealth and fame they had already accumulated, financial survival wasn't an issue—they could ignore most obligations.
But this time was different. Li Xihuai had called in favors on behalf of the South Korean government. Refusing could lead to far worse consequences than just temporary discomfort. In their country, Li Xihuai was a subordinate before Jiang Hai, but to everyone else, he was a powerful figure who could not be defied.
"Understood," Kim Taeyeon said, lowering her head in resignation. They had no choice but to comply, though it was clear they were not thrilled.
"Come, sit next to Mr. Jiang Hai," Li Xihuai said, gesturing politely. The girls approached slowly and knelt on either side of Jiang Hai. He raised an eyebrow, slightly confused.
"I think, Mr. Li, you might have misunderstood something. I'm not handicapped—I don't need someone feeding me," Jiang Hai said with a chuckle, lifting his teacup and taking a sip. Long Xingben had been one thing, but two unknown women suddenly placed at his side? He wasn't inclined to be impressed.
"No, no, that's not my intention at all," Li Xihuai hurried to explain. "I asked them to come because you're unfamiliar with our country and local cuisine. They can help guide you. Miss Cheryl Lee has lived abroad, so she might not be the best guide for this." He paused, quickly interrupting Cheryl Lee before she could respond, then continued. Jiang Hai nodded, understanding Li Xihuai's strategy but choosing to stay silent.
Jiang Hai observed the two women: one petite, the other tall with long black hair. Appearance aside, he didn't comment; he simply waited.
Li Xihuai gestured to them. The petite girl poured water for Jiang Hai, while the long-haired girl began wrapping food for him. Jiang Hai's already limited appetite sank further as he watched her shove cloves of garlic, perilla leaves, grilled meat, rice, chili peppers, grilled fish, and even a live octopus into a lettuce wrap, slathering it all with barbecue sauce.
"Wait—how do you eat that?" he asked, waving his hand to stop her.
"That's how you eat it!" she replied, blinking innocently. Jiang Hai could only exhale, holding back a laugh.
"Really? You eat it like that? Show me," he said, pointing at her.
"Oh," she replied, ignoring the sarcasm, and stuffed the entire bundle into her mouth, eyes squinting in delight as she made a satisfied "hmm."
Jiang Hai stared, utterly baffled. How could that be enjoyable?
"That's just how it's eaten in South Korea," Cheryl Lee explained awkwardly, noting his expression of disbelief. Even I was surprised when I returned recently… but yes, that's how they do it.
He shrugged. "Heh, you go ahead. I'll eat what I can myself—I'm not used to being fed." Jiang Hai picked up his rice bowl, dipped the beef in barbecue sauce, and began eating normally.
The two girls glanced at Li Xihuai, silently asking if he hadn't noticed. Jiang Hai clearly preferred to eat on his own.
Despite his reluctance, the girls followed suit, trying to finish some of the exquisite dishes Li Xihuai had prepared. The long-haired girl, in particular, ate with surprising speed and precision, clearly experienced at managing meals under pressure. Jiang Hai couldn't help but notice—had she not eaten in such a structured way before, she would have starved by now.