As Yong Hee moved her right hand slightly, the woman took out her phone and handed it to her. After checking the trash can photo, she burst into laughter as if in disbelief.

“Our niece has grown up.”

Jung Woo licked his dry lips with his tongue.

“Has Yu Kwon ever brought a woman home before?”

“Never before, sir.”

“I see. You may go.”

The woman bowed her head and left the office. Jung Woo swallowed hard. Finally, it was his turn.

“How long have you been working under Yu Kwon?”

“It’s my fifth year, sir.”

“That’s quite a while. How is it?”

“…It’s fine.”

Yong Hee, who had been staring at Jung Woo as if sizing him up, called for Secretary Oh.

“Yes, Executive Director.”

“Let’s have some tea.”

“Yes, I’ll prepare it right away.”

As Yong Hee sat on the sofa and gestured to the opposite seat, Jung Woo bowed his head slightly and sat across from her.

Shortly after, Secretary Oh brought in the tea. Jung Woo watched Yong Hee intently as she savored the tea. She liked tea so much that she owned a tea plantation on Jeju Island.

“How is it?”

“It’s definitely different from green tea bags. Not astringent, and has a nice nutty flavor.”

Yong Hee burst into laughter at Jung Woo’s words.

“It’s a tea bag. Isn’t that right, Secretary Oh?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Jung Woo’s face turned red with embarrassment.

“People always assume I drink high-grade tea because I like it so much.”

“…Yes.”

“That’s a preconception, you know.”

“Ah…”

“Actually, there was one person who guessed correctly. From it being a tea bag to even the brand. You know Secretary Song? I’m quite fond of her.”

“Ah, I see…”

“Now, shall we talk about that matter? Do you think Yu Kwon really has a woman he’s seeing?”

The reason Yong Hee was so sensitive about Yu Kwon’s love life was simple. Myung Il had said he would give Myung Il Foods as a gift if Yu Kwon got married.

Although sales were stagnant now, it was the foundation of the Myung Il Group, and Cha Myung Il’s attachment to Myung Il Foods was extraordinary, to the point where it was called his fourth child.

Giving away his beloved Myung Il Foods meant he was pushing Yu Kwon as his successor.

“It’s certain that he’s seeing someone. And it seems more serious than expected.”

“Do you know who it is?”

“Not yet. He’s very cautious.”

Yong Hee, having emptied her teacup, burst into laughter. After the laughter subsided, her face turned cold.

“I didn’t spend enough money. I lacked sincerity.”

Yong Hee put a cigarette in her cigarette holder and spoke to Secretary Oh.

“Secretary Oh. Transfer the money right away.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Jung Woo inadvertently checked the notification on his phone and gasped in surprise. It was a message saying that 100 million won had been deposited into his account.

100 million won in exchange for finding out the identity of Cha Yu Kwon’s lover.

Jung Woo’s mouth fell open involuntarily.

“Find out by the next time I call you.”

“I understand.”

Jung Woo bowed his head deeply and stood up.

“Oh, and Executive Director.”

“Speak.”

“You mentioned preconceptions earlier, but wouldn’t it be closer to rational inference?”

“…”

“Who would have imagined that a 20 million won teacup would contain a 300 won tea bag?”

Yong Hee silently looked up at Jung Woo. Startled by her piercing gaze, he hastily opened his mouth to apologize. He had made a mistake.

“I apologize if I overstepped.”

“You have a discerning eye, don’t you?”

Yong Hee leaned back on the sofa leisurely and crossed her arms.

“I’m sorry.”

“No need to apologize. It’s rather interesting.”

Yong Hee smiled, raising the corners of her mouth, and put the cigarette in her mouth. As if waiting for this moment, Secretary Oh lit it for her.

“Yu Kwon really knows how to choose people. You may go.”

Yong Hee exhaled a long breath and waved her hand dismissively.

Jung Woo bowed his head politely towards her.

Young Hoon spent 5 million won to unlock the files, but there were no voice recordings of conversations with Yu Kwon inside. It was a disaster.

The 5 million won he had invested, thinking he could extort a hefty sum from Yu Kwon, had disappeared into thin air.

As if his debts weren’t enough already…

Young Hoon let out a long sigh.

“Young Hoon, when are you going to talk about that?”

“About what?”

“Young Hoon, we agreed to discuss how much money you’ve saved and how much support you can get from your parents.”

Young Hoon kept his mouth shut. If he told the truth, it seemed Ju Ri might call the police to kick him out. Seeing Ju Ri’s expression grow increasingly vicious, he missed Da Eun even more.

‘After all, submissive women are the best. Sexy doesn’t last long.’

Young Hoon recalled memories of Da Eun while looking at Ju Ri, who was glaring at him as if she wanted to kill him.

“By the way, are you going to keep staying at our place?”

“We’re going to live together after we get married anyway. Isn’t it good to cohabitate in advance?”

Young Hoon had nowhere else to go. He had moved out of his studio apartment, paid off some debts, and had 5 million won left.

He could go to a windowless gosiwon, but he didn’t want to. Ju Ri’s clean house was comfortable. Even if he made a mess, Ju Ri would clean it up quickly.

It was a bit disappointing that her cooking skills were terrible, unlike Da Eun’s.

