Do Joon carefully observed Tae Yeon’s face.

‘Well, if someone offers to buy something you already have, that could be the reaction.’

So he wanted to know more about her inner thoughts. Do Joon asked once more.

“Do you really dislike this watch? I think it would suit you well.”

No matter how he looked at it, it wasn’t Tae Yeon’s taste.

However, after hesitating, Tae Yeon eventually nodded. It was a choice made because of Do Joon’s words that it would suit her well.

“Do you really think so?”

“What? Oh, you mean if it suits you well.”

“Yes. To me, it seems too flashy.”

Do Joon pulled the corners of his mouth and brought the watch. Then he put it on Tae Yeon’s delicate wrist.

“It suits you well.”

Tae Yeon looked at the watch, moving her wrist this way and that.

‘Now that Do Joon says so, it does seem nice…’

Glancing at the hesitating Tae Yeon, Do Joon raised the corners of his mouth fully.

‘She’s not saying she won’t buy it because she already has one.’

The two were having different thoughts about the same watch.

A few days later.

Not knowing the storm this watch would bring.

[This is the timeline separator]

Tae Yeon looked straight at Do Joon with determined eyes.

“I’ll take this one.”

“Alright. Let’s also look at our new wedding bands.”

At Do Joon’s request, the employee brought out various wedding bands. Do Joon urged Tae Yeon to choose.

“Which one do you like?”

After looking for a while, Tae Yeon chose the most modest wedding band.

“I like this one.”

Do Joon also liked the not-so-flashy wedding band.

After taking measurements, the two placed an order for production.

Hearing that they could pick them up in a week, Do Joon took out a black card from his wallet and handed it to the clerk.

Even after leaving the store, Tae Yeon kept examining the watch Do Joon had gifted her. Seeing this, Do Joon casually asked.

“Seems like you like it.”

“At first I was worried it might be too flashy to wear often, but the more I look at it, the prettier it seems. Thank you.”

Tae Yeon smiled shyly, her eyes curving beautifully.

That smile had a strange power. Looking at it made one’s heart feel oddly warm.

Do Joon cleared his throat while trying to avoid her gaze.

“Do you have anywhere else to go?”

“Ah, I’d like to get a gift for you too, Do Joon.”

“I don’t need anything.”

He refused firmly, but this time Tae Yeon was more adamant.

“I just received this watch as a gift. I’d like to buy you a tie at least.”

After hesitating for a moment, Do Joon took the lead and walked towards the men’s clothing store.

Entering the store, Tae Yeon asked Do Joon while looking at the ties displayed on one side.

“Is there any color you don’t have, Do Joon?”

She blurted it out knowing the question was meaningless. She wanted to give a gift that wouldn’t overlap as much as possible.

Of course, the answer that came back was as expected.

“I have them all.”

Tae Yeon looked closely at the ties and then held one up.

“How about this one?”

Tae Yeon held back a laugh as she held it up to Do Joon’s neck.

“What’s so funny?”

Do Joon almost snatched the tie from Tae Yeon’s hand and examined it closely.

His eyes widened noticeably as he checked the tie’s pattern.

“It’s cute, isn’t it?”

The one Tae Yeon chose was a tie with a dense pattern that looked like clouds or mushrooms.

“I chose it thinking you might not have something like this.”

“Of course…”

Do Joon was about to retort, asking who would wear such a thing, but he closed his mouth tightly.

The tie pattern was indeed cute, as Tae Yeon said. But even if he bought it, where could he wear this tie?

Just as he was about to put it down, a hint of disappointment flashed across Tae Yeon’s face.

It was a face that looked upset, like a rabbit whose carrot had been taken away.

He barely held back a laugh that was about to burst out because that look was so cute.

And then, with a blank expression on his face, he asked.

“Do you really think this suits me?”

Tae Yeon nodded slightly and spoke in a small voice.

“Yes. I think it would be good to wear when attending events with a softer atmosphere.”

Do Joon handed the tie he was holding to Tae Yeon.

“If you put it on me yourself, I’ll look in the mirror.”

“Really?”

Tae Yeon smiled brightly and nodded readily, agreeing to do so.

Do Joon loosened the tie he was wearing, and Tae Yeon stood on her tiptoes to put the new tie around his neck.

Seeing this, Do Joon slightly bent his knees to match her height.

“Thank you. Your legs will hurt if you stay like that. I’ll finish quickly.”

At those words, Do Joon chuckled as if finding it ridiculous. How much exercise had he done for his legs to hurt from just bending like this?

“You can take your time.”

Meanwhile, Tae Yeon very skillfully tied the tie and then smiled brightly.

“Take a look in the mirror. I think it suits you even better when you wear it yourself.”

Do Joon looked in the mirror without much expectation.

However, as Tae Yeon said, the tie matched well with the suit he was wearing, as if it had always been his.

“How is it?”

Tae Yeon carefully asked for Do Joon’s opinion.

Unlike the expectation that he would take it off without mercy, Do Joon stared at his reflection in the mirror, seemingly pleased.

“Let’s go with this one.”

“Okay.”

Tae Yeon excitedly headed towards the cash register.

Seeing her like that, a faint smile that even he didn’t realize appeared on Do Joon’s face.

