WW | Chapter 4

“Jungwoo.”

“Oh, you’re here?”

Jungwoo, who had been sitting on a bench outside the hospital room, greeted Yul as she stepped out. She sat beside him, brushing back her disheveled hair. The fatigue of a long day weighed on her, especially since today had been filled with events and a certain person she couldn’t get out of her mind.

“How are Pastor and Mrs. Choi?” she asked politely, inquiring after his parents. She normally wouldn’t bother, but seeing Jungwoo so often lately, she felt she couldn’t avoid asking. His father was the head pastor of “Evergreen Eden Church,” a megachurch known nationwide. Although he had started his ministry in a small rented space on the outskirts of Mucheon City, his influence now extended across Seoul, Gyeonggi Province, and other regions throughout the country.

Yul and Jungwoo had been friends since they were young, having grown up in the same neighborhood. Back then, their situations had been similar, making friendship possible. Pastor Choi had even rented a small shop from Kyungja, Yul’s grandmother. But after Yul’s father’s business failed and she moved to Seoul, her contact with Jungwoo had been sporadic, reconnecting at college only to drift apart and collide once again, all without her intent.

“They’re as busy as ever. Why don’t you bring Grandma to the church sometime? I’m sure my father would be pleased to see her.”

“Sure.”

She had no intention of going, but she agreed easily. Although Mucheon was her birthplace, it held only resentment, not fondness. She had no desire to see Pastor Choi, and he likely wouldn’t welcome seeing her either.

“Oh, and about what Grandma said earlier… I’m sorry about that. I hope you understand.”

“It’s fine. She didn’t mean it.”

He smiled nonchalantly, though Yul wasn’t sure how he truly felt. He understood Kyungja’s condition, so he could let it go. Jungwoo had always been that way—kind, cheerful, and patient. Everyone liked him. Their connection, which she had tried to break off, had continued only because of Jungwoo’s efforts. At one time, it had felt burdensome, but now, since he had helped her grandmother, she felt fortunate to have him around. Thinking of the past made her feel guilty, grateful for his help, and still a little uncomfortable.

“I feel embarrassed around you. Such childish behavior at her age.”

“It just means she has a lot of love.”

“Love that should’ve been let go a long time ago.”

“So you’ve let go of everything?”

“…”

Her smooth response faltered at Jungwoo’s unexpected jab. She quickly turned to look at him, knowing exactly what he meant. Beneath his playful smile, there was a sharp glint in his eyes, silently asking if she’d really let go of her attachment to Kang Yoonjo.

Jungwoo knew about her and Yoonjo’s past and had never approved. When Yul ignored his warnings, he had naturally drifted away from her. Now his skeptical gaze made her uncomfortable, and she glanced at him sideways as she answered.

“Yes, I’ve let it go. The foolish Seomun Yul is gone.”

“Oh, is that so? Then why aren’t you dating?”

“I’m in an emotional off-season.”

“When does that ‘off-season’ end?”

“Even when it ends, my standards are pretty high.”

“Too high for even a lawyer?”

Jungwoo subtly challenged her a second time, causing Yul to glare at him playfully.

“You didn’t used to be like this. Have you turned sly from reading too many law books?”

“How’d you know? There’s a section on going after what you want instead of watching from the sidelines.”

“Hey. Go. Don’t come back. I mean it.”

Yul laughed, playfully nudging his shoulder. Jungwoo had always joked like this with everyone, though it sometimes caused misunderstandings. She’d found it annoying in the past, but not anymore. Her grandmother’s accident had served as a turning point, and over time, her feelings had softened. Now, she felt a pang of regret for not appreciating this good friend enough.

“Well, I was planning to leave anyway. Grandma’s being discharged this weekend, right? I’ll come by then.”

“Why do you keep coming by? Take care of yourself.”

“I’m perfectly healthy; what more is there to take care of?”

“But you were hurt too. Even if you’re fine now, you should get checked to avoid any lasting issues later.”

Yul looked at his shoulder, concerned. According to the store owner who had witnessed Kyungja’s accident, Jungwoo had probably been injured as well. He had carried Kyungja’s weight as they fell to the ground, so he must have been hurt somehow. She worried about his silence on the matter.

