While Kwon Seung Chul was going down in the elevator, exactly 300 million won was deposited into his account.

“Oh, that was quick?”

Looking at the notification message, Kwon Seung Chul soon gave a bitter smile.

“Those with money and brains have no fear.”

The words the man had casually said to me as I was leaving kept bothering me.

“Think I gave it all up because I’m crazy about a woman? If you’re having second thoughts now, forget it. If things start to get messy, you’ll probably be the one to lose out.”

His tone, speaking as if he knew something, kept getting on my nerves.

“I warned you clearly.”

In short, it meant to take this and drop it.

“I guess I can’t make a living doing this anymore either.”

In these days when bank loans are easily available and everything is digitized, I was personally feeling that the old methods I had been using without learning anything new no longer worked.

So I was thinking of taking a hefty sum and leaving Korea.

“300 million won isn’t even enough for rice or porridge.”

When the man told me to name an amount, I wondered if I should have pretended to be crazy and asked for more.

The thought that the man probably would have given it all even if I had suddenly filled me with regret.

Still, this is something.

“Who knew Tae Kwang would be of such help at the end.”

Kwon Seung Chul spat on the flowerbed irritably and turned to look up at the large hospital behind him, taking regretful steps away.

[This is the timeline separator]

Eun Jae opened her eyes when the vibration of the cellphone in her hand went off. Startled by the vibration sound, Eun Jae hurriedly sat up.

“Ow, my neck.”

Whether it was from getting up suddenly or from sleeping in an uncomfortable position, Eun Jae grimaced, grabbing the back of her neck at the sudden pain.

Even though she had slept deeply without washing up, she still seemed to have some sleep left, as yawns kept coming one after another.

Eun Jae slightly wiped away the tears that had gathered in the corners of her eyes with her index finger and checked the time on her phone.

It was just past 1 o’clock.

“How did I sleep so deeply in this position.”

While massaging the back of her neck, she checked the messages that had piled up.

―A guest will be coming to the house.

What kind of guest.

“Is it okay for me to greet them?”

Since the times might overlap, she decides to postpone washing up for a bit.

Eun Jae absentmindedly scratched her head and gently placed the bathrobe and towel that had been on her knees onto the bed.

Besides that message, there was one more that had arrived around 8 am.

―There’s a sandwich in the fridge, so eat that. I’ll get off work around 4. I’ll come pick you up.

“I’m suddenly hungry.”

Yesterday, she had only eaten cup noodles hastily and hadn’t eaten anything since.

Because she had left the hotel in such a hurry, she hadn’t even touched the food there. It wasn’t a meal she could have eaten comfortably anyway.

As she came out closing the door, pink slippers and beige slippers were placed side by side in front of the inner door right in front. It was nothing special, but it made her feel strange for some reason.

“I guess it’s okay to wear these?”

Eun Jae carefully slipped her feet into the pink slippers and came out to the living room along the hallway.

Sunlight was pouring into the living room where the curtains had been drawn back. Even after coming out to the living room, Eun Jae kept yawning endlessly.

Come to think of it, it had been a really long time since she had slept so peacefully like today.

She had been on the run, falling into light sleep and waking up repeatedly out of fear of being caught, but now that she felt a little at ease, it felt like some of the fatigue that had built up was being relieved.

When she opened the refrigerator, she saw side dish containers neatly organized on one side.

The storage door contained a few bottles of water and sparkling water, Greek yogurt, and some cheeses. It didn’t look like the refrigerator of a home where people lived.

Just as the house looked like a model home, the refrigerator looked exactly like one displayed in an appliance store.

The sandwich he had mentioned was kept in a dessert tray covered with a glass dome. Next to it was a bottle filled with what looked like freshly squeezed orange juice.

“Even the fridge resembles its owner.”

For some unknown reason, Eun Jae chuckled and carefully took out the tray and orange juice.

“Looks delicious.”

It was a bagel sandwich. When she took a big bite, she could taste the blueberry and cream cheese. The crisp lettuce and slightly salty sliced ham were in perfect harmony.

“It’s so delicious.”

It was when she had eaten about half of the sandwich. A pleasant intercom bell rang.

It seems the guest the man had mentioned had arrived. As soon as she picked up the receiver with a click, a woman spoke as if she had been waiting.

[Hello. I’ve brought the items Mr. Yoon Sun Woo requested.]

