“I have to express my gratitude for condolences at my father’s funeral. I’m thinking of doing something like a small gift when I go to work tomorrow. …I’m still considering what to do.”
Dan-u nodded as Ji-an spoke, putting another piece of apple into her mouth.
Beyond the balcony’s open view, the morning sun reflected on the river, making the water shine white. The sunlight also poured down on Dan-u and Ji-an, sitting facing each other, casting a warm glow on their faces.
After visiting the psychological counseling clinic reserved by Taeyoon, Dan-u and Ji-an finished their appointments and entered the elevator side by side.
Ji-an, with a comfortably relaxed face, read the hospital introduction attached to the wall with her eyes.
[Dr. Lim Jeong-min’s Mind Rest Center welcomes your emotions.]Dr. Lim Jeong-min had a gentle demeanor. Thanks to his empathetic expression, the difficult emotions that were hard to express naturally flowed out of Ji-an’s mouth.
Dan-u, who got into the car, finally asked a question.
“How was the counseling?”
“It was good. I felt like I was empty, but it feels like it’s filled up again.”
Dan-u lifted his gaze from the hands she had laid out. Unwilling to be conscious of it, he couldn’t help but pay attention to the shape of her hands that Ha-jun had mentioned.
She had naturally placed her hands on her lap and was looking at him with a gentle expression.
Dan-u, with a more affectionate face than anyone else, gently held her cheeks and gave her a short kiss. Despite the awkwardness, Ji-an was admirable in not hesitating to return and valuing herself.
While Dan-u’s sedan was heading in the direction of the Lake Tower, Ji-an’s phone rang. She opened the phone, looked at So-min’s name, and silently smiled.
Upon hearing the news that Ji-an had returned to Seoul, So-min, who had called to express her worries, suggested having lunch together. After ending the call, Ji-an looked at Dan-u and spoke.
“It’s So-min. It seems we can’t meet next time. She insists on having lunch together today.”
“Trying to feed you lunch. …Then meet So-min and see you later at home.”
“Will you be late again today?”
From the funeral to a two-day trip and hospital appointments, Dan-u’s past few days had been solely tailored to Ji-an. Yet, here she was asking if he would be late.
Ji-an smiled apologetically, looking like she made a mistake.
As if reading her inner thoughts, Dan-u opened his mouth.
“I’ll go in quickly. But I have work to do at home.”
When Dan-u parked the car in front of Lake Tower, Ji-an parted ways with him and went straight home. The air in the house, vacant for a few days, was cool and silent.
She was about to put down her phone when she saw a thermos on the dining table. It contained porridge made by Yeon-woo ajumma.
“I haven’t eaten yet.”
What Ji-an had vaguely feared when she heard the word “parasite” from Ha-jun was this.
Yeon-woo ajumma’s relationship with her.
The end with Ha-jun was a reality where she couldn’t naturally receive the kindness that lady bestowed on her.
“I should tell her the truth. I haven’t done anything wrong.”
Thinking that it might be right to tell Yeon-woo about Dan-u, Ji-an silently began to pack her things.
As Ji-an pulled the suitcase and went out in front of Lake Tower, So-min’s eyes were filled with suspicion.
“What luggage is that? Where are you going?”
“I’ll tell you while we eat lunch.”
So-min drove Ji-an in her car, expressing concern for her well-being. She turned the steering wheel to “Todam,” her favorite samgyetang restaurant.
After settling in Todam, shortly afterward, a samgyetang with sprinkled gold, containing abalone and caterpillar fungus, was placed on the table.
Not knowing the price of the samgyetang So-min had pre-ordered, Ji-an blinked her eyes, looking at her in surprise.
So-min pointed at the pot, indicating to eat and talk about it during lunch.
“Even though it’s Lee So-min, you should still use her name. Don’t worry and eat. …Hey! Do you know how worried I was?”
“Right. I’m someone who is loved like this. I didn’t even know that. I’m sorry.”
“Apologies can come later. For now, eat. Eat and talk.”
Seeing Ji-an filling her mouth with tender meat and enjoying the rich broth, So-min’s face finally relaxed.
So-min had been shocked to hear the word “parasite” from Ha-jun. She had even thought of visiting the workshop operated by his parents, Areumdri.
However, the moment she recalled the possible aftermath of the word “parasite,” she could guess why Ji-an had refrained from saying it.
“We heard that story.”
“That story?”
“‘Parasite.’ …Ha-jun spilled it with his own words.”
“Oh!”
Ji-an sighed sympathetically.
‘Yoon Ha-jun is crazy. Why did he say that with his own mouth?’
Even though she had moved and kept her distance from Ha-jun, she hadn’t thought of him as a bad person. However, things were getting more complicated.
“And Yujin and I received a call from Woo Dan-u, the CEO. He said he likes you. …Could this be a story about CEO Woo going to the countryside and such?”
“…Yeah.”
So-min, shaking the pot to the point where the table shook, covered her lips with both hands, her eyes wide open.
Ji-an momentarily closed her mouth, waiting for So-min to control her emotions, then added more to the conversation. It seemed appropriate to honestly explain her current situation to So-min, who had rushed over upon hearing she was back in Seoul.
“I plan to spend some time together for a while. Honestly, I didn’t even realize that my phone was off, and I spent a few days in a daze. I only came to my senses when Dan-u came looking for me.”
“Oh my God.”
While Ji-an talked about Dan-u, So-min’s face was as excited as a teenager.
As if wrapping up the comfort, she took Ji-an to a department store’s underwear store. With the unpredictable dynamics between a man and a woman, preparing underwear was considered basic. She ended the consolation by saying, ‘You never know when and how things will turn out. This guy seems pretty cool. So, wear this and just throw on a shirt. Got it?’
Entering the penthouse, Ji-an looked at the shopping bag in her hand and laughed awkwardly.
Male lead reborn without memories — but he still falls for her.
The person he finds displeasing in this life turns out to be his cherished wife-master in previous life…
Xie Zhi and Fang Xianxing who had known each other for less than three days through a blind date sat in the same car in front of the civil affairs bureau. They had a disagreement and failed to get married.
Xie Zhi immediately took out his phone, slid through his contacts, and randomly selected the next marriage candidate.
The woman snatched his phone and hung up. Looking at his phone wallpaper, she awkwardly changed the subject: “An ancient painting, eh? It looks pretty good, it’s just that the person in the painting looks a bit like me.”
When he heard this, he sarcastically mocked her for being so delusional, completely unaware that, the person in front of him was the reincarnation of Wen Ru, the famous prime minister of Yuan Shun whom he most admired…
The female CEO who doesn’t want to get married with a divorce agreement in hand × The male archaeological researcher who will only get married if he’s sure he can get divorced
