Three days of living together.

Ji Wan learned a lot about Tae Sung.

First, he is excessively neat.

Not only does he leave no trace where he passes, but when Ji Wan puts down her bag anywhere after coming home from work, he organizes it in the bedroom bag spot in the brief moment she takes off her outer clothes.

Second, he is thorough in self-management.

He always wakes up at a set time, eats only a set diet, leaves at a set time, and exercises only a set amount.

At first, she looked around wondering if he was filming a vlog, but no camera was visible.

And lastly. The third thing Ji Wan finds most fascinating.

He has no gaps.

Usually, even when traveling with a friend, you see all sorts of things in three days, but this human named Joo Tae Sung somehow never let his guard down even once.

When sleeping, he’s so quiet you’d think he’s dead, and when eating, even chewing crunchy radish kimchi doesn’t make a sound escape his mouth.

He was truly a fascinating human.

The problem was that for Ji Wan, he was the type that was tiring just to observe.

“What do you think one must have first to lead a high-quality life?”

On a leisurely Saturday. He threw out a question.

Seeing him ask such a thing in front of the refrigerator, it seemed he was displeased with the empty fridge.

“What do you want to eat? Delivery works well here. If there’s something you want, let’s order it.”

Ji Wan, sprawled on the sofa watching TV, said without answering his question.

Tae Sung looked at her quietly as if that answer was wrong.

“Okay, okay. I’ve received a lot of money so far, so I’ll treat you.”

Ji Wan quickly added and immediately opened the delivery app. Her phone displayed a list of favorite restaurants she had bookmarked.

Among them, Ji Wan chose a mala tang place that was undoubtedly the best in taste but she had hesitated to order due to the price range.

It was her own show of goodwill.

“Do you like mala tang? There’s an amazing place in our neighborhood that only uses the freshest ingredients. Shall we order from here?”

Ji Wan approached with her phone to show Tae Sung the menu.

By then, Tae Sung, who had quietly closed the refrigerator door, asked the same question once more.

“I still haven’t heard your answer. What’s needed for a high-quality life?”

“Geez… What is it?”

“Sincerity. Sincerity towards oneself.”

Even without emphasizing sincerity twice, she already knew he was a person who lived sincerely.

But unfortunately, Ji Wan was not someone who was sincere in everything like Tae Sung.

“This is the refrigerator of an office worker. It’s more expensive to cook something alone, and managing expiration dates is tricky, so I just make do with triangle kimbap from the company.”

Ji Wan said, shrugging her shoulders.

Tae Sung looked at her and let out a chuckle.

“A quality of life that doesn’t deviate an inch from my expectations.”

“Oh my, what does that mean? What’s wrong with my quality of life?”

“I have no taste for hurting my wife’s feelings, so I’ll refrain from commenting.”

Tae Sung gently pushed away Ji Wan’s phone after delivering that brazen line without batting an eye.

Then, in his characteristically shameless voice, he made an unexpected proposal.

“Get dressed. We’re going shopping.”

“Shopping?”

“To stock up the insincere refrigerator and buy things I need.”

“Ah, then let’s go to the supermarket. There’s a big one just a 10-minute walk from our house.”

Ji Wan replied so, recalling something she had wanted to buy for a long time.

The weather had been getting chilly lately, so she wanted to get a dad cardigan.

“I’ll just grab my bag.”

Ji Wan said, hurriedly heading towards her room.

Hearing that, Tae Sung added a word.

“I’ll give you plenty of time. No need to rush.”

“No, I’m going out like this right away.”

“Yeah. I’m telling you not to go out right away like that.”

Tae Sung’s eyes saying so were resolute, devoid of any hint of humor.

The supermarket is just a stone’s throw away, why make such a fuss…

When we eventually get a real divorce, I should write personality differences as the reason.

* * *

A grand mansion in Cheongdam-dong where sunlight pours down like a painting.

