Kye Da Hae artificially curving the corners of her eyes with a forced smile, and Kang Jae Kyung stretching his lips in a relaxed grin.

Their gazes were fixed on each other without wavering.

“Let’s just share a family register. People with reliable credit and the same goals.”

A man who needs marriage to achieve a certain goal.

“Don’t lump us in the same category.”

And a woman.

The intense exchange continued without concession until a waiter brought additional food, causing a temporary truce.

It seemed like a perfect match at first glance. But seeing the man and woman sitting across from each other not touching the food and just smiling coldly, the waiter discreetly cleared up and quickly retreated.

Though Da Hae usually liked raw food, she had no appetite even with the feast before her.

Her previously hungry stomach was now inexplicably calm.

As the man silently watched the woman sigh, he brushed his straight eyebrows.

“You have nothing to lose, do you?”

“That’s the problem,”

Da Hae’s lips stopped mid-sentence. Could eyes also have a veil? When she met the man’s downcast black pupils, she felt momentarily overwhelmed.

Overwhelmed. That was the appropriate expression.

The man impassively observed the stiff woman and rested his chin on his bent elbow.

As if to reassure her, he slid the corner of his mouth and calmly continued speaking.

“Let’s use each other.”

* * *

“Ah, why so rushed? Let’s do it slowly after the new year.”

“It’s been 14 years. Not exactly a rushed timeline.”

L Tower. Underground parking garage.

Light from the parking garage seeped into the sedan with its engine turned off.

Jae Kyung followed Da Hae’s retreating figure with his eyes as she entered the building, then lifted his wrist to check the time.

PM. 18:40.

“Ya think you can just push the young lady around like that?”

The disapproving voice of an elder flowed into his ear through the wireless earpiece.

“What’s impossible? I’m Kang Jae Kyung after all.”

“Bullshit.”

The elder coldly rebuked his grandson’s words mixed with laughter.

The caller was Jae Kyung’s grandfather and chairman of Samyeong Group.

Nicknamed the Phone-selling Geezer. Chairman Kang Cha Dol.

He complained about arranging such a meeting so soon after returning to Korea, saying that “those people” were already on high alert, so why rush things.

As Jae Kyung just smiled, Cha Dol clicked his tongue softly and ended the call with words of encouragement to do well and not mess up.

Soon, a quiet silence settled.

Jae Kyung leaned his head back on the headrest and tilted his chin slightly.

14 years. The time that had passed since becoming an adult until now, which could hardly be called rushed.

It was around age 20 that Kang Jae Kyung, who had been living like an empty shell, suddenly found a dream.

Revenge against those who had taken away something precious. Ah, I must do this.

There was no time when his mind had been clearer than the moment he vowed revenge.

If one calls the goal they wish to achieve a dream, then his ominous and impure blueprint could also be buried under the pure word “dream”.

And today. He was about to obtain the cheat key that would become the stepping stone to realizing his goal.

It was time to end those tedious, fierce, and terribly lonely days.

Jae Kyung fixed his loosened necktie and stepped out of the car.

Beep beep, a cheerful mechanical sound announced the locking of the vehicle.

“I don’t plan to back down, but I might get hit once.”

A smile spread across Jae Kyung’s face as he recalled the bold 24-year-old Kye Da Hae.

‘Well… Since he’s an unfamiliar man. It wouldn’t be bad to try something different.’

‘I’ll check him out first. If it’s a dud, I’ll regret it then.’

5 years ago. A certain day that disrupted his plans. The afterimage of that day remained clear despite the passage of time.

Even in this moment.

Perhaps he had been waiting for today for reasons other than obtaining a means.

Thinking this, Kang Jae Kyung was clearly in an excited state at present.

* * *

Da Hae, judging that further courtesy was unnecessary, stood up first.

Jae Kyung merely looked on without emotion and did not try to stop her.

There was another reason for her hastened actions. The meal cost.

Having unintentionally been indebted each time they met, she wanted to ease her conscience even a little this way.

“It’s already been paid for.”

“What…? When…?”

Da Hae’s hand, which had been rummaging through her handbag in front of the counter, stopped, having lost its purpose.

It was quite a feat how he had managed to pay while being with her the whole time.

Soon after, a large shadow loomed over her head. It was cast by the figure approaching from behind, blocking the light.

“No need for thanks.”

“…”

This doesn’t bode well.

Da Hae hurriedly left the restaurant and immediately pressed the elevator button. The man who quickly caught up stood beside her.

“I’ll put my share in Kang Jae Kyung’s coat pocket. I’ll send it by quick delivery to the address on your business card tomorrow.”

Da Hae spoke in a nonchalant tone, keeping her gaze straight ahead.

“You’re drawing meaningless lines.”

