After the meeting of the families, the two months left until the wedding passed in the blink of an eye for both Sun Woo and Green.

The peculiar thing was that wedding preparations had no room to squeeze into the busy schedules of the two.

Sun Woo’s Development Business Division became officially busy when K1 Construction was finally selected for the construction bid of a private resort in Marseille, France.

K1 Construction’s submission of hanok-style private pool villas, each embracing a beautiful and unique Korean garden, overwhelmed the competition.

When Sun Woo visited the master carpenters he had been acquainted with for a while, the prickly masters immediately pushed drinks on him.

From makgeolli to soju, for two months Sun Woo felt like he was being pickled in alcohol.

Green was also preoccupied with finishing the photoshoots she had previously contracted.

The photoshoot for model Morgan, her second-largest client after Jenny, was a project she paid particular attention to.

She had been concerned about Morgan like a younger sister since first meeting the 17-year-old at a modeling academy 4 years ago.

After Green took her first profile pictures, Morgan thrived as a model and greatly relied on Green, who had recognized her potential during her ugly duckling phase.

Now photographers lined up wanting to work with her, but for Morgan, Green was always the top priority photographer.

“There’s a photoshoot in Thailand, can you do it for me, elder sister? The schedule is 3 nights and 4 days.”

The day after Green first met Sun Woo, Morgan proposed the Thailand photoshoot.

She fell into contemplation. She had always refused trips longer than 2 nights because of her mother.

This was why she couldn’t join a famous studio or work as an assistant to a renowned photographer.

But thinking she wouldn’t be able to do photography work for a while after getting married, she didn’t want to miss this opportunity.

“I’ll do it. Share the schedule and shooting concept with me.”

“Really? No taking it back later, okay?”

Because it was an important project, the editorial team wanted a more experienced photographer, but they couldn’t break Morgan’s stubbornness.

To avoid being a burden to her, Green researched the shooting concept while staying up late at night. And even after arriving in Thailand, she immersed herself in work like crazy.

“Morgan! This is the last concept. Let’s hang in there a little longer!”

On the fourth day of the trip, Morgan, who had been showing off a great suit fit, soon transformed into a sexy hippie under the hands of professionals.

Though she was excessively thin for her tall height, thanks to her tiny face and long limbs, Morgan looked absolutely stunning when captured through the camera lens.

“You look great, Morgan. One more time, facing front! Look straight at the camera. Okay.”

When Green finally shouted “Cut!” after pressing the last shutter, cheers and enthusiastic applause erupted among the staff. It was also the moment Green felt the greatest sense of achievement.

“Green unni, hurry and wash up. Let’s go eat dinner.”

Morgan, visibly exhausted, said while wiping the beads of sweat from her forehead. Because they were planning to return home immediately on a night flight to save on budget, there wasn’t much time left.

Green changed out of the gray boxy t-shirt and cargo pants with many pockets she had been wearing for four days into a blue one-piece dress. It was an outfit she had almost failed to take out of her trunk and was about to bring back unused.

The place Morgan took Green to was a rooftop restaurant with a panoramic view of the sunset over the sea.

“Wow, the view here is amazing.”

“The food tastes even more amazing.”

Green gazed intently at Morgan, who was excitedly ordering lots of different dishes. Although not publicly known, she was actually the CEO of a small company supporting model Morgan.

Of course, there was a separate actual investor.

When Jang Hyun Soo, a building tycoon in Gangnam, came looking for her with the profile pictures Green had taken, wanting to sponsor the rookie model Morgan, the condition he put forward was for Green to become the CEO and handle external affairs.

As it was beneficial not only to herself but also to Morgan, she gladly accepted Jang Hyun Soo’s proposal.

Perhaps thanks to finding financial stability, 22-year-old Morgan had now become a rising star garnering attention in the fashion industry.

“How’s the new house you moved into? Do you like it?”

“It’s totally a palace. Is the company really paying the rent?”

“Of course. The contract is under the company name too.”

Morgan asked while chewing a piece of steak.

“When do I get to meet Director Jang Hyun Soo?”

“Why do you need to meet Director Jang?”

“Isn’t Director Jang Hyun Soo the real investor? I feel like I should at least greet him as a matter of courtesy.”

