Kang Jae Kyung’s insurance. Becoming such an existence wasn’t too bad. It wasn’t free insurance, after all.

The one who was rather flustered by the tepid reaction was Kim Yeon Woo. She struggled to lend credence to the Kye Da Hae insurance theory.

Saying that the CEO Kang had used a ploy for his succession, and that otherwise it didn’t make sense to rush into marriage after returning to the country.

The person in question was nonchalant. She was a bit surprised that even the foolish Kim Yeon Woo thought this way.

“By the way, Da Hae.”

Suddenly, a voice with changed temperature calls the name sweetly. Unpleasant breath touches the cheek fully.

“You dump him first. Don’t become a sitting duck after he sucks you dry.”

“…”

Kim Yeon Woo, thick-faced but with transparent intentions. Had she still not given up on the man she couldn’t have even when she begged her rich father?

“Yeon Woo.”

“Yes?”

Large eyes blinking repeatedly to meet her gaze.

Da Hae, who had been looking at her indifferently, soon tilted her head as if troubled. This time, Da Hae’s lips approached Yeon Woo’s ear.

“Even if I dump him. You can’t have him.”

“Wh-What…?”

The high-pitched tone that burst out lowered as she became aware of her surroundings.

I’m telling you the truth? Adding a whisper, Da Hae smiled brightly while wrinkling her nose bridge. Her peach-colored cheeks rose plumply along with it.

Just then, an announcement introducing Chairman Kim spread throughout the hall. All the guests were seated.

Even as she reluctantly returned to her seat, Kim Yeon Woo’s eyes were fiercely upturned with bloodshot. As if to say, just you wait and see.

But it’s not like lasers would come out of them, so there was no impact.

It was a bit regrettable that Seo Jin Hee wasn’t there to share this exhilarating scene with.

Soon after, thunderous applause poured out.

As Chairman Kim, who had finished his opening speech clearly, came down from the podium, the people who had been waiting for him lined up.

It was when she was hurrying her steps before Kim Yeon Woo, who must have been thoroughly riled up, could come to pick a fight again.

The dress shoe that suddenly stretched out intentionally tripped her.

Is the finale Da Hae’s role today as well?

In her swaying, collapsing field of vision, the cunning faces of Yeon Woo and the kids appeared as if in slow motion.

The faces that had been wearing smiles suddenly turned aghast, but it couldn’t have been out of concern for her. The question was immediately resolved.

“Ah…?”

It was too weak to be called a scream. The eyes that had reflexively squeezed shut slowly opened as they sensed something strange.

It was around then that she felt the abdomen that had been pressed due to inertia was sore.

A heavy arm firmly wrapped around her waist like a safety bar for bungee jumping. Kye Da Hae dangling while relying on it.

Even though it shouldn’t be, the warm and firm body of the safety bar somehow felt familiar.

From the cool woody scent to the handmade shoes from a Milanese artisan seen in her downward gaze.

“…This is why.”

Even the low, deep voice was just right.

“I can’t leave you alone.”

It was the voice of the overbearing but welcome policyholder.

Kang Jae Kyung, who wasn’t supposed to return until tomorrow evening, appeared. Suddenly, like a goblin using teleportation.

The man who gently put down the woman hanging limply lowered his face, gripping her exposed shoulder.

His pitch-black pupils scrutinized every nook and cranny as if to devour her.

Da Hae breathed out a laugh at his gaze, which was persistent and thorough as if checking on his companion’s well-being after returning from a hunt, even to the point of being quite serious.

Then Jae Kyung, who had been checking her wrist this way and that, met her gaze.

“Shall I eat you up?”

The sharp eyes soften in an instant.

Standing upright, he stretched his lips mysteriously while stroking his chin. Lips silently forming the words ‘Shall I?’ The turbid laughter was a bonus.

Da Hae’s eyes narrowed thinly as she sensed his ominous intention. He never stops at just the first verse.

It’s not a joke, the man whispered, adding a murmur while twitching the corner of his mouth.

The man, who wrapped his arm around her slender shoulders and pulled her close to his side, changed his temperature in an instant. His eyes, full of coldness, swept over the familiar faces one by one.

The group that had been glancing at each other awkwardly welcomed CEO Kang with forced smiles.

Kang Jae Kyung did not withdraw his chilly gaze. It was an exceptional occurrence. For him, who was invariably gentle, to not return greetings.

Yeon Woo, who had become nervous, changed her strategy.

“Da Hae, are you alright? You should be more careful, especially with so many people around.”

Da Hae, who had just been thinking how warm the man’s arm blocking the air conditioning was, rubbed her earlobe with distaste.

It was her own way of ignoring, not wanting to engage in meaningless squabbles.

However, CEO Kang didn’t seem to have any intention of letting it slide.

“The habit of attacking in groups is exactly like hyenas.”

This is too blunt to be a soliloquy, my dear.

