The sound of the front door closing signaled Seung Ho’s departure, leaving the house enveloped in silence. The urgency to escape this place seemed to vanish with the owner’s absence. With a little more leisure, Ji Hyun quickly surveyed her surroundings.

‘Should I just look around for a bit before leaving?’

It was a luxurious apartment, the kind you’d only see in movies or dramas. Ji Hyun decided to take a look around, knowing she wouldn’t be able to properly do so with Seung Ho present. The house was as clean and fancy as a model home, without a speck of dust in sight.

In a word, it was a house befitting Shin Seung Ho. Ji Hyun clicked her tongue.

‘It seems to lack humanity, just like its owner.’

Reluctant to open doors without the owner’s permission, Ji Hyun’s house tour soon came to an end. What caught her gaze was a white wall on one side of the living room. The wall, without a single blemish, conveyed the same sense of discomfort she had felt from the beginning.

“Ah!”

After staring intently at the wall with nothing hanging on it for a while, Ji Hyun let out a sigh as she realized what had felt off since setting foot in this place.

‘There are no butterflies.’

Surprisingly, not a single butterfly could be seen in this house. Unlike his indifference to other things, Seung Ho quite valued butterflies. Even if it was a temporary residence, it was unlikely for him to stop collecting butterflies.

‘It’s strange that there’s nothing even resembling a butterfly… Huh?’

A familiar figure was reflected on the window she was absentmindedly passing by. Realizing it was her own appearance, Ji Hyun suddenly screamed.

“Ack! What is this!”

The Ji Hyun reflected in the window had disheveled, messy hair. Shocked by her appalling appearance, Ji Hyun covered her face with both hands. She felt ashamed for casually seeing Shin Seung Ho off without even knowing what she looked like.

“I can’t live like this. Really!”

The high-end cafe with white marble interior decor had fewer people than usual today. It was because Kyung Wook, a regular at the cafe, had asked the owner in advance, saying he had to meet an important guest.

Leaning leisurely on the sofa, Seung Ho listened attentively to the words of Kyung Wook, the executive director of Yu Min Biogen, who was seated across from him.

“So, what’s the conclusion?”

“It’s true that Demorac itself has good effects.”

Demorac, the new drug of Jang In Biolabs, Yu Min Biogen’s rival company. This drug, which Myung Ho was investing in generously, was continuously raising its stock price, led by news reports claiming it helps with rare and intractable diseases. Seung Ho elegantly set down the teacup he had lifted to his lips.

“I heard the FDA phase 3 is proceeding without a hitch.”

“No matter if it’s phase 3, this doesn’t make sense.”

At the mention of phase 3, Kyung Wook exploded with indignation.

“Does it make sense for the stock price to rise for 5 consecutive days?”

Min Woo passed the tablet he had tapped a few times with a stern face to Seung Ho. The screen displayed data analyzing quarterly sales and stock price fluctuations of domestic bio-pharmaceutical companies, as well as information on shareholders.

As if still furious, Kyung Wook crunched on ice.

“Who do you think has been buying the most Jang In Biolabs stocks recently?”

Seung Ho skimmed through the document displayed on the tablet and let out a chuckle.

“At least it’s clear that it’s not someone present here.”

Everyone was certain without saying it out loud. Shin Myung Ho, he was manipulating stocks related to the new drug hand in hand with Jang In Biolabs.

“What do you think it means when someone deliberately lowers their company’s stock price while waiting for the stocks they purchased individually to skyrocket?”

“It’s too suspicious to be called good luck, there’s a fishy smell.”

Min Woo chimed in, glancing at Kyung Wook.

“Biogen needs a secret weapon too.”

Kyung Wook puffed out his chest in response.

“Of course we have one. We also have a drug in the FDA phase 2, I’m telling you.”

“Oh, what is it? What is it?”

Min Woo sat up straight, licking his lips after slouching. If phase 2 succeeds and phase 3 is completed, it would definitely be good news.

“I can’t say yet…”

As if coming to his senses, Kyung Wook, who had calmed his excitement, held back his words. Surveying the surroundings with wary eyes, Kyung Wook looked at Seung Ho.

“Seung Ho, be careful. I think it’s real this time.”

Seung Ho, who had been looking at the chandelier with his head tilted back as if bored to death by all this, laughed languidly.

“When was it not real…?”

It was just that Myung Ho, lacking ability but with excessive greed, had always coveted his younger brother’s possessions, struggling alone until he collapsed.

“Siblings should get along well with each other.”

Seung Ho’s eyes flashed coldly as he mocked.

“I’m back.”

Ji Hyun left Seung Ho’s apartment and came to her own house as if running away. Her house was also empty at this time, but unlike the cold and silent atmosphere of Seung Ho’s space, the house she shared with Hyun Sook always had a warm and cozy scent. Thanks to telling Hyun Sook that she would be working late last night, she seemed to have left for work without worrying.

“She must have been late for work.”

A smile appeared on Ji Hyun’s lips as she pushed aside the clothes that got in her way. When rumors spread 8 years ago that Hyun Sook had quit her job at Chairman Shin’s mansion, offers for helper positions came in from other places that had viewed her favorably. Despite proposals with higher salaries and even a manager position, Hyun Sook rejected them all without a second thought.

“I’ve had enough of living under others’ scrutiny. I want to stop now.”

