A text message arrived from Joo Tae Sung.

It was an extremely concise message getting straight to the point.

Looking at it, Ji Wan let out an involuntary laugh.

“Geez, someone might think I’m being kicked out for doing something wrong.”

Hearing that, Hwa Young craned his neck to check Ji Wan’s phone.

After reading the message so typical of Joo Tae Sung, a sneer escaped his lips.

“You know what God put in when he first created Joo Tae Sung?”

“What did he put in? Coldness? Cruelty?”

“First, a few big spoonfuls of a well-muscled body, then a few big spoonfuls of a face that I don’t understand but other women go crazy for, and then it was time to add some humanity since he’s human, but right then God suddenly remembered he had bread in the oven.”

“Bread all of a sudden?”

“So he went straight to the kitchen to take out the bread and forgot he was making Joo Tae Sung. Joo Tae Sung was released into this world just as the delivery time was up.”

“You’re just saying in a roundabout way that Joo Tae Sung has no humanity, right?”

“Pfft, that’s right.”

Hwa Young gave a childlike smile to Ji Wan who had accurately grasped his point.

Ji Wan looked at him as if he was incorrigible, but based on his past behavior, she had to admit it and soon nodded her head.

“He really doesn’t have any humanity.”

“Living with him, isn’t he just a cold and cruel person?”

“Hmm, well…”

But she didn’t want to judge him as cold and cruel like Hwa Young said.

Come to think of it, Ji Wan had more moments of excessive kindness than coldness from him.

“For me, he was someone who fits the description of warm rather than cold. He always treated me well. He even made me breakfast every morning.”

“Warm? Joo Tae Sung?”

“Yes, that man.”

Well, even that little experience is still experience.

Reminiscing about her married life with him, so many memories flashed through Ji Wan’s mind.

Ji Wan recounted the memories of him that came to mind one by one, as if complaining.

“When I was feeling down, he would cheer me up, he gave me many new and interesting experiences, and above all, he was someone who would rescue me like Superman whenever I desperately needed someone’s help.”

“Are you sure… you’re talking about Joo Tae Sung?”

Hwa Young’s eyebrows, which had been furrowed since hearing about the breakfast part, grew increasingly distorted as the story continued.

But even if Ji Wan wanted to join in and badmouth him, she had nothing to say.

Although she always disliked how he did things his own way, and was endlessly swayed by his skill of manipulating people…

“He was really a good person. When I think about it.”

Yes, if I had to sum it up, he was really a good person.

“So I guess I feel hurt even though it’s not something to feel hurt about. You know how people get used to receiving a lot, and then feel upset even when they receive just a little less, right?”

“…”

“I was wondering why I feel so upset when it’s not something to be upset about in the first place, and I realized I was exactly like that. I got used to him treating me kindly, so I felt unnecessarily hurt when he treated me like he used to.”

After hearing that far, Hwa Young asked with an expression of complete incomprehension.

“What do you mean by treating you like he used to?”

At the sudden question, Ji Wan’s momentarily clouded reason returned.

She had almost said something she shouldn’t have, carried away by her emotions.

Ji Wan glanced at Hwa Young with unnecessarily sharp eyes and answered.

“Aish, why are you asking something so obvious? You said you saw our divorce papers. It’s natural for divorcing couples to become cold towards each other, and here I am feeling hurt about that.”

“Hmm, like that message earlier?”

“Yes. Like that message.”

After hearing her words, Hwa Young took a sip of whiskey while lost in thought for a moment.

Then the words he casually let out were similar to the honest feelings Ji Wan had been unable to face directly.

“It seems you don’t really want to end it.”

“…What?”

“Why are you surprised? Look at how you’re talking to me. You kept praising Joo Tae Sung and then said you feel hurt that he’s treating you coldly while you’re divorcing. Is that the attitude of an ally who’s supposed to be chanting ‘Down with Joo Tae Sung’ with me?”

“…”

It was an extremely sharp observation.

Ji Wan, suddenly at a loss for words, just stared at Hwa Young with wavering eyes.

Hwa Young delivered a final blow that was like driving in a nail.

“You don’t dislike Joo Tae Sung, you dislike the end with Joo Tae Sung.”

As if that was the correct answer, her heart sank for a moment.

“I…? Why…?”

But not wanting to admit that fact, she asked in a shaky voice, and Hwa Young replied with a mischievous fox-like smile.

“Because you like that damn Joo Tae Sung so damn much?”

“Crazy…”

“Yeah, it’s crazy. Of all the people to like, that bastard…”

Hwa Young clicked his tongue.

