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.8e6a473b2c29bca7

“Mom, it’s not dangerous at all. Korea isn’t a lawless country. And I can handle things myself, so don’t worry.”5b8f4cb7195a6cc5

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“Auntie.”d24bba3290b69387

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.44e2ae76e4cc7e37

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“Sol, Auntie will e4fef3b0aa braid your hair.”8b122331bdfbde48

“Okay.”8786f6e13b9ae71a

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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.21aa0c2075d8ec4e

“Our Sol.”5ba05baa52d3155a

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“Auntie.”96647626975f2db9

Hearing her call her “Auntie” with her cute little lips brought a smile to Da-in’s face involuntarily.7af853a9318c7a2d

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“Sol, Daddy said he’d bring you a present if you’re good to Auntie and Grandma, right?”268c83f691e2c468

“Yes.”4a0f0f519a5a78c3

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“You have such 419fb5e41c a pretty voice.”10e09602711f742b

As Da-in f8f560ee3a carefully braided ee159ae50a Sol’s hair 344c527ba2 with a 2fce9f793c fine-toothed comb, a575f5b71d Sol smiled 7b78e3b8f4 at her cbeb89a349 reflection in b5ac308af2 the window.2d23624513ce42ec

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“But isn’t it past our Sol’s bedtime?”4c635f26da6d8492

“I don’t want to sleep.”55f0abce2ea11013

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“You have to aa4b968c03 sleep well to dca7ad0136 get better quickly. Right? Auntie will help 489ee3ca41 you sleep.”8c9f3c97580aed06

“Auntie, carry 7bb175a48d me on 1fd7a2c74c your back.”76c55852445379b4

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“Okay. Should Auntie a907a4485d give you b97913deb9 a piggyback b495c81de6 ride?”b9c396a2ade978ab

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.  0c98df327adfc653

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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.7a64020b894ed5f8

Her brother, missing in Zambia, would definitely come back alive. With such a lovely daughter like Sol, he couldn’t just disappear like that.4d95405b42e0b178

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Then, Kang Seojun’s words suddenly came to mind.4ee940074844d269

‘I can even buy you a house in Gangnam.’4ca3f78478f14410

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100 days. Less than four 0d86e1e162 months.4146fe846654cbfb

‘If we live as a married couple for that period, Kang Seojun’s lifespan will also increase? Does that even make sense?’82219884217f82e8

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He truly a51b83fde6 believes in 0946b53fb3 such ridiculous f5c6d8c7d9 superstitions. Is it db8ea95024 because he’s ba3b6aadaa rich that a850575260 he can fda393e789 throw money 7d575356d7 around like f341195106 that? 87e299e510213f4f

As she gently 3506fb436d laid Sol down 7bd335b1b7 on the bed, 5d9e701432 her mother whispered,f5c586bf65b478d2

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“I’ll go home and get some necessities, so you rest.”92e228daa8eca829

“Mom, just stay here. It’s late.”2873c54cbcdcdc30

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“You have bf00213125 to go 9af80ba8fe to work.”70db88ef0ad62c83

“Exactly. Just come back f550bee484 before I leave 6841e2f6bb for work.”f4bb651cbe2ed672

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“Alright.”011dc8f1134d4fe5

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.3617558e1aa806f5

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‘What should I do?…’b652d2de71556222

It was something c2a5ca8e9f she would normally 98e6cdbf99 refuse without a 8bca6498ae second thought, but f5eae90ef5 money was the 0683784b8e issue. And maybe, subconsciously, 0006ec3d15 there was something e76fe58df6 else lingering. It was nothing 7be53ed87f other than a 753981b01d 100-day marriage.ef9514edc0105f97

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She sighed repeatedly. The curtain e7783dbb03 separating the 44ced7b796 beds in cd53ec7fdf the multi-patient bb2ddc9aa0 room swayed. It seemed like dd843f16a4 the guardian from cbe6695913 the next bed c27431400f was passing by. Da-in exhaled 16804241a6 quietly once 7c07a1ffa9 more.8e8e4a6e549175cd

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.d568f39a2dc4f076

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To be cfce3358e1 precise, it b669baf361 was more 3976417f7b like she ab7c19e3d6 was dumped.00a7b8bb39da427f

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.210f8b9620df2912

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That thought made 43d7ed0324 her feel dejected.81c930d1e2aed6f1

“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.”7c7d7446ae79057a

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She felt dejected d2d492cd3a again.b822640b1261f7ab

Sitting up again, a321e2de14 she looked at 7e8a5e73f5 the sleeping Sol. The sweet child fell c58b49937d asleep right away after e7612b8a9f being carried on her 38839d84c7 back. Da-in stroked the sleeping be7ab3279b child’s head.0a0150a46f42d07e

