“Anyway, you’re showing how uneducated you are. Who told you to wander around outside as you please? Where did you learn such behavior!”

As soon as Jung Yeo Reum entered the living room, Song Jeong Mi, sitting in the place of honor on the sofa, shouted.

Beside her were Sophia and Kang Ha Eun, and behind them, as always, stood Director Pyo and Hye Sook.

Director Pyo, in particular, looked smugly satisfied, as if he had caught her red-handed.

“Is that why you called me?”

“How dare you look an elder in the eye and talk back when they’re speaking? Well, I suppose you can’t be taught anything. All you’ve seen and learned from are lowly things.”

Song Jeong Mi clicked her tongue and said.

“Anyway, go to Hanseo Department Store right now.”

When Jung Yeo Reum looked at her, not understanding, Song Jeong Mi snapped with an even more irritated expression.

“There’s a shoe shop called ‘Brewing’ in the luxury goods section there. It’s a world-class luxury brand, and I got a call saying the shoes I sent for repair are ready. Go and pick them up using my name.”

Song Jeong Mi said in a somewhat gentler voice.

“You’ve never been to a luxury shop in a department store before, have you? So, you can pick up the shoes and also look around the luxury shop. Isn’t that nice? I’m specially sending you, so go and come back.”

“On your way, pick up my shoes too. I have an order placed.”

Kang Ha Eun said with an unpleasant smile.

“Jung Yeo Reum, please get mine as well.”

Sophia also spoke, elegantly sipping her tea.

“By the way, Jung Yeo Reum, you do know my name, right?”

“New elder sister, if she can’t even remember that, she’s a complete blockhead.”

Kang Ha Eun sneered.

Smiling gently, Sophia said,

“I’m counting on you.”

Jung Yeo Reum replied.

“Sure.”

Instead of saying anything else, she walked straight to the entrance.

As soon as the sound of the door closing was heard, Kang Ha Eun said incredulously,

“What’s going on with her? I thought she’d immediately refuse and lash out at mother?”

“If she did that, would I let her be? Even if she’s not completely stupid, she knows who to submit to.”

“Wow, our mother is amazing.”

At Kang Ha Eun’s praise, Song Jeong Mi’s shoulders rose proudly.

She asked Sophia,

“You’ve talked to Brewing, right?”

“Of course. They’ll take care of everything.”

“Well. They’re the best at fixing a maid’s manners. They’ll make sure she knows her place.”

“That’s right, mother.”

They laughed as they raised their teacups.

*

As Jung Yeo Reum was about to enter the department store’s main entrance, her phone rang.

Seeing a welcome name on the screen, she quickly answered.

“Hey! Future, future, future!”

―Yo! Summer, summer, summer!

As if by agreement, they both laughed at once.

“What’s up? Calling at this hour? Aren’t you busy?”

―I am. But I snuck out for a moment on the pretext of going to the bathroom. I was wondering if our Summer is still alive and well.

“As if I would starve to death?”

―My friend suddenly became a Cinderella heiress. Are you eating your meals on time?

“Don’t worry. I’m heartily devouring the old hag’s rice.”

Jung Yeo Reum laughed out loud.

This caused people entering the department store to glance at her.

―No matter what, how can you call your grandmother an old hag?

“That old hag doesn’t treat me like a granddaughter. And because of that old hag, I’m going through this hardship now.”

―Hardship? What happened?

“I’m on my way to the department store’s luxury section to run an errand. To pick up shoes for those three great ladies.”

―Doesn’t that house have a lot of staff? Why are you doing that job?

“As you said, aren’t I Cinderella?”

―Are you really okay?

“I ate a hearty breakfast. I’m full of energy.”

But Mi Rae sighed.

Jung Yeo Reum spoke up even louder.

“Don’t worry. This elder sister isn’t dead. And I absolutely won’t die. I’m watching what those three women are doing because it’s truly ridiculous.”

―Those people, if they provoke our Summer’s temper, it’ll be a big deal.

“That’s why.”