That palace-like spacious place was the mansion owned by the LY Group, which owns the top department store in Korea.

The interior was so vast and expansive that it was reminiscent of a resort.

The man boasting an appearance as splendid as the mansion inside was none other than Do Hwa Young, the eldest son of the LY Group and the problematic director of LY Department Store.

“It’s been a week already. He’s been ignoring all my calls like they’re dog food, I tell you?”

Hwa Young, especially irritable today, was badgering the innocent Yang Je Hyun secretary.

Secretary Yang, seemingly accustomed to this, replied.

“I heard he escaped from the hospital. As a fugitive, he probably can’t answer calls.”

“Ha, you think he’s not answering because he’s a fugitive? He’s just completely disrespecting our family. Look at his escape this time too. When my sister went to check on that bastard out of worry, he disappeared from the hospital right away.”

“There’s a possibility that the date he decided to escape coincidentally overlapped with the day Young lady Yi Young visited.”

“Yang, you’re so positive, it’s nice. I’m really envious!”

Even though Secretary Yang tried to soothe and placate him, Hwa Young’s anger wouldn’t subside easily.

The one existence that always infuriated the already prickly Hwa Young like this was just one person, Joo Tae Sung.

Tae Sung, who had attended the same places from kindergarten to university, was Hwa Young’s longest-standing connection.

It would have been nice if that long connection had turned into a close friendship.

But Tae Sung, who perfectly excelled at everything, was nothing short of a troublesome rival to Hwa Young.

“I hate that bastard terribly, but I even sent a gift wishing him to get better quickly this time he’s sick.”

“You mean the chrysanthemum flower basket?”

“Do you know what chrysanthemums symbolize? It’s peace. I was hoping for peace to settle in his ailing body and mind.”

Hwa Young sneered.

Though he said so, just looking at his crooked upturned lips, one could tell it wasn’t sincere.

Secretary Yang spoke to him in a calm voice.

“That intention seemed too blatant, so I changed the type of gift.”

Hwa Young sat up straight, startled.

“What did you change it to!”

“Since flowers aren’t good for patients, I changed it to a snack set that can be enjoyed in the hospital room.”

“How could you change that on your own! How sick is he supposed to be! Is he sicker than my sister who got snubbed again visiting him in the hospital?!”

Hwa Young glared at Secretary Yang with resentful eyes after hearing the exasperating answer.

Unable to give Tae Sung a big ‘fuck you’, Hwa Young instead sharply lashed out at him.

“Do you think I send chrysanthemums to just anyone when they’re sick? Joo Tae Sung deserves to eat shit. My sister who was dumped by that damned guy three years ago was depressed for a year.”

“Calm down, Director. Prosecutor Joo will contact you once the situation is sorted out.”

“Where are you hearing my words? Stop treating me like an attention seeker!”

But despite Hwa Young’s outburst, the secretary remained calm.

Disliking the secretary’s statue-like attitude, Hwa Young irritably got up from the sofa.

It was to head to his healing spot that always calmed his mind whenever stress peaked like this.

“I need to go shopping. Have the car ready.”

Hwa Young ordered as if it were a simple matter, but whenever he showed up at the department store, it was nothing short of an emergency for the store.

Being caught off guard by the sudden visit of a director would be terrifying for any employee.

Knowing this well, the secretary usually tried to persuade him not to go shopping at least on weekends, but today it didn’t seem like it would work.

He’d probably just stubbornly insist on taking responsibility for putting him in a bad mood.

Secretary Yang was only two years older than Hwa Young, but at times like this, he couldn’t shake the feeling that he was serving a seven-year-old troublemaker.

He was quite a high-maintenance young master.

* * *

LY Department Store, a hot spot located in Apgujeong.

“If we were coming to the department store, you should have said so…”

Ji Wan grumbled as she followed Tae Sung.

Thinking they were going to the supermarket, she had done her makeup carelessly, but he dragged her to the most crowded place on a weekend.

