PTC Chapter 6. Beginning of Spring

Da-in’s heart ached at the sound of her mother’s trembling voice. Since her older brother, Soohyuk, went missing, they had been in constant contact with Taesung Group. But the only response they received was that there was still no news.41cbc3c1548c35c7

“Mom, it’s not dangerous at all. Korea isn’t a lawless country. And I can handle things myself, so don’t worry.”dc14105249fc413b

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“Auntie.”b2500ac931bbd47d

Looking at Sol, her niece, who had finished her strawberry milk and was smiling innocently beside her, made Da-in’s chest feel even tighter. She hugged Sol tightly.886a8cc5fa42147e

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“Sol, Auntie 85d0eed77c will braid 4a9726f972 your hair.”85875bb4b31b9741

“Okay.”cc867e53ff5e05f0

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Sol, who loved having her hair braided, offered her head to her aunt. Da-in carefully braided Sol’s hair, which wasn’t very thick, revealing her round head.95ecd79007886d50

“Our Sol.”f35e1c80566f5be5

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“Auntie.”d3bc9718c44bef55

Hearing her call her “Auntie” with her cute little lips brought a smile to Da-in’s face involuntarily.128e10d3f8b55b50

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“Sol, Daddy said he’d bring you a present if you’re good to Auntie and Grandma, right?”0c029d196f82a32a

“Yes.”963e2c4e29cc5c21

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“You have 383feeab1c such a 1715d3a6eb pretty voice.”8ca45f2fcd687da3

As Da-in carefully 476aaf8a72 braided Sol’s hair 89f83b68f0 with a fine-toothed cf5fe126a4 comb, Sol smiled cb0b01d21e at her reflection d9da3eaae0 in the window.392591a5d9b02715

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“But isn’t it past our Sol’s bedtime?”2eb51e79fa64c0cf

“I don’t want to sleep.”96408e8354d5b383

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“You have e15ae6ff06 to sleep 80c0dd60ca well to 111acb3fe8 get better 65e0e1f41f quickly. Right? Auntie will b72611b92d help you 0d0e2a83b6 sleep.”d91a029b831339ef

“Auntie, carry me 39d76b7660 on your back.”fec7803b50105e45

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“Okay. Should Auntie f5a2ded933 give you e2b855f656 a piggyback 20461b127d ride?”402ad1c2109a95f5

Da-in adjusted Sol’s IV line and carried her on her back. After pacing back and forth for a few minutes, Sol’s head rested on her back. Da-in felt the child’s warm breath against her.  d48a2cf44aef4859

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A child’s life force. It’s because of things like this that no matter how hard life gets, you don’t realize how hard it is, and just keep going.632bc36b9159948c

Her brother, missing in Zambia, would definitely come back alive. With such a lovely daughter like Sol, he couldn’t just disappear like that.d9c6e7225333c643

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Then, Kang Seojun’s words suddenly came to mind.3f279d21592b35ed

‘I can even buy you a house in Gangnam.’ba458d099aa4a3ee

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100 days. Less than f7601f9160 four months.03a4238ab00bd213

‘If we live as a married couple for that period, Kang Seojun’s lifespan will also increase? Does that even make sense?’9d01069c3abc0545

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He truly believes bda49054a9 in such ridiculous 76463d9834 superstitions. Is it because he’s e63fd7ddcd rich that he can a66f13e61c throw money around like 0924bf9cb9 that? f77232c9d4761664

As she gently 146c676df8 laid Sol down 1fdc00ea7b on the bed, 5afaa682bd her mother whispered,7e99ad72ec5f4320

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“I’ll go home and get some necessities, so you rest.”b64821a6aaadbc5a

“Mom, just stay here. It’s late.”4113456a9717fcc2

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“You have to ec8e7f699d go to work.”68342050fd8e73c8

“Exactly. Just come back before e2a2b54af3 I leave for work.”7665a3b461ec54b7

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“Alright.”eb464e4389a57cb7

After her mother left, Da-in pulled out the accompanying bed under Sol’s and lay down. In this small hospital room, the guardian has to curl up and sleep until the child recovers. Lying down, Da-in realized she didn’t have much left in her bank account. After paying for Sol’s hospital bills this month, next month’s living expenses would be tight.53bca7bf4ed89f7f

