Even though it was Saturday, the small building owned by Park Chan Wook was filled with ear-piercing noise as they worked on the sign for Green’s studio.

But Green seemed oblivious to the noise, watching the sign going up with pleased eyes.

“Green, do you want to go up and take a look for a moment?”

“No, I don’t want to disturb them. That way they can finish their work faster.”

Sun Woo, who had been smiling at Green as if he couldn’t stop her, turned her around with a slightly annoyed look on his face as she kept staring at the studio building.

“How long are you going to stay like this? It’s Saturday, don’t you want to do anything with me?”

“Pardon?”

“Didn’t you say there were many things you wanted to do with me, your husband and lover? Let’s start fulfilling your unfulfilled dating wishes one by one from now on.”

Only then did Green’s gaze fully focus on Sun Woo. When she looked at him like this, Sun Woo felt he could grant her any wish.

If she asked him to pluck a star from the sky, he was prepared to climb to the top of L Tower at night with a ladder and a long-handled net slung over his shoulder to at least try.

Realizing he was going crazy, Sun Woo smiled prettily at Green.

“Then, let’s go to the Han River and ride bicycles and eat ramen.”

Unaware of the resolve he had been steeling himself with, Green suddenly furrowed her brow and pondered seriously.

“Wait a minute! Hmm, would chicken and beer be better than ramen?”

“Let’s have both.”

Seeing Sun Woo answer decisively as if wondering why she was worrying unnecessarily, Green looked at him with admiring eyes.

“When Grandfather said Sun Woo was a Mensa member, I honestly had my doubts, but you really are Mensa!”

*****

Sun Woo and Green walked hand in hand along the promenade by the Han River. At first they thought about riding bicycles, but since it was the weekend and too crowded, they decided to just walk.

“Oh my, such a handsome face and such cool sneakers too. Whoever chose them must have great taste.”

“My wife bought them for me. She said they were couple sneakers.”

Sun Woo played along with Green’s teasing. The two looked at each other and couldn’t hold back their laughter, giggling.

Green, who wanted to walk with Sun Woo for a long time, bought comfortable sneakers to change into instead of the dress shoes she had worn from home. And she bought a pair for Sun Woo too.

Come to think of it, it was the first gift she had given her husband. It was nothing compared to what she had received from him, but thinking about how she would repay him little by little as they lived together, her guilty feelings disappeared.

Meanwhile, Sun Woo was walking very carefully, worried that even a speck of dirt might get on the sneakers Green had bought him.

Green smiled contentedly watching Sun Woo like that, when she suddenly remembered what Park Chan Wook had said. Unsure of how much to relay, Green pondered for a moment before deciding to start with the facts.

“You know, the person who leaked to the press that you were an illegitimate child was indeed Grandfather. But he said it wasn’t to drive you out, he just did it because he was upset.”

“…Did he say anything else?”

“He said if you understood, you should act accordingly, and if you didn’t understand, you should live as a salaried employee for the rest of your life. He also threatened to kick you out immediately if your performance drops.”

Looking at Sun Woo who was just walking silently staring ahead, Green asked with concern:

“And he said something else, but honestly I’m not sure what it means. Something about the fastest way to learn swimming is to be thrown into the water first? He said he’s tired of watching you sit by the water’s edge just guessing what’s in it.”

Sun Woo remained silent even after Green’s words.

“Don’t you have any idea what Grandfather means?”

“I don’t know. And honestly, I’m not really curious either.”

“What?”

Green looked at Sun Woo in surprise at his words. Sun Woo pulled Green’s hand and headed towards the grass area, away from the walking path.

The Han River was now shimmering with a beautiful red sunset.

The cool river breeze playfully tangled Green’s hair, and the sunset light tinted her cheeks a rosy hue.

Sun Woo brushed Green’s disheveled hair back behind her ear. Then he cupped her cheek with his hand.

“I think I’m in big trouble. Now, I can only see you, Green. Nothing else matters.”

Sun Woo’s lips, redder than the sunset, passionately engulfed Green’s lips.

“No, Sun Woo!”

Green, whose mind was full of worry for Sun Woo, was taken aback by the sudden kiss.

‘Is this the right time? Is this okay?’

But Sun Woo, as if unwilling to let Green be distracted by other thoughts, opened her lips more deeply.

It seemed he disliked even those other thoughts being worries about himself. Judging by how he was pouncing on her as if determined to take her breath away.

“Sun Woo.”

A moment later, Green gave up resisting and wrapped her arms around his neck, trying to get even closer to him.

Whatever Park Chan Wook’s intentions were, it felt like they could somehow get through it together with Sun Woo.

Now was the time to immerse herself in the sweetness Sun Woo was giving her.

Behind the two with their lips passionately locked together, the red sunset came down over the Han River, shimmering dazzlingly.

But the romantic kiss by the Han River didn’t last long.

