Yoon Sun Woo, who stood blocking between the two, gently took Ji Eun Jae’s hand and hid her behind his back.

As if telling her not to even make eye contact, Eun Jae, trapped behind his broad back, seemed surprised by Sun Woo’s sudden appearance, but quickly regained her composure and followed his lead.

Yoon Tae Gyu, whose wrist had been painfully grabbed by the suddenly emerging hand, repeatedly struck Sun Woo’s hand with his face flushed red.

It had been a while since he had let go of Eun Jae’s wrist, but the grip on his own wrist was getting stronger.

“Alright, alright, let go of this hand, this hand.”

Sun Woo released Tae Gyu’s hand as if shaking it off, with only a slight furrowing of his brow on his dry face. Pushed back two steps by that force, Tae Gyu glared at Sun Woo while rubbing his own wrist, which was left with red marks.

“Damn it, why use violence?”

“So why do things that could be misunderstood.”

He subdued the atmosphere in an instant with just his gaze. Already in a losing situation, Tae Gyu had to taste the sense of defeat while looking up at Sun Woo.

The height difference of only about 3 centimeters feels especially large today.

Even God is indifferent.

If He gave so much to Yoon Sun Woo, shouldn’t He have given me about 5 centimeters more to be fair?

Just when he thought he had gotten used to the shame of being looked down upon by Yoon Sun Woo, who had always been a superior existence to him.

Moments he had tried hard not to think about suddenly brushed against his skin.

Having nothing but filled with arrogant and useless pride, it seems he doesn’t want to show this side of himself even in this situation.

It’s embarrassing.

It’s because it’s in front of you, Ji Eun Jae, it’s because it’s in front of you.

Tae Gyu did not avoid Sun Woo’s sharp gaze falling on his eyes. It was stubbornness.

“What misunderstanding could there be just from friends holding wrists?”

Before Tae Gyu finished speaking, Sun Woo turned around and caressed Eun Jae’s cheek while asking. It was an affectionate touch without hesitation.

“It seems like you’ve finished greeting, is there anything else to talk about?”

At Sun Woo’s words, Eun Jae shook her head as if she had been waiting for this.

Watching this scene, Tae Gyu’s face distorted mercilessly. Unable to bear watching the two of them any longer, Tae Gyu finally turned his head, muttering curses.

Sun Woo’s expression, which had been smiling tenderly, hardened coldly as soon as it left Eun Jae. Sun Woo gently wrapped his arm around Eun Jae’s shoulders and moved towards the dining room.

“Let’s go.”

As he passed by Tae Gyu, Sun Woo smiled leisurely.

The smile he had encountered in front of the elevator last time. No, come to think of it, Yoon Sun Woo in front of Yoon Tae Gyu always had that expression.

The smile of a winner.

That’s exactly what it was.

[This is the timeline separator]

Sun Woo clicked his tongue when he encountered Tae Gyu again in the dining room, thinking he would have understood by now.

“Annoying bastard.”

Sun Woo sighed briefly, recalling the two he had seen in the living room just before.

It wasn’t just words; he was genuinely angry seeing that scene.

He didn’t know what they were talking about, but he disliked Yoon Tae Gyu smiling at Eun Jae, and it was actually burdensome to see Eun Jae listening to him.

It might have been just an ordinary conversation out of the pleasure of meeting an old classmate after a long time.

He thought about just passing by. He didn’t think he could manage his expression anyway.

Suddenly, he remembered Eun Jae’s voice saying she was so surprised to see Tae Gyu at the main house for the first time that she had to calm her heart.

Should I watch a bit more and then naturally intervene as if I just happened to pass by?

In contrast to that resolve, from the moment Yoon Tae Gyu touched Eun Jae, anger surged without time to think.

He was a guy with a habit of changing women like accessories. He didn’t even want such a low-class bastard to touch Eun Jae.

Eun Jae might think Sun Woo’s actions were just to help her out of a crisis. Maybe it would be easier if she thought that way.

Honestly speaking, is there anyone who wouldn’t misunderstand seeing that scene? Or am I being overly sensitive?

