Seo Ah was in a fluster, pretending to be ill and worrying if her quick-witted mother-in-law, Hyun Sook, would notice. Fortunately, Hyun Sook did not inspect the rooms but went straight to the kitchen to serve the nutritious porridge she brought and called her son and daughter-in-law, who were sitting together on the living room sofa, to the dining room.

“Sit down and try this. It tastes good.”

“Mother, please sit too. Have you had your meal?”

“Yes, we always eat at 6 pm when your father is home. He says digestion gets difficult if he eats later.”

Seo Ah pulled out a chair for Hyun Sook and then sat opposite her.

“Don’t you get hungry if you eat that early?”

“We go to bed early too. Automatically at 10 pm, my eyes just shut. But Seo Ah, where does it hurt?”

Hyun Sook gently placed her hand on Seo Ah’s forehead.

“There’s no fever. Is it muscle pain? Haven’t you been working too hard on your recent lessons?”

“It’s… fine. Mother, shall I get you some tea?”

“No need for that. Just eat. You too, Kang Woo.”

Despite her son’s sinister smile, Hyun Sook ignored it and turned to Seo Ah.

“Why are you here at this time? Your father wouldn’t like it.”

Kang Woo tasted the nutritious porridge, then switched to the hangover soup made by Seo Ah.

“That’s true. I said I wanted to check on Seo Ah because she seemed ill, and he readily agreed for me to go.”

“Ha.”

With a cynical response, Kang Woo closed his lips.

Seo Ah thought Nam Tae must have sent Hyun Sook to keep an eye on them.

Suddenly, she lost her appetite. Her elated mood plummeted.

“Why aren’t you eating, Seo Ah?”

Prompted by Hyun Sook’s question, Kang Woo looked at Seo Ah, picked up the spoon she had put down, and handed it back to her.

“Eat some more. You’ve hardly eaten anything all day.”

Hyun Sook’s smile widened at Kang Woo’s kindness.

“It’s so good to see you two getting along so well. I wanted to have a honeymoon like that. At least Seo Ah can live beautifully.”

“Mother, really… Kang Woo, you eat. I’ll take care of myself. Thank you.”

Seo Ah maintained an awkward smile and kept the rhythm. Worried that Kang Woo might laugh or show a mischievous expression, she was relieved to see him respond calmly, urging her to eat more.

They somehow managed to finish the meal. With Hyun Sook insisting, Seo Ah left the dishes in the sink and headed to the living room.

They sat around the sofa. Hyun Sook and Kang Woo took their places on either side of Seo Ah.

“Seo Ah, what are you learning these days?”

“I’m… actually working nowadays.”

“What kind of work?”

“I’m writing.”

“Oh my! That’s great. It would be a shame to waste your talent. I was told I had a knack for writing too.”

“Why don’t you start writing now? Age doesn’t matter for becoming a writer.”

“Should I? Then next time, I’ll write a poem and bring it for you to see.”

“I don’t know much about poetry, but I’ll still have a look.”

Hyun Sook playfully tapped Kang Woo’s knee across Seo Ah.

“How about you? What’s new?”

“Same as always.”

“What does ‘same as always’ mean? Isn’t it frustrating, Seo Ah, when he’s like this?”

Hyun Sook quickly sided with Seo Ah, who appeased the situation with a laugh, not wanting to agree openly.
Hyun Sook quickly sided with Seo Ah, sending her a look that pleaded for agreement. Seo Ah diffused the situation with a laugh, not wanting to openly agree.

“Kang Woo, when you talk to Seo Ah, you should think whether what you’re saying is enough to bother or bore her.”

Kang Woo chuckled as if he found this absurd.

“Still, it’s not too much. You’re inherently reticent, which often leads to misunderstandings. Living with it, I realized that men who talk less seem more attractive during courtship. Right, Seo Ah?”

“Yes.”

“Marriage is different. Living with a man who constantly keeps his mouth shut can be infuriating for a wife. It just leads to more misunderstandings between the couple.”

Hyun Sook, who had been taking Seo Ah’s side, now looked at her softly, seemingly with something to ask.

“Mother, do you have something to say?”

“I think this is my second visit to your house.”

“I’m sorry, Mother. We should have invited you over more often.”

“No, that’s not what I mean. We’ve been busy, that’s all. Seo Ah, would it be okay if I stayed here for a few days?”

“Of course, Mother. Why even ask?”

Unbeknownst to Kang Woo, Seo Ah had recently heard from her physician about Hyun Sook’s deepening depression and the advice that the family should pay more attention to her.

Feeling guilty for not having taken better care of her, Seo Ah was more than willing to have her stay.

“Please feel comfortable. I’m really happy about it.”

“Really?”

Hyun Sook lit up like a child.

“Then I’ll stay for a few days. But don’t mind me. Continue as you were. I’ll make myself comfortable.”

“Yes.”

“Oh my, it’s past 9 already. Seo Ah, which room should I use?”

“Follow me, Mother.”

Seo Ah led Hyun Sook to Kang Woo’s room, the largest besides the master bedroom.

After Hyun Sook had prepared for bed, Seo Ah returned to the living room.