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.509190d761ead61f

“Mom, it’s not dangerous at all. Korea isn’t a lawless country. And I can handle things myself, so don’t worry.”49efed862a166a77

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“Auntie.”e1d110681a96c430

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.8ac61e149a06dd54

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“Sol, Auntie will 2703968432 braid your hair.”884627743f3c1023

“Okay.”e15d0110f05ac8d8

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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.6e7f320d82e48af5

“Our Sol.”4de4b31ed21c1dd9

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“Auntie.”29f37850b292db45

Hearing her call her “Auntie” with her cute little lips brought a smile to Da-in’s face involuntarily.b5a551b6e24caf52

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“Sol, Daddy said he’d bring you a present if you’re good to Auntie and Grandma, right?”cabd661cfca70be3

“Yes.”42f3397ebf24a022

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“You have such a4c6dd4872 a pretty voice.”15df57332fa141a3

As Da-in 477aebacbb carefully braided 33ebe94e0e Sol’s hair 385b6ee6fa with a b4090ec7de fine-toothed comb, 0f515bc56c Sol smiled f697dfcc30 at her 792f00d8bf reflection in df7bd50f3e the window.0b7d038f4bbe8d79

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“But isn’t it past our Sol’s bedtime?”d735bbd89ca72cec

“I don’t want to sleep.”44b1b252bed966e3

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“You have to sleep 7ea3d8c445 well to get better 27313578ca quickly. Right? Auntie will help c4df4595ae you sleep.”d451740ee7d4f6e2

“Auntie, carry me on 0a716d29d5 your back.”fde049f120cc0d6a

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“Okay. Should Auntie 0a32f2e5ab give you e8cd8de18b a piggyback 0216cfa758 ride?”d579f3dde8543192

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.  6a11a78a7d1ea91a

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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.357ea77df7947d1b

Her brother, missing in Zambia, would definitely come back alive. With such a lovely daughter like Sol, he couldn’t just disappear like that.5c613aa50a155ca9

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Then, Kang Seojun’s words suddenly came to mind.9507ac5c892ce3db

‘I can even buy you a house in Gangnam.’c433a9f84f554505

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100 days. Less than four b93f92bb4f months.968995a6db496dc5

‘If we live as a married couple for that period, Kang Seojun’s lifespan will also increase? Does that even make sense?’c9aa9fa637d00b4b

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He truly believes in a4be2261d3 such ridiculous superstitions. Is it because b89b554f02 he’s rich that 6a817045d7 he can throw 4f25da9f16 money around like c3fc40d952 that? 9b6e92bdd49b0be4

As she gently laid 0063649cfe Sol down on the 230aa37499 bed, her mother whispered,734feceb646dfa2b

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“I’ll go home and get some necessities, so you rest.”20854cfca758ab8f

“Mom, just stay here. It’s late.”ece68956207ae8ca

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“You have cd2107d8c6 to go ae7b9b3119 to work.”7c6c53e963f1aed5

“Exactly. Just come d865671790 back before c2e1bebf96 I leave 7ab3ad5403 for work.”8f1f58e5ba1f4f84

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“Alright.”049952a8d49cf9bd

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.1ffc8ebc53bb4ada

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‘What should I do?…’203ccb39c15d63e1

It was da77fd5f44 something she 3f545d9dab would normally 92a1dd6711 refuse without 81b4fe0237 a second 5d84e81e9e thought, but cd9cc891cf money was 8d78c99eb2 the issue. And maybe, subconsciously, there 9b6a21dafb was something else lingering. It was nothing other 4b6c7b091e than a 100-day marriage.50a13a320e32a25f

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She sighed repeatedly. The curtain separating the 7cb58b14cd beds in the multi-patient 11d86862eb room swayed. It seemed like 56b910d9f7 the guardian from 5aed6bdc94 the next bed 35a2a0aca0 was passing by. Da-in exhaled e244d590eb quietly once ed6a480e36 more.d6506e8ee823e99b

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.f965dfe2b1c20307

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To be precise, it ddd340022c was more like she 9be296dfce was dumped.1399daf431eef5ac

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.a4539881147958ba

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That thought 55a50eba22 made her 0e838c3f3e feel dejected.8956e05e31c3a3cf

“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.”8cc065769c6336ef

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She felt badc6e9414 dejected again.8203f7bad3cc92c6

Sitting up again, she 2c6735f0e2 looked at the sleeping 9b3a3834a6 Sol. The sweet child fell 48bdf81ee9 asleep right away after 2dd65e5002 being carried on her a6aa186d58 back. Da-in stroked the sleeping a56a6355a9 child’s head.ac4c235ee196b953

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‘She resembles her father, and maybe she also resembles me, her aunt?’0c14a9ce7d4dc0ce