Yoon Tae Gyu’s gaze towards Eun Jae keeps irritating Sun Woo.

That annoying expression is also playing a part.

When Tae Gyu’s eyes met Sun Woo’s, who had been staring at him with an unpleasant gaze from across since earlier, he made a sour face.

“Don’t look at me like that, I’m here to eat breakfast too.”

“As if.”

In my 33 years of life, I’ve never once seen you eat breakfast. Sun Woo looked Tae Gyu up and down with distrustful eyes.

At that moment, Sungsan Daek, who was entering the dining room, spotted Tae Gyu and made a puzzled expression. Sure enough, it was exactly the same expression Sun Woo had just given Yoon Tae Gyu.

“What brings you here?”

Seeing Sungsan Daek’s expression, Sun Woo laughed as the upcoming situation seemed obvious.

“Hello, Aunt.”

“It’s a sight to behold, Young Master Tae Gyu coming down for breakfast.”

Pfft. Eun Jae, who burst into a small laugh at that scene, glared at Tae Gyu while mouthing ‘What? You came down for breakfast?’ Tae Gyu, sitting across from her, quietly retorted with his lips, ‘Why, what? What do you want me to do?’

Sun Woo, who had been quietly observing the two, felt his mouth go dry and gulped down cold water repeatedly.

[This is the timeline separator]

After an unusually long breakfast, Eun Jae sent Sun Woo, whose departure time was approaching, to the annex first, saying she would stop by the kitchen for a moment.

Stopping by the main house kitchen, she swallowed the digestive medicine given by Aunt Sungsan, and recalled the thorny breakfast while thumping her clogged chest with her fist.

‘Wow. I don’t know if I ate through my nose or mouth.’

To think she’d have to eat breakfast like this every day.

It was something she had expected to some extent, but thinking about the future was a torment.

She was told that breakfast was early because the main house revolves around Grandfather.

So yesterday, her first day, Mother had told her that she didn’t necessarily have to come down to the main house to eat.

But Eun Jae insisted on eating at the main house. It was because it wouldn’t be polite to eat separately from the first day.

She thought she would have to adapt gradually as time passed and look for opportunities.

I can do it. I can do it, Ji Eun Jae.

I’ve done worse than this.

Just as she was coming out of the kitchen with a determined look, lifting the corners of her mouth with all her might…

“Hey, Ji Eun Jae.”

Eun Jae was startled again when Tae Gyu suddenly thrust his face in front of her. She felt like her barely settled stomach was churning again.

“You scared me. What are you doing here?”

“I was waiting for you. But you really do get startled easily. I guess that wasn’t a lie.”

This guy, really.

Eun Jae frowned deeply as she looked up at Tae Gyu, who was giggling.

“Why are you waiting for me?”

“Are you free this weekend?”

“No.”

Even if I am, I don’t have time for you. Eun Jae firmly held her stance and passed by Tae Gyu, who was blocking her way.

Tae Gyu kept grinning as he watched Eun Jae, who was consistently cold towards him. Then he followed behind Eun Jae as she walked past him.

Eun Jae’s steps were quickly caught up to by Tae Gyu with his long strides.

“Don’t jump to conclusions. I’m not asking you on a date.”

“Okay, I get it, so stop following me.”

“It’s not like that, I’m telling you. Listen to me till the end.”

Tae Gyu reached out his hand to stop Eun Jae. Eun Jae noticed Tae Gyu’s hand reaching for her wrist and quickly struck it down to prevent it.

I won’t be fooled twice.

“Ah, that hurts!”

Tae Gyu frowned, clutching his wrist, even though she hadn’t hit him that hard.

“You’re exaggerating.”

“It’s not an exaggeration, didn’t you see Yoon Sun Woo twisting my wrist this morning? That bastard is a martial arts expert.”

That bastard? Eun Jae glared sharply and asked again.

“A martial arts expert?”

Apparently, he swept up gold medals every time the National Taekwondo Championship was held, so everyone thought he would become a national representative for Taekwondo.

‘Didn’t he say he couldn’t fight?’

When she first met him, he clearly said that.

“Why? Did you think I’d knock them down like a hero? I can’t fight or anything like that.”

