Soo-yeong had added the clause about each being in their own bed after a humiliating incident with Woo-jin. It was too late to change “bed” to “home.”

“I haven’t done it properly yet.”

“Well, you wrote it yesterday. You’ll do it properly today. The weather is nice, too.”

Ji-hyun seemed genuinely excited. Touched by his caring demeanor, Soo-yeong cautiously asked,

“May I ask you something?”

“Of course, anything.”

“Did Seol Woo-jin kill his father?”

Ji-hyun’s face suddenly turned stern, almost shocked.

“He told you that?”

“Yes.”

Ji-hyun leaned his chin on his hand.

“Hmm. I didn’t know he still thought that way. No, it was just an accident. There was a fire, and Woo-jin survived, but his uncle passed away.”

“But why does Seol Woo-jin think he killed his father?”

“The uncle went to find Woo-jin during the fire, and that’s when the accident happened. It’s a bit complicated to explain… but it’s not what you think. It was just an accident. I didn’t know Woo-jin talked about this to you.”

“It just came up in conversation.”
“Whenever Woo-jin says that, please tell him it’s not his fault.”

Soo-yeong tilted her head and asked, “But if he thinks it’s his fault, would just saying it’s not really help him?”

Ji-hyun’s hand, reaching for his cup, paused at Soo-yeong’s words.

Driving back to the company, Ji-hyun got lost in thoughts and missed the road several times. He had a meeting scheduled at 4 PM, which now seemed likely to be delayed.

“Whenever he thinks it’s his fault, you should tell him it’s not,” the doctor who counseled Woo-jin had said. It was crucial to clearly state it wasn’t his fault to help change his perception.

Ji-hyun had always repeated those words to Woo-jin, much like he reassured himself. Since Woo-jin had stopped mentioning such thoughts around Ji-hyun, he thought his brother had somewhat moved past those feelings.

But hearing from Soo-yeong, it seemed those words might not have been very helpful after all. And Ji-hyun himself hadn’t fully overcome his guilt either.

When Ji-hyun asked how he should then address it, her response was surprisingly simple.

“Maybe you should just apologize if you feel that sorry?”

Apologize? That was an unusual suggestion. He thought she was quite a unique woman, much like Yeon-seo whom he had found peculiar at first sight. Maybe that’s why Woo-jin had opened up to her.

He wanted to talk more with her, but recalling his wife’s expression during yesterday’s call with Naeun, he knew it wasn’t possible.

Shaking his head, Ji-hyun soon made a hands-free call to the company.

“Yes, Director.”

“Hey, Jeong-won. Can we push today’s J-Braille meeting to 5 PM?”

“They’re already here, sir.”

“Already? Then have Oh and the development team start the meeting. I’ll hurry over.”

“Understood.”

J-Braille, a company developed by university students using 3D printers for Braille books, had struggled with funding and research until Ji-hyun’s publishing company actively supported them, bringing commercialization within reach.

Considering the tactile nature of Braille books, which had to be discarded if wet or torn and were expensive, J-Braille’s technology was a breakthrough. They had developed a 3D printer capable of printing Braille at a 1mm interval on a plastic-like paper made from sugarcane and corn.

The affordable Braille books made with this printer allowed visually impaired individuals to enjoy reading without financial burden. The popularity of Woo-jin’s books, which they test-printed, was phenomenal in libraries.

Thinking of Soo-yeong, who gave him a new perspective on Woo-jin’s wounds, and the J-Braille team’s relentless efforts for the disabled, Ji-hyun felt a surge of energy.

“We’re here.”

As the elevator reached the lobby on the first floor, Soo-yeong whispered, “I know. Don’t explain every little thing.”
Woo-jin spoke in an irritated voice. Soo-yeong felt a surge of anger but quickly suppressed it, reminding herself that he was just nervous. She firmly shut her mouth, convincing herself of this.

As they stepped into the lobby, Woo-jin’s grip on Soo-yeong’s shoulder tightened so much that she almost cried out in pain but managed to hold back.

When they entered the lobby, a security guard saluted them. Soo-yeong slightly nodded in response, causing Woo-jin to stumble a bit, confused.

“It’s the security guard greeting us,” Soo-yeong quickly explained. She had learned from a video that visually impaired people fear unexpected events in unfamiliar environments.

Woo-jin didn’t respond to her explanation. He hadn’t realized the lobby was so spacious. The walk to the apartment entrance seemed at least 100 meters away. He regretted not bringing his cane and relying solely on Soo-yeong; each step felt scarier.

When they finally stepped outside towards the park, Woo-jin stopped in his tracks. He felt the wind and light, truly outside for the first time in a long while. He only moved between the apartment and the underground parking lot directly connected to Ji-hyun’s car, so he never had the chance to experience the outdoor air properly.

Soo-yeong waited silently beside Woo-jin, standing motionless at the entrance. After a while, his phone alarm rang. The five minutes felt too short for Soo-yeong, but for Woo-jin, it must have felt much longer.

“Do you want to go back in? Five minutes are up,” she asked quietly.

Woo-jin didn’t respond again. He seemed to be feeling the breeze, lightly touching it with his fingertips.

Soo-yeong was worried they might be in the way if someone came out, but she didn’t want to disturb Woo-jin at that moment.

After some time, a sound that seemed like a sigh of relief or anxiety escaped Woo-jin. Soo-yeong, standing steadfastly by his side, felt him gently tapping her shoulder with his fingers. The touch felt strangely intimate, and she looked up at him, but his gaze was fixed straight ahead.

Thinking he might be ready to go back, she asked again, “Shall we go in?”

Seeing Woo-jin nod, Soo-yeong gently took hold of his waist and slowly turned around.

The security guard gave them a puzzled look as they re-entered the building, but Soo-yeong pretended not to notice. Waiting for the descending elevator, she felt Woo-jin’s hand on her shoulder gradually losing its tension.

Wondering if he had relaxed, she glanced at him again.

“Stop looking,” Woo-jin said sharply, catching her off guard. She quickly turned her head away just as the elevator doors opened with a ding.