Heat rose in Sun Woo’s eyes. Soon, the area around his eyelids slightly swelled up.

In Ha noticed his gaze falling on Young Hwa and turned her head.

This is actually better.

Now you’ll know how worthless a person you’ve been playing with.

“Haa. Really.”

In Ha glanced at Sun Woo’s expression and deliberately let out a low, yet soft sigh.

However, she made it appear as if she had spoken forgetting the other person was in front of her.

“Oh. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to…”

“It’s alright.”

In Ha observed Sun Woo’s state again. Seeing him show signs of agitation didn’t particularly please her.

“Actually. Elder sister…”

She intentionally trailed off, hesitating.

“What about elder sister?”

In Ha put on the saddest face she could muster and began her act.

“I’m not sure if I should say this.”

“It’s fine. You brought it up because you wanted to say it, right?”

For a man from a good family with a good education, Sun Woo gave off quite a casual impression.

Well, the media often covered his rough speech and behavior in contrast to his excellent abilities.

Perhaps In Ha thought this was why he had come to be her match.

So what.

Korea’s top company and outstanding looks were still the highest value to In Ha anyway.

“Alright. I’ll tell you. I think Sun Woo sir should know too.”

Sun Woo waved his hand. It was a gesture urging her to speak.

Though such a casual action irked her, In Ha held back.

Imagining that man someday prostrating at her feet and begging felt like an interesting game.

“Elder sister’s relationships with men are extremely complicated.”

“Relationships with men?”

“Did you know that your arranged marriage partner was supposed to be elder sister Young Hwa, not me?”

Sun Woo’s mouth slightly curved, nodding as if he knew.

“Yes. It was elder sister. Although she’s an adopted daughter, our father raised elder sister Young Hwa like his own child.”

“Ah. Own. Child.”

Sun Woo replied, cutting his words short.

“Although elder sister went astray during her school days, it was probably because her situation wasn’t good, so father didn’t seem to mind much. That’s why he wanted her to marry a good person and be happy.”

In Ha emphasized that they had done their best for Young Hwa at their home, while also stressing that Young Hwa had gone astray during her school days.

Of course, even if the other person realized this fact, she made sure they wouldn’t know it was intentional.

“Situation? What situation?”

In Ha swallowed. She didn’t like that Sun Woo wasn’t focusing on the lines she wanted.

“Ah, that’s why elder sister Young Hwa came to our house. Elder sister Young Hwa’s elder sister had an accident. Well. Not good.”

Sun Woo’s eyes distorted.

“Did she die?”

“No, not that. Well, it ended up that way. She was in a very bad state. We did our best at our house too. She was our father’s student. The sisters are so different. I heard she was an extremely diligent and smart person. That connection brought elder sister Young Hwa to our house.”

Unintentionally, the atmosphere became one of praising Young Hwa. Displeased, In Ha’s face flushed.

This isn’t what I intended.

She hurried to change the mood.

“Maybe she’s comforting that emptiness with men. I don’t misunderstand. It’s really hard when family goes through such an accident. But she’s ruining herself in such a bad way. I think father couldn’t bring himself to send elder sister Young Hwa to that arranged meeting.”

In Ha felt pleased, thinking she had connected her words quite plausibly even to herself.

Isn’t it killing two birds with one stone, even showing an effort to understand the other person?

“Elder sister. Elder sister. Elder sister.”

What?

Are you listening to me?

“Sun Woo. Sir?”

“Ah. Yes. What is it?”

“You heard what I said, right?”

In Ha asked with a bright smile. Her youthful skin sparkled in the fractured light.

“Of course. I heard. That your original match wasn’t In Ha young lady, but Young Hwa young lady.”

In Ha’s eyes distorted.

“Pardon?”

“What a pity.”

What is this man saying?

“What did you say?”

“In Ha young lady, do you know why I decided to get married?”

“What?”

Sun Woo placed his long arms on the table and leaned slightly.

“Well, you had an arranged meeting with me. Wasn’t it because you liked me?”

“I do like you. Especially today.”

At Sun Woo’s words that he liked her, In Ha blushed as if embarrassed.

“I’ve played enough, enjoyed enough, and just when life was getting boring, this worked out well.”

Should I like this? Or be offended?

Sun Woo’s words were puzzling.

“That’s good. In Ha young lady, you’re really transparent.”

“Pardon?”

“It’s a compliment. I hate it when the outside and inside don’t match.”

“What? Well. Yes.”

Sun Woo’s gaze that had been on In Ha went somewhere unreadable and then returned.

***

The table in front of Young Hwa was filled with more food than she could possibly eat.

“Elder brother Han Ul, why did you order so much? It’s a waste if we leave it. I said I’d just have a drink while you eat.”

Han Ul shook his head.

“Eat a little. Every time I see you, you’re so thin. Are you trying to lose weight to become a model? No, you’d be more than a model. Like some hunger relief ambassador.”

“Elder brother!”

Han Ul burst out laughing at Young Hwa’s scrunched-up face.

