Green, having finished all her business, slung her bag over her shoulder and left the office without lingering. Sun Woo, who had been gazing at the spot where she had been sitting, slowly stood up.

In fact, Sun Woo had already made up his mind to get married before meeting her.

He was worried about what if she resembled the greedy and selfish Han Moon Taek, but the fact that Jin Young Cheol disliked her so much was enough to satisfy him.

‘Because of the accident caused by father, he probably can’t blame others.’

The Han Green he met in person was quite different from his expectations. She seemed upright and somewhat pure.

Her decision to expose Han Moon Taek’s flaws with the sole intention of giving her father a taste of his own medicine seemed bold but reckless.

But he liked that aspect too. Because it was the opposite of Han Moon Taek, who was worn down by the world.

‘Huh.’

Sun Woo suddenly opened his right hand with which he had shaken hands with Green.

Green’s hand, which was small and firm enough to fit entirely in his palm, had grasped his hand firmly. There were no tricks or impure maneuvers other than trust based on promise.

Suddenly, Sun Woo was reminded of the blind date that Jin Young Cheol had unilaterally set up 7 months ago.

An accident had occurred at the construction site in Saudi Arabia, and he had to leave as soon as they met.

“It’s a pity we have to part so soon. Since it’s unfortunate, shall we shake hands?”

Sun Woo’s blind date extended her hand, which she had spent a long time grooming. Sun Woo, who had grabbed that hand without much thought, felt a chill run down his spine at that moment.

The woman’s hand, which slid into his hand, did not stay still for a moment and acted coquettishly.

He wanted to let go of her hand quickly due to the unpleasant feeling, but she held Sun Woo’s hand tightly and took a step closer, whispering softly.

“When you’re done with work, want to come to the Carina Hotel suite in front of K1 headquarters? I’ll be waiting.”

“I’ll probably be working all night.”

Sun Woo removed her hand as if brushing off an insect with his other hand, politely said goodbye, and left the place.

When Jin Young Cheol heard this news, he came to find Sun Woo and threw a huge tantrum.

“You were three hours late and left after just 30 minutes? What’s the problem this time?”

“There was a fatal accident at the Saudi site, so it couldn’t be helped. Since you’re focusing on overseas business, sir…”

“Didn’t I tell you not to be so devoted to company work? No matter how loyal you are, the highest position you can reach is just division head.”

“…”

Jin Young Cheol, who had been glaring at Sun Woo for a while, tried to suppress his anger and spoke as if coaxing him.

“Sun Woo, no matter how much you devote yourself to your maternal family, you have nothing to gain. Come to politics while I still have power. With a strong in-law family too, even in this messed up field, they can’t touch you carelessly.”

There was a strange sense of guilt in Jin Young Cheol’s eyes as he looked at his son Sun Woo. But Sun Woo coldly ignored this.

“You can’t become chairman at K1, but if you come to politics, you could even become president. I’ll support you, just trust your father.”

The blind dates that Jin Young Cheol had been setting up sporadically for the past year were unilaterally arranged every weekend after that day. They were all daughters of famous politicians whose names alone would be recognizable.

Due to the nature of the construction industry, where it’s not good to be on bad terms with the political world, Sun Woo went to these blind dates punctually despite the waste of time, did just the basics, and returned.

But two months ago, all the tiresome blind date appointments disappeared. It was then that he learned about the marriage talks with Han Moon Taek’s daughter, Han Green, due to Han Moon Taek’s threats.

If this marriage went through, he could avoid meaningless meetings and pressure to enter politics that he wasn’t interested in. Above all, it was useful for him in many ways as he could focus more on work.

‘Father, live your own life. I’m going to become the CEO at K1.’

Thinking of Jin Young Cheol, who would surely be in despair if he married Han Green, Sun Woo smiled coldly.

“Director, how can you still be here?”

Sun Woo snapped back to reality at the reproachful voice of Chief Secretary Ahn Yong Gi.

“What’s the matter, Chief Ahn?”

“What do you mean what’s the matter? The meeting time has passed by 10 minutes.”

“What?”

Sun Woo looked down at his watch with an expression that said ‘What nonsense is this?’, and suddenly raised his eyebrows high.

Chief Ahn, who had been friends with Sun Woo since high school, knew well that this was a habit that came out when Sun Woo was really surprised.

Indeed, for Sun Woo, who used his time down to the minute and second, it was no ordinary matter that he had wasted 10 minutes on something unplanned.

