Chapter 1
“Will you marry me?”
On a bright day in April, a man walked along a quiet trail, holding the hand of a little girl.
“I own several villas, but this place is the one my son cherishes as if it were his life.”
“Why? Because it’s the prettiest?”
“Because it holds memories of his mother.”
The man smiled gently at the child—so warmly that they could easily be mistaken for father and daughter.
“But is all of this yours? Not just the house, but even this forest?”
“It’s not a forest. Just a modest walking path.”
The soil beneath her skipping feet was soft, and the neatly maintained dirt road was lined with lush green trees that made the girl’s small nose twitch with delight.
“How is this ‘modest’? It’s so long! And so pretty!”
Junhee looked utterly unconvinced.
The path curved gently beneath the vast blue sky, stretching so far that its end was nowhere in sight.
“This must be really expensive.”
“I wouldn’t say it’s cheap.”
“Then why did you buy such an expensive place?”
“Well… I just…”
Seokhoon trailed off, gazing fondly at her small, delicate face—one that reminded him of someone—and smiled quietly.
“I wanted whoever walks this path to be able to do so without being disturbed.”
“Who’s that?”
“For now, let’s say it’s you, Junhee. Oh—looks like I have a call.”
When Seokhoon showed her his phone screen, Junhee giggled.
“Grandpa sometimes acts even more childish than me.”
“He just can’t stand being bored.”
It was all Seokhoon’s consideration—bringing Geunseok here to recuperate after his major lung surgery.
“Junhee, could you go bring Leejun here?”
“By myself?”
“Are you scared?”
If she said she wasn’t, it would be a lie.
Unlike Seokhoon, whom she had known for a long time, she had never once met his son.
“How old is Kang Leejun?”
“He’s ten years older than you, so… twenty-two, I suppose.”
Twenty-two? That’s a full-grown man.
“If you follow this path to the end, you’ll find a lake. He’s probably sitting on a bench there. You can do it, right?”
If he’s Uncle’s son, he must be nice.
“Yes!”
With a spirited reply, Junhee set off alone.
But the moment she reached the end of the path, the bright sparkle in her eyes softened into a dazed haze.
A lake surrounded by fully bloomed cherry blossoms.
And on a bench before it sat a man—like a painting.
With both arms draped over the back of the bench, gazing up at the sky, he looked as white petals drifted down upon him like snow. It was like a scene from a beautiful film.
As if enchanted by the beauty that pierced straight into her eyes, her small feet moved on their own.
One step. Two steps. Three…
He must have sensed her presence.
The moment his languid eyes, framed by long lashes, turned silently toward her, her fragile heart began to pound wildly.
“Wow…”
In a world where even the vibrant scenery faded into monochrome, he alone remained in color—like a finely sculpted work of art.
Pale skin, contrasted by deep, defined eyes and soft black hair.
Perhaps it was the sunlight—
but his dark blue eyes, tinged with something mysterious, seemed almost unreal.
Kang Leejun. Seokhoon’s son.
The moment she saw him, Junhee was seized by an intense desire.
I want him. I really, really want him. I wish he were my brother.
“Are you Kang Leejun? Uncle Seokhoon told me to bring you.”
Putting on her most dazzling smile—the kind Seokhoon adored—Junhee got straight to the point.
“I’m Baek Junhee. I just turned twelve this year. Will you be my brother?”
Was her boldness amusing?
His eyes curved slightly, and a faint smile tugged at his lips as he let out a soft, teasing grin.
Even that faint smile was so bright it made her dizzy.
Then Leejun finally spoke.
“No thanks.”
“…What?”
Junhee blinked, questioning her own ears.
“I said no, kid.”
Kid?!
Her fists trembled, but she forced herself to stay composed.
“Why?”
“I hate things that are bothersome and high-maintenance.”
“I’m not the kind of person who’s bothersome!”
“All kids are.”
His smiling eyes and gentle expression remained the same—but his words were sharp and merciless.
“I’m twelve, okay? That’s not a little kid anymore!”
What kind of kid even has their period?
…But there was no way she could say that out loud.
“Kid.”
Leaning forward slightly from the bench, he lowered himself to her eye level.
His voice dropped along with him—low and intimate.
A shiver ran through her entire body.
