Despite the bright and sunny weather, Lee Jieun was in a terrible mood—she had just been fired from the part time job in a convenience store that she had been working in for many months. The reason was that she missed out on her shift without prior notice. She tried to explain, but the manager mercilessly cast her away, leaving Jieun in the middle of stacks of bills to pay without a source of income.      She didn’t miss her shift on purpose. She just didn’t have any choice. Her mother got into a quarrel with a customer in the restaurant that she worked in, and the problem became worse; in the end, she was detained at a local police station. Thus, having heard this, Jieun had to get her mother released after paying a large fine. She knew that it hadn’t been her mother’s fault, but she couldn’t help but resent her anyway.      After checking the time, Jieun grabbed a pair of shoes from the shelf and began to put them on. She had to leave for class.      Peeking from the tiny kitchen, her mother asked, “Aren’t you going to eat, honey? You’re going to be hungry if you don’t.”      Jieun scowled in irritation. “Does it look like I want to eat?”      The elder’s face darkened. “I’m sorry, sweetie…”      “Whatever,” she snapped. “I’m coming home late today. I have to look for a different part-time job that I lost because of you.” She stood up, dusted her pants, and stepped out of the front door before murmuring, “Sheesh! So why’d she have to get in trouble like that in the first place?”      She then stormed away, failing to see her mother’s expression filled with sadness and worry, love and gratitude, and especially sorrow.   <:>      “I’m sorry, Ms. Lee,” Jieun’s political science professor, Dr. Han, said with an apologetic look when she came to him after the lecture. “I gave another student the recommendation for next semester’s scholarship.”      “Professor, I really need that scholarship. Can’t you please make some arrangements?”      He frowned. “Don’t you know me pretty well? My principle is to give equal chances and opportunities for everyone. It’s not fair to for you to monopolize such privileges.”      “Dr. Han—”      Standing up, the professor firmly showed her to the door. “Now, I have stacks of papers to grade, so I’d appreciate it if you’d leave me alone in peace.”      She tried to protest, but the stern look on the man told her that her efforts would be futile. With slumped shoulders, she exited his office.      Outside, Jieun was greeted by her boyfriend, Oh Sehun. “So how’d it go?”      “Terrible,” she replied. “I don’t know. I’ve been in a total slump lately. Problems here and there aren’t leaving me alone… I don’t know what to do anymore. I was fired from my job yesterday, and now I can’t get a scholarship. How am I going to pay for the tuition and the bills?”      Slinging his arm around her shoulders, Sehun said, “Cheer up! Being pessimistic and down like that won’t solve anything.” With a smile, he pinched her nose. “How about I buy my little Jieun ice cream at her favorite shop?”      She lightly punched him in the arm. “Shut up,” she said, her face flushing in a bright shade of pink. “Besides, I can’t today.”      “Why?”      Sighing, Jieun looked at her feet. “I said some really mean things to my mom this morning,” she confessed. “I didn’t mean to say those things… I was just so frustrated and tired that I vented my anger out on her. I want to apologize and make up with her.”      Sehun showed her a toothy grin. “My little Jieun is so mature now! Do you need any help?”      “Hm… I’m actually going to go grocery shopping. Want to come with me?”      He just smiled in response.   <:>      With a plastic