Sun Woo hurriedly picked up his tablet and left the office.

“What are you doing, Chief Ahn? Let’s go to the meeting quickly!”

“Huh? Yes, Director.”

******

At that time, Green had moved to Gangnam Station where the model academy was located, feeling lighthearted.

She didn’t even realize how tiring it was to take profile photos of 25 aspiring models, even skipping lunch.

“Yes, that’s good. A bit more confident. This time, let’s try a bit more lovable, shall we?”

The director was even worried about Green working so passionately.

“Green, let’s do the rest after lunch.”

“Let’s just do it. It’s better to do it when we’re in the zone, right?”

Watching Green, who was burning with enthusiasm while changing the camera battery, the director smiled apologetically and awkwardly.

“They’re still just aspiring models. You can take it easy.”

“Come on, you never know. One of these might become the next Jenny Jang or Morgan.”

At Green’s words, a pride that couldn’t be hidden bloomed on the director’s face. Jenny Jang and Morgan. They were the top stars produced by this model academy.

The two had deep connections with Green. Jenny was her best friend, and Morgan was a model sponsored by the company Green had set up with her business partner.

“Is Jenny doing well? Still busy?”

“Of course. She said she was even invited to some film festival abroad.”

“She’s doing great. What about Hannah? Has she completely given up on modeling?”

At the director’s question, Green playfully winked.

“Honestly, Hannah is more suited to being a stylist than a model. You need to like eating a bit, you know.”

The director burst into laughter at Green’s cold assessment.

The profile shooting work for the aspiring models finished well past 4 PM.

As Green was silently organizing her camera and lenses, she noticed someone staring at her intently at the entrance of the studio.

A woman nearly 180 centimeters tall, wearing killer heels on top of that, was smiling playfully at Green.

“Hannah! When did you get here?”

“Just now. You were so focused on work, you wouldn’t have noticed even if the president came.”

“Stop talking nonsense, I’m hungry. Let’s eat.”

When Hannah learned that Green had been working without even having lunch, she glared at the director.

“Isn’t this too much? You should at least feed her while making her work.”

“This kid is making me look like an evil director. Green! Didn’t I tell you to eat lunch first?”

“Enough, just give Green a hefty daily wage.”

The director grumbled that Hannah was extorting him, but Green knew well that the director, aware of his position, had given her a generous daily wage.

“Thank you, Director.”

“I’m the one who’s grateful. Seeing you two standing there reminds me of when you first met. When the three of you, repeating a year, hung out day and night, it was really suffocating.”

The director’s eyes seemed to moisten with memories.

In their twenties, when they were repeating a year for college entrance exams, Jenny and Hannah were students at the model academy, and Green was a student at the photography academy in the same building.

Because the directors of the two academies were brothers, the photography class and the model class had integrated practical classes just before completion. Jenny, Hannah, and Green quickly became friends due to their common point of being the same age and repeating a year.

“All three of us have foreign-style names. Hannah, Jenny, Green. Oh my! It must be fate!”

Green and Jenny objected to Hannah’s exaggeration.

“Hey, Green is pure Korean. It’s the ‘green’ in ‘The giraffe picture I drew’.”

“Jenny is a stage name. I have a different real name, but don’t try to find out.”

“Enough! Anyway, we’re going to be friends for life now. Betrayal means death. Come on, let’s make a vow!”

Placing three cans of beer in front, Hannah demanded a vow.

Unlike the shy Green and the indifferent Jenny, the friendly and optimistic Hannah managed to bind these three different individuals together.

Their friendship continued strongly even after Green entered the photography department and Jenny and Hannah debuted as models.

When Jenny, who had transitioned from model to movie actress, rose to the top star level in just two years, Hannah, who realized she had talent in styling, became Jenny’s stylist after studying abroad in Japan.

Green, too, was able to establish herself in the industry as a photographer thanks to her experience of working as an assistant at Jenny’s photo shoots since her college days.

Hannah and Green were grateful to Jenny for helping them make a living, but Jenny herself said differently.

“You guys saved me.”

Although Green and Hannah sensed that Jenny had a complicated story, they didn’t push. They had been waiting for seven years, believing that someday she would tell them her circumstances.

Hannah took Green to the snack bar in front of the academy. It was a nostalgic favorite spot they used to frequent during their college entrance exam preparation year.

“Eat up. It’s on me.”

Hannah, who had ordered no less than six dishes including kimbap, rabokki, pork cutlet, and kalguksu, solemnly declared.

