At the arrival hall of Incheon International Airport, there was someone looking left and right like a meerkat every time people poured out.

It was Na Mi Ran, an assistant manager from the secretarial office of K1 Construction’s Development Division, who came to pick up her superior who had suddenly announced his return.

After repeating this process three or four times, a smile finally spread across Na Mi Ran’s face as if she had found the person she was waiting for.

“Over here, Director Ahn Yong Gi.”

“Assistant Manager Na Mi Ran, it’s been a while. Has it been a year for us?”

“Yes, time really flies. Where is Division Head Jin Sun Woo?”

“He’ll be out soon. Seems he’s delayed talking with the Vice Chairman.”

“Ah, there’s the Division Head coming out now.”

Na Mi Ran, who almost didn’t recognize Sun Woo in his comfortable knit and cotton pants, quickly approached him and greeted.

“Welcome back, Division Head. Was your flight comfortable?”

“Yes, it was fine.”

Although they had been in constant contact via phone and email, meeting her superior face-to-face after a year was still nerve-wracking.

He seemed to have lost a bit more weight, and Marseille’s sun had tanned his handsome face.

It seemed to emphasize Sun Woo’s masculinity even more, almost making Na Mi Ran’s heart flutter slightly.

‘Get a grip, he’s a married man! You need to keep your job, stay professional!’

Assistant Manager Na Mi Ran quickly pulled herself together and guided them to the parking lot.

“Secretary Na, how much time do we have until the meeting?”

“It’s at 7 PM, so we have plenty of time.”

Sun Woo, who had been silent for a moment, slowly turned his head to look at Assistant Manager Na Mi Ran.

“Where is my wife right now?”

As Sun Woo suddenly asked about Green, an odd silence fell in the car. Because he hadn’t once asked about his wife’s wellbeing or what she was doing now during the past year.

Secretarial Director Ahn Yong Gi, who could roughly guess Sun Woo’s thoughts just by looking at his eyes, had noticed that Sun Woo had definitely changed since hearing about what happened at Jin Young Cheol’s 60th birthday celebration.

When he first heard that Jin Young Cheol had hurled insults at Green while kicking out the uninvited Han Moon Taek, Sun Woo’s expression was indifferent. So even his friend Yong Gi was almost fooled.

But when Sun Woo intently compared Green’s photo taken at the birthday party with photos he had received before, and then decided to recklessly return to Korea the next day by pushing up all his local schedules, Yong Gi realized.

That despite neglecting her indifferently for the past year, Han Green was not a person who meant nothing to Sun Woo.

“The madam said she would go directly to Representative Park’s house in Pyeongchang-dong after the beauty salon.”

At Secretary Na’s answer, Sun Woo immediately took out his mobile phone and dialed Green’s number.

For a moment, Sun Woo wondered if he had dialed someone else’s number and checked the recipient’s name again. It was definitely Han Green’s number.

“Secretary Na, has my wife’s phone number changed?”

“Yes. I heard she changed it right after the wedding ceremony last year.”

Sitting in the passenger seat and unable to notice Sun Woo’s confusion in the back, Secretary Na Mi Ran cheerfully answered his question.

Then Director Ahn Yong Gi asked Secretary Na instead.

“The madam’s phone number changed, but why didn’t you report it to the Division Head?”

“Huh? Oh, I thought the Division Head knew since the Vice Chairman had it changed. You didn’t know?”

Of course he didn’t know. Since he received all news related to Green through Secretary Na, he never felt the need to contact her privately.

Only then did Secretary Na realize the atmosphere was strange and sent Green’s new number to Sun Woo.

“I just sent… the madam’s new number.”

Sun Woo saved Green’s new number and then pushed the phone into his pocket.

He wanted to call her right away and ask where she was, but he didn’t want to talk to her in the current situation with the secretaries paying attention. So Sun Woo changed the subject.

“How has my father been doing lately?”

“Former Congressman Jin Young Cheol has been in seclusion except for the 60th birthday celebration. The shock of losing the general election seems to have been great.”

“Being a five-term congressman isn’t easy. In fact, even four terms is impressive…”

At Director Ahn Yong Gi’s words that sounded like consolation, one corner of Sun Woo’s mouth turned up crookedly.

“Aiming for a fifth term, human greed really knows no bounds.”

Muttering so only Director Ahn could hear, Sun Woo’s thoughts turned to another troublesome father.

“How about Han Moon Taek? Does he still contact K1’s marketing team or secretarial office these days?”

“Yes, he often calls asking when you’ll return and begging for your local contact information. Recently, he’s been frequently meeting with CEOs of strong medium-sized companies like Juno Tires and Shine Electronics.”

Hearing Assistant Manager Na Mi Ran’s explanation, Sun Woo unknowingly furrowed his brow. Han Moon Taek was most dangerous when his intentions were unclear.

“Ah, geez!”

Suddenly Director Ahn Yong Gi frowned and glanced at Sun Woo.

“What is it, Director Ahn?”

“The eldest son of Juno Tires recently divorced according to news articles. And the third son of Shine Electronics, who was my middle school classmate, divorced last year.”

At the common point of those Han Moon Taek was contacting, Sun Woo had to suppress a strange feeling of displeasure.

*****

Arriving at Park Chan Wook’s house in Pyeongchang-dong, Green took a deep breath and headed to the backyard where the event was being held.

When she first visited this place, she was surprised by the pressure of the mansion, but seeing it decorated much more lavishly now made her feel like she had come to the backyard of a palace.