Young Hwa’s face looked more peaceful than ever. She seemed comfortable, just enjoying the situation without the usual tension or nervousness.

“Okay. I’ll eat.”

“That’s right. Know that I won’t let you go unless you eat all of this today.”

Young Hwa jerked up in surprise.

“How can I eat all this? Am I a pig?”

“I’ll eat two-thirds, so you’re responsible for the rest.”

Han Ul picked up his spoon and put a big spoonful in his mouth.

He smiled a neat and warm smile. His cheeks were bulging like a squirrel’s.

As the meal was nearing its end, Han Ul took out the rice water he had poured into the stone pot earlier and held it out to Young Hwa.

“Ah, right. You should eat this too.”

Young Hwa seemed overwhelmed after finishing one bowl of rice.

“This is the highlight. It’s not a finished meal if you don’t eat this.”

“Elder brother, you really eat well. As expected of someone in the food business.”

At the words ‘food business’, Han Ul’s expression hardened.

“Doesn’t it seem a bit unfitting to call it food business?”

“Then what should I call it?”

Han Ul was the only son of the family running ‘Dahan Foods’.

It was a family business that Han Ul’s parents had grown from selling side dishes in the market in their youth.

High-class and neat taste.

They ran the company with upright methods, saying they couldn’t play around with food that goes into people’s mouths.

In an era when people couldn’t think of buying side dishes, Dahan had quite a long period of management difficulties.

But as time passed, Dahan Foods grew in scale like a firework exploding in an instant with its transparent management policy and right principles.

Of course, it wasn’t Han Ul’s dream to inherit Dahan.

The world wasn’t so easy, and naturally, as time passed, Han Ul gave up his dream and entered Dahan.

“Businessman?”

“Ah. Yes. Let’s say that.”

Han Ul laughed loudly at Young Hwa’s voice.

As their gazes met at the end of the laughter, Han Ul’s expression hardened.

“Young Hwa, the reason I asked to meet today…”

“Elder brother Han Ul.”

Young Hwa quickly cut off his words before they could get longer.

“I don’t plan to leave that house yet. I know what you want to say. But not yet.”

Han Ul closed his mouth at Young Hwa’s firm attitude.

“I feel ashamed. If Sang Hwa knew I was leaving you like this, how much would she resent me?”

“That won’t happen. Elder sister would be so grateful to you, how can you say that?”

“Grateful? I only feel sorry when I see you. That’s my position.”

Young Hwa placed her hand on top of Han Ul’s trembling hand.

“Do you know how grateful I am just to have you by my side like this?”

Han Ul was a soft-hearted person.

A person who didn’t know how to resent others, so he blamed himself.

That’s why he was as affectionate as a real brother to Young Hwa, Sang Hwa’s younger sister.

The happiness of the three people, which they thought would always be there, was shattered on that day.

The day when the whole world was covered in snow.

The day when pretty flowers bloomed on the snowy field of the wide campus.

They sold roasted sweet potatoes on the street, and carols were playing.

Young Hwa, who couldn’t attend academies due to expensive tuition, studied late at the library every day. That day too, Young Hwa studied late at the library and headed home.

“Elder sister will be so happy when she hears I got into that school, right?”

The sophisticated and urban Sang Hwa unexpectedly liked sweet potatoes and corn.

Young Hwa, taking after Sang Hwa, preferred Korean food over Western food.

So Young Hwa saved her precious allowance and bought a bag of roasted sweet potatoes.

“Elder sister, I’ll make sure you study no matter what. You have to go to the school you want to go to?”

When Young Hwa tried to go to a regular high school saying it costs a lot, Sang Hwa told her to go to an arts high school no matter what. Not wanting to disappoint Sang Hwa, Young Hwa studied her best. And finally, it was the day she was accepted to the arts high school.

But Young Hwa couldn’t enroll in that school.

Because things don’t often work out as we want.

“Elder brother, let’s get up now.”

Young Hwa reached out her hand towards Han Ul.

“Alright. You have to contact me often.”

“I told you I will. You’re not an old man, but you worry so much.”

The two looked at each other warmly and smiled.

***

Young Hwa got out of the luxury foreign car.

Sun Woo clicked his tongue as he watched her get out at the lobby entrance, arms crossed.

“There are various ways to drive someone crazy. But this really can’t be tolerated, right?”

As Sun Woo muttered to himself without anyone around, people passing by glanced at him and avoided him.

“Go on your way. Are you here for a show?”

People flinched at the sharp gaze and quickly passed by Sun Woo.

“Get in safely, elder brother Han Ul.”

Young Hwa waved her hand and watched until the vehicle disappeared from sight, then turned around.

“You should be careful too.”

Young Hwa startled at the voice coming from behind her and turned around.

“Oh my. What is it? Why are you here?”

Young Hwa looked around to see if anyone was watching.

“I think I should be worried about your well-being right now.”

“Pardon?”

A blood vessel burst in Sun Woo’s eye.