Tae Jo’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Was it because he had a good sense or was he just probing.

Yeryeong sometimes played pranks and would unexpectedly strike a weak spot like this.

“Why are you so obsessed with the owner of the perfume?”

As if he knew exactly who that person was.

“Should I say it’s my intuition? It’s natural to be curious when someone who doesn’t usually do so comes in wafting an unfamiliar perfume scent, right?”

“So, the call you made last time about dating, girlfriends, was that also with the perfume owner in mind?”

“Who else would I have thought of?”

Yeryeong shrugged her shoulders as if it was obvious.

“And I saw it in the bathroom.”

“What did you see?”

“The diffuser. It was made by the perfume owner, right? The scent was exactly the same.”

“It’s not the same. It’s a common scent, you must have smelled something similar somewhere.”

“It wasn’t an off-the-shelf product, but a custom one.”

Trying to fool me.

Yeryeong raised the corners of her mouth and propped her chin, while Tae Jo touched his forehead, looking tired.

“Let’s stop, sister-in-law.”

“I won’t ask who it is. Just tell me if things are going well with the perfume owner. Mother is also curious.”

“Mother knows too…?”

Tae Jo’s eyes widened, not expecting that Mrs. Ma knew as well.

“Did you think she wouldn’t know? She was sitting next to me that evening. Do you think she didn’t smell the perfume I detected?”

“…….”

“So, these days, Mother is also receiving photos of women to find you a partner, thinking you might be interested in dating or marriage.”

Tae Jo hadn’t thought that far. He just assumed that his mother was concerned because his brother had married and friends of a similar age were starting families.

“I told Mother separately. If I don’t introduce anyone by the end of this year, I consider it as having no fate with marriage.”

“Oh, so that means you might bring someone to marry this year?”

Tae Jo didn’t respond to Yeryeong’s subjective interpretation. It wouldn’t be believed anyway.

Besides, he had greeted Se Kyung’s mother, so he did want to introduce Se Kyung to his family soon.

It was just that Se Kyung had her own issues and was in the early stages of pregnancy, so he was just timing it right.

“Then, is the person you’ll bring this year that person?”

Yeryeong threw another bait, and Tae Jo looked at her intently before nodding.

“Well, that might be the case.”

Aha.

Yeryeong’s eyes sparkled at Tae Jo’s answer.

Although not a definite answer, it was somewhere there.

It was the first time Tae Jo had given a positive answer, usually slipping away like an eel.

“I really hope to meet that person this year.”

There was no need to ask who it was. Yeryeong, smiling brightly, gulped down the rest of her coffee.

It was as if a noisy storm had swept through the house once. After the talkative Yeryeong left, peace returned to the noisy house.

“It’s chaotic.”

Tae Jo shook his head and ran his hand through his hair, sighing. He went into the kitchen to check the food his mother had sent.

The variety of side dishes seemed to reflect a day’s hard work. Tae Jo tasted a few of the vegetable dishes and then called his mother.

[Dash] Oh, Tae Jo.

“I received the food. You didn’t have to make so much.”

[Dash] It just turned out that way. Has Yeryeong gone home?

“Yes. Sister-in-law had a cup of coffee here and left a while ago.”

[Dash] You gave her coffee late at night. Have you tried all the food I sent?

“Not everything, just a few. They were delicious.”

[Dash] I’m glad they suit your taste. Take care of your meals. If you need more, call me.

“I will. Rest well, Mother.”

Tae Jo ended the call and put down his phone. He chuckled, recalling his conversation with Yeryeong.

Mother was also curious about the owner of the perfume, like sister-in-law. Yeryeong was so persistent in asking that he had to hint at seeing someone…….
Why does Se Kyung feel this uneasy despite having no connection with Yeryeong?

Especially, she couldn’t forget the meaningful smile of the sister-in-law after hearing her last words.

It was also suspicious how she was curious about the relationship with the perfume owner but didn’t specifically ask who it was.

Ding-dong!

Startled from her thoughts by the doorbell, Tae Jo walked to the entrance. Opening the door, Se Kyung, with a deep hat on, came in.

“Has your guest left?”

“Yeah, just a while ago. How’s your stomach? Feeling better?”

“I feel somewhat better after sleeping all day. But what’s this smell? Did you cook something? It smells delicious and savory.”

“I didn’t make it.”

Tae Jo, holding Se Kyung’s hand, led her to the kitchen. She gaped at the array of food spread on the island table.

“What’s all this?”

Se Kyung, taking off her hat, fluttered her hands, smelling the food.

Even a baby tiger that dislikes chewing grass seemed to like the savory smell of the vegetable dishes, showing no signs of refusal.

“I asked my mother to send some side dishes.”

“Your mother, as in the CEO’s mother?”

“…….”

“Ah, your mother, Tae Jo?”