The employees who arrived at Sanhaejinmi were guided to their rooms amidst the owner’s hospitality.

No sooner had the employees sat down on their chairs than the owner laid out the food he had prepared in advance on the table.

The employees’ mouths gaped open like baby birds at the sight of the delicious-looking food.

The kind-looking owner embraced the shoulders of Seo Jin Won, who had just sat down.

“Since Jin Won is treating us today, please eat a lot before you go.”

“We will eat well!”

“It looks delicious!”

The employees’ upper bodies bent forward as if they were about to rush to the food at any moment.

The owner, who was smiling brightly like a cloud bread, closed the room door and left.

On the table, there was everything from shark’s fin to Peking duck, dongpo pork, and yookgaejang – everything on the menu was there.

The employees, who couldn’t easily access these foods on a regular basis, eagerly rotated the round table and filled their plates with food.

When everyone had taken a plate each, Shin Joo picked up the tongs last.

She roughly scooped the Kung Pao chicken in front of her onto her white plate.

She was definitely hungry at work, but even with the food in front of her, she had no appetite.

After barely eating a single piece of Kung Pao chicken, Joo didn’t move her chopsticks for a long time.

Seeing Joo lost in thought, Jin Won spoke to her.

“You said you eat well, but you’re not eating well today.”

“Ah. No. I’m enjoying the food.”

She was so lost in thought that she didn’t even notice Jin Won was watching her.

Since he had carefully arranged the lunch gathering for her, Joo belatedly moved her chopsticks diligently.

The short-haired female employee sitting across from Joo asked.

“Joo, the call that came earlier, it seemed like they were asking you to have lunch together. Who was it?”

The clinking sound of the tableware stopped, and the eyes of the employees sitting around the round table were focused on her.

Joo, who had drawn up her gaze that was fixed on the table, spoke as plainly as possible.

“It was my husband. He called to ask me to have lunch with him.”

Except for Jin Won, who had known for a long time, the employees all looked surprised.

“You should eat with your husband.”

“I had a prior appointment.”

“Aw. But your husband must have been disappointed.”

“He’s not the type of person to be hurt by something like that.”

The Nam Do Hyun I know is not someone who would be hurt just because we didn’t have lunch together.

I couldn’t tell why he suddenly thought of me, but he probably just needed someone to have a quick meal with.

Even if I had refused, he’s not the type of person to attach meaning to it.

Maybe he’s having a meal with someone else right now.

He’ll forget about me soon anyway.

I’m the one who refused, so why does Nam Do Hyun keep coming to my mind?

“It’s near the company. If it’s an appointment you can cancel, cancel it and eat with me.”

Why are you doing things you don’t usually do from the morning and making people worry?

Snorting, Joo stabbed the innocent Kung Pao chicken with her chopsticks.

***

Joo, who had been at the company until late, dragged her heavy legs and stood in front of the apartment.

Joo, who was about to enter through the apartment entrance, turned around and walked back to the front of the flower bed.

She lifted her chin all the way up and looked up at the penthouse at the top.

“I can’t see it.”

She jumped up and down to see if the lights were on, but it was no use.

Joo sat down on the bench in the flower bed, taking a step back.

“Ah, it’s cold.”

The cold air seeped through the gaps in her clothes due to the whistling wind.

Joo sat with her thighs tightly together and crossed her arms. Despite the cold, she wanted to go inside, but it was awkward to face Do Hyun.

If she sits outside for a while, Do Hyun will probably fall asleep too.

She waited outside like that for 30 minutes.

Just as she felt she couldn’t stand it anymore and was about to get up, a black shoe appeared at her feet.

Joo raised her head in the darkened surroundings.

“I don’t suppose you’re waiting for me, so what are you doing here?”

She thought Do Hyun would definitely be at home since it was late, but Do Hyun, wearing a black trench coat, was standing in front of her.

Judging by his suit attire, it seemed that Do Hyun had been outside, not at home.

“I, I was just getting some fresh air.”

“Not because you were afraid of running into me?”

Joo couldn’t tell a lie at the confident tone.

It was as if her lips had frozen, and Joo couldn’t speak.

Do Hyun, who had raised his head, sighed deeply and said in a low voice.

“You said you’d be comfortable with me, but it seems that’s not going well.”

“…I was practicing right now. To be comfortable, the distance between us is also important. Not too close, not too far.”

Do Hyun’s gaze settled on Joo again.

Her earlobes were red as if they had been dyed with balsam, and her cheeks were not just white, but transparent.

Who practices as if they’re being tortured on the cold street?

“When will that practice end?”

“It’s done for today.”

Since she had run into Do Hyun, there was no point in lingering outside.

As Joo straightened her knees and got up, Do Hyun reached out his hand.

Joo was startled by the sudden warmth conveyed to her fingertips.

Tak!

Without realizing it herself, she roughly pushed away Do Hyun’s hand that had touched hers.

