No matter how trivial a promise may be, once you’ve said you’ll do it, you should keep it.

Even if there’s nothing wrong or uncomfortable.

So Seok Hyun reluctantly underwent a comprehensive medical examination, pushing aside thoughts of wasting time unnecessarily.

Seok Hyun was confident. He would receive results showing no special problems except for decreased stamina due to old age. He was quite confident in his health to that extent.

“You were in serious danger.”

But when the doctor set a grave tone contrary to his expectations, his heart sank. He opened his mouth with a hardened expression.

“What do you mean I was in serious danger?”

“Look here.”

The doctor pointed to a part of the CT scan showing the skull.

“I can’t tell much from looking, so you explain it.”

At Seok Hyun’s response, the attending physician nodded.

“To explain simply, we found a small tumor in your head, Chairman.”

Tumor. At that word, Seok Hyun felt as if he’d been struck by lightning.

“That sounds quite serious.”

“It is serious. Especially dangerous at your age, Chairman. But because you came to the hospital early, it was caught early and can be treated at this stage.”

“Is that really true?”

“Yes. We’ll need to do more precise tests to know for sure, but in my opinion, yes. If you entrust it to us, we’ll do our best to treat it.”

Afterwards, Seok Hyun set up a detailed treatment schedule accompanied by his secretarial staff.

At first, despite the doctor’s reassurances, he felt like he’d received a death sentence. But looking at the face of his chief secretary, whose eyes were welling up with tears in even greater shock than himself, he felt calmed.

“What a pathetic person. A man crying like that.”

“But… Chairman… I’m so worried… *sob sob*”

As the chief secretary finally burst into tears, his shoulders shaking, Seok Hyun, who had been looking him up and down incredulously, shouted:

“Is someone dead? They said it was caught early and can be treated. Cheer up.”

Saying that, he wondered if there had ever been a time in his life without crisis. Every moment was a crisis, and he overcame every moment.

Compared to the crises he’d faced while growing this huge corporation starting from nothing with his bare hands, this was nothing.

“You’re lucky you came in early, Chairman. Usually no matter how much I nag you to come for checkups, you don’t. What made you come this time?”

At the doctor’s words, Seok Hyun naturally thought of Seo Yeon. All of this had happened because of a game of janggi.

When he first heard from the doctor that he was ill, it felt like a huge wall was blocking his path. But now, recalling this incredible sequence of coincidences, the current situation seemed fortunate.

“I lost a bet with my grandson’s wife.”

“A bet?”

“We played janggi. I told her to make any wish as the condition for taking back a move, and she told me to get a comprehensive medical exam.”

“She’s a good daughter-in-law. A lifesaver, really.”

Seok Hyun let out a bitter laugh, as if dumbfounded.

“You’re right. Have you ever seen such a fool? She even criticized me to my face.”

This was no trivial matter. He practically owed his life to his grandson’s wife.

“I wonder what amazing gift I should give to the grandson’s wife who even refused a building.”

Seok Hyun muttered as if pondering, then added with a chuckle:

“To properly deliver the gift to its owner in time, I must survive.”

It was the start of a pleasant dilemma, oddly mismatched with the gravity of the situation.

*

The next day. Seo Yeon received word from the chief secretary that Seok Hyun had undergone a comprehensive examination and scheduled surgery to remove a small tumor found in his head.

He added: To prevent confusion, it was still a secret even from family members, so please keep it confidential for now.

“Will he be able to recover if he has the surgery?”

– Yes. The attending physician says there’s a high possibility.

“Really?”

Seo Yeon, who had been frozen with a tense expression, finally let out a sigh of relief. And suddenly her eyes grew hot.

She had been anxious, unable to be certain it wasn’t discovered too late to treat, or if it might be an untreatable illness from the start.

“But is he really planning not to tell the family?”

– Yes. He said the most important thing is for the company to operate normally, and asked to keep it secret for now.

In Han Kyung, a corporation where unimaginably large sums of money change hands, an issue with Seok Hyun’s health could cause tremendous chaos.

Probably because she knew about Seok Hyun going for the comprehensive exam, they seemed to have informed her of the results in advance to maintain secrecy.

Thinking of it that way, Seok Hyun’s determination to keep it secret even from family was not incomprehensible. He was a man who wanted to close his eyes as chairman of Han Kyung Group until his dying day.