―Anyway, take care of yourself.

“Okay. Have a good day today too. Go back to work, you’re busy.”

―Yeah. Let’s talk again later.

Mi Rae, sounding reluctant, ended the call.

Jung Yeo Reum, after taking a short breath, looked up at Hanseo Department Store standing proudly before her.

“Nice building.”

This is the luxury goods section, right?

“Alright, let’s see what kind of tricks they’re up to.”

Steeling herself, Jung Yeo Reum entered the department store.

She approached two employees standing at the entrance and asked,

“I’m looking for the luxury goods section. Where should I go?”

A middle-aged woman and man, neatly dressed in uniforms, quickly scanned Jung Yeo Reum’s outfit.

Jung Yeo Reum smiled despite their gaze.

‘No need to look at me like that. My padded jacket is also a department store product. Of course, it’s one my mom bought me five years ago.’

Even if the color has faded a bit, department store products are good.

The duck down is still perfectly fluffy.

It’s even so warm.

“What brings you here?”

The male employee asked cautiously.

“I came to pick up shoes from the Brewing store.”

“……Brewing?”

“Yes.”

The two employees exchanged even more peculiar glances.

“Where should I go?”

“Ah, please come this way.”

The male employee guided her to the elevator and personally opened it, pressing the button for the 7th floor.

“Get off on the 7th floor. Then tell the staff there that you’ve come to find the Brewing store, and they’ll guide you.”

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

As his head bowed, the elevator doors closed.

He returned to his original position and stood upright.

“Is it that?”

When the female employee asked in a low voice, he replied,

“Seems like it.”

“She’ll probably leave crying again?”

“They really should take it easy. What are they doing to people?”

“I know, right?”

The two employees looked towards the elevator with worried expressions.

*

“Song Jeong Mi’s shoes will take a little while.”

The middle-aged woman in a neat white suit jacket and skirt said she was the store manager.

Beside her were two young women in black suits, their eyes discreetly lowered like the manager’s.

Jung Yeo Reum pretended not to notice and asked,

“How long?”

“They said it’s nearby, so it won’t take long.”

“Then I’ll wait a bit.”

As Jung Yeo Reum was about to leave, the manager said,

“If you leave the store, you might not be able to receive them.”

“Why?”

“Our Brewing is so high-end that we have a policy of directly handing over even repaired products to customers. If you leave the store, the company staff might come to deliver and then leave. Then you’d have to wait several more days.”

“Then can’t the staff receive it and send me a text message when it arrives?”

“I’m sorry, but staff receipt is not possible. That’s our policy.”

“What a strange policy. Having to wait in the store to receive repaired shoes. And not even allowing staff to receive them.”

The manager replied,

“That’s because our Brewing is such a high-end luxury brand.”

Her eyes and tone seemed to say, ‘What would someone like you know?’

With no choice, Jung Yeo Reum approached the sofa in the middle of the spacious store to sit down.

“You can’t sit there.”

It was the manager again.

“Only customers can sit on the sofa. But didn’t you come on an errand for Madam Song Jeong Mi?”

“Are you saying that people running errands can’t sit on the sofa?”

“Yes.”

“Is this also Brewing’s policy?”

“It is.”

She answered without changing her expression.

Jung Yeo Reum asked,

“Then where should I stay in this store until the shoes arrive?”

“Over there.”

The manager’s fingertip pointed to a corner of the shelf that was beautifully lit and displayed.

There was a single-person sofa there.

Jung Yeo Reum walked over without another word.

“Except for customers, no one is allowed to sit on sofas inside the store. Do you understand?”

When Jung Yeo Reum turned around, the manager said with a smile,

“That’s Brewing’s policy.”

Jung Yeo Reum replied,

“I understand.”

Despite the sofa being there, Jung Yeo Reum stood beside it.

Only then did the manager seem satisfied and approached the counter, pretending to work, while the two young women covered their mouths, trying not to laugh.

Jung Yeo Reum crossed her arms and looked at the three women in the store.

