Even though I thought it didn’t make sense, my gaze slowly traveled up his spine and finally reached his face.

Oh my goodness.

My heart, which hadn’t raced even during the commotion, now pounded heavily.

Was it a Christmas miracle, or a curse?

A memory from five years ago came back as vividly as if it had happened just yesterday.

The man I met at a graduation party during my study abroad. Kye Da Hae’s perfect ideal type.

The handsome Korean who had hastily left after scribbling down his contact info had appeared suddenly, like the goblin from that drama I liked.

Maybe it would have been better if I had been struck by the weapon Kim Chang Sik was wielding.

If he acknowledges me, it would be best to pretend not to know each other. For both of us.

What snapped Da Hae out of her tangled thoughts was Kang Jae Kyung’s voice casually asking about recent happenings.

“Chang Sik. Have you been well?”

“Get out of the way!”

Though his wrist was lightly restrained and trembling, Kim Chang Sik refused to easily let go of the wine glass in his hand.

Jae Kyung, who had maintained a relaxed expression throughout, twisted his wrist with just the right amount of force.

With a short groan, the falling glass was deftly caught by the man’s other hand as he signaled the guards with his eyes.

His sharp gaze softened into a gentle smile directed at the gathered adults. As if telling them to trust him and not worry.

“Why don’t we wait until morning to deal with punishment for this incident? It’s late, and I don’t think the lady would like to stay much longer. I’ll calm Director Kim Chang Sik down and send him off.”

He was a man skilled at balancing strength and flexibility.

Even excluding his qualifications and abilities, that’s how Kang Jae Kyung’s reputation was as a person.

Gentle yet dignified, with an aura befitting of authority, but also a benevolent inclusiveness that embraced everyone as a leader.

Adding his sociable side that made time to mingle well even outside of business settings, his evaluation was always top-notch.

Horizontal leadership. Humility and frugality. Natural manners. Success achieved through his own convictions regardless of his background. An overpowered character with outstanding looks to boot.

Even if meticulously designed, that was Kang Jae Kyung’s current public image.

The man’s head turned back over his shoulder after receiving the adults’ approval.

In the process, he completely blocked the space between Kim Chang Sik and Kye Da Hae.

“Is that alright with you?”

Da Hae’s eyes, which had met the man’s as he politely asked for her opinion, lowered diagonally.

Then she quietly stared at his sleeve cuff stained with red. It was clearly a different color from wine.

It’s not like he was wearing armor. Doesn’t it hurt?

Soon she lowered her gaze to the floor and nodded, and the man left the banquet hall with Kim Chang Sik after a slight bow.

Da Hae declined the escort of the president’s office secretary who approached her and went over to Jung Soon.

Her sharp gaze that had been glaring at Kim Chang Sik’s father softened as she looked over her granddaughter.

How dare they. To my precious child who is too good even to look at.

Though she tried to keep her expression in check, her thin fist trembled with anger.

“Grandmother.”

Yes, my dear.

This old woman won’t let that crazy household off easy.

As if telling her not to worry, feeling the flames burning fiercely in her eyes, Da Hae pulled up the corners of her mouth and smiled.

“See? I told you blind dates don’t suit me.”

The eyes of the onlookers focused on them.

Along with the worried glances wondering what to do now, curiosity followed.

They might hope for her to make a scene and turn things upside down, but she had no intention of living up to their expectations.

The chairwoman’s granddaughter, unconcerned with such gazes, gave a brief apology to the gathered adults for causing trouble before leaving the banquet hall.

Jung Soon’s eyes, which had been pitifully following her wronged granddaughter, flashed with a chilling light as they flew to Kim Chang Sik’s father.

“I deeply apologize, Chairwoman!”

The chairman of M Resort, pale-faced, bowed deeply with his arms pinned tightly to his sides.

Apologize?

Her gold molar ground tightly inside her firmly closed mouth.

“I gave you a chance because you begged to do well.”

“Ch-Chairwoman…”

“You dared to covet my granddaughter with such a mess of a son!”

A fierce roar erupted from the enraged old woman.

The shoulders of Chairman Kim, under bombardment, jolted upwards with a start.

As they shrank back down, he bowed his head so low it nearly touched the floor.

“I have no words even with ten mouths, Chairwoman. I don’t know how to apologize to your granddaughter… I will severely, very severely, discipline that Kim Chang Sik. Please calm your anger…”

“What?!”

“I-I’m sorry…!”

Jung Soon’s eyes twisted sharply.

In an instant, the banquet hall was enveloped in a cold air, and even the warm music like carols and chansons that had been playing mechanically lowered its volume discreetly.

Though they didn’t have a direct business relationship, there was absolutely nothing good about getting on the bad side of Chairwoman Bae Jung Soon, who had a solid standing in both political and business circles.

