It wasn’t an emotion that could be defined so simply and ticklishly. The feeling towards Da Eun was closer to possessiveness. He wanted to take her away from that trash, wanted to hold her, wanted to keep her by his side.

Strangely, just thinking about Da Eun cleared his mind. For Yu Kwon, who didn’t waste even a minute or second, the time spent thinking about her was a respite.

“It’s not like that.”

“It certainly is.”

After letting out a meaningless denial, Yu Kwon closed his eyes.

Jung Woo’s words to quit because he liked her touched a shred of conscience.

It was a contract that couldn’t possibly end well. To the point where the reticent Jung Woo would advise against it.

He made the proposal knowing full well that Da Eun would be in danger. It was something only trash would do.

Amidst his head becoming complicated with useless thoughts, Yu Kwon’s phone vibrated. Normally he would have ignored it, but considering the possibility, he took out his phone and checked who it was.

Seeing Da Eun’s name, Yu Kwon immediately checked the message.

[Senior, I’m at the XX chicken place near my house, can you come pick me up?♡]

His half-open eyes widened. Even after rubbing his eyes and checking again, the heart was still firmly in place.

Da Eun wasn’t the type to play such pranks no matter how drunk she got. It could be a prank by her cousin Gong Hee Ju, whom she’d been meeting frequently these days.

But if, by any chance, this was sincere and not a prank.

No, it didn’t matter even if it wasn’t sincere. Because right now, Yu Kwon needed a pretext.

Looking out the window, Yu Kwon urgently said to Jung Woo.

“Turn the car around right now.”

[This is the timeline separator]

Cha Yu Kwon is coming?

Her heart, which had been beating calmly, started pounding loudly again.

When Yu Kwon didn’t answer the phone, Da Eun checked the message Hee Ju had sent again.

Da Eun’s cheeks glowed freshly as she smiled with a pure face.

“Heart… Should I really kill her?”

The man standing beside her, glancing at Da Eun, flinched at the words that didn’t match her face.

Da Eun’s gaze was now fixed on the reply Yu Kwon had sent.

[I’m coming.]

Cha Yu Kwon is coming this easily?

Da Eun fiddled with the small box in her pocket. Since Geum Suk had sold the ring to the jewelry store, she’d become cautious about keeping it at home and brought it along.

Yu Kwon only moved for money and purpose. Even the time he’d spent for her was ultimately for the contract.

Thinking about what happened at the meeting earlier, the back of her neck flushed hot.

Trying to get petty revenge, she had turned Yu Kwon into a man who had been in love with her for 8 years.

And then the kiss that followed. The image of herself reaching out and embracing Yu Kwon’s neck flashed like a video.

As she was exhaling a long breath mixed with alcohol that had heated up intensely, a familiar car stopped in front of Da Eun.

Jung Woo got out, greeted Da Eun, and got back in. Meanwhile, Yu Kwon got out of the car and approached.

After blankly watching the car pass by, she met Yu Kwon’s gaze. Only after seeing his face positioned higher than usual did Da Eun realize she was wearing slippers.

Yu Kwon showed no particular reaction to the strange outfit of a suit with slippers.

“About that message…”

Just as Da Eun was hurrying to explain, Yu Kwon rested his forehead on Da Eun’s shoulder.

She stood on tiptoe to make it a little more comfortable for him. Though it didn’t make much difference.

She vaguely wondered why Yu Kwon was suddenly acting like this.

Ah, today was Wednesday.

What could have happened at Hyanglimjae?

Da Eun swallowed the urge to ask. Yu Kwon wasn’t the type to answer even if she did.

“I didn’t send that message.”

“I know.”

Da Eun closed her slightly parted lips.

Cha Yu Kwon needs comfort right now. She felt a little glad that she was the person this man, who rarely showed emotion to others, sought out when he needed comfort.

“I knew, but I came anyway.”

Yu Kwon, who had spoken in a low voice, moved his body away a little and looked down at Da Eun. Her surprised face looked like a rabbit’s. Her expression seemed to say she was dying to know about Yu Kwon’s attitude, but her lips were tightly closed like a clam, as if she wouldn’t ask.

Da Eun, who had been staring blankly at him, suddenly seemed to remember something and rummaged through her pocket. After fiddling around, she grabbed Yu Kwon’s wrist.

“From now on, I’ll go with you every Wednesday.”

There was shyness in her muttering voice. Yu Kwon quietly watched what Da Eun was doing.

“While I’m wearing this, I’m on your side, Director.”

A silver chain bracelet was fastened to Yu Kwon’s wrist. Da Eun showed her wrist, saying she had the same design, and smiled broadly. That smile dissolved all the weariness in his heart. Like magic.

“Is it a gift?”

“Yes… It’s nothing special, but I saw it at the store earlier and thought it would suit you well…”

Da Eun mumbled her reply, looking at her feet, seemingly embarrassed.

Yu Kwon’s expression, which had been smiling slightly, subtly hardened. Jun Won was visible in the distance. Jun Won, who had come outside, also hesitated upon seeing Yu Kwon.

So they were together.

