They may be young, but wisdom and maturity was not determined by someone’s age. As soon as dinner ended, the orphans eagerly stacked their plates together, then ran upstairs to leave the entire floor deserted. Youngtaek was against their foolish schemes, but the others carried him upstairs to prevent a protest from ensuing—the lad was tall but skinny, easing up the carrying process even as he struggled.   The ridiculous situation made Woohyun laugh. The atmosphere here was always filled with such warmth and mirth, whereas back home, the coldness was as sufferable as a cold winter night. The joy of its inhabitants spread like wildfire, and hitherto, he had felt the blaze raging over him with encapsulated joy.   He watched Hyunmi run the water faucet, the flowing water pouring out in small streams resembling the tinkling of raindrops. Sungyoon could’ve fixed it if it was no longer functioning, but Woohyun had a feeling she indulged in a prudent behavior due to their austere situation. His thoughts were interrupted by her sudden request, handing him a clean and an old rag to dry the plates with. He compiled without protest in the hope she would converse more, but her silence that followed afterwards was extremely disturbing.   “For what reason have you requested to speak to me under private eye? You detest me too much to engage in a clandestine conversation,” he began.   Hyunmi peered towards him for a brief second, but soon returned her attention to the dirty plate in her hands. Her lips grinned in a penchant manner to . “What strange modesty departed your lips? Where is the confidence indubitable of my beckoning for your stay?”   “My confidence has not departed me. However, I sense you still detest me presently.”   “You are mistaken,” Hyunmi said, ensuring she wouldn’t turn to meet his eyes, “I quite like you.”   Woohyun halted his movements, turning to her with wide eyes of surprise. His mouth fell open into a shape unable to articulate a single word, wanting to hear the rest of her continuation. Yes, his heart was more than eager to hear the rest.   “Not in the sense of courtship,” Hyunmi quickly corrected, realizing the misinterpretation her speech could brew. But a glance at Woohyun, and he seemed to have been enchanted, still wishing for more elaboration.   “Then, in what sense do you quite like me?” He persisted eagerly.   Hyunmi pursed her lips, frowning her eyebrows in search for an answer. She had known it all along, and recent events only edified her theories. For this very reason, she requested to speak to him in private tonight.   “You are different, Mr. Nam,” she said, turning off the water faucet to grant him her full attention. And as she spoke, a delirious smile played on the tip of her lips, nearly exposing the peculiar gratitude toward him.   “How so?”   “You treat my brother as an equal. You treat all of us as equals. When your friend visited—Mr. Sungjong, I believe—he refused to shake hands with my brother. The society considers any physical contact with the sick a sin; believes their filthiness can turn a pure soul unclean. But why are you unaffected, Mr. Nam?”   Woohyun stared at her, the words having escaped his tongue. He hesitated forming a reply, wondering whether her question was rhetorical.   “That day, you even…” Hyunmi halted, turning her head away from him as a red blush crept up her cheeks like two blooming roses. She wetted her lower lip and continued in a sotto voce resonance, “You embraced me.”   Woohyun chose silence this time, unable to retrieve an answer to her riddle. Why should he embrace her within his arms? Why should he resume a heroic act to save her from a falling cabinet? He convinced himself the reason was the contract, but that argument was nullified considering she had no influence or authority over it.   “I wish to hear an explanation,” she said after his long moment of silence.   Woohyun saw an opportunity to elevate her affirmation towards him. Deceiving methods would not impress her—her intelligence allowed her to discern a lie from the truth. To be rewarded with her praise, he had to display brutal honesty.   “We were all created equal. The book of life never placed an advocacy towards discrimination, never taught us to draw a boundary between differing social classes. Instead, we need to seek humility and love our neighbors in the same manner we love ourselves.”   Hyunmi’s lips grazed into a smile, a rush of satisfaction approving his reply. The absence of a vain statement showcased his main principles and morality; him who bore a pure desire to obliterate the disparity among men. Perhaps this was the real him all along.   “Seeing how much you love yourself, I am not surprised at the manner with which you grace all of us an abundance of adoration,” she continued deliriously, knowing he was always prepared with a clever rejoinder.   “Out of everyone, I relinquish the majority of my affections for you.”   “It is quite endearing to see your effortless pursuit in deceiving me when I am already aware of your intention,” she said this in a lighthearted manner to deflect his flirtatious words. “However, I need you to enlighten me once again, Mr. Nam. How were you able to conform to such a differing mindset? Did your parents teach you the principles of loving one another?”   “No, not at all,” he answered without hesitation, not sparing his parents a presentable image. The only fear striking his heart was the need to become completely transparent; to confess a tale worthy of condemnations. However, a still small voice reassured she wouldn’t play the judge over him.   “Loneliness was my only companion as a child. My parents traveled from cities to cities, and the duration could extend from days to months. Being left alone on numerous occasion, I sought for companionship from,” he hesitated, afraid to meet her eyes, but proceeded nonetheless. “From the servants. The distance between us was non existent, and I delighted in our interactions. Hence, I made an oath not to abstain my kindness from those struck by poverty.”   His tale was desolate in the way it was inspiring. The world regarded his experience an inferiority, but her eyes uncovered the true richness of life. Hyunmi stared with a mixture of emotions; a guilt for condemning him without pertaining knowledge of his childhood, and a great veneration for his view that aligned with her own.   “The way you stare at me is identical to the manner with which Jangjun looks at Rika. Say, have you already fallen for me?” Woohyun interrupted with a teasing smile.   “Don’t be ridiculous.”   “But certainly you must’ve been preoccupied with different thoughts. Tell me, what is it?”   “I’ve been wondering,” She began, cleaning the remaining plate as she continued. “Why can’t everyone share your beliefs? You are a good man.”   How mistaken she was, and Woohyun couldn’t bring it upon himself to fully reveal the truth. He had managed to alleviate any skepticism formed against him, and this misunderstanding would work to his advantage. He was, by no means, a good man, but he fixed his smiled with a burdened heart and replied to her in his usual playful manner.   “Because, dear Hyunmi, if everyone likened their opinions with mine, it would be much harder to win your affections for myself alone. You would have to distribute them between me and all my doppelgangers,” he answered, trying to make her laugh. Indeed, he succeeded. Being the reason for the smile on her face was his greatest reward.   “How are you so certain? It must be your arrogance speaking. Also, I do not wish for you to address me without honorifics,” she said, losing the sternness in her voice. Compared to their first encounter, she had grown to be much more civil and receptive of him.   “Why? I take delight in calling you by your maiden name. Would this be considered another sin?”   “It gives the false impression of our relationship. People may mi