“I should see him off.”
Geum Suk whispered in Da Eun’s ear. Da Eun, coming to her senses, hurriedly followed after Yu Kwon.
Once they were completely out of the house, only then did Da Eun heave a huge sigh of relief, her shoulders rising and falling.
So many things had happened in just two hours.
“But why did you come here?”
Da Eun asked Yu Kwon walking ahead, as if complaining. He stopped and turned around.
“You ask quite quickly.”
It wasn’t the right timing to ask such a thing. Right after Young Hoon ran away, she immediately encountered her mother.
“Why did you come?”
“I forgot the ring.”
Yu Kwon took out a small case from his suit’s inner pocket.
The ring from Yu Kwon found its place on the empty ring finger.
It meant he wouldn’t take back the proposal. Her heart pounded. No, was it the sound of it sinking?
“I’ll see you when you come to work.”
I don’t think I’ll be able to see you. Maybe not for a long time to come.
Da Eun thought this as she watched Yu Kwon’s car drive away.
[This is the timeline separator]It was an especially unpleasant morning.
The sunlight stabbing at her eyes due to the lack of curtains, the sound of the vacuum cleaner hitting her ears even before the alarm went off, everything was irritating.
Decisively, Yu Kwon appeared in her dream. As his college student self.
“I heard you’re looking for a part-time job?”
Back in college, he had intruded into Da Eun’s ordinary life with a face as clear as day.
“It’s simple. Just pretend to be my lover.”
Suddenly, another reason why she couldn’t accept Yu Kwon’s proposal came to mind.
Due to his exceptional physique and looks, Yu Kwon was particularly popular. He was always surrounded by people. Then and now, he hated being tired and chose Da Eun as his defense mechanism.
At that time, Da Eun needed money. Da Hyun had gotten into a motorcycle accident and they needed to prepare settlement money. So she had no choice but to accept Yu Kwon’s proposal.
How did that contract of pretending to be lovers end?
Da Eun frowned. There was a bitter taste in her mouth.
The memory of the past, when she had vowed never to get involved with him again even if they met someday, flashed through her mind.
Da Eun moved busily to shake off her thoughts. After taking a walk around the neighborhood, she took a shower. Her waist had been aching, and she found her period had started in the early morning. Thanks to that, there was no need to use a pregnancy test.
With a light heart, she neatly folded the resignation letter she had written all night and put it in her bag.
At that moment, Geum Suk entered the room without knocking.
“What’s this, did you write a love letter? Why are you hiding it so hastily?”
“Ah, mom. Please knock.”
“Didn’t I knock? By the way, that young man from yesterday. Does he live alone? Should I pack some side dishes? You said you work at the same company. Want to take some when you go to work?”
Da Eun was overwhelmed by Geum Suk’s sudden barrage of questions.
“No, it’s okay.”
“Hurry and eat.”
Geum Suk grabbed Da Eun’s arm and pulled her along.
When they went out to the kitchen, a fresh meal greeted them. Da Eun picked up her spoon without a word and started eating.
“By the way, that young man from yesterday. What do his parents do?”
“Mom, that person is a managing director. He’s my superior that I serve.”
“…Managing director? He didn’t look much older than you though?”
Well, that’s because he’s the grandson of the chairman of Myungil Group.
Instead of answering, Da Eun let out a small sigh.
“Try to get along well with that young man, whether he’s your superior or managing director. He’s handsome and well-mannered, I like him.”
Not knowing Da Eun’s thoughts, Geum Suk’s face was excited like a young girl’s.
Da Eun slightly shook her head, put down her spoon, and stood up.
“Where are you going? Weren’t you supposed to be off until tomorrow?”
“Just going out for some fresh air.”
“But you just went out a little while ago.”
She was planning to give Yu Kwon the ring and resignation letter.
Da Eun returned to her room and reached into her desk drawer to find the ring case.
But no matter how much she felt around, she couldn’t touch the ring case.
She was sure she had put it here, it was here until last night.
Da Eun lowered her head and looked closely inside the drawer. There were only a notebook and a few pens in the drawer.
“Mom, did you see the…in the drawer…”
Da Eun regretted her words as soon as she spoke. She must have put it somewhere else. Surely her mother wouldn’t have touched her things.
