Dawn had not yet broken.

The woman applying lipstick in front of the mirror saw the man reflected in it and smiled bitterly.

The man, who had been lying flat on the bed for hours without moving, was barely visible with only his hair peeking out from the white, fluffy blanket.

“Elder brother.”

He was a man she had been with for three months, greeting countless mornings together.

“You haven’t left yet?”

But that man had changed. The man who never contacted her first unless they had plans suddenly called her to the hotel last night.

“What’s wrong?”

“Da Jung.”

Though her name was called affectionately, the woman’s fingers holding the lipstick trembled and turned white. She slammed the lipstick down on the dresser and glared at the man trapped in the blanket.

“It’s Da Jin, not Da Jung!”

“Right, Da Jin. I really liked that aloof side of you. Both outside and inside.”

A giggling laugh emerged from under the blanket.

“What’s the problem?”

“What’s the problem……”

The man’s voice buried in the blanket was barely audible.

“Maybe from the moment you answered my call and came to this hotel?”

Da Jin didn’t hear the rest of what the man said.

The man never raised his face and remained motionless in that position.

“You should go.”

After staring at the back of the man’s head for a long time at the clearly audible voice, the woman bit her lip hard, grabbed her bag from the sofa, and left.

Bang!

The sound of the door closing echoed loudly in the hotel. It conveyed the woman’s mood perfectly.

Only then did the man raise himself from under the blanket.

As the blanket fell away from his body, his toned upper body was starkly revealed.

“This is how it should be.”

He recalled Da Jin, who had come to the hotel in less than 30 minutes after one phone call.

She easily caught his eye at the slightest kindness, and if he handed her a business card during the day, she would call by that evening at the latest.

It never took more than a day. No one ever did.

But,

It’s always Ji Eun Jae, only that damn Ji Eun Jae every time.

Looking at his phone on the table, Tae Gyu cursed under his breath and ruffled his already disheveled hair.

A hollow laugh escaped him.

Tae Gyu’s eyes, which had been exhaling a deep breath into the empty air, turned towards the dresser. He could see the lipstick Da Jin had left behind. He walked over sluggishly and picked up the lipstick. It was the luxury C brand lipstick he had gifted her recently.

As he recalled Eun Jae searching for something in front of the elevator a few days ago, the corners of Tae Gyu’s mouth curved up cynically as he held the lipstick.

He was waiting for Eun Jae’s call, which hadn’t come back after three attempts.

It had only been two days.

[This is the timeline separator]

Eun Jae stared blankly at the ceiling as she lay down.

It was the start of another mundane day.

Come to think of it, except for the past few days, it had always been a similar day.

The events of the past few days felt like a dream.

Looking at herself, unable to do anything, feeling powerless, she couldn’t help but laugh.

Thinking about it now, she wondered if it might have been better to accept the man’s proposal rather than living like this.

“That’s how desperate I am for this marriage.”

She remembered the man’s words and the look in his eyes.

Those black eyes that shone like black pearls. Deep, intense eyes that drew you in the more you looked at them.

To be so sincere about a fake marriage.

The deficiency shown by a man who seemed to have everything was enough to shake Eun Jae.

“Even if it’s not 200 million but more than that, I’m willing to pay. Because to me, Ms. Ji Eun Jae, you’re worth that much.”

A lowly employee who was luckily noticed by the chairman and scouted with a billion-won annual salary.

He acted as if he would accommodate everything, like someone begging her to come to their company.

If only it had been like that, it would have been easier.

He said he could do everything else. Why did it have to be marriage?

“I’ll do my best to ensure you don’t regret making this choice.”

When he spoke, he was cautious, and he showed care not to upset my mood in the slightest throughout.

A contract marriage set for a period of one year. Even the aftermath, which he didn’t need to worry about.

In fact, apart from all that, just the fact that my mother, who was frequently in and out of the hospital, could stay comfortably there was enough to make it worthwhile for me.

Eun Jae, who had been sighing deeply, fumbled on the bed and picked up her phone.

His face flickered on the ceiling.

Will you remember every time you see it?

It wasn’t a face that would be easily forgotten. Quite handsome, wasn’t he?

She rationalized to herself that that was why. Eun Jae continued to mindlessly roll the phone in her hand.

That’s when it happened. The phone rang with perfect timing.

Eun Jae, who had been lying limp on the bed until just moments ago, sat up straight. After immediately checking the screen, Eun Jae couldn’t hide her disappointment.

Had she secretly hoped it was him? Well, that person had no reason to call me.

No, that’s not right. If he needs me that much, he could at least try calling once, right?

