The sense of acrimony seemed to expand upon every encounter with the wealthy men. Why would they assume the house’s value could be translated into a monetary one? It pertained a meaning no tangible treasure could ever amount to. Money was no solution to every problem.   Hyunmi stormed into the house, closing the door in a polite manner despite the fury damaging the walls of her shielded heart. She considered keeping the clandestine meeting private, but the intention dissipated when she walked into the living room and found the others. At her entrance, every individual activities ceased and merged into one singular interest.   “Oh, you have returned! Please, you must tell us about the party.” Rika was the first to come running, abandoning the heat from the fireplace she cozied herself at. She clasped the elder’s hands in her own, feeling it tremor with the coldness of winter, which did not reason with the warmth of her skin—another incident must’ve caused her trembling.   “Why did they request to meet you?” Daeyeol questioned with big eyes of curiosity.   Hyunmi had been reluctant to discuss the matter publicly, not even with her brother. However, Dongwoo deserved to know the contents of the encounter. The house was signed under his name. He stared at her with question marks protruding from his eyes, his head tilted sideways as if the answer could be seen from a slanted perspective. Hyunmi had no choice but to relay the truth.   “They wanted to purchase this house,” Hyunmi answered, and immediately retracted a step backward when all shouts of protests appeared as roaring thunders bursting a clear sky open.   “You can’t let them!” Jangjun’s voice loudly chimed above the other protestors, and only then did their complaints fade out.   “Will we live on the street, mother?” Donghyun asked being one of the youngest ones at the orphanage. Innocence painted his face, displaying his trembled lips as he turned to face others with remorse.   “Of course not,” Hyunmi said, releasing herself from Rika to go embrace the boy. She was always most fond of Donghyun, which anyone would interpret as motherly affection. The orphans addressed her as mother, but it bore genuine meaning when Donghyun educed it. Years ago, the siblings found a small infant abandoned near the bank of a river, failed to be drowned to death by parents who abandoned morality for personal comfort. Hyunmi practically raised the boy until whom he was today.   “You... No... Sell?” Dongwoo’s mumbling garnered their attention. Because he couldn’t say the words properly, he conveyed using body movements and vigorously shook his head.   “This house is the only memoir left of our parents. To give this house up would be no different from surrendering our parents to the hands of a stranger. I refused immediately,” Hyunmi said, proud to have made her stance. She took their cheer as a sign of triumph.   “You did well, mother. We would have made you change your mind were you to agree,” Joochan said, leisurely laying on the sofa with a small guitar nestled between his arms. His fingers plucked a gentle tune that brought forth a jubilant notion, filling their hearts with ecstacy.   “I would have chopped their fingers off if they were to force you into a one sided opinion,” Youngtaek added, motioning the quick movements with his arms. It made Jangjun cackle whereas Rika’s eyes widened in horror. Oh, the image.   Youngtaek had always been one of the more violent ones, often getting in trouble for joining a fight. It was never his fault, however, since the other party purposely provoked the blame on him. The boy was too naive to see he had been thwarted with and complied to their taunts.   “You could get arrested,” Sungyoon remarked, though he also found amusement in Youngtaek’s empty threats. Being the second oldest of the orphans, he should’ve been more subjective about the causes he supported. Yet, he was easily swayed by differing opinions, such as this.   “Hardly. I am too agile for them to chase after,” Youngtaek said confidently, making sure to observe Hyunmi’s reaction. She was smiling along with the others, which could only indicate a good sign. Nothing brought him more joy than to elevate himself as her potential suitor, despite their wide .   “So they shall no longer bother us?” Daeyeol reconfirmed the situation, releasing a heavy burden from his chest. All day he had been worried, feeling more inferior considering his attendance at the party was forbidden. He had little trust in those upper class people, though it wasn’t as cynical as the ill feelings Hyunmi cultivated.   “I believe so. I stated I wouldn’t sell the house even when their fortunes were set before us.” Hyunmi folded her hands with a great sense of supremacy. An accomplishment harbored in her heart, satisfied at her short term moment of bravery.   However, their happiness were called unto too soon, for before the second triumphant cheer, a knock on the door disrupted their celebration. Their country house was isolated enough from the main town and never received any visitors. Once Hyunmi answered the door, a stranger occurrence appeared.   “Good day, Miss Hyunmi,” came Woohyun’s greeting, lightly nodding in acknowledgement of her.   Hyunmi was too perplexed to form a curtsy. Compared to the ephemeral joy, there was a caprice of panic now. Will these shady entrepreneurs continue to threaten her until she begged for her surrender? Albeit nothing about Woohyun's charming’s face contained a hint of malice. It radiated, instead, with an expression she almost believed was genuinely curious.   After a moment, she regained her ability to speak, swallowing once before stammering like a schoolgirl fancying a boy, though such was not the case. “W-why have you come here, sir?”   “You know very well why I’m here, don’t you? A bluestocking woman would possess the intelligence to derive a conclusion for my visit,” Woohyun spoke in his imperious manner, which she had come to observe of him. Simply because she had told him of her ideals, he wielded it with derision. He seemed to take delight in tantalizing her pursuit for wisdom.   “I suppose you wanted to find out whether or not you could mount a cow the way people ride a horse, to which the answer of is no, sir,” she replied with a small hint of a grin. What a nonsensical answer it was, and yet, perfect enough to steer the conversation away from the house.   To her surprise, Woohyun laughed at her humor, eventually calming down as the smile reassembled on his handsome face. “You know how to jest. How delightful. I don’t think I shall ever tire of you.”   It was unfair. He could not speak such tender words using affectionate eyes that stared at her as if they were equals. Reality proved such illusions wrong. She mentally reminded herself of his reputation as a renowned seducer, biting her cheeks to prevent a smile from forming. She was supposed to want him gone.   “You should not worry about such matters. I have no intention of meeting you or your partners ever again,” she said sternly, forcing herself to form conviction in her own speech.   “Oh, but this is the part where you’re mistaken, Miss Hyunmi,” Woohyun said, stretching his lips into a wider grin, displaying such confidence when stepping closer towards her. His taller frame towered over her petite one, though both showed burning emulation when neither refused to step back. “I have come with a new proposal.”   “How many proposals do you intend on making?”   “Enough to win the lady’s heart.”   By now, Hyunmi realized how dangerous he could be, possessing a weapon no woman could resist. A mere smile had women fall on their knees in worship, let alone a statement that could imply various meanings. She hadn’t realized her lips curved along into a smile mirroring his, but upon realizing her error, replaced it with a cold glare.   “I have no intention