Joe Yabuki stood in front of the Antiques Shopping Center.
There were many shops here, but most were closed.
He looked around, making sure he was in the right place.
Just as he was about to enter, he noticed two familiar figures approaching.
It was Kim Geon-woo and Hong Woo-jin.
The two were chatting as they walked.
Seeing Joe standing there, they stopped their conversation and walked up to greet him.
"Mr. Yabuki."
Joe nodded. "Hello."
Woo-jin smiled and asked, "What are you doing here?"
"Work."
"Oh?" Woo-jin's eyes lit up. "What a coincidence, we're here for work too."
Geon-woo also nodded.
The three stood at the entrance, the atmosphere slightly awkward.
Woo-jin broke the silence. "Well, let's go our separate ways then."
"Alright."
Geon-woo and Woo-jin went in first, Joe following behind them.
After walking for a bit, Woo-jin noticed Joe was still following them and turned back. "Mr. Yabuki, are you following us?"
Joe shook his head. "No. I got here first."
Woo-jin paused, then laughed. "Fair point."
After walking a bit more, they arrived at a bookstore.
Geon-woo and Woo-jin stood in front of the glass door, straightening their clothes and fixing their hair.
Joe walked right past them, pushed open the glass door, and went inside.
Woo-jin turned to Geon-woo and asked quietly, "He's applying for the same job?"
Geon-woo nodded. "Looks like it."
Woo-jin sighed and followed inside.
Inside the bookstore, President Choi Tae-ho sat in his wheelchair in front of a table.
Seeing them enter, he smiled. "Looks like you all found your way here."
Joe and Geon-woo bowed simultaneously. "Yes."
Woo-jin also bowed.
Geon-woo added, "President, this morning I used the advance you gave me to pay off my family's loans."
He bowed deeply again. "Thank you so much. Really, thank you so much."
President Choi smiled. "I have faith you'll do very well."
Geon-woo nodded. "I'll give it everything I have."
Joe looked at Geon-woo, lost in thought.
'An advance?'
President Choi cleared his throat and looked at Joe. "Joe, is there a problem? You can tell me."
Joe shook his head. "I didn't know we could ask for an advance. After all, we haven't even met the client yet. I remember you saying our job was to protect a girl working under you."
President Choi nodded, smiling. "You're right about that. Although I'm the one paying you, I'm not the one hiring you. You still have to interview with Hyeon-ju."
Suddenly, Woo-jin spoke up from the side. "Good morning, sir! I'm Hong Woo-jin. I've helped Mr. Moon with his work in the past. Geon-woo and I are close friends from our time in the Marines."
President Choi nodded. "Mm."
He already knew about Woo-jin.
At the moment, he wasn't planning to hire more bodyguards. After all, Hyeon-ju might be upset if she was suddenly surrounded by multiple guards.
Woo-jin, having grown up on the streets, likely understood President Choi's thinking.
If it were just Geon-woo, President Choi might hire Woo-jin as an extra. But now with Joe here too, the chances of Woo-jin being hired alongside Geon-woo were slim.
So Woo-jin decided to fight for this job with everything he had.
"Watching Geon-woo struggle from the sidelines, I was truly ashamed I couldn't help more because of my limited means. It killed me inside. I'm relieved he met someone like you who could help him. I'm really grateful for that. I also believe that I, Hong Woo-jin, can be of service to you. I've done this kind of work before. Not to toot my own horn too much, but I was thinking... You know, since I know the ropes, maybe I could help him adjust faster since he's just starting out. Ultimately, that would be in your favor too."
After his long speech, President Choi nodded. "Mm."
Woo-jin continued, "With these thoughts in mind, I came to you. If you'll allow it, I'd like to help Geon-woo with his work, sir!"
Silence fell over the bookstore.
Geon-woo looked at President Choi expectantly.
So did Woo-jin.
Only Joe seemed unbothered by the situation.
After a long silence, President Choi spoke. "Sure, why not?"
Geon-woo and Woo-jin bowed simultaneously and said in unison, "Thank you!"
President Choi chuckled, then gestured for them all to sit.
After the three sat down, President Choi pushed three cups of tea toward them.
They all picked up their cups and drank slowly.
President Choi said, "Although Hyeon-ju isn't very keen on having bodyguards around, I believe you'll do well with her."
Geon-woo asked, "Ah, um, so what would happen if I were to fail the interview, sir?"
President Choi's smile vanished. "You'd have to return all the money I gave you."
Geon-woo's face darkened. "Oh, but I already used it all to pay back our loan. And you know I'm terrible with words, Mr. Choi."
Woo-jin patted him from the side, signaling him to quiet down.
Then Woo-jin spoke up. "Um, sir. If I can convince her to hire both me and Geon-woo, would that mean I also get a salary?"
President Choi chuckled.
He was planning to give Woo-jin a salary anyway if he got hired.
It seemed Woo-jin thought he'd have to work for free for a while first.
"Yes."
Geon-woo turned to Woo-jin and smiled. "Nice."
Throughout all this, Joe hadn't said much.
President Choi looked at him for a moment but said nothing.
Instead, he addressed all three of them. "Alright, I have a scalp massage I need to get to."
Geon-woo nodded. "Oh, yes."
Woo-jin nodded too. "Yes, sir. Please enjoy yourself."
President Choi turned his wheelchair, then suddenly stopped and turned back.
He rummaged through his wallet and pulled out several large bills. "Also... use this... to get yourselves some food."
Geon-woo received the money with both hands. "Uh... thank you, sir."
Woo-jin added, "You really know how to take care of your employees."
President Choi looked at Geon-woo and Woo-jin. "You two... should stick together no matter what."
Geon-woo nodded. "Oh."
Woo-jin quickly bowed. "Yes!"
With his other hand, he pulled Geon-woo down.
Geon-woo understood and said loudly, "Yes!"
President Choi nodded with satisfaction, turned his wheelchair, and left.
Only the three of them remained in the bookstore.
Woo-jin looked at the money in his hand, grinning from ear to ear.
Geon-woo also breathed a sigh of relief.
Joe stood up and walked toward the door.
Woo-jin called out to him. "Mr. Yabuki, won't you eat with us? The President gave us enough for all three of us."
Joe stopped and looked back at them.
"No need."
"Don't be like that." Woo-jin walked forward. "We're all going to be working together. What's one meal?"
Geon-woo also stood up. "Yeah, Mr. Yabuki."
Joe was silent for a moment, then nodded.
"Thank you then."
Woo-jin patted his shoulder. "That's more like it! Come on, I'll treat you guys to something good!"
The three walked out of the bookstore together.
The sunlight outside was blinding. Joe squinted.
'Working together...'
He looked at Geon-woo and Woo-jin walking ahead, chatting and laughing, and put his hands in his pockets.
His hands were still shaking.
But this time, he didn't mind.