“Instead of bothering adults, why don’t you go drink more of that milk you were having?”
She had drunk milk—but that was over thirty minutes ago.
How does he know?! Is his nose like a dog’s?!
“I hate milk, you know?”
She tried to sound calm, but her voice trembled—it was her first time lying.
With a faint smile, he leaned in closer.
Even with her eyes squeezed shut, she could feel it—
his face right beside hers.
“No way.”
I don’t care!
His lips were near her ear.
His warm, soft breath was unbearably vivid.
“I can still smell the milk.”
She had whispered countless times with her friends before—but this was on a completely different level.
Startled, her skin prickling, she covered her ear and stepped back, glaring at him.
“You’re so mean!”
“You don’t look very nice yourself, kid.”
With those pretty eyes smiling and those soft lips curved, he refused to lose to a child even by an inch.
“I hate you!”
“I don’t like you either.”
Her round eyes widened in shock.
Though young, Junhee was quick to catch on.
“Wait… you were teasing me, weren’t you?!”
“That’s why kids are kids.”
The deeper, more seductive smile in his eyes was answer enough.
He was enjoying this—thoroughly.
“You’re the worst!”
With a shout, Junhee turned and ran back down the path.
Her heart pounded wildly—whether from running or from Kang Leejun, she didn’t know.
Back at the grand villa, Seokhoon—who had been playing baduk with Geunseok—looked up in surprise.
“Junhee, where’s Leejun? Why did you come back alone?”
But Junhee could only think of one thing.
For the first time in her twelve years of life, her sincerity had been mocked.
And it left a deep scratch on the pride of a girl just entering adolescence.
That jerk!
“Uncle! Let’s… play Go-Stop!”
“Suddenly?”
“Please?”
Knowing that Junhee only suggested Go-Stop when she wanted something, Seokhoon cautiously turned to Geunseok.
“Sir, shall we continue the game later?”
Geunseok had no objections.
After all, he was the one who had taught his granddaughter all his gambling tricks.
“Go-Stop is quite entertaining to watch as well.”
With his permission, the game began—and Junhee completely crushed Seokhoon.
Even in defeat, Seokhoon was smiling.
“So, what is it that our Junhee wants?”
“I want your son!”
It was obvious she wasn’t saying it out of affection.
His mischievous son must have teased her.
“Well… you’re still too young for that.”
“That’s not fair! You said you’d give me anything!”
“When you grow up, I’ll allow it then. How about that?”
Junhee suddenly rummaged through her bag, pulled out a notebook and pen, and began writing furiously.
“Then sign here.”
At the top of the page, the word “Contract” was pressed so hard it had nearly torn through the paper.
“Kang Seokhoon promises to give Kang Leejun to Baek Junhee when she becomes an adult. If this promise is not kept, he will address her as ‘Lady Junhee’ and give her the Yangpyeong villa.”
“Junhee… the villa is one thing, but calling you ‘Lady Junhee’ is a bit…”
But she wasn’t listening.
“If you’re going to keep your promise, it shouldn’t matter, right? I wrote it so you wouldn’t take a child’s promise lightly.”
“I’ve never taken you lightly.”
“They say this is like a pinky promise between adults. And you told me to be extra careful with promises, especially with people close to me.”
Watching his granddaughter, who had grown up so strong despite having no parents, Geunseok smiled proudly.
“Well… I suppose I have no choice but to sign.”
Without a second thought for his son, Seokhoon picked up the pen.
* * *
Ten Years Later
A famous shaman’s house—open only a few days each month when the spirits descend.
With Seokhoon’s help, they had barely secured a reservation, but Geunseok still hesitated to hand over the birth chart to the unseen shaman behind the curtain.
Unable to bear it, Seokhoon whispered,
“Sir, thanks to this shaman, I was able to have a son.”
Even he had his doubts.
The previous shaman had retired, and her successor never showed her face.
But the consultation fee was even higher than before—which supposedly meant she was even more skilled.
The shaman finally spoke.
“You must marry off your granddaughter before this year ends.”
“She’s only twenty-two…”
Smack!
The sharp sound of a fan striking something echoed.
“In the old days, she’d already have two or three children by now. She’s old enough to know everything—and clever, too!”
“What happens if she doesn’t marry?”
“She won’t live past a few years. She’ll die an unnatural death.”
