As she approached the main building of the Blue House, Yeo Reum suddenly burst into laughter.

The soft sensation of kissing San Ha, his sweet scent came back to her mind.

‘Is this really not sealed?’

It seemed like it would be a miracle drug when feeling depressed.

No, there wouldn’t be any depression in the first place.

‘Ah, no matter how much I look at you, you’re really so cute, my tiger!’

Recalling San Ha’s surprised, widened black eyes, Yeo Reum laughed again.

She was worried he might reject her, but she was so grateful that he unexpectedly accepted it readily.

“Your mouth is going to rip from smiling so much.”

An abrupt, spiteful voice was heard.

Standing in front of the entrance with her arms crossed, glaring, was Ha Eun.

“Well, you must be in a good mood. Not only did you take someone else’s room, but you also took away their position. You must be so happy?”

“Look, I’m tired from working. Don’t pick a fight for no reason.”

“A fight? Because of you, our father gave up his CEO position! I lost my room and even became a regular employee this time, and our elder brother was demoted from executive director to department head!”

Lightly stretching, Yeo Reum said,

“Is that so?”

“Don’t pretend you don’t know, you wicked girl! You think I wouldn’t know about the tricks you played behind our backs?”

“Tricks?”

“Yes, you sinister girl!”

Looking at Ha Eun hurling insults, Yeo Reum said,

“I didn’t play any tricks, but even if I did, I would do it upfront, not dirty schemes behind the scenes like you all.”

“What?”

“And Chairman Kang is too nice. If it were me, I absolutely wouldn’t let you siblings off. Department head? Regular employee? That’s ridiculous. I would have fired you right away and filed a civil lawsuit.”

“What are you saying!”

“The PR Group’s image has been seriously damaged because of you. Your elder brother blocked the reports going to the owner, making a small problem much worse. Just the amount of damage the PR Group suffered because of you siblings would be astronomical.”

“What does that have to do with you! Do you really think you’re the real PR Group heiress or something?”

“Even if I were just an ordinary citizen of Korea, I would say the same thing. I love PR Group’s foods. Their ramyeon is so much more abundant in ingredients and tastes amazing compared to other companies. If PR had to close down because of you, wouldn’t all those delicious foods disappear? Ah, talking about it makes me crave ramyeon. I should eat ramyeon for dinner tonight. Anyway.”

As her words briefly wandered, Yeo Reum clapped her hands.

“Cousin Ha Eun. If you have any sense, instead of coming to me like this, go apologize to the PR employees. Also, be grateful to your aunt for at least letting you keep your positions. And from now on, behave properly.”

Ha Eun’s brows furrowed in resentment.

“Ah, right, one more thing.”

About to enter, Yeo Reum turned back again.

“That room was originally mine.”

“Who said that nonsense! That’s my room!”

Yeo Reum approached Ha Eun.

Startled, she automatically stepped back.

“No. That room was designed by my parents for me. It was my room from the beginning. Aren’t you tired of insisting otherwise even though you know? It won’t become yours no matter how much you insist.”

Yeo Reum smiled brightly.

Fuming, Ha Eun tried to enter first, turning her body.

“And.”

Ha Eun automatically stopped.

“If you ever enter my room without permission one more time, I’ll break your legs.”

“…Wh-what?”

“You thought I wouldn’t know? About you rummaging through my room.”

Ha Eun’s throat bobbed.

“You may not know this, but I’m strict about protecting my privacy. I clearly warned you. Don’t say anything later even if you have to crawl on the floor. Got it? I’m someone who does what I say I’ll do.”

Ha Eun kept making disbelieving snorts, but when Yeo Reum approached, she ran inside as if fleeing.

“Seriously, it’s like her hobby is to be cursed at.”

Letting out a short, tired sigh, Yeo Reum also entered.

*

“Good morning, everyone!”

Yeo Reum greeted the Kang family sitting at the table and the Blue House staff standing around in a loud voice.

“Yes, did you sleep well too?”

Gi Taek asked with a kind smile.

Sitting across from him, Yeo Reum answered,

“I slept very well. How about you, Grandfather?”

“I slept well too. And Yeo Reum, thank you.”

“For what?”

“For forgiving us like this even though our family made things hard for you. I have no face to show you. I’m truly grateful.”

