As the sun was setting, a tired Min Hae Yeon returned home and washed up. Heading into the study to continue her unfinished research, she suddenly remembered the message Cha Do Ha had sent.

Her mood instantly improved. With the anticipation of having dinner with Do Ha, Hae Yeon searched for her materials with a light heart.

She became so engrossed that she lost track of time, only realizing how late it had gotten when she noticed the sky darkening outside the window. Startled, Hae Yeon hurriedly got up, and right then, she heard the sound of the front door opening.

“Oh, you’re home?”

Greeting him cheerfully, Hae Yeon was met with Do Ha’s beaming smile as he handed her the plastic bag in his hand. Opening it, Hae Yeon was surprised. A meal with Do Ha was always delicious, but this was truly mouthwatering.

“Is this… stir-fried octopus?”

“You had a tough day today.”

Do Ha reached out and affectionately brushed Hae Yeon’s hair. Seeing his deep smile, the corners of Hae Yeon’s mouth turned up.

“But it’s my favorite.”

“That’s why I bought it. I got soju too, so let’s eat together.”

Do Ha shook the soju bottle that had been hidden behind his back, unseen when he first entered. Hae Yeon laughed out loud at his playfulness.

Chiiik-!

“Smells delicious, doesn’t it?”

“Yeah. The aroma is great.”

Just as he said, the spicy fragrance filling the kitchen was wonderful. Adding some vegetables from the fridge made their mouths water. Soon, the prepared octopus stir-fry was set on the table.

“Congratulations. On becoming a working member of society.”

Do Ha said as he poured Hae Yeon a drink. The meal began with his congratulations, and a mischievous smile spread across Hae Yeon’s face.

“I didn’t even tell you the results yet, but you’re already taking my passing for granted?”

“Of course, because I believe in you. So what was the outcome?”

Hae Yeon grinned from ear to ear and exclaimed joyfully.

“I got in!”

Do Ha burst into laughter at her childlike outburst. The happy news, delicious food, and alcohol made the atmosphere lively. Slightly more excited than usual, Hae Yeon chattered on to Do Ha about what happened during the interview, and he watched her with a content look.

Who knows how long they chatted for. Her alcohol-flushed cheeks turned red and she felt a bit tipsy. Hae Yeon sensed this was the moment to come clean to Do Ha about visiting Daechi-dong.

“Ah, right. I went to Daechi-dong this afternoon.”

Hae Yeon tried to gloss over it lightly, but as expected, seeing Do Ha’s face stiffen, she quickly added an apology.

“I’m sorry. You told me to let you know beforehand, but I just went alone.”

“Why didn’t you tell me.”

Do Ha’s face, which had been smiling softly, rapidly turned serious. Hae Yeon deliberately tried to smile.

“You were busy, and even if we went together, I thought your parents would oppose it.”

Do Ha narrowed his eyes and let out a small sigh.

“You could have slowly persuaded them, why bother.”

Do Ha spoke with downcast eyes. Hae Yeon’s eyes stung. But she had no intention of being dragged around by her in-laws anymore, so it was something she had to do.

Masking it with a smile that crinkled her eyes, Hae Yeon took Do Ha’s hand. As their warm hands overlapped, the frown between his brows gradually smoothed, and after a moment of silence, his lips parted.

“They must have objected.”

“No. I’m not sure about your father, but your mother permitted it.”

“My mother did?”

Do Ha’s brow furrowed again as if he couldn’t believe it. Hae Yeon quietly laughed and whispered affectionately.

“Don’t worry too much. She hasn’t been happy with me not doing anything, right? I guess she’s pleased that I said I’ll work.”

“……”

Do Ha remained silent, seemingly not fully satisfied with the answer. As the air grew heavy, Hae Yeon quickly changed the subject, raising her voice tone slightly.

“How is this so delicious? Where did you buy it?”

“…The place we used to frequent back in college.”

Do Ha finally gave in, seeing Hae Yeon’s brazen expression as she brought up a forced topic change.

“Really? It’s still open?”

“I know, right? I went to check just in case and was surprised it’s still in business.”

Under the kitchen lights, Hae Yeon’s brown eyes widened.

“You’re saying you personally bought this without sending Secretary Kim?”

“Of course I had to. It’s also a gift for your first day at work today.”

