“I asked you to come like this today. It’s because… of our young miss. She seems too anxious. If I know where she is…”

If I know.

In a month, she would rush there, serving both hands and feet, playing the role of Song Eun-chae’s foster mother. She would probably want to keep a distance from everything that made up her life.

Having a sip of jasmine tea, Kiju said, “I need a short break. Just leave her alone.”

Listening to that, Haman let out a breath.

“Because we have Team Leader Kwon, we worry less. Even the chairman in this situation…”

As she spoke, Haman made an unpleasant expression. Due to Song Eun-chae leaving the house, many things in the mansion hadn’t changed yet. If she comes back, the chairman’s belongings will be disposed of.

That was separate from the change in leadership of D1 Group. Strictly speaking, since Song Eun-chae is the owner of this mansion.
“I’m saying something strange, but the chairman is really wicked. Knowing this, acting like this. Clinging to a girl who’s not even from the same bloodline, lacking even basic decency and conscience, and living so miserably. Just home, school. Home, school. When I think about the girl who lived like a ghost in this house, my heart just aches.”

Kiju silently listened to the sincere feelings of Haman, who had seen Song Eun-chae since she was very young.

If it were someone else’s complaint, she would’ve been fed up. However, Eun-chae was her only remaining family. She deserved the treatment that matched that.

Haman, who had used Kiju as a venting partner for a while, finally examined his complexion.

“Get a hold of yourself. Did you have a meal?”

“I’m okay.”

“Are you okay? You look pale as if you’ve seen a ghost. You’ve been exercising well, fortunately. How does your face look now? It’s really unbearable. I’ll go in and rest in the room you used to use. I’ll bring you something to eat.”

He tried to decline politely, but Haman didn’t listen and quickly went to the kitchen like an arrow. Kiju couldn’t ignore it or go without saying anything.

Kiju got up from the sofa and went up the stairs according to her consciousness. Looking briefly at the tightly closed door of Eun-chae’s room, she entered the room next to it.

Closing the door and standing still for a moment, her vision tilted. There was no reason for that to happen, but the floor wavered, and her body shook.

She didn’t move recklessly and stood there for a moment, waiting for her condition to settle.

Was it a cold? The last time she caught a cold seemed like a long time ago, so it didn’t feel real.

The hospital that prescribed the antipyretic said it was excessive.

What’s excessive? Was it excessive to have a little hole in her abdomen?

It was absurd that she experienced symptoms of anemia just by climbing a few steps of stairs. Moreover, her throat was swollen, and her mouth was dry. She was out of breath. Nervously, with an annoyed expression, Kiju lay down on the bed.

Well, it’s not like she’s showing off her body and mind full of wounds.

Cheongseung, a fool.

Mocking in a low voice and covering her eyes with her arm, memories of last night came flooding back.

In the countryside where it seemed there would be no reason to go if there was no ointment, Kiju arrived after climbing the winding uphill road endlessly. It took three and a half hours. That night.

The surroundings were silent. In the pitch-black darkness without a single streetlight, she parked the car. When the vehicle’s headlights were turned off, everything around turned black.

Kiju walked down that road. There were many places with low iron roofs, low walls, and no gates. Instead, they had planted trees. There were no convenience stores, and the environment was inadequate for those who came from the city to live.

Had she been cornered enough to hide in such a place?

Why. What made her like that.

While swallowing these questions, she walked for a few minutes. As she walked along the wall, she heard the voices of a man and a woman talking. Among them, the woman’s voice sounded similar to someone she knew, so Kiju immediately stifled her presence.
Leaning against the wall and peering out, it was indeed Song Eun-chae. The man extended his hand, seemingly trying to help the seated woman. She willingly took his hand and stood up.

She’s usually a cautious girl. Did she make friends during this time?

Now that she confirmed the face, Kiju pressed her body completely against the wall and focused on her hearing.

“Do you have any concerns?”

To that question, she seemed to nod without saying a word.

“You really can’t tell lies, can you?”

The man said in a surprised tone. Judging by his tone, it seemed like a joke.

“Is country life tough? It’s tough for me too, so why?”

“No, it’s just that now… It’s good. Plainly. Like this.”

Kiju, who had been standing against the wall, deeply rested her head.

It’s good now, huh?

Is that so? It seems like it’s okay even without me.