Their financial situation was insufficient for both of them to let go, but they weren’t worried. For Ji Hyun, Hyun Sook’s words were always right. Hyun Sook had saved her from a life that seemed hopeless, so now it was her turn to step up.

“Auntie, I don’t want to go to college. I want to work now and be of help to you.”

Seeing Ji Hyun’s determined expression, Hyun Sook laughed out loud for a while.

“Ji Hyun, I’m not doing helper work because I have something I want to do. I’m planning to make money with that. I’m confident and convinced it will go well. So don’t even think about sacrificing yourself just because we don’t have money right now.”

“Still…”

Hyun Sook’s face, which had stopped laughing at some point, was quite serious.

“If you really want to help, go to college. Even if you have to take out a student loan, go and learn. Help me after that. Understand?”

Soon enough, Hyun Sook really became a florist as if to show off, quickly making a name for herself in that field. Various events such as seminars and wedding halls called for Hyun Sook. It was because few people could design flowers as delicately and excellently as she did.

Busy going to the flower market at dawn and event venues during the day, she was too sleepy to do anything when she came home. Naturally, most of the housework became Ji Hyun’s responsibility. Ji Hyun rolled up her sleeves with gusto.

“Phew, then shall I give it a try?”

The clothes thrown into the basket went straight into the washing machine, and the food that had gone bad after not being touched for several days due to being busy was quickly discarded into the food waste bin.

While diligently moving her body to clean the house, the bedding she had put in the nearby coin laundry was waiting for her, freshly washed and fluffy. Ji Hyun hugged the fragrant fabric softener-scented bedding tightly. At this moment, she envied no one. The rest given on a weekday without expectations was a sweet moment.

Normally, her rest would be complete by lying down on the bedding like this, but it felt a little regrettable to lie down during the day when the sun was still up. After pondering for a moment, Ji Hyun carried the bedding in one arm and put the other hand in her padded jacket pocket to take out her cell phone.

“I was so surprised that you suggested meeting first, thinking something had happened.”

Mi Ri, who had arrived at the cafe first, greeted Ji Hyun fussily.

“Is Ha Jun not here yet?”

“He said he has a class, so he’ll be a bit late.”

“Class?”

“You didn’t know? Ha Jun is attending law school these days.”

At Mi Ri’s words, Ji Hyun blinked her eyes. It was the first time she had heard about it.

“…I had no idea.”

She felt a little sad that Ha Jun, who always told her everything, hadn’t mentioned attending law school. Seeing Ji Hyun’s slightly furrowed brows, Mi Ri quickly continued.

“Actually, I only found out recently too. He wasn’t exactly hiding it, but seeing how he doesn’t talk about it, I guess he had his reasons.”

“I guess so? I should ask him when he comes.”

“By the way, does Ha Jun know you got a job?”

“Ah…”

Ji Hyun let out a low sigh.

The last time she saw Ha Jun was when she rushed out after receiving a call from Soo Young, the teaching assistant.

“You two are the only ones busy, just you two…”

Mi Ri clicked her tongue and sipped her latte with abundant milk foam. Ji Hyun silently stirred her pink lemonade with the straw in her hand. Somehow, it felt like Ha Jun wouldn’t be too happy if she mentioned meeting Seung Ho.

‘Why do I have that feeling?’

Mi Ri, who had been looking outside through the cafe window, changed the subject.

“Hey, tell me about your work. How’s the Grand Duke? Still handsome?”

“Just the same as always.”

“That means he’s still handsome.”

Ji Hyun marveled at Mi Ri’s brazen attitude.

‘How can she say things like Grand Duke so casually?’

“Hey, aren’t you going to ask me how work is going or if it’s tough?”

Hearing Ji Hyun’s small protest, Mi Ri’s eyes widened.

“Is it tough? No way… Isn’t the Grand Duke’s face a tonic?”

‘I give up.’

Ji Hyun, at a loss for words, just gulped down her lemonade. Mi Ri, who had shifted her gaze back to the window, narrowed her eyes as if she had seen something.

“Huh?”

“Why? Is there something outside?”

Instead of answering, Mi Ri raised her finger and pointed across the street.

“Look, isn’t that guy over there Ha Jun?”

Ji Hyun’s head turned in the direction Mi Ri was pointing. With his bangs comfortably down and wearing a black casual coat, he was indeed the Ha Jun they knew.

“What’s he doing there? Let’s call him.”

Ji Hyun stopped Mi Ri’s hand as she took out her cell phone.

“Wait, look over there.”

Ha Jun wasn’t alone. Next to him was a woman. The girl was wearing a coat that accentuated her figure and long boots, and she was clinging to him persistently with her long, wavy hair.

Although their conversation couldn’t be heard from a distance, the two were talking and repeatedly coming close and moving apart.

Inside the cafe, Mi Ri and Ji Hyun swallowed their saliva as they watched the scene.

“That jerk, dating alone…”

Soon, Mi Ri, filled with resentment, shouted couple hell, but Ji Hyun’s thoughts were different. He had an expression on his face that Ji Hyun had never seen before. The way Ha Jun stared at the woman with a disgusted look felt unfamiliar.

Forcefully pushing away the girl who was clinging to him, begging him not to leave, he immediately crossed the street and entered the cafe. Spotting Ji Hyun and Mi Ri, Ha Jun approached them with his usual familiar smile. Even that sight felt unfamiliar to Ji Hyun.

When Ha Jun got closer, Mi Ri pointed at him with her finger and shouted.

“You bad man!”