Eun Jae entered the room, wrapping her soaking wet hair with a towel after finishing her shower.

Suddenly, the contract she had left on the bed came into view. Quietly approaching, Eun Jae sat on the edge of the bed and carefully picked up the contract lying beside her.

With her hands still damp, she gently rubbed the spot where the man’s and her own signatures were engraved.

The man’s signature was like a picture composed of graceful curves. Compared to that, her own neatly written name next to it made her feel newly embarrassed. If she had known, she would have practiced beforehand.

“Let’s not harbor any personal feelings, though that’s unlikely to happen.”

“This is just a contract, after all.”

They had agreed not to add unnecessary sentiment to a marriage with a predetermined end. Adding at the end that they should be careful not to make things awkward for each other.

“I don’t intend to do that either.”

Showing the unpleasant expression she couldn’t reveal in front of the man, Eun Jae slowly read through the contents of the contract she hadn’t properly examined earlier.

……§……

Marriage Contract

Wife Ji Eun Jae (hereinafter referred to as ‘Party A’) and husband Yoon Sun Woo (hereinafter referred to as ‘Party B’) hereby agree to the following terms and pledge to abide by this contract in good faith and sincerity.

Article 1

Upon concluding the contract with Party A, Party B shall pay off all of Party A’s debts and provide any further financial support Party A requires without reservation.

Article 2

Party A must maintain a smooth marital relationship until Party B receives the hospital inheritance, and must do her best in the role of wife while the marriage is maintained. All details related to the marriage contract shall not be disclosed to any third party.

Article 3

In case of damage to Party B due to Party A’s fault, Party B may demand repayment of expenses paid to Party A, and Party A must repay double the amount.

Article 4

Even after the contract with Party A expires, Party B shall actively support Party A to continue her economic activities independently (support for opening a franchise cafe), and file for marriage annulment upon contract expiration. All related expenses shall be borne by Party B.

Article 5

This contract takes effect immediately upon Party A’s seal, and the term is set for 1 year from the date of contract acceptance.

Article 6

Any additional necessary content can be added or modified upon mutual agreement.

……§……

What’s the point of being Party A on the contract when he does whatever he wants anyway.

Still, out of curiosity, she had asked. The man answered Eun Jae’s question concisely.

“It’s something only you, Ji Eun Jae, can do.”

She recalls the man’s face smiling as he answered that way.

Realizing her lips had unconsciously curved upwards, Eun Jae quickly composed her expression and carefully placed the contract back in the envelope.

“Can I… do this well?”

The contract was already finalized, and now it couldn’t be undone.

She resolved to stay alert by recalling Article 3 whenever she felt like backing out.

The penalty was as much as double. Except for not directly threatening, how was this any different from them?

Tsk. Despite clicking her tongue, Eun Jae’s expression looked bright.

The sense of liberation from debt that had seemed endless, the expectation that she might return to a normal daily life again, made Eun Jae’s heart flutter.

The first act of my life was quite sluggish, will the second act be a little better?

A bitter laugh escaped between Eun Jae’s teeth at the thought that wandered without context.

Even so, it was just a one-year fixed-term contract marriage.

It was just past 10 o’clock.

The darkness had come early due to the short day, and outside the window was as quiet as a deep sea. The bright moonlight stretched from the dim living room to the kitchen.

At the end of that moonlight, a man lightly holding the stem of a wine glass was leaning casually against the table, swirling the red liquid in the glass.

The man was standing in dark blue silk nightwear – a robe and matching pajama pants.

Between the unfastened robe, the man’s toned body was faintly revealed, glowing in the moonlight.

When Eun Jae stopped in her tracks, surprised by the unexpected situation, Sun Woo slowly raised his body from where he had been leaning, sensing her presence.

“Why? Can’t sleep?”

Sun Woo smiled lightly, looking at Eun Jae with half-open eyes.

