TL: Aniea
That night.
Kang Byul, who had co up to the city after a long ti and had dinner with her family, lay on her bed after finishing her bath in the spacious tub and was stunned.
"...This is really unbelievable."
It was cozy.
The pillow and bed were so soft that it made her feel like she had misunderstood the word "cozy" her whole life.
The sensation enveloping her entire body felt like it perfectly recreated the feeling of falling asleep in her mother's arms when she was a child.
For soone who had spent her life either sleeping on the floor or at best on the hard mattress of a dormitory, this was a profound ntal shock.
'...The food was delicious too.'
She wasn't particularly picky about food, but the food she ate today was on a different level.
Even the kimchi stew she had was exceptional. How many tis had she encountered kimchi stew in her over twenty years of life? Dozens of tis, just counting various restaurants.
'Today's was undoubtedly the best among them.'
Perfectly aged, high-quality kimchi. at that lted in her mouth as soon as she tasted it. All of this combined to tantalize her taste buds.
Salty, sour, spicy, sweet. These flavors balanced precariously like a circus act.
It couldn't be compared to ordinary ho-cooked als or the mass-produced food from typical restaurants.
What she had been eating until now wasn't kimchi stew. It was just 'stew with kimchi.'
'...Other dishes were delicious too.'
And that wasn't all.
It had been ages since she enjoyed a full-body bath. The enormous tub was spacious enough to stretch her whole body, and the housekeeper had even filled it with water beforehand.
The tub had a function to maintain the water temperature, so she could soak in the hot water for quite a while.
Her entire body felt relaxed as random thoughts clouded her vision like steam, and Kang Byul had many thoughts within that haze.
'How long has it been since I relaxed like this....'
Co to think of it, it seed like it was the first ti since she beca an adult.
Until now, she had been busy studying for scholarships and working to earn living expenses, so there were countless days when she couldn't sleep for even four hours a day.
When her friends bragged about going on overseas trips or buying luxury bags with their allowances.
She couldn't even think about overseas trips; she just wished she could rest comfortably for just one day.
'...It all feels like a dream.'
Kang Byul buried her head deeper into the pillow. The subtle lavender scent in the cover and the soft texture of the bedding that accepted her every move.
It was undoubtedly expensive stuff. She finally understood why people spent hundreds or even thousands of dollars on a bedroom where they only slept.
'...It feels strangely good.'
The perfect environnt drew her into a dreamy world.
As ti passed, her thoughts sank deeper and deeper. Half-hearted distractions gradually disappeared.
Naturally, her true feelings, which had been hidden deep down, began to surface.
'...Is oppa really okay?'
They hadn't been in contact much since they beca adults, except when necessary.
Both were busy, and knowing each other's circumstances, there wasn't much to say.
The first ti she heard news about Kang Woo-ju was when she was working part-ti. A teaser for ca on the TV installed in the store.
- Hey, did you see that?
- Of course, I did! But I never get tired of it, no matter how many tis I watch it. It's the first ti I've ever looked forward to Monday! Ah, I want to see Kang Woo-ju-nim in person.
Kang Woo-ju.
Was there another na as familiar and unique as this? Even though she was busy cleaning, that na stuck in her ears clearly.
At first, she thought she had misheard. But she kept hearing Kang Woo-ju, Kang Woo-ju everywhere, and she couldn't deny it anymore.
So she stopped what she was doing and looked up. Lo and behold, Kang Woo-ju was really on TV.
And in a way that didn't match her mories at all.
'What the hell....'
When her part-ti job was over, she would usually be busy lying in bed, trying to fall asleep, but that day, her mind was unusually clear.
From then on, she began searching the internet for information about Kang Woo-ju and confird that he had been cast as the lead in a drama.
Naturally, she also learned about the existence of Kim Eun-ha and ended up ticulously reading all the speculative posts circulating online.
『──────────
[Analysis of the Relationship Between Kang Woo-ju and Kim Eun-ha]
※ Long post, speculative content warning.
※ If you disagree, you're right.