Their glances secretly stole looks at Jung Yeo Reum and giggled, and the uniformed women beyond the glass window did the same.

They were probably employees from the neighboring stores.

It seemed the three women of Blue House had plotted something, treating a person like a ‘screen’.

‘How childish.’

Jung Yeo Reum laughed inwardly.

‘Go ahead. I’ll watch closely to see how far you’ll go.’

Jung Yeo Reum stood calmly.

At that moment, two well-dressed middle-aged women entered the store.

The manager immediately put on a sweet smile and fawned over them.

“But who’s that?”

One of the women, sitting on the sofa that Jung Yeo Reum had been refused earlier, asked while trying on shoes, gesturing with her chin.

“She’s the new maid from Blue House.”

Although Jung Yeo Reum had said she came to pick up Song Jeong Mi’s shoes, the manager unhesitatingly introduced her as a maid.

The two women seemed to understand immediately and said while looking at Jung Yeo Reum,

“Look at how she’s dressed.”

“I know. Even this industry is a mess these days. These people who eat our money don’t know the basics or their place. How can they go around looking like that? It’s unsightly.”

“It’s because they’re uneducated. That’s how vulgar people are. These kinds of people are so dumb, you have to teach them everything one by one.”

“It’s not even that these days.”

“What do you mean?”

“The way these maids act like they’re so great. Sometimes they even pretend to be the owners. Those who have nothing.”

The women laughed mockingly.

The manager and the two employees joined in.

“Your observations are spot on.”

Quite pleased, the women bought two pairs of shoes and left.

Every customer entering the store had a similar reaction to the two women.

People asked who the person standing in one corner of the store was, and the manager introduced her as the new maid from Blue House.

Without fail, they would look Jung Yeo Reum up and down with contemptuous expressions, badmouth her to her face, and then buy shoes and leave.

‘This is quite a spectacle.’

The hateful gazes and insulting words poured out by strangers for no reason.

Standing still and listening was enough to make anyone feel intimidated.

However, Jung Yeo Reum inputted their faces, actions, tones, and even their gazes into her mind.

Unintentionally, she had entered what they called ‘this industry’.

Perhaps she might encounter them in some position in the future.

Jung Yeo Reum, who had been observing people from an observer’s perspective the whole time, looked at her wristwatch.

More than two hours had passed in the meantime.

“Have the shoes not arrived yet?”

Jung Yeo Reum asked the manager standing at the counter again.

“They said they were coming, but not yet.”

“Can you make a call?”

“I’ve already sent a text. And don’t nag. They’ll come when they come.”

They gathered at the counter, chatting and giving Jung Yeo Reum only perfunctory answers.

At that moment, someone entered.

“Oh my, welcome! Young lady!”

The manager and employees’ raised voices and hurried movements looked as if they were running in their socks.

A woman in her mid-20s entered the store.

‘……Wow.’

A slim figure that instinctively evoked a protective instinct, with long straight hair reaching her waist.

And a pure face to top it off.

A woman in her thirties and a man in his twenties followed her.

They seemed to be her secretary and chauffeur.

“Young lady, it’s been a while since you came to the store.”

“Has it?”

“I’m really disappointed. Couldn’t you have dropped by while you were at the department store?”

The manager fawned over the woman in a cloying voice.

She too noticed Jung Yeo Reum standing in one corner of the store.

“She’s the new maid from Blue House.”

“Ah.”

The woman also seemed to understand at the manager’s answer.

But without saying much, she enjoyed shopping, looking around at the shoes.

“That one looks nice.”

At her gesture, the employees quickly brought out the shoes.

The manager naturally knelt in front of her as she sat on the sofa.

She even personally took off the shoes she was wearing and put on the new ones.

At that moment, one of her earrings fell to the floor as she slightly lowered her head.

The pearl bounced and rolled, stopping at Jung Yeo Reum’s feet.

The manager said to Jung Yeo Reum,

“What are you doing? Hurry up and bring it to the young lady!”