“Which one is better?”

Just a moment ago, she was looking at bags, but now she was choosing scarves. Da Eun casually picked out a camel-colored scarf.

“Aren’t you choosing too carelessly?”

When Yong Ju pouted her lips, Da Eun reluctantly opened her mouth.

“Aunt has a bright and warm image, so warm colors suit her better than cold colors. Blue tones make her look too pale.”

Da Eun used her skills from her time as a secretary to quell Yong Ju’s dissatisfaction.

“Then I’ll buy both.”

Da Eun barely swallowed the sigh that was about to escape. She’s going to do whatever she wants anyway.

[This is the timeline separator]

Yu Kwon decided to bring the shadow-like private team to the surface. He started by changing Jung Woo’s position from driver to secretary.

And he realized how well Da Eun had been doing her job all this time.

“It’s because you’re making him do the opposite of what he usually does.”

“Ah, that’s right.”

Yu Kwon, newly enlightened, generously forgave his subordinate’s mistake.

“By the way, sir, how’s married life?”

“It’s good, to die for.”

Yu Kwon answered with a slight smile.

“Do you think Ms. Da Eun feels the same?”

“I suppose so.”

Jung Woo, whose heart had shriveled from constant scolding, shook his head, thinking it couldn’t be.

Jung Woo found it a bit strange. When he first met Yu Kwon in America, he never thought he was capable of smiling like that. He was always on edge, sensitive.

“How many people have you killed?”

He fearlessly asked the black-haired American who had been working as a mercenary after being discharged from the military due to injury.

“Countless.”

“Good. Work with me.”

“Is it a job to kill people?”

“No, to save them. Perhaps.”

Since then, Jung Woo worked with Yu Kwon. It was completely different from what he had expected. The first thing he did when he came to Korea was to launder his identity as someone else.

That’s how he became Kim Jung Woo. The only grandson of a grandmother with dementia.

[This is the timeline separator]

After shopping to her heart’s content, Yong Ju suddenly said she had an appointment and left. Left alone in the middle of Seoul, Da Eun called Hee Ju since she was already out.

While waiting for Hee Ju, she leisurely walked the streets. After being cooped up in Hyanglimjae, it felt like she could finally breathe.

She felt this way even though nothing was particularly difficult yet. Was it because she felt disconnected from the world?

Hee Ju arrived thirty minutes later. Da Eun, who had been alone in the cafe, waved her hand when she saw the familiar face.

“Song Da Eun, what’s wrong with your face? Where did our squirrel’s chubby cheeks go!”

Hee Ju put both hands on Da Eun’s cheeks with a worried expression.

It seems she’s lost weight since her vitality seemed to have weakened after returning from Jeju Island. This is all because of Cha Yu Kwon.

“You looked fine on your wedding day, what happened?”

“The honeymoon was a bit tough…”

Da Eun mumbled while checking herself in a hand mirror. Hee Ju was right. Her reflection in the mirror looked quite shabby. Her cheeks had sunken and there were dark circles under her eyes.

“I guess that’s newlywed life for you.”

“…Yes, newlywed life.”

“How is it, quitting your job? Good?”

“It hasn’t sunk in yet. The marriage hasn’t either.”

Da Eun was stirring her coffee full of whipped cream with a teaspoon when she cautiously broached a subject with Hee Ju.

“Have you ever been bothered by your boyfriend’s ex-girlfriend?”

“No? An ex-girlfriend is in the past. Although I did stalk her SNS thoroughly.”

“That counts as being bothered.”

Da Eun burst out laughing at Hee Ju’s words.

“Is that so? But why? Are you bothered by your senior’s ex? Who is it?”

The face of the woman she saw at the wedding venue flashed through her mind occasionally. Even though it might not be her, and Ju Ri’s words might not be true.

“I don’t know who it is.”

“If you don’t know, absolutely do not try to find out. The moment you know her face and name, hell begins.”

Da Eun wore an ambiguous expression. Hee Ju, sensing something odd, crossed her arms and stared intently at Da Eun.

“Are you worried about his past?”

“Isn’t it strange? I even broke off an engagement.”

“Why is that funny? It’s because you like him a lot. If you only liked him a little, you wouldn’t be bothered.”

I like Cha Yu Kwon a lot?

Da Eun was quite surprised by Hee Ju’s matter-of-fact statement.

After checking Da Eun’s face, Hee Ju spoke as if to drive the point home.

“Were you bothered by Go Young Hoon’s ex-girlfriends when you were dating him?”

“No.”

“See? Even though there was apparently someone from the same company.”

“Ah, that’s right.”

“See?”

Hee Ju’s words weren’t entirely correct. There are many people who love each other but don’t get bothered by such things.

Am I small-minded?

“Ah, there might be one case.”

“What?”

“If your boyfriend’s ex-girlfriend is extremely pretty.”

“…”

“That might be a bit bothersome.”

Da Eun felt like she’d been hit right on the mark. It was only for a brief moment, but that woman was as pretty as a painting.

“Hey, let’s talk about something else. How are you these days?”

Fearing she might start worrying unnecessarily if they continued this conversation, Da Eun hastily changed the subject.

