The onions and tomatoes rolled in every direction, while the leafy vegetables remained mostly where they had fallen.

Tae quickly steadied the sack, set it down, and turned to Aeryun.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

“Yes,” Aeryun replied. “But are you okay? That save was something else. You've got some athlete-level reflexes.”

Mansu and Rin exchanged amused smiles. The vegetables scattering everywhere had somehow made the entire situation look far more dramatic than it actually was.

Meanwhile, Taesung hurried over to his wife and helped her gather the fallen produce.

His wife looked around at everyone and exclaimed, “What are you all standing around for? Help me collect the vegetables! They're our next meal!”

Aeryun, Tae, Rin, Mansu, and the workers immediately joined in, spreading out around the storefront to retrieve the runaway vegetables.

As Aeryun bent down to pick one up, she winced.

The handkerchief tied around her knee made it difficult to crouch properly.

Tae noticed almost immediately.

“Don't bend,” he said. “You'll just make it worse. You can help by spotting where everything rolled.”

Aeryun nodded.

“There's an onion under the delivery bike,” she called out. “And three tomatoes near the entrance!”

As everyone collected the vegetables, they dropped them into the shopping bag Aeryun was holding.

Once everything had been gathered, she smiled and bowed her head slightly.

“Thank you, everyone for your help.”

The worker she had tried to assist earlier approached and placed the last vegetable into the bag.

“I'm sorry,” he muttered. “If it weren't for me, none of this would've happened.”

Aeryun immediately shook her head.

“No, it's okay.”

She laughed softly before adding, “To be honest, I thought I could carry the sack by myself. My terrible judgment is what caused all this chaos.”

The worker looked surprised.

“So trust me,” she continued with a grin, “you've got absolutely nothing to apologize for.”

Mansu and Tae overheard the entire conversation—not intentionally. They were far too focused on fishing potatoes out from underneath the truck using long wooden sticks.

After retrieving the last one, Mansu straightened up and glanced toward Aeryun.

“You know,” he said, “I like that girl.”

Tae looked over.

“There’s something about her,” Mansu continued thoughtfully. “Something different. She’s strange. Very strange.”

Tae chuckled.

“Yeah,” he agreed. “Very strange.”

Then he smiled.

“But in an admirable kind of way.”

Meanwhile, Aeryun carried the bag of vegetables over to Rin's mother.

“Hello,” she greeted politely.

Rin quickly introduced her, and her mother thanked everyone for helping.

Soon, everyone returned to their work.

Taesung instructed the workers to continue loading the truck, while Mansu and Tae resumed helping them.

Then Taesung turned toward his wife.

“Wait here for a moment,” he said.

She looked at him suspiciously.

“What is it?”

Instead of answering, he smiled.

“Close your eyes.”

Already tired and slightly irritated from the day's events, she sighed but did as he asked.

“There,” she muttered. “They're closed. Now what?”

“Hold out your hand.”

She extended her palm.

A moment later, she felt something small and cool being placed in it.

“Okay, open them.”

She slowly opened her eyes and looked down.

A pair of delicate earrings rested in her hand.

Her expression instantly softened.

“Oh,” she whispered. “They're beautiful.”

Then guilt flashed across her face.

“I'm sorry,” she said quietly. “I wasn't very nice to you earlier. Or just now.”

Taesung gently shook his head.

“It's okay.”

He squeezed her hand.

“You've had a difficult day. And you've been carrying so much stress lately because of your mother's health.”

His voice softened.

“But you're not carrying it alone.”

For a moment, she simply looked at him.

Then she intertwined her fingers with his.

“I know,” she replied softly. “And I know I can share that burden with you. A burden isn't meant to be carried alone.”

“Exactly,” Taesung said with a smile.

The two exchanged a look before breaking into quiet laughter.

Upstairs, completely unaware of the heartfelt moment unfolding below, Rin and Aeryun were already making themselves comfortable while waiting for her mother to come up.

Aeryun and Rin both let out an exaggerated “Awwww!” from above.

The couple froze.

