Sun Woo came out of the bathroom putting his arms through his shirt. The hastily donned shirt drew patches of moisture on his body where he hadn’t completely dried off.

That can’t be right.

Coming out of the bathroom and seeing the empty room, he laughed. It was funny how he had awkwardly put on his shirt from inside the bathroom, just in case Eun Jae might be in the room.

Sun Woo thought about teasing her less when he recalled her looking up at him with a terrified expression, but then found that look cute too, leaving him confused by his constantly fluctuating mixed feelings.

“What pointless worries.”

Sun Woo chuckled as he buttoned his shirt one by one and walked into the living room.

As Sun Woo entered the living room, Eun Jae, who had been sitting on the sofa, stood up abruptly as if she had been waiting.

She habitually started to call him “Mister” but trailed off upon seeing Sun Woo’s coldly hardened expression.

“I have something to ask… About the part-time work. When can I receive payment?”

Eun Jae’s voice sounded quite deflated, as if she was embarrassed to even call it part-time work. Sun Woo’s hands paused while buttoning as he looked at Eun Jae quizzically.

“I thought I told you the card had no limit. Is it not enough?”

“Ah…”

Eun Jae sighed softly, recalling the black card that had been returned to her as payment for housework after she had initially given it back, thinking she couldn’t use it.

She knew that being told to clean an already clean house and sharing household chores were all considerations to give her justification for accepting the card she would feel burdened by.

“But still, using that is…”

It’s still a bit uncomfortable…

As Eun Jae hesitated and delayed her answer, Sun Woo watched her with an amused look and smiled silently.

Sun Woo finished buttoning the top button of his shirt and went back into the room. Eun Jae, whose business wasn’t finished, followed him.

Sun Woo approached the island drawer where ties and watches were displayed and scanned them with his eyes.

After contemplating, Sun Woo fastened a silver metal chain on his left wrist.

“Why, didn’t you go on a wild spending spree while drunk not long ago? Wasn’t that Ji Eun Jae?”

“Ah, I wasn’t in my right mind then…”

“Don’t be so cautious, just use it. That’s part of the contract too.”

“But… if I use that card, you’ll get texts about everything I do, right?”

Sun Woo’s eyes curved sharply as he turned to look at Eun Jae.

It was a continuation of what happened in the dining room. It was just some bickering, but was it because they were the same age? Or because they already knew each other?

Somehow, Eun Jae’s expression looked much more relaxed when she was joking around with Yoon Tae Gyu. Was that just his imagination?

More than that, Yoon Tae Gyu’s gaze toward Eun Jae was unsettling. He was certain it wasn’t just a look one would give a friend.

At first, he pretended not to know when he saw Eun Jae, but now revealing that they were friends – was that to prepare for situations where Eun Jae might be in trouble?

Can this really be dismissed as something that happens between just friends?

It was also unpleasant how he had rushed in after overhearing somewhere that Eun Jae and himself would be staying at the main house.

Along with an ominous feeling, unpleasant imaginings rapidly invaded Sun Woo’s mind.

“Eun Jae has someone she likes.”

“She’s liked him since high school, and has been looking for him for a long time.”

Surely it can’t be Yoon Tae Gyu.

He wasn’t sure why his thoughts had drifted in this direction, but an oddly uneasy feeling and jumbled thoughts ensnared Sun Woo.

“What are you trying to do?”

Go on a date with that bastard?

His mood soured at the question he’d posed to himself, unintentionally taking a confrontational stance.

Then you, not knowing what’s going on, would try to consider my feelings.

“No, it’s not really any of my business…”

“And―”

Sun Woo stared down at Eun Jae as if he had something to say. Eun Jae also stopped what she was about to say and gazed at Sun Woo, blinking slowly with eyes full of curiosity.

There were no words that followed. Sun Woo kept his gaze fixed on Eun Jae, who was looking at him with innocent eyes, unable to look away for a long time.

Eun Jae thought Sun Woo’s gaze was strange as she looked at him. She could read hesitation in the eyes of the man who usually spoke, asked questions, and answered without hesitation.