“Mom, that mister and lady are kissing.”

“Shh. Don’t stare like that.”

The word “lady” from the child’s mouth stuck in Green’s ear, snapping her back to reality.

‘Lady? Surely they’re not talking about me?’

Green, who wanted to believe it was just her guilty conscience, quickly pushed Sun Woo away and looked around.

About 7 meters away at the 10 o’clock position behind Sun Woo, she spotted three families sitting on picnic mats eating chicken. For a moment, she made direct eye contact with a boy about five years old.

‘Damn, they were talking about me!’

Green buried her face in Sun Woo’s chest like an ostrich believing it’s safe if it hides its head, but she couldn’t shake off the shock of being called “lady”.

While it was true she was a married woman now, she absolutely didn’t want to hear that word yet in her twenties.

“Young couples these days are so bold. In public places, no less.”

“Oh please, as if you never did that.”

Not wanting to be a spectacle any longer for the three families commenting on their kiss while eating chicken, Sun Woo hid Green in his arms and left as if nothing had happened.

After cooling her flushed cheeks in the river breeze, Green boiled the instant ramen by the Han River she had so longed for and shared it with Sun Woo, also enjoying chicken and beer.

With an expression of having nothing else to want in the world, Green grinned and handed a chicken leg to Sun Woo.

“I already gave you one earlier. That one’s yours, Green.”

“You eat this one too, Sun Woo. You know that giving up a chicken leg is like giving everything, right? Even if another woman offers you a chicken leg, you must never accept it!”

Though he didn’t understand why she was attaching such grand meaning to a chicken leg, since Green said so, it did seem that way. Come to think of it, it did taste like the best chicken leg he had ever eaten.

Taking a sip of beer, Sun Woo asked Green:

“I’m curious about something.”

“What is it?”

“How did your mother end up in an accident?”

“Ah…”

Green’s brow furrowed. It wasn’t that she deliberately didn’t mention it, but talking about her mother required mental preparation. Green stood up and dusted off her bottom.

“Sun Woo, we’ve eaten, shall we walk again?”

Instead of pressing for an answer, Sun Woo took her hand and slowly retraced their steps. After taking a deep breath, Green spoke calmly.

“After my father left Goryeo Daily, he wrote articles as a freelance journalist and sold them here and there, but he was always digging into shady politicians’ affairs and rarely came home.”

“So that’s why you dislike me being in politics.”

“That day too, Father hadn’t come home for five days. Mom packed some underwear and side dishes and left the house saying she was going to take them to him at some inn in Incheon. And that day, she was in a hit-and-run accident.”

Sun Woo’s heart ached seeing Green calmly talk about the time of her mother’s accident. Feeling that any words would be clumsy consolation, he just held her hand tightly and walked in step with her.

“What’s really upsetting is that from six months after the accident, Father completely stopped visiting the hospital. Even if I concede a hundred times that the accident wasn’t Father’s fault, I can’t forgive his attitude afterwards.”

Green, who had been walking silently looking straight ahead, suddenly stopped in her tracks. Then she turned to face Sun Woo.

“I have a confession to make to you, Sun Woo.”

“What is it?”

“At first, when I barged into your office that day, I just wanted to break off this marriage that Father wanted no matter what. But after the first meeting, I did my best to keep this marriage.”

“I know. That you really tried hard for a year.”

“But the reason was… because of money. I did want to get back at Father, but also because you said you would pay for Mom’s hospital bills during our marriage period. That’s why I did it. Trying to make a good impression on your parents, striving not to have any faults as your wife, it was all for the money.”

Seeing Green apologize with tears in her eyes, Sun Woo pulled her into a tight embrace.

As he patted her back, Sun Woo quietly wiped away the tears forming in the corners of her eyes with his little finger. Then he smiled warmly at her.

“I also married you with impure intentions. I was so tired of the blind dates Father kept pushing on me every week, and knowing Father would hate it, I really wanted to marry you.”

Green also smiled slightly, perhaps remembering the day they first met. The day she recognized him as one of her kind at first sight.

“We both started this marriage with impure intentions, but now I’m crazy about you, Green. Honestly, I’m so glad I have the money to keep you.”

Green’s face turned red at Sun Woo’s direct way of speaking that couldn’t beat around the bush. She was honestly bewildered as to why such an amazing man would like her.

Unable to find words to respond, Green took his arm and started walking again. Sun Woo docilely followed her.

“We’ve walked by the Han River, eaten ramen, and had chicken and beer. What else does Green want to do?”

“Well… Shouldn’t we go home now?”

“It’s Saturday. Sending your lover home this early on a weekend is unacceptable.”

Green laughed brightly at Sun Woo’s smooth talk. Sun Woo looked at his watch and his face brightened as if he had a good idea.

“There’s a movie theater near your studio, Green. Shall we watch a movie?”