“I earned money. Today, I’ll pay.”

Green, with her cheeks puffed out full of kimbap, waved her hands to stop Hannah.

Finding this sight hilarious, Hannah poked Green’s cheeks with her finger and laughed.

“Just eat quickly, you fool! Eat and gain strength to break off the marriage too.”

At Hannah’s words, Green’s jaw, which had been chewing kimbap, suddenly stopped moving. It was because she was reminded of Sun Woo, whom she had met in the morning.

“What’s wrong? What is it?”

Hannah showed interest in Green’s strange behavior. The intuition of their 7-year friendship was telling her that there was definitely something going on.

“Hannah, I think I’m going to go through with that marriage.”

“What?”

Hannah was a bit dumbfounded, as Green, who had been ranting about giving her father a big slap in the face until yesterday, suddenly said she was going to get married.

Green quickly glanced around, then leaned forward and whispered very quietly.

“Actually, I met Jin Sun Woo this morning.”

Green spilled everything that had happened with Sun Woo. Including the big slap and economic compensation he had promised.

“The details will be written in the contract at the formal meeting, but I’m going to make sure to secure at least my mom’s hospital bills. It’s obvious that I’ll be cut off from my father after this, so I need to find my own way to survive.”

Even after listening to Green’s story to the end, Hannah frowned and couldn’t easily open her mouth. It was because she wasn’t sure if Green’s choice was the best.

But Green seemed to have already made up her mind, so Hannah felt she should at least be supportive.

“You idiot. How can you just secure the hospital bills? What about your life? It’s obvious that you won’t be able to work if you marry into such a family!”

“I won’t be able to work?”

Green’s eyes widened as she hadn’t thought that far.

“Rich in-laws don’t like working daughters-in-law. So, calculate properly. Make sure you get compensation for your mom’s hospital bills, living expenses, and the loss of becoming a career-interrupted woman!”

“It doesn’t seem like they have much to gain from marrying me either, isn’t that asking too much?”

“Why is a mouse worrying about a cat? Why is a dirt spoon worrying about a diamond spoon?”

Seeing Green still looking disgruntled, Hannah drank her water in big gulps as if frustrated.

“When is your formal meeting date?”

“A week from now.”

“Come to my house that morning. I’ll be responsible for your chaebol family meeting look.”

“Really? Hannah, you’re the best!”

When Green shook her shoulders and acted coy with excitement, Hannah put a piece of kimbap in her mouth.

“The first strike is important in negotiation. If you get intimidated at the start, it’s over. I’ll dress you up really nicely, so don’t get intimidated and make sure you get everything you deserve.”

Green nodded vigorously, but Hannah still frowned as if worried.

Green was confident and unshakeable even if the president or the president’s grandfather came when she was holding a camera, but because she was so naive about the ways of the world, to Hannah’s eyes, she looked like a child left alone by the water.

“Where are you going? Home?”

“No, to mom.”

“Want me to take you?”

“No, I’ll go alone.”

After parting with Hannah, Green went to the nursing hospital where her mother was hospitalized.

Green, who had settled part of the overdue hospital bills with today’s wages, quietly looked at her mother’s face, who was breathing with the help of an oxygen respirator.

Her appearance looked so peaceful that it seemed as if she was just in a deep sleep.

‘If you knew what I’m trying to do now, would you scold me, mom? You’re always on dad’s side anyway.’

Green’s lips pouted involuntarily, even though her mother couldn’t see her face.

‘Do you still like a husband who doesn’t even visit the hospital once after you got hurt?’

As she was asking questions in her mind that couldn’t be answered, the caregiver carefully approached.

“I’m hesitant to say this, but the payment for this month’s work hasn’t come in yet.”

“Ah, please wait just a little longer. I’ll definitely resolve it by this weekend.”

“I’m in a difficult situation too. Please, I beg you.”

“Yes, I’m sorry.”

After the caregiver left, Green turned back to her mother.

In a situation where her father had squandered what little wealth they had left trying to save the constantly on the verge of bankruptcy ‘Wide Current Affairs’, it was too much for her to take responsibility for both hospital bills and caregiver fees no matter how hard she tried.

Two months ago, they had even faced a crisis where their house was about to be auctioned off.

As she was assessing the situation, her eyes had already hardened.

‘Mom, I’m sorry. I really have to go through with this marriage.’

*****

On the day before the formal meeting, Sun Woo called Green. It was to confirm with her if she liked the big slap he had carefully prepared.

“How is it?”