“Are you talking about the ring?”
At Geum Suk’s answer, Da Eun’s head turned slowly like a broken robot.
“Yes, the ring. Did you see it?”
“No, while I was cleaning earlier…”
“What did you do with it?”
“You know how Manager Jang from the jewelry store has been asking if you want to sell your ring or jewelry since he found out about the broken engagement. So I gave it to him, he said he’d give a good price.”
Her rapidly shaking eyes became empty and unfocused. Da Eun felt her body grow cold.
“…Why did you do that, mom.”
“It’s been so long since you broke off the engagement, yet you’re still preciously keeping it. Were you planning to hold onto it like a fool until the gold price drops and then sell it?”
It seemed Geum Suk thought Yu Kwon’s proposal ring was the wedding ring from Young Hoon. Da Eun didn’t know where to start explaining and just held her throbbing forehead.
Seeing Da Eun’s negative reaction, Geum Suk patted her shoulder. She seemed to think her daughter hadn’t overcome the pain of the broken engagement yet.
“Manager Jang said he’d give 5 million won. He said he’d call once he prepares the cash, so let’s wait.”
At Geum Suk’s words, tears welled up in Da Eun’s eyes.
After being treated like that by people, to be deceived again, it was more heartbreaking than pathetic.
“…Mom, that’s worth 500 million won.”
At Da Eun’s words, Geum Suk’s eyes shook left and right.
“What, what? It was that expensive? A ring can’t be that expensive. You must have misunderstood.”
Yu Kwon’s aunt, Yong Hee, often asked Da Eun to run various errands. Of course, without Yu Kwon knowing.
She had seen it before at the jewelry store she visited at Yong Hee’s request. The ring that stood out nobly among the sparkling jewels.
“I’ll go find the ring.”
“I’ll go with you. If it’s true that they tried to buy a 500 million won ring for 5 million won like you said, I need to go and say something.”
Da Eun left the house immediately. Geum Suk followed diligently behind her with her uncomfortable leg.
Normally, she would have slowed down to walk with Geum Suk, but her mind was urgent so she walked hurriedly. After walking for a while, she realized and turned back to see Geum Suk panting as she chased after her.
Da Eun let out a sigh of relief and entered the jewelry store.
The jewelry store owner, who usually ate cup noodles for meals, was eating sweet and sour pork. Surprised by Da Eun’s appearance, he tensed up with a nervous face.
“Please give me back my ring. I don’t want to sell it.”
“My wife is on her way with the money now. Have a seat. Have you eaten?”
As the owner spoke sluggishly, this time Geum Suk shouted.
“Da Eun said she’s not selling. Give it back quickly.”
“Is it because of the price? Then I’ll make it 7 million, 7 million won.”
“Forget it, my daughter said she’s not selling. Give it back quickly.”
“8 million won! I can’t go any higher than that.”
The owner shook his head firmly.
“Should I call the police? It would be quite a rumor spreading around the neighborhood that you tried to buy a new 500 million won ring for 5 million won. Would that be okay?”
Unable to hold back any longer, Da Eun stepped in, and the owner reluctantly took out the ring from the drawer and tossed it.
“Such an ill-mannered girl, how dare you in front of an adult.”
“Hey, Manager Jang. What did you just say?”
“Mom, it’s fine. Let’s go.”
After confirming the contents, Da Eun took Geum Suk’s hand and went outside.
“Let go. I’ve had enough, not only lowballing the price but to someone’s precious daughter, what?”
Unable to suppress her anger, Geum Suk glared fiercely into the store.
“Mom, did Song Da Hyun ask for money? Has he already run out of that money?”
“Why suddenly bring up Da Hyun…”
Geum Suk hesitated and avoided eye contact.
“Otherwise, there’s no way you would have searched my room for something valuable to sell.”
“No, I…”
“And then you talk about someone’s precious daughter. How much more are you…”
Going to disappoint me.
Da Eun couldn’t say the last words and shed tears. She wiped her tears with the back of her hand as she exhaled a hot breath.
Da Eun’s gaze fell on Geum Suk’s surprised face and her ankle.
Although she knew she would regret this moment for a long time, Da Eun was too exhausted to consider Geum Suk’s feelings.
