“Jina seems to be quite angry?”

“I would be too.”

“It’s not that my brother has other thoughts, he’s just being nice because he likes the person.”

Yeo Reum’s steps halted.

She looked up at San Ha standing beside her.

“Why are you looking so scary?”

“What did I do?”

“Your magpie eyes look like they’re about to devour me.”

Seeing him shrink slightly, Yeo Reum chuckled.

Coincidentally, there was a bench nearby, so she approached and sat down.

San Ha naturally took the seat next to her.

“You seem to like nice people. Why are men like that?”

“Why are you including me in this? What did I do?”

“San Ha, you’re a man too. Let me ask you just one thing.”

“What?”

Yeo Reum leaned in close to San Ha and said.

“Do men always smile when they see a pretty woman? Do they open car doors and suddenly become extra kind, like a spring breeze?”

“I suppose that’s generally true.”

Yeo Reum slapped his arm with a ‘smack’.

“Ouch.”

San Ha frowned and rubbed his arm.

“What if she’s just pretty on the outside, but has no manners? What if she’s truly despicable? Is that still forgivable?”

“If she’s pretty, it’s forgivable. If she has a good figure too, even more so.”

“Ouch.”

San Ha winced again and rubbed his other arm.

“Even if she’s only pretty on the outside, but has a terrible personality? Even if she’s rude with every word? Is that still okay?”

“If she’s pretty, that’s good too. Unconditional forgiveness.”

“Ouch.”

San Ha hurriedly rubbed both arms and glared at Yeo Reum.

“But who is it? Who’s so pretty?”

Yeo Reum said irritably.

“Who else? I’m talking about that woman who came looking for you earlier.”

“Hae Rin?”

“Answer me. Do all men really get that dazed and grin stupidly when they see a pretty woman? Are you like that too, San Ha?”

“Since I’m a man too, I guess it’s instinctive? It’s because of the male brain structure… Ouch! That hurts!”

San Ha quickly scooted to the edge of the bench.

He frantically rubbed both arms while glaring at Yeo Reum.

Then, observing Yeo Reum’s sullen face, he cautiously said.

“But is Hae Rin pretty? I’m not sure.”

At those words, Yeo Reum turned to look at him.

“No, what part of Hae Rin is supposed to be pretty? I really don’t get it.”

San Ha sucked on the straw of his grapefruit ade with a puzzled expression.

“But why does the magpie look like that?”

“Like what?”

“You looked like an angry magpie earlier, but now you seem to be melting like a frozen persimmon thawing out. All soft and mushy.”

That’s right. I melted.

How could I not soften when you say such pretty words?

Come to think of it, San Ha ignored that rude behavior earlier.

As expected, my steadfast and beautiful tiger!

Forgetting her earlier glares, Yeo Reum now clung tightly to San Ha’s side, staring intently at his face with a broad smile.

“What’s with you?”

He tried to gently push her away, but Yeo Reum clung even tighter.

“Because I’m happy.”

“About what?”

She kept giggling and staring at his face.

He seemed to hesitate before offering her his grapefruit ade.

Yeo Reum didn’t hesitate to take a big sip through his straw.

“Ah, delicious.”

The grapefruit is so sweet.

“San Ha, you should have some of this too.”

Yeo Reum generously offered him her iced americano.

“You know, relationships between people should be fair, right? Since I received, I should give too.”

Yeo Reum smiled, recalling Jina’s words from earlier.

“That may be true, but I’m good.”

He shook his head, pushing away the coffee that had been placed in front of him.

Yeo Reum’s brow furrowed slightly as she said.

“Are you rejecting my sincerity right now?”

“No, it’s just that I don’t really like coffee…!”

Seeing Yeo Reum’s expression grow more severe, San Ha quickly put the coffee’s straw in his mouth and began sucking.

Yeo Reum’s lips spread into a wide grin.

“Bad magpie.”

As if to wash away the bitter taste, he sucked on the grapefruit ade again.

“I understand how Jina feels. Even if it seems one-sided, it can’t be helped.”

