It seemed as though they both understood the meaning of those words, even though Eun Jung didn’t ask until the end.

As Sun Woo was about to take a sip of the herbal tea, he hesitated and made eye contact with Eun Jung. Eun Jung then glanced at Sun Woo cautiously and spoke in a low voice.

“No, it’s just that he said he wanted to register the marriage before even introducing her.”

“No, it’s not like that.”

Sun Woo continued his calm response and finally took a sip of the herbal tea.

“She’s still young, and right now we’re good together. So don’t rush her either.”

“Who said I was rushing?”

Eun Jung, who had been watching Sun Woo put his lips to the teacup and then remove them, quickly asked.

“Is it delicious?”

“It’s tasty.”

Eun Jung, who had been observing Sun Woo’s expression, carefully asked him.

“Sun Woo, does that young lady know about your obsessive-compulsive disorder?”

She wondered if perhaps the reason the blind date didn’t go well was because of the obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Eun Jung was secretly concerned about that. It felt like it was her fault somehow.

In response to Eun Jung’s worried words, Sun Woo slowly put down the teacup he had been drinking from and answered.

“I don’t mind holding her hand at all.”

“Really? Oh my, it must be fate!”

“What do you mean, fate……”

Eun Jung was overjoyed and made a fuss. She exclaimed that you’ve finally met your true match, it must be a match made in heaven, how could such a thing happen, making a big deal out of it.

Sensing this was his chance, Sun Woo adjusted his posture towards Eun Jung as if he was about to say something important.

Though she didn’t know what he was going to say that required such build-up, Eun Jung leaned in close to Sun Woo, ready to listen to whatever he had to say.

“I’ll come to the dinner next week. Please let Grandfather know.”

“That’s not difficult at all.”

As Eun Jung smiled and took a sip of tea, Sun Woo slipped his index finger between the knot of the tie that was constricting his neck. After pulling the tie down slightly to create a gap between his shirt and tie, Sun Woo reached for the herbal tea cup again.

“My father passed away long ago, and my mother is in poor health, so she’s hospitalized at Yeonrim.”

Eun Jung’s expression instantly became serious. Sun Woo remained unperturbed, as this was what he had expected. Sun Woo continued speaking in a calm voice, paying no mind.

“She’s an ordinary woman. Please don’t ask too many questions at the dinner.”

Eun Jung let out a short sigh and looked at Sun Woo with a worried expression.

“Sun Woo, if you’re doing this because of the hospital, don’t. Mom cares about you more than that.”

“I need it. You know it’s my dream. That hospital is everything to me.”

As Sun Woo finished speaking, he took a sip of tea with a slight smile. Watching him, Eun Jung couldn’t say anything and just let out a deep sigh.

“The Lady Song I know isn’t someone who judges people. It was really hard for me to win her over. So please help me.”

Sun Woo, who had been looking at Eun Jung’s worried expression, hesitated for a moment before placing his hand over hers and stroking it soothingly. Though his whole body was covered in goosebumps, Sun Woo tried hard to hide his expression.

Eun Jung tried to pull her hand away with a surprised look, but the more she tried, the stronger Sun Woo’s grip became.

“Don’t look at anything else, just look at one thing.”

This might be an opportunity that would never come again.

“She’s the person I love.”

[This is the timeline separator]

Eun Jae was sitting alone at the table set with two place settings.

She had prepared the meal and was waiting, but it seemed he was running late. Eun Jae alternated between looking at her silent phone and the clock.

He said he was stopping by his family home first.

“Perhaps he’s eating there.”

He could at least let me know if he’s going to be late.

Though we’re not the kind of couple to share such trivial things…

But it’s not that she was tired of waiting for him or disappointed they couldn’t eat together.

In fact, she felt much more comfortable eating alone than facing him across the table.

After staring at the empty seat and utensils in front of it, she looked away. Eun Jae reached for the side dishes she had prepared. They were side dishes sent by the lady from his family home this morning.

