The sunset light pouring into the wide-open study clung to Yeon Woo’s back.

“Buy clothes that would make you sad if they got wet or splashed with mud, not ones you can just throw away. Several would be even better.”

Sung Hun pushed the credit card to the edge of the desk and withdrew his hand.

Yeon Woo’s lips parted slightly as she looked down at the card. It meant she was taken aback.

“No, no, no.”

Yeon Woo shook her head vigorously, as if she had seen something that would cause trouble if touched. Unconsciously, she took a step back.

“As I said, the compensation is really fine. It was nothing. Really, it’s fine.”

Her eyes were desperate to convey that this was not a lie but the truth. The words “it’s fine” were sincere, and she hoped Sung Hun would relent.

Sung Hun looked at Yeon Woo. Despite her reaction of waving her hands and even blushing from great embarrassment, his eyes remained impassive throughout.

“Um, it’s really fine. I’m saying it’s fine because it’s fine. Really. I have no desire to receive anything at all.”

“I’m sorry, but whether you’re fine with not receiving compensation is outside my concern.”

Yeon Woo was at a loss for words.

“I want to be fine with it, but I feel I’ll only be fine after I’ve compensated you.”

“Ah…”

Realizing she had completely misunderstood the situation, Yeon Woo’s face turned even redder. Suddenly recalling Sung Hun’s words about not being able to live with debts, she could understand that he was acting solely from his own perspective.

Unable to hide her flustered state, Yeon Woo’s fingertips twitched. All the while, Sung Hun continued to stare at Yeon Woo’s face.

The air seemed to grow increasingly suffocating. Feeling she couldn’t bear it any longer, Yeon Woo raised her gaze slightly to look at Sung Hun.

Overwhelmed by Sung Hun’s domineering presence, which seemed capable of accomplishing anything with just a glance, she barely managed to open her mouth.

“If that’s the case, I’ll return the business card you gave me. I can’t keep someone else’s credit card carelessly.”

Ah. Would even this statement offend him?

Her thoughts were complicated even as she spoke.

“If you take it, I feel like you’ll toss it around and throw it away.”

“Ah, no. I won’t throw it away. Absolutely not.”

As Yeon Woo emphatically stated that she would never do such a thing, Sung Hun this time pulled out a crisp new business card and held it out. It was signed, just like before.

“If the use is unclear, I’ll take it as a sign you’re hoping for even greater compensation.”

“Ah… Yes. I understand. Thank you.”

Yeon Woo hastily accepted the card. As she was about to turn and leave after giving her greetings, Sung Hun’s indifferent voice was heard.

“How long do you plan to work?”

“I’m thinking about three months.”

“…”

“I think by then my mother will have safely completed her rehabilitation.”

After finishing her answer, as Sung Hun focused on his work without any particular reaction, Yeon Woo quietly added a slight bow and left the study.

As soon as she put on her shoes, Yeon Woo left Woonseondang and looked down at the business card while taking deep breaths. Just exchanging a few words with Sung Hun was enough to make her palms sweat.

‘If the use is unclear, I’ll take it as a sign you’re hoping for even greater compensation.’

He seemed like someone who had never smiled in his life.

After fiddling with the unnecessary business card for a while, Yeon Woo muttered softly in a deflated voice.

“This is bad. I can’t even go outside.”

The business card, weighing just a few grams, felt as heavy as a stone.

For some reason, she kept taking long, labored breaths.

*

─ The number you have dialed is not in service…

“Sigh…”

After repeatedly failing to connect, today Yeon Woo’s number had disappeared entirely. Cha Yun Seok exhaled as if trying to suppress his anger while lowering his phone.

“You deleted your number? Do you think I won’t be able to find you because of this? Damn it.”

As time passed, Cha Yun Seok became increasingly enraged. At first, he thought Yeon Woo had hidden herself out of fear of his obsession, but now he felt it was a ploy to mess with him, which made his blood boil even more.

“Fine. Go ahead and try to act crazy, huh? You’re trying to make a fool out of me now, aren’t you? Trying so hard.”

This is why there’s no need to treat people nicely. There was no need to speak kindly either. He should have looked into it when she reported him to the police.

Irritation surging, he threw whatever he could grab, then picked up his phone again.

“Ah, where can I find her? This is really driving me crazy.”

As he was muttering to himself, a call connected.

─ Yes, boss. This is Hong Seop.

“Hey, where are you? Still no news?”

Cha Yun Seok began the conversation with a thug acquaintance he had hired to track down Yeon Woo’s whereabouts, someone who would do anything for money.

A voice so coarse it was unpleasant to hear resonated through the phone.

─ Boss. I’ve been looking here and there, but there’s nothing? Nothing to grab onto.

“Damn it, I didn’t give you money and time and send you to find someone just to hear such words, did I? Find her right now, right now!”

─ Wait a bit, boss. Who am I? Have I ever failed a job you’ve given me? Never, right?

