Ju-Hyeok could roughly guess from intuition. He sensed that Ji-Ah's circumstances were not normal. She lived alone in a relatively unusual neighborhood at a relatively young age with hardly any traces of family.

She barely talked about herself. Mentions of a previous lover only recently came to his knowledge. Perhaps that was because Ju-Hyeok had seen the man himself.

‘More than anything, she's not managing to save money.’

Ju-Hyeok accidentally learned about her peculiarities because of a debit card. Despite starting her career quite early, Ji-Ah used a debit card rather than a credit card. The debit card had been declined due to exceeding the limit, which meant there was no money in Ji-Ah's bank account.

It wouldn't have been strange for an average young professional, but her case was different. As the main editor of Almond’s channel, she received substantial amounts whenever the videos did well.

Ju-Hyeok wasn’t aware of her making any significant expenditures either, yet she was short of money.

Even Ji-Ah herself had been unaware of this fact. It was Ji-Ah who had handed over the card to Ju-Hyeok. She clearly didn't know that she was out of money.

The place where Ji-Ah had fainted was ironically telling.

‘But to faint in a bank of all places.’

She had left home in the morning without telling Ju-Hyeok and headed to the bank. What was so urgent that she also had many scratches on her legs?

He couldn't help but wonder what had happened to her. What had she gotten involved in? Or what was she planning?

Fortunately, Ji-Ah started talking before Ju-Hyeok's thoughts could go any further.

"It’s about someone I met before…"

He was a supervisor from a technical college who was the only one to treat her without prejudice and appreciate her skills.

"Of course, it didn't start badly."

Perhaps he was the first person to recognize her talents while also being a person recognized for his capabilities by those around him. Admiration and affection, loyalty and love, male and female. It started to become indistinguishable.

The world shone in vibrant colors and these lights began to blend. The more they blended, the brighter they became. Eventually, she started dreaming of a bright future with him. The feeling was mutual.

“

Let's start this together. With our capabilities, we can do it.”

They began to seriously plan their future together. However—

"It was all a delusion."

When she came to her senses, her world was pitch black. It wasn't light. It was like a swamp mixed with random paint, an utterly unpleasant pit that no one would willingly approach.

Ju-Hyeok boldly reached into it.

"So... you two prepared to set up a corporation together."

Ji-Ah nodded.

"There was also a loan guaranteed by you, but the company was essentially run based on his vision after breaking up... He was supposed to pay it back, but he didn’t. And you had completely forgotten about it."

Ji-Ah nodded again, more slowly this time as if ashamed. It was obviously her fault. Legally, he didn’t have to pay it back at all.

"What exactly was the company? What does it operate in? What was the industry?"

"Popular culture and arts... a planning business? He specialized in entertainment business advertising..."

Ju-Hyeok blankly stared at the ceiling for a moment.

"Why…?"

"Ah, no. I just remembered something. Since it specializes in entertainment business advertising, we've crossed paths, haven’t we? Was the business ever operational?"

"I don’t know... It received government support too, but it seems like it never operated since he switched jobs again."

"Then where did all the money borrowed in the corporation's name go...?"

Ju-Hyeok stroked his chin, puzzled.

"If it was borrowed under the corporation's name and received support, then it was used in the name of the corporation, which means it was used for business purposes. However, if the business never started..." Ju-Hyeok muttered to himself.

Ji-Ah sneakily watched him, wondering how foolish he probably thought she was for falling into such an absurd trap.

"Where the money went might be key..."

Ju-Hyeok, whom she was scrutinizing, seriously considered the solutions. He didn’t show any signs of contempt in his expression. He just looked like a high school student puzzling over a tough math problem.

"You don’t think I'm stupid, do you?"

"We should check the corporate card usage... What?"

Ju-Hyeok looked back as if confused.

"Why would you think that?"

"Well... because this mess happened. Back then, I stupidly didn’t even know what a corporation was. I still don’t really understand."

Ju-Hyeok chuckled and smiled as if he understood what she meant.

"Of course, you wouldn't."

It would be strange if she knew all about this at her age.

"And things like this happen in business. It’s not that you’re stupid. Just that you made a poor judgment in the moment. You chose the wrong partner."

Risks associated with people were always part of doing business. Ju-Hyeok had always known this since he learned it from his father.

"Business... risk..." Ji-Ah slowly repeated the words used in Ju-Hyeok's world.

"That's right."

Why hadn't she thought of it this way before? Why had she only felt ashamed for being deceived by such obvious trickery, thinking that she was merely tricked by him? She had only wanted to choose a partner, and in that process, a small risk had manifested.

A risk wasn’t bad if it didn’t explode, but one couldn’t do anything when it did. It was a risk because there was always a chance it would happen.

"If the returns are higher than the risks, even if the risks materialize, you can still generate profit continuously with the law of large numbers. This isn't really a big deal."

Ju-Hyeok grinned and took her hand.

"So don't worry too much. In the worst-case scenario, you just have to pay off a debt you had to pay anyway. It's not even that large an amount."

Right. Paying off this debt was a natural obligation. It wasn't an amount that she couldn't pay. She just felt angry at the fact that she had to pay it. It made sense if she considered it the cost of her wrong choice.

Ji-Ah felt her mind clear with this straightforward conclusion. The world was becoming brighter.

‘The light…’

The world was once again colored in vibrant lights.

She unknowingly muttered some words, "It's okay. Again."

"Huh...?"

"I really like that saying."

A phrase Ju-Hyeok often used.

"It's okay. Again... It's okay. Just do it again. It's okay. Stand up again. It's okay again..."

Because she’d fall for him again.

"Say it again."

"..."

Ju-Hyeok's face turned bright red.

"What was that again?