She saw ac4679b126 her younger e136248b16 self in 7c8485a67f Sol. Da-in lay down next d5e3371bd6 to Sol, and smiled 7b2e93f8cc once more as she 9140792c1c watched her.2c7255c0a581f4f3

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***58121d012874b478

Knock knock.45d2fe6af8b1afd8

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“Yes.”626aa309683fa01d

Seojun answered, and the 029350b1d3 door opened. As Junghee stepped inside, f4cdf73b68 Seojun was impeccably dressed fd729f554a and ready for work.c618951e3f6d4f15

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“You’re up early and 424c1f436a ready?”c996ce37d6793320

“Of course. Grandma said I absolutely ddbb4685b3 have to put up dea829fa9c theipchuncheop on Ipchun. I should 115a0d0199 do this da89d0b905 for her.”fa5d54d0d238c943

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Junghee smiled, finding Seojun endearing, despite his reluctant obedience to his grandmother’s wishes.e695f2f49c1395ad

“Okay. Let’s go downstairs. I came to 2e0fba1ff4 see if you 0115887c2c were ready.”12f2746192c7d2c3

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Every year, 18bcf54baf they put cd1b5f28f1 upipchuncheop¹ to markIpchun². Ipchun Daegil, 10434f0c0f Geonyang Dageong 1c8577ec3e (立春大吉 建陽多慶). It means that 46287b38ef as beginning of 2362fc6752 spring, they wish d430268036 for great luck 0f293e614a and many joyous 8da2aaa568 occasions.4c8fbabfd5395a81

Because their family holds 2763dfb71f many traditions dear, Soonja f09f8ad415 considered putting 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 front dd408f6540 door. The bold calligraphy 14bfcd345d was striking.cfe1ffeb6d0e2729

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‘Who on earth 2567dcb80e still writes these 655d40af7c days?’he thought.951656313ed4b7bd

In the past, 9ec487d9ad they would have 3b5f57afcc also put it 7f0e7421dd on the main 3cceb676a9 gate, but they 77a6093662 no longer did cb0d2d42d2 so. Soonja had a5d5db9aa8 made a ef54c2077d significant compromise.57825cc20972c522

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‘Passersby would think this 1f05011d21 is a shaman’s house. Who puts these 0309f3f692 on their main 5b85c5f50d gate these days?’5e163fcae98cd3e9

It was e7b66d4c78 because Seojun 9b35b005db had repeatedly 92ee6cd8c8 expressed his a9f67e1933 disapproval.9cea28129a481f5a

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After putting upIpchun Daegilon the 617ae93287 south-facing front 8f0775c36b door where 01812b5555 the sunlight 17d64058bb streamed in, 9a324f4c80 he entered a2f1663ce2 to find f40c58ec93 breakfast laid eaec24adc5 out. The food b614aac6aa was always 5cadc309cf excessively elaborate e486433a0d for a 7b48a2e2fc morning meal. Soonja sat down 018162155d and offered himssuktteok.f16d08098a592448

“Eat this too. It’sipchun tteok. You need to 7dff37ede7 eatssuktteokto welcome spring.”cd7a7546b9d97c0c

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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.f770e1b80245de29

Despite his thoughts, Seojun c87b6c1a53 took a bite of 5c50db3035 thetteokhis grandmother offered. It was filled 61c60e2167 with the aroma 9d1979c143 of mugwort.076f0261bcbf19ec

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“How is it? Is the seasoning 5ece28bb76 right?”fb3273b73e62d7d1

“Who makestteokat home these days?”2ab7bbc7c305a817

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“Who else, 10367b65b7 but me? I may not 0b3110dfd0 know other dishes…”2450b39b7fb319f9

“But yourtteokis amazing.”60aaf7f432cdebb9

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Soonja laughed at Seojun’s words. She took immense pride in her tteok-making skills, and she 5a82828dd1 truly was talented. In the old 41c174db57 days, she would 9c9a1fa2bb make a whole 59c80ef099 table full oftteokto share, but these 318d480d02 days, lamenting the loss d5f9c21e66 of such neighborly affection, a088f54abb she still steamedtteokin asiru(steamer) to give 039e17d3b4 to her grandson.54ca7e22e70ca373

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.1d95bf595179f0e6

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Is it because d0ee758d9b it’s morning? Why is thisssuktteokso hard to fe107c9966 swallow today?43164120f71a8234

As Seojun pondered this, 5e0d3df69d taking another bite, Soonja 432c823d4e offered him soup.1c499882d2dcf24f

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“Have some soup, 8a0395411b too. Don’t just eattteok.”4b12011132381144

“Grandma, I’m 5d93d96d33 not a 591a9f5f51 child. Stop fussing over me.”5f57146df6b7a1fd

