President Seong managed and oppressed everything about Hee Won, so the range of men she could meet was virtually nonexistent except for college seniors, juniors, and blind dates.

So she was essentially immune to men.

But even so, she had heard things, and Hee Won herself was not so immature as to not instinctively know that not all men were like Kang Woo.

But Kang Woo was different.

Every time he casually swooped in, it felt like her heart wouldn’t survive.

Is this person a master of romance? Is he so skilled because he’s dated many women?

He’s crazy. Why is he so natural?

He approached completely differently. She had never felt flutters for the men she’d met before. They never shook her heart or made it feel like it would burst like this.

The sound of her rapidly beating heart confused her ears and her flushed face felt like it would explode from the heat.

As Hee Won clutched her apron, Kang Woo looked down at her and let out a chuckle.

“The apron suits you well. I’ll go wash up.”

As the large hand that had gently stroked the top of her head moved away, Hee Won unknowingly felt disappointed and turned her head toward Kang Woo.

Their gazes met and Kang Woo smiled mischievously.

“If you look at me like that, I’ll want to do more.”

“Pardon?”

At Kang Woo’s words, Hee Won’s eyes widened, and a smile appeared on his face as well.

“Nothing. Don’t try to do anything, just rest. I’ll prepare breakfast for us to eat.”

At Kang Woo’s words, Hee Won couldn’t say that she had already made it.

He stood still, staring intently as if waiting to hear her answer.

“This won’t do.”

Kang Woo took Hee Won’s hand. The warmth from his large hand holding hers made her heart flutter.

“Sit down.”

After seating Hee Won on the sofa, Kang Woo brought his gaze level with hers and continued speaking.

“I’ll be out soon.”

After briefly finishing his words, he turned around and entered the bathroom.

Only after Kang Woo’s figure had completely disappeared into the bathroom did Hee Won feel like she could breathe.

Her heart was beating rapidly as if she had an arrhythmia.

“Haa, Seong Hee Won. What are you doing?”

Hee Won let out a small sigh as she cradled her feverish face.

She was falling for him every day. The growing feelings were now beyond even her own control.

* * *

A little while later.

Kang Woo’s gaze lingered on the dining table as he entered the kitchen, shaking his wet hair.

His eyes widened as he saw something neatly arranged on a white plate.

“What is all this?”

At Kang Woo’s words, Hee Won said with a shy expression.

“I made it.”

“You did?”

“Yes. It’s not getting cold, so please sit down and eat quickly.”

Hee Won continued speaking as she set down a freshly brewed Americano in front of Kang Woo.

“Actually, when you told me not to make anything earlier, I had already finished making it.”

“…”

Kang Woo’s eyes wavered greatly.

“It probably won’t taste as good as what the housekeeper makes, but I put my heart into it, so please enjoy.”

Even after sitting at the table, he didn’t touch the food and just stared blankly.

Hee Won, who had brought her own coffee and sat across from Kang Woo, asked with an anxious expression.

“Are you feeling unwell?”

She spoke to him as he sat there dazed.

“Ah, no. I’ll eat. I’ll… eat well.”

Hee Won felt as if Kang Woo’s voice had trembled somehow.

“Thank you, Hee Won.”

Kang Woo’s eyes looked somewhat moist as he raised his head.

“Yes.”

So her heart swelled and her eyes grew hot as well.

* * *

After Kang Woo left for work, Hee Won entered a cafe in front of the school to meet Joo Ah.

‘I didn’t think I’d be going back to school…’

It felt strange coming to the school area after so long.

Hee Won, who had taken a seat by the window, recalled the conversation she had with Kang Woo last week.

[Did you take a leave of absence from school?] [Pardon?] [You haven’t graduated yet, right? I thought the semester had started…]

After hesitating, she confessed that her father had told her to quit school upon marriage and that she had submitted a withdrawal form for now. And when she curiously asked how he knew she wasn’t going to school, he answered without hesitation.

[To be honest, I’ve received reports about you before.] […Oh.] [I know your enrollment year. I mentioned it because you didn’t say you were attending school when it wasn’t time for graduation yet.] [Ah…] [I’m sorry if it upset you. It was my mistake to investigate without your consent.] [No, actually I…]

Hee Won didn’t stop Joo Ah when she said she would find out more details about Kang Woo. It wasn’t just anything, it was marriage. So she thought it was understandable to be curious about the other person.

In fact, what bothered her more was that Kang Woo remembered even the year she enrolled.

[So you knew even the small details?]

