Young Hwa, quickly scanning her surroundings, grabbed Sun Woo’s wrist and led him to a secluded spot.

Although U&I Fashion was located in the center of Seoul, its headquarters was in a somewhat remote area.

Even though Kang Seok was called the best in Korea as the president of a top Korean university, it was a national university, so he was still on a salary.

Of course, while it was an amount that would surprise ordinary people, it wasn’t enough money to start a fashion company.

U&I Fashion was able to be established because Jae Hee’s family, Kang Seok’s wife, invested a huge amount of money.

So to save money, the headquarters building was set up in an area away from the center of Seoul.

Young Hwa, who had found transportation inconvenient, felt grateful for it for the first time.

“No matter how much you want skinship, isn’t it a bit much outside? I won’t stop midway.”

Seemingly displeased with being pulled along by Young Hwa, Sun Woo pulled his hand away as they entered the alley and pushed Young Hwa against the wall.

“What did you say?”

And Sun Woo’s attitude and words didn’t sit well with Young Hwa.

“Then why are you bringing me to such a secluded place? Did your whole body heat up when you saw me?”

“This crazy…”

Young Hwa bit her lip.

But she couldn’t continue speaking.

Sun Woo’s hand that was gripping her shoulder had moved to her chin, crushing her lips.

“That’s right. I’m crazy. I was already a bit crazy, but now I think I’ve completely lost it.”

“Why are you doing this?”

Sun Woo’s usually steady breathing was rough and messy. The hand gripping her shoulder was applying more force than ever before.

“Now is not the time for you to ask me why I’m doing this. You’re in an extremely dangerous situation right now, if you don’t explain properly, I don’t know what I’ll do. Understand?”

No, how can I explain or not explain when I don’t know what to understand?

Young Hwa felt like she was burning up inside. She thought he wasn’t normal, but now it seemed even harder to find a normal aspect of Sun Woo.

“Please tell me the reason so I can understand. Then I can make excuses or explanations.”

“Your audacity makes me even angrier.”

“No matter how angry you are, what are you trying to do by coming all the way here? What if In Ha sees?”

At Young Hwa’s words, Sun Woo exhaled a long sigh and glared at her as if he could kill her.

“Then why were you laughing and giggling while eating with another bastard?”

“What did you say?”

Sun Woo’s words didn’t immediately make sense in Young Hwa’s head.

“Am I not enough for you?”

“What are you talking about?”

“So, I’m asking why you’re smiling like that at another bastard?”

Though Sun Woo’s voice sounded like he was mocking her, it was clear he was extremely excited and angry.

“Haa- This is infuriating. Did you really take me for a fool?”

Sun Woo’s hand gripped Young Hwa’s shoulder very tightly.

“Speak clearly. So I can understand.”

His trembling eyes showed it. Sun Woo’s trembling was also conveyed through the shoulder he was gripping.

He looked like a very unstable person.

“The hotel restaurant. Who was that bastard drooling and smiling while looking at you?”

Young Hwa finally understood who Sun Woo was talking about.

“Why is that bastard giving you a ride to the company?”

“You saw me?”

“Did I see? I could only see you. I felt like I was going crazy.”

Young Hwa thought that perhaps this person, Sun Woo, might be simpler than she had imagined.

“You came all this way just for that?”

“Haa. Look at this. There’s a limit to twisting things around. Are you mocking me now?”

Once Young Hwa confirmed Sun Woo’s state, her fearful emotions subsided.

And only then could she remove Sun Woo’s hand that had been roughly gripping her.

Her shoulder felt numb as if it was bruised.

At the same time, she felt like she might laugh a little.

“Elder brother Han Ul.”

Young Hwa said briefly.

“Elder brother? You’re bold. That bastard’s name is Han Ul? That’s too little information. Say more. So I can find him and kill him.”

Young Hwa glared at Sun Woo fiercely at his somewhat violent words.

A brief silence fell, and Sun Woo stepped back slightly.

What’s this? Why is he like that?

“What do you mean kill? That kind person.”

Young Hwa brushed off her crumpled clothes, smoothing out the wrinkles.

“You’re defending him? Are you in a relationship with that bastard?”

“Is your mind only capable of going in that direction?”

“You b-”

Sun Woo bit his lip, swallowing whatever curse he was about to say.

“Let me tell you. I think there can never be any other relationship between men and women. Except for getting it up.”

As Sun Woo’s blatantly explicit gaze fell on her, Young Hwa shuddered.

