“Then let’s make this character more aggressive, using a sword as the main weapon. We’ll also increase the size of the shoulder armor here.”

“Yes, understood.”

“And Tae Min, is the dwarf illustration work almost finished?”

The team members’ eyes turned to Tae Min.

“……”

“Tae Min?”

When the team leader called Tae Min’s name, Soo Ah, who was sitting next to Tae Min, nudged him.

“Huh?”

Tae Min looked at Soo Ah, startled.

“The team leader is asking you something.”

“Ah. I’m sorry. What did you say?”

Tae Min quickly looked at the team leader and asked.

“I asked if the dwarf illustration is almost done.”

“Ah. Yes. It’s almost finished.”

“Okay. Then let’s take a look at the work on Wednesday.”

“Yes, understood.”

“Then let’s go out for lunch now.”

As the team leader stood up, the team members followed suit.

“Tae Min. Is something wrong? You’ve been out of it all day today?”

Tae Min shook his head at Soo Ah’s words.

“No. It’s nothing.”

“Really? But something seems a bit off? It’s the first time I’ve seen you so distracted.”

“It’s nothing. Let’s quickly go eat.”

Tae Min said, hurriedly heading towards the elevator.

I don’t know what state of mind I ate lunch in.

I stuffed food into my mouth, but I couldn’t taste any of it.

After lunch, Tae Min returned to his seat and leaned his head back in the chair, closing his eyes.

During the two days of the weekend, Tae Min bit his lip several times at the sudden thoughts of So Eun that kept popping up.

He blamed himself over and over for not getting her contact information somehow.

Eventually, he searched various SNS sites, typing in “Ji So Eun” and searching until his eyes were bloodshot.

But he couldn’t achieve any significant results.

That’s because there were far too many names “Ji So Eun” in this world.

Even when he specified the age and searched, it was still too many.

Besides, he doubted whether So Eun would use SNS, and even if she did, he thought she wouldn’t be the type to put her photo as the main profile picture.

After hours of searching, Tae Min let out a deep sigh and flopped down on the bed.

“Ah, why did I just let her go. Is there another idiot like me……”

When he closed his eyes tightly, So Eun’s face with a faint smile appeared.

If only he could turn back time, he wanted to go back to when they were leaving the bar.

Then he would have asked to continue being drinking buddies, or to stay in touch as older sister and younger brother, somehow he would have gotten her contact information……

Along with the desperate regret for the missed opportunity, Tae Min pondered why he kept thinking about that woman.

Why, just why……

Suddenly, he recalled when he first saw So Eun as the elevator doors opened.

When he saw So Eun standing there with a dazed look, not realizing the elevator had arrived, Tae Min felt his heart stop for a moment and then start beating rapidly.

Those beautiful eyes that looked up at him when he asked, “Aren’t you getting on?”……

He could clearly remember the sound of his own heart pounding when their eyes met with that alluring gaze.

Ah, I’ve fallen for that woman. Hah……

Tae Min bit his lip and messed up his hair at this feeling he was experiencing for the first time.

* * *

Jun Ho furrowed his brow as he watched Tae Min quickly downing soju shots.

“Hey, why are you drinking so fast today?”

“Elder brother. You know, the prince in Cinderella was really lucky. He could find Cinderella with just one glass slipper.”

Jun Ho, who was just bringing a soju glass to his lips, narrowed his eyes and looked at Tae Min.

“What? What’s this suddenly about? What Cinderella?”

After work, Tae Min was having a quick drink with Jun Ho, an elder brother figure he had known since childhood who worked at the same company.

As Tae Min, who had been drinking well, suddenly said something out of the blue, Jun Ho looked at him strangely, and Tae Min downed another soju shot with a bitter expression.

“Hey. What on earth are you talking about?”

“Cinderella at least left a shoe, right? But elder brother, I have nothing. So I can’t find her.”

As Tae Min’s expression became serious while still saying strange things, Jun Ho’s expression also became serious.

“What the hell are you talking about? Hey, if you’re going to talk, speak clearly so I can understand.”

Then Tae Min sighed deeply and slowly told Jun Ho about what had happened on Friday.

After listening to it all, Jun Ho narrowed his eyes and looked at Tae Min.

“So, you went to a younger friend’s house and got in the elevator, and that’s where you met that woman?”

Tae Min nodded with a gloomy expression.

“But then you saw her cheating boyfriend chase after her and cling to her right in front of you?”

“Yes.”