Eun Jae stared blankly at Tae Gyu’s phone number floating on the screen for a long time, but her mind wandered to the other man.

Now I don’t know. Why does that man keep wandering around in my head?

“You’re quite persistent too, Yoon Tae Gyu.”

The day before yesterday, he had called three times, but she deliberately didn’t answer. There was no reason to.

The long vibration stopped, and shortly after, a short vibration sound accompanied by a text message arrived.

―I picked up something in front of the elevator.

It was clearly something she had been trying to forget until just a few days ago. But when she heard that Tae Gyu had it, Eun Jae called him back without hesitation.

It didn’t take long for Tae Gyu’s voice to come through after the dial tone.

[Hey, Ji Eun Jae. You’re really transparent.]

“Yoon Tae Gyu, do you have that keychain? The one with the bear, right?”

[……Huh? Yeah.]

As soon as Tae Gyu answered, Eun Jae got up from the bed, quickly brushed up her bangs while looking in the mirror, and then pulled on a hat.

“Where are you? I’ll come to you now.”

[This is the timeline separator]

Why did it have to be here again?

The place Eun Jae arrived at was in front of the man’s officetel. She stood in a somewhat secluded spot, waiting for Tae Gyu. She was worried about being spotted by loan sharks.

Not long after she arrived, a black sedan smoothly came to a stop in front of Eun Jae. The passenger window rolled down, revealing Tae Gyu’s face.

“Get in.”

“No, first the keychain―”

“Just get in for now.”

Eun Jae sighed long and opened the passenger door. As soon as Eun Jae got in, Tae Gyu’s hand reached out in front of her eyes.

He seemed to be trying to fasten her seatbelt.

Eun Jae gently stopped Tae Gyu’s hand and pulled the belt herself, asking:

“Where are we going?”

Tae Gyu, who had leaned back, laughed dejectedly.

“I’m hungry, let’s eat first. I haven’t had a single meal all day today.”

“Yoon Tae Gyu.”

“It’s fine, isn’t it? I found your item for you.”

Not avoiding Tae Gyu’s persistent gaze waiting for her answer, Eun Jae pulled the belt she was holding and fastened it.

With a click, the belt locked, and Tae Gyu smiled brightly as he stepped on the accelerator.

[This is the timeline separator]

The place they arrived at was the W Hotel lounge.

Eun Jae laughed as they entered the familiar parking lot.

She had come twice this week to a place that was usually difficult to visit even once.

Eun Jae sat in the lounge and looked at a scene quite different from that day. It was just before sunset, with the sky tinged with dusk.

Was it because it was night?

The night view was so pretty that day.

As the man’s image suddenly came to mind again, Eun Jae frowned.

“Ms. Ji Eun Jae. Let’s eat first before sightseeing, it’ll get cold and lose its taste.”

How funny must I have looked, gazing outside with such delicious food in front of me?

“Why are you smiling?”

“It’s nothing. Hurry up and give me my keychain.”

As Eun Jae narrowed her brows and held out her hand, Tae Gyu frowned as if to say what’s the rush.

“I’ll give it to you after you finish eating.”

“Hey.”

“What?”

“Give it to me now.”

Tae Gyu clicked his tongue at Eun Jae’s impatience and stuck his hand into his pants pocket. The keychain dangled from Tae Gyu’s index finger in front of Eun Jae’s eyes.

It wasn’t Eun Jae’s.

It’s my fault for coming out without checking first.

Eun Jae sighed deeply and looked at Tae Gyu.

“What? It’s not yours?”

I don’t know. I was clearly ready to throw it away without regret when I lost it, but why did I rush out without a second thought when I heard it was found?

“Did you really pick that up in front of the elevator?”

It looks brand new to anyone, like something hastily purchased after I said I lost it. Because that’s exactly what you would do.

“Yeah. Why?”

“Never mind.”

Tae Gyu placed the keychain in Eun Jae’s hand as she lowered her head.

“Don’t have regrets about things you’ve lost. If it’s meant to be yours, it will come back to you even without you looking for it.”

Seeing Eun Jae’s face still not brightening, Tae Gyu changed his words.

“What did it look like? Should we look for it again?”

“It’s fine.”

“Didn’t you drop it around there? Then it should be somewhere in that area. I’ll go and―”

Eun Jae’s eyes widened as she listened quietly to Tae Gyu’s words.

“That’s right! It could be!”

“What could be?”

Eun Jae suddenly slapped the table and stood up, grabbing her bag. Tae Gyu looked at Eun Jae, who was hurriedly getting up, with a bewildered expression.

“Hey! Where are you going?”

“Thanks, Yoon Tae Gyu.”

