“Good job.”

As the woman who finished the audition bowed and exited, the judges sitting at the panel began their discussion.

“Everyone’s so picky, I thought she was fine.”

“Her image fits the role well, but her acting skills are lacking. Still, we should prioritize acting ability when selecting the lead.”

“But it’s not easy to find someone with that image, so I’m torn.”

Unable to make a decision, the director looked to Yoo Gun for his opinion.

Yoo Gun raised his smooth face and tilted his head side to side, making the director chuckle.

“Looks like Mr. Choi is tired.”

“I only got a few hours of sleep.”

“Who doesn’t know EM Entertainment? You’ve grown the business that much, now you should take it easy.”

As the topic changed, the agency CEO sitting next to the director chimed in.

“I slept nine hours yesterday, so I feel quite guilty. Haha.”

Yoo Gun laughed faintly and placed his hand on the nape of his neck.

While pressing on his stiff neck, the phone on the table started flashing.

Yoo Gun looked down at it with indifferent eyes, then soon stood up.

“Let’s take a break. I’ll go make a call.”

Pressing the call button as he walked out, Yoo Gun approached the semicircular railing and leaned against it.

“Yes, go ahead.”

− The madam has asked everyone to gather by 7 PM tonight.

Ha. A tired sigh involuntarily escaped Yoo Gun’s lips.

He had planned to go home and get some sleep after finishing the auditions today, but his grandmother, who held vast wealth, had been calling her children frequently lately to change the conditions ahead of distributing her assets.

− She said if even one person doesn’t come, she’ll donate all the assets to society.

Looking down at the open first floor with a tired expression, Yoo Gun let out an irritated truth.

“I truly wish she would do that.”

He’s too busy focusing on the business he built himself to care whether grandmother donates her assets or gives it all to his uncle and aunt who are desperate to receive the inheritance.

Thinking he’d like to sleep for just one more hour while looking down at the first floor, Butler Gong, who had emphasized several times that he must come, continued with “And”.

− About yesterday’s blind date, she said you must bring the results today without fail.

Ah, the blind date.

Right, yesterday there was an unwanted blind date scheduled at the urging of his grandmother, Lady Kim Bok Rye.

He had squeezed time out of his busy schedule to reluctantly go, but when he called her after waiting for her to show up, she said she was sorry but busy.

She hung up saying she’d call back, but there’s been no word from her since.

“I need the blind date partner to show up to have a blind date and bring results.”

− Oh my, you couldn’t meet yesterday?

“I was stood up. Please relay that to Lady Kim.”

− Oh my, stood up? How could that happen.

As if she had been listening nearby, Lady Kim Bok Rye’s voice came through after saying “Give me that”.

− Yoo Gun, you rascal, are you lying again because you didn’t want to go on the blind date and canceled first?

Does she not know her own grandson that she raised herself?

Yoo Gun answered with an expression of obvious annoyance.

“I’m not lying.”

− I heard that young lady is a doctor, she must have been busy.

I’m busy too. Before he could even part his lips to say this, Lady Kim Bok Rye’s trembling voice continued.

− You know how doctors can suddenly get busy. Yoo Gun, call her again and set up another meeting. Understood?

Sensing that Yoo Gun had turned away with a displeased expression, Lady Kim’s voice suddenly rose.

− Look at this brat not answering again. I’m going to see you married with grandchildren before I go to my grave!

“Live a long and healthy life.”

− Shut up, you brat! Stop talking back and make another appointment with that doctor. Otherwise I’ll give that Seongsu-dong house to Ho Tae as a newlywed home.

Yoo Gun’s eyes, which had been drooping with boredom, suddenly shot up.

“No, not that house.”

Despite Yoo Gun’s cold voice, Lady Kim spoke even louder.

“What do you mean no? I’m giving my grandson a building in my name! If you don’t like it, hurry up and meet that doctor and get married!”

The place where the tree he planted with his father in the garden is growing.

The place with his eight-years-younger sister’s excited doodles when the family finally gathered to live together after being scattered pursuing their own goals.

The place that holds his mother’s hummed tunes.