“Oh, by the way, I saw my ideal type at your wedding.”

“Ideal type?”

Hee Ju’s eyes sparkled as she recalled that day.

.

.

.

After Yu Kwon and Da Eun’s wedding ceremony, at the reception.

Hee Ju quickly snatched the last chicken leg. The man standing in line next to her looked dejected. She thought it strange that he was so disappointed when more would surely come out soon.

Since she wasn’t particularly hungry, Hee Ju placed the chicken leg on the man’s plate. His face bloomed like a flower.

“Thank you so much, really.”

It was fascinating to see him look so happy as if he’d gained the whole world over one chicken leg.

As their seats were close, she could watch the man eat. When he put the food in his mouth, his already chubby cheeks became even chubbier.

‘He eats so heartily. It’s cute. Like Song Da Eun.’

It was the first time a man had looked cute to her. There was no ring on his left ring finger, and he was even alone. She only guessed that he might be a guest from Cha Yu Kwon’s side.

That was all, but from the moment she got home, she kept thinking about him. Whenever she saw a boiled egg, a cream bun, or even a full moon, she thought of that round face.

She couldn’t stop thinking about it. There were just too many round things in the world.

Winter worries me. It’s the season of steamed buns.

If she had known she’d think about him this much, she would have at least asked for his number under the pretext of the chicken leg. She regretted it belatedly.

.

.

.

“He was very big, but his face was round, his glasses were round, like a cute white teddy bear.”

“A white teddy bear?”

Da Eun, who had been listening silently, fiddled with her phone.

“You, after I’ve told you all this, you’re just looking at your phone?”

“It’s not like that.”

She showed Hee Ju a photo she found on her phone.

“Does he look like this by any chance?”

Da Eun showed a photo of Kim Jung Woo. Hee Ju’s eyes widened when she saw it.

“Yes, it’s him. Do you know him? Who is he?”

“A former colleague.”

Now that she had quit her job, he was a former colleague. And he was also Yu Kwon’s secretary.

Yu Kwon didn’t hire a separate secretary but kept Jung Woo by his side. Thanks to that, the handover was smooth.

“Give me this person’s contact information. Please?”

Hee Ju pleaded earnestly.

“I’ll ask.”

Come to think of it, all the men Hee Ju had dated looked similar. She seemed to be attracted to big, gentle-looking men who appeared completely harmless to the world.

“Now tell me about your honeymoon. How was the first night? Was it good?”

Was it good…?

In response to Hee Ju’s sly question, Da Eun answered with a faint smile.

“It was tough, to die for.”

[This is the timeline separator]

After being fired from the company, Young Hoon applied for unemployment benefits. He deserved to be fired for his frequent unexcused absences. He wasn’t even resentful anymore. He would have been fired anyway, even if it wasn’t for the unexcused absences.

Going to the Myungil Group chairman’s birthday party was his last desperate attempt.

A few days later, someone from Myungil Group came to see him.

They offered to cover Hyang Mi’s overdue hospital bills, future hospital bills, medication costs, and even compensation.

On the condition that he never appears before Da Eun again.

Young Hoon had no choice but to sign.

To go to such lengths to protect Da Eun. He belatedly realized Da Eun’s value.

If they had married then, he would have never known. He only realized after losing her. How precious she was.

Anyway, with the compensation from Myungil Group, he could at least afford to rent a place. Since he needed to continue outpatient treatment, he found a place near the hospital.

When he entered the house with groceries, Hyang Mi was lying on the sofa watching TV. It was a secondhand TV someone in the neighborhood was throwing away.

Watching Hyang Mi laugh while watching dramas like before, Young Hoon asked with hopeful eyes.

“Mom, are you back now?”

“Back from where? By the way, where did you leave Da Eun and come alone? Didn’t you say she was coming today?”

“…I guess not.”

Seeing her talk about Da Eun, it seemed her memories were still jumbled.

Of course. Young Hoon let out a long sigh.

“Wait a minute, did that man leave after preparing everything for kimchi-making?”

Even though she had been taking medication consistently since being discharged, her symptoms were not improving, only getting worse.

“By the way, why has your hair thinned so much? Did you end up taking after your father and develop baldness? Oh my goodness…!”

Young Hoon shouted angrily at Hyang Mi’s touch as she ruffled his hair.

“Ah, don’t touch it!”

He was already worried because of his bald father, and now with the stress of not taking his medication properly, his hair loss was progressing rapidly.

“I told you to take care of it early, tsk. You’re just like your father, I tell you!”

“I know already, so stop it. It’s irritating.”

Young Hoon said he was annoyed and ran his hand through his hair. As he did so, he became even more irritated by the hair that fell out.

“More importantly, bring Da Eun here quickly. If you don’t, you’ll die!”

As if possessed, Hyang Mi grabbed Young Hoon’s arm and shook it.

“What’s wrong with you, again!”

Suddenly scared, Young Hoon tried to shake off Hyang Mi’s hand, deliberately raising his voice. But Hyang Mi gripped his arm even tighter.

“Don’t let me go! Don’t let go! You can’t!”