“…….”

Damn it.

The spot hit right on target hurt.

It’s true that most of the matchmaking partners were people with obvious intentions, but lumping even those who came with sincerity into that category was just wishful thinking to alleviate guilt.

If so, Kye Da Hae is no different from Kang Jae Kyung. But now was not the time to admit it.

Because I don’t want to lose no matter what logic I have to use.

“I’m proposing we do business. Marriage is just a means.”

“That’s exactly what I mean by rash, CEO Kang Jae Kyung.”

Emphasizing the title carried a mocking tone implying that an owner’s thinking was lacking.

As he had been throughout, Kang Jae Kyung’s face showed no impact as he slowly stroked his straight eyebrows.

“Ah.”

“……?”

“Is that so?”

“Are you asking because you don’t know?”

Might as well recite sutras to a cow’s ear. Da Hae wondered if she had ever felt this frustrated recently. It was indeed unprecedented.

The man scratched the nape of his neck with his long fingers. Then he claimed innocence with innocent eyes.

“I really asked because I didn’t know.”

“…….”

How can such a person exist?

Feeling irritated, Da Hae stubbornly kept her twitching lips closed and walked past the man blocking her path with crab-like steps.

She chose to ignore him.

Ignoring the gaze following her back, she got in the car.

When she pressed the start button, the 6-cylinder engine made a majestic sound, showing off its presence.

Knock knock.

“Let’s… go. Please.”

The man approached the driver’s seat in two steps and knocked on the window concisely. A long sigh escaped through Da Hae’s teeth.

His persistent clinging nature was like a swamp.

The kind of swamp that’s extremely difficult to escape once you step in, sinking deeper the more you struggle.

Though unsure of the level of friendship between the phone-selling old man and Madam Bae, Da Hae recalled the already ruined graceful ending, considering her grandmother’s position.

Her reluctant finger slipped, lowering the window about two-thirds of the way.

She had meant to lower it only halfway.

Then the man grabbed the edge of the glass with both hands and lowered his upper body abruptly.

Da Hae’s head touched the headrest as she backed away from the suddenly close face.

He tilted his head slightly, scanning her face, looking like a beast clinging to safari cage bars.

“Two heads are better than one, they say.”

His breath hit the glass, revealing an opaque mist.

Though close enough for their noses to almost touch, the window played the role of a 38th parallel, precariously covering their lips.

The man who suddenly brought up the paper analogy took in the clear face before him with his eyes, as if about to devour it.

Unknowingly holding her breath, Da Hae faced the pitch-black pupils directly, trapped with nowhere to escape.

Ending the moment that felt like an eternity in an instant, the corner of Jae Kyung’s mouth curved into a smirk.

His calm voice that parted those lips rang in her ear.

“Let’s be rash together. Shall we?”

* * *

Da Hae’s arrival at work was later than usual.

She felt chills, as if coming down with a cold, and her nape felt clammy. It was regrettable.

They say you can’t fool age, but to think it would show so immediately just from changing the first digit.

Throughout the holiday that combined her sabbatical and weekend, Da Hae slept like a bear in winter hibernation.

Other than occasionally moistening her throat or taking care of bodily functions, she did absolutely nothing else.

A week after placing a new calendar on her office desk, there was still no contact from Kang Jae Kyung.

Did he gain some sense after aging a year?

She sent the coat back by courier the next day. She contemplated for a while holding cash, but decided against including meal money.

The amount was awkward, but more importantly, she judged it best to refrain from provoking a madman.

As she boarded the elevator after passing through the quiet lobby, the phone in her hand vibrated.

The impatient caller let her voice flow as soon as Da Hae answered.

− How’s yer body, ya alright?

“I’m 50 years younger than you, Grandmother. I told you not to worry about me.”

− That damned brat…

Da Hae smiled broadly at Madam Bae’s characteristic groan and clicking of the tongue, which sounded warm.

The biggest change with the new year was Bae Jung Soon’s attitude of not urging her to go on blind dates.

It would be fitting for her to be desperate to accompany Da Hae to New Year’s events by now, but even in their occasional calls, she only asked about meals and health.

She shouldn’t show that she likes this change until it’s fully settled.

Otherwise, the blind date hell might unfold again someday.

− Well, that, whatchamacallit.

Madam Bae cleared her throat a few times to change the subject.

− So, um… Nothin’ special?

“…I smell something suspicious in the roundabout way you’re asking.”

− What smell!

“What special thing could I have? Let me know in advance.”

Click. The call ended abruptly. Da Hae’s eyes narrowed.

