President Jin and Hye Sook would have spent that day happily with Tae Jin.

She didn’t feel bad knowing that she wasn’t in their minds.

It was just that she felt tense now because of Do Joon staring at her so intently as if seeing through her.

Do Joon continued speaking, completely unaware of Tae Yeon’s feelings.

“We should go greet your parents this weekend.”

“……”

“I’ve been too busy since returning from America and haven’t managed to do it yet.”

She should have said it was fine, but Tae Yeon couldn’t bring herself to speak.

Do Joon caught the subtle change that flashed across Tae Yeon’s face and became increasingly certain of what Secretary Choi had told him.

“Let me know when Jin Tae Yeon sets a date and I’ll make it work.”

“Okay……”

“And I’m satisfied with the proposal Jin Tae Yeon submitted.”

At the mention of work, Tae Yeon’s face brightened differently than before.

“I’m thinking of taking it to the executive meeting after making a few improvements.”

“Really?”

“So come to my office later this afternoon.”

Amid the complicated conversation they’d just had, it was at least a glimmer of light for Tae Yeon.

[This is the timeline separator]

Lady Choi stopped by Baeksangjae to pick up some side dishes including aged kimchi.

As Lady Choi was about to leave after finishing her business, Chairman Cha happened to see her and called out.

“Lady Choi, it’s been a while.”

“Chairman, have you been well?”

Lady Choi had served Chairman Cha at Baeksangjae for a long time.

He had requested her to be the live-in helper at Do Joon’s house because of her good cooking skills and meticulous nature.

“Ha ha ha. I’m the same as always. How is the work at Do Joon’s house?”

“It’s good. The director and his wife take very good care of me.”

Chairman Cha invited Lady Choi for a simple cup of tea.

After chatting for a while, Chairman Cha casually asked about his son and daughter-in-law’s daily life.

“Are they still awkward with each other?”

Lady Choi refuted that and replied.

“No, they get along so well.”

“Is that so?”

Chairman Cha tilted his head curiously.

Lady Choi was talking about how sweet the couple was when she suddenly remembered last night’s incident and looked upset.

“Why are you making that expression?”

“I think the director did something wrong yesterday.”

“To our new daughter?”

Lady Choi nodded. Chairman Cha put down his cup with a clank and looked furiously angry.

“What did that rascal Do Joon do?”

Lady Choi told him about how Tae Yeon had come home crying last night. Chairman Cha’s expression changed constantly as he listened.

“Don’t you know why they fought?”

“No. That’s their private life, so…”

“Hmm. Thank you for telling me, Lady Choi.”

After Lady Choi left, Chairman Cha heaved a deep sigh.

Then he called Do Joon without hesitation.

[This is the timeline separator]

Even after talking with Tae Yeon and entering his office, Do Joon couldn’t easily focus on work.

What Secretary Choi had said earlier kept swirling in his mind.

The fact that Cha Shin Dairy tried extremely hard to hide that Tae Yeon and Tae Jin were twins.

And that Tae Yeon and President Jin didn’t have a very good relationship.

If he hadn’t returned to Korea, he probably would have never known these facts.

In fact, even now, trivial stories about Tae Yeon’s family relationships, whether she was close to her parents, weren’t something Do Joon needed to care about to live his life.

And yet, strangely, it weighed on his mind.

As Do Joon was staring at the tablet PC on the table.

His phone rang. Do Joon narrowed his eyes curiously as he checked the caller.

“What’s the matter?”

-What’s the matter? How can you live after doing such a thing!!

It was Chairman Cha, shouting as soon as the call connected.

Do Joon’s curiosity was short-lived.

Wondering if photos of Tae Jin dating another man had been sent to Chairman Cha, Do Joon bit his lip hard.

For now, he decided to play dumb in case it wasn’t that.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

-I heard you made our new daughter cry yesterday!!

“…Chairman, what did you just say?”

-I happened to meet Lady Choi earlier. I heard everything, so don’t try to deny it.

Do Joon chuckled incredulously. He was relieved that the paparazzi photos of Tae Jin hadn’t been sent to Chairman Cha after all.

When there was no reply from Do Joon, Chairman Cha became even more furious.

-Why did you make my delicate and virtuous daughter-in-law cry, make her cry!!!

“Couples can fight sometimes, can’t they?”

-How shameless. It must be entirely your fault. How could our new daughter have done anything wrong?

“Whose father are you exactly? Anyone listening would think you were Tae Yeon’s father.”

-Isn’t my daughter-in-law like my own daughter? I wonder if you apologized to our new daughter. Sigh, of course. You probably didn’t.

Chairman Cha’s sigh came through the receiver.

“I did.”

-You did? Apologize? You?

“Yes. As you said, Chairman Cha, I was in the wrong, so I apologized last night and again just now.”

-Hmm. Well done.

Chairman Cha’s voice softened upon hearing that Do Joon had apologized to Tae Yeon.

“If you’re done talking, shall we end the call now?”

-Don’t be so cold.

Do Joon couldn’t readily answer to that.

-Even if it’s a strategic marriage, can’t you get along well? All of this would be resolved if you just open your heart.

