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Chapter 22

"What do you think you're doing!"

The man seated across from the host shouted. Startled, Hae-ju quickly regained her composure, stood up abruptly, and bowed her head in apology.

"I'm—I'm so sorry."

She then hastily began wiping the man's suit with the cloth she was holding. She also dabbed at the visible tablecloth, but the dark red stain only soaked in deeper.

"Can't you step back!"

When the man shouted again, Min-kyung, who had been watching in shock, also quickly bowed and apologized.

"We're terribly sorry, Chairman. Our employee has committed a grave discourtesy."

"Do you know what kind of occasion this is? How dare you—!"

"I'm so sorry. Hae-ju, please apologize properly!"

"I'm sorry. Truly... I'm truly sorry."

Her mind had gone blank from the sudden accident, but Hae-ju barely collected herself and bowed repeatedly, as if she had committed a mortal sin.

Despite their repeated apologies, the man's anger showed no sign of abating. The two women cowered under his fierce tirade. Then, through their distress, a calm voice cut through.

"That's enough."

"Sir!"

"I'm fine. Everyone, please leave."

Taken aback by his unexpected response, Hae-ju looked at Min-kyung, who nodded and gestured toward the door. Hae-ju bowed once more and quietly left the VIP room.

Alone, Ji-man pulled a handkerchief from his suit pocket and wiped the wine residue from the back of his hand. Then, as if nothing had happened, he continued the conversation.

"Let's finish what we were saying."

Placing the handkerchief on the table, he continued.

"We'll have to see if the newcomer earns his keep. I'm curious to show that Cheon bastard this item. Send him an invitation to the next match."

After finishing, the man gazed steadily at the door through which Hae-ju had exited.

---

"Kang Hae-ju, I'm sorry, but today will be your last day."

After the restaurant closed, Hae-ju was called into the owner's office and handed her final pay envelope. Unable to make any excuses, she left the office listlessly.

She slowly changed back into her civilian clothes in the locker room and hung her wine-stained blouse on a hanger. The hope of extending her work hours had vanished. A sigh escaped her.

As Hae-ju came out, Min-kyung was waiting for her with an apologetic expression.

"Hae-ju..."

"I'm sorry. It's because of me."

"I'm the one who's sorry. I'm also being penalized. I'm sorry I couldn't help."

"No. Thank you for everything."

Opening the restaurant door for the last time, Hae-ju trudged toward the bus stop.

Florence's main advantage was its stable pay. And being a famous restaurant, it wasn't easy to get a position there. Of course, Min-kyung had said she was hired immediately because she was Kang Hae-ju.

Though the work was hard, the restaurant attracted wealthy and influential people, so it was valuable to listen to their conversations. There were many reasons to hold on—but having made such a major mistake, she felt there was no other way.

Amid it all, the name "Kyu-hong" she'd heard in the VIP room surfaced again. Was it the person she knew? And was the "replacement" they mentioned perhaps Seok-eon? These complicated thoughts filled her mind.

Screech— A black car suddenly blocked her path. It was a luxury car unlike any she'd ever ridden in. Startled, she watched as a man got out from the driver's seat and handed her a business card.

"You're Kang Hae-ju, right?"

"Wh-who are you?"

[JC Distribution & Entertainment]

Frowning at the unfamiliar card, the man continued politely, "I'm the driver for Chairman Jung Ji-man, who was dining in the VIP room earlier."

"Oh, yes. But...?"

"I heard today was your last day because of the incident. As an apology, the Chairman asked me to drive you home. Please get in. Where do you live?"

Startled by the sudden offer, Hae-ju shook her head.

"No! I can get home on my own."

After firmly declining, she turned and glanced at the back seat. But the luxury car parked on the street had such dark tinting that she couldn't see inside at all.

"Well... what to do? He didn't tell me what to do if you refused... Then at least take this."

The man held out an envelope. Frowning at its apparent thickness, he took Hae-ju's hand and pressed it into her palm.

"No, I can't accept this!"

She tried to refuse urgently, but he shook his head with an understanding look.

"Take it. For people like us, every penny counts."