Moreover, the place they arrived at with Tae Sung was like a fashion show venue where glamorous people gathered.

“That’s why I said I’d give you plenty of time. To prepare leisurely.”

Tae Sung’s attitude was extremely relaxed as he answered.

Well, he had reason to be.

No matter how glamorous the place, Joo Tae Sung had nothing to be intimidated by.

As soon as he arrived at the department store, Tae Sung bought a hat and pulled it down low.

Then he purchased a few pieces of clothing in inconspicuous achromatic tones and changed into them on the spot.

Judging by his attire alone, it was a monotonous look that 8 out of 10 adult men might wear.

But the problem was his towering height and broad frame.

The aura emanating from him was uniquely outstanding, so the deeply pulled-down hat rather gave off the vibe of a famous actor out for secret shopping.

Thanks to this, passersby looked him over with eyes wondering, ‘Is he an actor?’, and as if on cue, shifted their gaze to Ji Wan occupying the spot next to Tae Sung.

This was the moment Ji Wan found most embarrassing.

Every pair of eyes she met had a uniformly bewildered look, making her feel like she should explain, ‘We’re not that kind of couple.’

“Is it okay to walk around like this? What if we look like a couple?”

“What’s wrong with a married couple looking like a married couple?”

“We’re an unofficial secret couple. I’m a wife who only exists in the family register, I shouldn’t be visible to others’ eyes as a rule. It’s dangerous.”

“Trees hide in the forest. Rather, crowded places are safer. I’m wearing a hat too.”

“The hat seems to be more of a problem… Can’t I just have coffee in the basement food court?”

Ji Wan asked.

She wanted to get away from Tae Sung’s side somehow.

“Then shall we have coffee first?”

“Ah, no. If you have something to see, go ahead. I’m not interested in luxury goods…”

“For someone who says that, there was a luxury bag carefully stored in the bedroom.”

“Come on, I bought that to carry when going to external meetings after joining the company. That’s all.”

“How long has it been since you joined?”

“Two years.”

“Then it’s time to replace it with a new bag. Look around.”

This insistent behavior was clearly pretending to be oblivious.

Is it fun to torment me? He was just a man with a weirdly nasty personality.

“Is there a reason I have to keep following you?”

Ji Wan glared at him with sharp eyes.

Tae Sung flashed an eye smile at her and calmly replied.

“Separation anxiety. I’m a devoted husband, so I need my wife wherever I go.”

“Ah, stop lying.”

Indeed, she’s not an easy woman.

Looking at how she lives, she seems like the most thoughtless person in the world, but why does she act so sharp only at times like this?

“The point is, don’t think about going anywhere and just follow me.”

Tae Sung appeased the grumbling Ji Wan with a sly comment.

Somewhat subdued, she quickly said while scanning her surroundings.

“People keep looking at Joo Tae Sung sir and then at me. They all seem to think you’re a celebrity or something because you look so good in clothes.”

“So what?”

Tae Sung’s gaze settled on her.

After hesitating for a moment, Ji Wan revealed a bit of the inferiority complex she wanted to hide.

“It’s just… making me self-conscious. I feel like I came too casually.”

At that moment, Tae Sung’s steps halted in place.

Ji Wan, who had stopped awkwardly along with him, looked up at him with puzzled eyes.

Soon, what was extended was Tae Sung’s left arm.

“Hold on.”

“What?”

As if he wouldn’t say it twice, Tae Sung jerked his chin towards his arm.

Ji Wan, lacking the courage to refuse, carefully grasped him while looking perplexed.

Tae Sung pulled her sharply towards himself, pressing her against his waist.

“Whoa…!”

Ji Wan’s eyes widened as she suddenly found herself arm in arm with him.

Raising her head with bated breath, her gaze was captured by his smoothly curved eye corners.

“You have to wear and carry things casually to become the owner of luxury goods. Just like now.”