“What are you saying? Why would elder brother Jung Rok send a gift to someone like her? Are you mistaken right now?”

“Exactly. Driver Moon, check properly. Isn’t our Ha Eun the owner, not Jung Yeo Reum?”

Jeong Mi and Sophia, who had risen from the sofa, also asked in bewilderment.

Seok Bong placed the gift box on the living room floor and then took something out of his back pocket.

He respectfully handed it to Yeo Reum as she approached.

It was a card with pretty embroidered flowers.

Ha Eun, standing nearby, craned her neck to examine the card Yeo Reum held.

The envelope read, ‘To the beautiful lady who collected three pairs of shoes from Briweng’.

Yeo Reum opened the card.

「 Please accept this without feeling burdened. And please visit the department store once again. At that time, I will serve you wholeheartedly with joy.

―Kim Jung Rok, CEO of Hanseo Department Store. 」

‘This wasn’t necessary.’

Yeo Reum felt rather burdened as she closed the card.

She was about to say to send it back when an angry Ha Eun roughly tore open the packaging.

Inside was a beautiful luxury carrier.

“Hey, what are you doing right now?”

Even as Yeo Reum tried to stop her, Ha Eun didn’t listen.

She hurriedly opened the carrier.

“Ha…….”

Ha Eun was dumbfounded as she confirmed the neatly arranged gifts inside.

“Oh my, oh my…….”

Jeong Mi and Sophia, who had approached by now, were the same.

Inside were a beautiful dress, coat, and even boots and gloves.

They were clearly high-end luxury products at a glance.

Angry, Ha Eun frantically tore open another box.

This time there were 3 types of handbags and a jewelry case containing necklaces and earrings.

When she opened the golden envelope among them, there was even a gold card given only to VIPs of Hanseo Department Store.

Ha Eun had a blank expression as if she couldn’t believe what she was seeing with her own eyes.

But soon she stood up with a furious face and confronted Yeo Reum.

“You, did you go to Briweng and flirt with elder brother Jung Rok instead of running errands? Is that it?”

“Don’t say such nonsense.”

“Then what is all this!”

Ha Eun thrust the gold card in front of Yeo Reum’s nose as if pointing accusingly.

“Explain! Why is elder brother Jung Rok sending you these things!”

Yeo Reum snatched the card from Ha Eun’s hand, put it back in the golden envelope, and closed the carriers as well.

Ha Eun shoved Yeo Reum hard.

“Young lady, please calm down.”

The butler finally intervened, seeing Ha Eun seemingly losing her senses.

“You stay out of this! Why are you butting in without knowing your place!”

As Ha Eun pushed even the butler away, Yeo Reum grabbed her hand and pushed her back.

“Stop it. What are you doing?”

As sudden shouting broke out, even the staff who had been working scattered around gathered nearby.

“Why is elder brother Jung Rok sending you such things! Why!”

Yeo Reum sighed briefly and said,

“I don’t need to tell you this, but to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings, I’ll explain briefly. There was a problem when I went to Briweng. The staff there treated me like a maid and were rude, and just then CEO Kim Jung Rok entered the store.”

“……What?”

“He said he was sorry as the department store CEO and would compensate. When I refused, he sent these gifts home.”

Ha Eun asked with a suspicious look,

“Is that really all?”

“Yes.”

Not wanting to say any more, Yeo Reum said to Seok Bong,

“Send these back.”

“Ah, what should we do? They’ve already left.”

After pondering for a moment, as Yeo Reum was about to lift the box, Seok Bong quickly grabbed it instead.

The butler asked,

“Are you going to go yourself, young lady?”

“I suppose I should.”

After all, it’s just a gift.

“If so, please go with Driver Park.”

At the butler’s eye signal, Driver Park, who had been standing nearby, immediately approached.

“I’ll be back.”

“Yes, young lady.”

Yeo Reum headed towards the entrance.

The butler followed to see her off.

“It still seems strange no matter how I look at it.”

At Sophia’s words, Ha Eun turned around irritably.

“What does?”

