Was Seo Woo Jin, whom Park Seo Woo had been so desperately searching for, in the same hotel? For Jung Keun, this was an unexpected worst-case emergency.

“Ah, really why! How am I supposed to live without my phone!”

“Why can’t you live without it? If you were born 30 years earlier, you wouldn’t have even seen this kind of technology. Now hand it over quickly.”

At his firm tone, Seo Woo finally handed over the phone she had been hiding behind her back, but her eyes were still rebellious.

“I’ll give it back when we get to Korea. I’ll be keeping a close eye on you 24/7, so don’t try to use your wits to contact the Managing Director.”

“…”

“Don’t even think about running into him by chance. The moment a photo of you with Managing Director Seo is taken, it’s no longer just a scandal, it’s straight-up adultery.”

Her already dissatisfied eyes grew even narrower. She was beyond dissatisfied – she was furious.

“Elder brother, are you really doing this?”

“Yes. You’re my meal ticket, and I’m the head of a household, so I have to protect my livelihood even if it kills me.”

“…”

“So please… please don’t think of anything else.”

Faced with Jung Keun’s excessive gravity, Seo Woo changed her strategy. As pitifully and wistfully as possible.

“I… I feel like I’ll die if I can’t see elder brother Woo Jin right now.”

Despite appearances, she was a top actress in Korea, recognized not only for her looks but also her acting skills. Surely she could fool this simpleton. But it didn’t work on Jung Keun at all.

“I have no regrets in this life. If you fall, I’m ruined too, so if I’m going to die either way…”

To deceive her,

“…let’s just die together.”

He knew the top star Park Seo Woo too well.

* * *

Tae Eun prepared early in the morning and visited her grandmother at the nursing home. Although she had seen her face just a few days ago, her grandmother’s face was one she wanted to see again and again.

“Oh my, how pretty. What’s your name, young lady?”

“Grandmother. It’s me, Tae Eun. Min Tae Eun.”

“Min Tae Eun? Oh my. That’s the same name as my granddaughter! My granddaughter’s name is Min Tae Eun too.”

“Is that so? We really do have the same name?”

She quietly agreed while wiping her grandmother’s hands with a wet towel, as her grandmother couldn’t remember her. Her grandmother smiled brightly and gently tucked Tae Eun’s long straight hair behind her ear.

The rough hand, showing the passage of time, brushed against her delicate skin. Her expression clouded with concern for that rough hand.

“Why the long face? I just touched you because you’re so pretty. Are you uncomfortable?”

“No, no. I’m just so happy. When I was young… my grandmother used to touch me like this a lot too.”

“Ah, is that so? I thought… my old hands might be too rough and uncomfortable.”

“…”

“But, young lady… you’re so beautiful. So very beautiful. I wish our Tae Eun would grow up to be just like you.”

“Don’t worry, grandmother. Tae Eun… will grow up to be just like me.”

Because I am Tae Eun.

She swallowed her last words and gazed intently at her grandmother’s wrinkled face with affectionate eyes. Nurse Jang, who was in charge of caring for her grandmother, watched this scene with a warm smile and commented.

“Oh my, how amazing. Even though she can’t recognize your face, how can she not take her eyes off you, Tae Eun? It’s instinct. Even if her brain rejects it, she instinctively remembers you, Tae Eun.”

At those words, Tae Eun turned her gaze and expressed her gratitude.

“Thank you, Nurse Jang.”

“No, don’t mention it. I should be thanking you. I’ve been doing this job for so long, but I’ve never met someone as easy to care for as your grandmother. You can tell just by spending a few days with her. She doesn’t throw tantrums or lose her temper. She’s like a young girl, yesterday she even asked to go out to see the flowers because they were so pretty outside.”

Tae Eun smiled brightly and turned her gaze back to her grandmother, asking,

“Grandmother, did you go out to see the flowers yesterday?”

“Yes. They were very pretty. Just like you, young lady.”

But then her phone vibrated. Checking the caller, she was startled and excused herself to Nurse Jang.

“I’ll just take this call and be right back.”

“Of course, take your time.”

Leaving her grandmother who couldn’t take her eyes off her, Tae Eun left the room and barely managed to answer the phone that had started vibrating for the second time after a brief pause. As expected, Seo Young Ja’s sharp voice grated harshly on her eardrum.

[Why are you answering the phone so late?]

“Hello, aunt. I’m at grandmother’s nursing home.”

[Do you think I’m doing well?]

Young Ja’s voice was full of suppressed anger as she threw the question back. It seems yesterday’s incident was becoming more and more irritating the more she dwelled on it.

[Listen carefully. Since you said you don’t want to have the examination, let’s make one thing clear. If you’ve hidden any physical issues and gotten married, I won’t stand idly by. I don’t care if Woo Jin takes your side. Having a child goes beyond just being a couple’s issue – it’s about producing an heir for the Jang Won family. So if you’re hiding something, you’ll definitely have to pay the price.]

“…”

[This is a warning.]

Her chest felt heavy, as if hit by a massive nuclear bomb. But Tae Eun had to answer as calmly as possible.

“Yes. I understand… aunt.”

The call ended with her response.

Young Ja had started to doubt without fail. No, maybe she was almost certain.

How long could she hide this damned truth?

She felt like she was floating alone in a vast, endless sea.