Flustered by Morgan’s answer, Green rolled her eyes severely like someone with something to hide. She also thought it was natural for Morgan to be curious since they had never met each other.

“Director Jang is like a hikikomori who extremely dislikes meeting people.”

“How did someone like that make so much money?”

“I heard he inherited several buildings in Gangnam from his father who was in the private loan business. He’s envisioning a big picture where he’ll send you to a major agency when you really take off and pocket a hefty transfer fee, so there’s no need to feel indebted. It’s all business to him.”

Picking up a grilled asparagus and chewing it, Morgan asked Green with a serious face.

“Does he perhaps like men?”

Green almost spat out the drink she was sipping at Morgan’s unexpected question.

“What? No, it’s not like that. He totally likes women!”

“Then as I thought, he has ulterior motives towards you, right?”

Green, who had been vigorously shaking her head at Morgan’s continued suspicion, finally burst out laughing.

“Hey, Director Jang is in his 50s, you know? And he has a girlfriend. He’s just really shy around people, so he put me as a figurehead CEO and assigned me to deal with people. It’s good for me too since I’m working two jobs.”

“Well, that’s a relief then.”

Although not completely convinced, Morgan seemed somewhat reassured as she shoveled the remaining food into her mouth.

Since Director Jang Hyun Soo wanted to keep his identity concealed from Morgan, Green quickly changed the subject before Morgan could probe further.

“Actually, I’m getting married next month.”

For a moment, Morgan’s already large eyes grew even wider. Her expression showed quite a big shock.

“With whom? Did you have a boyfriend, unni?”

“Well, it’s an arranged marriage. He works at K1 Construction.”

“When’s the wedding? Should I be the MC? Or should I help receive the wedding gifts?”

“I appreciate the offer, but it’s a small wedding with just family.”

“Huh? Something seems off here. Are you really getting married? Not just imagining it alone?”

“Hey!”

When Green snapped, Morgan’s playful expression suddenly turned serious.

“Do you like that person a lot? Enough to suddenly decide to get married?”

Green flinched for a moment at the piercing question. The image of Sun Woo making a businesslike marriage proposal and drawing up a contract naturally came to mind.

There might not have been the affection Morgan expected between them, but there did seem to exist a sympathy for a kindred spirit and a strong sense of comradeship.

“Of course!”

So Green was able to answer without hesitation.

“What do you like about him?”

“He’s extremely handsome. His face is just my type.”

Finally, a smile spread across Morgan’s face.

“That’s a relief. Congratulations on your marriage, Green unni.”

At Morgan’s words, Green realized for the first time that this was the first congratulations she had received for this marriage, and her feelings became mixed. After all, both Hannah and Jenny had been more worried than congratulatory.

Although it wasn’t a typical marriage, Morgan’s congratulations felt like it was supporting her decision, and Green was happy.

“Thank you, Morgan.”

As Green smiled brightly at Morgan, a deep red sunset settled over the darkening sea.

“Oh? It’s Morgan and the photographer!”

Just then, some staff members from the photoshoot team who had come to the same restaurant for dinner spotted the two.

“You’re right. Those two must be really close. Looking at her like this, the photographer is quite a beauty too!”

“What are you talking about? Morgan’s face is much smaller!”

“There you go being jealous again!”

The staff members laughed as they exchanged jokes.

Morgan and Green looked so pretty as they laughed and joked around that an older lighting staff member took a picture of their affectionate moment against the sunset backdrop and uploaded it to the group chat.

“Morgan and the photographer are already finishing dinner. If we’re late, we might have to board the plane without eating, so hurry up and gather!”

After this message was posted, all the staff members flocked to the restaurant within 10 minutes. Even those who were thinking of skipping meals due to fatigue were drawn by the impressive rooftop scenery.

And so, Green’s first long-term business trip came to a successful end.

*****

Even after returning from the Thailand trip, Green was running around looking for a special room for her mother and settling overdue hospital bills. She wanted to clear all the outstanding hospital bills before getting married.

Han Moon Taek, whose business remained unknown, had recently not been coming home much.