At his sincere apology, Yeo Reum smiled brightly.

Of course, the people sitting around frowned.

Then Ju Hwa entered, and everyone stood up at once.

The meal began quietly.

But at some point, as if on cue, everyone looked at Yeo Reum.

Especially Jeong Mi sarcastically remarked, seeing Yeo Reum put a large spoonful of rice in her mouth,

“They said they’d give you as much as a bird here? That you’re starving to death? You call that a bird’s portion? Is that the amount someone starving to death eats?”

Unlike the other family members, Yeo Reum’s rice was piled high.

“Why, it’s good to see Yeo Reum eat so heartily.”

Gi Taek defended her.

“No, that’s not it. How is that a bird’s portion? Did a ghost who died from overeating possess her?”

Putting another big spoonful of rice in her mouth, Yeo Reum mumbled,

“This is a bird’s portion though.”

“What?”

“You’re probably thinking of a small chick, right? But the bird I’m thinking of is a large condor that dominates the skies. This amount is right for a condor.”

“Are you saying you’re a condor?”

“Of course. A king condor at that.”

Jeong Mi made an exasperated snort.

Regardless, Yeo Reum ate deliciously.

“In Pyo, Ha Eun.”

Suddenly, Ju Hwa called the two.

“Yes.”

The two quickly put down their spoons and looked at her.

“Even if you’re disappointed, endure it for now. Understand?”

The gloomy faces of the two brightened at once.

It was the same for Jeong Mi and Sophia.

“And Mr. Park, distribute them.”

“Yes, Madam.”

They were red envelopes with gold leaf.

Everyone in the family received them except Yeo Reum.

Mr. Park looked apologetic instead.

“Madam, what about Yeo Reum?”

Gi Taek asked with a difficult expression.

“Why would I give her allowance?”

Everyone’s eyes except Gi Taek’s seemed to mock her.

Ju Hwa’s sneering gaze asked Yeo Reum,

“Are you perhaps disappointed?”

‘Openly discriminating and asking if I’m disappointed? Is this a joke?’

Ju Hwa continued with a smirk.

“Still, endure it. I have no allowance to give you. And in the end, it’s my money. I have the freedom to spend it on whoever I want. Right?”

“That’s right. It’s your money, Madam, so you should spend it on whoever you want.”

She answered calmly and picked up her chopsticks.

“Childish jjamppong of a hag.”

Everyone’s gazes turned to Yeo Reum in disbelief.

“Cheap sweet and sour pork devil of a hag.”

“What did you say just now?”

Ju Hwa’s brows furrowed.

“What? Ah, a childish jjamppong of a hag? Or a cheap sweet and sour pork devil of a hag?”

“Are you saying that for me to hear?”

“No.”

“What do you mean no!”

Ju Hwa slammed her chopsticks on the table.

The staff standing around froze at once.

But Yeo Reum said, putting side dishes in her mouth,

“Why are you getting so angry? It was just me talking to myself.”

“What?”

“In the end, it’s my mouth. Can’t I even talk to myself with my own mouth?”

Yeo Reum asked the flabbergasted Ju Hwa.

“You’re not disappointed right now, are you? If there’s even a little bit of that, just think of it as a child’s nonsense and endure it.”

Even seeing Ju Hwa’s deeply furrowed face, Yeo Reum calmly ate her rice.

*

“How can a person be so vulgar like that.”

Leaving the dining room, Jeong Mi said irritably.

“Mom, that kid’s gall is really out of this world. I’m seriously going to die having to live in the same house.”

Ha Eun was also displeased.

Sophia said,

“Still, it’s a relief that Madam didn’t really mean to demote Director Kang and the young lady. Look, the allowance is even thicker than last time. It must be her way of telling us to make up, right?”

“As if.”

“I was a bit worried, but now I can rest assured.”

“Me too. Come to think of it, Madam always favored our kids. And of course, she kept your husband’s CEO position as is.”

“Madam. How about we take this chance to tell her to kick that Jung Yeo Reum out of here?”

“Right, Mom. I need to get my room back quickly too.”

“Should we try?”

“Madam hasn’t left for work yet, so let’s go together and talk to her.”

The three women’s eyes sparkled with delight.

