A Couple's Necklace and a Harsh Reward
Hwigyeom strode straight into the depths of the store without hesitation.
To Yeong-a, who had never seen real diamonds before, there was no way to tell the difference. Still, every accessory on display was dazzling and beautiful in its own way.
“Manager, there are so many pretty things here.”
“Take your time looking around.”
While Yeong-a stared into the showcases in a daze, Hwigyeom exchanged a few quiet words with the staff. Soon the employee returned carrying several recommended items.
“As requested, I’ve brought only casual designs.”
Each necklace featured a pendant shaped like a butterfly, flower, or ribbon. Yeong-a pointed at the one with the smallest pendant.
“How much is this?”
“It’s one hundred thousand won.”
The employee spoke clearly and professionally. Just as Hwigyeom had said, it was cheaper than she’d expected.
“What about this one?”
Gathering her courage, Yeong-a chose the ribbon pendant that had caught her eye the most.
“You have excellent taste. This is our new Drop Bow Necklace. It features an elegant full-pavé ribbon pendant with a graceful curve, and beneath it hangs a teardrop-shaped one-carat simulated… diamond. The price is one hundred thousand won.”
Yeong-a clapped without realizing it.
“Wow, I should get one for Grandma too. She doesn’t have anything like this. Okay, I’ll take the ribbon one and the butterfly one. Grandma loves butterflies.”
The employee smiled brightly and gestured toward the back of the store.
“Would you mind waiting in the private room? We’ll prepare your items while you enjoy some refreshments.”
That was when Yeong-a saw it. A dazzling dog collar with a bone-shaped pendant. Below it, a panel left no doubt it was for pets: For Your Luxury Dog.
“Whoa, Manager. Doesn’t this look perfect for Bokdol? How much is it?”
The employee, who had been pouring tea, smiled and explained.
“Ah, you mean the Lucky Bone Collar. It’s made with 18K white gold for dogs with sensitive skin. The smallest size starts at five hu—”
“Five hundred thousand? That’s steep.”
Hwigyeom cut the employee off abruptly, but the professional simply smiled even brighter.
“Haha, yes. It’s set with top-grade full-pavé diamond stones and is sold exclusively to VIP members.”
“It must be because of all the jewels. I wanted to get couple necklaces…”
She had hoped to treat herself with fifty thousand won, but five hundred thousand was far too expensive. Watching Yeong-a’s shoulders slump, Hwigyeom asked,
“If I buy you couple necklaces, will you do everything I tell you to?”
“Yes!”
Yeong-a answered without hesitation. She was already doing everything he asked anyway. Hwigyeom paid for both necklaces, claiming the amount was basically a bonus.
Considering his wealth, seven hundred thousand won was apparently less than seven won to him.
Yet that same “less than seven won” couple necklace came with such merciless training attached!
With zero mercy, Hwigyeom made Yeong-a get up again.
“Hurry up and stand.”
In the meantime, Bokdol—who had been given water, jerky, and a few pieces of sweet potato—had recovered his energy like the young puppy he was.
In the end, Yeong-a only escaped the hellish training after running several more laps around the park with Bokdol.
“Let’s go eat dinner.”
The two of them headed to Hwigyeom’s house. He had mentioned that Jung Hye was coming over with some nourishing food.
“I’m so excited!”
Yeong-a hadn’t wanted to spend her birthday evening alone, but she also genuinely enjoyed seeing Jung Hye, so she happily followed him.
As soon as they set him down in the entryway, Bokdol sprinted down the hallway at full speed. Jung Hye, who had arrived first, greeted him warmly. Director Gu was there too.
“Ogu-ogu, did the little cutie arrive? Oh, and the big cutie too?”
Jung Hye smiled softly as she looked at Yeong-a following behind. It was the first time Yeong-a had ever heard such an embarrassing nickname, and her face turned bright red, but she didn’t exactly hate it.
“Hello, Director. Have you been well?”
“More than well. A month ago it felt like the world was collapsing, but these days I wake up every Monday morning feeling absolutely fantastic. That aunt of theirs really knows how to give a compliment.”
Seeing Jung Hye’s bright smile made Yeong-a feel good too. Although she had slacked off a little today, she and Hwigyeom had been working day and night lately on the resort development project.
“That’s a relief.”
“It’s all thanks to you two. Come here. I brought some truly amazing things.”
When they reached the dining table, it was covered with all sorts of appetizing seafood dishes—octopus, abalone, and more.
Yeong-a’s mouth immediately began to water, but Hwigyeom frowned.