Green thought it was rather fortunate. Although he was a father she couldn’t stand the sight of, what she was about to do with Sun Woo was essentially stabbing him in the back, so it was comfortable not to see his face.

Before they knew it, Green’s wedding day was just around the corner. The day before the wedding, Jenny invited her friends to her house.

To make up for the regret of not being able to attend Green’s wedding, and to create even a slightly wonderful memory for Green’s wedding that was abnormal in every way, she prepared a modest bridal shower.

“A wedding ceremony in the sweltering heat of early August, you really picked an amazing date.”

“Monday at 3 PM is even funnier. If they had invited guests, they would have gotten so much criticism.”

“I’m so sad I can’t see Green in a wedding dress, it’s such a shame! She must look pretty, right?”

“Of course. Whose friend is she?”

Because of the contract with her in-laws, Green couldn’t tell her friends the details of the marriage.

She only told them that the marriage came about due to Han Moon Taek’s threats, and that in exchange for accepting the marriage, the in-laws agreed not to invite anyone to the wedding ceremony.

“If I disclose the contents of the contract, I have to pay a penalty of 30 billion won.”

Even Hannah, who initially tried to forcefully extract information from Green, had to put down her curiosity at this one statement.

Hannah had come to Jenny’s house in broad daylight and was busy decorating the house together, but the main character Green arrived late at night with a large bag, completely exhausted.

“What’s this? I thought you were coming early, why are you so late?”

“The lighting gave us trouble so the shoot ran late. Then I stopped by mom’s hospital, so it’s this late now.”

Green dropped her luggage and collapsed onto the sofa. Seeing this, Hannah immediately clicked her tongue.

“A bride-to-be so exhausted the night before her wedding! If strangers saw this, they’d misunderstand that you’ve been spending every night doing ‘this and that’ with your ‘darling’.”

Green laughed softly while lying down at Hannah’s scolding.

“I wish I liked ‘this and that’. I haven’t even seen his nose since the family meeting! What nose? We haven’t even had a phone call.”

“What!”

Even Jenny, who usually doesn’t get surprised easily, looked at Green in disbelief.

“You’re both amazing? Tomorrow is the wedding and you’re not curious about each other at all?”

Green, forcing her body that didn’t want to get up to rise, looked around at her friends and said,

“I’ve been busy, but Mr. Jin Sun Woo seems like an extremely busy person too. At times like this, not bothering each other is the best consideration. I’m going to wash up a bit.”

As Green disappeared into the bathroom, Jenny and Hannah exchanged glances.

“Hannah, we need to change the bridal shower plan, right?”

“Yeah. Let’s throw everything else out and just give Green a thorough massage when she comes out from washing. So at least her makeup sits well tomorrow.”

Hannah jumped up and took down the balloons and decorations hung in every corner.

The two immediately understood that the reason she had worked herself to exhaustion on a day like today was to shake off the anxiety about the impending wedding tomorrow.

“When she comes out after washing, we’ll first loosen her muscles with a full body massage. Then we’ll go straight into a facial massage.”

Jenny and Hannah took out all sorts of basic skincare products and face masks, as well as various tools like gua sha for reducing swelling and vibrating devices.

They couldn’t completely eliminate Green’s anxiety and fear, but they wanted to help her face tomorrow in at least a slightly refreshed state. They also strongly hoped that when Green was having a hard time, she would think of them.

Green, who came out after washing, was intimidated by her friends’ ominous gazes and tried to back away slowly, but it was futile.

“Lie down. We’re giving you a massage.”

“W-wait a minute. Girls, it hurts! That spot is too painful! Aaack!”

That night, Green had no choice but to entrust her body and face to her overzealous friends until late into the night.

****

On the day of the wedding, around 10 AM, Green left Jenny’s house alone and headed to the K1 Hotel, the wedding venue.

Early August, Monday at 3 PM. It was truly a peculiar day and ambiguous time for a wedding. Although it was a unilateral notification from Sun Woo’s mother Park In Young, Han Moon Taek had no complaints at all.

When Green arrived in front of the hotel, she was startled by an unexpected scene. Reporters with notepads and cameras, and even cable broadcasting station reporters with broadcasting equipment had gathered in droves.

In the midst of them, Han Moon Taek was confidently giving interviews.