They flocked to the room where Ju Hwa resided.

In the dressing room, Ju Hwa was getting ready for work with Mr. Park beside her.

“Excuse me, Madam.”

Jeong Mi called to Ju Hwa carefully.

“Why?”

“What do you think about kicking that Jung Yeo Reum child out of this house?”

Ju Hwa in the full-length mirror looked at Jeong Mi.

Under that sharp gaze, Jeong Mi’s head automatically lowered.

Sensing the atmosphere, Sophia stepped up.

“You saw it at the table just now too. The discipline in this house is a mess because of Jung Yeo Reum.”

“That’s right, Aunt.”

Ju Hwa simply put on her diamond earrings without a word.

Glancing at her, Jeong Mi stepped up again.

“That child is a brazen and frightening girl who goes around in front of the staff saying this Blue House will be hers when you die. It’s truly embarrassing and mortifying, I can’t bear to live. Madam, it would be better to get her a shabby separate house. That way you’ll be more comfortable too.”

Ju Hwa said,

“I have no discomfort though?”

“…Pardon?”

“On the contrary, I find it amusing to see that child struggle and hold on like that.”

The three women were taken aback by the completely unexpected answer.

Meanwhile, Ju Hwa looked over her appearance reflected in the mirror and turned around.

“If you’re all done talking, can you leave my room now?”

“…Ah, yes.”

Pushed by Ju Hwa’s gaze, the three women turned around unsteadily.

“And.”

As if under a spell, all three women stopped.

“If you ever enter my room without permission one more time, the ones leaving this house will be you.”

“…Excuse me?”

“You thought I wouldn’t know? About you all rummaging through my room.”

The three women’s throats bobbed frighteningly.

Ha Eun especially felt a sense of déjà vu in this situation.

‘This is definitely…’

“I’m strict about protecting my privacy. I clearly warned you. If you don’t want to be chased out with a civil lawsuit later, don’t touch my things. Got it? I’m someone who does what I say I’ll do.”

Under the chillingly cold gaze, the two women hurriedly bent their waists and shouted.

“W-We’re sorry!”

Ju Hwa looked at Ha Eun standing blankly and frowned.

Jeong Mi hastily grabbed the back of Ha Eun’s head and pushed it down.

Ju Hwa said,

“You can go now.”

“…Yes. Then.”

As if being chased from behind, the three rushed out.

“Someone so strict about protecting her own privacy is stealing Yeo Reum’s entire life?”

Mr. Park confronted Ju Hwa.

“So that’s why, this is what happens when you have no money.”

“…Madam.”

“Se Jin must be realizing it wretchedly now too. The money she said wasn’t that important – because she doesn’t have it, look at the state her husband and daughter are in.”

“You know you’re really a terrible mother-in-law and grandmother, right? Even just now. Knowing the situation better than anyone, you brazenly give allowance to the CEO’s family, and pettily exclude only Yeo Reum.”

“It’s my choice.”

Mr. Park said,

“It’s truly childish.”

“I was always childish. You didn’t know?”

Ju Hwa lightly ignored Mr. Park’s straightforward remark and went out.

Grumbling complaints under his breath, Mr. Park followed.

“Have a safe trip.”

“Okay.”

Ju Hwa sat in the back seat of the stopped sedan.

The car quickly passed through the front gate.

Then Yeo Reum running hard up ahead came into view.

The driver, Mr. Park, carefully asked through the rearview mirror,

“Excuse me, Madam.”

“What?”

“Since we’re going the same way, how about taking the young lady with us? It’s quite a distance to the bus stop, isn’t it?”

“No need.”

It was a flat rejection.

Having no choice, the driver passed by Yeo Reum.

Ju Hwa looked at the side mirror.

Yeo Reum raised one fist high.

On top of jumping around resentfully, she could somehow tell what Yeo Reum was shouting with those lips.

“What’s so hard about giving me a ride on your way! You foul-tempered old hag!”

Ju Hwa blankly looked out the car window.

‘What you’re thinking of is probably a small chick, right? But the bird I’m thinking of is a large condor that dominates the skies. This amount is right for a condor.’

‘Are you saying you’re a condor?’

‘Of course. A king condor at that.’

Smirking, Ju Hwa muttered,

“A king condor…”