“Aunt, this is now…”

Ji Hyun, with her mouth agape, alternately looked at the large shopping bag and Hyun Sook.

“Put it on.”

In the spot Hyun Sook pointed to with her chin, as if it was nothing, there was a white goose down padding. Ji Hyun noticed the familiar logo inside the padding. It was a brand that kids in her class often wore. Ji Hyun shook her head.

“This is too expensive. Aunt, I’m fine, so going back and getting a refund is…”

“If you don’t wear it, refund or not, I’m just going to throw it away.”

Hyun Sook looked at Ji Hyun with an angry face.

It was a problem that other kids threw tantrums wanting to have one more thing, but her niece was too matured too early, which was also a problem.

Seeing Ji Hyun, who never asked for new clothes even when her faded jumper had cotton poking out or when the soles of her sneakers were falling apart, pained Hyun Sook’s heart.

“Still…”

Hyun Sook once again put her foot down to Ji Hyun, who was hesitating while fingering the padding with the shiny logo.

“You don’t want to see how good this aunt’s execution is, right?”

The padding that Ji Hyun reluctantly tried on after the brutal threat fit her body perfectly as if she had tried it on and bought it herself.

Hyun Sook flatly rejected Ji Hyun’s suggestion to at least exchange it for a different color since white gets dirty easily. She just wanted to dress her in something pretty without nitpicking this and that.

White suited Ji Hyun better than black, with her light-colored everything from her skin to her hair.

“This is the first time I’ve worn such nice clothes.”

At Ji Hyun’s whisper mixed with admiration, Hyun Sook spoke matter-of-factly while fixing her clothes.

“That’s great. Wear it often without babying it. I’ll buy you more.”

“This alone is enough. Thank you so much. Aunt.”

The area around Ji Hyun’s eyes reddened as she expressed her gratitude.

“For something like this…”

It was the first time for Hyun Sook to buy such an expensive padding as well, but seeing Ji Hyun wearing it, she didn’t regret the money.

“You said you were going out with your friends today, right? Have a great time. Don’t think about coming back early.”

Ji Hyun laughed at Hyun Sook’s urging. It was the first time meeting her friends since the break started.

On the last day of school, Ha Jun had persistently asked for Ji Hyun’s contact information. To him, who begged for at least an emergency contact number, Ji Hyun, who didn’t have a cell phone, had no choice but to give her aunt’s number.

Ha Jun, who promised to only contact her when it was really urgent, had reached out to meet up with Mi Ri. There was no reason to refuse the suggestion. So of course, she gladly accepted.

Actually, it was aunt Hyun Sook who accepted, not Ji Hyun, but…

Hyun Sook was excited as if she herself was going out to play. She put some spending money in Ji Hyun’s hand and didn’t forget to urge her as she walked her to the front door.

“Don’t think about coming back before sunset.”

Ji Hyun’s mood, who was hanging out with friends for the first time, was also endlessly excited. Her steps while thinking about her friends were light. Ji Hyun, who was touching her long hair several times with a mix of anticipation and impatience, opened her eyes wide when she saw someone coming towards her.

“…Huh?”

A man wearing a familiar black mustang was walking towards her. Ji Hyun unknowingly swallowed her saliva.

The unfamiliar face with a familiar physique that reminded her of someone passed by indifferently, but her startled heart didn’t calm down easily.

For a moment, she thought it was Shin Seung Ho. But there was no way he would be here. Even though she clearly knew that, Ji Hyun couldn’t take her eyes off the man walking away.

‘He must be doing very well by now.’

After standing there for a while, she shook her head and took a step again.

Mi Ri and Ha Jun, who were waiting first, greeted Ji Hyun joyfully. Mi Ri circled around Ji Hyun and let out an exaggerated exclamation.

“Wow, Ji Hyun is quite pretty today? The returned villainess wears a white padding.”

“Villain…ess?”

When Ji Hyun turned pale at the unfamiliar words, Mi Ri laughed out loud.

“Sorry, I don’t mean you’re bad, but in romance novels, the villainess is the pretty female lead.”

Ha Jun, who was watching, clicked his tongue, grabbed Mi Ri, and hit her on the back.

“I told you to stop reading web novels! You’re a high school senior now! How many points did you get on the mock exam this time?”

“Instead of talking about test scores, please just possess me.”

At the mention of the mock exam, Ji Hyun’s face stiffened. Although she hasn’t become a high school senior yet, the academy was already progressing with a focus on college entrance exams and frequently administering mock exams.

The anxiety and worries that she had momentarily forgotten while working at the mansion came rushing in all at once like a floodgate opening.

“By the way, Ji Hyun, how have you been? Studying? Since you said you don’t go to an academy, do you go to a study room?”

Mi Ri, who had no idea about her situation, asked innocently. Ji Hyun had nothing to say.

During the break, the only thing she had consistently done was shoveling snow. She tried to study, but compared to her friends who had started studying for the exams in earnest, it was nothing.

“Um…”

At that moment when she was mumbling, not knowing what to say, Ha Jun wedged himself between the two and linked arms with them.

“What’s wrong with her?”

When Mi Ri made a face and tried to pull her arm out, Ha Jun put more strength into it and started walking, dragging the two.

“Photos.”

“Huh? What photos?”

“I want to take photos. The ones our classmates showed us. The four-cut photos.”

“I don’t want to today. I’m not in a good condition. If you want to take them so badly, you can just go take them by yourself.”

“Anyhow, Lee Mi Ri, you’re no help…”

Ha Jun, who muttered in a low voice, clicked his tongue as if displeased.

