Seated at the table, we made dumplings together.

Se Ah’s hands were surprisingly skillful, as if she could run a factory.

“Are you sure we only made enough for the two of us?”

“Anyway, we’ll give some to the housekeeper, some to your mom, and keep the rest for ourselves.”

“At the main house, they already have some prepared.”

“Oh. Right. You can stop if it’s too much, Kang Woo. We’re almost done.”

“I like to finish what I start.”

Kang Woo placed the freshly made dumplings on the tray, mechanically picking up another wrapper.

Se Ah was filling another round wrapper in her small palm, her sparkling eyes and gentle fingers catching Kang Woo’s gaze.

“Where did you learn to make dumplings?”

“Back at the orphanage, and in cooking classes. But this is easy since we bought the wrappers.”

“It would be easier to buy them ready-made.”

“But it’s different when you make them yourself. And it’s fun.”

“As long as you’re happy.”

His tone was blunt, but his words were laced with a smile.

When Kang Woo finally looked away, Se Ah caught his glance, just a moment too late.

It was fascinating to see him, even in plain sight. Usually, he was so busy that we only saw each other late at night.

Here we were, sitting together, making dumplings on a weekend!

“You’ll have a pretty daughter, Kang Woo. You make such nice dumplings.”

I was grateful he didn’t refuse and stuck with it stubbornly.

“You’ve heard that saying, right?”

“From my mother. It turned out to be false. She had me, after all.”

Despite his sarcastic joke, Se Ah laughed heartily.

Her laughter was always a delight. Kang Woo smiled lightly, his chin lifting.

When did she manage to get her cheeks covered in flour again? He started to rub her cheek with his thumb, then realized his own hands were also covered in flour.

“Ah, forgot.”

“Did you do that on purpose?”

“Absolutely not.”

Se Ah, appearing vexed, reached out her hand, but Kang Woo easily stopped her.

“Let’s be fair. You know how important that is to me.”

“Let it go. Be generous.”

“No way.”

Then she let go, smearing Kang Woo’s face with flour in her excitement.

Caught off guard, she looked at his face.

When did his smile disappear?

“Did I go too far without realizing? Sorry.”

Retreating a few steps back, Se Ah tried to return to her place, but the gentle smile didn’t return.

“Sorry. It was just a joke.”

Was he upset? Perhaps she had been a bit too rough in return.

Glancing around, Se Ah tried to gauge his mood.

“Did you enjoy it?”

“What?”

“Making dumplings.”

“Yes. I guess.”

As she let go of his hand, Kang Woo stood up. Suddenly pulled close by him, she had to look into his deep, dark eyes. His lowered eyelids and faintly spreading smile had an air of seduction.

“I want to enjoy it too. Like a married couple should.”

“What?”

“We should probably throw out the remaining dumpling filling.”

A casual remark, but Kang Woo made his meaning clear.

Enveloping Se Ah’s cheeks in his hands, he gently pressed his lips against hers.

At the Cheongdam-dong main house.

Hyun-sook lay in bed, unable to move due to a heavy head. It was because of a big fuss with her older sister who visited yesterday.

“Your husband is so indiscreet, meddling everywhere. I can’t even hold my head up because of him.”

“Just live quietly. Don’t disgrace our family.”

She hadn’t interacted with her family for two years. The final straw was their lack of attendance at Kang Woo’s wedding.

Yesterday, when they suddenly visited, she thought maybe they felt guilty for not attending the wedding. Such a foolish mistake.

“Ma’am.”

A call from outside the door from Mrs. Young-cheon.

“Yes.”
“The Assemblyman urgently requests your presence. He wants you to come to the dressing room.”

“Alright.”

What now?

Hyun-sook’s listless body rose from the bed, her face devoid of color. After tidying her disheveled hair and clothes, she stepped out of the bedroom.

The living room was silent, and the house was even more tranquil since the staff were also taking their break.

Wiping the cold sweat from her forehead, Hyun-sook opened the door to the dressing room.

A travel trunk and a few golf bags were standing starkly in front of the wardrobe.

“Where are you going?”

Her voice was barely audible, so she had to ask in a hoarse tone.

“To Jeju, for 2 nights and 3 days. Pack some things.”

Hoping to avoid any fuss from Nam-tae, Hyun-sook reluctantly started packing.

“What’s in Jeju all of a sudden?”

“Don’t you see the golf bags?”

“It’s just too sudden. I’m curious why we’re going.”

“What does it matter to you? Even if I tell you, what can you do?”

Hyun-sook zipped her lips and continued packing. Nam-tae watched her, not leaving the room.

“That shirt is too flashy, isn’t it? And what about that tie, so drab.”

To Hyun-sook, it looked fine. Nam-tae often wore it.

“Should I pack something else?”

“Think, woman! We’re going to Jeju for golf, not just for fun. You still need me to tell you everything. Really, unbelievable.”

Hyun-sook’s hands halted as she reached for another shirt.

“Hurry up, or we’ll miss the flight.”