“Cash gift of 20 million won, and the remaining 10 million won can be used to buy a suit for our father and a luxury bag for our mother. Isn’t that fine?”
“Let’s do it that way.”
Despite her response, Si Hyun had a bitter taste in her mouth. I wonder if this man knew that I’ve never had a luxury bag in my life.

“Just wait a bit, I’ll tidy up and come down quickly. Let’s have dinner together.”
Woo Jin was rushing, but Si Hyun stopped him.

“No, I had a lot of work yesterday and stayed up all night at the company. I want to go home and go to bed early today.”
“Do you? You do look really tired.”
Woo Jin tenderly patted Si Hyun’s shoulder.

“Go home quickly and sleep well, I won’t call you.”
As his touch felt strangely unfamiliar and awkward, Si Hyun unconsciously took a step back.

“Then see you later, Woo Jin.”
After saying goodbye to Woo Jin, Si Hyun boarded the bus with her tired body.

Her entire body felt soggy and limp, like a piece of cotton soaked in water. It was rush hour and there were no empty seats on the bus. The distance from Woo Jin’s office to her house was only four bus stops, but she didn’t have the energy to stand.

She should’ve just taken a taxi. Regretting her decision belatedly, Si Hyun held onto the handrail and closed her eyes.

“You look very tired, please have a seat.”
When she opened her eyes at the sound of a gentle voice, a woman in her late thirties was looking up at her with a sympathetic gaze.

“No, I’m fine.”
Si Hyun waved her hand. Everyone was likely tired, she didn’t want to accept the offer of a seat.

“Don’t be like that, please sit. I’m getting off soon anyway.”
“I’m getting off soon too.”
“Then sit down until you get off.”
The woman finally stood up from her seat. Unable to resist the gentle persuasion, Si Hyun accepted her kindness.

“Thank you.”
Sitting down, Si Hyun sneaked a peek at the woman standing beside her. Her face looked familiar. The kind eyes, neat lips, and soft voice were all reminiscent of someone she knew.

Should she ask, or not? While she was contemplating, the bus arrived at the stop where she had to get off. Fortunately, the woman got off at the same stop as Si Hyun.

“Thank you, I had a comfortable ride thanks to you.”

Having exchanged greetings, Si Hyun could not resist asking.

“Excuse me, but by any chance, didn’t you used to work at Mr. Kang Jae Ho’s house?”
“Pardon?”
“Mr. Kang, the president of Asung Foods.”
Her counterpart looked surprised and stared intently at Si Hyun’s face. After a moment, astonishment spread across her graceful face.

“Could it be…… Si Hyun?”
Si Hyun grabbed her hand and began to choke up.

“Yes, it’s me, Auntie! I’m Kang Si Hyun, the niece of President Kang’s family.”
“My goodness.”
Tears filled the eyes of the woman opposite her.

“Si Hyun!”
At the bus stop, two women, hugging and bursting into tears, attracted surprised glances from people.

“((()))”

“Auntie, do you really have to go?”
Si Hyun, a junior high school thirdyear student, held onto Soo Yeon’s hand and choked up.

Soo Yeon had been a livein housekeeper at Si Hyun’s uncle’s house since Si Hyun was in the third grade of elementary school. They had spent about seven years sharing a room. To Si Hyun, Soo Yeon was nothing less than a mother.

“[I’ll do the dishes, so you go ahead and go in.]”
Soo Yeon always warmly embraced the young Si Hyun, who was treated no differently from a housemaid.

When Si Hyun first menstruated and needed sanitary pads, it was Soo Yeon who comforted her and bought them for her. When Si Hyun first needed a bra, it was Soo Yeon who took care of her.

But Soo Yeon was suddenly driven away. No one told her why, so she didn’t know. She had just heard her aunt shouting furiously.

“[My God, I’ve been harboring such a filthy woman in my house all this time. Get out of my house before our Ah Hyun finds out!]”
“I don’t want to go, but I have no choice, either.”
Soo Yeon’s eyes welled up with tears.

“Here, take this, Si Hyun.”
Seeing Soo Yeon pull out a rather thick wad of cash, Si Hyun backed away and shook her head.

“No.”
She couldn’t possibly accept it, knowing full well that Soo Yeon was being kicked out without even receiving her last paycheck.

“You can’t ask your aunt for money for sanitary pads. This should last you quite a while.”
Dragging Si Hyun’s hidden hand forward, Soo Yeon forced the money into her hand.

“I’ll definitely contact you once I find a place. Until then, study hard, okay?”
Hugging the crying Si Hyun tightly, Soo Yeon murmured in a trembling voice.

“You have to endure it, Si Hyun. I’ll endure it, too.”

“((()))”

Even while walking on the street, the two women didn’t let go of each other’s hands.

“Why didn’t you contact me once you settled down? I’ve been waiting for so long.”

“After greeting you, I tried several times to call, but the number wasn’t changed. I even went to your house, but I couldn’t see your face and was driven away by the madam.”
Si Hyun was surprised. She had been in the dark until now.