If I really liked the boss but he smiled and was kind to another woman like that, I’d be upset too.

“In a way, my brother’s actions might be right.”

“How so?”

“Just because you like someone doesn’t mean you can date or marry them. And emotions you can’t take responsibility for can make many people unhappy. Sometimes being resolute or indifferent might be better.”

“Is there… something between those two?”

“Who knows.”

Instead of saying more, San Ha sucked on the grapefruit ade Jina had made for him.

Just then, something occurred to Yeo Reum and she blurted out.

“That cheesecake!”

“What now?”

San Ha pushed away Yeo Reum’s face, which had suddenly come close again, with his index finger.

But brushing aside his hand, Yeo Reum moved even closer and asked.

“The cake sent on San Ha’s birthday, that was from her, right? Right?”

He answered.

“Yeah.”

“What? You’re close enough to know and celebrate each other’s birthdays?”

“I know her birthday. But you should remove me from the ‘celebrating’ part.”

“What?”

“Hae Rin sends things one-sidedly.”

Yeo Reum’s brow furrowed deeply.

She knew she was feeling ridiculous jealousy and interrogating him, but somehow she felt angry.

She didn’t like that woman being connected to San Ha as close older brother and younger sister.

“Are you angry by any chance?”

He glanced down at Yeo Reum, who had her lips tightly pressed together, and asked.

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because I don’t like it.”

Because I don’t like that woman being near San Ha.

Even if it’s ridiculous, I really dislike that woman.

“Are you jealous of Hae Rin right now?”

“It’s not jealousy, I just don’t like it.”

He chuckled.

“For your information, Hae Rin is Hae Il’s younger sister.”

Yeo Reum’s eyes widened instantly as she turned to look at San Ha.

“…Hae Il’s sister? Really?”

“Yeah.”

“…I see.”

So she’s a friend’s sister.

And the sister of Hae Il, who San Ha feels heartache for.

“Feeling better now?”

“A little.”

I understand if she’s Hae Il’s sister, but why do I still dislike that woman so much?

‘Am I really that jealous?’

“You understand now, right?”

Yeo Reum nodded, then said.

“But the siblings don’t look alike at all.”

“Really?”

He still had an indifferent expression as he answered.

Well, I guess it depends on whether they’re full or half siblings.

“By the way, San Ha.”

“Hm?”

“I heard you’re the eldest son of the Daesin Group?”

His dark black eyes turned to Yeo Reum again.

“Is that true?”

“Yeah.”

Yeo Reum nodded.

“Are you shocked?”

“A little.”

“Seems like you’re very shocked.”

“To be honest, I thought you came from a well-off family, but I didn’t know you were the son of a chaebol family. And the Daesin Group, which is said to be the best in our country.”

‘I never thought I’d meet so many chaebol in my life.’

Lost in thought for a moment, Yeo Reum suddenly asked him.

“Then did you know about me?”

“What? Oh, that the magpie is the heiress of the PR Group? I knew that.”

“…Since when?”

“Hae Il’s hospital is there, right?”

“Ah, right.”

“I was sleeping in the hospital VIP lounge when your cousins came in talking loudly.”

“…I see.”

After a moment of silence, Yeo Reum asked again.

“Did you feel sorry for me? Is that why you were nice to me?”

“Do you think you’re pitiful?”

“No. Why would I?”

“Then why are you asking like that? And you might not know this well, but I’m not in a position to pity anyone.”

“Why?”

“In my family, I’m like oil floating on water.”

“…Oil on water?”

“Simply put, I’m the unwanted child from a previous marriage.”

He chuckled.

“Then San Ha’s current family is…?”

“Father, stepmother, younger half-twin siblings. And me.”

Suddenly, he flicked Yeo Reum’s forehead.

“Why so serious? Don’t you know how common divorced families and half-siblings are these days?”

He answered nonchalantly while drinking his grapefruit ade.

He seemed to not want to talk about it anymore.

So Yeo Reum decided not to ask further.

She’d naturally come to know more over time.

Just like now.