She put some wild chive namul dressed with perilla oil in her mouth and chewed slowly. The scent of the wild chives rose up with the aroma of spring. With each side dish she put in her mouth, Eun Jae’s brow furrowed and exclamations of delight kept escaping her lips.

How could the natural flavor of each ingredient be preserved so perfectly?

“I wish I could eat this with Mom.”

I wonder if she’d teach me after I get married if I asked.

Eun Jae’s lips, which had been chewing slowly, gradually slowed down and eventually stopped.

“I was going to make sure to thank him today.”

Come to think of it, I don’t think I’ve ever thanked him. When you consider it, there’s so much to be grateful for, but the sharp words that slipped out due to feeling sorry kept bothering me.

What he said recently also played a part.

“I just needed to say thank you, that’s all.”

So why is it so difficult for me to say those words?

“My stubbornness is useless. Do you understand?”

I know, you know?

Eun Jae decided to make sure to thank him when he arrived, and started moving her lips again.

[This is the timeline separator]

The house was quiet.

As soon as Sun Woo entered the house and slipped his feet into his slippers, he knocked on Eun Jae’s door.

“Ji Eun Jae.”

“……”

When there was no answer, Sun Woo lowered his head to look at his wristwatch. It was just past 10 o’clock.

“Is she already asleep?”

It wasn’t entirely unexpected, but he had been caught up after stopping by to pay his respects to his grandfather. He had tried to escape with various excuses, but Eun Jung didn’t help.

‘Eat before you go.’ Seok Hee looked up at Sun Woo with a displeased expression, leaving just those words before heading to the dining room.

Sun Woo, who had been sighing deeply, followed behind Seok Hee. There was no choice. Grandfather’s words were law.

And so, losing track of time, the dinner ended, and it wasn’t until he arrived at the officetel parking lot that he remembered the woman.

I told her we’d have dinner together, I wonder if she ate.

Sun Woo knocked on the door again.

When he carefully turned the doorknob of the room that showed no signs of life, the door to the woman’s room, which had not a trace of wariness, opened easily.

“Ji Eun Jae, dinner……”

In the dark room, only the woman’s quiet breathing could be heard.

“Why does she always go to sleep so early?”

This isn’t the military.

Sun Woo laughed helplessly as he carefully closed the door.

As he made his way to the kitchen, Sun Woo’s gaze turned to the side of the counter. He could see dishes with water droplets piled up on a kitchen cloth made of cotton gauze.

Seeing the washed dishes, Sun Woo felt relieved. Thankfully, it seemed the woman had eaten dinner.

Sun Woo’s gaze shifted to the dishwasher located directly below the counter where the dishes were stacked.

There’s no way she didn’t see it,

“Maybe she doesn’t know how to use it.”

That could be possible, he thought.

Sun Woo moved his steps closer to where the dishes were, as if drawn. Everything was neatly arranged without a single water stain splashed outside the sink.

He couldn’t help but smile at the thought that the woman’s words about being good at washing dishes, doing laundry, and cleaning weren’t a lie. On top of that, her neat organization was a bonus. The more he saw, the more he found aspects of her that he liked.

Thinking that he should teach her how to use the dishwasher tomorrow, Sun Woo was about to turn away when his eyes caught sight of two sets of utensils that were still wet.

It seemed the woman had been waiting.

[This is the timeline separator]

Clatter clatter. The faint sound of dishes colliding could be heard.

Though it wasn’t a loud noise, as soon as she heard signs of someone outside, Eun Jae slowly raised her eyelids.

She reached out and grasped the cell phone placed on the bedside table. After pressing the side button to check the time, Eun Jae quickly got up.

It was 9 AM. There’s no way he would be here at this time, so who could it be?

Eun Jae pushed open the door and quickly headed to the living room without even taking the time to put on slippers. The cold sensation of the floor was transmitted directly to her bare feet.

After taking one step, then two, Eun Jae picked up her pace a bit. At the end of the hallway, diagonally across, she could see the figure of a man holding a small bowl.

The man’s tendons stood out beneath the rolled-up sleeves of his shirt. Though he was simply dressed in an ordinary shirt and slacks, the man looked handsome today as well.