“I’m so happy, Do Ha!”

Seeing Hae Yeon touched just because he directly bought a dish of stir-fried octopus made Do Ha feel a poignant affection as he gazed into her eyes.

“Don’t you want anything else besides this?”

“Something else I want?”

“Yeah, tell me. I’ll grant you anything.”

Do Ha grinned as he tousled Hae Yeon’s hair. In that moment, words she had been holding back surfaced in Hae Yeon’s mind. She wasn’t sure if she would get the answer she wanted, but it was something she wanted to try saying at least once.

“I want to sleep with you.”

Saying it out loud, it sounded strange. Hae Yeon felt embarrassed, but a corner of her heart fluttered restlessly, naturally reddening her pale cheeks.

“Th-that’s not what I meant. I want to sleep somewhere other than home with you.”

Before, they used to occasionally travel and such together, but lately they hadn’t been able to at all.

That’s the sentiment she made the suggestion with, but her excuses gradually faded. The more she spoke, the more tangled it felt, and honestly, it wasn’t as if she completely lacked such desires either.

“…I’m sorry. I don’t think I can.”

“What?”

Hae Yeon was momentarily startled by Do Ha’s prompt reply. As she stared at him somewhat blankly, his low voice quietly spread.

“Don’t you have any other wishes? I can’t let you sleep out, but we can go somewhere fun.”

Hae Yeon’s heart sank at Do Ha’s words that immediately followed, leaving no room for complaint. No matter how much she understood his circumstances and quietly worked to uncover the truth, it would be a lie to say she harbored no resentment towards Do Ha. Even if he created secrets for her sake.

‘This is too much.’

Hae Yeon had been too busy lately searching for the clues Do Ha had hidden, so with the alcohol, she struggled to control the resentment that threatened to spill out.

“No, it’s okay. I saw an ad for a nice hotel in a magazine a few days ago. That’s why I mentioned it while we’re on the topic.”

“Still, I’m sorry, Hae Yeon.”

Not wanting to see Do Ha continuously apologizing, Hae Yeon changed the subject to something else. It felt like her heart dropped several floors.

“The taste here is the same as before.”

“I know. It’s still delicious.”

As Hae Yeon absentmindedly stirred the octopus dish and picked up a piece with her chopsticks to eat, she also occasionally sipped some soju. But she didn’t forget to mind Do Ha and keep the conversation going.

“Is it still popular there?”

“Yeah, seems like it.”

“I see. Next time, let’s go and eat there together.”

Seeing them talk together felt so cozy. Right now, with nothing to be bothered by, Hae Yeon, who strangely felt parched, drank bit by bit in between their conversation.

“Sure…”

Do Ha smiled faintly as he trailed off, seeming distracted by something. Hae Yeon’s glass was already empty. Despite emptying it faster than usual, Do Ha, whose mind was elsewhere, failed to notice.

* * *

Dishes of Japanese cuisine were placed on a solid wood table with visible grain. Once all the fresh seafood was set and the staff left, one of the two people opened their mouth to speak to the person sitting across from them.

“So she says she’ll work.”

“Work…?”

The corners of Yoon Seo’s eyes, lined with eyeliner, lifted slightly. Late in the evening, at a high-end sushi restaurant that only VIPs could visit, Yoon Seo met with Chairwoman Yoon.

The table overflowed with dishes made from fresh, premium ingredients, but Yoon Seo had no appetite. She originally disliked raw foods and hated sashimi, but after marrying into the “Cha” family, she had to eat this revolting stuff.

‘She says she’ll work?’

Yoon Seo’s mind grew busy. It was an abrupt statement from her mother-in-law with no context, but she quickly understood. There was only one person in this family who could make Chairwoman Yoon, who suddenly summoned her, say such an out-of-the-blue thing about starting work.

As the dry air from the air conditioner blew over her head, Yoon Seo opened the alcohol bottle. The gurgling sound of the alcohol being poured seemed exceptionally loud.

“My sister-in-law?”

“Yes.”

Chairwoman Yoon said while putting the unappetizing sea urchin in her mouth. Yoon Seo also poured herself a drink.

‘Sister-in-law working?’

A sneer automatically came out. Min Hae Yeon was someone who couldn’t even stick a single toe into the Cha family. It was shocking enough that the usually stone-faced Cha Do Ha, with his excellent academic abilities and good looks, suddenly got married despite never having dated before, but the woman he brought was even more shocking.