“Ah, yes.”

Eun Jae pressed the door open button, licked the cream cheese off her hands, and quickly washed her hands in the kitchen.

Soon the doorbell rang, and Eun Jae went to the entrance and opened the door.

“Hello. I’m Han Na Kyung, a shopper from Cheongdam S Department Store.”

A woman in a neat black suit entered the house carrying an enormous amount of shopping bags.

Huh. What’s all this?

Eun Jae, her eyes wide open, took some of the shopping bags the woman was carrying and entered the house.

This much is shopping addiction, isn’t it?

As Eun Jae was looking at the shopping bags with questioning eyes, the woman approached her.

The woman starts taking out items from the shopping bags one by one. Just as she was feeling that something was strange about all the pastel-toned and flowy materials, it happened.

“I brought both sizes 44 and 55 just in case, but since sizes differ slightly between brands, it would be good to try them on. What’s your usual shoe size?”

“Me, me?”

“Yes. You are Ji Eun Jae, right?”

The woman asked, taking out a tablet as if to confirm the name.

“Yes, I am Ji Eun Jae, but.”

“The professor personally requested it.”

The woman said with a pretty smile as she took out a neatly folded dress.

“You might not be familiar with this brand. It’s the F/W new collection from the brand that F company created targeting women in their 20s since last year―”

“Um, excuse me, but could I make a phone call?”

Eun Jae asked for the woman’s understanding and picked up her phone to call Sun Woo.

Ring ring. After a short dial tone, the man’s voice came through.

[Yes.]

“Um, sir. A guest has arrived, but.”

[Tell her your size and receive the items.]

“What? No, I can’t―”

[She’s a busy person. Tell her your size and receive the items. I’m busy. Hanging up now.]

“But, sir!”

While Eun Jae was staring blankly at the woman after the call was abruptly ended, the woman’s phone rang.

The woman simply answered “Yes” four times without saying anything else and then hung up.

“Ms. Ji Eun Jae, please tell me your size.”

The woman asked concisely and smiled brightly.

Clothes that seemed to be well over ten pieces, shoes, sneakers, bags, a few accessories, and even cosmetics and underwear.

The woman, who had set up everything including the clothes and accessories to wear today, left the house with a bright smile until the very end.

“What on earth is all this?”

Looking at the items filling the living room floor, unable to believe the scene, Eun Jae let out a long sigh.

After listening to explanations, trying on clothes, and trying on shoes, Eun Jae hurriedly gathered her bathrobe and towel and entered the bathroom, looking at the clock that had already passed 3 o’clock.

[This is the timeline separator]

Perhaps because he had been stuck in surgery all day, it was an especially tiring day.

Sun Woo, sitting in the driver’s seat, lowered his gaze to his wrist to check the time.

4 o’clock.

It was obvious that she would be waiting until this time having only eaten a sandwich. Feeling anxious as he thought of the woman, Sun Woo sent a message to Eun Jae.

―I’m leaving work now. Come down to the parking lot in 20 minutes.

As soon as he sent the message, Sun Woo tossed the phone onto the passenger seat and gently pressed the accelerator.

Perhaps because he had left a bit early, the traffic wasn’t heavy and he arrived a little earlier than expected.

Sun Woo parked the car and picked up his phone. Either she hadn’t checked the message or there was no reply from the woman.

Sun Woo immediately called Eun Jae. After a long ring, a machine voice saying she was unavailable came through.

Sun Woo tilted his head quizzically and quickly got out of the car, pressing the elevator button. His hand pressing the button seemed hurried.

In the elevator, he called Eun Jae again, but still, there was no answer. Throughout the elevator ride, Sun Woo’s expression looked anxious.

Because she was a woman who would slip away just when he thought he had caught her.

As soon as he arrived at the officetel, Sun Woo walked quickly to the front door, tapped his card, and entered the house.

“Ms. Ji Eun Jae.”

As Sun Woo entered the living room without even putting on slippers, he saw the back of the woman pouring water at the water purifier.

Only after confirming the woman’s presence did Sun Woo let out a breath of relief.

Judging by her robe, it seemed she had just finished showering. A faint scent of familiar shampoo wafted through the living room.

The woman, who had been drinking water, turned around at Sun Woo’s presence and greeted him.