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‘She resembles her father, and maybe she also resembles me, her aunt?’1301513df38055f0

She saw her younger 95d9cf1a83 self in Sol. Da-in lay df01cfa105 down next c1a532f16b to Sol, a39ef2e1b2 and smiled a38aca3f77 once more b1509f5d82 as she 2807a60560 watched her.05f0301fa2245fa3

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***a0a5abfccc205ec7

Knock knock.e68106da0f38604d

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“Yes.”b08c7903f1fb822e

Seojun answered, and 6f035f5f53 the door opened. As Junghee stepped inside, 279b6d0a95 Seojun was impeccably dressed 7f60a8a414 and ready for work.7b65de9c93082567

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“You’re up early c53d35e512 and ready?”70ba7e1993cea640

“Of course. Grandma said I 2978ac4a9e absolutely have to 7885b474b0 put up theipchuncheop on Ipchun. I should do this 8456e5fe6e for her.”b050435b6cf0f8df

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Junghee smiled, finding Seojun endearing, despite his reluctant obedience to his grandmother’s wishes.1f33efba338522f9

“Okay. Let’s go downstairs. I came to see 9ef81387c7 if you were ready.”2f0c489a7b07f035

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Every year, they 8353d59842 put upipchuncheop¹ to markIpchun². Ipchun Daegil, Geonyang Dageong 7af901d65a (立春大吉 建陽多慶). It means that 48fb98d808 as beginning of efdc1582f7 spring, they wish 2bda85df83 for great luck 337c8494a3 and many joyous cbee69491b occasions.5dbd350931c8245d

Because their family holds 6c2366fb06 many traditions dear, Soonja fb20ee0b3c 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 door. The bold calligraphy 537db3f30e was striking.05d496ae7257f12d

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‘Who on earth still d4e7d4c77d writes these days?’he thought.9e2626e261296ff3

In the becc18d6b2 past, they 54965029fb would have 254eb3af07 also put 426433ca91 it on 1bbbe78b68 the main 5606f35f8c gate, but 18057739f1 they no 1fb8860a2a longer did c101fdeca2 so. Soonja had e1531deeb0 made a 70f8acc469 significant compromise.32db3279375df7cc

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‘Passersby would think 40418a2a43 this is a e6a39cae35 shaman’s house. Who puts these on 1480da20e3 their main gate these bf13e9fa90 days?’3521886f6219db1d

It was 6fc7f7cad7 because Seojun 687909614d had repeatedly 6bbe161c87 expressed his ebbd8b7642 disapproval.b49b6f7d894de207

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After putting upIpchun Daegilon the south-facing e625627739 front door where 9b06ad801f the sunlight streamed 376097c5f8 in, he entered b9a966cdae to find breakfast 4f64a74e41 laid out. The food 4b6f98b1a3 was always 15c0172d05 excessively elaborate 1883143aa1 for a c5b4df4a7b morning meal. Soonja sat b02d0d0cec down and 7b657e728b offered himssuktteok.31055234e370e99b

“Eat this too. It’sipchun tteok. You need to eatssuktteokto welcome spring.”1a52e592ad4c1526

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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.919f9ae3aa40fa25

Despite his thoughts, Seojun c967aaacf8 took a bite of 0addf9e74c thetteokhis grandmother offered. It was filled with 2f9a1342ce the aroma of mugwort.69d7246b6661afcd

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“How is it? Is the 93f2bfdbf1 seasoning right?”1f26e56268370177

“Who makestteokat home these 74dd565686 days?”a263ed1390110e83

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“Who else, but me? I may not d7c65f49ab know other dishes…”4d16b466450bf09c

“But yourtteokis amazing.”4de4bedda7395fd8

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Soonja laughed at Seojun’s words. She took immense pride in her tteok-making skills, and she 325c47b29c truly was talented. In the b5371c15d7 old days, b6f7d2101a she would 980f029027 make a 817ea16dfd whole table a6f80da957 full oftteokto share, but these 7999941084 days, lamenting the loss ccf4307a2c of such neighborly affection, 465f9e9002 she still steamedtteokin asiru(steamer) to 2c043047b2 give to 698db5ff42 her grandson.e197f37cbb9d741b

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.f71236780125aa0f

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Is it because it’s 94d85e36c1 morning? Why is thisssuktteokso hard to swallow c9fe7be904 today?8beb7fc988df85e3

As Seojun 003ecc9faa pondered this, 83906a4246 taking another b50aacbeb5 bite, Soonja f48c3c0f98 offered him 781ab3d9a2 soup.a728a24b2daf851d

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“Have some soup, too. Don’t just eattteok.”856f88fcf5919861

“Grandma, I’m not a 5e9455b127 child. Stop fussing 03c9f01500 over me.”9e19dc9c1c9a5be4