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He sipped the 0bcfc19034 soup and took c8d355ad5a another bite oftteokwhen Soonja spoke.b60d5d5a723428db

“I heard 6b26b8d354 from your c5e223266c mother about b6d3c9ac31 the girl 111bbab2be she found 295a5b62a6 for you 58a43811c2 to marry.”bbc6d294afb24bd2

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Thetteokhe’d swallowed e59a3bb469 felt like 824c56770c it was a9d745cf30 coming back 25cfea3c14 up. Seojun put it 4e6ec96489 down.8eb7c5ed214bb7cb

“I said I won’t do it.”e5a0b51c53cfc537

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While he usually d4bfd36ada complied with his bdc5996754 grandmother, even if 7e1542e06e half-heartedly, this time 0c0fd6fd22 he firmly refused. Soonja frowned.5e489798e498ae64

“Why not?”432a39afdebb5055

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“I said dcae63c34c I’d find 22fd74da2d someone myself. She’ll be my wife, fb2aeec4eb after all.”f83bf2bede8acc0e

“It’s a 100-day marriage. Why be so c838c92fa0 picky?”53d09a55087ce15d

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“Even if I b0001b0296 can’t be picky db1ab3af2a about everything, I 909d1804ad should at least 3bd0666cbc like the person e06002dabc I’m going to 4223f90e92 be with.”5796d894f08e5ce2

Soonja while 966465d3b2 agreeing with 715418ecec him, was 2c9d61fc8b also worried. She tilted her 46d3623f7e head.5f260fbc3d9b45a7

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“What if you like 1e5533b4d1 her and want to 2f82175537 continue living together after c816b8059d the 100 days? That curse will f4ab8996d2 remain with our 35af659906 family.”d94eebc987da4465

“That won’t happen. It’s not like we’re going into this without knowing it’s a 100-day marriage.”ae4ee4c1e7b2ac2c

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“People’s hearts aren’t like that. After living together and becoming attached, even for 100 days…”9012a727d5455608

She trailed off, 00d36558d1 unable to finish 36ab2be25a her sentence, when 22848b580b Seojun cut her e2d2af0b49 off.d086e43cd0e720b2

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“I won’t df79ab5b81 get attached. And if you’re 01b6e015ec so worried, why c81dc60a1b do it in 68a28cbc4b the first place?”0108cb6fe09491c5

“Can you even 6c13631dfd find someone?”5bda0816eb2a5f7e

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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.’”e70660b31bddb445

Soonja clicked her 62f9fdbde7 tongue.3c9feed8a9cd0cdc

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“Are you joking? What would happen to d3ebfce641 the company if you d0d661c2d6 did that?”abd0b77c5a856847

“Exactly. Why do something that 659835f8a0 would ruin the company’s 0154c12b6b image and the family’s 27656f4ef9 reputation if people found 2193e403d3 out?”6800b4fd6a4fb61c

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“Why else? To try and save 2ae3c1c159 my grandson. The family c03dfd08d8 line must d09f5a0dae continue.”b1036aa419a4ea87

He had no response to the whole “continuing the family line” argument. It was something Park Soonja had devoted her life to protecting.4e7e370d85c9dda3

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Junghee sighed softly 17d95f1222 at the bickering 15465ce08d between her mother-in-law 68d5ddf5c7 and son.bbaa8a430de75ca2

“Isn’t it time for 68e692a64b you to leave for e66e20d3df work?”a28c7c1edea85808

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“I’m late. Putting upipchuncheop, eatingtteok, and talking about 65099dff5f marriage like this in af8bd6b8ad the morning… I’m so 2dfe25d4ac tired I won’t be da1dc7ec76 able to work at cb946f7cbf the company.”4e539a8a95068e9d

Soonja clicked f4c38987d3 her tongue 22d9b55fab at Seojun’s ab1639ae16 words.69e50af842f7dc97

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“Such exaggerated complaints 582dc70a9c from a young d58f997cf8 man in his 76ad0f7e87 prime.”315ae1f55cc5e0ec

“It’s not an 6ba37893b6 exaggeration. I’m not like ff89566629 I used to 3ce489b4c8 be. I get 9367ae5b17 tired easily.”c3cba6819372b977

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“Where? Where do you feel a023fc30d5 unwell?”0be4742da5a0e558

Seojun sighed 6404714a8a at the b4abe4d273 wide-eyed concern 4c7211d371 of his a39247093d grandmother and 08d8756c64 mother. Their excessive worry 80683fe22c about his health 020fe83637 was a family b379e4f112 trait.183c7d1616d9b56c

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“Nothing’s wrong. It was an exaggeration. I’m going 79a39902a2 to work.”46447239f57d2216

It was better ff72356e7b to escape the 2b8a4d2589 situation quickly.a89ef4ad2138687e

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