“Director Gu, do you have any digestive medicine?”
“You’ve never asked for that kind before, so I didn’t prepare any in advance. Would you like mine?”
“I’d really appreciate it.”
After washing her hands, Yeong-a sat down at the table. Jung Hye explained the menu.
The main dishes were octopus stew with summer squash, sea bass carpaccio with green apple and caviar, and grilled black pork ribs paired with steamed mackerel and wild strawberry purée.
Jung Hye said she didn’t usually eat dinner and left with Director Gu to wash Bokdol.
A short while later, only Hwigyeom and Yeong-a sat facing each other at the table.
“Everything looks so delicious.”
Yeong-a took a spoonful of the tender squash and delicate octopus in its savory broth and let out a sigh of pure admiration. The other dishes were just as good.
Even though she usually disliked raw food, the sea bass carpaccio wasn’t fishy at all—it was chewy and refreshingly bright. And the lightly steamed mackerel paired with the wild strawberry purée was such a perfect combination that it genuinely surprised her.
Starving, Yeong-a quickly emptied her bowl of soup and rice, but Hwigyeom only poked at his soup before setting his spoon down.
“Manager, what are you going to do when you go to hell later?”
She felt bad leaving food behind when Jung Hye had prepared it with such care, but there was no way she could finish the rest by herself.
“You mean that thing about mixing everything together in hell?”
“Yes.”
“If you’re that worried, Employee Yu can eat it. We’re leaving it together anyway.”
He wasn’t wrong, but still.
“I’m going to heaven, so it doesn’t matter to me. Even if it’s not exactly front-row seats.”
“You really are a funny kid. So you’re saying I’m definitely going to hell?”
Instead of answering, Yeong-a quietly lowered her eyes. Did he really need her to say it out loud?
Just then, Director Gu appeared carrying a cake box.
“Have you finished eating?”
“What’s this?”
“It’s Yeong-a’s birthday, isn’t it?”
Yeong-a’s eyes widened at the sight of the large square box.
“How did you…”
“I happened to look at your resume not long ago, so I still remembered.”
Hwigyeom spoke casually, sounding as indifferent as ever. Yet even though his tone was dry, this felt far better than Suho’s half-hearted congratulations, no matter how big his smile had been.
“Happy birthday, Yeong-a. Even if it’s store-bought, our hotel’s cakes are pretty good.”
Jung Hye took out the cake, and Hwigyeom stuck candles in it and lit them.
The flickering flames couldn’t possibly reach her chest, yet watching the candles made a warm surge of emotion rise inside her.
Her nose stung. It wasn’t the same as sorrow. Yeong-a rarely let her feelings show. She was used to putting up walls around her heart. But this was the first time someone had shown her such deep, penetrating kindness.
For most people, a birthday marked the day they were born. For Yeong-a, it was the day Sister Yosefa had found her. She only learned that it had been shortly after her hundredth day when she grew older.
After that, every birthday made her wonder when her real birthday was. And that curiosity always led to the question she usually suppressed with all her might: What kind of person was the mother who gave birth to me?
Yeong-a had decided long ago to only think about her mother on that one single day out of the year—her birthday.
Yet right now she realized that this year, she hadn’t thought about it even once.
As the overwhelming emotion tightened her throat and she bit down hard on her lip, Jung Hye gently wrapped her arms around Yeong-a’s shoulders.
“Hurry and blow out the candles. Make a wish.”
Bokdol, cradled in Jung Hye’s arms, squirmed and let out a string of sharp barks. Yeong-a barely managed to open her mouth.
“Yes. Thank you.”
She closed her eyes tightly, made her wish, and blew out the candles.
While they ate tea and cake, Bokdol stayed quietly nestled in Jung Hye’s embrace.
“By the way, Hwigyeom, it looks like it’s about time for you to get married now that you’re raising a dog. Look at how you put that collar on him. I can only imagine how well you’ll take care of your own child.”
Jung Hye said as she stroked Bokdol’s sparkling new collar. Yeong-a had thought something similar when she watched Hwigyeom not long ago.
Just seeing how he took care of her—an ordinary employee—proved it. He scolded her every second, yet he always did it with genuine care.
He complained that Bokdol didn’t know how to do anything and wasn’t even worth the cost of his food, but the way he held the puppy was incredibly tender.
“It looks like it’s about time for you to get married too, Mother. You said you wanted to take Bokdol home with you.”
Hwigyeom only sounded annoyed.
“How did you twist it into that? Grandfather said he’s looking into matchmaking again. What a relief.”