"What?! Ten thousand dollars?!" Rae exclaimed, her shock evident in her voice.

"Yep, he won by ten thousand dollars," Joe confirmed, sitting on a sofa across from her.

"Don't you think that's an incredibly large amount, Joe?" Rae questioned, her eyebrows furrowing in disbelief.

"If it's for charity, it's not a big number. Besides, he specifically chose a shelter for the donation," Joe replied calmly, trying to ease her concerns.

"Which shelter did he choose?" Rae inquired, curious about the recipient of such a generous contribution.

"The Sunshine Orphanage," Joe revealed, just as someone approached the door. The person handed Joe a piece of paper before quickly leaving.

"I understand your concern for my safety, but I can assure you, he had good intentions. He even signed an agreement to prove it. So, there won't be any funny business," Joe assured Rae, handing her the agreement. She skimmed through it briefly before placing it on the table.

"I think I should attend the auction. At least I'll have the opportunity to meet him," Rae stated, still amazed by the tremendous amount of money he had bid. Last year, she had managed to raise only a few thousand dollars, which had already exceeded her expectations.

"Okay, so this is his request. Since he made a substantial contribution, we offered him some privileges within the boundaries of the agreement. He wants you to come to his house and perform household chores like cooking, cleaning, and so on for a week," Joe explained, providing her with more details. As this was an unusual situation, Rae needed some time to review all the terms and conditions before commencing her charitable work.

"So, it's basically a maid job?" Rae clarified, seeking confirmation.

"Don't worry, nothing inappropriate or extravagant..." Joe assured her.

"I have a bad feeling about this, Joe. I mean, last time it was a couple, but this time it's a single man," Rae expressed her concern, her fingers nervously fiddling with one another.

"It's okay. If you feel uneasy, you can bring Tay along," Joe suggested, acknowledging her apprehension. Having Taylor accompany her could provide an extra layer of security.

"So, it's a deal?" Joe asked, hopeful for her agreement. He smiled and handed her a piece of paper.

"This is the address. You can start tomorrow," he informed her.

"All of this trouble because of that painting. If you had let it go, maybe you wouldn't have needed to offer yourself in an auction," Joe casually remarked, trying to provoke a reaction from Rae.

"I'd rather be a maid for a week," Rae responded firmly before making her way to leave.

Joe could only sigh. Rae was indeed stubborn. But he was glad that he had done a good deed today.

Not just once, but twice...

------------------------

"Hello, Mr. Wu!" Mint greeted, entering the room. He was always one of the last students to leave. Youn smiled at him and began preparing his bag to go home.

"Hey, how's the practice going? Any trouble catching up?" Youn asked Mint, genuinely interested.

"I'm enjoying the practice, thank you," Mint replied politely.

Youn paused for a moment, setting aside his tasks and focusing on the particular student in front of him.

"Just say it, Mint. I know you have something on your mind," Youn encouraged. Mint bit his lips nervously, fidgeting with his hoodie.

"Sir, are you seeing anyone right now?" Mint finally asked, his words filled with curiosity. Youn looked at the boy, slightly surprised by the question.

"Nah, I don't have time for that," Youn chuckled lightly.

"Really?"

"Yes..."

"What about Julie?" Mint's question caught Youn off guard, and he furrowed his brow, trying to understand where the conversation was heading.

"Julie? What about her?" Youn questioned, his curiosity growing.

"I've noticed you talking to her quite often," Mint stated, a hint of concern in his voice. Youn couldn't help but smile, realizing the direction of the conversation.

"So, you're jealous?" Youn teased, unable to contain his amusement.

"Ah... You're not supposed to have a relationship with your student," Mint pointed out, his tone serious.

"I'm just a temporary teacher here. I guess that rule doesn't apply to me," Youn replied, maintaining a straight face. He wanted to push Mint further to express his thoughts. He wanted to see how far the boy would go.

"Still, it's wrong! She's underage!" Mint protested, his concern evident.

"So, she can't date?" Youn challenged, raising an eyebrow.

"No... I mean... Of course, she can date, but not with someone who is much older than her," Mint stumbled over his words. Youn couldn't hold back anymore and burst into laughter, causing the entire room to shake with his amusement.

"So, you're a jealous young man, huh?" Youn teased, enjoying the moment.

"I... I am not!" Mint protested, his cheeks turning slightly pink.

"I thought... Taylor was your boyfriend," Youn remarked, remembering the morning he had witnessed Taylor kissing the woman who was once a part of his life.

"Tay and I are best friends. Besides, he might have someone else in his heart right now," Mint explained, unknowingly touching upon the same person who had captured Youn's attention.

"Mint, if you have strong feelings for her, don't hesitate to tell her. It's best to confess before it's too late! There's nothing going on between us. She feels left behind because her role is quite challenging, that's all," Youn assured Mint, sensing a wave of relief washing over the boy's face.

