Jae Kyung’s feet stopped on the stairs leading to the garden. In such a hurry, Kang Pil Seung was in his socks.

“Um… Congratulations on your marriage! The woman you’re meeting must be incredibly beautiful.”

Over Pil Seung’s shoulder, the wide-open front door was visible.

He could imagine a terrifying woman running out that way if it were his child.

With just one step difference, Jae Kyung’s gaze leveled with Pil Seung’s. He briefly looked at him after glancing at the entrance. But only for a moment.

“Elder brother Jae Kyung!”

As he resumed his halted steps, Pil Seung followed alongside and grabbed Jae Kyung’s arm.

His brow furrowed slightly as he looked down at that hand, and Pil Seung quickly withdrew it with an “oops”.

That “elder brother Jae Kyung” again.

He disliked how the boy clung to him so familiarly with that innocent face. Coming from that woman’s womb, how different could he be?

“I’m an adult now. I’ve been to the military, and I don’t want to be a puppet under mother. So…”

“Kang Pil Seung! Pil Seung! Oh my, why is he barefoot like that?”

As if on cue, a fussy voice cut between them.

Seeing his mother, who was startled by the sight of the two standing side by side and rushed out wearing any slippers, Pil Seung exhaled a frustrated sigh.

Jae Kyung was used to it. She always so easily revealed her pretense of being glad to have a big son like Chairman Kang.

“She thinks I’ll eat you up. Go inside.”

Watching the retreating back, Pil Seung tightly closed his slightly parted lips.

“Hey! Pil Seung! What’s going on, hm? What did Kang Jae Kyung say? Hm?”

Bang Mi Mi, who quickly approached, carefully examined her son’s face and body.

As if she really thought he might have been eaten up, as Jae Kyung said, her persistent questions were full of worry.

Following Jae Kyung’s sedan with his eyes as it drove away, Pil Seung slowly ran his hand through his rough hair.

“He’s pitiful. Elder brother Jae Kyung.”

The youthful face, devoid of any expression, felt rather bleak.

* * *

A light drizzle was falling.

The streets at rush hour were overflowing with colorful umbrellas pouring out of every building.

In the alley stretching between towering buildings, tightly packed restaurants each lit up their neon signs.

It was a Friday evening where any hesitation would inevitably lead to waiting for a table.

Even behind Da Hae, who had secured a seat at the bar of her regular pub, there was a line of waiting customers.

Though it was a corner touching the wall, avoiding the wait on a rainy day was itself a victory.

Kye Da Hae, feeling pleased about getting in by a hair’s breadth, shook off the rainwater with satisfaction.

She suddenly furrowed her brow. The frequency of the heavy arm next to her bumping into her was increasing.

Though she tried to hold back the sigh that naturally came out, her patience wore thin when it came to Kang Jae Kyung.

“Please maintain some distance.”

“Do you see any distance to maintain?”

Jae Kyung’s brow also creased as he retorted.

It had been ten days since the two met again after the sandwich lunch.

Their meeting to discuss what each wanted after organizing their thoughts was slightly delayed due to work.

“Well, you could… be a bit smaller…”

The voice that was about to criticize crept back into her throat as she assessed the situation.

Even among the line of seated people, Jae Kyung stood out prominently.

His tall stature made his head tower above, and his shoulders extended well beyond the seat.

The seats and tables, whose size she had never considered before, all seemed small and burdensome for the man.

Maybe because it was Friday when everything is forgiven, it looked a bit cute. And somewhat satisfying too.

Da Hae scratched her nape as she glanced at the man who was craning his neck back and looking around.

It seemed like torture to keep him confined in this narrow and noisy space any longer.

“Shall we leave?”

Jae Kyung’s head turned towards the cautiously inquiring voice.

“You said you liked it here.”

“…I didn’t know the dimensions would be this mismatched.”

Jae Kyung’s lips curved into a small smile as he watched the woman looking around awkwardly.

It was amusing to see the woman sharpening even her words of consideration, as if she were in some kind of power struggle alone.

His mood, which had been low since dining with Bang Mi Mi, finally returned to normal.

“Let’s just stay.”

“No, I’m fine, so…”

Da Hae, who was about to prepare to leave, was blocked by a leisurely outstretched arm.

The man, who had placed his hand on the back of Da Hae’s chair, completely turned his body by rotating his shoulders diagonally.

By lowering his long legs to the side of the chair, he completely dominated one side of Da Hae’s view.

“I’m fine too.”

Trapped between him and the wall, Da Hae blankly stared at the face in front of her.

The man, who had propped his chin on his elbow, smiled sweetly, unlike his usual self.

“It’s not so bad being this close.”

“…”

Large eyes blinked, blinked.

After a moment like that, her eyes unapologetically searched for the menu.

Though the pose perfect for being mistaken as lovers and the jawline she would face if she turned her head were bothersome, the bustling atmosphere made it somewhat ignorable.

Da Hae ordered this and that, calling it a regular’s pick. For a place she said she liked, she ordered quite heartily.

The crowd filling the narrow space. Smoke rising from all sorts of grilling food. A noisy and humid space.

Though it was a space condensed with things Jae Kyung absolutely detested, he found it rather agreeable.

