A street in Yeonnam-dong lined with vintage and sophisticated cafes popular among the younger generation.

Even on a weekday afternoon, in a bustling alley crowded with people, a tall, glamorous woman like a model and a pure, snow-white woman are seriously putting their heads together.

The two friends, who stand out among the countless people coming and going, were focused on themselves, seemingly unaware or uncaring of the countless anonymous gazes pouring on them without gaps.

“Hmm. Isn’t the background here a bit lacking? The pose came out naturally well though.”

“I think it’s fine. If you really don’t like it, how about just adjusting the tone?”

“I don’t know. Are you going to do it for me?”

Her cat-like eyes with upturned ends open wide. As her sparkling pupils look on with anticipation, Yoo In let out an incredulous laugh.

“Are you an aspiring evil boss?”

“Oh come on~ What do you mean evil? I’m telling you I’ll gladly pay you a salary if you become a full-time employee. How about it, want to have an interview right now?”

“I’ll pass.”

Leaving Jae Hee, who was about to start acting out a scene between a boss and a newbie employee, Yoo In maintained a faint smile that had crept in as she swiped through the photos they had just taken with her index finger.

Having become properly free with the start of vacation, Yoo In decided that helping busy Jae Hee prepare for the market was far more productive than hugging boredom alone at home.

When Yoo In said she’d help with everything except modeling, Jae Hee quickly assigned her to take photos, and there was no reason to refuse the camera, which she liked second only to absorbing words with her eyes.

While Yoo In examined a few more photos, Jae Hee, who had changed her accessories, went under a wall she liked and struck a pose.

“How about here? Does it look good?”

“Nice. Can you move a little more to the right?”

Looking at things through the viewfinder makes her heart peaceful. The single layer erected between herself and the world that had seemed only fierce and scary felt like a defensive wall against hardship.

Though it may have lost much of its original meaning now, the camera was still a good tool for Yoo In.

After finishing the long photo shoot, the tired pair decided to have a late lunch at a cafe on a relatively quiet corner of an alley.

“Kim Sun Young?”

When Yoo In shared the story of what had happened recently at the Illang building, her friend asked with raised eyes in surprise, and Yoo In pressed a finger to her lips, telling her to lower her voice.

Jae Hee frowned as if she had seen it all and chewed her sandwich.

“She came to the office wearing hospital clothes, you say. Something feels a bit off about that, doesn’t it? Didn’t you ask more?”

“Yeah. The atmosphere was too unpleasant, and the director seemed to be in a bad mood too, so I let it go.”

At that, Jae Hee gulped down what was in her mouth and took a long swig of coffee, then poked at Yoo In’s still untouched sandwich with eyes now tinged with deep suspicion.

“If you’re curious, don’t just worry about it alone, ask. That’s the best. No matter how much we two ponder, can we see inside the director’s head? He doesn’t seem like someone who wouldn’t tell you if you asked.”

“That’s true, but.”

“That’s true, but? Why? What’s the problem?”

Yoo In lowered her eyes with a thoughtful expression, then soon shook her head saying it was nothing.

Jae Hee, who had been staring at Yoo In coldly, seemed to decide to go along with her tune and brought up a different topic.

“I heard Yoon Ji Han signed a contract.”

“Oh, really? Where?”

“Illang.”

Ah. A short sigh escaped between her light pink lips. So that’s how it turned out. She muttered words that might have been congratulations or something else under her breath.

Though both Yoo In and Ji Han seemed to have become infrequent in their news and contact again, it didn’t weigh on her mind as much as before.

One vertex of the triangle that had been in perfect balance, now cracked and distorted, seemed to be very slowly forming a scar and trying to return to its place.

Jae Hee, who had asked about his news, glanced sidelong at Yoo In drinking her smoothie without much reaction, then made an insipid comment.

“My friend debuting, I really can’t believe it. Should I get his autograph in advance?”

Yoo In smiled bitterly and replied, “Sure.”

After setting the next work schedule with Jae Hee, they parted ways.

Her mischievous and witty friend threw out an absurd proposal to take this opportunity to establish herself as a co-representative, making Yoo In laugh before disappearing into a taxi.

Left alone on the street after seeing her friend off, Yoo In smiled brightly and soon called her next appointment.

The other party didn’t respond until the dial tone had stretched out for a long time, then let his voice be heard just before it reached the end.

-Oh. Yoo In.

“Director, I’m done. Are you busy?”

-Ah… just a moment.

As Ki Yeon made an unusually hesitant sound, Yoo In’s bright expression simultaneously dimmed a little.

The noise of several people murmuring could be heard from afar, as if he had moved the receiver away.

Then a door clicked open, and the sound of neat footsteps spread. The man who had been walking for a while continued speaking only after entering a quiet place without background noise.

-Yoo In. Are you finished now?

“Yes. But it seems like you’re not close to getting off work yet, Director.”

When she responded playfully on purpose, the man made a sound like faint laughter, as light as a breeze.

-Haa. There was suddenly a meeting scheduled when nothing was going on. Where are you now?

“I’m still in the neighborhood where I was shooting with Jae Hee. So, how long will it take?”

-I’ll finish within 30 minutes and come pick you up. Want to go inside somewhere for a bit?

Dating a busy man requires some degree of resignation and broad understanding. Yoo In, who was increasingly realizing this important principle, unfolded a map in her head and searched for a route.

30 minutes is about the same time it would take to move from where Yoo In is to the Illang building by public transportation.