“Whether it’s meaningful or not is for the person drawing the line to decide.”

Though she should have ignored him, she diligently replied, caught up in his pace.

The elevator, which usually came promptly, was leisurely on days like this.

“We’ll be using it together after marriage anyway, so why bother giving and taking?”

“Excuse me,”

“Ah. You prefer to manage money separately. I don’t like that sort of thing.”

“Kang Jae Kyung.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll adjust to Kye Da Hae’s preferences.”

The floor indicator numbers on the panel dropped slowly.

At this point, Da Hae’s eyes sharpened, wondering if he was picking a fight.

Her gaze, which had been fixed straight ahead, finally rose diagonally.

The man, with his hands in his suit pockets, received her gaze with a calm face.

“So. Let’s get married.”

“Huh…”

He’s quite the madman. Definitely mad.

It was evident from his expressions that could quickly change from pretending to be kind to transforming when things didn’t go his way.

Rejecting his tempting proposal was along the same lines. She instinctively sensed that nothing good would come from getting more entangled with Kang Jae Kyung.

Rather, people like Kim Chang Sik whose schemes were transparent were easier to deal with.

An intelligent dual personality who perfectly met the conditions of a gentleman was a challenge even for Kye Da Hae, who could see through everyone.

At times like this, one needed to stay calm.

Her contemplative face turned to the opposite side. She could feel the man’s gaze following.

After organizing her thoughts for a moment, Da Hae changed her expression.

“Actually… the truth is.”

The woman, pulling down the corners of her eyes and biting her lower lip, seemed to want to express regret.

Jae Kyung silently watched that face. As if telling her to try anything.

“I’m against marriage. I’m only going on blind dates because of circumstances.”

“…”

“Anyway, I’m sorry.”

Ding! The elevator doors opened wide, arriving just in time.

As neither of them showed signs of boarding, the people already inside subtly gave them looks.

Da Hae hurriedly caught the elevator that was about to close again and nodded towards Jae Kyung.

“Oh, oh my! Look at me. I left my wallet behind. You go ahead!”

Jae Kyung took one hand out of his pocket and scratched the nape of his neck.

Using a wallet she hadn’t even taken out as an excuse. Even stuttering in a way that didn’t suit her. The woman was putting all her effort into drawing a line.

Though there was no need to wait long, there was also no rush. Because in the end, things would go his way.

“See you again.”

The man obediently boarded the elevator.

Da Hae maintained her spot, smiling artificially until the two doors closed completely, then let out a heavy sigh she had been holding in.

What are you going to do when I say I’m against marriage? Even a madman wouldn’t dare try to change someone’s ideology.

The reason she hadn’t used this method until now was because she didn’t want her grandmother Bae Jung Soon, who was obsessed with her anti-marriage granddaughter’s prospects, to look foolish.

The reason she used it this time was because of a groundless confidence that the Phone-selling Geezer’s gambling businessman grandson would somehow keep his mouth shut.

Just looking at how he didn’t boast about the All-Seeing Doll being a one-night stand partner proved it.

If he had been a lowlife like Kim Chang Sik, he would have spread it around long ago.

If not for the resentment built up 5 years ago, he might have been a man worth seriously considering, she quickly suppressed such a crazy thought as Da Hae was about to reach for the elevator button.

“Kye Da Hae! Hey, isn’t that Kye Da Hae? Da Hae!”

A confident high-pitched voice drew closer from behind.

It was Kim Yeon Woo, the leader of the female classmates and second daughter of S Corporation.

“Uh, huh? I don’t think so…”

The voice trying to pretend not to see her was Seo Jin Hee.

Da Hae furrowed her brow at the approaching presence.

She released her bitten lip and twirled around, using her heel as the center.

Jin Hee’s face, standing a step ahead of the group, came into view first.

“Hi Jin Hee.”

“How can it be fine? Did you see the text?”

A voice that seemed to force its way through her lips with ventriloquism pressed Da Hae.

I saw it.

She had seen the message saying that Kim Yeon Woo, who had said she wouldn’t attend, had shown up, and that not coming to the class reunion was a good choice.

Though she had just skipped over the message about the location.

Of all the many restaurants, it had to be this one.

As her awkwardly opened eyes just blinked silently, Jin Hee sighed deeply with narrowed eyes.

Then she took action before the approaching group could start their attack.

It was clear that criticism would fly for skipping the class reunion saying she had a blind date, only to be caught here.

Kye Da Hae was not one to just take that lying down. So ending it at this point was the best option.

“Kye Da Hae~ What are you doing here? You couldn’t have been waiting for us… Didn’t you say you had a blind date at 7? Is it already over? It’s not even 8 yet?”

Sure enough, Kim Yeon Woo had lit the fire.