Though he lost his father, mother, and younger sister all at once in a plane crash while they were on a trip, he had to prevent the Seongsu-dong house, which held his family’s laughter and wishes, from being handed over to Ho Tae, who would surely use it carelessly.

“Grandmother, no. Kind Lady Kim Bok Rye.”

Yoo Gun squeezed his eyes shut then opened them, speaking in a deliberately soothing voice.

“Why do you keep calling, you brat! This is this old woman’s dying wish, so hurry up and go on the blind date and bring a girl, you rascal. I’m hanging up, I’m busy!”

“Grand-”

Looking at the abruptly disconnected phone, Yoo Gun felt a moment of déjà vu.

Yesterday and today, why are there so many cold-hearted women who hang up saying they’re busy?

“Haa……”

Leaning on the railing, Yoo Gun stared blankly into space for a moment with an expressionless face, then picked up his phone again.

He calls that doctor his not-at-all-kind Lady Kim Bok Rye mentioned.

Ring−.

Though you hung up on me twice and didn’t contact me after saying you would,

Ring−.

As if I’m such an understanding blind date partner.

Ring−.

Planning to use a sweet voice as if I’ll understand everything.

Ring−.

− Hello?

“This is Choi Yoo Gun.”

− I’m really sorry. I’m really sorry but I’m too busy right now. I’ll call you back!

“Ye-”

Beep beep beep beep−.

“…At this point, I’ve really been stood up.”

Yoo Gun, who had been frozen with an unbelieving expression, lowered his phone with a wry smile.

If she didn’t like it, she should have just said so. Why use such a method to reject someone who was forced to go on a blind date?

This is the first time in his life he’s been treated like this by a woman, but it also makes him want to see the face of this doctor who claims to be so busy.

“Since you’re so busy… I’ll have to pay you a visit in person.”

Let’s at least see your face.

Just how amazing of a doctor are you?

To make someone this worked up before even meeting.

*

“Mr. Lawyer.”

Young Ja, who had overslept, entered Jae Min’s room as soon as she woke up.

“Our lawyer, you said you’re going to work this afternoon, right?”

“Yes. I cleared my schedule for today to file for divorce and then register the marriage right away.”

“Our Ro Na must be so disappointed.”

“We need to get married quickly, she’s already 12 weeks pregnant.”

“That’s why I’ve been saying Ro Na is good for you all along. When you brought Hee Joo, I really didn’t like her! Besides being obedient and naive, what else does she have going for her? Not long after she came, your grandmother, grandfather, and then your father all passed away. Even fortune-tellers always say it’s bad! She’s really bad luck, I’m telling you.”

It’s been 4 years since Jae Min married Hee Joo, and there have been a series of unfortunate events.

His elderly grandmother and grandfather passed away five months apart, and a year later his father died of a heart attack.

The promised position on a major company’s legal team was snatched by a junior, and after that the healthy Young Ja was diagnosed with early-stage thyroid cancer and had to frequently visit the hospital.

“But you know what? Isn’t she a bit strange? Her way of talking, the way she dresses, even her attitude towards me… How can a person change so completely all at once?”

It certainly wasn’t the wife he knew.

As Jae Min thought about yesterday’s Hee Joo, he suddenly recalled the day they had a big fight recently.

‘Why are you doing this, what is it about me that you don’t like that you suddenly want a divorce!’

‘I told you, there’s no love left. Look at yourself now. Is there anything attractive about you? Your baggy clothes, always asking cautiously about every little thing, your timid personality – it’s all so boring and I hate it! So let’s just end this, please.’

That day when he deliberately pointed out every little thing to hurt her for not accepting the divorce.

‘…I’ll change. I’ll change myself. I’ll fix everything you don’t like – my clothes, my personality.’

Could it be that she attempted a drastic transformation after hearing those words?

Huh, the effort is admirable, but how long can that kind of act last? Kim Hee Joo is Kim Hee Joo.

“Don’t worry about it. She’s just desperate not to get divorced.”

“You didn’t cheat on her and she found out, did you?”

“No way, she definitely doesn’t know! And she can’t find out until the divorce is final!”

Jae Min exclaimed “Absolutely not!” with his large, dark eyes wide open.

