“Come on in.”

As soon as I entered, the first person to greet me was Im Ryu Ryeong.

Her appearance with pearl earrings on her white, elastic skin was just like a painting.

Next to her stood two people who looked very similar to Ki Sun Woo, but with quite different atmospheres.

“Welcome. I finally see my daughter-in-law’s face.”

The one who spoke warmly was Ki Ju Hwan, the chairman of Juha Group and Sun Woo’s father.

At a glance, he had a handsome appearance and good physique, exuding the aura of a successful businessman.

“Ah… Hello, Father. Mother. And…”

Se Eun bowed and slowly turned her head to look at the man standing next to Chairman Ki.

A statue-like person who seemed like what Ki Sun Woo would look like if all humor was removed from him was staring at her expressionlessly.

Sensing her gaze, he soon offered a greeting as if measured with a ruler.

“I’m Ki In Hyeok. Nice to meet you.”

“Yes. I’m… pleased to meet you too. I look forward to getting to know you.”

While greeting, Se Eun unconsciously glanced at Sun Woo.

This man before her was Im Ryu Ryeong’s biological son.

The eldest son of Juha Group, whom his father had before Sun Woo.

However, Sun Woo sat down on the sofa with his legs crossed, as if finding it all trivial.

“Let’s skip the fake greetings. You said you wanted to see her face, so sit down and look your fill. My wife is quite pretty, you know.”

“K-Ki Sun Woo!”

“Right. I know well from our brief and regrettable meeting last time.”

Im Ryu Ryeong smiled gently as if Ki Sun Woo’s provocation was nothing.

Seeing how familiar it seemed, this must have been the usual atmosphere at home.

After exchanging a few brief greetings, they soon moved on to business talk.

No one touched the cut fruit, so Se Eun just stared blankly at the apples.

“Spring is coming soon, shouldn’t we hurry with In Hyeok’s vice chairman inauguration ceremony?”

Se Eun, who had been listening intently to the conversation, caught wind of a topic she couldn’t ignore.

A vice chairman inauguration would be quite a major issue for Juha Group.

But contrary to expectations, Ki Ju Hwan responded indifferently.

“Inauguration ceremony? Isn’t it too early? He only became president recently. Besides, In Hyeok’s position is already solid even without that.”

“There’s no need to leave the vice chairman position empty. The more important the position, the more people aim for it.”

Saying so, Im Ryu Ryeong glanced briefly towards Sun Woo.

As if the ‘people aiming for it’ referred to Ki Sun Woo.

But Sun Woo paid no mind and instead had a smile on his lips.

“That’s right, Father. Just give that vice chairman position to my elder brother already, the one you won’t take even if offered.”

“Be quiet. Don’t add to this, Sun Woo.”

“Why not? Is there a more suitable candidate than my elder brother?”

“I have no thoughts on it yet. Some shareholders already think I became president at too young an age. Now is not the time.”

“Right. If that’s how you feel, In Hyeok.”

Thanks to Ki In Hyeok drawing a firm line, the flow of conversation was cut off.

After staring at her son with an unreadable gaze for a moment, Im Ryu Ryeong changed the subject disinterestedly.

“By the way, Se Eun, I heard your maternal grandfather introduced our son to you.”

“Ah…”

Could that even be called an introduction?

She must know about the unprecedented ‘son-in-law recruitment’, but it felt strangely awkward.

Thinking it was just her imagination, Se Eun forced a smile and answered.

“Yes. Since I’m not much… he arranged it for me.”

“Oh my, not much? Don’t say that. We’re so happy to have gained such an exceptional daughter-in-law like you. Right, dear?”

“Of course. How could it not be good to become in-laws with the Ko San family?”

“Still, you didn’t have to set the wedding date for when I was away. How regretful that I couldn’t see my son getting married.”

Im Ryu Ryeong subtly conveyed criticism towards Sun Woo.

The target of that criticism, Ki Sun Woo, responded with an ominous chuckle.

“As if you were that regretful. Since when have you been interested in my marriage? Ah, maybe you could be? After all, if I get married, you can’t go after the big daughter-in-law candidates you’ve got your eye on, right?”

The atmosphere suddenly turned cold.

Se Eun’s lips parted slightly in surprise at the unexpected words.

And at that moment, something slipped between her lips.

Se Eun looked at Sun Woo with wide, startled eyes as he had just fed her something.

At the same time, a sweet apple taste spread in her mouth.

He had fed her the apple she had been eyeing all along to shut her mouth, and added fuel to the discord.

“Since I’m here anyway, let me make this clear. Don’t call me unless it’s absolutely necessary from now on. Just consider your troublemaker second son as the Ko San family’s son-in-law now. Or you can think of me as dead.”

“Ki Sun Woo.”

An intimidating voice pressed down on the space.

