Spring sunlight streamed in through the blinds that had been raised.

On his way back to the office after an external meeting, Tae Jo felt his phone vibrate in his suit pocket while walking down the corridor.

He took out his phone to see who was calling.

“Yes, Mother.”

[Dash] Are you still busy these days? Why is it so hard to see your face?

Mar Hye Young’s nagging came through as soon as he answered the call.

It was because Tae Jo had missed the last dinner gathering. He continued the call while acknowledging greetings from passing colleagues.

“I’m always busy. Our company doesn’t really have off-peak seasons. I’m just returning from an external meeting.”

[Dash] Are you the only one working? Anyway, have you heard anything from Ye Ryeong?

“What kind of…”

Tae Jo, about to ask what she was referring to, remembered his last call with Ye Ryeong and frowned.

He recalled how she had called out of the blue, grilling him about not having a girlfriend. He rubbed his furrowed brow, wondering if this was a continuation of that conversation.

“About introducing me to a woman? I think I told you last time. I’m not interested.”

As he arrived in front of his office, Secretary Kim stood up from her desk. Tae Jo nodded in greeting and entered.

[Dash] Right, right. But I thought maybe you had changed your mind. People keep suggesting it whenever I go out. If you’re not seeing anyone, they say we should at least set up a meeting.

“Please decline. Tell them I’m not interested. Or just say I’m seeing someone.”

[Dash] Are you seeing someone?

Mar Hye Young sharply caught the casually thrown bait. Tae Jo chuckled and sat down at his desk.

He felt he should be honest to meet his mother’s expectations, but it wasn’t the right time yet.

Considering how Se Kyung felt burdened by his family background, if his mother knew, she might just show up at his office or home.

“I’m just saying. Tell them that if they keep bothering you.”

[Dash] What, really? You don’t have anyone?

Disappointment was evident in Mar Hye Young’s voice.

“I’ll introduce you if I find someone. So don’t bother setting up any meetings and just wait.”

[Dash] I feel like I heard that last year too.

“If I don’t introduce someone this year, then consider that marriage isn’t in my fate.”

[Dash] Tae Jo, you only say things that break your mother’s heart.

A deep sigh escaped from Mar Hye Young’s lips. Tae Jo silently lifted his lips in a smile.

“Oh, and I have a favor to ask.”

[Dash] A favor? What is it?

“I was hoping you could send me some side dishes.”

[Dash] What for? You always leave them and they end up being thrown away.

Mar Hye Young sounded surprised. While living away from home, she would often prepare side dishes for Tae Jo, worried about him.

However, with Tae Jo often dining out and returning home late, most of the dishes she sent ended up being wasted.

So, eventually, she stopped bringing food, often taking it back home instead.
Spring sunshine poured in through the window with the blinds raised.

On his way back to the office after an external meeting, Tae Jo felt his phone vibrate in his suit pocket as he walked down the corridor.

He took out his phone to see who was calling.

“Yes, Mother.”

[Dash] Are you still busy these days? It’s so hard to see your face.

Mar Hye Young’s nagging came through as soon as he answered, probably because he had missed the last dinner gathering. Tae Jo continued the call while acknowledging greetings from colleagues passing by.

“I’m always busy. Our company doesn’t really have off-peak seasons. I’m just returning from an external meeting now.”

[Dash] Do you work alone? Anyway, did Ye Ryeong tell you anything?

“What kind of…”

Before Tae Jo could finish asking what she meant, he remembered his last conversation with Ye Ryeong, which made him frown.

She had unexpectedly called him, pestering him about not having a girlfriend. Rubbing his furrowed brow, he wondered if this was a follow-up to that conversation.

“About introducing me to a woman? I think I told you last time. I’m not interested.”

As he reached his office, Secretary Kim stood up from her desk. Tae Jo nodded in greeting and entered.

[Dash] Right, right. But I thought maybe you had changed your mind. People keep suggesting meetings whenever I go out. If you’re not seeing anyone, they say we should at least set up a meeting.

“Please decline. Tell them I’m not interested. Or just say I’m seeing someone.”

[Dash] Are you seeing someone?

Mar Hye Young sharply caught the casually thrown bait. Tae Jo chuckled and sat down at his desk.

He knew he should be honest to meet his mother’s expectations, but it wasn’t the right time yet.

Considering Se Kyung’s discomfort with his family background, if his mother found out, she might just show up at his office or home.

“I’m just saying. Tell them that if they keep bothering you.”

[Dash] What, really? You don’t have anyone?

Disappointment was evident in Mar Hye Young’s voice.

“I’ll introduce you if I find someone. So don’t bother setting up any meetings and just wait.”