“What. So, you’re saying you’ll work in place of your mother? Here, at this Domyeongjae?”

Ten minutes had passed since Ji Yeon Woo met with the impenetrable Manager Moon Ok Rye.

Yeon Woo explained her mother’s condition in detail and handed over the doctor’s note.

As Manager Moon skimmed over the note perfunctorily, Yeon Woo said she wanted to work in place of her mother.

However, the situation did not unfold as Yeon Woo had expected.

Manager Moon looked at Yeon Woo with an expression of contempt and amusement, and Yeon Woo swallowed dryly, momentarily overwhelmed by her aura.

The piercing gaze from behind small glasses made Manager Moon’s presence even more intimidating.

“Your name?”

“Ji Yeon Woo.”

“Age?”

“Twenty-nine.”

“Oh my. Twenty-nine.”

An indecipherable sigh escaped Manager Moon’s lips. Then, after looking Yeon Woo up and down, she lowered the doctor’s note.

“I sympathize that your mother was injured, but well, we can’t blame anyone for her own misstep and fall.”

The distinctive pronunciation and intonation of Moksan County felt especially strong today.

“Besides, no matter how short-handed we are, we can’t just bring in anyone to work. Even for substitute work, there needs to be a certain level of qualification and fit.”

“Ah…”

As the flustered Yeon Woo let out a sigh mixed with lamentation, Manager Moon shook her head with an even more unyielding expression. It meant no.

“And most importantly, you’re too late. The job posting has already gone out and interview schedules have been set, so go take care of your mother instead.”

“Ah, Manager, wait, just a moment.”

As Manager Moon stood up, Yeon Woo hurriedly stood up as well and grabbed her.

When Manager Moon’s fierce gaze fixed on her, Yeon Woo quickly added:

“Then what happens to my mother? Can she work again after being discharged?”

“Work? Once we find a replacement, that’s it. Your mother probably knows better. At Domyeongjae, if there’s a vacancy, you have to leave without any further discussion. That’s the long-standing agreement here. Your mother knows well, so go ask her.”

“Ah, but, Manager!”

As Manager Moon walked around the sofa to leave, this time Yeon Woo followed her out and grabbed the hem of her clothes. Manager Moon raised her eyebrows with an annoyed expression.

“What now. What else!”

“Ah, yes? Um, well…”

Yeon Woo kept shrinking back at Manager Moon’s scolding tone.

“I said it’s not possible, yet you keep pressing. Our Domyeongjae lives by principles and rules. This isn’t a place that gives in to unreasonable demands from people like you. Understand?”

“Ah… but…”

“The people who work at Domyeongjae are chosen by my own hand. It’s not something given just because someone asks for it. As long as I’m here with my eyes wide open, there will absolutely be no exceptions. Working in place of your mother, my foot. What kind of work could you do with those toothpick-like wrists?”

“…”

As Yeon Woo fumbled for words with a flustered expression, Manager Moon brushed off her clothes and clicked her tongue. Then she disappeared, leaving a cold draft in her wake, as if to say there was no chance.

It seemed her mother’s retirement was confirmed, and she had failed to get the opportunity to work in her place.

It was the worst outcome for the mother and daughter.

*

The groundbreaking ceremony was held grandly, with numerous notable figures from political and business circles in attendance.

Starting with the ribbon-cutting ceremony where a multicolored ribbon was cut with scissors, colorful balloons filled the sky.

Carefully selected journalists kept pressing their shutters, and Nam Sung Hun, the executive director of Seolyang Construction, who stood at the center, received the most spotlight.

Mingling among groups with various intertwined interests, large and small, Sung Hun repeated greetings for nearly half a day.

Since there were no meaningless exchanges, Sung Hun was careful with his words to avoid trouble even when responding to rough jokes.

“You prepared well. It was very good.”

After finishing the groundbreaking ceremony and returning to Domyeongjae, Sung Hun walked along the trail with his aunt, Chairwoman Nam Yoon Young.

Nam Yoon Young was the representative of the Seolyang Group and the person responsible for overseeing the affiliated companies.

When the praise came, Sung Hun shook his head slightly.

“It was more the president’s preparation than mine. Please give your compliments to him. He’ll be pleased.”

“What compliments? Do you think your aunt wouldn’t know your uncle’s personality? He was probably busy just receiving whatever you fed him. I can see it clearly without even looking.”

Sung Hun smiled at his aunt’s words and held back from saying more.

Nam Yoon Young, walking in step with Sung Hun, turned her gaze to the well-maintained landscaping.

The red azalea with its swollen buds on short branches and the cornus officinalis, yellow before bearing its red fruit, heralded spring.

Among the colorful flowers, a magnolia tree with white flower buds standing tall showed off its pure figure like the innocence of a divine spirit, making Nam Yoon Young smile.

“Your mother really loved magnolias.”

Nam Yoon Young took a deep breath as if trying to smell the scent and added:

“All the magnolia trees around here were planted by your father. Because your mother loved them. He was such a devoted husband.”

Sung Hun, who lost his parents in an accident as a child, grew up under his aunt’s care, and now she was like a mother to him.

