“I’m better at work than I look. I can really do anything. I’ll do whatever you ask, without being picky. Everything. I brought my resume, wondering if I could have an interview.”

Sung Hun had often seen people who claimed to be quite desperate in life. Those who had reached a dead end in life where the future looked bleak, with very urgent desires.

“You don’t have to pay me. Just let me work. Please don’t let my mother be erased from Domyung Estate like this.”

Other people’s stories were of little interest, less than the numbers written in accounting ledgers. There was no time or reason to examine each one closely. Once a relationship and purpose were established, it was simply handled with calculations, with no need to save the lives of those who fell behind.

In the process of preparing land and constructing buildings, countless people were cut and newly entered. There was only bidding following fierce competition, and the next steps according to evaluations. How many failing companies and people losing jobs had he seen in such processes?

“I beg you.”

Sung Hun also disliked the phrase “I beg you.” Begging was simply the pleading of people who had no intention of paying a proper price, lacking calculations.

“I beg you. I really beg you.”

But something was a bit strange. While the woman was begging for a job as if her life depended on it, Sung Hun’s gaze was caught only by the features filling the woman’s face.

It felt as if the lips were moving vividly, with technology added to a three-dimensionally created image.

Having never paid attention to guessing women’s ages, he couldn’t predict, but in the eyes filled with deep worry, there was a youthful energy with no impurities mixed in.

There was no mature aura of one who had experienced all the storms of life and fully grown in thought, but rather a pure, clean feeling, like a blank white canvas without a single dot.

“Putting aside all shame, I beg you. I’m truly desperate.”

“Go ahead then.”

The reason for accepting the woman’s plea was not as touching or righteous as she thought. It was payment for watching the face of the woman sitting there for a while, her fingertips trembling, trying to prevent her family’s misfortune.

“Thank you. I’ll work hard.”

Sung Hun raised his eyebrows after spending some time recalling the woman. Feeling he had been dwelling on something not worth mulling over, he cut off the thought as if tidying up.

After being buried among the roar of heavy machinery, dusty fog-like soil, and sweaty workers—

The woman who looked like a deer listening to the wind must have seemed unfamiliar. So she was briefly impressive. Sung Hun concluded the morning’s events that way.

Knock knock. As Sung Hun was about to turn the first page of the document, his secretary entered. Looking at the secretary neatly dressed in a black suit, Sung Hun lowered his gaze back to the documents.

“The morning meeting will start in ten minutes. Considering the site situation, we’ll keep it short.”

“Yes, Executive Director. And here are the files you requested.”

As the secretary placed three or four files on the desk, Sung Hun set aside what he was about to look at and picked up the file the secretary had handed over first.

Meanwhile, Sung Hun’s brow furrowed slightly. The scent of the secretary’s perfume bothering his nose.

“Executive Director. Nam Song Industrial Development’s CEO Cha Gil Wook is requesting to meet you in advance. What should we do? They’re the contractor for this pipeline construction.”

Sung Hun glanced at the schedule.

“Let’s try to make time a week later.”

“Yes. I’ll relay that.”

“And.”

The secretary who was about to leave the office to prepare for the meeting turned back.

“Yes?”

Sung Hun opened his lips while scanning the evaluation report for Nam Song Industrial Development.

“The perfume, it would be nice if you could apply it more lightly.”

“…Ah.”

“I’m sorry. I tend to be sensitive to scents.”

The novice secretary who had followed on a long-term business trip to Moksan County couldn’t hide his embarrassment. Suddenly, the prohibition of perfume he had seen in the precautions flashed in his mind.

Ah. He said he disliked the smell of perfume. I forgot.

“I’m sorry, Executive Director. I’ll be careful.”

Quickly taking off his suit jacket, the secretary left the office.

Sung Hun, who had only been rubbing his temples due to the strong woody scent left by the secretary, pressed the intercom a moment later as he stood up from his seat.