Eun Jae smiled and quickly turned to start walking.

That’s right. It might be at his house.

Two thoughts quickly crossed Eun Jae’s mind.

The thought that she might find the keychain again.

The excuse that she might be able to see him one more time.

That subtle gap made Eun Jae’s heart flutter.

[This is the timeline separator]

Sun Woo’s steps towards the professor’s office were heavy. His pace, seemingly lost in his own thoughts, was slow.

Should I contact her? Tell her I have the keychain, ask her to come get it. What will I say next? Should I suggest dating if not marriage?

It was better when I didn’t know.

It’s been almost a month since that small, pale woman shattered his quiet daily life.

Whenever there was a gap in his thoughts, her face would inevitably appear.

Her trembling figure in the bathroom, her surprised expression when invited into the house, her slightly reddened cheeks as she pulled her hand away, her lips eating food neatly at the hotel lounge, and so on.

Images he had passed by carelessly now came back vividly to torment Sun Woo.

This is ridiculous, how much did I even see her?

“Hey, Professor Yoon!”

Sun Woo stopped walking for a moment and turned around at the voice calling him. He saw Hye Ji, looking slightly out of breath.

Sun Woo stood still until Hye Ji came close, then started walking again when she was near.

“Why don’t you just call me by name?”

“No, what were you thinking so deeply about? I called you several times.”

Several times?

Sun Woo stopped again, tilting his head and asking Hye Ji with a meaningful look.

“How many times did you call?”

“At least ten times.”

“This is the first time I’m hearing it.”

“What’s wrong with you these days?”

As Sun Woo stared blankly at Hye Ji, she cleared her throat and avoided his gaze.

“Even you think I’m acting strange lately.”

“Yes, you are strange.”

It’s like a screw has come loose somewhere, and I keep wasting time thinking about that weird woman at odd moments.

“Why am I like this?”

“Stop talking nonsense. Make some time tonight.”

“What time?”

Sun Woo asked, stuffing his hands into his pockets and hurrying his steps again.

“You said you were grateful I changed my schedule for your blind date last week, that you’d repay me. Buy me dinner today.”

“Today―”

As if reading Sun Woo’s expression as he was about to say it wouldn’t work, Hye Ji more firmly blocked Sun Woo’s path and said:

“This is only valid until today.”

Hye Ji handed Sun Woo a silver envelope.

“What is this?”

The envelope handed to him had the W Hotel logo embossed on it. It seemed to be a dining voucher for the lounge.

“I also have something important to talk about. See you later.”

As soon Woo took the envelope, Hye Ji turned around immediately. With her hands in her pockets and a faint smile, Hye Ji’s steps were light.

[This is the timeline separator]

Sun Woo observed the night scenery of the W Hotel lounge with his chin resting on his hand.

Hye Ji, who was cutting her steak, chuckled. It was unfamiliar to Hye Ji to see Yoon Sun Woo, who was usually serious about food, showing interest in something else with food in front of him.

Slowly appreciating such a Sun Woo, Hye Ji gradually shifted her gaze.

“What is it, Yoon Sun Woo? What are you looking at like it’s your first time here?”

Well, it’s a place I visit three or four times a week.

Ever since he came here with that woman a few days ago, even the flowing air felt different.

Was the night view here always this beautiful?

The twinkling lights of the night view sparkled in Sun Woo’s eyes.

“The night view is quite nice.”

“So, when’s your twenty-eighth blind date scheduled?”

“Why twenty-eight?”

“Wasn’t that half-day off you took the day before yesterday for a blind date?”

She seemed to be referring to the day he had called the woman to his house a few days ago.

It wasn’t a blind date, but I guess it was similar.

“It’s already over.”

Quite spectacularly.

Sun Woo downed the non-alcoholic champagne in front of him in one gulp. Perhaps because he drank it so quickly, the carbonation scratched his esophagus as it went down.

“How about me for your twenty-eighth blind date partner?”

“You’re being frivolous.”

“Yoon Sun Woo, marry me.”

Sun Woo silently looked at Hye Ji’s eyes that were quietly meeting his.

“You know, I’m also in a position where I have to keep going on annoying blind dates, and I know your situation better than anyone. I’ll accommodate everything.”

Is this how she felt too, that woman?

She must have been flustered. It must have seemed absurd. She must have been dumbfounded.

Even in this situation, thinking about that woman. He found himself quite amusing.

Sun Woo’s phone on the table rang.

―Ji Eun Jae

The corners of Sun Woo’s mouth turned up gently as he saw the woman’s name on the screen.

Talk about perfect timing.

While Sun Woo was momentarily distracted by the