Siwon learned quickly that the young master's intended's name was Kang Jiyoon , a prodigious classically- trained singer born to parents who were, apparently, famous composers and music producers.  Chung had been quick to add that Jiyoon and the young master were only two years apart in age. When Siwon asked him why that mattered, Chung had explained that the parents of the young miss were intent on finding a man who was no more than six years her senior. And , of course, from a wealthy, dignified family like the Chos.

'The Young Master requests your presence. '  Kyung's voice came floating into the room. Siwon had been fast asleep, but several of the elderly maid's raps on the door were enough to irritate him into getting out of bed. He imagined the bony fingers sliding across the wood, nails like needles, and shivered.

The young master was having breakfast when Siwon came into the small dining room that looked out over a lake. The smell of scrambled eggs , toast, and something else he couldn't quite place wafted through the room.  'Sit.'  Siwon took a seat that was one seat away from where Cho Kyuyun was .  The young master wiped his mouth with a corner of a linen napkin embroidered with gold lettering that read 'TY Corporation', then said : 'Not there. Over there. '  Siwon followed his gaze to the other end of the table.  For breakfast he'd had a watery soup prepared by the cook, made from the many leftovers that the family produced , and rice.  As a consequence, his stomach was still rumbling. Nevertheless he went to sit at the place indicated to him. Being there, his irritation only increased as the young master took his sweet time eating, all the while stoically ignoring his personal servant. Finally, the young master looked him in the eye. Like Siwon's they were brown,  yet the young master's eyes were like icicles that pierced him through.  ''As I assume you know, I shall be making a round of inspection at TY shopping mall.  You shall accompany me as not only my personal servant, but my bodyguard as well , and ensure that no harm comes to me as I ensure a postive shopping experience for our customers. '  I wonder what dad told them before I came here, Siwon thought . Undoubtedly Choi Jin Woo had drawn special attention to his son's Tae Kwon Do skills; it was the one thing Siwon had always retained interest in, and his dilligence in practicing it from an early age had led him to receiving the black belt at sixteen. This was likely to be the reason why the young master demanded him to be his bodyguard for this occassion.

After the young master had dismissed him, Siwon decided to go out to the lake. The autumn foliage was beautiful , and he needed some fresh air anyway.  However, rummaging through the minimal amount of clothes he had stuffed into his backpack, it turned out he only had a jumper and no jacket.  He sighed. The master wanted him to be ready at one, and right now it was ten o'clock. Having nothing else to kill the time with, he headed outside anyway. 

The moderate wind sent the clear water of the lake rippling. Siwon watched as it chased the leaves up into spirals, only to abandon them. They crunched as he walked steadily to the lake and kneeled at its edge. His  reflection stared back at him, all slicked-back dark har and pale skin.

He didn't know how long he was sitting there when a pinging sound on his phone reminded him that he had to be ready at one. This was going to be a long day.