※ Summary in three lines at the end.
Firstly, it's clear that Kang Woo-ju is a rookie actor. This is universally acknowledged without controversy.
Nonetheless, he was selected as the lead in the highly anticipated Kang In-ho & Jung Ha-rin drama, which guarantees a hit.
This production is known for casting rookies, but the key point is that there was no audition for the role of [Kang Joo-heon] that Kang Woo-ju plays.
In other words, it was either a pre-designated role or there was a private audition. However, there are rumors within the broadcasting station that he was parachuted in... (omitted)
Recently, with rumors of Chairman Kim Seok-ho's retirent from the Mirae Group, the competition for succession is intensifying. This suggests that Kim Eun-ha is... (omitted)
Most suspiciously, the two neither confirm nor deny their relationship.
They appear together in public as if planned, but there's no couple rings or overt physical affection.
They seem just close enough to be able to brush off any issues later by saying they are 'just friends.' According to my analysis, the reason is... (omitted)
Conclusion
1. Kang Woo-ju is a parachute case.
2. Kim Eun-ha directly placed him there.
3. The two are in a contractual couple relationship. (Kim Eun-ha supports Kang Woo-ju in exchange for him serving as a shield to prevent her from a strategic marriage)
──────────』
She didn't know how many tis she read through the most recomnded post. It was so plausible that by the middle, it gave her chills.
└ Hahahahahahahaha
└ Just write a novel already. What are you, from the Joseon Dynasty? Do you really think forced strategic marriages happen these days?
└ Aren't they just dating?
└ The writer is about to get sued by the Mirae Group's legal team.
└ This is a piece of writing that retains the warmth of a dead person.
Of course, it wasn't just highly recomnded. There were just as many oppositions, and most comnts mocked the writer.
└ Why, I think it's quite plausible. Recently, even the Daehan Group's grandson returned to the country. If this analysis is true, it all fits perfectly.
└ ㅇㅇ. And the one talking about strategic marriages seems really naive. Even middle-class families scrutinize the other family a lot lol
└ A naless actor is perfect for a show couple. Their acting skills are sowhat guaranteed, and it's easy to use them and then discard them.
└ Yeah, this makes sense.
There were many comnts that added more information to make it more realistic.
Especially in Kang Byul's case, knowing exactly what kind of life Kang Woo-ju had lived, her trust in this post increased even more.
- Your father is having surgery.
- Huh? Mom, what are you suddenly talking about!?
And then ca the sudden news of her father's surgery. A surgery that was supposedly impossible to schedule within a year was suddenly being done within a week.
'...Oppa has always cared deeply about family since he was young.'
At that point, her suspicion turned into certainty.
Kang Woo-ju was not soone who would choose to be parachuted in simply for his own success and fa, but it was a different story if his family was involved.
Originally, she had planned to confront Kang Woo-ju about his relationship with Kim Eun-ha if she ever t him face to face.
“.......”
Kang Byul silently turned on her phone. It was over five years old, worn out, and cracked in various places.
When she checked the screen, it showed the 5 million won that Kang Woo-ju had sent her, deposited in her account.
‘...With this money, I can quit one of my part-ti jobs.’
With the newfound free ti, she would be able to focus more on her studies. Naturally, her grades would improve, and earning a full scholarship would beco much easier.
‘But he said to spend all this money on cultural activities?’
He casually tossed her such a large sum of money, telling her it was allowance for cultural activities.
Kang Byul, who hadn’t properly enjoyed such things even once since becoming an adult, couldn’t tell if he was serious or joking.
He even asked her to draft a plan on how she would use the money. She had no idea what to write.
‘...I have no clue.’
Thinking back, she realized that until now, she had just been busy living life as it flowed. That alone was chaotic enough.
So this freedom felt rather uncomfortable. It kept raising questions for her.
What do you like?
What do you want to do?
Nurous hooks seed to wrap around her neck from different directions. Just imagining it made her feel suffocated, but there was no clear solution.
"...I hate myself like this."