Slowly, they looked up toward the ceiling access panel that had been left slightly open.

Their faces immediately turned red.

“You two were listening to us?” Rin's mother exclaimed.

“You shouldn't be spying on people!”

“Hey!” Rin shot back. “We weren't trying to.”

She pointed downstairs.

“I just wanted to ask where you kept my chips, but then I heard your conversation and... well...”

She shrugged.

“We couldn't stop listening.”

Aeryun nodded enthusiastically.

“It was really beautiful, by the way.”

Then she added,

“Just in case you wanted some feedback.”

Both parents looked even more embarrassed.

Rin's mother covered her face while Taesung laughed.

“Okay, enough,” she said, trying—and failing—to sound strict. “Rin, go set the table. And no, this is not an excuse to eat chips.”

“Fine,” Rin groaned dramatically.

Before she could leave, Taesung looked at his wife and smiled.

“You're wearing the earrings tomorrow for our movie date, right?”

She rolled her eyes.

“You didn't even need to ask. I was already planning to.”

Rin immediately made gagging noises.

“Pleaseeee.”

“Go set the table,” her mother warned.

Meanwhile, Rin turned to Aeryun.

“Do you want to change into something more comfortable? I'm sure there's something in my wardrobe that'll fit you.”

Aeryun sniffed her sleeve and grimaced.

“Well, I do kind of stink.”

Then she pointed dramatically.

“And I'm definitely borrowing your perfume.”

Rin burst out laughing.

“Deal.”

She walked over to her wardrobe and began searching through it.

“I think I have something that'll look good on you.”

A few moments later, she pulled out an orange dress.

It was an A-line dress with a flowy silhouette and colorful patterns woven throughout.

Aeryun's eyes widened.

“Holy moly.”

She held it up.

“This is beautiful.”

“It is,” Rin agreed. “Just not my style.”

She shrugged.

“One of my relatives gave it to me for my birthday last year. I've never worn it.”

Aeryun stared at the dress again.

“Your loss.”

A short while later, the dining table had been set, and Rin's mother was busy chopping spring onions for toppings.

Then Aeryun walked into the kitchen.

Everyone looked up.

For a moment, nobody said anything.

Rin blinked.

“Wow.”

The dress fit perfectly.

“It actually looks really good on you.”

Her mother nodded in agreement.

“It does.”

She smiled warmly.

“It's nice seeing that dress on an actual person instead of hanging inside a wardrobe. It suits you.”

Aeryun looked down at the dress and grinned.

“Thank you.”

Then she quickly added,

“I'll return it in the exact same condition.”

“Oh, don't bother,” Rin's mother replied immediately.

“Rin doesn't even like it. That's why it's been sitting untouched in her wardrobe for over a year.”

“Exactly,” Rin agreed.

Aeryun clasped her hands dramatically.

“Well, that's great news for me.”

She twirled once.

“One new dress added to my wardrobe.”

Then she giggled.

They sat down for dinner and enjoyed egg rice, kimchi, and grilled sausages together.

Once Aeryun and Rin had finished eating, Rin's mother began preparing dessert.

“The fruit yogurt bowls will take a little longer,” she said. “Why don't you two go relax in your room until then?”

“Best news I've heard all day,” Rin replied.

The two girls headed upstairs.

As soon as they entered the room, Aeryun wandered toward the window.

Outside, the trees swayed gently in the evening breeze. Leaves rustled softly against one another, creating a soothing melody. 

Aeryun sat by the window, slowly eating her fruit yogurt bowl while gazing outside, enjoying the peaceful scene unfolding beyond the glass. 

For some reason, it reminded her of Bae Joonho.

Then her eyes widened.

“Chaerin!”

Rin looked up.

“What about her?”

“Her date!”

Aeryun immediately turned around.

“Can I borrow your phone?”

“Sure.”

Rin handed it over.

The call connected almost instantly.

The moment Chaerin's face appeared on screen, she visibly relaxed.

“I was wondering why Rin was calling me,” she said. “We're not exactly at that stage of friendship yet.”

Rin suddenly leaned into the frame.