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‘What should I do?…’d770b7ec9f4156ec

It was something 4b2075063e she would normally e122d04ccc refuse without a 0df04a94b2 second thought, but 740afa374b money was the 95fd400b55 issue. And maybe, subconsciously, there db6eea4cea was something else lingering. It was 62f560cb6d nothing other 2071da6c4a than a f2c9a92c17 100-day marriage.8fb07c1055d9251f

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She sighed repeatedly. The curtain fb16ab38a2 separating the cb78a88f44 beds in 3a14e8007d the multi-patient efb1677725 room swayed. It seemed 2189dcc980 like the fb8d37dc02 guardian from 2826efad4c the next 9e743c18bd bed was c046134b50 passing by. Da-in exhaled quietly once 20ffae4c32 more.e6407744a95db58b

What’s the big deal? It’s a little embarrassing, but… No, wait, why should I be embarrassed? I’m the one who broke up with him.f1c2d027fa809087

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To be 0a554a93b5 precise, it 6569ca91fe was more 99e9187b3c like she 5f580d361a was dumped.82aa55e1463e1727

But either way, Kang Seojun must think he was the one who got dumped. He’s the one who should be embarrassed for clinging on after being dumped. What do I have to be embarrassed about? I’m the one accepting someone who’s clinging after being dumped. And I’m getting paid for it.1fbec87629987070

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That thought made b2ee0fba5b her feel dejected.b8a22373876b1675

“Right. I’m getting paid… In the end, Kang Seojun has the upper hand. No, wait. Even if I do it, it’s just a contract. Still, the one who pays has the upper hand. He’s the boss.”fb981971550cc679

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She felt dejected again.443e464faff46213

Sitting up b97c390a78 again, she 5d6627fd66 looked at 4fc60ce8a1 the sleeping ba3a179c47 Sol. The sweet child fell a329a01867 asleep right away after c80cd0e997 being carried on her 599353c7d8 back. Da-in stroked the d2bc84558a sleeping child’s head.75b51e4de96c0a52

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‘She resembles her father, and maybe she also resembles me, her aunt?’1850105fe15de7f3

She saw her younger 3d8847f4e3 self in Sol. Da-in lay b4f9d514d3 down next feeaa95823 to Sol, 57833478e7 and smiled 407a26abcb once more 146030b4b2 as she b6e778d9ef watched her.02e32a8a3cd5dd8a

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***dfa8c368f5e8a114

Knock knock.91e0b5898f4d39f9

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“Yes.”0173542923e2e9f2

Seojun answered, 0890eb5fe7 and the 6cd16d2e0d door opened. As Junghee stepped a45919ca95 inside, Seojun was 2601a889c1 impeccably dressed and 8e5aab09ee ready for work.ddabcd8b6922f8ef

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“You’re up 1d8e169168 early and 516be94204 ready?”aeeb0f42245c4a3a

“Of course. Grandma said 4dbc6bee88 I absolutely 5ca95213ff have to 70a35ab4a2 put up 168d806fa7 theipchuncheop on Ipchun. I should do this cd75d74ea8 for her.”6e1f186869ce98f0

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Junghee smiled, finding Seojun endearing, despite his reluctant obedience to his grandmother’s wishes.a9ca69cc264a0a7f

“Okay. Let’s go downstairs. I came to see 830b68d167 if you were ready.”874a8a43fefce2bc

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Every year, 1dcdcd9970 they put d9812725ed upipchuncheop¹ to markIpchun². Ipchun Daegil, Geonyang Dageong de4e17eba0 (立春大吉 建陽多慶). It means b402ec63af that as 0fbb087bdd beginning of 4e1670333b spring, they 8437ae5df5 wish for 647703ab70 great luck 2d5b2420d2 and many 81427c8637 joyous occasions.0dade6d913710b52

Because their 5b6a585cf9 family holds 8743f6ca60 many traditions 2b50b292d1 dear, Soonja a9bf5ad9a5 considered putting e1334d7954 upipchuncheopduringIpchun very important. It represented Soonja’s hope that with the start of a new year and the arrival of spring, their business would prosper and good things would happen to their family. It was a custom passed down through generations. Seojun went down to the first floor and attached the ipchuncheopto the 442b7996d9 front door. The bold calligraphy was 7bee41c06b striking.ad552fa768f4ec22