Her father's surgery and her mother's smile. These weren't given for free.
They must have co from Kang Woo-ju's sacrifice. Knowing this, she couldn't help but feel conflicted.
During alti, she had joked half-seriously that he should get married right away, but as a family mber, she now wondered if that was the right thing to say.
‘If only....’
If the two of them were really dating. If that were the case, she could have accepted the happiness in front of her purely and joyfully.
Srrrk-
While thinking about this and that, she unconsciously closed her eyes. Like fog clouding her vision, her consciousness gradually blurred.
The drowsiness from the full-body bath.
The softness of the bed.
The sense of security from the ample money in the bank account.
In the end, the fatigue accumulated in her body over the years surrendered to the overwhelming capital, and she fell asleep without reaching any clear conclusions.
*
Ding dong-!
I jumped up from my seat at the sudden sound of the doorbell. There shouldn't be anyone pressing the bell here.
Setting aside my curiosity, I checked the intercom. The screen showed a very familiar face.
I tilted my head for a mont, then went ahead and opened the door.
“Hello, Woo-ju ssi.”
“Why didn't you just co in?”
“I thought your mother and Kang Byul ssi might need so ti to prepare themselves ntally. Especially since it's Kang Byul ssi's first ti eting today.”
Smile-
Kim Eun-ha explained with a light smile. Her detailed consideration made click my tongue inwardly in admiration.
“Would you like to co in?”
"Then, excuse ."
There was no need to excuse herself since it was her own house to begin with. But I didn't bother to question it.
Her atmosphere was a bit different from usual. It felt sowhat serious and calm.
So, I silently let Kim Eun-ha into the house. When we went to the living room together, my mother, who had been waiting, greeted her.
“Welco, daughter-in-law!”
“Mother, I'm sorry for leaving early yesterday. I had an unavoidable schedule.”
“No need to apologize. Thanks to you, I forgot all about him going into surgery. By the way, is it okay for you to be here today?”
“Yes. The departnt store is closed today.”
“Oh, I didn’t know there were such days.”
“Only once a month, though.”
Haha- Hoho-
The two won, who had beco close before I knew it, chatted naturally as if they had known each other for a long ti.
anwhile, Kang Byul, looking slightly awkward, watched Kim Eun-ha and cautiously opened her mouth first.
“Hello.”
“Oh my, you must be Kang Byul ssi?”
“Yes, that's right.”
“You're as beautiful as I've heard. You hardly seem to wear any makeup, but your features are so distinct. You must have inherited your mother's nose.”
“What? Ah... well...”
“You can call whatever you feel comfortable with. You can call unnie if you like, or if that feels awkward, you can just call Eun-ha ssi.”
Kim Eun-ha's words flowed out like a stream, leaving Kang Byul unable to open her mouth.
Seeing Kim Eun-ha's bright, smiling face, the sharp questions she had prepared so diligently just monts ago got stuck in her throat and wouldn't co out.
"U-unni, I'll call you that."
"Hehe, thank you. I always thought it would be nice to have a younger sister. Actually... Ah! This isn't the ti for this."
Clap-!
Kim Eun-ha clapped her hands as if she had rembered sothing. Then, she grabbed Kang Byul's hand and led her towards the door.
"Let's talk while we go."
"...W-where are we going?"
"Oh my, didn't Woo-ju ssi tell you?"
"I thought it would be better to show you directly."
In truth, he had no confidence in explaining it verbally. Realizing this, Kim Eun-ha quietly drew an arc with her eyes, signaling her understanding.
"We're going to the departnt store."
"You said it was closed today...."
"It is. For the general custors."
"......?"
For a mont, the pupils of the mother and daughter, who couldn't quite grasp the aning, began to widen.
When it reached its peak, Kim Eun-ha said with a playful smile on her lips.
"Today is the day that cos once a month, exclusively for VVIP custors."
"......!?"
Haha-
Kim Eun-ha quietly swallowed her laughter as she watched the mother and daughter stand there, mouths agape in astonishnt.
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