Yu Kwon’s eyes narrowed. This man had been hovering around Da Eun for a long time. The oddly irritating reason was that the look in his eyes when he gazed at Da Eun was no different from his own.

Yu Kwon reached out and cupped Da Eun’s soft, white cheek. Her light-colored eyes looked at him before disappearing behind her eyelids.

At the same time, Yu Kwon swallowed Da Eun’s lips.

Yes, let’s admit it.

I really am trash.

[This is the timeline separator]

It was a commute home no different from usual.

“Do you have a moment?”

It was Yong Hee’s secretary. Called Secretary Oh, she was Yong Hee’s confidant, not part of the secretarial team.

Half a year ago, a male director with a grudge against Yong Hee had lunged at her, and she had subdued him in an instant and brutally assaulted him. Ju Ri had witnessed the scene directly.

She had her hair tied back without a single strand out of place. Her tough appearance and cold expression intimidated Ju Ri.

“Yes, go ahead.”

Ju Ri replied, on full alert.

“The executive director is waiting for you.”

“The executive director?”

“Yes.”

Yong Hee had called for Ju Ri. Her heart started pounding rapidly.

After overhearing Kyung Mi and Hwa Young’s conversation, Ju Ri had made up her mind. If Da Eun were to date Yu Kwon, she couldn’t just sit still.

Unlike Yu Kwon, Yong Hee was the definite successor, and somehow getting into her good graces to reach a higher position than Da Eun became Ju Ri’s new goal.

Secretary Oh took Ju Ri to Hyanglimjae.

Now her heart felt like it would burst from beating so fast.

The car stopped in front of a magnificent building. The large gate opened with a clatter. The car entered, receiving greetings from employees lined up on both sides.

So this is Hyanglimjae.

Past the gate, a lush forest spread out. Ju Ri unknowingly held her breath.

Tall trees lined both sides of the long, straight road.

After driving for quite a while, the car came to a complete stop. Beyond the main building, Mount Bukhan showed off its majestic figure.

Hyanglimjae was a place only accessible to the Myung Il family members, their secretaries, and Hyanglimjae staff.

To come inside Hyanglimjae, which she had only glimpsed on the news, her heart swelled with excitement.

Ju Ri had once asked Da Eun what Hyanglimjae was like. At that time, Da Eun had said this:

“Just… beautiful.”

Da Eun was right. Hyanglimjae was truly beautiful. It was closer to a work of art than a house. She wondered how much more beautiful it would become when the autumn leaves turned, and envied the Myung Il family who lived here.

‘If only I could belong to this place…’

Ju Ri’s face flushed red as she dreamed of a happy life with nothing to envy.

“Let’s go.”

Secretary Oh guided the dazed Ju Ri to Yong Hee. Yong Hee was in an octagonal pavilion in the center of the pond. Wearing a wine-colored suit and tucking her particularly black bobbed hair behind her ear, Yong Hee drew attention like a lotus floating on the pond.

“Sit down.”

Ju Ri walked with proper steps and bowed her head deeply.

“Hello, Executive Director.”

Then she sat down in front of Yong Hee with flawless movements.

Refreshments were already set on the table in the middle. There were beautifully colored traditional Korean sweets and the hojicha that Ju Ri had presumptuously recommended.

“How is it? Nice, right?”

Yong Hee asked, nodding at the surroundings.

“Yes, it’s very nice. Thank you for inviting me.”

Yong Hee smirked at the very tense Ju Ri.

“The reason I called you here is…”

Yong Hee took a sip of tea and got straight to the point. Ju Ri looked at her with sharp eyes.

“It seems Song Da Eun will be entering Hyanglimjae.”

At Yong Hee’s calm words, Ju Ri was momentarily flustered. Then her chest felt like it was being torn apart in pain. Da Eun entering Hyanglimjae meant she would become a daughter-in-law of Myung Il.

Song Da Eun, so you’re finally trying to take your place beside Cha Yu Kwon!

Ju Ri gritted her teeth. But she quickly composed her expression. Because Yong Hee was staring at her as if testing her.

Ju Ri racked her brains. Why would Yong Hee call her all the way here to talk about Da Eun?

She recalled the contents of Yong Hee’s autobiography that she had read several times.

Yong Hee was smart. She was good at business, but luck didn’t follow her. Perfectly planned businesses would fail due to natural disasters or have to be scrapped because of unexpected issues.

On the other hand, Yong Hee’s older brother and Yu Kwon’s father, Yong Hyun, was lucky. Every business he touched turned from deficit to surplus.

Although Yong Hyun died in an accident, Yong Hee couldn’t be recognized as the successor. It was because of Yu Kwon. Yu Kwon was smart like Yong Hee and born lucky like Yong Hyun. The achievements he had made in 5 years since joining Myung Il were countless.

That’s why she paid more attention to and was more wary of Yu Kwon than her younger sister Yong Ju.

“So that’s why. Now I understand why she left the man she was going to marry on their wedding day.”

Ju Ri calmly lied. She could do even worse if it meant dragging Da Eun into the mire. Now it was Da Eun’s turn to suffer.

As if wondering whether it had been a vain effort, Yong Hee raised one eyebrow, seeming moved.

“That can’t be.”