Not long after, the table was filled with golden-brown ginkgo nuts and chicken thighs.

As the soy sauce and shredded cabbage were set up across the bar, a bottle of warm sake tilted over Da Hae’s cup.

Naturally, contracts cannot be complete without alcohol.

“You said you’d accommodate my convenience in everything. I thought that as long as that clause was clearly included, I didn’t need to think about anything else. However, we might be asked questions about each other in public interviews or gatherings, so I think we need to prepare for that.”

The clear voice expressing opinions without hesitation was quite resolute. If the table had been wider, she seemed ready to spread everything out and give a presentation.

Workaholic Kye Da Hae’s tendencies were manifested even in this area.

Since they agreed to use marriage as a means for business, she wanted to execute this perfectly like work too.

Jae Kyung, who had separated the items skewered on wooden sticks for easy eating, traced the rim of his sake cup.

Hmm, the voice rumbling in his throat formed a sentence after a slight pause.

“Thirty-five, Kang Jae Kyung. As you know, I’m in the entertainment business. The only medical expense I have is the occasional Tylenol I buy, and even that is actually a ruse for humanity. Because if a person is too perfect, it creates distance, right? I’m insensitive to trends, so I’ve never even caught the flu. Perhaps I’m destined for a long, healthy life.”

Having finished speaking, Jae Kyung raised an eyebrow as if to say it was now her turn.

Da Hae, who had been looking at that face, brought her gaze to the front and chuckled softly.

The self-introduction method was as cute as the dainty sandwiches.

What Da Hae had in mind was a formal questionnaire. Things like education, family details, hobbies, blood type – resume-like stuff.

Just as Jae Kyung had done, Da Hae’s voice continued calmly after taking a moment.

Jae Kyung leaned his head a bit closer, lest he miss her voice due to the noise.

“Thirty, Kye Da Hae. At this age, I have many responsibilities. There’s no trace of humanity to be found. My main job is making shoes. For medical expenses, I mainly buy ointments and band-aids. Since it’s a profession that needs to be sensitive to trends, I catch every trendy flu and disease without fail. I’m probably destined for a short, sickly life.”

“Live long. Healthily.”

“Please live boldly. Short life.”

When the one destined for a short, sickly life responded with a grin, the one destined for a long, healthy life also stretched his lips into a smile.

“Is it true that you’re against marriage?”

Jae Kyung asked as he filled the empty cup.

She hadn’t exactly defined herself as against marriage.

She didn’t feel the need for marriage, was comfortable being alone now, and even lacked interest in dating. Above all,

“If not wanting to create a family means being against marriage. Well, I guess so.”

She thought he would ask why, but the man just nodded in agreement without adding any questions.

“Why? Do you think I lied to fend off Kang Jae Kyung?”

“Don’t people usually use the word ‘reject’?”

Fend off, as if I’m some evil spirit. The man muttered as if talking to himself and lifted his chin to stare at the ceiling.

The reason this large and glib man kept appearing cute must be due to the warmth of the sake.

It certainly couldn’t be because of any lingering attachment from five years ago, or because his visuals perfectly matched the criteria for her ideal type.

It must be so.

Time flowed like water. It had been a long time since she felt that conversing was an enjoyable activity.

While the growth story as the CEO of Samyeong Entertainment was interesting, the story of his father’s divorce and remarriage vividly painted an episode of a human drama watched on fast-forward.

In fact, the reason the conversation was fun might be because there was nothing to think deeply about.

It was mostly stories that could be lightly heard and passed over without needing to feel greatly regretful or offer sincere consolation.

It was interesting to hear firsthand accounts of content that could be found with a simple internet search, but there were no inside stories that only a family member would know.

That wasn’t disappointing. Rather, it was better this way. Knowing too much about a contract partner might prevent properly emphasizing requirements.

She almost considered asking for an explanation about the Post-it from five years ago, but even if there had been some circumstances, nothing would change now, so she left that as an afterthought too.

The conversation went round and round before returning to the essence of today’s meeting.

Jae Kyung’s phone, handed over saying he had written down some rules, had a memo app open.

The content was brief, not even requiring scrolling.

“Article 1. Do not disclose the contractual relationship even to closest confidants.”

Da Hae nodded willingly after reading the first sentence aloud.

Mm, of course we should, she thought.

“Article 2. Cooperate sincerely in each other’s needs or crisis situations? The scope of needs and crises is too broad. And subjective. Let’s create clauses under the articles.”

She requested a revision while reading the second one. The man agreed, rubbing his earlobe glumly.

Not now, later.

Though Da Hae never carelessly skipped over contract details, she said okay since they’d had some drinks and the place was cramped.

For now.

Da Hae’s fingertips, which had activated the memo app containing just two sentences, typed characters cheerfully.

“Article 3. Fully accommodate Kye Da Hae’s convenience.”

“This is like the Japan-Korea Treaty of 1905.”

“There’s no coercion, right? Do you acknowledge it?”

Well then…

“Article 4. The contract period is 1 year. After 1 year, we cleanly sort out the paperwork. No lingering.”

“It automatically extends if there’s mutual agreement or no objections. Like any other fixed-term contract.”

“Yeah, not a chance.”