“Ah! I’m sorry. I might have offended you by speaking so abruptly, but my hasty personality got the better of me again.”

Roo Mi realized her mistake.

While looking at Tae Un, Roo Mi was trying to figure out how to phrase the words on the tip of her tongue, but due to her impatient nature, the words came out before she could think, and embarrassment began to show on her face.

“No, it’s fine. Um… I know enough. About that person, and that house.”

“Then may I ask Tae Un for a favor?”

“A favor?”

Roo Mi took a deep breath and spoke while gazing intently at Ba Ha, who was greeting customers.

“What I’m about to say… might upset you from your perspective. I know that, but I’ll say it anyway. I’m saying this because you said you know enough.”

“Yes.”

“Ba Ha, she’s a child with many wounds. Originally, when she smiled, her smile was so beautiful that you couldn’t think of anything else, but at some point, even when Ba Ha was smiling, it didn’t seem like she was really smiling.”

Roo Mi continued speaking without taking her eyes off Ba Ha, as if she felt sorry for her.

“…So now, I hope she can apply ointment well to those wounds and live only happily without any more pain. I’m entrusting her to you.”

May no more tears flow from those beautiful eyes.

May no more cries escape from those beautiful lips.

May she live as brightly as she did when I first saw her.

Roo Mi’s heart tightened every time she looked at Ba Ha.

“I’m not offended. Maybe it’s because that person is good, but Roo Mi, you’re a good person too. That person won’t get hurt anymore. Don’t worry.”

“Thank you. In that spirit, shall I tell you one more important fact?”

“There’s more?”

“I don’t think she would have told you this. Ba Ha’s birthday is coming up soon.”

As Roo Mi leaned in and whispered to Tae Un, his relaxed expression gradually changed to one of surprise.

“That is important indeed. Thank you, Roo Mi.”

The eyes of a third party were always accurate.

Tae Un’s eyes spoke as he looked at Ba Ha. Tae Un’s lips revealed it when he said Ba Ha was ‘pretty’. Seeing Tae Un like this, Roo Mi felt she could now reduce her worries about Ba Ha a little.

“What were you talking about?”

When most of the customers had left, Ba Ha returned to Tae Un and Roo Mi. Ba Ha tilted her head curiously at them smiling at her, while Tae Un and Roo Mi were trying hard not to laugh at Ba Ha’s reaction.

“What is it? Were you two talking behind my back?”

Ba Ha naturally sat next to Tae Un instead of Roo Mi, looking back and forth between them, and Tae Un held her hand while making eye contact with her.

“What are you worried about? There’s nothing to gossip about you.”

“Oh, Tae Un…”

At his sweet and affectionate words, Ba Ha became increasingly embarrassed, lowering her head and lightly hitting his thigh. As the corners of her mouth twitched upwards in her lowered face, she tried hard to hide it.

“Ahem… Would you two please leave now? Won’t you go?”

Roo Mi shook her head and spoke while looking at the lovey-dovey couple in front of her.

“Can we stay a little longer? Roo Mi, do you have to go back now?”

Ba Ha asked with an awkward smile at Roo Mi’s look of having seen something she shouldn’t have, and Tae Un held Ba Ha’s hand even tighter.

“I should go. Well! I’m returning to work now. Enjoy your meal and have a good day.”

She liked seeing those two looking so happy.

She liked seeing Ba Ha seemingly forgetting Lee Han, and she was reassured by Tae Un’s quiet presence beside her.

Because she had felt sorry for Ba Ha, who had always hidden herself without any promises, pretending to be fine, she hoped that this time, as Ba Ha took one step forward at a time, she would truly be happy.

“Roo Mi, let’s have a meal together next time. Thank you for today.”

“Yes. See you next time.”

As soon as Roo Mi returned to work, Tae Un turned Ba Ha’s chair to face him, pulled her closer, and wrapped her two hands in his large ones.

“Thank you.”

“For what?”

“You introduced me to the person you cherish the most.”

His words reassured her.

Although she couldn’t say “I love you” yet in response to his expressions, she felt he understood her desire to show that she was growing to like him more and more.

“But, Tae Un.”

“Yes?”

“Won’t you introduce me too?”

Now I want to get to know you too.

Not just you getting to know me

I want to know you too.

