“This is the third time you’ve stood me up after saying you’d contact me.”

Yoo Gun looked straight at the woman before him with an unwavering gaze and continued speaking.

“I’m curious why you’re acting so high and mighty.”

Her eyes, which looked at him in confusion, glistened moistly.

Ah, her pale, slender wrist resting on her hair let out a small sound.

Her loosely tied hair and slightly parted red lips felt almost like an intentional seduction,

I admit.

For something unexpected, she was quite a pretty woman.

“But now that I see you in person, I can understand why you’d act that way.”

Yoo Gun gave a small smile to the woman who had stiffened.

This level of lip service isn’t difficult, after all.

Above all, as someone who has to at least pretend to date you for the next month, I can provide even more service.

“I should have contacted you first.”

“You must have been very busy.”

After a moment of silence as they looked at each other, she spoke first.

“I apologize.”

“I didn’t come here to scold you, so let’s get to the point.”

Having seen how impressive she is in person, that was enough, and now confirmation was needed.

“Are you interested in going on a blind date? If not, I’d be wasting my time too.”

Chae Won recalled James’ voice.

A relationship that needs to maintain good business ties.

A relationship that must be ended very naturally and warmly.

“I had personal circumstances, it wasn’t intentional. And.”

Chae Won continued speaking while gazing at Yoo Gun.

“If I hadn’t seen you like this, I might have regretted it. When you came in earlier, I thought you were a celebrity.”

Feeling apologetic, and since James said it was necessary to maintain a good business partnership,

This much lip service is fine.

Chae Won deliberately smiled brightly.

“I was worried my sudden visit might be impolite, but I’m glad you welcomed me.”

“I was surprised, but I’m actually grateful you came in person.”

Though warm words were exchanged, there was hidden strength in their eyes as they sized each other up.

Not knowing whether James or Lady Kim Bok Rye was more advantageous in business, the two were packaging everything with smiles to avoid damaging the relationship.

Their goals are the same. First, express goodwill, then say goodbye naturally at an appropriate time.

“I just stopped by today for a brief greeting, and since you must be busy, let’s just set a date to meet again before I go.”

“Yes, but.”

Chae Won trailed off at Yoo Gun’s words.

Wondering when Hee Joo would wake up,

Chae Won smiled and looked into his eyes, wanting to get this over with quickly.

“Never mind. Tomorrow afternoon should work for me. How about that? Since I was quite rude, I’ll treat you to a delicious dinner.”

Regardless of who pays, the important thing is properly meeting as a blind date partner, so Yoo Gun answered plainly.

“That works.”

I admit she’s pretty.

I admit she’s smart and quick to read situations.

I don’t know how busy she was, but she gets zero points for consideration.

“Then, I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“I can’t go far, so take care. See you tomorrow.”

Chae Won escorted him to the clinic door, smiled once more at his indifferent expression, then said goodbye.

His expressionless face soon gives a service-like smile back.

Chae Won stared at that smile for a moment before closing the door and turning away.

“Whew… What’s with that man?”

Though they’d only met briefly, there was a heavy tension as if she’d just had an intense interview.

Chae Won raised her hand to straighten her coat, returned to her seat and sat up straight.

About to turn to the computer, mindful of scheduled patients, her eyes caught the business card he’d given as a greeting earlier.

“CEO of EM Entertainment?”

It’s a name she’s heard somewhere before.

Probably one of the many entertainment agencies of trainees and celebrities who’ve visited here.

Tall, handsome face, model-like physique, business skills, and a uniquely charming aura too.

“Successful at such a young age.”

To avoid putting James in an awkward position, they need to say goodbye as naturally as possible without hurt feelings, but the other party seems heavier than expected.

Chae Won looked at the chair where he had sat, feeling a lingering impression, then lowered her gaze back to the three characters of his name.

*

− In cases where the other party becomes a vegetative state with no long-term prospects for improvement, it’s recognized as grounds for divorce. There are actual precedents, and it falls under Article 840, Paragraph 6 of the Civil Act as grounds for judicial divorce.

Standing by the hospital room window, Chae Won held her phone to her ear with a serious expression.

“I understand, senior.”

After vaguely answering that it was nothing when her acquaintance asked what was going on, Chae Won ended the call.

Turning around, Chae Won walked over to Hee Joo who was lying quietly.

Regarding the reason she wasn’t waking up, the doctor had given several opinions, but also mentioned the shocking possibility of a vegetative state.

“That’s not it, right? Actually, you can hear everything but you’re not waking up because you don’t like reality? This isn’t right…”

With the doctor’s words to wait and see a bit longer, all she could do was cling to hope.

But just in case, if it’s really confirmed to be a vegetative state, she looked into what legal actions Noh Jae Min, who’s desperate for divorce, might take.

And to think that if diagnosed as a vegetative state, it could be grounds for divorce.

“What kind of shitty law is this?”

If he finds out Hee Joo is lying here like this from an accident, he’ll be delighted and run to the courthouse.

“Why on earth didn’t you want to divorce? A husband and in-laws who are garbage at a glance, what was your reason for holding on even while lying to me?”

It’s not that she wants Hee Joo to not divorce Noh Jae Min, whom she already dislikes.