A woman whose background wasn’t even worth mentioning, let alone her family. Min Hae Yeon didn’t even have a humble family of her own. From a young age, she drifted from one relative’s house to another – content you’d only expect to see in a cheap drama.

The good university she graduated from and her outstanding grades were the only redeeming qualities, but that was it. Thanks to that, Yoon Seo felt relieved.

Who was Cha Do Ha?

In other words, the son that the woman in front of her eyes, Kwon Myung Gil, the chairwoman of Gilmyeong Pharmaceutical, trusted and supported the most. When such a son brought home a “nobody” like Min Hae Yeon, Yoon Seo thought that perhaps an opportunity might come for her own incompetent husband as well.

He was clearly the eldest son, and a son at that. But to her mother-in-law, he was just the younger son. As for her father-in-law, he’d drop dead at his wife’s word, so forget it.

‘Is this what they call accidentally catching a mouse while walking a cow backwards?’

Smirking to herself as her attention wandered, Yoon Seo immediately came to her senses when Chairwoman Yoon spoke.

“I’m sure you also heard the news of Lee Su Rin’s return.”

“Yes, Mother.”

How could she not know about Lee Su Rin’s return to the country? She had once been a strong candidate to become Do Ha’s spouse, so Yoon Seo had always been on high alert. Now Min Hae Yeon had taken that position so she stopped, but Lee Su Rin was inherently an impressive person herself and deeply connected to this family, so Yoon Seo at least kept track of her whereabouts.

But why?

Why was Chairwoman Yoon suddenly bringing up Lee Su Rin now of all times? Suppressing her curiosity and unease, Yoon Seo lowered her glass. The reflected light flickered on the transparent cup.

“I have never let even the smallest opportunity pass me by. That’s how I was able to rise to where I am today.”

It was a statement unrelated to the previous topic. Knowing Chairwoman Yoon’s way of speaking well, Yoon Seo listened silently without expressing any questions. On the other hand, Chairwoman Yoon continued while rolling sea urchin roe with her chopsticks. Yoon Seo held back her furrowing brows.

It wasn’t because the sea urchin roe was gross. It was because Chairwoman Yoon, who valued etiquette everywhere, was currently acting in a manner unbefitting of her usual dignity.

“So, what I’m saying is.”

Squish.

Chairwoman Yoon, who had been rolling the roe the whole time, suddenly crushed it with her chopsticks and looked up sharply. Under that gaze, Yoon Seo automatically wanted to drink a glass of water to quench her thirst. However, she remained still, knowing that taking any action right now would be unwise.

“Sometimes there are people who don’t know their place and try to interfere. Do you know what I did in those situations?”

“……”

Yoon Seo’s tongue stung despite not having a single sip of alcohol. Chairwoman Yoon put the squashed sea urchin roe aside, took a fresh one, and added before putting it in her mouth.

“Misalignment originally meant things that were meant to fit together perfectly. Like clockwork gears. Don’t you agree?”

She meant she would set things right again, and Yoon Seo lowered her head, considerably flustered while imperceptibly taking a deep breath to answer.

“…Yes.”

As she replied, Yoon Seo simultaneously realized why Chairwoman Yoon had called her out today. There are things that actually become brighter once darkness begins to fall. Like a movie theater screen. Yoon Seo’s complexion instantly turned pale.

“I won’t tell you to assist me, but don’t go overturning yourself in vain by harboring ambitions to push your husband as the successor.”

Yoon Seo’s face momentarily lost color. Chairwoman Yoon had met with her today to deliver a warning. She was cautioning her to not interfere by ambitiously trying to push her own husband as the successor, because she would be ousting Min Hae Yeon and installing Lee Su Rin.

Moreover, Yoon Seo knew very well why Chairwoman Yoon was warning her so blatantly like this. As expected, Chairwoman Yoon’s eyes turned incomparably cold.

“I’ll say it again, but I don’t give second chances.”

Chairwoman Yoon spoke in a flat voice and downed the alcohol she had poured.

“…I understand.”

Yoon Seo, with the honorific reflexively slipping in, barely managed a reply and then put a piece of nasty fish in her mouth. She desperately craved a glass of sake.