Tae In watched them from a distance.

Juyeon, who noticed Tae In, frowned.

“Do you want an autograph or something?”
Tae In tilted her head at the voice full of distaste.

“From me?”
“If you’re not here for an autograph, go to another store. The customer level here is like this.”
Juyeon grumbled under her breath, not caring if anyone heard.

It was because Tae In looked shabby.

“I’m sorry, but we don’t have a staff member available to assist you right now. Could you possibly visit again later?”
She had a feeling she knew why the sales had plummeted.

Though the words were polite, it meant to get out.

“I’ll just look around on my own.”
Tae In answered with a smile.

She had never been treated like this before, but she had no intention of retaliating.

“You’re really dense. Can’t you tell I’m telling you to leave?”
“It seems like you’re just as clueless? Your staff are cursing you with their eyes.”
Tae In countered Juyeon’s rudeness with her own.

Juyeon’s face turned rigid.

She was irritated today. The outfit, the makeup, the hair, she was displeased with it all. She was ready to pick a fight with anyone.

“Manager, are you in a bad mood?”
“No, not at all.”
Juyeon stood up and looked down at Taein, who was much smaller than her.

A petite and skinny nuisance.

“But I don’t know you?”
“We seem to be strangers to each other.”
Juyeon looked at Taein intently. She seemed familiar, but she couldn’t remember clearly.

The same was true for Taein. Where had she seen her before?

“Where did you get such clothes? Or, did you pick them up from a clothing donation bin?”
Juyeon glanced at Taein’s shirt and burst into laughter.

Taein thought she should be careful with her words in the future.

She had been served the same words she had given to Ikhyun.

Of course, it was a donated clothing Ikhyun gave her, so technically it was from a donation bin. But hearing it from someone else made her upset.

Taein, who had been staring at the woman, lowered her gaze and scanned her dress.

“I don’t think I should listen to a woman wearing a counterfeit.”
At Taein’s words, the employees were astir. Juyeon’s face reddened in an instant.

“What, a counterfeit? What do you know about it? Only two of these entered our country.”
“Isn’t the color a bit off? I doubt they would have refashioned it.”
“…….”
“The color is too dull. I doubt it’s one of those two.”
After saying that, Taein smiled. The woman’s complexion was getting duller than her dress.

One of the employees laughed. Juyeon turned around with a grim face.

“Do you know so much about it? But what did you come to buy? Do you have money?”
Juyeon asked Taein, pretending to be calm.

As Taein didn’t answer, Juyeon snickered.

“I see. Dressed like that and acting arrogant.”
“Even your shoes are counterfeit. I can see black adhesive marks on your white shoes.”
“Hey! Can’t you shut your mouth?”
Juyeon’s face and ears reddened.

On the other hand, Taein, with a relaxed expression, put her vibrating phone to her ear.

Where are you?
“I’m at a department store.”
Taein left the store as if she had no regrets. She could hear someone shouting from behind.

As she wandered around the department store looking for Nok Hyun, she felt a hand grasp her shoulder.

Taein looked up.

It was Nok Hyun, not a bit disheveled despite having just finished work.

Nok Hyun casually draped his arm over Taein’s shoulder.

More naturally, Taein twirled and escaped from his arm.

“Did you look around? How is it?”
“It’s seriously not good. But why the department store?”
“I’m pondering. Whether to save or abandon this department store that Kang Ji Woon ruined.”
Taein held her words. This department store was a place that Nok Hyun’s mother, Mora, had raised with affection.

Although it was boasting pitiful sales at the moment.

“Take your time to think about it.”
“Yes, I will, after taking care of some business first.”

“What’s the occasion? Shopping?”
Unexpectedly, Nok Hyun had taken Tae In to a women’s clothing store.

Fortunately, it wasn’t the place where the commotion happened earlier.

As Tae In and Nok Hyun entered, an employee blocked the entrance.

“Show us something that’ll suit her. She looks good in anything anyway.”
“Yes, understood.”
The employee bowed and brought an entire rack of selected clothes.

“Try them on, pick something you like.”
“Why all of a sudden?”
Tae In was confused. They had never shopped together before.

This was like… something a couple or a married pair would do.

As Tae In hesitated, Nok Hyun held up a white dress to her.

“It suits you well.”
“I’ll buy my own clothes later.”
“You said you’d do public activities.”
Nok Hyun picked out two more outfits and handed them to Tae In, pointing to the changing room.

Tae In reluctantly entered the changing room.

After all, she couldn’t be accompanying him in her raggedy clothes after saying she would act as his wife.

She would have liked to pay attention to such details, but there were no clothes at either the newlywed house or her parental home, and she had no mind to buy clothes.

Tae In slowly looked at the three outfits. There was no need to try them all on.

Because she knew what colors and designs suited her without trying them on.

Tae In wore a light pink dress made of silk and came out of the changing room.

Nok Hyun, who had been sitting on the sofa, spotted Tae In and raised his eyebrows.

“Why? It should suit you.”
When there wasn’t much of a reaction, Tae In tilted her head.

Nok Hyun slowly approached and removed a black hat that didn’t match.

Tae In’s long, wavy hair, hidden under the hat, slowly fell down.

Nok Hyun stared at her distantly, then belatedly seemed to regain his senses and spoke.

“Yeah, except for this.”
“Ah.”

The employee, looking at Tae In, prepared a matching bag and accessories for the dress, praising her beauty.

Tae In took in the items the employee had prepared.

Right, I used to love shopping.

“Ma’am, let me help you wear these.”
The employee adorned Tae In’s neck with a necklace and her ears with earrings.

Nok Hyun looked at Tae In, who had a dreamy expression, with dreamy eyes.

“Oh my, Nok Hyun.”
Then, a highpitched voice that disrupted their small date echoed.

It was Joo Yeon.

Joo Yeon, carrying a bunch of shopping bags, approached Nok Hyun as if she was glad to see him.

“What brings you here? I just stopped by to do some shopping.”
As if it was a coincidence like fate, Joo Yeon spoke.

When Nok Hyun didn’t answer, Joo Yeon moved a little closer to him.

“Haven’t had dinner yet? Want to eat together?”

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