“I’ll try.”

After hanging up with Chairman Cha, what caught Do Joon’s eye was a family photo of Tae Yeon.

Though everyone was smiling brightly, somehow only Tae Yeon seemed out of place.

“I should resolve this first.”

Now that it was revealed the person in the paparazzi photos wasn’t Tae Yeon, the old Do Joon wouldn’t have needed to pay her much attention.

But strangely, he kept worrying about her.

The reason he came to Korea.

Like that beginning, perhaps the next step might be Tae Yeon too.

[This is the timeline separator]

Tae Yeon appeared in his office at the time they had agreed to meet for the meeting with Do Joon.

“Sit down.”

Seated in the center of the office, Do Joon opened Tae Yeon’s proposal.

“I’ll ask one last time.”

“Yes.”

“Is it alright even if it’s a new product without Cha Shin Dairy products?”

“I thought that matter was already settled.”

Seeing Tae Yeon’s resolute face, Do Joon voiced his concern.

“Of course, from my perspective, this proposal is too good to pass up.”

Do Joon’s gaze fell on Tae Yeon’s clear face.

“However, I’m not sure if President Jin will be fully satisfied.”

“The place I work is KK Foods, not Cha Shin Dairy.”

Do Joon tilted his head with interest.

“My boss is Director Cha Do Joon, not President Jin. Does that answer your question?”

“It’s sufficient.”

After that, Do Joon pointed out a few lacking areas in Tae Yeon’s proposal.

Tae Yeon diligently wrote everything down in the notebook she had brought, recording without missing anything.

The warm afternoon sunlight came in between the two of them, brightening the desk even more.

[This is the timeline separator]

Tae Yeon and Do Joon left work together as usual and enjoyed the dinner Lady Choi had prepared.

Perhaps still concerned about yesterday’s incident, Do Joon went straight to the study without suggesting they spend time together like usual.

Tae Yeon was also comfortably sitting in the living room reading a book.

Rrrr.

What broke her concentration was the strong vibration of Tae Yeon’s phone.

Seeing that the caller was President Jin, Tae Yeon anxiously bit her lip.

Glancing up to see that Do Joon hadn’t come down from the second floor yet, she lowered her voice and answered the phone.

“Yes, what is it?”

-Do you not take my words seriously now?

“Sigh. I told you Do Joon is very busy.”

-No matter how busy, how is it proper manners not to even show his face to his father-in-law and mother-in-law after returning to the country? How little must he think of you to not even come to our house!!

A very gruff voice was resonating through the receiver. And right on cue, the sound of Do Joon coming down from the second floor was heard.

Tae Yeon hurriedly tried to end the call with President Jin, speaking quickly.

“Father, I’ll talk to him and get back to you.”

-Don’t tell me you haven’t even mentioned it to your husband? How worthless of a person are you that you can’t even say such things between spouses!

That’s when it happened.

Do Joon, who had approached from the side at some point, took the phone from Tae Yeon’s ear without warning.

Tae Yeon opened her mouth in surprise. President Jin was still loudly berating something into the phone.

There was no need to focus on listening to what was surely the usual abusive words to Tae Yeon.

Do Joon mouthed to Tae Yeon.

‘Are you alright?’

Tae Yeon nodded and reached out her hand as if asking for her phone back.

Do Joon shook his head and then brought her phone to his own ear.

Then he spoke in a low voice. Very gently.

“It’s been a while, father-in-law.”

-…Is this Cha?

“Yes. I was spending some intimate time with Tae Yeon when the phone rang.”

It was an unspoken pressure to be quiet and hang up quickly.

President Jin couldn’t have missed that nuance. He spoke in a kind voice, the complete opposite of how he had talked to Tae Yeon.

-Oh my, Cha. It’s been quite a while since you came to Korea but I haven’t heard from you, so I felt a bit hurt.

“Is that so? I’ve been spending a lot of time with Tae Yeon to make up for the time we were apart.”

-Ha ha ha. Well done. Cha, we should have a meal together, just us.

“How about this weekend?”

-Any time is fine with us. Let us know when you’re available.

Having turned into a docile lamb, President Jin put on airs as he finished the conversation with Do Joon.

As Do Joon was about to hang up, President Jin requested to speak with Tae Yeon.

Do Joon’s brows furrowed deeply. Glancing at Tae Yeon, who was even more tense than usual after receiving President Jin’s call, Do Joon spoke in a low voice.

“Father-in-law, we’re newlyweds.”

-Huh?

“I understand you want to see your daughter, but it’s a bit uncomfortable for you to call so late in the evening like this.”

-Ah, right, right. I was thoughtless.

It was President Jin who had kept talking despite Tae Yeon’s hints that she wanted to hang up multiple times during their call.

However, unable to withstand Do Joon’s pressure, he lowered his tail first and ended the call.

Do Joon handed the phone back to Tae Yeon with a worried look and asked.

“Are you alright?”

Tae Yeon reached out with a trembling hand to take the phone.

At that moment.

A warm sensation spread over Tae Yeon’s hand.