The One-Meter Breakfast War

Minseo woke up before sunrise on her second day as Mrs. Kang.

The East Wing bed was still too soft to be real. The roof did not leak. The air did not smell like wet wood. It smelled like flowers and money. Minseo lay there for three whole seconds enjoying it, then rolled out of bed.

Operation Twenty-Four Seven had entered day two.

The contract said one meter of distance. It did not say what time the distance started. Minseo decided it started at 6:00 a.m. She washed her face, tied her hair, and put on the simple dress the maid had laid out. It was not fancy, but it was clean. Clean was a luxury she planned to use well.

She arrived at the West Wing dining room at 6:05 a.m. with a ruler in her pocket. The ruler was for science. She needed to be sure about the one meter. CEO Kang rolled in at 6:10 a.m. in a black suit. His hair was neat. His face was cold. The blanket was over his legs. He looked like a CEO who had not slept well.

Minseo was already at her spot. One meter away from the head of the table. She stood straight, hands folded, smile in place. She was not in his chair. She was not touching his table. She was just present.

CEO Kang stopped his wheelchair. He looked at the empty chair next to him. He looked at Minseo one meter away. He rolled to the table. Minseo shuffled one meter to the left. The distance stayed perfect.

Breakfast arrived. Soup, bread, eggs, fruit. More food than Minseo had seen in a week at home. She ate slowly. She did not make noise. She did not stare. She only existed one meter away, being a very polite shadow.

The door opened again. Madam Kang walked in on high heels and bad mood. She was not supposed to eat breakfast with her son, but she came anyway. Her eyes landed on Minseo immediately. Her frown deepened.

Madam Kang sat at the other end of the table. She did not look at Minseo. She looked at her son. She did not offer food to Minseo. She did not speak to her. Minseo did not mind. The contract did not require conversation. It only required presence.

Minseo finished her soup. She put her spoon down neatly. She sat still. One meter away. Waiting.

CEO Kang ate without looking at anyone. Madam Kang ate while glaring at the air near Minseo. Minseo drank her water and thought about how nice it was to have three meals planned for the day.

After breakfast, CEO Kang rolled toward his office. Minseo moved with him. One meter. Not closer. Not farther. The secretary tried to block her at the door. Minseo held up one finger. One meter. The secretary checked the contract in his head and stepped aside.

The office was large. Glass walls. A desk that could fit three Minseos. CEO Kang rolled to his desk. Minseo took her spot one meter from the side of the desk. She stood there.

The secretary brought documents. CEO Kang signed them. Minseo watched the pen move. She did not ask questions. She did not yawn. She was a statue with a pulse.

At 10:00 a.m., Madam Kang sent a maid with a message. The message was that Minseo should go to the garden and learn flower arrangement. Minseo nodded, walked to the garden, arranged one flower for exactly four minutes, and returned. She was back at her one-meter post by 10:12 a.m.

Efficiency was her gift.

Lunch was the same as breakfast, but with Madam Kang sitting closer to her son. Minseo adjusted. One meter from CEO. Not from Madam Kang. The geometry was important.

In the afternoon, CEO Kang had a video meeting. The screen was big. People in suits talked about money. Minseo stood one meter away, out of the camera view, but in the CEO’s line of sight if he looked left. She did not move. She did not cough. She became part of the furniture.

Madam Kang appeared in the office again at 3:00 p.m. with the other girl. The other girl was elegant. Her dress was silk. Her smile was practiced. She carried a box of tea. Madam Kang introduced her like she was the solution to everything.

The other girl sat on the sofa. She looked at CEO Kang. She looked at Minseo. Her smile slipped a little. Minseo was still standing one meter away. She had not moved for hours. Her feet were fine. Years of standing in fields had made them strong.

Tea was served. CEO Kang did not drink it. Madam Kang drank it. The other girl drank it. Minseo did not drink it. She was not offered any. She did not need any. She was busy being present.

The other girl tried to talk to CEO Kang. He answered in one word. The other girl tried again. He answered in two words. Minseo did not speak at all. Silence was her armor.

After twenty minutes, Madam Kang said the other girl had to leave. The other girl left with a polite nod. Madam Kang left with a glare. Minseo stayed. One meter.

Dinner was the final boss of the day. The table was set for three. CEO Kang. Madam Kang. And an empty chair. Minseo took her one-meter spot. The empty chair stayed empty.

Madam Kang finally spoke. Her words were sharp. She said the house needed peace. She said the marriage was a mistake. She said the family needed a proper bride.

Minseo kept her eyes on her plate. She did not answer. The contract did not require her to argue. It required her to exist. So she existed. Very well.

CEO Kang ate. He did not defend Minseo. He did not agree with his mother. He just ate. Minseo ate too. The soup was good.

After dinner, CEO Kang rolled to the living room. Minseo followed. One meter. He stopped by the window. She stopped one meter away. The city lights were bright. The mansion was quiet.

Madam Kang watched from the stairs. Her face said many things. None of them were kind.

At 9:00 p.m., the secretary said it was time for the CEO to rest. Minseo nodded and walked back to the East Wing. She measured the distance all the way. One meter from the wall. One meter from the door. Precision mattered.

She brushed her teeth. She folded her dress. She lay on the soft bed and made her night list.

List one: Things that went well today. Breakfast was eaten. Lunch was eaten. Dinner was eaten. No one yelled. No one touched her. She stayed one meter away for twelve hours.

List two: Madam Kang’s attacks. Zero success. Minseo did not cry. Minseo did not leave. Minseo did not break a rule.

List three: CEO Kang’s reaction. Neutral. Neutral was better than angry. Neutral meant she could try again tomorrow.

Minseo fell asleep smiling.

Day two was over. She had survived breakfast, lunch, dinner, tea, and a villain mother-in-law. She had not touched the CEO. She had not spoken unless spoken to. She had been one meter away the entire time.

Tomorrow would be day three.

Minseo set her alarm for 5:55 a.m. Operation Twenty-Four Seven was just getting started.

The jinx bride was not going anywhere.

[End Chapter 2 - 1003 words]

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