Haha.

"

He scratched his head and pretended to be distracted.

"The thing you said earlier."

"That's what I... I can't remember..."

"Get out."

"..."

***

Ji-Ah decided to rest after Ju-Hyeok's persuasion and Ju-Hyeok agreed to go about his business.

"Call me if anything happens."

"Got it."

As he closed the hospital room door behind him, Ju-Hyeok's expression turned complex.

"..."

Walking down the white corridor, Ju-Hyeok's eyes momentarily closed.

‘That guy…’

He didn't show it in front of Ji-Ah, but he couldn't help but seethe with anger.

“I'll handle it. Don't worry too much.”

Ji-Ah said she would try to resolve it herself, but Ju-Hyeok would find his own way to handle it. It wasn't a matter that could be resolved by the book or the manual. It was too harsh a task to leave to the young Ji-Ah.

Click.

[Schedule]

Ju-Hyeok checked Almond's schedule.

[Hitman Simulator Shoot]

Three weeks later, Almond would have a shoot after the national competition preliminaries. This advertisement was definitely being made with Great Planning.

"Lee Kyung-Ho..." Ju-Hyeok muttered his name as if making sure not to forget.

Not all stakeholders would appear on set, but Lee Kyung-Ho would surely be at the shooting site. He had been there last time and his job likely required him to be at the shooting site.

"Hey, Ju-Hyeok."

"?"

It was Sang-Hyeon. He seemed to have rushed over from the other end of the corridor.

"Are you leaving already? How is Ji-Ah?"

Sang-Hyeon had been streaming after their meal, so he heard the news late.

"Ah..."

Ju-Hyeok pondered how to explain. He didn’t want to keep any secrets from Sang-Hyeon, but Ji-Ah's story could be an exception.

"Yeah. She just needs some rest. Editing so much seems to be difficult for her."

"Ah, I see. That's good. Editing doesn't matter. Besides, we're interviewing assistant editors today, right?"

"Right. I'm on my way there now."

"Go ahead, then."

Sang-Hyeon nodded and passed Ju-Hyeok to open Ji-Ah's hospital room door.

Rattle!

He opened it quite noisily.

"..."

Ju-Hyeok stood still with a perplexed expression.

"Why are you like that?"

"What?"

"...?"

At that moment, from the gap in the open hospital room door, words suddenly drifted out.

"Ah, isn't that Almond?"

"Wow, why is Almond here? I just watched his stream?"

Thump.

Sang-Hyeon quickly closed the hospital room door again and checked the room number.

"Isn't it here?"

"No. You're still terrible with directions."

"I'm not bad with directions. Ah, now I really got it. Go on."

Sang-Hyeon tried to open the next hospital room.

"That's not it either. It’s room 21, man. Sheesh."

Exasperated, Ju-Hyeok finally ended up leading Sang-Hyeon to the hospital room.

***

Clatter.

Sang-Hyeon opened the hospital room and entered. Ji-Ah's bed could be immediately seen.

"... Huh? Almon... Ah, you came too, bro."

Ji-Ah started to call him Almond, but awkwardly switched due to concern over the gazes around her.

"...?"

Suddenly being called bro, Sang-Hyeon turned around for a moment. It was indeed him being addressed.

"Hmm. They said you suddenly fainted."

Sang-Hyeon sat down on the chair next to her. He wanted to casually ask, but Ji-Ah knew he had rushed over after cutting his stream short.

"Ah... Yeah. Maybe it was just anemia."

In reality, it was acute gastritis caused by stress. She diverted the topic, knowing it would worry him too much.

"Hmm..."

Sang-Hyeon looked over Ji-Ah’s complexion here and there. Not that he could diagnose anything. He wasn't a doctor after all.

Sang-Hyeon wasn't very talkative and neither was Ji-Ah, so a silence followed for a while.

Then, the excited whispers of a few onlookers faintly reached them.

"That's Almond, right?"

"Yeah, for sure. Who else looks like that?"

"He's really good-looking."

"Should I ask for a photo? Is that weird?"

"Are you crazy? They're here for a hospital visit..."

"Who’s the patient anyway? A woman, right? I’m so jealous. The person who came and left was really tall too..."

Ji-Ah quietly laughed before bursting into laughter.

"Why did you come if you’re just going to sit quietly like that?"

It was just too funny that he came for a visit and just sat there doing nothing.

"Uh... Isn't this what you do at a visit?"

Ji-Ah laughed heartily at his response.

He made a valid point. What else could he do?

"Normally, you at least try to talk."

"Ah."

As if remembering something, Sang-Hyeon fumbled in his pocket and pulled something out.

"If you can eat, have this."

It was an almond chocolate bar from Green Diamond.

"This... it’s a sponsorship, right?"

"No, no! I got a sponsorship for cereal. I’ve always liked their products."

The funny part was that Sang-Hyeon had bought something he liked himself.

Ji-Ah decided to be grateful that it wasn’t a sponsored item.

"I know. I’ll enjoy it."

She knew all along that only the cereal was sponsored.

"You look pretty happy for someone who's sick...?"

"Well~ Not really~

Pfft.

"

Ji-Ah kept laughing as if she found playing around amusing. She didn't know, but Sang-Hyeon could be quite perceptive at times.

Sang-Hyeon had felt a familiar and unpleasant sensation.

‘Damn couples.’

***

Anyway, Ji-Ah decided to rest until the match against Italy. There would be no new videos on Almond's YouTube channel until then as Ji-Ah was still the only editor.

Surely that was the case...

— ??

— The editor was sick, right?

— Oh what's this?

— This looks like a new video on Almond's channel?

— Eh? Wow, the scale of this lol

— :O :O :O

A new video appeared on Almond's channel.