“I’m going to visit aunt’s place.”
Da Eun passed by Geum Suk.
Knowing that she couldn’t keep up with her pace, Da Eun quickly moved her steps and got into a taxi.
Through the car window, Geum Suk, who had been following but stopped, passed by.
Da Eun pressed the back of her hand against her welling tears, wiping them away.
[This is the timeline separator]Da Eun arrived at her destination three hours after boarding the intercity bus. The destination was Goesan, Chungcheongbuk-do, where her aunt’s house was located.
“Song Da Eun!”
It was the voice of Shin Eun Suk, Song Geum Suk’s younger sister and Da Eun’s aunt.
When she turned her head, a blue truck came into view. It was her aunt’s car. A hand protruding from the wide-open window was wearing work gloves.
When she opened the passenger door, Hee Ju was already sitting in the middle.
“Oh, you’re here? MC Song?”
MC? Da Eun frowned. She was referring to what happened at the wedding.
“Aunt, I’m sorry for coming without notice.”
“When have you ever made an appointment before coming? Don’t be so formal.”
Even though it had been 5 years since she moved to the countryside, Eun Suk’s voice and manner of speaking were still as elegant as when she was a Cheongdam-dong madam.
“MC Song, why do you look so tired?”
“Gong Hee Ju, stop calling her MC Song.”
“Hee Ju, you cried your eyes out at Da Eun’s wedding, and yet you still…”
Aunt Eun Suk slapped Hee Ju’s back, stopping her.
“Don’t be too heartbroken. The wedding venue wasn’t great either, and the flower decorations weren’t pretty. Let’s capture your life photos next time.”
Listening quietly to Hee Ju’s clumsy consolation, Da Eun suddenly asked.
“Hey, Gong Hee Ju. By the way, was the food at the wedding that bad?”
“How could you eat in that chaotic situation? Why, did someone say it was bad?”
“Yeah.”
“It wasn’t that the food was bad, they probably just found fault because they didn’t like the wedding itself. Maybe they didn’t want to attend, or they didn’t like you or that guy very much.”
Hee Ju answered roughly while playing a game on her phone.
Da Eun rubbed her chin. That made sense.
“But why the sudden runaway? Did you fight with your mom because of your broken engagement?”
Hee Ju asked, stuffing her phone into her pocket. As if demanding an answer more interesting than the game.
__________
“Tell me, what makes you like me? I’ll change!”
Liu Changning transmigrated into a female cannon fodder character in a female-dominant novel.
After reading the first half of the novel’s plot, the first thing she did upon transmigration was to divorce the Pan Jinlian-style male protagonist she had just married.
She indulged herself, pretending to be ugly and poor.
But as time passed, the way that man looked at her became more and more unusual…
Liu Changning was dumbfounded: Tell me, what makes you like me? I’ll change!
――
This lifetime, Pei Yuanshao was rejected by the same woman twice!
The first time, she drove him away. Forced by the situation, he endured the waves of anger in his heart, yielding and humbling himself.
That person lay slanted on a rocking chair, her sallow face emotionless: “If you don’t want a divorce, go cook!”
Pei Yuanshao’s face was dark and gloomy: “You!”
The second time, after the crisis in Jinling City was resolved, the new emperor sent someone to pick him up. He turned around, stammering: “I… I have to go. If you keep me…”
That person lay on the kang bed, her back to him, as if she had long anticipated this day, crisp and clear: “Goodbye!”
Pei Yuanshao was so angry his fingers trembled: “You… you!”
The mission of family and country made him restrain himself, averting his eyes and turning to leave this broken household.
Two years later, they met again. Seeing her ethereal face, his body shook like a sieve.
“She was originally a ‘she’!”
At the Qionglin Banquet, the top scholar of the imperial examination, a talented person with exceptional speech and conduct, all the unmarried young gentlemen from aristocratic families looked at her with shy and timid eyes.
The peerless imperial official Pei Yuanshao felt the anger in his heart erupt. He pointed at the woman surrounded by the crowd at the Qionglin Banquet, his thin lips slightly curled: “Little sister, I wants that person to be the wife-master of my Mingde Prince Manor.”
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