Ji Wan, still staring blankly into space until then, hurriedly poured more whiskey into her glass.

Then as she boldly downed that high-proof bitter alcohol in one shot, the startled Hwa Young shouted.

“Hey! This is 40% alcohol! You’ll die if you drink it like that!”

“Dying would be better! One more glass!”

“If you’re going to die, do it when I’m not around! I’m already on bad terms with the media, so if a reporter dies next to me, they’ll suspect me first!”

A struggle broke out between Ji Wan trying to pour another glass and Hwa Young trying to stop her.

Seeing that force wouldn’t work, Ji Wan tried to bite Hwa Young’s hand holding her glass.

“Let go of this! Don’t stop me!”

“Ack! Spit! How disgusting!”

Finally defeating Hwa Young, Ji Wan gulped down another glass of alcohol.

Watching her, Hwa Young made a disgusted face.

“You really live up to your nickname of honey badger, not caring at all about dying!”

That was a warning mixed with concern in its own way, but at this moment, Ji Wan felt like she’d rather die.

A mere marriage contract partner she was about to divorce.

She didn’t want to like him even if it killed her.

* * *

9:30 PM.

Deep wrinkles formed between Tae Sung’s brows as he looked at the clock.

Even with heavy traffic, this was more than enough time to return, but there was no word from Ji Wan.

Tae Sung, who had been staring at his phone, called Ji Wan’s number.

The ringing tone that had been connecting for several times led to a message saying the call could not be received this time as well.

“Hmm.”

An uncomfortable sigh escaped Tae Sung’s lips.

The bad feeling he’d had since earlier suggested this wasn’t just an unexplained delay.

Whenever he felt this kind of chilly emotion, something always happened related to a certain family.

Either Do Hwa Young showing up to be a nuisance.

Or Do Yi Young showing up to make him angry.

If it was the former, there wouldn’t be much damage, but if it was the latter, it was unacceptable.

If it was the former, it would probably end as just a happening, but if it was the latter, who knows what trouble might happen to Ji Wan.

Tae Sung, who had been tapping the toe of his crossed leg while looking at the clock, stopped waiting and got up from his seat.

His expression was particularly unpleasant as he put on his coat again.

His fiercely flashing eyes were like those of a predator ready to hunt.

The prey caught in that radar would have its neck bitten right away, but the target probably wouldn’t notice.

His anger that would silently deepen until the moment he strikes.

* * *

How much alcohol had she drunk like water?

“I’m dizzy. Is the floor here moving?”

Ji Wan said, unable to control her swaying body.

Hwa Young, who had been drinking at his own pace, looked at her with disbelieving eyes and retorted.

“You should just go home.”

“Home? Why? We still have half our drinks left.”

“I thought I finally found someone to badmouth Joo Tae Sung with and even brought out expensive alcohol, but this is… you’re dripping with lingering attachment to Joo Tae Sung…”

“I’m not dripping with attachment! Who says that!”

It seemed to be human nature to burst out when hearing something true.

Ji Wan, who had raised her voice for no reason, poured the remaining alcohol into her glass and tried to bring it to her mouth again.

Thinking she might not even be able to go home at this rate, Hwa Young gently grabbed her wrist to stop her.

“Stop drinking. Otherwise, I’ll make you pay for the alcohol.”

“Ha, are you being petty about the bill? How much could that alcohol cost? I’ll pay for it!”

“Just the alcohol you’ve emptied so far is 4.5 million won.”

“…You’re lying!”

“Want to check the menu?”

Hwa Young held up the menu in front of Ji Wan’s eyes.

Though she was quite tipsy, the number 450 came through very clearly.

Finally coming to her senses a little, Ji Wan carefully put down the glass she was holding.

Then she casually handed over the last glass to Hwa Young.

“Okay. I’ll give you this last glass, Hwa Young.”

“You didn’t want to pay for the alcohol, did you?”

“I don’t want to pay 4.5 million won. After all…”

Hwa Young chuckled at Ji Wan’s brazen honesty.

He hadn’t noticed because the image of her just getting angry before was so strong, but now that she was this drunk, it was quite amusing how she threw away her pride and became honest.

It must have been because she was the type to completely reveal her inner thoughts that she couldn’t handle Joo Tae Sung.

“Joo Tae Sung is not a good person. Even less so as a marriage partner.”

Hwa Young offered a final piece of advice with sincerity.

Ji Wan turned her slightly unfocused eyes to him and asked.

“Why?”

“Because he’s like the sun.”

