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For nearly ten minutes, as they climbed narrow alleys and walked through dimly lit streets, Seok-kyung’s grumbling voice echoed behind her.
The scattered trash and animal droppings in the alleyways clearly irritated him.
How could someone like Seok-kyung, who had grown up in luxury, ever encounter such an environment? Even Eun-chae hadn’t imagined living like this before their divorce.
“Here it is.”
Finally, Eun-chae stopped in front of a small multi-family residence.
“This is your place?”
“Yes, that room over there.” She pointed to her basement studio apartment.
Instantly, his expression darkened further.
Under the faint glow of moonlight—there were no streetlights—Eun-chae could still read the complex emotions flickering across his face.
Disgust, fatigue, confusion, despair, and pain—all layered together.
“Why on earth…”
His voice trailed off, leaving his words incomplete.
“If you have something to say, say it here.”
“No, let’s go inside.”
“I’m sorry, but I don’t want to show you my place.”
“Why not?”
Why not, indeed?
Even showing him this much felt like exposing all her vulnerabilities. Wasn’t it enough that he saw how far she’d fallen after leaving him?
“Are you still living with that man?”
“…!”
By “that man,” he meant the fictional lover she had invented as an excuse for their divorce.
“Anyway, we can talk here or later. Your choice.”
“I need to see inside.”
“What?”
“I said I need to see your place.”
“Please, Mr. Seok-kyung.”
“Open the door.”
Without waiting for permission, Seok-kyung brushed past her and headed toward the unit she had pointed out.
Panicking, Eun-chae hurried after him, blocking his path.
“Why are you doing this?”
“I told you—I need to see inside.”
“What difference will it make?!”
Her sharp retort made him stop abruptly.
“I’ll do what you asked. But not here. It’s too cramped, too shabby, too uncomfortable.”
“Is someone else here?”
“No one’s here.”
“Then open the door.”
Seok-kyung’s icy tone left no room for argument. Defeated, Eun-chae slumped her shoulders and reluctantly turned the key in the lock.
As soon as they stepped inside, she flipped the light switch, illuminating the dim interior.
Seok-kyung scanned the tiny studio apartment, his frown deepening.
A cramped single room, a makeshift kitchenette with just a sink, two neatly folded thin blankets and pillows, and a desk doubling as a vanity. There was no trace of any man—only stark poverty.
“Are you satisfied now?”
Eun-chae spoke without turning to look at him, her head bowed.
“I’ll do what you want, but not here. I don’t want to do it here.”
“…”
“Please leave.”
The silence between them grew suffocating, filling the tiny space until it became unbearable. Finally, Seok-kyung turned and left, slamming the door shut behind him with a loud bang.
Startled by the noise, Eun-chae trembled. But it wasn’t fear—it was shame. Her already battered pride crumbled further, and tears began streaming down her cheeks.
She collapsed by the entrance, sobbing uncontrollably, creating a small puddle of tears on the floor.
---
Behind the firmly closed door, Eun-chae’s sobs continued to echo. Seok-kyung stood rooted in place, listening until the sound finally subsided.
He understood why she lived in such conditions—but refused to accept it.
He remembered the day they first met, arranged by their parents for a marriage of convenience. That day, Eun-chae had radiated brightness.
Dressed in a pale blue dress, her fair face flushed with embarrassment, she smiled shyly.
“My name is Lee Eun-chae. We’ve met before, though I’m not sure if you remember.”
Her cheerfulness annoyed him. They weren’t lovers; this marriage was purely for their families’ benefit. Why did she seem so happy?
After their wedding, he never touched her—not because he didn’t want to, but because he didn’t love her. And he assumed she wouldn’t want intimacy with someone she didn’t love either.
So when she claimed another man had entered her life, he felt betrayed—but also relieved.
But now, knowing it was all a lie and seeing her struggle in such dire circumstances infuriated him.
Everything about this situation frustrated him—especially himself.
Realizing how harshly he’d treated her should have softened his approach, yet every time he saw her, cold words spilled from his lips unbidden. He couldn’t help lashing out, knowing full well he was hurting her.
Something about this felt fundamentally wrong.
