Do Hwa Young appeared.

He was an absolutely unwelcome figure who would show up unexpectedly.

Ji Wan, who didn’t have the energy to deal with him, turned her head away and answered gruffly.

“Go on your way. I’m not in the mood to fight with anyone today.”

Seeing her cold attitude, Hwa Young sneered.

“Ha, who’s fighting undignifiedly on the street? You’re the one who yells without caring about people’s eyes.”

“You’re already picking a fight, what’s this about.”

“It’s not picking a fight, just needling. There’s a huge difference between the two.”

Just a few words exchanged, and she was already starting to feel disgusted.

Ji Wan let out a short sigh and waved her hand, trying to brush off Hwa Young.

“Move aside. Move. Let’s just go our separate ways.”

Hwa Young watched Ji Wan trying to brush past him without hesitation.

Though annoyed at her rude behavior towards someone she didn’t even recognize, Hwa Young had something he really wanted to hear from her.

“Did you fight with Joo Tae Sung?”

Hwa Young asked, directed at the back of her head as she walked away.

Ji Wan continued walking without any response.

Hwa Young followed about three steps behind her, saying:

“Or did something bad happen to Joo Tae Sung? Did he get scammed and lose money? No. No idiot would mess with that bastard.”

“……”

“Ah! Could he have gotten sick or something? I hope it’s hemorrhoids. Or urinary issues. Erectile dysfunction would be perfect!”

“……”

“Hmm… Or this would be good too. Joo Tae Sung went completely crazy because of that head injury back then. So he got fired from his prosecutor job. He’s sending out resumes everywhere, but no one will take him with that temper, so he ends up working at our department store.”

“……”

“His position… Right, toilet cleaner for Director Do Hwa Young on the 13th floor. Hah, I should intentionally clog the toilet.”

Hwa Young giggled like a child, seemingly delighted just imagining it.

But Ji Wan, listening to that absurd story, was simply dumbfounded.

Ji Wan continued walking forward and replied, full of exasperation:

“I’ve heard your earnest wishes well. Since it’s not like that, would you please go back?”

“It’s not like that?”

“No, it’s not. Sir Joo Tae Sung’s wallet is fine, his limbs are fine, his head is fine, and his job is fine.”

“Then what’s the problem that makes our honey badger look like she bit a cobra’s venom gland…”

Hwa Young set aside his delusions and started seriously pondering.

Judging by how her voice became noticeably more prickly when talking about Tae Sung, there was clearly some trouble between the two of them.

Hwa Young inched closer to her and asked casually.

“So you did fight with Joo Tae Sung, right?”

“……”

“You two aren’t getting along well, huh?”

“……”

Ji Wan didn’t give a single word in response.

Considering she wasn’t even snapping back like before, this seemed to be the right answer.

Hwa Young turned towards her with a sly grin.

Then he asked an annoyingly playful question.

“Why. Did Joo Tae Sung say he doesn’t need you anymore so he’ll throw you away?”

In that moment, Ji Wan’s feet, which hadn’t stopped for any provocation, came to an abrupt halt.

“Haah…”

A concerning sigh flowed from her lips as she hung her head for a moment.

Hwa Young, who had stopped with her in surprise, looked down at her with slightly bewildered eyes.

“What, is that really it? Did you… really get dumped?”

This time it was a question asked purely out of curiosity, without any malice whatsoever.

At those words, Ji Wan clenched both fists tightly and her shoulders trembled slightly for a moment.

After staying like that briefly, when she raised her head, hanging below her sharp eyes were none other than large teardrops.

“Shi… I didn’t get dumped or anything! Why would I be dumped!”

Ji Wan shouted loudly enough to draw the attention of people around, then immediately crouched down on the ground and began sobbing.

Divorce papers peeked out from her bag sprawled on the ground.

Hwa Young’s eyes, which hadn’t missed spotting that, began to shake as if hit by an earthquake.

* * *

The bar Hwa Young visits whenever he’s feeling down.

“Eat something before the cocktail comes. The cheese here is delicious.”

Hwa Young, sitting in his usual spot, offered Ji Wan the cheese platter.

Ji Wan, still unable to compose her intense emotions, sniffled as she replied.

“I only eat cheese that’s square and flat.”

“Square and flat… Like cheddar? Or Comté? Do you have a preferred country or aging period?”

“No, not that complicated stuff, the kind wrapped in plastic…”

“Ah, the kind sold at underground markets. There won’t be anything like that here. It’s all for wine pairings. Then eat some melon.”

Hwa Young placed a few slices of melon on Ji Wan’s plate.

She didn’t seem to dislike that, as Ji Wan paused her sniffling and put the melon in her mouth.

Hwa Young observed her, and only after her crying had subsided a bit did he broach the main topic.

“So, what’s so sad that you’re crying like that? It doesn’t suit you.”

“I wasn’t crying because I was sad.”

“It’s not like you were crying from happiness either.”

“I’m the type that tears up first when I get angry. I cried because you provoked me, not because I was sad.”

“Aha, is that so? Then why do you have divorce papers in your bag?”