It was too meaningful an answer to grasp in one go.

So when she just silently stared at Hwa Young’s face, Hwa Young continued in a bitter voice as he downed the remaining alcohol.

“You know that story, right? The idiot who wanted to get close to the sun so he attached wax wings and flew high, but when he finally got close, his wings all melted and he fell to his death.”

“The story isn’t usually told that crudely… but I do know it.”

“That’s me.”

“The sun? Or the idiot?”

“Unfortunately, the idiot side.”

He knew it was meaningless to have this conversation with a drunk person.

But there are also sincere stories that can only be told when the person is completely drunk.

Hwa Young, who had become defenseless along with the defenseless Ji Wan, opened up about himself in a way he rarely did.

“I’ve been close with Joo Tae Sung since we were born. Our chairman was close friends with Joo Tae Sung’s mother.”

“…”

“When we were too young to even speak properly, there didn’t seem to be much of a problem… but differences started to appear as we began learning things. That bastard has an extraordinary mind, a bold personality, and strong mentality, while I’m exactly the opposite.”

At a glance it might seem like self-deprecation, but it was the truth.

He’s felt this way since childhood, so now admitting it doesn’t even hurt his pride.

“Our chairman hates losing terribly. Our family is like the Serengeti plains running on a competition system, and I kept falling behind there, so one day he designated Joo Tae Sung as my role model.”

“Role model?”

“Yeah. You know, someone to have beside you as an example to follow.”

The problem started from this point.

A perfect role model right next to him.

The problem was that this role model was too close, so Hwa Young always had to forcibly chase after that light.

“The chairman made me copy everything about that bastard. His gait, his way of speaking, the order he eats his meals, even the occasional expressions he makes. I really hated it, but that great man made it so I had no choice.”

He rebelled once.

Saying he didn’t want to live like someone’s shadow anymore.

So Chairman Choi locked the young Hwa Young in a dark basement for three days.

When he came out with his bones showing through his skin, the young Hwa Young who used to love starry nights and small hideouts made of blankets came to hate both nights and small spaces.

“Every time, I waged a war against that bastard without Joo Tae Sung knowing. That flawless bastard always sounded the victory bell, and I was always like a defeated soldier. What pissed me off the most was that that bastard had never even participated in this fierce war.”

“…”

“So that victorious bastard lived another perfect day without any emotion, while I, who had lost, seethed all night out of frustration. That was the most miserable part. Having to realize every time that someone like me wasn’t even worth Joo Tae Sung’s attention.”

Whether he reciprocated or not, Hwa Young’s eyes always followed Tae Sung.

It wasn’t something he wanted to do himself.

At first it was on Choi Yu Ria’s orders, but at some point it didn’t seem to be because anyone told him to do it.

He just desperately flapped his wings, staring at Tae Sung every moment without rest.

“When my wax wings melted while chasing after something I could never catch up to. I plummeted straight down just like those idiots in the myth.”

“…”

“When I came to my senses, there was nothing of my own left inside me. I didn’t even know where I had fallen, so I’ve just been lying there until now. Like a candy wrapper tossed on the street.”

He had never opened up this much before, but somehow it got to this point.

This is why it’s most dangerous to hang out with an easy target, but he momentarily overlooked that.

Hwa Young erased all the bitter emotions he had unknowingly been showing on his face.

Then he tried to wrap up this depressing story in his usual forcefully bright voice.

“Of course, even if it’s just a wrapper, it’s different from some cheap thousand won thing. You know how even wrappers can have high scarcity value? Like the cookie wrapper of a master baker who only supplies to the British royal family…”

But suddenly making eye contact with Ji Wan in the middle of speaking.

Hwa Young’s long-winded speech came to a stop.

“Heuuuu…”

“What? No, why…”

Because of her tears that burst out again like a faucet.

“It’s so sad. So upsetting. So pitiful…”

And because of the unfamiliar sympathy he was receiving for the first time in his life.

“Pit… what?”

Hwa Young’s gaze, surprised by the unbelievable expression, turned towards her.

The word ‘pitiful’ that he had never heard in his life and prided himself on never hearing until he died.

In this situation where he had just heard it, Hwa Young didn’t know what kind of reaction he should show.

Ji Wan looked at him with teary eyes.

Then, without hesitation, she reached out with both hands and pulled Hwa Young’s shoulders.

“Come here. Let me hug you…”

What came without warning was an unfamiliar embrace filled with an unfamiliar scent.

At the warm body temperature gently seeping in, his breath stopped for a moment.

As if he had been greatly shaken by this clumsy consolation.