[This is the timeline separator]

On Tae Yeon’s birthday.

Tae Yeon, who had woken up early and was reading a book, was startled by the sudden doorbell sound and came out to the living room.

Do Joon must have opened the door, as the ringing doorbell had stopped.

“Who came?”

Tae Yeon headed towards the entrance. What caught her eye was an enormous flower basket and a cake in Do Joon’s hands.

“Oh, this is…”

Do Joon walked in nonchalantly and placed the flower basket on the dining table.

“It’s a gift.”

“Ah.”

He was one of the few people who knew it was her birthday.

“I’ve never celebrated someone’s birthday before.”

Do Joon then placed the cake on the table as well.

Tae Yeon’s eyes widened even more when she saw the cake taken out of the box. It was a cake with a caricature of herself drawn on it.

“Wow.”

Tae Yeon stared at the cake as if entranced.

“Did you prepare this, Do Joon?”

“I did receive some help from Secretary Choi. Originally, I wanted to give you a photo cake with your face printed on it.”

“I see.”

“But I couldn’t do it because I don’t have any photos of Jin Tae Yeon.”

Reflecting Tae Yeon’s personality, there wasn’t even a single profile picture on her messenger app. And the two hadn’t taken any photos together while dating.

The only photos of Tae Yeon that Do Joon had were paparazzi shots from an unknown sender.

He couldn’t bring himself to use those photos, so he opted for a caricature cake instead.

Tae Yeon smiled brightly, unable to take her eyes off the cake.

“The cake is really cute, isn’t it? Thank you.”

Tae Yeon’s dark brown eyes were sparkling.

Although she knew Do Joon was aware of her birthday, she never thought she would receive such a celebration.

After all, they were just a show window couple who didn’t need to go out of their way to celebrate.

It felt like a dream to receive a cake on top of the gift he had bought her while shopping yesterday.

“You should blow out the candles, so sit down.”

At Do Joon’s gesture, Tae Yeon sat at the table. Do Joon stuck number candles on the cake and lit them. Then, with an indifferent face, he blurted out.

“Shall we sing together?”

“What?”

The thought of him singing the birthday song with that stoic face made her laugh.

Tae Yeon bit her lip hard to hold back her laughter. Do Joon saw this and asked.

“Why are you laughing?”

“No, I just imagined you singing.”

Do Joon made an expression as if wondering why that was funny, and then started singing.

A sweet voice resonated throughout the house.

Although she thought there couldn’t be anything he wasn’t good at, this man was even perfect at singing.

Tae Yeon, caught off guard, clapped her hands and sang along to her own birthday song.

After the song ended, Do Joon, seemingly embarrassed, rubbed the back of his neck and nodded towards the candles.

“Make a wish and blow them out.”

Tae Yeon closed her eyes tightly and clasped her hands together.

‘Please let the marriage end without any problems.’

Then Tae Yeon blew out the candles. Her breath caused Do Joon’s bangs, sitting across from her, to flutter slightly.

Do Joon removed the candles and handed her a knife to cut the cake. Tae Yeon took the knife and suddenly stood up.

“Where are you going?”

“Can I take a picture of this?”

Do Joon nodded and crossed his arms.

Tae Yeon quickly got up and grabbed her phone. Then she took pictures of the cake and flower bouquet Do Joon had given her.

After taking pictures for a while, Tae Yeon looked at Do Joon intently.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“I’ll take a picture of you too, Do Joon.”

Do Joon waved his hand in refusal.

“No need.”

“The spot you’re in right now, the picture would come out really well.”

“It’s fine. I don’t particularly like having my picture taken.”

Holding her phone, Tae Yeon hesitated for a moment before speaking.

“Do Joon, then shall we take a picture together?”

“What did you say?”

“I was thinking we could take a picture together and send it to Chairman Cha.”

Do Joon, who had been refusing with his hands, seemed to read Tae Yeon’s thoughts and looked interested.

“You mean to show that we’re close enough as a couple for me to celebrate your birthday?”

“That’s right. So that we look as intimate as possible in the photo…”

Before Tae Yeon could finish speaking, Do Joon got up from his seat.

Then he came and sat next to her, bringing his face close.

It was a surprisingly bold move for someone who said he disliked having his picture taken.

Seeing Tae Yeon frozen in surprise, Do Joon urged her.

“What are you doing? Aren’t you going to take the picture?”

“Ah, yes, I should.”

Tae Yeon moved slightly to the side, as Do Joon had come unexpectedly close.

Do Joon chuckled and moved closer again, matching the distance Tae Yeon had moved away.

“You said we should pretend to be close, so why are you running away?”

“…”

“Someone might think I was the one who suggested taking the picture.”

Feeling awkward at those words, Tae Yeon laughed nervously.

Thinking she should quickly take the picture and get up, Tae Yeon raised her phone camera.

Even on the day they took wedding photos for media distribution, the two didn’t take any personal photos to keep. There was no need for that.

So this selfie was the first picture they were taking together.

The awkwardness was clearly evident. Looking at the result, Do Joon slightly furrowed his brow as if something was not to his liking.

“If we send this picture to Chairman Cha, it might have the opposite effect.”