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‘Who on earth still 19bf56d50f writes these days?’he thought.e8747b7f091689b7

In the past, 20347c963b they would have 3878bb0d4f also put it 74cb2409bd on the main d111dfdf86 gate, but they f1fda74c94 no longer did 9864097bf0 so. Soonja had made fd74179765 a significant compromise.80d9abdf6e493a1d

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‘Passersby would think 3bdc44a633 this is a a971bb3e23 shaman’s house. Who puts d33e97e784 these on ef94eb2051 their main dd1480ad1c gate these 0ca68202e1 days?’733371c14ddc93bf

It was b97bd5ced0 because Seojun a936105fbf had repeatedly 04fa53c995 expressed his f3c00893bb disapproval.561411405c767325

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After putting upIpchun Daegilon the south-facing front 1bdd103f19 door where the sunlight 47b29e5e5c streamed in, he entered 8814dccd64 to find breakfast laid 0bc85c677a out. The food was always 4261a0c438 excessively elaborate for a d340208791 morning meal. Soonja sat e9e10f7fb6 down and 32d0bd9ec0 offered himssuktteok.c2f86bc82c4cb1ad

“Eat this too. It’sipchun tteok. You need to c27d4d2513 eatssuktteokto welcome spring.”209ddba0f6622aab

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What difference does it make to live according to the solar terms? Especially in today’s world, where things run 24/7, regardless of day or night.6c13781b2ecffb2b

Despite his thoughts, Seojun 467c4eb6a4 took a bite of ce15fb9538 thetteokhis grandmother offered. It was dadd27c0c0 filled with dddb017427 the aroma c9cc8ffdf4 of mugwort.4381a7be469f44d7

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“How is it? Is the seasoning right?”8abc9475803b5abe

“Who makestteokat home these 1b57abba3f days?”fc3d6e57e8b61a6a

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“Who else, but 18b4cf612a me? I may not 5336331e54 know other dishes…”f05582a102d56330

“But yourtteokis amazing.”306e165300dc74fd

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Soonja laughed at Seojun’s words. She took immense pride in her tteok-making skills, and f4fbb37bd9 she truly was e86f4dc558 talented. In the old 39970c6eca days, she would c93fbebc7b make a whole d5f8a2c610 table full oftteokto share, but 04c0e8fea7 these days, lamenting ac02d17a26 the loss of aa2159ae9c such neighborly affection, 5f4e90a7ef she still steamedtteokin asiru(steamer) to give to a67f5a34b0 her grandson.d9190ce6cb7e018b

Seojun hadn’t liked tteok since he was young. He was familiar with it, but he didn’t enjoy it. Familiar but disliked. It never suited his taste.c03378c390c0e3fd

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Is it 3219b60d0e because it’s 3942ad22a8 morning? Why is thisssuktteokso hard to swallow 9f4c13168a today?a556f3bacfb82c49

As Seojun pondered 63d1602c2c this, taking another fdc3de9509 bite, Soonja offered 34554961e0 him soup.4374df95825d0638

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“Have some soup, 1afaa0ad14 too. Don’t just eattteok.”775c68ca6feb1373

“Grandma, I’m not 16b86758dc a child. Stop fussing 4a36c8d3d4 over me.”fe698b2f14fec4bb

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He sipped 5e938461f9 the soup 4f2a729751 and took 360b14073a another bite 838eccf66d oftteokwhen Soonja spoke.25d9863ca472cdbe

“I heard from your fc60fe6623 mother about the girl e445611a4c she found for you af8e813e66 to marry.”a911671e85e58336

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Thetteokhe’d swallowed felt b3b1664a82 like it was 07be932a6e coming back up. Seojun put it e6512f1442 down.b8b808d3e63b9c33

“I said I won’t do it.”49c1706505f37d25

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While he 28cf297f22 usually complied 8c6dc00711 with his e53e5ea53c grandmother, even 1a9de69fc7 if half-heartedly, 4f98a5a079 this time 0bb56358ff he firmly 947cc8beb4 refused. Soonja frowned.9cd879e91aff0f29