Sure enough. The corners of the eyes of Kim Yeon Woo, the leader hyena, rose fiercely.

“Who attacked whom? You shouldn’t slander cultured people like this, CEO Kang. Hyenas, really!”

“Ah.”

Is he going to apologize?

“If it’s the same habit, perhaps barbarians would be more fitting.”

As if that would happen.

“Oh my, oh my goodness! Barbarians?! This is truly outrageous!”

The people of the frontier. Although they didn’t have as much majesty or grand spirit as them, somehow it was relatable. Their flustered expressions were quite entertaining.

Da Hae, who had barely contained the laughter that burst out without resistance, tugged on the hem of Jae Kyung’s jacket.

There were already many eyes gathering, detecting an event at the boring reception.

Although she didn’t want to hear complaints that the gentlemanly image Jae Kyung the double-faced had built up until now was ruined because of her, so she decided to leave the place first.

Da Hae lifted her small chin high and shook her head.

“Let’s go home.”

Jae Kyung was silent. He just stared at her with eyes widened into circles. Then his gaze moved to the small hand gripping his clothes.

The small, white hand that kept tugging, urging him.

Even his sharp eyes had softened by now.

Home. For Kang Jae Kyung, home was a place he wanted to escape from as soon as possible.

A place with no one to visit, no one waiting. Therefore, a place he didn’t have to return to if he didn’t want to. That’s what home was.

The home Kye Da Hae spoke of sounded different. It might have been a projection of what she hoped for.

A place with the woman who made him dream of things he never dreamed of. I wish that place could be the home I return to, such a dreamlike wish.

Meanwhile, Da Hae tugged on his clothes once more. Wondering why he was just staring like that.

“Hm? You said let’s go.”

“Shall we?”

The man turned on his heel without any stubbornness. Behind him flew sharp criticisms like “How unlucky” and “This is outrageous” and “What a sight”.

Thud. Jae Kyung’s dress shoe finally came to a halt. It was because of Kim Yeon Woo’s vicious promise of “Just you wait”.

The large hand that had been wrapped around the slender shoulders covered her entire crown.

Da Hae, who had stopped walking along with him, looked up at him as if to say “What is it?”, and Jae Kyung left words saying he’d be right back, so wait just a moment, before retracing his steps.

The man walked away with a refreshing stride as if showing off his long legs.

His destination was not the hyena pack. Passing by the pale-faced women, the person he sought was Chairman Kim, Yeon Woo’s father.

Come to think of it, he hadn’t been able to greet him in the commotion.

She thought about going now too, but using the shameless rationalization that husband and wife are one, she stayed put. The man who said he’d be right back really did return immediately.

Chairman Kim’s mood, left alone, somehow looked very uncomfortable.

“What did you say? He looked quite angry.”

Da Hae asked out of curiosity as soon as they got on the elevator heading to the parking lot. Then the man’s lips, facing forward comfortably, drew an arc.

“I told on her.”

“…?”

“That his daughter was bullying my wife.”

“You’re crazy…”

Da Hae, who put her hand to her forehead, let out a sigh. She wondered where such ideas came from. A voice full of laughter continued from beside her.

Saying that the enraged Chairman Kim said he would shave Kim Yeon Woo’s head bald, and that she would soon look completely like a barbarian.

Looking at Kang Jae Kyung, who was delighted like a child, Da Hae ended up laughing helplessly too.

First impressions are science, they say. The childish but certain revenge was so very Kang Jae Kyung-like.

Reporting Kim Chang Sik for drunk driving on the day of the K-club event, causing a big stir in society. Tattling to the father of the child who bullied his wife.

It was more satisfying than regrettable that her husband was beyond normal, which shows that his wife wasn’t normal either.

* * *

Kang Jae Kyung’s sedan cutting through the city center at a constant speed.

The man with his arm on the window frame glanced at the woman with a face full of things to say. Whenever they stopped at a signal, his keen eyes swept over her as if to penetrate her body.

Earlier, his eyes had been diverted by other things so he had postponed it, but something that couldn’t be overlooked was irritating him. Those deliberately exposed neckline, collarbone, shoulders, and such.

She always buttoned up clothes with buttons, but party clothes seemed to be made halfway, wearing only scraps of fabric that looked short on cloth. For whose benefit.

“What is it.”

Da Hae, unable to withstand the burning gaze, opened her mouth indifferently while keeping her gaze forward.

“You must be confident in your collarbone.”

“As if it’s just the collarbone.”

While snapping back grumpily, the collarbone beauty modestly closed the man’s jacket draped over her shoulders. There was no counterattack.

The man who should have childishly argued was somehow quiet, so when she glanced at the driver’s seat, the side profile touching his eyebrows with an expressionless face somehow looked angry.

Da Hae, feeling awkward, scratched her nape with her curled fingers.

Just as she was about to feel very unfamiliar with herself for being mindful of others’ eyes regarding her attire.