When Tae Un looked at Ba Ha with surprised eyes, Ba Ha continued with a smile.

“I want to meet your family. Because I want to know more about you too.”

It was a crisp day that seemed to hold a chill.

Ba Ha and Tae Un were on their way to the hospital where his mother, Soo Hyun, was staying, in silence.

Why was she so nervous?

Even though she had made up her mind because she wanted to know him better, every minute, every second of the journey to the hospital was a continuation of tension for Ba Ha.

“Sigh… Tae Un, why am I so nervous?”

She wanted to be a good person.

Just as Tae Un had done, Ba Ha wanted to appear as a good person to his precious people.

Perhaps because of this clear goal.

As the tension engulfed her body even more, Ba Ha sighed and looked out the window.

“Tae Un, what kind of person is your mother? What does she like? What if she doesn’t like me?”

Ba Ha asked Tae Un while constantly adjusting her clothes with her hands.

“You don’t need to be so nervous. She’s a delicate person.”

An infinitely delicate and fragile woman.

A woman whose memory made his heart heavy.

“And if I say I like you, she’ll surely like you too.”

Perhaps Soo Hyun would be the one who would be happiest about him bringing Ba Ha.

She was a person who lived with the guilt that Tae Un didn’t want to be seriously involved with anyone because of the wounds he received in his childhood, so maybe today she could alleviate some of the guilt she had been imposing on herself.

Tae Un tried to hide his heavy heart while telling Ba Ha about Soo Hyun.

“Really? I hope she’ll like me.”

“Of course. You look so beautiful today. Who wouldn’t like you? That’s nonsense.”

His playful words made Ba Ha’s heavy heart a little lighter.

Ba Ha looked at him with a faint smile, trying to let go of the tension that had been gradually enveloping her body.

“That’s right. Well, if you say so…”

Riing-!

As the atmosphere was gradually relaxing, a phone call came for Tae Un.

Seeing the name displayed on the navigation screen, Ba Ha stopped talking and swallowed hard.

Ha Soo Ran.

Tae Un’s aunt and the chairman of Daehan Group. Born as the eldest daughter of Daehan with no male siblings, she was an incredibly strong woman who had taken on the role of protector for her delicate youngest sister, Soo Hyun.

She was not only competent but also had a bulldozer-like personality that made her push through with anything she set her mind to.

Perhaps because she had watched her sister Soo Hyun’s married life more closely than anyone else?

She had never married and had only stayed by Soo Hyun’s side.

“Hello.”

− Woo Tae Un.

How often does one privately communicate with the owner of the company they work for?

As the voice of the woman she had only seen and heard from afar filled his car, Ba Ha’s whole body tensed up again.

“Yes, Chairman.”

− Chairman? Would it hurt you to just call me aunt?

“Ha… What is it, Aunt?”

Next to Ba Ha, who was becoming rigid again, Tae Un answered the phone. Despite his seemingly brusque tone, Tae Un’s voice was affectionate when talking to Soo Ran, and a smile spread across his face.

− I heard you’re coming to the hospital. Your mother told me.

“Yes. We’re on our way now.”

− Is that so? Your mother is waiting so eagerly. Alright, I’ll let her know.

As Tae Un turned his head towards Ba Ha while finishing the call, he saw her face gradually turning pale beside him. Tae Un burst into laughter seeing Ba Ha getting nervous again.

“…You’ll let her know? Aunt, where are you right now?”

At Tae Un’s question, Ba Ha, who had been quietly listening beside him, looked at him with wide eyes.

− Me? I’m right here next to your mother.

It was exactly what he had feared.

“Ha… I wasn’t told you would be there too.”

− I told Soo Hyun not to tell you. I was afraid you might make excuses and not bring her. Can’t I just be introduced along with everyone else?

“Aunt…”

Ba Ha grabbed Tae Un and shook her head, trying to stop him from saying what he was about to say.

“Ha… Alright. See you later.”

As the call-end tone sounded, Ba Ha exhaled her tension with a sigh.

“Are you okay? Aunt isn’t such a scary person. You don’t need to worry too much.”

“……”

“Should we go another time?”

I can do this.

Tae Un was someone who had crossed the threshold of the Tae San family without any hesitation.

What couldn’t she do by his side?

Ba Ha nodded her head vigorously and looked at him.

“No. Let’s go!”