“It's a long story.”

Then she noticed the mountain of clothes behind Chaerin.

“What happened to your room?”

Chaerin glanced over her shoulder.

A pile of dresses, tops, skirts, and jackets covered almost every visible surface.

“I was trying to find something to wear.”

“My mother would disown me if my room looked like that,” Rin muttered.

Aeryun laughed.

“I swear everything was perfectly fine before I left. What happened?”

Chaerin groaned.

“I couldn't decide on an outfit.”

Then she lowered her voice.

“And Bae Joonho texted me.”

Immediately, both girls leaned closer.

“What did he say?” Aeryun asked.

“He asked if I had a white dress or white top.”

Aeryun blinked.

“Okay...”

Chaerin smiled shyly.

“He wanted us to color-coordinate.”

There was a brief silence.

Then both girls melted.

“Awwww.”

“That's actually adorable,” Rin exclaimed.

Aeryun pointed dramatically at the screen.

“I never thought I'd say this, but I'm liking Bae Joonho more and more for you.”

She placed a hand over her heart.

“What is happening to me?”

Chaerin laughed.

“I'm wearing the long white dress.”

“Good choice,” Aeryun replied immediately.

Then she gasped.

“The butterfly clips!”

Chaerin pointed at the dresser.

“Already prepared.”

“Perfect,” Aeryun said. “They're adorable, and they're symbolic.”

“Symbolic of what?” Rin asked.

“The butterflies in her stomach.”

Chaerin groaned while Rin burst out laughing.

“Yes, yes,” Chaerin sighed. “The butterfly clips are coming.”

Then she suddenly pointed at Aeryun.

“Did you pack the chocolate?”

Aeryun frowned.

“What chocolate?”

“The one for your sister.”

“Oh.”

Aeryun's expression immediately changed.

“That chocolate.”

“Please tell me you packed it.”

Aeryun stared into space.

“I think it's still sitting in my room.”

Rin slowly blinked.

“Wait.”

Aeryun looked at her.

“Do you have a mini fridge in your room?”

“No.”

Rin winced.

“I don't want to stress you out, but if it's been sitting out all day... it might've melted by now.”

“Oh no.”

Aeryun buried her face in her hands.

Chaerin immediately tried to reassure her.

“Don't panic.”

“How do I not panic?”

“Because Zeon knows us now.”

Aeryun looked up.

“What does that have to do with anything?”

“He might help us.”

Aeryun nodded thoughtfully.

“That's actually true.”

Then she clasped her hands together.

“I really hope so.”

Rin's eyes widened.

“Wait.”

She pointed at the screen.

“Zeon knows you two?”

Aeryun sat up straighter.

“Knows us?”

She looked offended.

“Not only does he know us, we're special.”

Rin laughed.

“Special?”

“Yes.”

Aeryun nodded proudly.

“We've been invited to try his experimental fortune cookies this Saturday.”

“In the afternoon,” Chaerin added.

Rin gasped dramatically.

“No way.”

Then she pointed at Aeryun.

“You better bring me one.”

“Deal,” Aeryun replied.

Chaerin glanced toward her bedroom door.

“I should probably go.”

Then she smiled nervously.

“Wish me luck.”

Aeryun and Rin immediately saluted.

“Go make us proud.”

Just as Chaerin was about to end the call, Aeryun remembered something.

“Wait!”

Chaerin paused.

“What now?”

“Spritz the perfume.”

Chaerin stared.

“The special one on the shelf.”

Recognition flashed across her face.

“Oh.”

Aeryun pointed at her.

“Right before you leave.”

“How could I forget?”

Chaerin laughed.

Then, from somewhere outside her room, her mother shouted her name.

“Chaerin!”

“Coming!”

She quickly waved.

“Bye!”

The call ended before either of them could say another word.

Aeryun lowered the phone and grinned.

“I have a good feeling about this.”

Rin nodded.

“Me too.”

Aeryun stood up and picked up her bag.

“Well, I should get going now,” she said. “The fruit yogurt bowl was delicious too.”