A rather sparkling woman.

It was an ambiguous expression casually uttered in consideration of Queen’s tears, but Sang Hyun’s face looked quite moved.

To be precise, an expression of firmly misunderstanding something.

But Sun Woo did not add any further explanation.

What more could be said?

Others chattered on about it being a strategic marriage between large corporations where they thoroughly calculated the benefits, but tangled within it were desires greater than money.

Even the ‘enormous stake’ that made everyone gasp in admiration was merely bait.

Of course, that was not something he could reveal to Sang Hyun either.

“That’s not like you. Hey, seems you’ve taken quite a liking to the bride?”

“Well, let’s say so.”

“Wow, what’s this? The great Ki Sun Woo? Well, now that you’re married, will you stop dumping girls after a week of dating? You’ll live a long life. There’s still a truckload of women bad-mouthing you. Someone even said they’d give me information about your private life.”

“Don’t talk nonsense, senior. More importantly, I have a favor to ask.”

Sun Woo crossed his arms, switching the atmosphere to a serious conversation mode.

Sang Hyun grumbled, shrugging his shoulders as if uninterested.

“As always, you only have favors to ask whenever you see me.”

“It’s something only you can do. You’re the elite journalist from a top-notch media company, after all.”

“Ah, enough! That’s really embarrassing.”

He truly rubbed his face and waved his hands dismissively.

Though his attitude seemed indifferent, Sang Hyun was the only ally for Sun Woo in his current situation.

It was because Sun Woo had been a great help when Sang Hyun’s single mother suffered from a serious illness during their college days.

So, despite his grumbling, he always granted Sun Woo’s requests.

“What is it? I hope it’s not some troublesome background check.”

“Sorry, but it is a troublesome background check. Look into the accident of Chairman Ko San’s eldest daughter from 20 years ago as much as you can. Everything, including what wasn’t reported in the media.”

*

“…I’m here.”

“Ah. You were here.”

Sun Woo stood for a moment, staring intently at Se Eun, who acknowledged him reluctantly in a voice as small as an ant’s.

A sparkling woman. The only clue to the whereabouts of the jewel.

She looked so fragile, it was hard to believe she was the offspring of the White Tiger, Chairman Ko San.

Especially her ankle, revealed beneath the long skirt hem, was so thin it could be grasped in one hand.

As a grandfather-in-law, one might feel sympathy for her limping on such fragile legs, but to be so cold-hearted, her situation seemed quite pitiful.

Suddenly, he recalled the conversation he had with Chairman Ko San when he first went to meet him.

‘I suspect that naughty girl might be pretending not to remember on purpose. So you’ll have to break down her defenses.’

‘Do you mean seduce her, in vulgar terms?’

‘You catch on quick. That child has never been close to anyone until now. Of course, she knows nothing of men. If a cunning fellow like you sets out to seduce her, she’ll surely fall for it soon. Once she falls in love, she’ll spill everything she’s been hiding.’

To get what he wanted, mere seduction was nothing.

He had considered it an easy deal, but now his thoughts had changed a bit.

Well, would she really crumble so easily?

Until now, it had been enough to seduce targeted women in just a day.

All women were the same.

In front of his background, eloquence, and outstanding looks, even rough attitudes were nothing more than an attractive element.

But strangely, this time he couldn’t quite gauge it.

The prey was right in front of him, but he didn’t know how to set the trap.

It was so unlike him that Sun Woo let out a self-deprecating chuckle.

“What are you doing? Sitting there alone?”

As he approached her with long strides, Se Eun hurriedly tidied up the desk.

The hair she had neatly tied in a single braid swayed wildly in the process.

Though there was nowhere to hide, her flustered appearance was so absurd that Sun Woo deliberately leaned in closer.

“What are you hiding in such a hurry?”

“It’s nothing.”

“It doesn’t look like nothing?”

Sun Woo, who had already plucked out one of the papers she was tidying, casually waved it.

“Gi… Give it back!”

After briefly staring at Se Eun, whose cheeks had reddened in embarrassment, Sun Woo turned his gaze to the paper.

The paper he had just snatched was none other than rice paper.

It was filled with calligraphy she had been writing until just now.

The exceptionally neat handwriting, orderly to the point of seeming almost obsessive, impressed Sun Woo.

However, the content was unexpected.

“Bichon Frise, Golden Retriever, Pomeranian… What’s this?”

Instead of answering, Se Eun’s cheeks flushed even more.

Curiosity piqued, Sun Woo brought the rice paper closer to his eyes to examine it.

The various dog breeds written in neat regular script didn’t seem to match well with the brush.

“Who writes dog names in calligraphy? If it’s a refined hobby, you should write something more fitting. Like sijo poems…”

“It’s not a hobby. Give it back.”

Se Eun awkwardly flailed her arms in the air.