“Alright then, that’s good. Oh! I’m changing the passcode today so Hee Joo can’t get in, son.”

“That’s a good idea. It’ll be hard work, but Mom, please pack up all her things and leave them outside the door.”

“What hard work? We’re welcoming a new family member. Okay, you make sure Ro Na doesn’t get stressed. Got it?”

“I got it, Mom!”

What can he do when they’re changing the house passcode and putting her things out?

Hee Joo doesn’t have a strong personality, so this kind of protest and useless acting won’t last long.

We need to quickly get rid of the unlucky Kim Hee Joo and bring in Ro Na to be happy with the baby.

“Alright alright, hurry and go to work son, our Lawyer Noh! Fighting!”

Jae Min smiled broadly as he received Young Ja’s warm gaze.

*

Chae Won had just finished reconstructive skin treatment for a burn patient and returned to her desk.

The time was 5 PM. After glancing at the clock on the wall, she picked up her phone.

She was calling the caregiver she had hastily hired yesterday.

“Yes, it’s me. How is my sister’s condition?”

Chae Won’s eyes grew serious as she listened quietly.

“She still hasn’t woken up? What did the doctor say?”

The injuries were severe, but it shouldn’t be to the point where she still can’t wake up.

The doctor said there shouldn’t be a problem, but she still hasn’t woken up.

They’ll keep watching for one more day, and if she still doesn’t wake up, they’ll run more tests.

“I understand. I’ll come as soon as I get off work, so please take good care of her. If she wakes up, contact me right away.”

After ending the call, Chae Won put down her phone with a sigh.

“Is she unable to wake up, or does she not want to wake up because she’s embarrassed.”

What on earth happened?

Was that man Noh Jae Min so important to Kim Hee Joo that she’s suffering this much?

“…You. Should I have looked for you earlier? Would this not have happened then?”

She was curious about her twin sister who existed only in a few fragments of childhood memories, but hadn’t been able to bring herself to search.

After her mother Kyung Ah remarried James, she couldn’t mention Hee Joo due to her mother’s attitude, and as a grown adult, mature thoughts only added unnecessary caution as time passed.

Knock knock, at the sound of knocking, Chae Won answered as she took off her procedure gown.

“Yes.”

Soon, the face that peeked in belonged to Moon Sung Min, a dermatologist who co-founded this hospital and her friend.

“I’m here, I’m here. This oppa has brought coffee!”

Chae Won picked up her doctor’s gown and glanced at him as he entered, then smiled.

“Thank you.”

“Did the move go well?”

“I’ve been so busy I haven’t even unpacked.”

Sung Min set the coffee down on Chae Won’s desk and asked.

“Want me to help?”

“It’s okay. I’ll do it slowly.”

“I wanted to see the new place, but looks like it’ll take 500 years?”

“All houses are the same.”

“Whoa. That place is different, not just anyone can afford it. Did your father find it for you this time too?”

“Yeah. I guess he was worried about me living alone in Korea.”

Just then, there was a knock and Nurse Oh peeked her head in quietly.

“Ah, I’ll be ready in 5 minutes. I just finished a procedure.”

“That’s not it.”

What on earth did she see to make Nurse Oh’s usually narrow eyes open so wide?

At that moment, the slightly open door swung wide and a man entered.

Chae Won’s hand, which had been fastening her gown, froze the instant their eyes met.

“Well then, we’ll talk after your consultation.”

Sung Min, who had been staring at the man, quietly said to Chae Won before leaving.

Chae Won gazed at the well-built man standing before her as if entranced.

Though celebrities often visit due to her profession, this man’s well-tailored suit and overwhelmingly luxurious aura surpassed anyone she had seen before.

“Please have a seat.”

As Chae Won gestured, the approaching man pulled out a chair and sat down.

Chae Won turned her eyes to the computer to assess this man who was staring intently at her.

If he’s here for even a minor facial procedure, she’s willing to turn him away for the first time since opening the practice.

“I’m Choi Yoo Gun.”

“Yes, Choi Yoo-”

Belatedly recognizing that it was the same name as her blind date, Chae Won turned her head in surprise.

“…Who did you say you are?”