“It’s noisy.”

Yu Kwon replied grumpily. His gaze was directed at Da Eun and the employee.

The intention of leaving Da Eun with the male employee while a female employee was clearly waiting was too transparent.

“Da Eun, I was so surprised when I first saw you.”

“……”

“You look exactly like the photo in your wallet.”

“I’m dying, seriously.”

“What should I do? This is too fun.”

Despite Yu Kwon’s warning, his old friend’s teasing wouldn’t stop.

A moment later, Da Eun came out of the fitting room.

“As expected.”

“As expected.”

The apricot-colored set that fit Da Eun’s body perfectly accentuated her clean skin tone. Yu Kwon and Lee Ra exclaimed in admiration, praising their own discerning eyes.

“I’ll put on the necklace for you.”

When the male employee put on a small pearl necklace, Da Eun’s cheeks also turned apricot-colored.

Lee Ra desperately held back her laughter as she watched Yu Kwon’s face gradually harden. It was fascinating and amusing to see her friend’s expression for the first time in her life.

“What are you doing?”

“Recording.”

When Lee Ra started filming Yu Kwon’s face, he snatched the phone and tossed it onto the sofa. Grumbling, Lee Ra pushed Yu Kwon aside and approached Da Eun.

“It really suits you. Can I let your hair down?”

Lee Ra asked, pointing to the neatly tied hair in a net. Da Eun nodded. Without hesitation, Lee Ra undid Da Eun’s hair and tidied it.

One of Yu Kwon’s eyebrows rose and fell.

“Much prettier. Try on something else.”

“Okay.”

After sending Da Eun back to the fitting room, Lee Ra stood next to Yu Kwon again.

“Can’t you manage your expression? Are you a teenager?”

“……”

Yu Kwon didn’t reply. He didn’t want to throw any more bait.

“Get ready, Yu Kwon.”

Lee Ra raised her chin as if to say this was the highlight.

Soon, Da Eun came out and Yu Kwon held his breath. Yu Kwon walked steadily and stood in front of Da Eun. He blocked the view of Da Eun from the employee and Lee Ra with his body.

The black dress revealed Da Eun’s delicate yet voluminous lines without any filter.

Especially the daringly low-cut chest area made it impossible to take one’s eyes off its sexiness.

“Does it look strange?”

Instead of answering, Yu Kwon grabbed Da Eun’s wrist and entered the dressing room. The light in the fitting room, which had been off for a moment, turned on with a ‘pop’ sound.

As her back touched the cold wall, Da Eun held her breath. His gaze looking down at her was so hot that she couldn’t bear to meet it.

“Wh-what is it?”

Yu Kwon’s fingertip touched just below Da Eun’s collarbone.

“It’s still there.”

“……”

“What I left.”

The purple bruise remained, now fainter than a cherry blossom petal. It was so faint that it wouldn’t be noticeable unless seen up close. Despite knowing this, Da Eun’s earlobes turned reddish.

“I, I think we should go out. The owner will think it’s strange.”

“It’s already strange that I came with a woman and am calmly choosing clothes.”

As if it were nothing new, Yu Kwon was just relaxed.

“Get out. I need to change clothes.”

Da Eun pushed Yu Kwon’s chest with her hand.

The fitting room, which had felt spacious when alone, now felt very cramped. Moreover, it was hot.

Da Eun wanted to escape this situation quickly.

“Hey, sorry but.”

Lee Ra’s voice came from outside the door. It seemed like she was telling them to come out quickly.

“You two might need to stay in there a bit longer.”

“What’s going on?”

“Aunt came, Aunt Yong Ju.”

Lee Ra seemed to think Yu Kwon and Da Eun were in a secret relationship.

Yu Kwon’s second aunt, Yong Ju, was very talkative and had a sharp tongue, so it was obvious she would make a fuss if she saw the current situation.

Since Da Eun hadn’t given permission, he couldn’t act rashly. Yu Kwon just replied that he understood for now. He was also enjoying this situation.

Only Da Eun was flustered. Just when she thought she could escape, Yong Ju’s appearance had left her trapped, so it was understandable to feel desperate.

Meanwhile, Yu Kwon moved a little closer. Close enough for their bodies to touch. Da Eun found it uncomfortable to even breathe as she felt his body, firmer than usual.

“It’s a shame.”

As if regretting that it would completely disappear, he lowered his head. When his lips touched the faint mark, a strange moan burst from Da Eun’s mouth.

A chuckling sound was heard.

“I didn’t touch it.”

This person really, Da Eun pushed Yu Kwon away forcefully.

“You’re mean.”

Yu Kwon pressed his index finger firmly against Da Eun’s lips. The urge to taste those round, plump, red lips again arose.

“We’ll get caught.”

In a situation where she could do neither this nor that, no matter how much she pushed with her small hands, his solid body wouldn’t budge.

Was it because they had already been deeply connected before? Just being this close made a strange feeling, whether it was tension or anticipation, start to creep up. Her shoulder where his breath landed, her wrist that was grabbed, felt as if they were burning.

“If we get married, I can do even more for you.”

At his voice teasing her ear, Da Eun glared at him.

From courtship to proposal. He was quite persistent and impressive.

“You can come out now.”