She quickly reached the conclusion that it would be more efficient for her to move rather than spending time meaninglessly on the street and road.

That conclusion came out of her mouth and was conveyed to Ki Yeon.

“Should I just go towards the company? I think that would be better.”

-You don’t have to do that. It’s hot, so have something cool to drink while you wait.

Ki Yeon rejected the calculated consideration without giving time to think. Is there really a need to cut it off like this? Yoo In rolled her eyes quizzically.

Yoo In, not easily giving up her will, questioned back.

“If I go, we can meet faster, can’t we? If I leave now, I think I’ll arrive around the time you finish.”

-Yoo In. Wouldn’t it be better if you wait?

“Why? I’m fine with it… Do you dislike me coming?”

-No. Why would you say that.

Rather, his low voice deepened gloomily as if his feelings were hurt.

“That’s why I’ll go. You should hurry into your meeting, Director.”

The man conveyed his displeasure unfiltered through a sigh.

The man, with a strong consciousness of being the subject of the relationship, didn’t want the plan to be modified, but he couldn’t simply ignore what Yoo In was saying.

-Then go into anywhere near the building. I’ll be there soon.

“Okay. I’ll contact you again when I arrive.”

After finishing the call, Yoo In searched for the fastest bus to the building area where the company was located, in a willing mood.

There was also a bus stop nearby, fortunately.

After getting off the bus, the Illang company building, reflecting a noble pure white color and exuding its presence among the gloomy cloud-colored buildings, could be seen nearby.

There was still some time left, and while walking the short distance to the building, she decided to contact Ki Yeon.

Should she call or send a message?

After pondering for a moment, seeing that there was no reaction from Ki Yeon, she thought he must still be in the meeting.

She had just pressed the messaging app and typed one letter. That’s when it happened.

“Hey!”

Reflexively, her head turned towards the direction the noise came from.

The moment she confirmed the identity, her straight eyebrows furrowed naturally.

“Hello. We meet again?”

Yoo In felt it wasn’t worth answering and ignored her.

Then, the person in the luxury convertible on the road got out of the car, slammed the door shut, and strode over.

The sickly impression in hospital clothes was gone without a trace, and Kim Sun Young, wrapped in strong perfume and spicy smoke smell, spoke with a face full of arrogance.

“Why are you ignoring me? How cold. You couldn’t have forgotten already.”

“That doesn’t mean we’re close enough to greet each other with smiles.”

Although she knew it was asking why she was pretending to know her, Sun Young smiled challengingly with narrowed eyes.

“Why did you come here again? What good could come of it.”

“It’s none of your business, so just go on your way.”

“Ah~ To meet the director? That person is really busy right now. Is it okay to come so recklessly like this?”

A round gaze filled with chilly displeasure touched Sun Young.

Yoo In didn’t understand Sun Young trying to pick a fight by wasting unnecessary energy on this unwelcome, chance encounter.

Perhaps she wanted some kind of revenge for the apology Ki Yeon had forced her to make.

Sharp words flowed from Yoo In’s mouth.

“What do you want to say?”

“What to say? Nothing in particular? I just saw you coming out of the company, and seeing you made me want to mess with you, so I pretended to know you.”

“Mess with me? If you’re doing this because of apologizing to me last time…”

“No.”

Sun Young, cutting off the words, loosely crossed her arms and smiled crookedly.

“You think I’d do this over that measly apology?”

“Then what is it?”

“You really have no sense, do you?”

Seeing the look in her eyes etched with pity and disdain, Yoo In’s face and heart became completely disheveled, her mood worsening immensely.

Sun Young clicked her tongue and smirked maliciously. Then, suddenly raising the back of her hand, she brought it to Yoo In’s cheek as if petting a small animal.

Flinching away, Yoo In pushed away the hand that had come close with a sharp sound, raising her sensitive quills.

“What are you doing?”

Experiencing these baseless words and actions firsthand, she suddenly felt the anecdotes her sister had told her.

This very image of being unable to handle the inner feelings full of base inferiority, unnecessarily twisting and distorting to commit nonsensical acts.

She had said it was like a seizure without warning or discrimination of the target, and it seemed Yoo In had been designated as Kim Sun Young’s sacrificial lamb today.

She felt dumbfounded, incredulous, and irritated. If she had known they would meet like this again here, she thought she should have just quietly listened to Ki Yeon’s words.

“Hey. Nam Yoo Jin’s sister.”

Clear eyes that had hardened stiffly glared at Sun Young.

Sun Young raised her lips smoothly, drawing a malicious sneer, and said.

“A greenhouse flower should just stay quietly in the greenhouse until death without trying to step out. Don’t covet what belongs to others now.”

“…What?”

Flower? Belonging to others?

In the brief moment Yoo In was mulling over the incomprehensible words, Sun Young lowered her gaze as nimbly as a snake.

Before Yoo In’s gaze, stuttering as if buffering, could even follow, the phone she had been holding passed to Sun Young.

“Give it back! What are you doing?!”

Forgetting they were in the middle of the street, Yoo In burst out the anger she had been suppressing like a flame flower and reached out her arm, but Sun Young dodged easily while smiling leisurely.

Unlocking the smartphone that wasn’t locked, Sun Young snickered and quickly input something, then held it out half-heartedly.

“I got the number too. Well, do your best from now on. Nam Yoo In.”

She tried to ask what that meant, but Sun Young, who had thrown the phone at her chest, was already far away, waving her fingers mischievously.