Chairman Ki glared at this insolent son with angry eyes.

But far from being cowed, Sun Woo instead shrugged his shoulders playfully.

“You should be happy that I’m leaving on my own.”

“Watch your mouth in front of your bride. Someone might think we chased you out.”

“Chased out? I left of my own accord. But is it just me, or does Mother seem very curious about Chairman Ko’s intentions?”

Se Eun noticed the ring on Im Ryu Ryeong’s finger trembling slightly.

It made sense, since even she couldn’t understand her grandfather’s intentions.

However, it was surprising that she, who seemed to have no affection for Ki Sun Woo, was particularly interested in the marriage.

Im Ryu Ryeong flashed an elegant smile.

“You’re the one who seems overly curious about my intentions.”

The thorns hidden in that smile were very sharp and keen.

As if honed over many long years.

As if to counter that, Sun Woo delivered a fatal blow.

“Of course. I’m always curious. Why you tried so hard to erase your brilliant and proud singing career.”

“Ki Sun Woo!”

Chairman Ki slammed the table with a thunderous shout that seemed to shake the ceiling.

As a result, the fruit plate that no one but Se Eun had touched fell to the floor and shattered.

“Oh my. Oh dear, what should we do.”

If it weren’t for the housekeeper who rushed in at the sound of the breaking plate, there’s no telling where the situation might have escalated.

Se Eun was almost glad for her appearance.

An angry shout full of rage, shards of broken glass.

It automatically made Se Eun’s heart shrink.

She needed to endure, she shouldn’t look foolish, but her body reacted on its own, trembling like an aspen leaf.

It was then.

Sun Woo firmly grasped her helplessly shaking arm and lifted her up.

“My wife seems uncomfortable, so we’ll be going now. I’m sorry for spilling the fruit, ma’am.”

Even in the midst of this, he didn’t forget to apologize to the elderly housekeeper.

Seeing how the housekeeper looked at Sun Woo with sympathetic and affectionate eyes as she cleaned up the plate, they seemed to be long-time acquaintances.

No one tried to stop the two from leaving.

And so Se Eun left the Juha household with Sun Woo’s support that wasn’t quite support.

It was a truly uncomfortable and awkward in-law visit that made all her studying seem useless.

*

“I’m sorry.”

As soon as they got home, Sun Woo apologized right away.

It was a completely opposite, subdued atmosphere from his earlier reckless behavior.

He continued, as if feeling ashamed.

“We wouldn’t have seen anything good anyway, but Yeon Se Eun. I should have thought of you…”

“No… I’m fine.”

“What do you mean fine. You were really surprised. You were trembling all over earlier.”

Sun Woo let out a big sigh and scratched his head.

Se Eun silently watched him for a moment.

She had thought he just lived freely and recklessly as a prodigal son or whatever, but it seemed he had his own hardships too.

“Ah!”

Suddenly a good idea popped into Se Eun’s mind.

“What is it?”

“Just a moment, Ki Sun Woo. Sit down on that sofa over there.”

Se Eun headed to the kitchen with energetic steps.

Then she secretly took out something while facing away from him.

A smile of satisfaction formed on her lips as she grasped that red, smooth object in her hand.

“What is it, Yeon Se Eun? We were talking and you suddenly went to the kitchen… If you’re hungry, I can make you something.”

“No, it’s not that. Wait a bit. I’m almost done!”

While desperately blocking Sun Woo’s approach, Se Eun sped up her hand movements.

At last, a small comfort for him was completed at her fingertips.

“Here, Ki Sun Woo. Eat this.”

What Se Eun held out was an apple carved into the shape of a rabbit.

It was one of the apples she had set aside to practice fruit carving while researching proper etiquette for visiting in-laws.

She remembered that he hadn’t been able to eat any apples earlier because of the commotion.

But Sun Woo didn’t give any response.

He just stared down at the apple with rabbit ears that Se Eun held out, as if it were some strange object.

Seeing that, Se Eun suddenly became anxious.

“Is the… shape not good? I’m sorry. It’s my first time making a rabbit shape… If you don’t want to eat it, I’ll put it away.”

“No. Give it here.”

Fortunately, Sun Woo slowly reached out his hand.

Pleased by that reaction, Se Eun quickly tried to hand over the fork with the rabbit apple on it.

At that moment.

Ki Sun Woo suddenly pulled Se Eun into his arms.

“…Ki Sun Woo?”

Taken aback, Se Eun froze like a stone.

All the while worrying that the rabbit might get ruined.

Se Eun squirmed and managed to pull out one arm.

Due to the difference in height and build, she had to stretch her arm up high to protect the rabbit.

Between her awkwardly flailing arms, Sun Woo’s quiet muttering flowed out.

“…Damn it, I’m done for.”