“So just spill it already, if you have any intention of getting married!”

“Honey, don’t shout. You’ll scare our baby.”

Ju Ri pounded her chest with her fist.

She hadn’t realized it before, but living together made her see it clearly. The fact that Young Hoon would be the worst marriage partner. Young Hoon hadn’t showered for two days and was getting by with just one pair of underwear. It was horrible.

“If you’re going to freeload, at least do some cleaning!”

“Stop it already. My head is killing me as it is.”

“What’s giving you such a headache?”

“I lost 5 million won because of Cha Yu Kwon, couldn’t find the file, and I’m annoyed as hell. Stop nagging!”

Ju Ri, who had been acting as if she was about to pounce, tilted her head at the mention of Cha Yu Kwon.

“Why have you been so obsessed with Cha Yu Kwon lately?”

Young Hoon sighed heavily and then opened his mouth.

“Actually, about two weeks ago, I went to see Song Da Eun.”

“Why did you go see Song Da Eun?”

“Just because I hadn’t ended things properly. Anyway, I ran into Cha Yu Kwon right in front of Song Da Eun’s house.”

“And then?”

“Cha Yu Kwon was calling Song Da Eun ‘honey’ and talking about contraception or something. I think they slept together. She wouldn’t sleep with me even once. It’s so infuriating.”

Young Hoon spoke calmly at first, but soon became angry. Perhaps regretting not having slept with Da Eun, she often appeared in Young Hoon’s dreams. In a state of undress, that is.

“So-Song Da Eun slept with Cha Yu Kwon?”

Ju Ri’s eyes grew round. There was something that bothered her, making it difficult to dismiss it as Young Hoon’s misunderstanding.

Ju Ri recalled an incident from 8 years ago.

“It might work on other guys, but not on me.”(#italics)

His expression and tone were as if he found it disgusting.

“If you understand, then get lost. You’re in the way.”(#italics)

Yu Kwon, who had given Ju Ri her only taste of humiliation, was unrivaled in popularity at school. She had her eye on him too.

She believed Yu Kwon was the only man worthy of her. However, Da Eun was always at the end of his gaze.

“Are you listening to me?”

Young Hoon asked Ju Ri, who was lost in thought, but she had no intention of answering.

Could it be that he’s liked Song Da Eun all along since 8 years ago? No way.

“Honey, I’m hungry.”

“So what?”

Thanks to Young Hoon whining about being hungry, Ju Ri was able to shake off her thoughts, but she wasn’t particularly grateful.

“Let’s eat pasta.”

“Then order some.”

“Why order? You might not be good at anything else, but you make great pasta. Make some for me, okay?”

“Do I have to cook now, on top of everything else?”

Ju Ri looked at Young Hoon with an expression of disgust.

“Oh, right. You’re pregnant. But can’t you still cook while pregnant? You don’t even have morning sickness.”

If she had known it would be like this, she should have just let Go Young Hoon and Song Da Eun get married. Ju Ri was suddenly filled with regret for getting involved unnecessarily.

Cha Yu Kwon was the grandson of the Myung Il Group chairman. He was still handsome and cold.

Although it was unlikely that Da Eun and Yu Kwon would work out, if by some chance they did, Da Eun would become the daughter-in-law of the Myung Il Group chairman.

For Ju Ri, it was an unimaginable amount of wealth and a rise in social status that she couldn’t even dream of.

Suddenly, her stomach hurt. Incomparably more than when Da Eun had introduced her to Young Hoon.

Her hands trembled, and eventually, she even felt wronged.

Oblivious to Ju Ri’s feelings, Young Hoon kept pestering her.

“Let’s eat pasta, okay? Honey?”

It seemed like the time had come to cut ties. Ju Ri thought she should start looking for a way to get rid of Young Hoon as she watched him scratching his greasy hair.

The next day, Da Eun visited Yu Kwon’s house. It was to stamp the contract.

Although she had already decided, her heart was pounding fast when she was about to stamp it. She closed her eyes tightly and stamped the document.

“But will the Chairman approve of me?”

Da Eun, who had been staring at the contract, looked up at Yu Kwon and asked. He placed an iced coffee in front of her and sat down across from her.

Myung Il hadn’t started the business to fill his own and his family’s stomachs.

Myung Il, who had grown up in an orphanage and lived a tough life, knew better than anyone about the lives of vulnerable people. He had started the business to help more people in need.

After the business was established, Myung Il put forward a corporate philosophy that prioritized people, and there were times when he faced opposition from directors for making humane decisions even if it meant immediate losses.

He worried about Yu Kwon’s inhumane aspects, which were no different from the directors.

Once, Myung Il had lost his original intentions and lived selfishly and ruthlessly, focusing only on growing the business. But he regained his human side after meeting someone he loved.

That’s why he let his son, Yong Hyun, marry someone he loved. Yong Hyun became more humane and gentle after starting a family with the person he loved.

Just like that, he thought Yu Kwon would change too.

Myung Il firmly believed that if Yu Kwon, who had closed his heart after Yong Hyun’s death, met a good partner, he would return to his original self.

That’s why he had arranged blind dates. To get him to meet people somehow.

“Grandfather won’t oppose it. He might be a bit suspicious though.”