“Puhah…… Hahahahaha!”

Tae Sung’s laughter burst out.

It was a laugh completely out of place following the piercing question.

The gazes of the intimidating CEO Joo Sung Gye, the worried Joo Hyun Woo, and the bewildered Ji Wan all turned to him.

While CEO Joo and Hyun Woo simply stared at him uncomprehendingly, Ji Wan had a job to do even if she didn’t understand.

“Haha…… Ahahahahaha!”

“Hahaha!”

“Ahahahahahahaha!”

Having to mimic his every action, Ji Wan laughed just like Tae Sung.

Right now, she was acting as if recalling all the funny moments in her life and laughing.

The coldness on CEO Joo’s face deepened as he watched the two of them.

After laughing for a while, Tae Sung lightly wiped his eyes, and with a smile still on his face, looked at CEO Joo and answered.

“You’ve become quite simplistic while we haven’t met. Dr. Pay, Lawyer Pay, and now Wife Pay…”

“……”

“It’s interesting how you view everything from a capitalist perspective since changing your path to business.”

Even as he answered, Tae Sung maintained a constant smile as if unable to hold back his laughter.

If so, Ji Wan also had to keep pretending to be amused and let out laughter.

The sneer that had been lingering on CEO Joo’s face, now genuinely displeased, disappeared.

“Well, either way is fine. Whether it’s a relationship maintained with money or one maintained with impossible emotions, the outcome is predetermined.”

CEO Joo’s gaze, after dropping those meaningful words, turned towards the restaurant entrance.

At the same time, the sound of high heels approaching from afar somehow sent chills down Ji Wan’s spine.

Ji Wan instinctively turned her head to confirm the owner of those footsteps.

At that moment, the person whose eyes properly met hers was clearly approaching this table.

Snow-white skin. Two eyes as black and brilliantly shining as well-polished obsidian.

Delicate features perfectly positioned on a small face.

Added to that, a petite and dainty figure that Ji Wan could embrace in one arm.

Even her flowing hair was so frail and pretty that it embodied the very word “innocent and pitiful”…

“Elder brother Tae Sung…?”

Such a woman called Tae Sung’s name accurately.

Ji Wan, completely unaware of their relationship, looked at Tae Sung with a puzzled expression.

But Tae Sung remained motionless, staring straight ahead.

He surely couldn’t have not heard the gentle voice calling him.

The corners of his mouth, which had been softly curved just moments ago, had now frozen coldly.

“Elder brother Tae Sung… Is it really you?”

She asked in disbelief as she approached the table, looking at Tae Sung.

Her wavering eyes seemed about to shed star-like tears at any moment.

Tae Sung’s gaze subtly dropped downward.

After thinking for a moment, he soon let out a chuckle similar to a sigh.

“You’ve chosen the worst and most terrible development among all possible scenarios.”

Though his words were directed at CEO Joo Sung Gye, it was the uninvited guest who reacted.

Her gaze, which had been wavering feebly, fell to her feet like a wilted flower.

“Yi Young, why are you here…?”

Hyun Woo spoke with a confused face at her appearance.

Only then hearing her name, Ji Wan’s eyes widened noticeably.

If it was Yi Young, she had heard that name once before, when Hwa Young had barged into her house.

Combining Hwa Young’s anger and Tae Sung’s explanation, she was the woman who had been engaged to Tae Sung before breaking it off.

None other than because of Ji Wan herself.

Ji Wan’s heart began to beat anxiously as she realized this fact.

But Hyun Woo, unaware of Ji Wan’s inner thoughts, brought Yi Young to the table as if to comfort her, frozen by Tae Sung’s coldness.

“It’s okay. Let’s sit down first, Yi Young.”

Yi Young sat down with his support in the seat to the left of CEO Joo Sung Gye, directly across from Ji Wan.

“……”

“……”

Yi Young and Ji Wan’s eyes met.

Ji Wan froze for a moment, not knowing how to react, but she immediately bowed her head in a polite greeting.

When I only heard the story, I thought I was in such a villainous position that it wouldn’t be strange if my hair was pulled…

Seeing her politely greet me first, she doesn’t seem to be such an aggressive person.

Ji Wan hurriedly bowed her head in return.

At that moment, Tae Sung’s cold command fell.

“Don’t look.”

“Pardon?”

“This is not a request or suggestion, but a warning.”

Seeing his black eyes directed precisely at Yi Young, the command seemed to be for her.

Yi Young’s eyes, which had been looking at Ji Wan, briefly brushed past Tae Sung before falling helplessly to the floor.

Even though she obediently did as he said, the intense hostility in Tae Sung’s eyes did not diminish at all.

This was the first time Ji Wan had seen him like this.

He was usually the type to overflow with composure, dealing flexibly with any situation that came his way, but now it was like…

He seemed to be showing excessive caution compared to the energy the other person possessed.

“Shouldn’t you be the one bowing your head, not Yi Young? It’s the first time you’ve seen her face in 3 years after unilaterally breaking off the engagement. You should at least be glad to see her, if not apologize.”

CEO Joo Sung Gye subtly jabbed at Tae Sung.

His intention to restrain Tae Sung’s aggression was clear.

Hearing this, Yi Young instead blocked CEO Joo.

“No, Father. I shouldn’t be here. I came because I was so worried about elder brother Tae Sung’s health… but it was wrong of me to attend such a family gathering…”

Then she bowed her head to Ji Wan with an expression of guilt that was almost pitiful.

“I’m truly sorry, madam. It seems I’ve ruined this important first meeting.”