“The gift is too excessive. Even looking at the contents. It’s like it was sent to a girlfriend, not an apologetic customer. And you all know how prickly CEO Kim Jung Rok’s personality is, right?”

“Are you saying elder brother Jung Rok likes that country bumpkin? What nonsense are you talking!”

“Of course not, but is Jung Yeo Reum a bit cunning? What if she’s flirting with CEO Kim?”

“Would men fall for that just because she flirts? For that fat pig? And the heir of the great Hanseo Group at that?”

Ha Eun snorted.

“What if Jung Yeo Reum revealed that she’s the PR Group heiress?”

Jeong Mi and Ha Eun frowned simultaneously.

“If that’s the case, CEO Kim Jung Rok might become interested. The heiress is a much better condition than the PR Group’s niece, isn’t it?”

“……Sister-in-law!”

“What are you saying?”

Jeong Mi also had an annoyed expression.

But Sophia said with a serious face,

“Mother, young lady, don’t just get angry, look at reality. From a third party’s perspective who doesn’t know the inside story, Jung Yeo Reum is the heiress of this PR Group. Do you understand?”

*

“Who did you say came?”

Jung Rok, who had been reviewing approval documents at his desk, looked up.

“The customer from Blue House to whom you sent gifts, sir.”

Jung Rok stood up with an excited face and immediately headed for the exit.

The secretary following him said with a slightly troubled look,

“But she brought the gifts back.”

Jung Rok, who was about to open the door, turned around.

“Brought them back?”

“Yes.”

He opened the door and went outside.

Yeo Reum was sitting on the sofa in front of the secretary’s office.

Next to her were the gifts he had personally prepared and sent.

After confirming this, he approached Yeo Reum with a smile.

“Welcome.”

“Hello.”

Yeo Reum also stood up and greeted him.

“You sent such excessive gifts. So I came to return them.”

“Did you not like them?”

“No. They were all pretty and too expensive. But that’s precisely why it’s too much. I have no reason to receive this.”

“But I think there’s plenty of reason?”

He rather made a disappointed expression.

“I’ll just accept your feelings. Then.”

Yeo Reum bowed slightly and was about to turn around.

“I’ll send them again.”

At those words, Yeo Reum stopped.

“Pardon?”

“I’ll keep sending my apologetic feelings until you say you like them.”

He smiled leisurely with a relaxed attitude.

‘Why is this white duke really like this? Someone might think you’ve fallen for me.’

“CEO, are you perhaps interested in me?”

His secretaries, who had been secretly listening to their conversation, were flustered.

In contrast, he burst into laughter.

“That’s right. You are always my interest, customer. So either accept the gift, or have a cup of tea with me. If you do that, I’ll give up cleanly here.”

He pointed to his office.

“Tea?”

“Yes.”

‘He’s so stubborn.’

With no other choice, Yeo Reum said,

“Alright.”

Yeo Reum entered the office, guided by him.

Jung Rok said to the secretaries behind him,

“Bring the most delicious tea, and don’t disturb us as this is an important guest.”

“Yes, CEO.”

He came inside and sat opposite Yeo Reum.

“Please drink.”

As the secretary pushed the quickly brewed tea in front of Yeo Reum, he said,

“CEO, you’re quite stubborn.”

Yeo Reum said as she lifted the teacup.

The subtle coffee aroma wafting from the elegant teacup made her feel good.

“I hear that sometimes. But you’re not so easy yourself, are you?”

“Well, honestly, I hear that too. They say I have nerves of steel.”

They both chuckled at the same time.

“But how did you carry those heavy things here?”

“Someone came along to help me.”

“I see.”

He nodded and then asked again,

“Did you perhaps hear unpleasant words from the Blue House people because of my gift? Is that why you’re doing this?”

“Why do you think that?”

When he didn’t readily answer, Yeo Reum said,

“Are you worried the maid might have angered the mistress?”

Instead of answering, he smiled a bit more broadly.

“I appreciate the concern, but I’m fine.”

“Really?”

“Yes. I even scribble on and throw the mistress and young lady’s shoes, you know.”