What special thing could be waiting to happen to her?

Madam Bae wasn’t the type to make empty noises for no reason.

Though she felt uneasy from the start of her commute, she decided to figure out the old lady’s intentions after work.

“Very suspicious.”

As the elevator arrived at its destination and opened its doors wide, the familiar corridor stretched out.

The fashion division, which occupied two entire floors of the Young Son Group building, was broadly divided into SPA, sports, innerwear, casual, and footwear departments, further segmented by age and gender.

As she headed towards the footwear design team’s office, Da Hae returned light bows to the employees greeting her.

Though not the sociable type to frequently mingle or get close with employees, she was nonetheless liked by people of all ages and genders.

Apart from the chaebol halo, she earned respect for her easygoing personality, upright character, passion for her career, and skills.

Her neat appearance and simple outfits that looked carelessly thrown on also contributed to her popularity.

With each brisk step, her dark brown long coat fluttered naturally, brushing against her denim.

Her voluminous hair, free of frizz, was casually mixed in between the coils of her muffler.

Her white skin was transparent even with light makeup, and her lips, adorned only with lip gloss, gave off a pure vibe.

Her thin double eyelids and cheekbones that protruded when she smiled gave her a lovely impression, but her expressionless face and the aura she gave off had a strong urban feel.

The one thing Kye Da Hae, who was indifferent to dressing up, was obsessed with was undoubtedly shoes.

When going out, the place she spent the most time was naturally the entryway.

Today she chose vivid blue pumps.

The delicate heels did their job well, producing a satisfying click-clack as she walked.

As her light footsteps turned the corner, team members sitting at their respective seats peeked up from behind the partitions.

“Good morning. I’m late, so I’ll treat you all to coffee.”

Da Hae conveyed her intention to skip greetings by lightly nodding her palm, and continued walking straight to the team leader’s office.

“Um… Team Leader. A guest has arrived.”

“A guest?”

Both the team member informing about the guest and Da Hae, who was receiving an unscheduled guest, glanced at the meeting room in unison.

Who could it be so early in the morning? There was no one scheduled to come. Come to think of it, the office atmosphere was subtly different from usual.

No one was openly crying or laughing, but their expressions were starkly divided.

Half had faces twitching at the corners of their mouths, unable to hide their excitement, while the other half had gloomy expressions as if they had lost their country.

Team Leader Kye Da Hae was unaware of many things.

That her team members had placed bets on her marriage, that there were widespread eyewitness accounts of a high-profile bachelor and bachelorette strolling intimately at L Tower at the end of the year.

That employees who bet on her getting married were internally rejoicing, convinced that a matchmaking partner visiting the office was definitely a green light.

It was just as Da Hae was about to move, looking puzzled after surveying the unsettled office.

“Team Leader Kye Da Hae.”

A towering physique that suddenly appeared. A familiar coat.

“You should arrive at work on time.”

“…….”

Taken aback by the unexpected figure’s appearance, Da Hae could only raise her eyes to confirm his face again.

The out-of-place guest greeted her with a handsome smile in the otherwise familiar space.

It looked almost like a composite image.

If only it were a composite, she could erase it with ‘ctrl+z’ or delete it with ‘ctrl+x’.

Kang Jae Kyung, with his overwhelming presence that was neither easy to erase nor ignore. A man like a surreally existing bug in the real world.

“Have you eaten?”

Again,

He appeared again.

“What brings you here?”

“You haven’t eaten, right? I brought sandwiches.”

Aware of the focused gazes, Da Hae swallowed her rising voice and clenched her molars tightly.

The corners of her mouth curved artificially.

Jae Kyung calmly stared at that face.

Just from the bulging jaw muscles and eyes shooting daggers, it was clear that the woman’s smile was fake.

“I usually don’t…”

“Even if you don’t normally eat breakfast, you should eat today.”

Pushing open the door with the team leader’s nameplate, Jae Kyung folded one arm. Like an earl showing courtesy to his wife.

“We have many matters to discuss.”

Faced with the reversed situation, Da Hae sighed.

The gentlemanly split personality only smiled leisurely.

The chill that had been bothering her since morning was perhaps a signal sent by her body to foretell Kang Jae Kyung’s appearance.

Even the clammy feeling that cooled her nape was exactly that.

Kang Jae Kyung was a gentle swamp.

A cunning swamp disguised in the camouflage of a peaceful meadow.

Her delicate heeled feet, which had stepped in without realizing it was a swamp, were helplessly being sucked in.