“Thanks, but my recovery is Iron Man-level. Don’t worry about it. If it bothers you, you could buy me a meal.”

“A meal?”

“I know a good place. I also have something to tell you. How about Saturday at six?”

“…Alright.”

After a brief hesitation, Yul agreed. She recalled her schedule and saw no conflicts for that day. If she discharged Kyungja on Friday and prepared her an early dinner on Saturday, she could step out briefly. Fortunately, Kyungja had regained some mobility, so it wasn’t a heavy burden on her mind. More than anything, she wanted to repay Jungwoo’s kindness, and one meal seemed too little.

As Jungwoo tapped his temple with his finger, as if to remind her, Yul chuckled. At last, it felt as though Kang Yoonjo was fading from her heart.

The district of Buam-dong, where Space Maru Inc. was located, moved at a slower pace than the rest of Seoul. Instead of high-rises, it was filled with old houses and villas, alongside renovated buildings brimming with charm and individuality. Artists and residents alike had naturally come to maintain the area’s atmosphere. From her first day, Yul had liked this area—except for the horrendous traffic.

Now, autumn was settling into Buam-dong. As she drove her compact car, purchased two years ago, she entered the alley leading to her office. Passing by a bakery founded by a former hotel pastry chef, a specialty cat store run by a woman obsessed with felines, a vintage-style bookstore, a flower shop next to it, and a coffee shop with a red parasol, she arrived at a white-walled building covered in ivy.

It was the Heyum Museum of Art, a place she had visited a long time ago. Despite the years, the exterior remained the same, except for the widened street and the flowers climbing over the wall. It was strange to think that a place once so distant from her home was now within walking distance from her workplace. Yet, she usually passed it without a second glance, having no fond memories there.

“What?”

Yul stopped her car in front of the museum, noticing a large sign on the building that she hadn’t seen before.

“Memorial Exhibition of Mo Yeonsu—20th Anniversary Commemoration of Unpublished Works”

Mo Yeonsu had grown up in hardship, but with her natural beauty and artistic genius, she became a globally renowned painter. The story of her love and marriage to her benefactor, who had recognized her talent and even funded her studies abroad, had been a sensational topic. People idolized her fiery life, but Yul knew not everything was as it seemed.

“That painting is finally out in the world.”

She was genuinely surprised. She had thought it would remain hidden forever, and seeing it on public display suggested a significant change in the owner’s mindset.

Yul stared at the sign for a while before refocusing and pressing the gas pedal. What did it matter? This wasn’t her concern, and she had no plans to attend the Mo Yeonsu exhibition anyway.

As she turned down another alley, she finally arrived at a building with green glass walls: the Buam-dong landmark and her workplace, Space Maru Inc.

Before heading to the CEO’s office, Yul opened her tablet to review photos and materials. Several photos of a residential lot, which belonged to today’s client, appeared on the screen. Located at the base of Yeonhui-dong Hill, the lot was 1,200 square meters, where two houses had been demolished to combine the plots into one. Additionally, the land bordered Ansan, which curved into the right side of the site, making it a prime location. Reference photos of the surrounding forest through spring, summer, fall, and winter were included, each as breathtaking as the last. This was the type of secluded, forested single-family home that the wealthiest clients dreamed of.

“That’s incredible.”

Yul muttered as she flipped through the pictures. Just estimating the cost of this property and the construction would be mind-boggling. According to the CEO, this was the client’s marital home—a newlywed’s residence. Since the CEO rarely joined client meetings for personal projects, the fact that he would be present today indicated a close relationship, though she hadn’t heard the details yet.

There was another reason Yul was particularly curious about this client. They had already prepared all the paperwork required for the design process and construction permits, and she’d heard they’d even reinforced the foundation, which was unusual. Most clients left those details to the firm, only making requests. It made her wonder what sort of person they were—someone with a deep love for their home who had studied construction extensively or someone already involved in the industry?

Yul glanced at her watch. It was 9:30. The meeting was set to start at 10, so she thought she’d have a quick talk with the CEO about the Park Geonju case. She’d given him a general update over the phone, and they had a meeting planned, but she felt she ought to admit to any mistakes before the formal discussion.