With her eyes wide open and lips pursed like cherries, she looked quite tempting.

Probably she wasn’t aware at all that she looked like that.

Somehow, Sun Woo didn’t want to return that rice paper anymore.

“Do you want to raise a dog?”

“…”

A silence that could be either affirmation or negation lingered briefly on her lips.

But her tightly closed mouth clearly said it.

That she wanted to, that she was dying to raise one.

Seeing her furrowed brow full of patience, Sun Woo felt more and more like teasing her.

“I guess you’re not fond of dogs.”

“No, that’s not it…”

“That’s a relief. I thought you wanted to raise one. I’m not particularly friendly with dogs. As you know, one of my nicknames is ‘Woof Woof’. You understand, right?”

Even though he had toned it down, Se Eun’s shoulders slumped dejectedly, seemingly having understood.

Suddenly, Sun Woo was struck by a curiosity.

“By the way, do you find calligraphy enjoyable?”

“I don’t do it because it’s fun.”

This time, the answer came immediately.

“Then?”

For a moment, a transparent hesitation appeared on Se Eun’s face, unsure whether to answer or not.

However, perhaps wanting to explain her behavior of listing dog breeds, she willingly revealed the reason.

“When I write with a brush, my mind becomes calm. I can focus only on my hands… not my legs.”

“Hmm… So that’s what it meant. Then, is there nothing else you want to do?”

“No. Why are you suddenly asking such things?”

As the questions lengthened, Se Eun inevitably showed her wariness.

Regardless, Sun Woo persistently continued his exploration.

“It must be boring staying at home all the time. Our married life will be long, shouldn’t we know each other’s likes?”

“You don’t need to know. Don’t mind me.”

“That’s quite a bad habit. I’m quite rebellious, so when told not to mind, I want to mind even more.”

“…I answered your question, so give me back the paper.”

Thinking today’s interrogation was over, Sun Woo obediently returned the paper he had been holding.

As if not wanting to mingle further, Se Eun stood up, tidying her calligraphy tools.

As soon as she stood up, the discomfort in her foot became clearly visible, just as she had said.

Her thin ankle, still limping, looked almost like a broken bird’s leg.

Nevertheless, she skillfully moved her steps, disappearing from Sun Woo’s sight.

But as she was about to climb the stairs, Se Eun suddenly stopped and turned back.

“Ah, there’s one more thing I want to tell you, Mr. Ki Sun Woo.”

“What is it?”

“Just like my room, never enter the locked room upstairs.”

“Locked room?”

“Yes. It’s my late father’s room. There are many things outsiders shouldn’t touch…”

“Outsider? That’s harsh. I’m your husband, Yeon Se Eun.”

Before Se Eun could add anything more, Sun Woo swiftly passed her and stepped onto the stairs.

With a triumphant smile hidden from view.

“Besides, how would I get in if it’s locked?”

*

“I wonder if I’m the one who’s bored.”

It was absurd that Ki Sun Woo, practically a symbol of free-spiritedness, was living half-confined in his newlywed home.

Suddenly, Yeon Se Eun seemed strange to him.

It’s not like she didn’t have legs, just a slight limp, yet how could she stay cooped up at home like this?

Recalling that thin ankle brought to mind the scene of her washing her legs.

It was an image that strangely lingered.

What kind of woman would think to cover her legs before her chest when the door opened while washing?

Ko San had described the ankle disability as a ‘fatal flaw’, but it didn’t appear so to Sun Woo’s eyes.

Though always hidden under long skirts, even at a glance it was very fair and smooth.

But one thing.

Without particularly touching or embracing her, he could tell she was extremely thin.

“…Ah!”

With a sudden thought, Sun Woo quickly got up.

He had been at a loss on how to approach Se Eun, but just now a pretty good method came to mind.

Hobby, Sun Woo also had quite a useful hobby.

Hurriedly going downstairs, Sun Woo flung open the refrigerator door.

Fortunately, it was full of ingredients.

“Good. I never thought I’d end up doing this kind of thing.”

Sun Woo had never cooked for any woman he’d met before.

As a result, few people knew about his excellent cooking skills.

If there was a recent memory, it was when he made recovery food for Sang Hyun’s mother’s hospital visit, and Sang Hyun ate more than half of it and was moved to tears.

With busy hands, Sun Woo began taking out various ingredients.

Given the purpose, they had arranged to call for a housekeeper only when absolutely necessary.

So the two of them had to make and eat whatever they could in this house.

For Sun Woo, making two portions of food he was going to make anyway was no big deal.

Moreover, what could be better than ‘food’ for lowering a person’s guard?

Satisfied with his own idea, Sun Woo blew his forehead hair with a ‘phew’.

Hoping that this ‘fatten up to eat’ strategy would work on Yeon Se Eun.