Sung Hun disliked the smell of perfume. To be more precise, he was wary of things that approached quickly without warning. He didn’t enjoy the feeling of being caught completely off guard.

Regardless of the reason, things that approached quickly were dangerous and also fatal.

Because they penetrate before you can even decide if you like them or not.

“Let’s start the meeting.”

— Yes, Executive Director.

Because I can’t escape or refuse by my own will.

*

Yeon Woo returned home to pack lightly before her official start at work.

It wasn’t a smooth journey. Until the moment she got out of the taxi in front of her house, Yeon Woo scanned her surroundings several times.

As soon as she entered the house, she closed the carry-on luggage she had brought and ran out. Yeon Woo, who got into the taxi she had asked to wait briefly, took deep breaths while tightly hugging her luggage, and the taxi driver glanced at her.

“Where to next?”

“Pardon?”

“I asked where you’re going. You have to tell me so I can go.”

“Oh, that, the health center.”

The taxi driver who confirmed the destination started driving again. The driver, who kept glancing at Yeon Woo who was tightly hugging her bag like a precious talisman and looking around outside the window, muttered while turning the steering wheel.

“You sick?”

“Pardon?”

“No. It’s bright daylight so it’s not a midnight escape, is your husband beating you? Then you should go to the police station, not the health center.”

“It’s not like that. I’m not married.”

The taxi went down an alley.

“Anyway, those who beat women should all be thrown away on Nanjido. Where is there to hit? There’s an old saying not to hit even with flowers. What does that mean? Doesn’t it mean to treat preciously?”

Even though she said she was unmarried, the taxi driver said only what he wanted to say. It was the typical meddling of Moksan County.

Yeon Woo, who was gradually finding stability and catching her breath, explained the places to stop by and said she would return to Domyung Estate at the end, and the driver added words again.

“Didn’t you come out of Domyung Estate earlier too? That’s not a place just anyone can enter.”

“Yes. I’m going to work there. Actually, it’s my first day.”

“Oh my. Your first day? What a thing. There’s a celebration at Domyung Estate.”

As the taxi driver welcomed the news of working at Domyung Estate and offered words of encouragement, Yeon Woo finally smiled faintly. After mixing the words ‘Domyung Estate’ and ‘work’ and spitting them out with her own mouth, it started to feel a bit real.

Ah. I’m really entering Domyung Estate.

“You got a good job, so work hard and hang in there for a long time. My niece is a kindergarten teacher and she goes to Domyung Kindergarten. It’s been a while.”

“Yes.”

“There’s no bad place with the Domyung name in Moksan County, so do well. If there’s an opening, let me know too.”

As the driver with a kind voice joked, Yeon Woo laughed a bit more. It was truly a laugh that burst out after a long time.

“Ey, how nice it is when you smile. Anyway, it’ll take about 20 minutes to the health center.”

“Yes.”

“I’ve earned all of today’s wages thanks to you, miss.”

The driver stopped briefly at a signal and then started again. Yeon Woo blankly stared out the window and exhaled a sigh of relief again.

There were many things to take care of before entering Domyung Estate. She had to go to the health center to apply for a health certificate, get rid of her phone number, and handle small bank tasks.

Right. It’s okay. Nothing bad will happen now. The moment I enter Domyung Estate, I won’t come out to the outside world for months.

Barely suppressing her heart that was swirling with irregular mixes of anxiety and relief, Yeon Woo organized the places she needed to visit and tasks she needed to handle.

It was when they were entering the main road. A black car passed by Yeon Woo’s taxi and entered an alley.

It was someone sent by Cha Yun Seok, who had come to look for Yeon Woo.

*

By the time Yeon Woo returned to Domyung Estate, the sunset was already settling. As she entered the dormitory building prepared as employee-only quarters, Ja Young greeted Yeon Woo. Ja Young was like an older sister to Yeon Woo’s mother, and had been working at Domyung Estate for over ten years.