When Green arrived, numerous extended family members had come to celebrate his 78th birthday. People’s gazes flew and fixed on Green, who was like a single tulip.

As gazes of admiration and envy mixed and flew at her, Green felt a stinging sensation on her bare skin.

Quickly scanning her surroundings, Green went to where today’s main characters, Park Chan Wook and her mother-in-law Park In Young, were.

“You’re here?”

“Yes, mother.”

After giving a light eye greeting to In Young, Green bowed to Park Chan Wook and spoke the words she had practiced hundreds of times in her mind.

“Happy birthday, grandfather. It’s a shame Sun Woo couldn’t come with me, isn’t it? Please stay healthy and be with us for a long, long time.”

“Thank you. Your words are as pretty as your face.”

“You flatter me.”

Green was overjoyed at having completed her prepared congratulatory message to the end.

She had been upset for a long time that she had been too intimidated by Park Chan Wook’s charisma when they first met.

“I’m not just saying this, you really look lovely today. In Young, what is Sun Woo doing in France while leaving such a beautiful wife here?”

“What else? He’s working hard for your company, father.”

Noticing that Park Chan Wook’s attitude towards Green had become much more benign over the past year, though he said he would reserve judgment, In Young jokingly remarked. As expected, Park Chan Wook burst into laughter.

Encouraged by his laughter, Green held out a carefully wrapped frame.

“It’s not much, but here’s a birthday gift.”

“Oh? I wonder what gift Sun Woo’s wife has brought me?”

Park Chan Wook’s eyes widened as he unwrapped the gift Green had given him.

“My, when did you…?”

Inside the frame was a photo of Park Chan Wook that Green had taken herself.

It was of him giving a speech in front of all the employees at K1 Construction’s foundation anniversary ceremony earlier this year.

In the black and white photo, Park Chan Wook’s aura was as dignified as a tiger, and his gaze was as sharp as an eagle’s. His right arm raised with a clenched fist was strength itself.

The self-image that Park Chan Wook had always wanted to have as the leader of K1 Construction was fully captured in this single photo taken by Green.

“Who took this?”

“I did.”

As Park Chan Wook looked at Green in surprise, In Young answered beside him.

“This child majored in photography in college.”

Green was a bit surprised to hear In Young’s words. She didn’t remember telling In Young such a thing.

In Young, who had been looking at the frame Green handed to Park Chan Wook from the side, asked with interest.

“Did you bring a camera to the foundation day? I don’t remember seeing one?”

“No, mother. This was taken with a smartphone.”

This time In Young was surprised. She couldn’t believe such a high-quality photo could be taken with a smartphone.

“The phone you bought me has four lenses, mother. So it takes very good portrait photos. Of course, I did some slight editing.”

As Green winked, Park Chan Wook burst into hearty laughter, looking very satisfied.

“Can it be enlarged even more?”

“How much larger?”

“As large as possible!”

Green thought Park Chan Wook looked just like a child, simply shouting ‘larger!’ This made her feel a bit more at ease with him, who had always seemed difficult to approach.

Laughing out loud, Green cutely winked.

“I’ll try to print it as large as possible without losing quality. I’m glad you like it.”

Park Chan Wook nodded his head greatly, looking very satisfied as he gazed at Green.

“It’s the birthday gift I like the most today. Tell me if you have any wishes, Sun Woo’s wife. I’ll grant anything.”

In Young looked at Park Chan Wook in surprise. It was rare for her father to speak so impulsively.

Unaware of this situation, Green asked with sparkling eyes.

“Can I really?”

“Yes. Let’s hear what you want.”

Suddenly Park Chan Wook’s gaze turned sharp. Unaware that he was testing her, Green said what she wanted most.

“Please call me ‘granddaughter-in-law’ instead of ‘Sun Woo’s wife’.”

“What?”

As if hearing something unexpected, both Park Chan Wook and In Young turned to look at Green in surprise.

“In Seok. Do you think opportunities like this are common? You should ask for a foreign car like the other kids.”

Despite Park Chan Wook’s words admonishing Green in bewilderment, Green did not make any other requests.

“Well, since you said you majored in photography, I’ll buy you the most expensive camera.”

“…Thank you.”

Though she said thank you, Green’s expression was quite dark. It was natural to be unhappy when offered something else when what she really wanted was different.

The perceptive Park Chan Wook wouldn’t miss this.

“My goodness. Do you really want me to call you granddaughter-in-law?”

“Yes, it’s my wish!”

“What an insignificant wish. In Young, I think I’ve met quite an unusual daughter-in-law.”

“It seems so, father.”

Hearing the conversation between Park Chan Wook and In Young, Green’s cheeks turned red with joy. It was because Park Chan Wook had called her ‘daughter-in-law’.

“Thank you, grandfather. Happy birthday again. Please stay healthy for a long time.”

“Alright, come visit with Sun Woo when he returns.”

“Yes, I will.”

Since relatives were waiting to give birthday wishes to Park Chan Wook, Green decided to withdraw at this point.

She quickly glanced at In Young, and fortunately, she didn’t seem to be looking at Green with reproach either.

Greatly relieved, Green slowly approached the table where delicious food was laid out.

Since Jin Young Cheol, whom she had worried about, was nowhere to be seen, and she had safely delivered the prepared gift, it seemed she had achieved all the purposes of coming here today.

Now it seemed she could just quietly eat something delicious in a corner and then disappear.

With a contented heart, just as she was picking up a canape, a sharp sarcasm flew like a dagger behind Green’s back.

“You’re more cunning than you look. ‘Please call me granddaughter-in-law’? Ha!”