“Ah, you’re here. The time has already…”

“Didn’t you see the text…”

Sun Woo didn’t finish what he was about to say and suddenly turned around.

The woman’s curves were clearly visible through the open front of the bathrobe.

“I’m sorry. I fell asleep in the bathroom and…”

Suddenly he felt heat rising to his face. Sun Woo stroked his face again with his large hand and said while turned around.

“Ms. Ji Eun Jae, please fix your clothes first.”

“What? My clothes?”

Eun Jae looked down at her robe at Sun Woo’s words and only then noticed the open robe, grabbing the front in surprise.

“Ah, this, the robe is too big…”

“……”

“I’m, I’m sorry.”

The woman with flushed cheeks quickly disappeared with small steps. Sun Woo only exhaled the breath he had been holding after confirming the woman had completely disappeared.

“There’s a lot to be sorry about.”

Sun Woo swallowed dryly and filled a cup with ice and water, downing it in one go. Even so, the heat that had risen once didn’t easily subside.

The image of the woman standing in front of the water purifier kept shimmering like a mirage.

She was originally not wearing makeup, but she looked fresh. Her skin without makeup was flawless and smooth. Her wet, white skin shone particularly transparently.

“What am I thinking.”

Trying to shake off the lingering image of her that kept invading his mind even though he tried not to recall it, Sun Woo rubbed his face roughly and twisted off his tie, running his fingers through his bangs roughly.

After refilling the glass that only had ice left with water and repeating this two more times, the heat finally seemed to subside a little.

[This is the timeline separator]

The sun had not yet set, and a pink sunset hung in the window of the W Hotel lounge.

As always, Eun Jae was absorbed in looking at the scenery outside rather than the food.

The woman in the pink dress looked just like the setting sun outside the window.

Sun Woo, who was smiling lightly while looking at such a woman, swapped his plate of steak cut into easy-to-eat sizes with Eun Jae’s plate and said.

“Aren’t you hungry?”

“Ah, I could have done it myself…”

“It would take forever.”

Her face turned red at the man’s gentle smile and manners. Eun Jae took a sip of the champagne in front of her and said.

“The sunset is pretty.”

“Yes, it’s pretty, Ms. Ji Eun Jae.”

The man who made a strange remark lowered his head and placed a knife on the steak. In contrast to his calm demeanor, the surprised Eun Jae choked on her champagne.

“Cough, what?”

“Your clothes.”

“Ah.”

Even though it wasn’t alcoholic champagne, her face felt hot and she wiped it with the back of her hand.

“There are too many clothes.”

“You’ll need them. There’s a dinner at my family home next week. I was planning to talk about you then, is that okay?”

“Yes, well, I…”

Eun Jae mumbled and put a piece of steak in her mouth.

Is this man usually this kind to just anyone?

The kindness the man has shown since yesterday keeps making her think differently. The glances from people around, sliding towards the man, weren’t bad either.

It even made her feel proud, as if she had really become this man’s fiancée.

“Are there any foods you don’t eat?”

At the sudden question, Eun Jae covered her mouth, which was still chewing, and answered.

“No, there aren’t.”

“Does the food suit your taste?”

“Yes, it’s excellent.”

Sun Woo, who was smiling with satisfaction, took out a document from his briefcase and handed it to Eun Jae.

“It’s the contract. Read it slowly and sign. There’s nothing much, though.”

“Okay.”

The contract was written in relatively simple language for Eun Jae to understand easily.

All the contents he had mentioned so far were included without exception. Eun Jae’s gaze, which had been reading down continuously, lingered on one clause for a long time.

―The term shall be one year from the date of accepting the contract.

Although she knew it, it felt strange to see a clause that announced the end at the same time as the beginning.

“It probably won’t happen, but let’s not include any personal feelings.”

“……”

“It’s just a contract after all.”

The emotion she had felt towards the man until just a moment ago cooled instantly.

It’s just purposeful kindness, isn’t it?

Don’t get confused.

“Give me the pen. I’ll sign now.”

Sun Woo handed over the pen with a smile, and Eun Jae, who received the pen, signed the contract with her name and handed it to Sun Woo.

“Let’s do well for a year, Ms. Ji Eun Jae.”

The man’s hand extended across the table. Eun Jae grasped the man’s hand that offered a handshake without hesitation.

She earnestly hopes.

That this hand I’m holding will be a hand of salvation.