Ji Wan’s eyes wavered at Hwa Young’s sharp observation.

Ji Wan looked at Hwa Young with an expression asking how he saw that, and he shrugged and answered.

“They fell out of your bag earlier when you were crying. I picked up the bag for you.”

“Haa… So they fell out.”

“So it’s divorce after all?”

“I can’t say anything about that. Don’t try to pry.”

That was an issue she couldn’t talk about even if it wasn’t Hwa Young she was talking to.

The story of the contract marriage and the subtle emotions that had developed over time were things she couldn’t speak of.

“Your two Gimlets are ready.”

Just then, cocktails were brought out in front of Ji Wan and Hwa Young.

The cocktail Hwa Young had ordered for Ji Wan, who didn’t know much about cocktails, had a pretty clear light green color.

Ji Wan, who had been quietly staring at the small glass, downed the drink in one shot with a determined expression.

“Whoa, dangerous. That’s strong stuff.”

Hwa Young tried to stop Ji Wan.

But the glass Ji Wan put down was already empty.

“Phew, this is nice and strong. One more.”

“That’s not how you’re supposed to drink cocktails.”

“That’s up to the drinker. Hurry, one more.”

At Ji Wan’s urging, Hwa Young had no choice but to immediately order another glass.

His next words were as sharp as if he could read Ji Wan’s mind.

“Joo Tae Sung can be quite heartless. Especially when cutting ties.”

“……”

“Even someone as sentimental as me has trouble cutting things off cleanly with a lover I’ve only dated briefly, you know? But Joo Tae Sung is like a guillotine. Once he decides it’s over, it’s over.”

Yes, he did cut me off like a guillotine as soon as he made up his mind.

Ji Wan let out a short sigh instead of outwardly agreeing.

Hwa Young placed another slice of melon in front of her and said one emotionally-charged line.

“He’s the world champion at making people feel wronged and miserable. If there was a World of Jerk Championship, he’d win unanimously.”

Ji Wan burst out laughing at Hwa Young’s characteristically colorful metaphor.

She had wanted to quietly sort out her complicated feelings. But this noisy person ruined that.

“Why do you have so many grievances against Joo Tae Sung?”

Ji Wan asked.

Hwa Young, disliking the word ‘grievances’, frowned and answered.

“Grievances are when you have affection for someone. I hate Joo Tae Sung to death, so it’s not grievances.”

“From the way you talk, it doesn’t seem like you hate him. Certainly not to death.”

“Why are you thinking that way?”

“Your gossip has interest in it. It’s the kind of badmouthing only someone who’s been closely observing Sir Tae Sung could do.”

Hearing those words, Hwa Young glared at Ji Wan with a displeased look.

But soon he let out a self-deprecating laugh.

“Well. I’ve been hearing about Joo Tae Sung since I was young, enough to develop a neurosis… It must have become a habit by now.”

“Why did you hear about Sir Tae Sung?”

“He was exactly the ideal eldest son type our family wanted.”

Hwa Young said that and downed his cocktail in one gulp.

“You said that’s not how you’re supposed to drink it earlier…”

As Ji Wan grumbled, Hwa Young slammed the empty glass on the table and replied.

“Looks like cocktails won’t be enough. Let’s order a bottle of something strong. We’ll lay out all the side dishes and drink to our heart’s content.”

“I don’t plan on getting completely wasted…”

“Then you can just have one glass. But you don’t want to just sip a tiny bit either, right?”

Thinking his suggestion made sense, Ji Wan nodded after a moment’s hesitation.

“Alright. I might as well get comforted by alcohol rather than suffer alone!”

“That’s ignoring the person right next to you too much, isn’t it?”

“I told you I’m not opening up to you about anything today, Hwa Young.”

And so began the drinking session between the two who were practically mortal enemies.

Soon, an expensive bottle of liquor was placed on the table.

The eyes of Ji Wan and Hwa Young, who rarely agreed on anything, sparkled simultaneously.

At that very moment, in Ji Wan’s apartment.

Tae Sung, completely unaware of Ji Wan’s situation, arrived home in time for her to get off work.

In his hand was a large suitcase he had brought to take his belongings.

As soon as he entered the house, he checked the kitchen table first.

The divorce papers he had left in the morning were gone, presumably taken by Ji Wan.

“Lee Ji Wan.”

Tae Sung called out for Ji Wan as he set down his bag.

There was no way Ji Wan, who was far away, could have answered.

After confirming she wasn’t there, Tae Sung took out his phone and dialed Ji Wan’s number.

He hesitated for a moment whether to call, but what he chose was a message.

[I’ve arrived. Where are you? If you’re still at work, I’ll come pick]

Tae Sung’s fingers stopped mid-air after typing that far.

He thought it would be meaningless to ask again, since his offer to go to her workplace had already been rejected.

Tae Sung erased what he had written and typed a much more concise message.

[I’ve arrived. The papers?]

A short message with just the main point.

Tae Sung’s eyes were more downcast than ever as he pressed the send button.

Ji Wan, who had only seen his back since the divorce statement, wouldn’t know.