“Let’s take them together, the three of us, right now.”

“I got it, so let go of my arm and talk!”

Mi Ri and Ji Hyun were practically dragged by Ha Jun to take photos.

“Okay, smile. Pretend to be happy regardless of grades!”

At Mi Ri’s shout, who was even wearing a wig, Ji Hyun sincerely smiled. She was happy.

[This is the timeline separator]

Kim Sil Jang, who received an unexpected call and turned pale, hurriedly left the mansion.

There was no time to call the servants. As she arrived at the front gate, a model taxi stopped in front of her shortly after. Confirming the person who got out of the taxi, Kim Sil Jang let out a gasp and bowed her head.

“You’ve arrived? Young master Seung Ho.”

He had returned, although she thought it would be a month later even if he came back early.

“Have you been well?”

Seung Ho’s gaze, which was looking at the mansion, turned to Kim Sil Jang. He had the same leisurely attitude and tone of voice even after turning the mansion upside down with a single call about his sudden return.

“Yes. Young master.”

Kim Sil Jang answered and swallowed her question. She was very curious as to why he had suddenly returned when he was supposed to stay in Europe for a long time to prepare for studying abroad along with a vacation, but she couldn’t ask him directly.

“You must be tired from the long flight, so please go inside quickly.”

Seung Ho, who nodded, walked ahead, and Kim Sil Jang followed behind, carrying his luggage.

“Chairman Shin is on a business trip to the United States, and Madam has accompanied him. Young master Myung Ho has gone out to meet a friend, so he’s not back yet…”

Seung Ho, who was listening to Kim Sil Jang’s report, spun around at the entrance of the mansion.

“What about that kid?”

Startled by the unexpected question, Kim Sil Jang asked again.

“Pardon?”

Seung Ho was intently staring at the annex.

“Choi Ji Hyun, where is that kid?”

[This is the timeline separator]

“Ah, today was really so much fun.”

Mi Ri stretched with a satisfied smile.

After taking the sticker photos, they shared funny photos with each other and giggled on the street for a long time. They ate hamburgers to fill their empty stomachs from laughing so much and chatted to their hearts’ content at a cafe.

The winter sun set early. The streets had already turned pitch black. It was time to part ways now.

“Everyone’s going home now, right?”

Mi Ri carefully attached the sticker photo of the three of them to the back of her cell phone.

“I’m going to stop by the academy before going home. I have some studying left to do.”

At his calm answer, Mi Ri stuck out her tongue.

“You make me sick.”

“I can’t just play around like you.”

Ha Jun shrugged and glanced at Ji Hyun before pulling her to his side.

“Ji Hyun and I are going in the same direction. Mi Ri, you hurry up and go too.”

“Huh? My house is in that direction too…”

“Don’t go home and go to the academy. I know you have evening supplementary classes at the academy.”

Mi Ri, who had hidden the fact that she had supplementary classes, looked at Ha Jun with a really fed-up face.

“When did you find out about that?”

“All academies are the same. Don’t skip and make sure to go.”

“…Tsk.”

Mi Ri, whose true intentions were all exposed, said goodbye with a resigned look. Ji Hyun also waved her hand with a regretful face.

“Everyone has supplementary classes, huh.”

After all, even if they were contemplating their college path, they couldn’t give up studying. When she was pondering whether she should take some online lectures with the money she saved up from her part-time job, an armful of books fell into her arms.

They were books that came out of the bag Ha Jun had been carrying all day.

“You know these are common reference books, right? They’ll help with studying.”

Ha Jun, who added unnecessary words in case she wouldn’t accept them, grinned.

Ji Hyun slightly nodded her head at his thoughtful consideration.

“…Thanks.”

“Mi Ri may seem like that, but you don’t know how hard she studies. She says she’s going to the same college as you, so…”

He peeled off the photo where the three of them were smiling the brightest and attached it to the front of the workbook.

“Don’t give up and work hard.”

Ji Hyun’s nose stung at Ha Jun’s quiet cheering, telling her that he knew what her concerns were. Unable to speak, she could barely nod her head.

[This is the timeline separator]

Although she didn’t intend to come back late as Hyun Sook said, Ji Hyun walked quickly because her heart was in a hurry as she was later than her expected return time. Ha Jun wanted to take her home, but Ji Hyun pushed his back, telling him to hurry to the academy too.

Walking through the alley leading to the mansion, she remembered the things from the past that she had forgotten for a while.

Was it because she saw someone who looked similar during the day?

It seemed like he would still be waiting in front of the mansion.

“Don’t wander around without my permission.”

Recalling his chilly eyes and voice, Ji Hyun denied it.

There was no way he, who said he would be traveling in Europe for a long time, would be in Korea. He must be having fun skiing in Switzerland.

Completely forgetting about herself, whom he said he disliked so much…

When she got close to the mansion, her heart that had been pounding finally calmed down to some extent. There was no one at the front gate.

‘Phew, what was I thinking, really.’

When Ji Hyun, whose tension had loosened, entered through the door the servants used while rubbing her numb cheeks, Kim Sil Jang came running out in a hurry.

“Where on earth have you been!”

She shouted urgently and grabbed Ji Hyun’s wrist.

“Did something happen?”

Kim Sil Jang swallowed dryly as she looked at Ji Hyun, who asked with a face that knew nothing, and opened her mouth.

“Young master Seung Ho has returned.”

“…What?”

At the unbelievable news, Ji Hyun’s heart dropped with a thud.