Chapter 23: Aren’t you planning to get married?

Hana stepped down from the deck as soon as the ship carrying them arrived at the harbor where they would be conducting their sales training.

Wearing the pink uniform from her boss, Hana followed her friends toward the inn.

"We’ll gather tonight for dinner with the Mayor and his honored guest. Rest for now," their boss said when they arrived at the inn, then quickly went into his own room.

Hana shrugged when her friends turned to look at her. The three of them entered the same room—fortunately, all the participants were women, so there was no problem sharing a room.

"Hana," one of her friends called.

"What is it?" Hana asked as she arranged her clothes inside the small wardrobe beside her bed.

"Aren’t you planning to get married?"

"Why are you asking that?"

"Your body is so perfect. From your face to your figure, you still look like a young girl. Don’t you want to find a rich boyfriend who can help you raise your three children?"

Hana’s other friend nodded. "Hana, you’re too beautiful. How could you end up working as a shop attendant in such a small place? Haven’t you noticed the lecherous look our boss gives whenever he sees your amazing breasts?"

Hana unconsciously looked down at her breasts. After her three sons stopped breastfeeding, strangely enough, they had never decreased in size as they usually did for mothers once their children grew older.

"I’ll wear bigger clothes next time to cover them," Hana replied without thinking much.

Her three friends shook their heads, then went to sleep without continuing the conversation.

When night came, Hana walked toward the dining area with them. She was wearing the black velvet jacket Jezy had given her earlier that afternoon.

"That’s the three of us’ seats," one of Hana’s friends said when she saw their boss sitting in one of the front seats arranged in a circle.

Hana’s arm was pulled forward along with her two other friends.

"Boss, how did you get a seat at the front?" her friend asked once they sat down.

Everyone knew that those who could get seats in the front row had a certain status.

Hana’s boss waved his hand, then leaned down and lowered his voice.

"There will be some video footage taken tonight that will later be used for the Mayor’s guest event as the opening of tomorrow morning’s variety show."

"And then?" Hana asked.

Hana’s boss smiled, then looked at Hana’s still-beautiful face even without makeup.

"One of the variety show crew members saw you on the ship’s deck earlier. He decided to give us front-row seats on the condition that your face will be shown frequently later."

"Me?" Hana asked, unconsciously pointing at herself.

"Of course you. Who else?"

"But I..."

Hana’s boss waved his hand. "Be quiet and sit calmly. Who knows? If you behave well, there might be many new customers who will order goods from our shop later."

Hana stared at her boss for a few moments, then nodded without saying anything, as he wished.

"Good evening, everyone!" greeted the Mayor of Karua, who had now stepped onto the stage to give his speech.

Everyone looked toward the stage in front of them and focused on listening to the mayor’s speech.

Although the Mayor of Karua was not a good person, the residents of Karua City respected him quite a lot. After all, their mayor had complicated connections with the rulers of the Melvin Continent.

"I won’t speak for long," the Mayor of Karua said. "Tonight is the opening event for tomorrow morning’s training, which will be conducted by our honored guest of Karua City. He is also one of the largest investors in this city."

The Mayor of Karua turned around. "Please welcome our honored guest of Karua City, Mr. Brandon Vein. Please come up to the stage."

Applause filled the open area. Many cameras were now pointed toward the stage, trying to capture the figure of a perfectly built man with a broad chest and strikingly handsome face.

"Hana... look at that man," Hana’s friend beside her pointed.

Hana, who was drinking fruit juice from her glass, did not realize that the juice had begun to spill from the corner of her mouth.

Her gaze was fixed on the stage, where the man was now standing.

Hana could no longer hear anything except the man’s voice as he began his speech to everyone.

"Hana... what’s wrong with you?" her friend asked, noticing Hana’s ridiculous state.

Hana did not respond. Her eyes remained fixed on the man holding the microphone. Her hand unconsciously clutched her pounding chest. She blinked repeatedly, unaware that the drink in the glass in her hand had already spilled and soaked her clothes.

"Hana!" her boss finally shouted.

The atmosphere, which had previously been lively because of Brandon’s warm greetings and jokes with the officials from the Mayor of Karua’s office, suddenly fell silent.

Not a single sound could be heard. Hana finally turned toward her three friends and her boss after hearing such a loud shout.

She lowered her head and looked at her wet jacket, while the glass in her hand was already completely empty.

Hana quickly placed the glass on the table and stood up. "I’m going to the bathroom," Hana said without turning around.

"Wait!" Brandon shouted from the stage when he saw Hana about to leave her seat. "Turn around."

Hana lowered her head deeply. She didn’t dare to turn around. That was Brandon—her ex-boyfriend from five years ago. How could she possibly appear before he like this?

"I said, turn around!" Brandon ordered more loudly.

Everyone’s eyes were fixed on Hana, who still did not dare to turn around and look at Brandon.

Hana wiped away the tears that had suddenly appeared on her face before hurriedly running in another direction, trying to avoid the cameras and the many eyes now watching her.

The man she had watched on television for years, the only man she had ever loved, was now in the same place as her.

Brandon frowned, threw the microphone aside, then ran after her. "Hana!"

He managed to grab Hana’s arm and held her tightly. Hana kept her head lowered, not daring to raise her face.

"Damn..." Brandon cursed softly. He cupped Hana’s face, forcing her to look at him. "Hana... are you really Hana?" he asked in a hoarse, trembling voice.