But Seo Yeon felt uncomfortable that another secret had formed with her husband. Was it right to hide such a big matter? What if the surgery didn’t go well…

– …Thank you.

Just then, the chief secretary’s voice was heard.

– I heard from the Chairman. He’s not one to listen to others, but thanks to you he got the comprehensive exam and the tumor was discovered in time for surgery. Thank you.

Only then did Seo Yeon remember that the chief secretary she was speaking with was like family, having served Seok Hyun for 30 years.

“Please take good care of Grandfather.”

– Yes. Leave it to me.

At the chief secretary’s voice full of determination, Seo Yeon felt somewhat relieved as she lowered her gaze.

*

The problem was that despite Seok Hyun’s earnest request to keep it secret, Seo Yeon wasn’t sure if this was the right thing to do.

That worry continued into the next day.

“Do you have something to say?”

Startled, she looked at Seong Jun to find his dark eyes fixed directly on her.

“Something to say?”

“You’ve been looking at me with an expression like you have something to say.”

“…Was I?”

“If you do, go ahead. What is it?”

Seong Jun put down his chopsticks as if to listen properly to what she had to say. His gaze as he waited for her answer was deep and earnest.

“Well…”

Seong Jun, your grandfather will be having surgery soon.

In the past, he went to the hospital too late and passed away without proper treatment.

Back then, you stayed by his side without sleeping at all until the very end.

Unlike others, you never cried, but you looked so sad.

I hope nothing like that happens this time, but I’m not sure.

So I’m scared. Afraid that something sad might happen to you.

Seo Yeon recited those many words in her heart. Then she quickly closed and opened her eyes. Seong Jun’s gaze remained fixed on her lips.

“…It’s nothing. I have nothing to say.”

In the end, none of those feelings were shared with Seong Jun. As she uttered those words, her eyes met her husband’s.

“It seems you’ve developed a lot of secrets lately. Is there something you absolutely must hide?”

At Seong Jun’s tone, which seemed not just speculation but certainty, Seo Yeon’s eyes widened.

“I wonder what it could be.”

She tried to stay calm, but with each word Seong Jun spoke, Seo Yeon’s expression changed dramatically to one of obvious unease and tension.

“Secrets? What secrets… There’s nothing like that.”

She didn’t want to create secrets from her husband, but she was already keeping too many secrets from Seong Jun.

They were secrets not easily shared. Though Seong Jun didn’t press her, perhaps it was her imagination, but his gaze as he stared at her felt particularly sharp today. A moment of silence passed.

“Hmm…”

When Seong Jun, who had been quiet for a while, finally spoke, Seo Yeon unconsciously held her breath. Seong Jun’s gaze, which had been keenly observing Seo Yeon’s reaction, moved past her to the dining table.

“Is this it?”

“Pardon?”

“The dish your mentor taught you. On YouTube.”

“Ah… Yes. It’s beef brisket soybean paste stew. You must be hungry. Let’s eat before it gets cold.”

At Seo Yeon’s suggestion, Seong Jun smiled and eagerly moved his arm to scoop up some stew. He smiled with satisfaction.

“This is the most delicious soybean paste stew I’ve ever had.”

At Seong Jun’s lavish praise, despite her surely lacking experience to satisfy her husband’s palate, Seo Yeon smiled.

*

Today was the day to meet Ye Rin.

It was a date set after confirming Seong Jun wouldn’t be coming home.

It was because of Ye Rin’s threatening statement that she could only spare time at night due to her broadcasting schedule.

Not stopping there, Ye Rin insisted they must meet in a private room since she was a public figure, but Seo Yeon chose an open hotel restaurant as the meeting place.

Entering the restaurant, she spotted a glamorously dressed beauty sitting in a corner.

Though her face wasn’t clearly visible from where Seo Yeon stood, she could tell without the staff’s guidance. Thanks to her nervous behavior, seemingly conscious of her surroundings despite the sunglasses covering half her face.

In fact, until just before, she had felt fine, but suddenly this whole unreasonable situation felt absurd.

Herself, unable to even hint that she knew about the affair for fear of divorce; her shameless husband, cheating; and Ye Rin, always so brazen toward her despite being the other woman.

Seo Yeon passed by numerous tables and approached her.

“Choi Ye Rin?”

At Seo Yeon’s voice, Ye Rin removed her sunglasses, her mouth opening in shock. A moment later, she glared fiercely and said:

“What are you doing? Are you crazy?”