Eun Jae, unexpectedly encountering the man, rolled her eyes around before quickly lowering her gaze to the floor.

“No… I was just going to have a glass of water.”

Slowly placing the wine glass on the table and straightening up, Sun Woo fixed his gaze on Eun Jae while leisurely tying the sash of his robe. Though it was less than 5 seconds, it felt suffocating.

“If you don’t mind, sit down for a moment.”

His low, deep voice, slightly dampened by alcohol, melted sweetly into her ears.

“There’s something I couldn’t tell you earlier.”

Nodding as if enchanted by his words, Eun Jae headed to the opposite side of the table where Sun Woo had been standing.

The man reached out and turned on the small ceiling light above the table. A soft, warm light illuminated the table.

Eun Jae watched the man reach up to the high cabinet to take out a glass.

In that brief moment, Eun Jae thought how well the dark blue robe that flowed along the lines of his body suited the man’s pale skin.

Well, what wouldn’t suit that appearance?

As the robe slipped down to his elbows, his forearm muscles flexed with his small movements. Her gaze naturally fell to the man’s chest.

Seeing the small embroidery on the robe, Eun Jae realized it was the same brand as the pajamas she was wearing.

When she discovered these pajamas among the pile of clothes the shopper had brought, she was a bit surprised. It gave her the impression that the man was more thoughtful than she had expected.

Not just clothes, but shoes, bags, accessories, underwear…

Ah.

By the time her thoughts reached there, it was too late. Her face was already flushed with heat.

As she tried to cool her burning cheeks with the back of her hand, cooled from her shower, the man placed a glass of water in front of Eun Jae.

She had completely forgotten that she had come out to drink water in the first place.

“Drink. Warm water is better for improving immunity than cold water.”

This kind of thoughtfulness.

Excessive attention, or kindness that could be misinterpreted differently from what was meant.

“I’ll drink it well.”

Eun Jae received the water glass the man handed her with both hands. A suitable warmth transferred to her palms.

As the man reached out to grasp the wine glass he had set down briefly, his robe opened again, revealing his well-defined pectorals.

It reminded her of the day she first encountered him at the front door. Unlike his delicate appearance, he had a healthy body well-toned with angry muscles.

Feeling her face heating up again after she had just cooled it down, Eun Jae hurriedly gulped down the water.

As if possessed by some lustful demon, that scene kept popping up in her mind just when she thought she had forgotten it, tormenting Eun Jae.

The man moistened his throat with a sip of wine before speaking first.

“Let’s greet them and file our marriage registration next week.”

“Alright.”

Sun Woo looked at Eun Jae, who answered quietly, then paused for a moment before continuing.

“Kwon Seung Chul came by this morning.”

“Ah…”

While choosing her response, Eun Jae felt his gaze on her. Sun Woo didn’t avert that gaze as he took another sip of wine with a smile on his lips.

“Go out and get some fresh air comfortably. You probably haven’t been able to do that lately.”

The man didn’t boast about it until the end. He only alluded to giving money to Kwon Seung Chul in that roundabout way.

“But don’t go too far.”

The man smiled again after saying that.

Stop smiling so much, it’s confusing.

“I’ll definitely pay you back.”

“It’s part of fulfilling the contract.”

It’s money you don’t need to pay back. Saying that, the man reestablished and reminded her of their relationship, which had momentarily wavered.

It’s just a contract, don’t get attached, he said, but the kindness he showed was excessive. Even knowing it was all because of the contract, her mouth still tasted bitter for some reason.

Though she wasn’t sure where these feelings were headed, it was certain that the man sometimes bothered and irritated her. And she knew all too well that she shouldn’t nurture or reveal those feelings.

Eun Jae managed to tear her gaze away from being drawn to the man.

Right, I just need to focus on doing my part.

“What time do you usually leave for work?”

“Why, are you already trying to act like a wife?”

When Eun Jae’s eyes met Sun Woo’s as he took a sip of wine with a smile playing on his lips, her face flushed again, making her earlier resolution seem foolish.