Ji Wan could clearly see the top of her neat head.

Receiving such a polite apology for the first time, Ji Wan couldn’t hide her flustered appearance.

“Ah, no. There’s no need to apologize…”

Right then.

Tak—!

Tae Sung struck the table with a knife.

Ji Wan’s eyes, startled by the sudden noise, moved to Tae Sung.

This time too, Tae Sung was targeting only Yi Young.

His eyes were cruel and fierce, as if threatening with his gaze because he couldn’t point the knife at her.

“I don’t know if you don’t understand the meaning of a warning, or if you’re ignoring it again…”

“Elder brother…”

“Whichever it is, it won’t end well. Stop when only the warning light is on.”

Yi Young replied in a trembling voice to Tae Sung’s low words.

“I really… really worried a lot. It’s the first time you’ve been hurt this badly. So I came out even though I knew you’d feel burdened. I just couldn’t stay at home waiting quietly.”

“……”

“I won’t be greedy for you anymore. I know that even if it’s a precious feeling for me, it’s only a burden if you don’t want it.”

“……”

“I’ll stop being stubborn. So you don’t have to push me away anymore…”

Transparent tears finally welled up in Yi Young’s eyes.

CEO Joo sighed, almost in lamentation, watching Yi Young, while Hyun Woo, not knowing what to do, tried to soothe Tae Sung.

“Tae Sung, Yi Young said she was very worried, so let’s stop now…”

But before Hyun Woo could finish speaking, Tae Sung slowly moved his venomous lips.

“You keep saying burden, burden from earlier…”

“……”

“Do you think that’s all it is? The emotion I’m feeling towards you right now.”

Tae Sung consciously lifted the corners of his mouth that had been stiff.

This brought his usual gentle smile to his lips, but in his eyes gazing at Yi Young was an even sharper blade than before.

“Here, there are so many ways to make sure I never see you again spread out on this table… It’s only regrettable that I can’t use even one of them.”

Saying this, Tae Sung dropped the knife onto Yi Young’s plate.

The bad question he finally asked was so cruel that one could not even think of an answer.

“Should we really call this emotion a ‘burden’?”

A large teardrop finally fell from her glass-like eyes.

Ji Wan’s expression became even more awkward at what seemed like an obvious reaction.

Yi Young looked at Ji Wan and, seeming to be conscious of her gaze, hurriedly wiped away her flowing tears.

“Ah… I’m sorry. I’ll be going now.”

“Yi Young!”

Hyun Woo called out worriedly to Yi Young, who had become like a defeated soldier.

But she, already completely crushed, could only flee from Tae Sung’s presence without time to answer.

“Haah… Joo Tae Sung. You’ve gone and created another mess to clean up.”

In the midst of the turbulent situation, CEO Joo glared at Tae Sung with a deep sigh.

“I did not. Create any mess to clean up.”

Tae Sung answered thus, giving a brief glance at the knife placed on Yi Young’s plate.

The words he added afterwards were enough to touch CEO Joo’s limited patience.

“…I can’t guarantee next time.”

“Joo Tae Sung, you…!”

“It was an unpleasant meeting. I’ll be leaving now.”

After a one-sided farewell, Tae Sung grabbed Ji Wan’s wrist and stood up.

Ji Wan was worried about today’s meeting that had ended so badly, but being in no position to stay alone, she had no choice but to leave with Tae Sung.

“Tae Sung! Wait, Tae Sung!”

Hyun Woo’s worried cry followed the two as they moved away.

If they leave like this, he, the only one with a soft heart, will worry and hurt as much as Tae Sung’s share.

That’s why he tried never to come to family gatherings…

The relationship that was a mess from the start ended in catastrophe again today.

A darkness as black as pitch settled on Tae Sung’s face as he left the restaurant.

* * *

Inside Tae Sung’s car after returning.

Having gone through an incredible tsunami in a short time, Ji Wan was still having trouble breathing comfortably.

The first reason was the killing intent of CEO Joo Sung Gye that was still vivid in her mind, and the second was Tae Sung’s atmosphere that had become as cold as ice, just like CEO Joo Sung Gye.

It seemed like he was trying to deal with it flexibly like the usual Tae Sung at first, but as soon as that glass-like woman appeared, a bloodstorm swept over the table.

What kind of ill feelings did he have towards her, who seemed to have neither the strength nor the will to fight, to drive her so hard…

Ji Wan suddenly became curious about many things.

But in this atmosphere, she couldn’t ask even one word.

“I’ll start driving.”

Tae Sung said.

Although he was trying, his voice was still sharp.

Ji Wan answered him by nodding her head.

Tae Sung briefly fixed his gaze on her, who had also become silent.

His lips seemed about to say something, but in the end, they closed tightly without uttering any words.

“……”

“……”

The car, filled with silence, slowly left the parking lot.

Ji Wan looked out the window, barely breathing with her tightening chest.

In the corner of the parking lot where her gaze fell.

A small and frail silhouette sitting down caught her eye at once.

The person crying like a child, to the point where her beautifully done makeup was all ruined, was none other than Yi Young.

She was in the midst of shedding tears, having let go of everything, to the extent that if one listened closely, the sound of crying could be heard through the tightly closed car window.

“Ah… that person…”

Ji Wan’s eyes trembled as she witnessed a person breaking down in real-time.

Unable to ignore it easily, Ji Wan once again looked at Tae Sung’s expression.

However, he didn’t look that way even once.

Not even once, truly.

As if no one existed in the place where his car was passing.

Perhaps not even that one time she might have wished for to death.