A red handprint was left on the back of Do Hyun’s hand from Joo’s slap.

“Y-you startled me, all of a sudden.”

Do Hyun lost his words for a moment and looked at his hand thrown into the air.

The scene repeated in front of Do Hyun’s eyes, from the moment their fingertips collided to the moment Joo hit him with all her might.

“Your hand looked frozen, so I was trying to feel it.”

Joo stepped back, distancing herself from Do Hyun and being wary.

Her eyes were filled with displeasure.

“I don’t like being touched by strangers.”

Do Hyun’s moving lips closed bitterly.

“I’d appreciate it if you don’t touch me without permission again.”

“I guess I’m a stranger to you now.”

The low, subdued voice made her feel that Do Hyun was disappointed. However, not wanting to attach the wrong meaning to it, Joo turned away.

“We are strangers, aren’t we?”

Joo’s words were not wrong.

On the surface, he was her husband, but on the inside, he was the very image of a stranger.

It was natural. Since she had rejected Joo’s confession, they could not be anything.

“I’ll go in first.”

Joo left Do Hyun on the street and entered the building with quick steps.

Only after getting on the elevator did she put her cold palm on her chest.

Her heart was beating so hotly that her numb palm stung.

She was only startled for a moment when something touched her hand. It was confusing that Do Hyun had tried to hold her hand.

“It’s weird, really. What’s gotten into him today?”

No, was it from yesterday?

Why did he bring her home when he could have just left her passed out drunk on the street, whether she slept or not?

Why did he take care of her in the morning, whether her stomach hurt or not?

Why did he ask to eat together, and why was he trying to hold her hand?

Her heart was complicated and her head was dizzy.

Even though she was rejected, he still had a way of stirring up people’s hearts.

***

Even with Team Leader Kang’s passionate report on the schedule, Do Hyun showed not the slightest interest.

Only the words Joo had beaten him with last night were rolling around in his head.

“To be comfortable, the distance between us is also important.”

“I don’t like being touched by strangers.”

“I’d appreciate it if you don’t touch me without permission again.”

She said she was not just uncomfortable, but disliked it.

Where did the ‘comfort’ of being a husband go, and he became a stranger.

How could words be as sharp as a blade?

Do Hyun stared intently at the back of the hand Joo had hit.

No matter how thin her fingertips were, how much could it hurt to be hit by them? But Do Hyun felt like he had been hit with a wooden club.

Not a single mark was left on his hand, but a bright red mark was left on his heart.

“Sir, is your hand bothering you?”

“It’s a bit uncomfortable.”

“Shall I reschedule the morning appointments and make a hospital reservation?”

Team Leader Kang looked ready to make a call right away as if he was going to put his hand in his jacket pocket.

“No. Let’s continue the briefing.”

Do Hyun lowered his hand and leaned his upper body against the chair.

Team Leader Kang opened the brown leather notebook he had covered and read the end of what he had densely written.

“You are scheduled to visit the Incheon resort area at 3:00 PM. And after work, there is a casual dinner gathering with the executives, should I tell them you will not be attending?”

“No. Let’s go.”

“You’re going?”

Work always came first, so even if there was a company dinner, he had missed countless times. So Team Leader Kang had no choice but to double-check even after properly listening.

“I can’t miss it every time, so shouldn’t I attend at least once?”

You can probably keep missing it.

If Do Hyun said he was coming, it was clear to see that the executives would not welcome it.

They might even say they’re canceling the dinner.

***

Ding dong―

Joo, who had just turned off the bedroom light, turned the switch back on at the sudden doorbell ringing through the house.

It was already past 11:00 PM. If it was Do Hyun, there was no way he would have rung the doorbell, and there was no one else who would come at this late hour except for Do Hyun.

Joo, who opened the door and went out, checked the intercom attached to the living room wall.

The entrance should have been reflected on the monitor screen, but only a black screen was visible.

“Is the intercom broken?”

When the doorbell rang again, Joo hesitated and pressed the call button.

“Who is it?”

Then the black hair reflected on the intercom screen was raised.

It wasn’t broken, but Team Leader Kang was sticking his head in.

Team Leader Kang was panting as if he had gone hiking.

“Yes, just a moment.”

What’s the matter at this late hour?

Joo didn’t have time to satisfy her curiosity as each word sounded difficult.

Joo, who hurried to the entrance with quick steps, swung the door open.

Before the back hidden by the door was even visible, a tall body collapsed toward Joo.

It was like a huge log, so Joo had no choice but to let go of the front door and lean against the wall.

“Oh my. Are you alright, Madam?”

Team Leader Kang’s face was covered in sweat from dropping Do Hyun.

Joo lowered her head and looked at the person leaning on her shoulder.

Even in this commotion, with his eyes closed, Nam Do Hyun was motionless, leaning against Joo.

This time, Do Hyun had come home unconscious.