To her question, Kang Woo said:

[Of course I should remember everything about my wife.]

And he presented her with a choice.

[Do you not want to go to school?] […] [I want you to do what you want to do. If you want, go to school, and if you want to study something else, that’s fine too.]

After hesitating, she answered honestly.

[I want to graduate.]

Despite the time she had agonized, Kang Woo readily said:

[Then do that. Don’t think about the financial aspects, just think about yourself.] [Is it really okay for me to do that?] [Of course you can do whatever you want. Isn’t that why you came to my side?]

After deciding to return to school, things progressed quickly. She withdrew her withdrawal form and went through the re-enrollment process for a month. Fortunately, there was still a spot for her to return, and she was set to start school again from the next semester.

Everything was possible because Kang Woo helped her from start to finish.

Just as Hee Won placed the gift she had bought for Joo Ah from their honeymoon destination on the table.

“Hee Won!”

Joo Ah entered the cafe with a clamorous sound.

Seeing Joo Ah panting, Hee Won asked.

“Did you run?”

“Yeah. I missed you. We only saw each other briefly at our wedding. But you…”

As she spoke, she glanced at Hee Won’s face.

“Your face looks better.”

“Huh?”

“Are you showing off that you’re married? Your face has brightened up?”

Hee Won’s face turned red at Joo Ah’s playful teasing.

Feeling embarrassed, Hee Won covered her flushed face and changed the subject.

“Who, who are those people?”

Hee Won glanced at the people following behind Joo Ah as she spoke.

“Men chasing after you?”

“What are you talking about.”

Joo Ah let out a hearty laugh before opening her mouth.

“They came to see you. Not me.”

“Me? Why?”

When she asked in surprise, Joo Ah shrugged and said:

“Don’t you know yourself? You were already a celebrity, but now you’re a chaebol’s wife. Of course they’d be curious.”

In truth, she wasn’t used to people’s gazes.

Joo Ah always said she was popular, but she had never thought that way even once.

Like how things look darker next to a bright light, her friend was a style that received much more attention than herself.

She was pretty and knew how to dress well, so she had a good style. She also had an outgoing and refreshing personality, so she was popular on campus.

But she thought her own presence was relatively dim in comparison. Unlike Joo Ah with her lively personality, she was rather quiet in nature.

Of course, she had been pressured by President Seong to be second in her class, but other than that, she didn’t seem to have had much that drew people’s attention.

But now, she felt like a monkey in a zoo.

Moreover, the gazes of people whispering about her even felt a bit uncomfortable.

Watching Hee Won like this, Joo Ah leaned in and whispered in her ear.

“They say if you can’t avoid it, enjoy it.”

“…”

“These are gazes you’ll have to get used to from now on. You married one of Korea’s chaebols, so it can’t be helped.”

Her words weren’t wrong.

In fact, most women called chaebol wives were shrouded in mystery. It was also because they were implicitly expected to support their husbands behind the scenes.

But unlike the usual path of chaebol daughters-in-law, Hee Won showed herself. So it wasn’t strange that people’s interest exploded.

Thinking that these were gazes she would have to get used to since she decided to attend school, Hee Won composed her expression as she clenched her fists.

“You’re right.”

And she hypnotized herself.

That there were no people here.

That it was just Joo Ah and herself.

“Right. You thought well.”

Joo Ah gently patted Hee Won’s head before sitting back down in her chair.

“Oh?”

Then she noticed what was placed in front of Hee Won and asked in surprise.

“You got this?”

“Yeah. You asked me to.”

“Wow. This is really hard to get.”

“The New York limited edition, right?”

“Really? You really bought it?”

Joo Ah opened the box and couldn’t hide her joy as she spoke.

“You said you wanted it.”

“I did. But they said you can’t get this even if you have money.”

In fact, Hee Won hadn’t bought it herself. She went to the store Joo Ah had mentioned with Secretary Ha, but couldn’t buy it.

“Actually, Kang Woo bought that.”

“Your husband?”

Joo Ah’s eyes widened in surprise as she asked.

Kang Woo heard that Hee Won was disappointed she couldn’t buy Joo Ah’s gift, and he helped her get the limited edition designer brand earrings Joo Ah had asked for.

Hee Won said with a shy face.

“I wanted to buy it for you, but I didn’t pay for it with money, and I didn’t go buy it myself. I just mentioned it.”

“Your husband bought it?”

Hee Won’s heart fluttered at the word ‘husband’ coming from Joo Ah’s lips.