“Oh my. You came, Yeon Woo. I thought your mother was leaving Domyung Estate’s clothes, and I was very sad.”

“Yes, auntie. Thank you so much for calling home that day. I was in such a rush I couldn’t properly greet you.”

“It’s nothing. It’s fortunate you were home at the time.”

Ja Young laughed as she helped with Yeon Woo’s luggage, and Yeon Woo followed with a small laugh. Ja Young, who guided Yeon Woo to the room her mother usually used, neatly arranged the disheveled bed sheets.

Yeon Woo, who put down her luggage, quietly looked around the room. The building, built in the 1960s, had undergone minor repairs over the years, but trying to preserve the exterior inevitably left it in a shabby state.

“It’s very different from the main building, right? This place is old, so it’s worn out, and it’s also extremely humid. You have to ventilate well when you wake up.”

“Yes. I’ll ventilate well.”

Yeon Woo laughed and spoke at Ja Young’s unique way of talking, and Ja Young straightened her back after tidying up the bedside.

“But is it okay to leave your company for so long? Even if you’re helping your mother, you must have your own work.”

“Oh, the company? It’s fine. I requested a long vacation.”

“They gave you a long vacation? The company?”

“Yes. They told me to rest as much as I want.”

“What kind of company is so kind? At that level, didn’t the company gently recommend resignation? Is the vacation paid or unpaid? This is a very important issue.”

Yeon Woo lifted the corners of her mouth slightly at Ja Young’s question, and Ja Young patted Yeon Woo’s shoulder. She was worried whether Yeon Woo would be able to endure the strict and heavy atmosphere of Domyung Estate well.

“I’m not sure if the strict Director Moon will accept you well, but if he says harsh words, listen with one ear and let it out the other. Not just Director Moon, there’s another person who seems to have chili pepper seeds in their mouth, so keep that in mind. You understand?”

Yeon Woo nodded her head instead of answering, and Ja Young patted Yeon Woo’s back a couple of times.

“Just think that you’ve become a newly entered court lady for the time being. That will be easier on your mind.”

“Still, it’s not bad to be a court lady rather than a servant. I thought I might only become a servant.”

“Servants commute to work. Their situation is a bit better than yours.”

“Ah. That’s true.”

Anyway, cheer up, Ja Young said as she informed Yeon Woo of a few things to keep in mind and excused herself. Yeon Woo roughly unpacked her luggage, put her clothes in the wardrobe, and stood in front of the small window.

Although the room felt cramped with just one bed and one wardrobe, it didn’t feel cramped at all, and rather her heart felt spacious.

Yeon Woo stood in front of the window as if clinging to it and exhaled deeply. How long had it been since she had breathed out so deeply like this, without any anxiety or fear?

I wish no one could find me if I stayed here for the rest of my life. Yeon Woo looked out the window, taking long breaths over and over again.

The green hues of Yeosong Mountain, spread out far surrounding the main building of Domyung Estate, filled her frontal view. A natural smile hung on Yeon Woo’s lips for once. The deep green mountains and fields winding along the ridges made even her breathing comfortable.

The parade of spring flowers, clear beyond belief, added freshness, and the brilliant golden sunset spread as if racing.

“Mom, you lived looking at something really amazing.”

Muttering softly, Yeon Woo placed her hand on her pounding chest. Is the natural scenery so overwhelming that she felt like crying? Perhaps her heart was relieved that the hiding place she had found by chance was better than expected.

It was when Yeon Woo, who had to live gasping for breath in an all-gray world for a while, was finally taking a clear breath. When the red sunset, bright yellow azaleas, and pale purple azaleas all felt overwhelmingly touching.

Yeon Woo, who lowered her gaze inadvertently, opened her eyes wide. At the same time, her heart, which had been pounding, thudded loudly.

In the yard where spring flowers had danced and passed. There, Sung Hun, who had returned to Domyung Estate after finishing work, was looking up at the dormitory.

More precisely, at the window where she was standing.