But then, her phone vibrated. It was her stepmother, Ji-eun. For a moment, she hesitated to answer the call, but knowing Ji-eun’s personality, she couldn’t avoid it.

“Yes.”

[Where are you? Have you arrived?]

Ji-eun’s sharp voice pierced through the phone.

“Yes. I’ve arrived.”

[Good. Do well today. You know how important this position is, right? It’s a household that can make your father the mayor of Seoul in one go. It’s a household that can’t even present a business card in your circumstances.]

“…….”

[But still, the fact that you could face Seo Woo-jin is all thanks to me. I’ve even set the table for you, so all you have to do is eat. Understand?]

“…….”

[Why no response?]

“Yes. I understand.”

[Do you know how much money I’ve spent on you and your grandmother so far? Including raising you, who hasn’t even shed a drop of blood! So, you must marry Seo Woo-jin no matter what! That way, you and your grandmother can live. This is a warning!]

“…….”

[If you don’t receive an after meeting today, don’t even think about coming home! There’s no longer any meaning in seeing your state!]

Ji-eun spat out her words like a machine gun and abruptly hung up. However, Tae-eun, holding the now disconnected phone, stood frozen in place with pursed lips.

Regardless of the outcome, the moment her determination to negotiate, hoping to show her best efforts at this blind date, was instantly shattered.

Ji-eun hadn’t allowed for such a possibility. She only emphasized the unlikely success of the blind date.

Now, what should she do?
Tae-eun lowered the hand holding the phone weakly and turned her gaze to the neon-sign-filled street. Despite the many flashing lights, not a single one felt warm to her.

It felt like standing on the edge of a cliff.

If it weren’t for her grandmother, she would have felt the urge to jump off on her own, without Ji-eun pushing her.

Fear and despair made her heart pound. The chilly wind brushed past her nose, but Tae-eun couldn’t pull herself together.

If only she could escape from this tiresome reality.

Perhaps because the desire was too desperate.

Knowing it was impossible, Tae-eun’s gaze and footsteps moved in a direction entirely different from the restaurant.

As she was about to take a step,

“The direction is not that way.”

As if echoing from a deep cave, a low voice held her in place. It was quiet, yet chilling enough to detain her footsteps.

She turned her gaze towards the direction of the sound. There, in the dark parking lot that receded as the vibrant lights of the restaurant retreated, a looming shadow was moving.

It was too dark to see clearly, but even the silhouette hinted at how large the man was. Along with his wide-open shoulders and legs planted firmly on the ground, he seemed threatening.

Tae-eun felt like she had discovered a crouching beast in the darkness.

Who could it be, the man who turned her footsteps?

But she soon found out. It was because the man walked out of the darkness surrounding him.

A slow, almost leisurely gait. Moving his long legs, he walked, appearing both intimidating and elegant.

And finally, under the red light, his appearance was revealed. Wrapped in a black suit, his body seemed even more robust than when in the darkness, and his towering height appeared even greater.

His face, with impeccable features, looked not just cool but almost arrogant.

“…….”

“…….”

Silence continued in the collided gazes.

Soon, the man ended the silence by putting the cigarette, which had been between his fingers, to his lips and deeply inhaling, creating a hollow sound as he sucked the smoke.

“Why, did you come to catch the wind?”

Through the hazy smoke, the man’s expression seemed almost indifferent, as if he didn’t care.