“But then she was sitting alone in the bar you went to meet your friend? So you said you wanted to buy her a drink?”

“Yes.”

Jun Ho looked at Tae Min with his brow deeply furrowed.

“You? Yoon Tae Min, you?”

“Yes.”

Jun Ho narrowed his eyes and looked at Tae Min with an expression of incomprehension.

“Why? Why on earth did you do that?”

“Just… I wanted to.”

“No, why? She was still a woman you met for the first time?”

“I don’t know either. But I just wanted to buy her a drink.”

“Well, look at this guy? I’ve lived all this time to hear about Yoon Tae Min buying a drink for a woman he just met?”

As Jun Ho looked at Tae Min with an incredulous face, Tae Min brought the soju glass to his mouth with a depressed expression.

Jun Ho crossed his arms and quietly stared at Tae Min.

It was a strange thing indeed.

Tae Min was always popular with women because he was handsome and had a bright and kind personality.

As such, Tae Min had received quite a few confessions, but he was quite serious when it came to matters of the opposite sex.

That’s why it was extremely rare for him to actively express interest in someone.

But for such a Tae Min to offer to buy a drink for a woman he just met… it was both surprising and made Jun Ho curious about his true feelings.

So, looking at Tae Min who was wearing a sad expression, Jun Ho scratched his forehead and asked.

“Hey. Was she pretty?”

“Huh?”

“I’m asking if that woman was pretty.”

At Jun Ho’s question, a faint smile appeared on Tae Min’s lips as he recalled So Eun’s face.

Seeing that smile, Jun Ho immediately burst into laughter.

“Oh my? Look at this guy’s expression? She was pretty. She was. And extremely pretty at that?”

Tae Min’s cheeks turned slightly red at Jun Ho’s teasing tone.

“Ah. I don’t know.”

And with that, Tae Min quickly brought the soju glass to his mouth.

“What do you mean you don’t know? Your expression says it all.”

Jun Ho also brought the soju to his mouth, then put down the glass and asked.

“But you parted ways without asking for her contact information?”

“I couldn’t ask. How could I ask for the contact information of a woman who just went through something like that?”

“Well. I guess you’re right about that. But then, you don’t know anything about that woman?”

“I know her name and age.”

“Then have you tried looking on SNS or something? You might be able to find her there.”

“Actually, I searched almost all SNS sites over the weekend. But there were too many names ‘Ji So Eun’. I’m not even sure if she uses SNS… From the feeling I got talking to her, she didn’t seem like she would. So in the end, I couldn’t find her.”

“What? You searched all weekend? Hey, you’re more serious about this than I thought?”

Jun Ho looked surprised.

“Yeah. I think so. Elder brother. I think I… fell for that woman at first sight.”

Instead of answering, Jun Ho opened his mouth slightly.

“Is that why you were talking about Cinderella and whatnot?”

“Yeah. I was so envious of the prince who at least got to hold onto a shoe.”

Tae Min’s expression looked infinitely bitter as he answered.

* * *

Two weeks had passed.

During those two weeks, Ji Ye carefully observed So Eun’s mood from moment to moment, paying close attention.

She was worried about how dirty and troubled So Eun’s mood would be after ending an 8-month relationship in such a sordid way.

In the meantime, Jung Hyuk had come to the front of the house three times.

But the first time, they didn’t meet at all, and the second time, he ran away just before having his hair pulled after being cursed at by an enraged Ji Ye.

The third time they encountered each other, Jung Hyuk fled again, pale-faced, as Ji Ye went berserk, threatening to castrate him and end his family line.

Ji Ye declared that he probably wouldn’t show up again after suffering humiliation twice with his proud personality.

She didn’t forget to boldly proclaim that after the massive dump truck had passed, an incredible Mercedes would soon arrive.

So Eun didn’t want to think about men or anything, but she just smiled at Ji Ye’s words meant to comfort her.

And three days ago, Ji Ye told So Eun to keep Friday absolutely free.

She said she wanted to introduce her boyfriend of almost two months.

She added that this time she really had a good feeling and was going to date him seriously.

And she said she’d invite one of her boyfriend’s close younger brothers too, in case it would be awkward with just the three of them.

So Eun was about to refuse, seeing through that obvious intention, but then changed her mind.

Thinking of how Ji Ye had been considerate and cared for her in various ways over the past two weeks, she couldn’t refuse.

At Ji Ye’s words that it was just having a light beer, so there was no need to feel burdened, So Eun just nodded and said okay.