While Hae-ju stood there, envelope in hand, the driver got back into the car and disappeared without looking back.

Opening the envelope silently, Hae-ju gasped. Inside was an amount equivalent to a semester's tuition.

---

The village bus she'd boarded at the subway station stopped at the entrance to the hill, and Hae-ju got off as the last passenger. She turned to see the steep hill road before her. As always, she paused at its foot—today more than ever, weighed down by anxiety.

Still, she trudged up the familiar slope. After some time, the scent of roses tickled her nose. She looked up to find herself before the green gate.

At the threshold of full summer, rosebuds were beginning to bloom here and there on the gate. Like a clock set to an alarm, the annual rose fragrance welcomed her as summer approached.

Suddenly, she remembered the day she first moved here. She had been anxious and afraid, but after moving in, she had felt, for the first time, that she wasn't alone. The neighbors who generously shared their side dishes, Auntie Ja-young who always protected her fiercely, and Lee Seok-eon with his dark eyes always watching her.

And then she realized—Seok-eon was no longer in Songeun-dong. This was the same summer threshold she'd always faced, but he was gone. Though she'd escaped his obsessive fans, she missed even that these days.

"I'm back."

Hae-ju pushed open the gate with weary steps and entered the yard.

"Seok-eon's here, Hae-ju."

At Ja-young's unusually energetic voice, Hae-ju, heading toward the veranda, stopped. Seok-eon, apparently having just come out, was putting on his shoes. Their eyes met.

It had been two months. Without a word, Hae-ju just stood there. Seok-eon rose from his seat. His back, hidden by his jacket, looked broader—as if he'd been building muscle. Unlike the chairman she'd seen at the restaurant, this twenty-year-old Seok-eon was young and proud. He wore a casual jacket without a tie. She must have stared for a while.

"Why are you frozen? Not happy to see me?"

At his unexpected question, Hae-ju startled and quickly looked away. His still-gruff voice was so familiar. A wave of inexplicable relief washed over her.

"It's just been a while... But you're leaving already?"

"Yeah. I have to get back."

Seok-eon's gaze toward her was calm. As if he had no idea how much she'd thought of him.

"He just stopped by for a moment. I told him to stay the night—even gave him his room back—and he grumbled about where else he'd stay. So heartless..."

"Then stay and sleep with Mom, and leave tomorrow. I can stay at Hyun-jung's. Let's do that, Auntie. Okay?"

Hae-ju urged Ja-young and nodded at Seok-eon.

"I have to go soon. I barely made time for this."

His calm voice settled in her ears. He turned to Ja-young and said, "Buy yourself something good with the money I gave you. And don't skip your treatments."

"Where did you earn this much money to bring?"

"Looks like our mom hasn't seen big money before. I'm going now."

Seok-eon smiled casually and left.

"Seok-eon..."

Ja-young called after him with longing, but Seok-eon, as always, only nodded lightly and walked out the gate. Seeing the empty look in Ja-young's eyes, Hae-ju quickly opened the gate and ran out.

Beneath the bright streetlight, she saw Seok-eon walking down the hill. A warm summer breeze brushed against her nose. Strangely, her heart tightened with a piercing ache. Hae-ju called out to the retreating figure.

"Lee Seok-eon!"

At the sound of his name, he stopped. Hae-ju hurried to stand before him.

"You, by any chance—"

"By any chance?"

She paused. She wanted to ask about the name she'd heard at the restaurant, but afraid an unprepared question might make him uncomfortable, she quickly searched for another.

"Never mind. You always seem so busy. It would be nice if you stayed even one night. We could have a meal together. Mom missed you so much..."

"And you?"

The unexpected counter-question made Hae-ju's eyes tremble faintly. Her moist eyes, looking up at him, carried the wish she'd been holding on behalf of Ja-young.

In that moment, she grew weary of all the family talk again. This was why—this was why she'd avoided coming home often, turning away from her true feelings and gritting her teeth through it all.

"Still not answering questions, I see."

"You're not working with Kyu-hong, are you?"

Seok-eon swallowed. It was an unexpected question. Looking at Hae-ju before him, a deep, unreadable sigh passed through his throat.

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