He chuckled and then nodded as if reassured.

“Ah, and just for your information, I have someone I like.”

He said, looking straight at Yeo Reum.

“I wasn’t curious, though?”

“Of course not, but I just wanted to say it.”

I already have someone.

So, white duke, you’re a pity, but I’ll pass.

Feeling somehow refreshed, Yeo Reum smiled and raised her teacup.

“I understand you have someone you like, but you’re not married, right?”

“Pardon?”

“Marriage. You’re not married, right?”

Soft dark brown eyes gazed directly at Yeo Reum.

“……Well, that’s true, but.”

He smiled brightly and raised his teacup.

“Then that’s fine.”

“Pardon?”

“I said it’s fine.”

What? What’s fine?

Yeo Reum looked at him with a puzzled expression.

But he just drank his tea with a bright smile.

*

Hae Rin said to Jung Rok’s chief secretary blocking her way,

“Elder brother is in his office right now.”

“That’s true, but he’s in an important meeting with a guest.”

“Who?”

“I can’t tell you that.”

As he blocked her usual access to the office, Hae Rin felt anger rising.

But she suppressed it and said,

“How long do I have to wait?”

“We don’t know that either.”

“If you don’t know, chief secretary, who would?”

Though she spoke as if scolding him, the chief secretary didn’t budge.

It seemed it would take quite a while.

“Then I’ll be in the gallery. Contact me when it’s over.”

“Yes.”

Hae Rin turned and walked down the hallway.

Secretary Cha, who was beside her, said,

“Young lady, those people are getting more arrogant by the day. Shouldn’t we do a proper clean-up next time?”

As they entered the elevator, Hae Rin said,

“I suppose we should.”

Suppressing her irritation, she headed to the gallery inside Hanseo Department Store.

The usually quiet gallery seemed busy but tense for some reason.

Wondering why, she looked ahead.

A group of middle-aged women had gathered, and among them was Lady Lee of the Hanseo Group.

Hae Rin quickly took out a mirror to check her face before approaching Lady Lee.

“Hello, mother.”

The beautiful face of Lady Lee immediately changed to a cold expression upon seeing Hae Rin.

“What brings you here?”

“I came to see elder brother but had some time, so it’s great to see you here, mother.”

“You really have no sense. And you speak so strangely.”

“Pardon?”

“Is Hanseo Department Store your playground? And where is your mother that you’re calling me that?”

Lady Lee’s voice rose slightly as if for everyone to hear.

Hae Rin’s face hardened.

“Looking at you really makes me feel how much the world has improved these days.”

“Why is that, madam?”

The women around bowed and chimed in with her words.

“In the past, illegitimate children couldn’t even show their faces and lived in hiding, but these days they’re so shameless. Mistresses too.”

Hae Rin’s neck flushed red with shame.

Lady Lee walked away without another word.

The women followed behind her with mocking smiles.

*

Staring only at Hanseo Department Store from the parked car, Ha Eun shouted angrily,

“Look at her flirting with elder brother Jung Rok!”

Remembering Yeo Reum’s words about having someone she liked, she had followed just in case.

But Jung Rok had even come out to see Yeo Reum off.

“See? I knew she’d be like this. Mother, are you really going to leave Jung Yeo Reum alone? Are you going to let her steal the young lady’s man like this?”

“I’m as upset as you are. But since your aunt is against chasing her away, what else can we do?”

Sophia said,

“Why don’t we use those people?”

“Right, mom. Let’s use them. I absolutely can’t stand this anymore!”

Ha Eun’s eyes gleamed dangerously.

As if she had been waiting, Jeong Mi said,

“Shall we?”

“How many are you going to call?”

“To finish her off, we need at least five.”

“Mom, what do you mean at least? We should call the maximum!”

“That’s right, mother. If we’re going to do it, we should crush her properly.”

“Sister-in-law is absolutely right. Mom, we need to make sure Jung Yeo Reum can’t function as a person twice over.”

“That’s true.”

The three women glared at Yeo Reum, grinding their teeth.