Chapter 30: The Suspension Bridge Effect and Slaves to Emotion

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The two-hour journey was neither long nor short. Having skipped breakfast, Suzy sat in the car snacking, though the dates recommended by the guide were cloyingly sweet, leading her to push the rest toward the man after just one bite.

"You don't travel often, do you, Lun-hoo? Why did you exchange so much money just now? Didn't you already exchange a batch when you arrived?"

Watching Che Lun-hoo count the cash in his wallet, she wondered why he would need so much unless he planned to buy a mountain of souvenirs. Was there really such a long list of people to gift? "Could it be for all those 'older sisters' and 'younger sisters' from your past? Lun-hoo..."

Seeing the man’s expression shift, Suzy quickly clamped her mouth shut, silently scolding herself for her sudden lack of tact. She usually prided herself on being composed and professional in her interactions; why did she feel like a different person today?

Fortunately, Che Lun-hoo didn't seem offended. He offered an awkward smile, explaining that he was buying gifts for his younger sister.

A seasoned veteran of many battlefields, Che Lun-hoo was not easily rattled. However, Suzy’s comment reminded him that he should probably get something for "Big Sister Sica" as well. She had been asking to meet him ever since he returned from Hong Kong, and since he had finally made it to Morocco, he couldn't return empty-handed.

As Suzy began mentally calculating who else needed a gift, the name "IU" slipped out. It instantly conjured the image of that night when he and IU were caught in a scandal—the girl with the flushed, adorable face, as sweet and charming as a soju advertisement.

"IU... My younger sister is a huge fan of hers. I didn't give her anything meaningful for her birthday recently. Do you think IU could write a few words for her?"

He had bought a bag with his own hard-earned money, which had delighted Se-jeong, but he knew she was an avid IU fan. Since the "rabbit" sitting before him had a great relationship with IU, a simple favor could make Se-jeong happy for a long time. He was more than willing to trade on his connection with this beautiful employer.

"That's no problem at all. But why isn't she a fan of Bae Suzy? Honestly!" Suzy muttered under her breath. The scenery along the way was vast and pleasant; despite the heat, the brilliant sunshine kept her spirits high, and the smile never left her face.

Looking at her, and remembering his meeting with IU, he realized that the women who appeared calculated and sharp were actually inferior to these "hunters." True hunters always appeared as gentle, sweet, and approachable, seamlessly weaving their "tactics" into the fabric of daily life.

The suspension bridge effect was a terrifying thing. Miles away from home with limited contact with the rest of the film crew, he couldn't fully suppress his emotions. Loneliness only deepened his growing fondness for his employer, making him more susceptible to this psychological phenomenon.

All he could do was practice constant self-reflection, reminding himself not to be a slave to his emotions, striving to remain rational and calm to avoid jeopardizing this hard-won relationship through impulse or misunderstanding.

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As one of the world's most famous "Blue Cities," every building was painted in dreamy shades of cobalt. Walking along the uneven cobblestone streets, Suzy kept busy having her manager snap photos of her from every angle.

"Actually, this 'djellaba' isn't traditionally worn by women here; they usually wear 'kaftans.' But it seems female tourists prefer the structured look of the djellaba."

There was no local custom forbidding women from wearing them. The two of them, accompanied by the manager, entered a shop selling local attire—their guide having been left behind outside the mountainside town due to car trouble.

Most shopkeepers could communicate in English, and as a top student whose skills were sharp enough to get him into the North Carolina officer training program, Che Lun-hoo served as the primary translator.

Faced with a dizzying array of ethnic clothing, he bypassed the brightly colored options, choosing two simple, muted-toned garments—one thin, one thick. When Suzy draped one over her shoulders, she looked remarkably elegant.

"He said this one is 800 dirhams, about eighty dollars."

Before he could finish his sentence, Suzy had already pulled out her wallet to pay. She even bought one for their manager, who had stepped away to get drinks, and casually asked if he wanted one too. He felt a pang of regret for his lack of vigilance.

"Oh, boss, you're so naive! You're supposed to haggle!"

Suzy remained unbothered by his critique. She might have haggled back in her school days, but after earning real money, she no longer had the energy to obsess over such trivial details.

"Is it too expensive? I think it's fine! It doesn't cost that much anyway!"

Watching the man’s look of genuine regret, Suzy found him inexplicably cute. Sometimes the suspension bridge effect wasn't just one-sided. She didn't know where this would lead, but she found herself genuinely concerned about his future.

Sometimes, regardless of personal gain, one simply wants to see another person’s life and career get on the right track. This kindness, buried deep within, was one of his most attractive qualities.

"Follow me! I'll show you the shop next door. I need to buy some gifts for people anyway."

He grabbed his beautiful employer's arm and led her a few doors down. But when he asked for the price, it was nearly the same—or even slightly higher—as the first shop. The merchant started at 850 dirhams.

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Suzy looked at the man with a sense of schadenfreude. *See? I didn't get ripped off! Look, if you bought it, it would be the same price!* But what followed left her jaw on the floor.

"150! I'm buying several. 150 dirhams each, not a cent more."

His firm, resonant tone made the dark-skinned Berber merchant shake his head repeatedly, insisting such a price was impossible and an insult to his craftsmanship.

The man didn't argue. He simply grabbed Suzy and started to walk out. Suzy, however, wanted to buy them anyway—after all, he had worked hard to travel this far with her, and she was always generous with those around her.

Before she could intervene, the merchant called out, conceding that for the sake of such a handsome couple, he would sell them at a loss for 150 dirhams each. Suzy felt the djellaba in her hand lose its luster; she had been the "big spender" after all.

"It's all your fault! If you hadn't told me, I wouldn't have known! And I can't believe you're actually buying me a gift."

Che Lun-hoo had picked out a vibrant, vintage-style djellaba for her, and the shopkeeper even threw in some scarves. With the wide hood pulled over her head, she struck a pose for him to take photos.

"If we had let that driver do the shopping for us, he probably could have gotten them for 100 dirhams."

This was, after all, one of the world's three great countries for scams; the knives used to fleece tourists were sharpened to a mirror finish. But Suzy seemed distracted by her new robe, or perhaps the cost of a few hundred dollars simply didn't matter to her.

The manager laughed until she was doubled over upon hearing about their ordeal, though everyone became much more vigilant afterward. Che Lun-hoo kept pulling out his phone to check his travel guide.

"Lun-hoo is a real expert at living on a budget! You're better at haggling than us women!"

The manager’s comment made them both burst into laughter, breaking their composure. Even though she had been the "sucker," she hadn't expected this guy to buy her a gift. Little did she know that being overly generous doesn't just make you a target for scams—it can also invite unexpected trouble.