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He sipped the soup e2c534d012 and took another bite 2a8ef7864d oftteokwhen Soonja spoke.32bcd47950d4b7de

“I heard from 1f7ea6f6f0 your mother about 78553132d8 the girl she 8aa423e27d found for you 5ecb396f8f to marry.”d79d468d4622f909

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Thetteokhe’d swallowed c01de9f0c2 felt like 0eec828ea4 it was 0f4ab5b803 coming back f548f0332f up. Seojun put it down.4c44b5cc83078049

“I said I won’t do it.”5a721de211c49659

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While he 2f94f0ab2a usually complied 8ab6f03c0d with his e5220296df grandmother, even d08103ae0d if half-heartedly, da23014717 this time 0baadd841c he firmly 6cd003f415 refused. Soonja frowned.3e33b806d8379619

“Why not?”d41f7d773a583bb0

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“I said 9174be4934 I’d find 5ca5c73fa0 someone myself. She’ll be my wife, 1b6476eca7 after all.”76ca1b97f885ce8a

“It’s a 100-day marriage. Why be so 07647f53fb picky?”a9c6dda718decd93

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“Even if I e9f7f27fbf can’t be picky 87f14c56da about everything, I 02627f9cba should at least beefedd405 like the person ce7dfc520a I’m going to 867330d942 be with.”9af408a840f0d5d9

Soonja while agreeing 64c86c2612 with him, was 7423858da1 also worried. She tilted her head.ad3aa7c988bbfc66

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“What if you 1c5778e687 like her and d6eb9cda95 want to continue 21310c9522 living together after 850e87882a the 100 days? That curse will 082ca1cf21 remain with our 6262a1f072 family.”f15b387fc26b67df

“That won’t happen. It’s not like we’re going into this without knowing it’s a 100-day marriage.”a10359f927dfa9cf

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“People’s hearts aren’t like that. After living together and becoming attached, even for 100 days…”429d8b222fa4971f

She trailed off, 1245652ed6 unable to finish 82fd7810fc her sentence, when 0ecad85c13 Seojun cut her c755810b64 off.b7395493e45b9522

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“I won’t get c899f2fc1a attached. And if you’re e30ea6a815 so worried, why ca9cadedc5 do it in eadd67392c the first place?”842e750b4971761f

“Can you even find 9dbd416a81 someone?”b8606325e899fa05

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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.’”8805773e60b62ef5

Soonja clicked 08d31022e5 her tongue.26361b6db069966e

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“Are you joking? What would happen to ac7da34040 the company if you be4b353d5a did that?”1ba1d2530747cd2e

“Exactly. Why do 7f94931900 something that 2f97653472 would ruin 07b8c07160 the company’s b4d9d1794b image and 42eb63f761 the family’s 7c45c98093 reputation if 92431764c0 people found 296fc6217b out?”edc5611863d8b9d7

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“Why else? To try 2435192dee and save a0e741a112 my grandson. The family line must 9bfd431293 continue.”afa33adf720bbc99

He had no response to the whole “continuing the family line” argument. It was something Park Soonja had devoted her life to protecting.767c485ac19ce00f

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Junghee sighed cc4f7ec5d6 softly at 1070530393 the bickering 2df62ab20d between her 2e218bbafb mother-in-law and 3f682bc1cf son.fc65c061d1e1bbd4

“Isn’t it 22fc6c23df time for a2ecf04313 you to 49fd988919 leave for ecf21a0431 work?”488b8874c0e233a7

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“I’m late. Putting upipchuncheop, eatingtteok, and talking about 6f8e4d9559 marriage like this in 489baa371b the morning… I’m so 7217c5cc64 tired I won’t be a5ed05abf9 able to work at 219ec2bb54 the company.”7cd497bdc855e8ae

Soonja clicked 68f5f8c859 her tongue fe65edbfad at Seojun’s 35482a91b1 words.7474f61946e7edfa

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“Such exaggerated complaints from 8d8f197e9e a young man in a3cacd38e1 his prime.”6266ef689aad72ff

“It’s not an exaggeration. I’m not 1a5c3ce9d1 like I a0fb8cc861 used to 3f4ab4b853 be. I get tired 03e3210c83 easily.”d94b71734ac346a8

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“Where? Where do you feel 08919b9cfd unwell?”f8891dd7298954bc

Seojun sighed at 5b42ab86bc the wide-eyed concern eab8867bb8 of his grandmother edf8c8c2f2 and mother. Their excessive worry about e036515584 his health was a 766706af45 family trait.9a9db35d6e07d246

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“Nothing’s wrong. It was an exaggeration. I’m going to work.”10fe558d2c37e34a

It was better 62a71012bd to escape the d195bfc5a7 situation quickly.df65f6d2a3cbad47

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