The merchants were friendly towards Tae In.

This was because Ye Seul, who they thought was just a vegetable picker, had helped Tae In.

Ye Seul had a lot of influence in Yangjaeri, where she was born and raised.

It felt as though they had a strong backing.

Tae In got tipsy, having received a few bottles of rice wine along with introductions to several businesses.

Hee Won also got drunk, quietly accepting the drinks by Tae In’s side. Only the introverted Yeong Won remained sober.

“Something is strange.”
Hee Won, who had suggested a walk to sober up, muttered as he led Tae In.

“What is?”
“Why do you keep checking your phone? As if you’re waiting for someone’s call?”
Tae In, who felt like she’d hit the nail on the head, rolled her eyes.

“Oh, right. You have a husband.”
Hee Won remembered, speaking as if it had just occurred to him. Tae In shrugged her shoulders as she was looking for an excuse.

Yes, I had a husband.

She repeated the words Hee Won had said in her mind.

In reality, Tae In was waiting for Nok Hyun’s call.

Despite his promises to protect her, to be in a relationship with her, there hadn’t been a single call from Nok Hyun.

Was he busy? Could he at least send a photo of Stella?

Tae In, grumbling, sent a message to Arin asking if she was okay.

Even though Arin pretended to not care, she was actually quite sensitive and there was no need to worry. But just in case.

The reply came quickly. It was a picture of Arin eating chicken.

Tae In laughed softly, sent a reply, and put her phone back in her pocket.

“Tell me something good about your husband. You saw Do Yeong Won, right?”
“Are you ready to stay up all night?”
“…I just don’t want to hear it.”
Hee Won covered his ears and shook his head.

Tae In bought two sticks of ice cream from a small store and shared one with Hee Won.

“Hey, let’s go quickly. There’s an event at the resort today. Is it a drone show or fireworks? Let’s go find a good spot with Do Yeong Won.”
“Really? Fireworks?”
Tae In’s eyes sparkled.

Fireworks.

That was all she had seen in passing while traveling by car.

“Yeah, let’s hurry.”
Tae In and Hee Won quickened their pace. They had come without much expectation, but now it felt as if they were on a trip.

Tae In took out the notebook she had stolen from Nok Hyun from her jacket pocket.

‘Go to see fireworks together.’

She added another thing she wanted to do when she got a boyfriend.

It was something she wanted to do with no one else but Kang Nok Hyun.

“Why are you writing it in a notebook, just use your phone.”
At Hee Won’s teasing, Tae In quickly put the notebook back in her pocket.

Walking down the country road at sunset reminded her of old times.

She couldn’t remember where they had gone on a school trip, but she remembered walking an unfamiliar road with Hee Won.

Both of them were terrible at directions, but they walked on without doubt, just looking straight ahead.

“Hey, do you remember that? When we went on a school trip.”
It seemed they were thinking about the same thing. Tae In chuckled and nodded her head.

“Weren’t you the one crying? Saying you were scared.”
“It was you who cried. You said you missed your mom…”

Just a moment ago, Tae In’s face, which had been wearing a soft smile, hardened subtly.

“I’m sorry, I made a mistake.”
“It’s okay.”
Hee Won was at a loss, looking at Tae In’s face which was anything but okay.

What’s there to be so sorry about when just a few days ago, she was cursing him to leave.

Tae In let out a small sigh.

“I wish my mother had abandoned me and left home.”
“What?”
“I used to wish she wasn’t too happy, you know? Because she abandoned me.”
“Uh, yeah.”
“But now, I wish she’s somewhere living well, even if she has forgotten something like me.”
At the somehow desolate voice, Hee Won felt even more regretful.

Tae In put a Chuchu Bar in her mouth and chewed slowly.

She wondered dozens of times whether she should look for her mother or not. She didn’t want to hear any more sad news.

She faintly guessed when she heard that all the employees except for Butler Park had died.

Maybe her mother too…

“Hey. It doesn’t suit you, this gloom.”
As if to interrupt Tae In’s thoughts, Hee Won sharply grabbed her shoulder.

“Seo Tae In. You have to take responsibility for me, Young Won brother, and even our dad. Our family’s livelihood depends on you. Can you show weakness as the CEO?”
“……Is that supposed to be comforting?”
“Rather than comforting, it’s more like a wakeup call. And your mother is probably doing well.”
Hee Won patted Tae In’s shoulder as if she was her senior.

Even though it hurt, Tae In did not push Hee Won’s hand away.

“And don’t just wait and reach out first, whoever wants to see more should do it, what the heck.”
Circling around, they finally arrived in front of a rice soup restaurant.

Hee Won, making way, slipped inside.

Tae In, left alone, hesitated before entering.

Should she reach out first?

Looking up at the sky that had turned dark without her realizing, Tae In sat on a blue plastic chair in front of the restaurant.