Eun Jae caught herself staring blankly at that sight again and quickly snapped out of it.

Here we go again. Please get a grip, Ji Eun Jae.

Eun Jae shook her head back and forth, intending to shake off her stray thoughts.

“It’s nine o’clock now, isn’t it?”

Why are you home at this time?

“I don’t have any appointments today, so I have some free time.”

Ah, I see. Murmuring softly, Eun Jae nodded her head as the man, who was placing the side dish bowls on the table, smiled brightly.

“Go wash up, let’s eat.”

When Eun Jae came out after showering, the table was neatly set with food.

At Sun Woo’s invitation to come and sit, Eun Jae sat down at the table with her still damp hair hanging long.

Sun Woo stood there staring at the woman’s movements.

The woman’s skin, moist with water, shone even more brightly than usual. How could a person’s skin be so clear and transparent?

For a moment, Sun Woo felt the urge to touch her, but before he could reach out his hand, he fixed his gaze on the bowl in front of him.

It was truly a strange thing. The fact that he, who had always tried to avoid the touch of others, was now thinking of touching someone first.

Have I finally gone crazy?

Come to think of it, ever since meeting this woman, it had become difficult to think normally. It felt as if his ability to judge and make decisions had been impaired.

“What are you going to do today?”

“I’m planning to stop by the hospital and then go to my part-time job.”

“Part-time job……”

Sun Woo mumbled, as if chewing on the words Eun Jae had said, as he reached for the namul side dish.

“I can’t just keep living off of you like this, can I?”

Well, I don’t think you’ll have time for that.

The strong scent of the vegetable side dish he had just put in his mouth rose up. Sun Woo pushed the bowl of namul side dish towards Eun Jae and replied.

“You’ll be busy with a lot of preparations.”

For a moment, he thought he didn’t want her to do part-time work, but he concluded that he shouldn’t restrict the woman’s freedom like that. It was her private life after all.

“If you’re going to do it, do it after the wedding is over.”

“We’re having a wedding too?”

The woman asked Sun Woo with her eyes wide open, as if this was the first time she had heard of it.

“We’re going to do everything, without missing anything. Is there a problem?”

“Why bother……”

The woman trailed off, as if she hadn’t thought that far.

“Article 2. During the marriage, the husband and wife shall do their best to fulfill their roles.”

Sun Woo recited it so clearly, without missing a single letter, that it created the illusion of reading directly from a contract in front of him.

“My goodness, do you memorize that?”

“It seems like you keep forgetting.”

“You’re using your good brain in such strange ways.”

Eun Jae laughed dryly as she reached for the namul that Sun Woo had pushed towards her. Without realizing it, Sun Woo’s gaze followed the woman’s chopsticks.

The woman’s eyebrows rose slightly as she put the namul in her mouth. It was her habit when eating something delicious. Sun Woo smiled slightly and brought his gaze back to his own soup bowl.

Sun Woo scooped up a spoonful of doenjang soup with baby cabbage that looked appetizing. The savory yet sweet soybean paste soup went down his throat smoothly, warming his esophagus.

“Anyway, keep that in mind. We’ll be going to my family home to pay our respects next week.”

“Okay.”

I thought she would open her eyes wide and ask again by now.

“You’re not surprised this time.”

“We’re a married couple except for not having registered the marriage, right? Isn’t it better for you the faster we do things? Well… it’s good for me too.”

The woman who had been blushing quickly lowered her gaze. Sun Woo looked at the woman’s small head and smiled silently.

What’s so good about it.

After finishing the meal, Sun Woo brewed coffee and handed it to Eun Jae, asking,

“Is there anything you want to eat?”

Suddenly? Eun Jae replied with her eyes wide open.

“…Not really?”

“Think about it and leave me a message, I’ll buy it on my way back.”

The man who had quickly drunk his coffee picked up his jacket and smiled silently towards Eun Jae.

It was a gentle and soft smile, like the aroma of freshly brewed coffee.