At Lee Ra’s voice, Da Eun let out a sigh of relief. It was at that moment that Yu Kwon released her wrist.

“Calculate everything she tried on and what we were going to have her wear.”

Yu Kwon handed his card to Lee Ra.

Thinking it was too much, Da Eun hastily grabbed his clothes, about to say something but stopped.

She thought it would be better to stay quiet rather than act miserly by saying it was too expensive.

“Where should we send them?”

At Lee Ra’s words, Yu Kwon looked at Da Eun.

“Not to my house.”

She could already imagine how much of a fuss Geum Suk and Da Hyun would make over the clothes.

“Send them to my house.”

As if reading Da Eun’s mind, Yu Kwon told Lee Ra without asking further.

“Okay. Thank you for your business today.”

Lee Ra hummed a tune, pleased with her friend’s generous purchase.

Leaving the store with Lee Ra’s send-off, Da Eun kept checking her wristwatch. It was about time for Hee Ju and Jun Won to start urging her.

“Thank you for the clothes.”

Da Eun bowed in the most polite manner she could.

“It’s nothing.”

“Then our schedule is over, right?”

Her voice was tinged with impatience.

Yu Kwon took out his car keys from his jacket’s inner pocket and held them out to Da Eun.

“Well, I feel like going for a drive after a long time.”

Da Eun didn’t take the car keys and let out a short sigh.

As expected, he didn’t want to send her to the meeting place.

Come to think of it, there was still over a month left until the forum event.

“Didn’t you say you were courting me?”

At these unexpected words, his eyes flickered.

“I did.”

“This is just spite.”

As if he had no intention of denying it, Yu Kwon nodded lightly.

“Tomorrow, that is, Saturday evening, I’m free. I’ll give you the answer you want then.”

Yu Kwon narrowed his eyes as if trying to gauge Da Eun’s true feelings.

After staring at her expression for a while, he soon smiled. Firmly grasping the car keys he had been holding precariously, Yu Kwon asked with a much brighter face.

“Where’s the meeting place?”

At his voice tinged with laughter, Da Eun was exasperated.

.

.

.

“Thank you for driving me.”

Da Eun expressed her gratitude to Yu Kwon, who had personally driven her to the meeting place, a pojangmacha.

“Tomorrow evening at 6. I’ll come pick you up.”

“…Okay.”

Entering the pojangmacha, she saw Jun Won and Hee Ju already seated and slurping udon. Da Eun trudged over with heavy steps and sat down on the plastic chair.

“Sorry I’m late.”

Da Eun immediately apologized to Jun Won and Hee Ju.

“Did something happen?”

“It’s the crime of having the wrong boss.”

“…Didn’t you say Cha Yu Kwon was your boss?”

Da Eun nodded with a tired face.

Hee Ju, who had been staring at Da Eun, ordered additional udon from the owner and handed her a glass of alcohol.

“Why didn’t that handsome young man come with you? You two looked good together.”

The owner asked as she set down the udon and soju bottle. Da Eun, who had been absentmindedly sipping the udon broth, suddenly felt a chill.

Right, I got drunk here and slept with Cha Yu Kwon.

Da Eun spoke up before the two could say anything, as if to preempt them.

“Auntie, did you change the red pepper powder?”

“You’re like a ghost. How is it, not good at all?”

“Yes, it’s less spicy and too dull.”

“Aigh, I’ll have to change it again. I’ll give you some service, so make sure to eat before you go!”

“Yes, thank you!”

Da Eun replied in an exceptionally bright voice, having successfully changed the topic.

“But did you bring Go Young Hoon?”

It seems the topic change had failed.

Da Eun kept her mouth shut. It was better if Hee Ju believed she had come with Go Young Hoon. If she knew she had been with Yu Kwon, she would surely pry into what kind of relationship they had.

“…But no, Go Young Hoon said he couldn’t eat this kind of food and that he’d go to the pojangmacha alone. Who did you come with?”

“It was an incredibly handsome young man. Tall and statuesque. He rented this place out like some chaebol.”

The owner, who had brought the service items, chuckled as she recalled that day.

“Chaebol, chaebol…”

Hee Ju, who had been muttering, stared at Da Eun and then searched for Yu Kwon’s photo on her phone. Then she showed it to the owner.

“By any chance, did that handsome and tall young man look like this?”

“That’s right, it’s this young man. But he looks much better in person.”

The owner dropped the bomb and vanished, and Da Eun, who had given up, poured soju into her glass and downed it.

Hee Ju, who had let out a hollow laugh, crossed her arms and opened her mouth.

“Wow, Song Da Eun. Explain.”

Da Eun took another shot of soju before speaking.

“Yes, it’s Cha Yu Kwon. We didn’t come together, I was drinking alone and Cha Yu Kwon dropped by on his way somewhere.”

And then we kissed, and even went to bed together.

Suddenly reminded of that time, Da Eun’s face turned red.

“Then why is your face red again?”

Jun Won, who had been listening quietly, filled both their glasses.

“Stop talking nonsense and just drink. Or let’s order more side dishes.”

Hee Ju, who was about to bring the glass to her mouth, narrowed her eyes and looked at Jun Won.

You’re late again, Kang Jun Won.