What could be making the man hesitate like this?

She was curious. Eun Jae asked again, as if urging Sun Woo’s answer.

“And what?”

Sun Woo looked into Eun Jae’s clear eyes and repeated to himself inwardly.

Is there something going on between you and Yoon Tae Gyu that I don’t know about? If there’s anything you haven’t told me, you should tell me now.

You said back then that you weren’t hiding anything from me.

Not wanting to make the situation uncomfortable with unnecessary words, Sun Woo barely suppressed the question caught in his throat and picked up the nearest solid navy tie.

Keeping his gaze fixed on the display case, he let out words he had carefully chosen instead of the tie.

“When I told you to be careful with your words, I wasn’t just saying that. Be especially careful in front of Yoon Tae Gyu. I can’t always step in for you.”

“Yes…”

“And… you don’t have to go downstairs to help the aunts.”

Though it wasn’t meant to discourage her, Eun Jae’s shoulders drooped. Sun Woo scratched his forehead, perplexed. He still wasn’t sure how to speak without hurting the other person’s feelings.

“It might take a while to adjust, but I don’t want you feeling like you have to be cautious in this house.”

Sun Woo smiled leisurely and naturally placed the chosen tie in Eun Jae’s hand.

“You came here as my wife, after all.”

Sun Woo’s warm touch brushed over Eun Jae’s hand as she reached out to take the tie.

“It wasn’t just because of that. I couldn’t sleep so I went downstairs, and before I knew it, time had passed while I was looking around.”

Her face was slightly flushed. Eun Jae stretched out both hands holding the tie towards Sun Woo’s neck. Even standing on her tiptoes as much as possible, it was still difficult.

Sun Woo, who had been quietly watching, casually lowered his head slightly, and the man’s usual warm and sweet scent swirled around Eun Jae’s nose.

Without realizing it, Eun Jae closed her eyes slightly and took a deep breath. Was it because he had just showered? The man’s scent, stronger than usual, penetrated deeply into her chest.

Ah, it’s nice. Mister’s smell.

While briefly immersed in the man’s scent, the sound of two of the man’s fingers tapping together flowed into her ears with a ‘click’. Startled by the sound, Eun Jae’s eyes flew open.

“How long am I going to stay like this?”

The man’s smile right in front of her was like a jewel. Heat helplessly rushed to both her cheeks.

Eun Jae’s eyelashes fluttered as if she had been caught in her brief thought.

Ah, how embarrassing. He must have seen it all?

“I’m sorry.”

Eun Jae hurriedly wrapped the tie she had momentarily forgotten around Sun Woo’s neck. Thanks to him lowering his head, it was much easier.

Eun Jae’s hands began to move little by little, tracing yesterday’s memory.

Is this the right order? At the moment of hesitation, Sun Woo’s soft voice settled over Eun Jae’s hands.

“Cross it in an X shape and make the loop first.”

“Ah, yes. Like this?”

As if she remembered, Eun Jae quickly made the loop and looked up at Sun Woo with satisfaction. Suddenly meeting her sparkling eyes, Sun Woo cleared his throat and quickly shifted his gaze.

“Yeah. Like that.”

Did she learn it from seeing it just once? Because he didn’t want to let go of the hands he had held, because he wanted to drag out the time a little more, he had taught her the slightly unusual and difficult Eldredge knot.

Even so, Eun Jae’s hands moved smoothly as she tied the knot.

“Oh. I’m doing pretty well, aren’t I?”

Eun Jae smiled brightly as she carefully tied the necktie knot. Her small hands nimbly traversed the tie.

Watching those hands quietly, a laugh escaped between his teeth.

It was ridiculous.

That his unpleasant mood from just a moment ago was about to dissolve with just one insignificant smile.

“I think I’ve found something I want to do.”

“What is it?”

After a brief pause, Eun Jae smiled brightly as she tightened the final knot.

“It’s a secret.”

“You sure have a lot of secrets.”