As if accustomed to the shouting, the man continued calmly. Cha Yun Seok, who had been exhaling angrily, swallowed as if trying to suppress the curses stuck in his throat.

“So, where are you now? Still in front of the house?”

─ Yes. That woman’s hometown. Moksan County. They say her mother lives there, so I’m waiting for now.

“And?”

─ I came to the address and have been watching, but not even an ant has passed by. For now, I’m in front of the house, boss. Thinking of meeting the woman’s mother at least.

“And if you meet her?”

When asked what he would do if he met Yeon Woo’s mother, the man laughed coarsely.

─ You know. If I say a few words to the woman’s mother, she’ll nag her daughter so much that we’ll get a call soon. Don’t worry, boss.

“Alright. Keep watching until something comes up.”

─ Yes, yes. I’ll contact you if I find anything. Don’t worry and rest easy! Boss!

Cha Yun Seok lowered his phone and widened his eyes.

“Moksan County. Moksan County, huh.”

His mood quickly improved at the news that someone was watching in front of the house where Yeon Woo’s mother lived. Feeling that he would soon know Yeon Woo’s whereabouts, his spirits lifted rapidly, and before long, a smirk appeared.

Cha Yun Seok knew well how Hong Seop, who was looking for Yeon Woo, worked. He also knew that when Hong Seop met Yeon Woo’s mother, she too would be frightened.

Hong Seop, a former ssireum wrestler, had a menacing appearance with his massive build and shaved head, and moreover, the tattoos covering his entire body were threatening in themselves.

Cha Yun Seok was confident that he would be able to find Yeon Woo soon. True to his athletic background, the patient Hong Seop wouldn’t budge until he found Yeon Woo.

But there was something Cha Yun Seok and Hong Seop didn’t know.

That just before Hong Seop arrived at the house, Yeon Woo had finished her shift at Domyungjae. That Yeon Woo’s mother, Lady Shin Soon Mi, was currently hospitalized.

“Just wait until I catch you. I’m grinding my teeth just as you wished, Yeon Woo.”

Therefore, no one would be coming to this house for the time being.

Perhaps for a long time.

*

The next morning dawned. Yeon Woo, who had been on duty alone until Director Moon arrived at 4 AM, managed to catch a short nap before coming to the main building.

Domyungjae was as departmentalized as today’s luxury hotels. Among them, five employees were in charge of directly managing the main building, and one of them was Yeon Woo’s mother.

Usually, the principle was to finish work at 7 PM. However, if any member of the Nam family stayed at Domyungjae, the main building staff took turns being on duty. Like any other person on duty, it was a grueling job of staying up all night waiting for possible calls.

As long as Sung Hun stayed, there would be night duty, and as Director Moon mentioned at the start, it became Yeon Woo’s responsibility.

“Let’s see, the new employee is here?”

A main building staff member who had just returned to work after catching a short nap noticed Yeon Woo and spoke to her. As Yeon Woo, dressed in uniform, bowed in greeting, the employee looked her up and down.

“Oh my. You could go straight to the Miss Korea pageant like this. How can the same clothes look so different?”

The employee speaking was Do Eun Ja, who turned sixty-eight this year. As Yeon Woo hesitated and held back her words, Eun Ja touched Yeon Woo’s uniform here and there.

“Did you deliberately tighten the waist?”

“No. I just wore it as it was given.”

“What’s your size? 66? Mine’s 88.”

“Uh, I’m not sure, just the smallest one…”

Eun Ja’s gaze, which had been looking at the slender waist in wonder, moved a little higher. Oh my, she exclaimed once again.

“Are those yours?”

“Pardon?”

“No, I’m asking if both of those are yours.”

She was referring to her chest. Yeon Woo, startled, nodded her head hastily, and Eun Ja looked her up and down once more, as if incredibly envious.

“Soon Mi kept going on and on about how pretty her daughter was, and it wasn’t all lies. This isn’t a work that could come from Soon Mi’s looks. Do you take after your father?”

Eun Ja looked over her own uniform and then back at Yeon Woo. A waist that seemed barely a handful, glossy hair, fair and clean skin.

Envy lingered in her gaze. Eun Ja made a fussy expression as if trying to hide her true feelings.

“You didn’t put anything on your lips, did you? Who are you trying to look pretty for with that makeup?”

“I didn’t put anything on.”

“You’re lying. How can it be so red if you didn’t put anything on? Don’t apply anything. Just barely wash your face. Got it?”

“Yes.”

Although Yeon Woo had only washed her face hurriedly due to lack of sleep, Eun Ja nitpicked with a sharp tone. She knew that Yeon Woo, who had been on night duty, could have come out after resting a bit more, but Eun Ja had no intention of being accommodating.

“Um, what should I do now?”

“Well, there’s plenty to do. I was just thinking about what task to give you that would make me look good for assigning it.”

Eun Ja, with her bulldog-like jowls sagging unpleasantly, nodded towards Yeon Woo.

“Follow me then.”

Yeon Woo nodded her head.