Receiving it felt more like a punishment than a reward. So-eun awkwardly extended her hand to take what Tae-joon offered.

After handing over the paper bag, Tae-joon promptly left.

It was a perfect ending.

So-eun blankly watched his departing car.

She hadn’t even looked at the eel sushi set because it was too expensive!

Yesterday’s Kim Tae-joon, who mocked her for lacking self-respect, and today’s Kim Tae-joon, who treated her to a nice meal and a ride, seemed like completely different people.

Maybe he felt really sorry about yesterday!

So-eun, always hopeful about people, reached that conclusion.

Time passed, and it was Saturday.

So-eun, having agreed to Hee-wook’s request, visited the hospital where Mal-hee was admitted. She hadn’t contacted Hee-wook because she thought he might be busy, but she went early as she woke up early.

“Mother, how have you been?”

“Yes, you came.”

Last Saturday, she had left the hospital in a huff after arguing with Hee-jin. Worried that this might have strained her relationship with Mal-hee, she was relieved to see Mal-hee didn’t seem uncomfortable. It looked like Hee-wook had talked to Mal-hee about it.

I must not fight this time.

“How was your condition this week? The nurse said you were much better.”

“It seems better than last week.”

“That’s good. You will get even better. Have you changed your underwear? Shall I help?”

“Yes, that would be good.”

Mal-hee nodded at So-eun’s offer. Feeling guilty for abruptly leaving last week, So-eun moved more energetically. She tidied up the room, did the laundry, and just as she was taking a break, the door to the room opened.

“……So-eun, when did you come?”

“Oh? Oppa, aren’t you going on a trip today?”

Hee-wook and So-eun were surprised to see each other. Then, the door opened wider.

“Mother, hello! I’m here again! Oh! So-eun is also here!”

It was Choi Hyun-ji. She had come to visit Mal-hee with Hee-wook.

“Oh, you’re here again! Nice to see you. Sit down.”

Mal-hee’s face, which had been expressionless in So-eun’s presence, brightened up.

“Mother, this is a bouquet resembling you. It’s pretty, right?”

Hyun-ji handed Mal-hee a bouquet of flowers.

“Oh, why did you buy this? I would have been grateful even if you just came.”

“We need to see beautiful things especially at times like this.”

The conversation between Mal-hee and Hyun-ji was full of affection. Mal-hee seemed invigorated by Hyun-ji’s vibrant energy, as if she could be discharged right away.

“So-eun, could you please put these in the vase?”

Hyun-ji handed So-eun the bouquet, pointing to the vase by the window. Last week’s flowers brought by So-eun were still in the vase, a bit wilted but not yet ready to be thrown away. However, at Hyun-ji’s request, So-eun had to replace them.

“Ah, okay.”

So-eun, her gaze vacant, mechanically accepted the bouquet. While she was washing the vase in the bathroom, she overheard Hyun-ji talking.

“I’m going to Japan today with Attorney Yang. He said we had to stop by the hospital before leaving, so I told him I would come too.”
Upon realizing they were going together, So-eun, holding a vase, looked straight at Hee-wook. Hee-wook, feeling guilty for not mentioning it, avoided So-eun’s gaze.

‘Don’t make a fuss over this. It’s not a leisure trip but a business trip.’

Resolved, So-eun moved forward when Hyun-ji joked with her.

“Aren’t you jealous, So-eun? Attorney Yang is all mine for these 1 night and 2 days.”

“That’s nice. Have a safe trip.”

So-eun responded nonchalantly and emotionlessly to Hyun-ji’s joke and put the flowers in the vase. As she was placing the vase by the window.

“Ah!”

Crash!

Suddenly, Hyun-ji, getting up from her seat, bumped into So-eun. Hyun-ji touched the vase, causing it to shatter. Hyun-ji lost her balance, and although So-eun quickly tried to catch her, Hyun-ji still ended up falling to the ground. The flowers scattered messily.

Hyun-ji sat on the floor, accidentally getting ceramic shards embedded in her palm.

“Are you okay, Hyun-ji?”

“Ah…”

Hyun-ji winced in response to So-eun’s concern. As she pulled out the shard, a drop of blood appeared. Fortunately, it was just a minor scratch rather than a deep cut.

Hee-wook rushed over to help Hyun-ji up.

“Han So-eun! What have you done!”

“No, Oppa! I mean, Attorney Yang.”

Hyun-ji quickly interrupted Hee-wook’s outburst. So-eun felt a chill down her spine. Not only was she bewildered by Hee-wook scolding her and helping Hyun-ji, but Hyun-ji called him ‘Oppa?’

So-eun’s forehead wrinkled as Hyun-ji calmly spoke.

“I’m okay. It’s not bleeding much.”

Hyun-ji took out a handkerchief from her pocket and wiped her palm.

So-eun’s gaze turned vacant again as she recognized the handkerchief in Hyun-ji’s hand.

It was the same handkerchief Hee-wook had at Omotesando Hills last week.

“So-eun, I was too playful, right? Sorry. I understand it must be bothering you. I was too thoughtless with my joke. Don’t be upset.”

It sounded as if sensitive So-eun deliberately pushed Hyun-ji due to her inability to control her emotions.