“If your father and mother had watched you today, they would have been so pleased. Don’t you think?”

Nam Yoon Young, who had been gazing at the magnolia with a wistful air, half-turned to look at Sung Hun.

At the age of four, Sung Hun’s parents died instantly in a car accident.

At that time, Sung Hun was too young to fully understand and grieve.

He thought the heaven where his parents had gone was a far-off country on the opposite side of the earth like America, and so he believed if he waited, they would return.

“I’m sorry. I brought up unnecessary things on a good day. It’s just that your aunt is so proud of you today.”

“I know. Don’t worry about it. I don’t have much feeling about hearing these stories anyway.”

At Sung Hun’s indifferent voice, as if he had heard a story about a stranger in a corner of a newspaper, Nam Yoon Young looked at Sung Hun for a long time.

His height that had grown tall with nothing to envy, his well-balanced features, the prominent curves of his Adam’s apple that seemed to put the finishing touch on his manly charm, and his closed lips that didn’t smile easily somehow drew people’s hearts.

“You’ve grown up so well, our Sung Hun. Your aunt feels very reassured because of you.”

Nam Yoon Young gently smiled, stroking down her nephew’s suit completed by his broad shoulders, feeling sturdy and reliable just by looking at him.

It was then.

A manager with neatly tied gray hair stood before the two. It was Manager Moon Ok Rye, responsible for managing Domyeongjae.

“So this is where you two were.”

As Manager Moon spoke, Nam Yoon Young looked at her.

Manager Moon, who had worked here for decades, was the most influential among Domyeongjae’s staff.

“What brings Manager Moon here so suddenly?”

When Nam Yoon Young asked, Manager Moon politely clasped her hands and began to speak.

She briefly explained about the accident that morning, saying that an employee’s sick leave might be extended.

The point was that she wanted to hire one more employee.

“Shouldn’t Manager Moon handle such things on your own? This isn’t the place to ask for permission for such matters, is it?”

“When I’m alone it’s one thing, but when the chairwoman is here like this, I must ask for permission. That’s the custom of our Domyeongjae.”

As Manager Moon explained, Nam Yoon Young quickly nodded. It was fine either way.

Employee management was a matter for Manager Moon to handle on her own.

While small talk was exchanged between Nam Yoon Young and Manager Moon,

Over there, under the magnolia tree with white buds in full bloom, a young woman was walking.

Sung Hun, who had been silently listening to the conversation between his aunt and Manager Moon, fixed his gaze there, and before long, he recognized who she was.

It was the woman he had seen at the bus stop this morning.

*

“It’s a face I haven’t seen before?”

Nam Yoon Young, who had noticed Yeon Woo like Sung Hun, glanced over and mumbled.

Manager Moon, who briefly turned to look at Yeon Woo, answered.

“Yes. She’s the daughter of the employee I mentioned who was injured earlier. She came to bring the doctor’s note and is on her way out.”

“Ah, an employee’s daughter.”

At the mention of the injured employee’s daughter, Sung Hun’s eyebrows moved slightly.

Unaware of the gaze, Yeon Woo’s steps continued slowly, and Sung Hun’s gaze followed her.

His aunt and Manager Moon exchanged a few words, but they sounded distant.

The woman, who had changed into neat clothes after being covered in muddy water, was walking listlessly with lifeless eyes.

Even at a glance, it was a fresh age, but her movements lacked vitality.

Was it her nature, or not, once again useless curiosity arose, and his gaze didn’t leave until her back disappeared completely from view.

“Oh, Manager Moon. I had something to say but forgot. Let’s talk for a moment. There’s an event at Domyeongjae next month, right?”

“Yes, yes. I was about to ask about that too.”

At the end of Manager Moon’s words, Sung Hun raised his hand slightly.

“Then please continue your conversation.”

“Alright, Sung Hun. I’ll see you at mealtime later.”

Nam Yoon Young turned to walk towards the main building with Manager Moon.

Sung Hun stood still for a while without moving, then shifted his gaze back to where the woman had been.

By the time Nam Yoon Young and Manager Moon disappeared into the main building, the woman had barely taken a few steps.

As if carrying a heavy weight, she would take one or two steps and stop, then repeat.

Sung Hun, who had been quietly watching with his hands in his pockets, took a step forward.

His straight footsteps in polished shoes circled the lake, and it didn’t take long to reach the woman.

Though the sound of his polite footsteps was close, she didn’t seem to notice his presence.

Sung Hun stood close behind the woman, who looked like she could be completely enveloped in one arm.

“If you go that way, you’ll be far from the exit.”

Under the magnolia leaves just beginning to burst, the woman turned around.

…For a moment. Just a brief moment.

Time stopped between the two as if the world had paused.

The weeping willow, drooping like an old man’s beard, cast a swaying shadow on the pond, drunk on spring excitement.

Whoosh, as the wind blew, the sound of leaves rustling randomly echoed loudly, and only then did Sung Hun close his eyes tightly and open them again, as if waking from frozen time.

Still with his hands in his pockets, Sung Hun continued:

“If you’re lost, I can help you.”

It was an offer to guide her, something he wouldn’t normally do.