* * *

“Manager Park, can we move tomorrow’s meeting to today?”

While moving to the hotel, Woo Jin checked with Manager Park sitting in the front seat about the possibility of adjusting the schedule. Manager Park checked the schedule on his tablet and answered.

“We have some time free in the afternoon, so it’s possible for us, but I’m not sure how the other side will respond.”

“Try to move it if possible. I want to return to Korea even a day earlier.”

“Yes, I’ll try to arrange it.”

Only after hearing Manager Park’s words did Woo Jin turn his gaze to the window.

He had struggled so much last night to cool down his heated body. For the first time in his life, he felt ashamed of his uncontrollable desire. And he thought the only way to escape this shame was to hold Tae Eun in his arms.

Well, he couldn’t help it if people pointed fingers at him for being like a beast. Right now, with his thirst only increasing and no good solution in sight, the only option was to return to Korea as quickly as possible.

But then, as their car passed by a department store, he suddenly remembered what Tae Eun had said.

– Um… then buy me a lipstick.

He chuckled. Even thinking about it again, her lack of greed in asking for just a lipstick seemed so naive.

“Stop the car for a moment.”

As the car stopped, Woo Jin stopped Manager Park who was about to get out with him.

“Don’t get out. It’s a personal errand. Manager Park, just adjust the schedule. I’ll be back soon.”

Saying that, he turned and quickly entered the department store. Then he found the cosmetics corner.

As the tall Woo Jin entered, the cosmetics staff’s eyes widened. He immediately scanned the area where lipsticks were displayed with his eyes. But this was his first time with women’s cosmetics, so he had no idea what to buy.

When the store staff asked a question in Vietnamese, he apologized in English, saying he was Korean. Fortunately, the staff was able to communicate in basic English.

“I want to buy a gift for my wife.”

At his words, the staff showed him a few lipsticks, introducing them in broken English as the most popular colors. However, all the colors recommended by the staff were very intense reds or wine shades. Not suitable for Tae Eun.

When he shook his head, the staff showed even more diverse colors.

Were lipstick colors this diverse? His mind started to become confused by the unexpectedly wide range of colors.

This is driving me crazy. What on earth should I choose?

If she had asked for a luxury bag instead, it might have been a bit easier. Those have designs diverse enough to catch the eye, making it easier to find one that matches her image. Or he could just buy the most expensive one.

Ha, but this… this color looks like that color, and that color looks like this color, making it impossible to choose.

He had scoffed at it being just a lipstick, but now it seemed quite a troublesome gift. Min Tae Eun, did you perhaps deliberately ask for a lipstick knowing this?

If that’s really the case, she’s quite cunning.

He picked up his phone. He wanted to call Tae Eun right away and ask what color she wanted. Then suddenly, her words flashed through his mind.

– What color?

– Whatever you like.

Damn. After she said that, asking would hurt his pride. In the end, it all came down to his choice.

But then, a coral-colored lipstick that the staff had just taken out caught his eye immediately. The color wasn’t too intense but subtle, yet it immediately drew attention – just like Min Tae Eun.

A color that resembled her.

Yes, I’ve decided on you!

“I’ll take this one.”

As he made his choice, the staff gladly wrapped it for him. As he came out holding it, Woo Jin smiled proudly, pleased with himself.

* * *

“Hey, do you really have to buy this here? We have this in Korea too, so why are you buying it here? Are you intentionally trying to make me carry stuff right now?”

Jung Keun, thoroughly annoyed, fumed as he watched Seo Woo engage in a shopping spree. It was understandable, as she was buying up products that were also available in Korea.

But she remained expressionless in the face of Jung Keun’s complaints.

In truth, it was retaliatory shopping. The concept for the photo shoot was sunset, so preparations would start at 4 PM. Taking advantage of this gap, Seo Woo was exacting her small revenge on Jung Keun, who was keeping her from meeting Woo Jin, by making him assist with shopping, which he hated the most.

“Ah, if you’re going to do this, why not just rob the department store?”

“Yeah. That’s the plan.”

Seo Woo continued walking while answering indifferently.

“Oh, are you really the same person who was sick a few days ago? How can you be so energetic?”

Jung Keun, unable to bear it any longer, put down the shopping bags he was holding and grumbled. His arm hurt, his fingers were numb. His excuses were endless.

As she turned her head to intimidate Jung Keun, telling him he had no chance, a graceful figure that was unmistakable even at a glance filled her vision through her dark sunglasses. Finding Woo Jin’s shadow among so many people was almost at a hyena level.

‘Oh, elder brother?’

Her surprised pupils shook, but she couldn’t show it because of Jung Keun in front of her. If he knew for sure that Woo Jin was here, Jung Keun would probably carry her out of this department store at 5G speed.

She had to stay as calm as possible. Without Jung Keun noticing.

Avoiding Jung Keun, whose every sense was focused on her, Seo Woo discreetly rolled her large eyes behind her sunglasses to observe Woo Jin.

Unfortunately, he quickly left the store. But she couldn’t follow him. If she did, she might really become the protagonist of a scandal that would shake South Korea tomorrow, just as Jung Keun had said.

Instead, she pretended to shop and entered the cosmetics store where Woo Jin had been. Then, taking advantage of Jung Keun’s distraction as he grumbled, she asked the staff,

“What did that man just buy?”