Geunseok frowned, distrustful.
The shaman continued coldly.
“Unless she ends up like her mother—losing her mind. Then she might live a bit longer. Do you want to bury another empty coffin?”
His eyes widened.
“How… do you know that…?”
“Do you know why beautiful, fragrant flowers die young? Because their scent drifts even to the afterlife, attracting wandering spirits. Fate runs in families too. Ignore me if you want—but don’t regret it later.”
After leaving, Geunseok let out a bitter laugh.
With just a birth chart, she had dug into an old wound that still bled.
“People are strange… you just can’t ignore things like that.”
His only regret in life was his daughter, Jungyoon.
If he hadn’t ignored the warning back then… would things have been different?
What haunted him more than her grave was the empty coffin—because her body was never found.
At eighty-three, he was too old and tired to cling stubbornly to disbelief.
He just wanted to protect the only blood his daughter left behind.
Even if it sounded absurd… what if it was true?
Junhee…
“I just don’t know which family would accept a girl raised without parents.”
“She comes from a respected lineage. I wouldn’t suggest this otherwise.”
“If nothing works… I’ll sell that document.”
“That heirloom? You said you’d never sell it.”
“What use is an heirloom if the line ends? I’d do anything to see Junhee married well.”
After listening quietly, Seokhoon spoke with a soft smile.
“Sir… may I arrange a meeting for Junhee?”
* * *
“Is this really your first and last request? You know I can’t refuse that…”
Every time she saw her once-strict grandfather grow frail, Junhee felt a deep fear settle in her chest.
She had always known this day would come—but reality was far harsher.
To be completely alone in this world…
“Using ‘last’ like that is so unfair.”
At the meeting place, she headed straight to the outdoor smoking area—and pulled out milk from her bag.
Whenever she felt nervous, stressed, or uneasy—
she drank milk.
Even though she knew this blind date would lead nowhere, she couldn’t shake her unease.
As if something was about to happen.
Standing on the edge of a flowerbed, she sipped her milk in the cool spring breeze.
“Why did I ever try to quit something this good?”
But every time she drank it, she thought of him.
That one sentence from him had almost made her quit milk altogether.
That jerk.
The more she thought about it, the more she wanted to drink it just to spite him.
Dressed casually in a white T-shirt, black leather jacket, leggings, and sneakers—she looked nothing like someone on a blind date.
Why bother dressing up when the outcome was obvious?
“If a guy accepts me like this… maybe I’ll think about it.”
She laughed.
“As if someone like that exists.”
She didn’t even know who her date was.
She had refused to hear.
Because men chosen by adults were all the same.
Older, wealthy, conservative.
Then—
“Could I borrow a light?”
A deep, smooth voice came from behind her.
“I don’t smoke.”
She didn’t even turn around.
“A non-smoker in a smoking area.”
There was a hint of amusement in his voice.
“What’s it to you? Mind your own business.”
“A girl drinking milk in a smoking area… that’s hard to ignore.”
His teasing tone irritated her.
“Especially when she’s my blind date.”
…What?
Startled, she jumped down—
“Ah!”
She stumbled into a solid chest.
“Careful.”
A large hand caught her arm and steadied her.
Even standing upright, she barely reached his collarbone.
She hesitated to look up—
but his voice pulled her gaze upward instantly.
“Long time no see, kid.”
Her lips parted.
“…No way.”
Those deep blue eyes.
That black hair.
That faint, teasing smile.
The man who had etched himself into her memory ten years ago—
“You jerk!”
His smile deepened.
“…Kang Leejun?!”
He observed her calmly.
She looked almost the same—just a little taller.
Even now, she was unmistakably Baek Junhee.
“Has it been ten years?”
“Why are you here?!”
“To see you.”
Her eyes widened.
“You’re my blind date?! That’s ridiculous!”
“Let’s sit somewhere first.”
“I have nothing to say—especially if you’re my date!”
“I do.”
“Then say it here.”
He smirked.
“You’ll regret it.”
“Just say it.”
He slipped his hands into his pockets and smiled.
“Hey… chestnut.”
“Did you just call me that?!”
“Junhee.”
Her expression froze at the softness of his voice.
“Baek Junhee.”
Before she could react—
“Will you marry me?”