“So don’t expect too much, because this is all I can do for you.”

She hadn’t thought he would knock them all down like a hero, but she was indeed anxious about the man’s additional words.

The bathroom door was shaking weakly, and it seemed like those people would push through the door at any moment.

After boasting confidently to trust him, now he’s saying not to expect anything.

Eun Jae’s mouth gaped open as she briefly recalled that day.

Oh my goodness.

Come to think of it, he single-handedly dealt with three grown men without getting a single scratch, didn’t he?

Wow, this liar.

“You didn’t even know that? When Yoon Sun Woo was young… nevermind.”

Tae Gyu blurted out without thinking, but quickly retracted his words as if he thought better of it.

“That’s why I keep telling you he’s suspicious.”

“Isn’t it natural that I know less than you?”

Stop with this useless talk now. Eun Jae raised her index finger to Tae Gyu’s face, warning him seriously, and turned around. Nevertheless, Tae Gyu followed behind Eun Jae again, as if he had nothing to fear.

“There’s a class reunion this weekend.”

“I haven’t gone once in 7 years. And suddenly I would go there?”

“You might not know, but the kids really want to see you. You know, that friend of yours. Mirim or Yerim or something. You can come with her.”

“Later.”

“Hey, do you remember our class president? You know, that really short one with round glasses who looked cute.”

For the first time, Eun Jae showed a bright reaction to Tae Gyu’s words. She stopped walking, turned around, and asked Tae Gyu.

“Jiyoung?”

“Yeah, Jung Jiyoung. She really wants to see you. The class president is the one who told me you didn’t go to college. She’s making cosmetic cases at S Group now. She’s a designer, a team leader.”

“That’s right. She said she wanted to be a designer back then too.”

Eun Jae’s face brightened at the familiar name and news. Thinking his tactic had worked, Tae Gyu moved closer and casually put his hand on Eun Jae’s shoulder.

“Driver Kim was saying, you’re going to the hospital in a bit, right? Was that person who was hospitalized your mother? Want me to take you?”

“No thanks, and could you remove this hand?”

Not a chance. With exactly that expression, Eun Jae shook off Tae Gyu’s hand and hurried her steps again.

“I’m off today! I’ll take you. It’ll be much more comfortable for you too, right?”

“No, Driver Kim is more comfortable.”

Watching Eun Jae’s back as she quickly left the main house, Tae Gyu clicked his tongue.

“Ah, really. She’s putting up such a strong wall.”

[This is the timeline separator]

Eun Jae, who belatedly came up to the third-floor room of the annex, hurriedly opened the door and entered.

He hasn’t left for work yet, has he?

“Mister!”

In the quiet room. Instead of an answer, at the clear sound of running water, Eun Jae hurriedly left the room, covering her flushing face.

Careful not to be heard, she tightly closed the door without leaving a gap and leaned against it, catching her slightly quickened breath.

Last time too, why do you keep bathing with the bathroom door open.

“Pervert.”

Eun Jae cooled her cheeks with the back of her hand as she came out to the living room. Thinking that she didn’t know what might be happening in the room, she decided to refrain from suddenly opening doors from now on as she headed to the sofa.

This dawn. While helping and watching the cooking, her heart was strangely pounding.

Recently, when she made dubu seon and took it to her mother, and when she saw her mother and the mister enjoying the food, her heart seemed to beat similarly.

“There’s something called a certificate, you know?”

Eun Jae crouched on the living room sofa, recalling what the kitchen aunts had said, and searched for information about the Korean cuisine chef certificate.

“The application for the written test is coming up soon?”

When she heard from Aunt Sungsan that the mister likes Korean food, she had already made up her mind to get the Korean cuisine chef certificate.

If I get that certificate, will I be able to cook as well as Aunt Sungsan?

It would be really delicious to make soybean paste stew filled with chadolbagi that mom likes and eat it together.

“Around this time next year, mom will be discharged too.”

By then…

Eun Jae lifted her eyes from her fixed gaze on her phone and scanned the living room with her eyes.

“I won’t be here anymore.”

It’s also the point when the contract with the man ends.

What will I be doing then?