“Please stop, I beg you. The very idea of being linked with elder brother Han Ul in that way is extremely uncomfortable for me right now. Do you understand?”

“Then tell me what it is!”

Young Hwa didn’t want to speak, but she organized her thoughts to explain.

She couldn’t continue this uncomfortable conversation, if not for herself, then for Han Ul’s sake.

“I had an elder sister.”

“Really?”

“Yes. She’s not here anymore, but…”

It was very uncomfortable, and she felt resentful towards Sun Woo for asking such questions.

“And?”

“He was someone very close to my sister. They cared for each other terribly. That’s why he still looks after me now. I think elder brother Han Ul believes that’s what my sister would want.”

She deliberately didn’t say they were in a relationship or that they were in love.

That was also because it was Young Hwa’s wish that Han Ul would meet a good person and start a new love, even now.

Forgetting elder sister Sang Hwa.

She hoped Han Ul would be happy meeting a pretty and good person.

Young Hwa finished her story and glared at Sun Woo.

Sun Woo avoided her gaze.

“Fine.”

Sun Woo spoke plainly, as if he had forgotten words like ‘I’m sorry’ or ‘I misunderstood’.

“What did you say?”

And he met her gaze again, which he had been avoiding.

Very brazenly and boldly.

“Remember this well.”

He slowly approached Young Hwa again.

“Remember what?”

“I’ll believe your explanation. There’s no reason not to believe it either.”

“…And?”

“If you really fool around with another guy besides me, I think I’ll really go crazy. I’m sure of it now.”

A chill ran down her spine.

“I couldn’t see anything else. I couldn’t hear any other sound,”

Her toes curled up.

“I could only see you. Only the path to you was clearly drawn.”

Ah, I’ve really gotten myself into trouble.

She felt that if she made a wrong move, there would be nothing left of her.

***

Young Hwa entered the office a little past lunchtime.

Her desk was again piled high with work.

Just looking at it, she knew overtime was inevitable. Still, she hurried to finish the work.

Just as she was wrapping up her tasks, In Ha threw a pile of swatches onto Young Hwa’s desk.

Are you telling me not to go home?

That thought came to her involuntarily.

“What’s this?”

“Find all the red checkered fabrics in here and organize them.”

“Haa. Team Leader Ji. All of these?”

Young Hwa asked with an incredulous laugh.

“Yes. All of these here. Don’t miss a single one, sort them all out. Got it? Checkered patterns are trendy this year. So do it properly. Understood?”

One by one, people in the office started tidying up their desks to leave work.

Why was she in such a bad mood again?

Young Hwa poured out the swatch books onto the conference table from the envelope.

And wearing rubber finger cots, she flipped through the fabrics one by one, selecting the type of fabric In Ha had mentioned.

It seemed like it would only be finished very late at night.

***

In Ha, who left work on time, entered the house and immediately went into Young Hwa’s room, ignoring Jae Hee whom she encountered in the living room.

Young Hwa’s room had just one desk, a bed, and a small wardrobe.

Even then, there were only a few clothes in the small wardrobe.

So Young Hwa had to rotate the same clothes like a uniform every season.

“Ha- Where on earth did she put it?”

In Ha started frantically searching the desk and bookshelf.

“In Ha. I was wondering where you went without even eating dinner. Why are you in Young Hwa’s room?”

In Ha turned her head abruptly at the sight of Jae Hee.

“Ah. Mom! You know, right?”

“Know what?”

“Young Hwa, I mean. You know that drawing book she carries around every day?”

“Ah.”

Jae Hee immediately realized what In Ha was talking about.

“I know. Why?”

“Where is it? Huh? Where is it?”

“How would I know? Young Hwa must have put it somewhere. Why do you ask?”

“Aish, it wasn’t at the office either. Where did she put it?”

“Why are you suddenly like this?”

In Ha’s face suddenly darkened.

“What is it? I need to know what’s going on to help resolve it.”

In Ha’s lips quivered, and she hung her head low.

“What should I do? The new product evaluation meeting is starting soon.”

“What does that have to do with Young Hwa’s drawing book?”

At Jae Hee’s words, In Ha’s expression darkened even more.

And Jae Hee’s expression hardened as well.

“You didn’t…”

Jae Hee’s hands were trembling.

And In Ha gnawed on her lower lip with her upper teeth.

“We need to find it. I think that girl hid it. Mom, can’t you do something about it?”

In Ha grabbed Jae Hee’s arm and shook it.

And Jae Hee closed her eyes and stared at the ceiling.