But that decision should be made by Hee Joo’s own will and determination when she regains consciousness.

“Don’t lie here too long with the same face as me, it’s ruining your style. It feels weird, like I’m looking at myself.”

Though her tone was angry, Chae Won’s eyes as she looked at Hee Joo were soft.

I’ll try to buy time for now. So please wake up soon, please.

Looking at Hee Joo sleeping quietly, Chae Won urged her for a long time.

*

“It’s been a while since I had steak that melts in your mouth. A restaurant run by a famous chef really is different.”

Seeing Young Ja smiling with satisfaction on the way home from dining out, Jenny pulled down the corners of her mouth.

“We’ve been eating out for days now, I’m tired of it. Ah, I miss the kimchi stew my sister-in-law used to make.”

Recalling the kimchi stew Hee Joo used to make, Young Ja and Jae Min briefly salivated.

“Sister was really amazing at cooking.”

After constantly eating delivery food and dining out since Hee Joo left home, both of them were reminded of the taste of hot kimchi stew, spooning a couple ladles of broth over rice and blowing on it to cool.

Feeling saliva pool in his mouth, Jae Min quickly came to his senses and turned to Jenny.

“Ahem, what sister-in-law, Ro Na will feel bad if she hears, so be careful with your words Jenny. Besides, our Ro Na is a good cook too. Just wait till she moves in, she’ll make your table groan with food even more than Hee Joo.”

“That’s right, Jae Min said it well. You should always watch your words. Stress is bad for the baby when pregnant. She’s already sensitive from not being able to divorce yet, so you shouldn’t add to it Jenny, understand?”

Watching Young Ja rummage through the mailbox, Jenny quietly pursed her lips.

“Hm? Why is there so much mail again?”

“It’s all probably bills asking for money.”

“How much could we have used for bills to keep coming so regularly, really.”

The three of them opened the front gate and entered.

“Oh my, it looks like Hee Joo took her stuff. I had packed up her things and left them by the door, but they’re all gone.”

“Sister-in-law’s things were left outside?”

After passing the five stone steps and reaching the front door, Jenny asked with wide eyes.

“Yes, I changed the password today and put all of Hee Joo’s things out by the door!”

“She called me earlier asking for the password too, but I was busy so I hung up.”

“Good job, good job!”

Young Ja patted Jae Min’s bottom, then placed her hand on the door lock with a satisfied expression.

“Everyone knows, the number is ‘1245 star’.”

After pressing each number firmly, she pressed the star shape, but an error sound blared loudly.

“Huh?”

“What, that’s not it? Mom hurry and open it, I need to use the bathroom.”

Ignoring Jenny’s whining voice, Young Ja slowly entered the numbers again.

“1, 2, 4, 5, star!”

Though she carefully pressed the numbers while confirming them, the error sound blared loudly once more.

“It’s not working?”

As Jae Min stepped forward, Young Ja scratched her head with a puzzled expression.

“That’s strange, this is right.”

“Are you sure you didn’t set a different number and forgot?”

“No, this is right, why isn’t it working?”

“Let me try!”

Switching places, Jae Min raised his index finger and firmly pressed each number.

“Ah come on, I said I need to use the bathroom!”

As the error sound played again, Jenny yelled “Ugh!” in an irritated voice.

“This is so strange.”

“Try to remember again, Mom. I don’t think this is the right number.”

“Ah, what do I do, I really need to go!”

As they were each expressing their noisy emotions, there was a click as the door opened from inside.

All three gazes turned to one spot.

“You’re back?”

As Chae Won tilted her head to one side in greeting, her long wavy hair flowed elegantly.

Everyone’s eyes widened.

While no one could gather their wits, Jae Min blinked several times and said:

“W-what? How are you inside when we changed the password?”

“So you did change it. No wonder the door wouldn’t open no matter how many times I tapped my key card.”

Young Ja, who had been staring blankly, soon frowned and stepped forward.

“How did you know the number to get in, huh? Did you secretly install a camera here or something?”

“I just thought the door was broken, so I broke it and replaced it with a new one.”

“W-what?”

“Why are you so surprised? I’m the one who should be more surprised. If the password was changed like this, shouldn’t you share it among family members? Don’t you think?”

Taken aback by her articulate manner unlike before, Jae Min and Young Ja gaped in shock.

Meanwhile, Jenny had forgotten her urgent need for the bathroom and was staring blankly at Chae Won’s changed appearance when her eyes suddenly widened.

“Whoa, that’s the limited edition Starfish ring, and oh oh that! That watch brand costs hundreds of millions of won!”

Chae Won’s gaze shifted to Jenny.

Her large, deep double-lidded eyes looked just like Noh Jae Min’s.

The woman who appeared to be in her mid-20s seemed to be his younger sister, meaning Hee Joo’s sister-in-law.

“Sis, what’s going on? Your style has totally chang- I mean, forget the rest, but what’s with the watch? Is that fake? It must be fake right?”

So there’s another person here who can’t tell real from fake.

“Why are the eyes of everyone in this family so bad?”

“What did you say?”

As Jae Min got worked up, the front door opened wide.

“What are you all doing, the door’s open.”

Chae Won flashed a smile.

“Come on in.”