It didn’t make sense for her to live alone in such a place—a dingy basement studio reached only after climbing steep, poorly lit alleys.
At the very least, the ex-wife of Baek Seok-kyung shouldn’t be living like this. It reflected poorly on him.
No, this wouldn’t do.
With newfound resolve, he nodded to himself. Hearing her sobs cease, he finally turned and left.
---
Work proceeded as usual. Though Seok-kyung was now CEO, opportunities for low-level employees like Eun-chae to interact with him were rare. Their offices were on separate floors, which suited her just fine.
Facing him daily would have paralyzed her heart and rendered her incapable of work.
Especially after their recent encounter, where she’d practically begged him to leave her shabby home.
Perhaps he now pitied her plight and might reconsider their deal. But judging by his behavior, that seemed unlikely.
[Come here after work.]
Midway through her tasks, Eun-chae received a message from him. Her breath caught in her throat.
She checked the address online, hoping it would lead to another restaurant like last time.
Instead, it directed her to an apartment complex twenty minutes away by bus.
His home?
No, his primary residence was the mixed-use building from before.
There was no point dwelling on it, so she decided to focus on work until quitting time.
“I’ll head out first.”
“Oh, leaving on time today?”
Hyun-woo teased with a surprised smile.
“I have some errands…”
“Aren’t you finishing the tasks I assigned you?” Manager Yang snapped irritably.
“Almost done. I’ll submit them by tomorrow morning.”
“R-really?”
“Yes. I’ll take my leave then.”
As Eun-chae confidently grabbed her bag, Yang scowled.
“I’m heading out too. Let’s go together.”
To her surprise, Hyun-woo suddenly stood up and began packing his things.
“Aren’t you meeting with the sales team later for drinks?”
“We rescheduled.”
Flustered, Hyun-woo hastily lied, slinging his bag over his shoulder and approaching Eun-chae.
“Let’s go.”
“Ah, okay.”
Eun-chae sensed Hyun-woo was lying to accompany her but chose to ignore it.
Yang’s already sour expression twisted further with displeasure.
“Which way are you heading?”
Once outside the office building, Hyun-woo asked.
“I need to catch a bus over there,” Eun-chae replied, pointing to the stop leading to the apartment Seok-kyung had directed her to—not her actual home.
“Oh, perfect! I’m heading that way too. Let’s go together.”
“Sure.”
They walked side by side to the bus stop.
“Which bus?”
“The 300.”
“Oh, me too.”
“Really?”
“Where are you getting off?”
Eun-chae hesitated before naming her stop, half-expecting him to share the same destination.
“Two stops after yours for me. I didn’t realize we lived near each other.”
“Well… I’m visiting someone else’s place. My home’s in the opposite direction.”
“Ah…”
Hyun-woo awkwardly rubbed his reddened earlobe.
“Is it okay to ask this?”
After a brief pause, he looked at her intently.
“Do you have a boyfriend?”
“What?”
“You’re visiting someone else’s house—is it your boyfriend’s?”
Though she’d anticipated Hyun-woo might confess his feelings someday, she hoped he’d give up on her.
How could she answer without hurting him?
Should she just lie and say yes?
“Sorry if I made you uncomfortable. I shouldn’t have asked.”
“No, it’s fine.”
“What?”
“It’s not my boyfriend’s place.”
“Really?”
Seeing Hyun-woo’s bright smile, she briefly regretted not lying. Still, she didn’t want to deceive him, especially since he’d always been kind to her.
“At least I won’t lie to him,” she thought.
Thankfully, Hyun-woo didn’t press further or confess his feelings. They boarded the bus together.
Inside, they avoided personal topics, focusing instead on work-related discussions.
“Isn’t it boring riding home with your boss?”
“It’s fine.”
Hyun-woo’s face lit up again at her response.
Their ride ended when the bus reached her stop.
“I’ll get off first.”
“See you tomorrow.”
Eun-chae bowed slightly and disembarked.
As the bus pulled away, she spotted Hyun-woo waving at her through the window. Reflexively, she waved back, then froze.
What am I doing, acting like we’re dating?
She shook her head vigorously.
Caught up talking to Hyun-woo, she’d almost forgotten why she was here—to meet Seok-kyung.
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