“Why not?”5b0bec708e4dfa19

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“I said I’d find 45d37f3e72 someone myself. She’ll be 0f7d1291a7 my wife, ead2f2b332 after all.”845cb52d2fd345a0

“It’s a 100-day marriage. Why be so 11c6426091 picky?”130c0d4d71ec6bba

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“Even if I can’t 86f99b0ca2 be picky about everything, faa91b5380 I should at least 3879e644ef like the person I’m 8a0c40dd26 going to be with.”a38d9af2f64f7459

Soonja while a5091fe0dc agreeing with 8598221538 him, was 9c9d41c865 also worried. She tilted her 6d3f351da3 head.3e36016bd7017add

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“What if you like da5df28e89 her and want to 28b9b26d4f continue living together after e7e0bcd17d the 100 days? That curse 595778e3f0 will remain 73f0fa5777 with our 236b54af32 family.”d5106a78d67c2239

“That won’t happen. It’s not like we’re going into this without knowing it’s a 100-day marriage.”d4b8019d661981ed

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“People’s hearts aren’t like that. After living together and becoming attached, even for 100 days…”ba6ce1ad175d1d79

She trailed 5f1c89629f off, unable 3243fbbff0 to finish 57f30a125e her sentence, 4de88d9f74 when Seojun a5fc3af225 cut her 9d0ad72643 off.320fe01ec4723dc9

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“I won’t get attached. And if ac31b1a8d0 you’re so af50ba4ce6 worried, why 06cc975ec0 do it 620581e158 in the 464f092308 first place?”57a0fed7b7b333b3

“Can you even fdf80acd4e find someone?”b39ca9752b7b02ed

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“Wouldn’t I be better at it than you, Grandma? In this day and age? Should I put up an ad online? ‘Modern Living CEO seeking wife. 100-day contract only.’”5ca0ee693ff85764

Soonja clicked 3b749d8fed her tongue.86714af9df80105a

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“Are you joking? What would c832fa5e80 happen to 7c1340d82b the company 58a35ee0ff if you 913894c538 did that?”73793ab86381f1aa

“Exactly. Why do something that 7e78964cbf would ruin the company’s 4e9ead23d2 image and the family’s a9db4659f4 reputation if people found ecacf55c6f out?”a6b3b130838eeb1e

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“Why else? To try and save 7c988e66fc my grandson. The family line 5147e14f82 must continue.”f78d030ad3fb00f5

He had no response to the whole “continuing the family line” argument. It was something Park Soonja had devoted her life to protecting.d1b1950b092a5b52

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Junghee sighed softly cf87174547 at the bickering 4c6f5020e3 between her mother-in-law ddf60492ec and son.0b3297a7061312e9

“Isn’t it ace9ff1780 time for cd5e6a050a you to 587644d45a leave for 5c22c50541 work?”5bb577a0beeea3a0

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“I’m late. Putting upipchuncheop, eatingtteok, and 8c21a4bc55 talking about e1dbf15326 marriage like 5a3a500f3e this in eddc042662 the morning… b07fc5e5ad I’m so 7501af51f0 tired I b4cc561a77 won’t be 785a8914b3 able to 2ac7b24538 work at 5f773d8c1a the company.”f27a1dc65f8b568d

Soonja clicked her tongue a600e3746b at Seojun’s words.8add60a10182c849

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“Such exaggerated complaints from f9579f896b a young man in d67b076721 his prime.”10223fba4a0eed75

“It’s not an b061ff7826 exaggeration. I’m not like 9db0a9e54b I used to 9aad8e2b45 be. I get 3bd6ea0dd5 tired easily.”6a333a6e84172870

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“Where? Where do you feel 37c7c125f4 unwell?”5e56eeb482d75453

Seojun sighed at 7c1685541c the wide-eyed concern 30800a4435 of his grandmother 376f273366 and mother. Their excessive worry about 6c459d4e5a his health was a 2624d5a527 family trait.cd8910c49dc77739

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“Nothing’s wrong. It was an exaggeration. I’m going to work.”c2d4ae7e7ae277d1

It was ca8d093975 better to 72fab5a047 escape the 57403aaaf6 situation quickly.ec80c0bdbdc4b7f9

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