So for the sake of his son’s future as well, all he could do was prostrate himself and rub his palms together.

“Tsk. What kind of parenting did you do as a father for your son to turn out like that.”

Clicking her tongue roughly and rubbing her forehead, Chairwoman Bae tried to calm her anger.

Since the one she truly wanted to boil alive was Kim Chang Sik, she decided to stop scolding the father here.

“That face. Make sure I never see it again, or it won’t be pleasant. If you dare approach again, know that I’ll use everything I have to utterly ruin you.”

As Bae Jung Soon turned away coldly, the backs of several people bowed behind her.

Chairman Kim, his tension released, collapsed in place forgetting all dignity.

It was a night when one’s knees gave out due to the Siberian cold air that had hit the heart of Seoul without any forecast.

* * *

Underground parking lot.

Kim Chang Sik, who had found his car among the lined-up luxury sedans, irritably shook off Kang Jae Kyung’s hand, which was unclear whether it was supporting or restraining him.

“I held back because of your face. I was going to teach you a real lesson.”

The man, showing not a hint of remorse, didn’t even apologize for Jae Kyung’s hand that had been injured because of him.

Kang Jae Kyung and Kim Chang Sik. The two were high school classmates.

Jae Kyung had always generously accepted Chang Sik, who always acted close.

“But you know, Jae Kyung, did you really have to go that far? The more I look at it… I wonder who this was really for.”

Kim Chang Sik, sitting with his rear on the hood, looked up at Jae Kyung with lecherous eyes.

This highlighted the already apparent height difference between them even when standing.

“You want to hook up with that Kye Da Hae girl? Is that why you tried to score some points?”

So you admit it!

“I didn’t know even a blockhead like you had carnal desires.”

Finding even his own words funny, Chang Sik bent over laughing raucously.

As he rose up heavily, his finger poked Jae Kyung’s wooden shoulder.

“How great you must be… huh? It’s all about you on the news, even on video platforms. I wish I could be like that! Damn it,”

“…Is that so?”

“Yeah, you pitiful bastard. Our Kang Jae Kyung is quite a catch… but what good is being the eldest son? It’s the second son who monopolizes love.”

Kim Chang Sik, babbling freely with his slurred tongue, finally grabbed the steering wheel.

This was after stubbornly sending away even the designated driver Jae Kyung had called.

While halfheartedly trying to dissuade him by asking if he’d be alright, Jae Kyung briefly pressed his phone screen.

As he hit the send button, he lightly pulled up the corners of his mouth.

“Chang Sik. It’s a Christmas present.”

What nonsense.

Kim Chang Sik sneered as he started the car with his arm on the window.

The ivory sedan that rolled away, barely grazing Jae Kyung, left the parking lot with a roar.

And before that vibration had even faded, the urgent sound of sirens reached his ears.

Wee-ooo wee-ooo!

It was the police who had been dispatched after receiving Kang Jae Kyung’s report text.

By tomorrow morning, it would make the news, big or small. The drunk driving of M Resort’s second son.

Turning his back on the screams echoing from the parking lot entrance, Kang Jae Kyung walked away leisurely.

“Ahhh!!! Kang Jae Kyung, you bastard!!!”

You said it was your wish.

* * *

Haa…

A warm breath blew into the air.

The milky white breath contrasting starkly with the pitch-black night created a path as it dispersed.

Da Hae, who had stopped her gesture to hail a taxi, hugged her shrinking body with her arms crossed.

Her slender frame shivered like an aspen tree at the cold wind brushing her skin.

In the aftermath of the commotion, she had come out forgetting even the coat she had left behind in her daze.

In fact, she wasn’t sure if it was Kim Chang Sik or Kang Jae Kyung who had shocked her more.

She had left her car behind to begin with, so she needed to take a taxi back, but the Christmas Eve night streets were only quiet.

With even her phone dead, she felt like a lost adult child in the middle of the city.

As she was debating whether to go back to the hotel, suddenly a warm sensation touched her skin that had been scraped by the icy wind.

A heavy weight was added to her shoulders where the thin dress had been fluttering.

The coat, long enough to reach her feet, felt soft against her skin.

She thought the woody scent carried on the wind suited winter very well.

Her gaze on the ground caught a pair of neatly placed straight-tip handmade shoes.

Just looking at the shoes, she could guess the coat owner’s sense.

Her gaze that had traveled up from the shoes lingered for a while on the long legs, brushed past the well-fitted vest, passed the deep wine-colored tie, and paused briefly on the neatly fastened shirt collar.

If she raised her chin a little more, a handsome face smiled plainly as it stretched its lips.

“It’s cold out.”