“Is that why Gu San Ha the tiger looked lonely?”

“Do I look that way?”

“Sometimes.”

He smiled, showing his even teeth.

“But why do you call me a tiger?”

Yeo Reum lightly tapped his broad chest with one hand.

“What now?”

“The more I hear it, the cuter it gets, right? It’s a really well-chosen nickname, right? Magpie and tiger. A perfect combination!”

Yeo Reum laughed loudly.

But San Ha had a disgruntled expression.

“What’s cute about a tiger? And why am I a tiger?”

“Why? Tigers are so cute. And San Ha looks just like a tiger.”

“Me?”

“Yes. Rather than simply saying San Ha is handsome, you’re overall very cool. Just looking at these eyes is captivating. Like this.”

Yeo Reum planted a kiss on San Ha’s cheek.

His brow furrowed slightly, but she pointedly kissed his other cheek too.

“You’re really acting like I’m yours now, huh?”

“What can’t I do when I’m captivated?”

He laughed in disbelief.

“Just admit it now, okay?”

“What?”

“That Gu San Ha the tiger belongs to Jung Yeo Reum the magpie.”

He spoke firmly.

“No, I don’t.”

“Really?”

“The magpie’s eyes are so small, how could they captivate? Even if you want to, you can’t.”

Yeo Reum slapped his shoulder again.

“That hurts.”

He quickly rubbed it while glaring at her.

“Still not captivated? Even with this?”

After widening her eyes as much as possible, Yeo Reum kissed his lips too.

“Magpie, you’re really shameless, you know that?”

“Me? No, I’m not.”

“What do you mean you’re not? You’re always kissing me at every chance. Look at you now.”

“Then should we do something else?”

Yeo Reum’s half-lidded eyes moved to San Ha’s broad chest.

Startled, he quickly stood up.

Tightly fastening his padded jacket with both hands, he said.

“Don’t even think about this.”

Yeo Reum also stood up and replied.

“I’ll hold back for now.”

“What?”

“I’m saving it all up to strip you completely later. Like this!”

As Yeo Reum raised both arms to pounce on him, he hurriedly backed away in surprise.

“Ah, where are you going? Come here.”

“No. You’ll pounce if I come.”

How cute he looked, strongly refusing and shaking his head.

Yeo Reum followed behind him as he walked ahead, saying.

“Gu San Ha tiger, let’s go together.”

“I said no.”

He started running.

Because of that, Yeo Reum ran too.

Despite the chilly weather, laughter kept bursting from her mouth.

*

“I’m home.”

Yeo Reum said as she entered the Blue House entrance.

“Welcome back, young lady. You must be tired today too?”

The butler at the entrance greeted her warmly.

“It’s fine.”

“What’s so great about a mere coffee shop part-time job?”

The sneering voice came from Ha Eun, sitting on the living room sofa.

Jeong Mi and Sophia, as well as Jung Ran and Hye Sook, were also there.

“That’s right. She’s acting like she did some important work.”

Sophia’s words weren’t kind either.

“I get why my distant aunt and aunt-in-law are jobless, but why is my distant aunt here at this hour? Didn’t you go to work?”

“Who are you calling jobless?”

Jeong Mi and Sophia immediately got upset.

Ha Eun also said irritably.

“I don’t want to go to the company because of you. I went from manager to regular employee, would you want to go to work if you were me?”

“Anyway, Chairman Kang is too lenient. Why keep such a slacker? He should just fire her.”

“What!”

Just then, the facilities management team entered carrying boxes in both arms.

Jeong Mi asked.

“What’s that?”

“A gift for the young lady from CEO Kim Jung Rok of Hanseo Department Store has arrived.”

Ha Eun immediately brightened and tried to receive the box, but Driver Moon said.

“It doesn’t seem to be for this young lady.”

“What?”

“The recipient is written as ‘the beautiful lady who picked up three pairs of shoes from Briweng’. This seems to be for Young Lady Yeo Reum?”

Because of that, Yeo Reum’s steps halted as she was about to go to her room.