How bland. Sun Woo muttered softly as he checked the time on his wristwatch and picked up his jacket and briefcase that he had hung up. As he left the room, he saw Eun Jae following closely behind as always.

Pfft. A deflated laugh escaped.

Quickly composing his expression to hide that laugh, Sun Woo strode towards the stairs, looking straight ahead.

“Let’s have dinner at the hotel before coming back. You’ll be at the hospital, right? I’ll contact you.”

“I’m fine, you know?”

“Let’s do it that way.”

“Really.”

He never says to do something like that in one go. I still feel like I might choke on breakfast eaten at the main house too.

“You’re lying.”

“Actually… it was a bit uncomfortable. But really just a little.”

Emphasizing that it was just a little, Eun Jae once again said it was fine.

“Actually, I’m uncomfortable too. So let’s eat out.”

“Okay.”

Only then did Eun Jae quickly agree. It seems like he’s starting to get a sense of how to speak to get Eun Jae to respond.

As he descended the stairs one by one, Sun Woo spoke.

“You haven’t forgotten about the wedding photoshoot tomorrow, right? We need to get up at dawn.”

Eun Jae’s face turned pale at Sun Woo’s words. Gasp. Has the date already come to that?

When the sound of footsteps following him stopped, Sun Woo turned around abruptly. Perhaps because Eun Jae was standing two steps above Sun Woo, their eye levels matched perfectly. Their gazes intertwined briefly in mid-air.

“You forgot, didn’t you.”

“No. I remembered.”

As expected, Eun Jae’s cheeks gradually reddened with embarrassment. Sun Woo’s finger, directed towards Eun Jae’s ear tips filled with heat, gently played with her earlobe.

“I told you, your lies are obvious.”

Sun Woo’s low voice tickled her ear.

“So, don’t lie in front of me.”

Eun Jae’s throat bobbed at Sun Woo’s sudden action. Unable to avoid the intense gaze, Eun Jae looked at Sun Woo with unsteadily wavering pupils.

Certainly, the man’s skinship had become bolder since that day when she had impulsively covered his lips while drunk.

By the way, why doesn’t he mention anything about that day when he clearly remembers everything?

I can say I did it because I was drunk, but weren’t you sober? You clearly enjoyed it too.

You devouring my lips like that… I remember all of that too!

There were so many things hanging over her – contract violations and whatnot – that even though she remembered, she couldn’t say she remembered.

Is he being considerate, afraid I might run away if he confronts me about violating the contract and demands I pay the penalty? Or did he go along with the mood but find it unsatisfactory?

Thinking that way made her feel hurt pride. When she looked at the man with a disgruntled face, the not-yet-healed wound on his lip filled her vision.

Would you have liked it if you were me? Clinging on without knowing how, biting and leaving wounds on lips.

“You lied to me too, Mister.”

She asked a different question from the complex thoughts rolling around in her head. It was because she didn’t have the courage to ask directly.

“Didn’t you say you were a dan holder?”

“Yes.”

The answer falls without hesitation as soon as the question is asked. Eun Jae brushed off Sun Woo’s hand touching her ear tip and fumed.

“Wow. You remember telling me you couldn’t fight when we first met, right?”

“Does being a dan holder mean you’re good at fighting?”

“You said you swept gold medals at every competition. Doesn’t that mean you’re good at fighting too?”

“I’m a pacifist. I prefer using words over physical force.”

The corners of the man’s mouth tilted up crookedly as he finished speaking.

“And above all, my lies aren’t obvious.”

“You don’t know how anxious I was then, do you?”

“Well.”

Sun Woo smiled, recalling the day he first saw Eun Jae, as he spoke in a low voice.

You certainly looked dark and somewhat anxious back then. When your cold eyes looking at me asked for help, I suddenly had that thought.

That perhaps I could take away the darkness and anxiety in your present, reflected in those eyes.

I already knew then that things would end up like this.

“Isn’t it enough that I kept my word in the end?”

That you would accept my proposal,

“I always keep what’s mine, no matter what.”

And that you would end up by my side like this.