The man was the one drinking the wine, but it was she who felt her cheeks burning and her mind growing hazy.

“Well, it’s not that… I just thought I should see you off.”

“I prefer being alone, I’m used to it.”

Ah. Sighing softly, Eun Jae nodded. While trying to guess at what was left unsaid in the man’s words.

It’s just a contract marriage that will end in a year, so don’t cross the line.

“You don’t need to make such efforts.”

Right, wake up, Ji Eun Jae.

Early morning.

Eun Jae came out to the living room, rubbing her eyes that had grown tired from searching for part-time jobs until late last night.

She entered the kitchen, skimming through the man’s message telling her not to skip breakfast with bleary eyes.

She knows it’s just a formality. But her head and heart often interpreted its meaning differently.

“You don’t need to make such efforts.”

While brewing coffee, she deliberately recalled what he had said last night. Despite having turned it over in her mind countless times after returning to her room, it still felt like her heart was being scratched.

“I won’t either, you know?”

Eun Jae frowned, glaring at the table chair where he always sat.

It must have been from that moment, precisely.

The day he suddenly appeared like a hero and saved her.

That day, an indescribable light shone from the man.

“Why aren’t you answering your phone, darling?”

She had always known his appearance was exceptional, but suddenly he started looking even more handsome, and her heart began to race madly whenever she saw him.

These days, when their eyes met, her heart would beat rapidly and she’d be overwhelmed by strange emotions.

A few days ago, his voice calling her affectionately as if they were real lovers was still vivid.

Why did he have to say such unnecessary things?

Well, he’s going to own such a big hospital, so what can’t he do? He even proposed this contract marriage.

Right, it’s because of the hospital. That’s why he’s doing this.

“Darling.”

The man’s sweet voice echoed in her head once again.

“Stop it, stop it!”

Please stop calling me that.

My head feels like it’s about to explode even now.

The man’s voice, lingering like an afterimage, kept filling her mind. Eun Jae covered her ears and shook her head back and forth. Hoping that somehow this would make the man’s voice floating in the air fall away.

A moment later, having barely regained her composure, Eun Jae took a deep breath and pulled the lunchbox on the table closer to her.

A small note attached to the lunchbox caught her eye.

―Have dinner with me.

Her gaze shifted to the black credit card placed next to the note. Eun Jae slowly read aloud the note written on the card as well.

“Keep this, buy whatever you need.”

Does this man have no sense of caution towards me at all? Does he know what kind of person I am?

“It’s confusing.”

The boundary of her feelings towards him is built and crumbles several times a day.

Does he know?

That the casual kindness he thoughtlessly throws my way shakes me to the core.

Having filled her stomach well, Eun Jae finished preparing to go out.

It was a luxurious lunchbox. Mixed grain rice with nine side dishes. It felt like having a full course traditional Korean meal.

She was planning to stop by the hospital where her mother was. It had been over a month since she last saw her mother’s face. She needed to settle the overdue hospital bills and was curious about any progress in her condition.

Eun Jae looked at her wristwatch, calculating the time. Thinking she should return home before the man’s quitting time. If there’s time left, she should also stop by the places where she’s looking for part-time jobs.

How long has it been since her last outing? She felt excited at the feeling she hadn’t experienced in a while. It also felt unfamiliar.

Eun Jae took a deep breath and slung her bag over her shoulder.

She was just slipping her foot into one shoe when it happened.

Hearing the melody that plays before the door opens beyond the front door, Eun Jae stopped what she was doing and looked at the entrance. Soon, her eyes met those of a middle-aged woman who had entered the foyer off guard.

“Oh my, you startled me!”

The golden bundle the woman was holding in both hands fell to the floor. Turning pale, the woman shouted at Eun Jae with a trembling voice.

“Wh-who are you!”

Taken aback, Eun Jae could only blink her eyes rapidly without saying a word.