"I really want to confess to her, but every time I stand in front of her, my lips are sealed shut. My heart beats so fast! It feels like I'm going to die!" Mint confessed, his voice filled with both anxiety and excitement.

"Believe me, everyone goes through episodes like that in their life," Youn reassured him, patting Mint's shoulder.

"What about you, sir? Have you experienced something like this before?" Mint asked, his curiosity evident. Youn smiled weakly, his gaze fixed on the boy. Mint was three years younger than Youn had been when he had his first love.

"I've been through something far worse than that. You could even call it a tragic first love," Youn admitted, a tinge of sadness lingering in his voice.

"I'm sorry to hear that, sir," Mint sympathized.

"Don't be sorry. That's my story. But you have the opportunity to create a beautiful story of your own. Just be confident and never lose hope," Youn encouraged him.

"Thank you, sir! I will!" Mint expressed his gratitude, bowing to Youn before quickly leaving the auditorium.

Youn watched as Mint took out something from his bag; a lip balm. He clenched his fist tightly, contemplating the emotions that resurfaced within him.

---------------------------

"Rae, huh?" Youn persisted, noticing her persistent silence as she focused on her job. She seemed determined to ignore him.

"What size canvas do you want?" she asked, still not acknowledging his attempts at conversation. Youn followed closely behind her, refusing to be deterred.

"I thought your name was unusual, which is why you never shared it," he continued, hoping to break through her silence and establish some sort of connection. Yet, she continued to ignore him, searching the store for the canvas.

"I just want to be friends," Youn finally admitted, hoping to appeal to her and bridge the gap between them.

"Do you know what type of oil paint he used?" she inquired, completely disregarding his attempt at friendship. Youn persevered, determined to get to know her better.

"Anything easy to work with. So, are you working part-time here?" he asked, refusing to give up. He saw this as an opportunity to spend more time with her and uncover more about her life.

"I'll recommend some brands," she replied, walking away. Youn followed her like an eager puppy, his curiosity driving him forward.

"This is a complete set with some basic colors. If you want to add more shades, you can buy them individually," Rae presented different sets of oil paint. However, Youn's attention remained fixated on her, not even blinking.

"Can I ask what shade of lipstick you're wearing?" he inquired, flashing her a friendly smile. She turned around, her cheeks turning pink as she tried to hide her reaction.

"Excuse me?"

"No, don't get me wrong, but it's a nice shade. Do you have any of that shade here?" Youn persisted, his genuine interest in her shining through. She sighed and turned away, her blush deepening.

"Let me check. You'll also need a palette and brushes," she replied, resuming her stroll down the aisle to locate the additional items. Youn didn't mind following her; he saw it as an opportunity to spend more time with her and uncover the secrets hidden behind her silence.

"I don't think we have that shade. Wait, let me check the top shelf," she said, scanning the collection of paints.

"Do you want me to carry you?" he asked, offering his assistance.

"I have a ladder, thank you," she replied, walking away momentarily. She returned with a tall ladder and positioned it carefully. Climbing up slowly, she surveyed the shelf, finding some palettes but no sign of any oil paint. Determined, she decided to bring the palettes down.

As she carefully stepped on the ladder, she unexpectedly lost her balance and began to slip. Just as she was about to fall, Youn managed to grab her from below, preventing her from hitting the ground. However, both of them tumbled down together, with the palettes spilling in Youn's embrace. Unfortunately, one of the palettes hit her forehead.

"Ouch!" she exclaimed, closing her eyes as she battled the pain. When she opened them again, she found Youn's concerned face hovering above her.

"Are you okay?! Let me take a look," Youn gently set her back on her feet and tenderly touched her now swollen forehead.

"Ah... ah..." she winced slightly, feeling the sting.

"Shh... it's okay," Youn tried to comfort her, somehow bringing a sense of calm and safety. He dabbed the swollen area slowly to check for any cuts.

Their eyes met and held each other's gaze. Rae's brown eyes captivated Youn, momentarily losing himself in their depths. He also noticed that Rae was almost the same height as him. Slowly, his gaze traveled to her lips, which were pink and inviting. In a moment of spontaneity, he tilted his head, tempted to give her a peck.

Rae, noticing the change in Youn's behavior, suddenly pushed him away from her and cleared her throat a few times. "Well, that was awkward!" she muttered, trying to shake off the uncomfortable moment.

"It looks like we're done here," she said, grabbing the palette, a set of oil paint, and a pack of brushes. Without wasting any time, she dashed to the counter where she saw Diana and Yoo-Ji chatting.

"I must be crazy," Youn thought to himself as he shook off that thought from his head. He walked towards them when he suddenly stepped on something. He picked it up and realized it was a small stick-like object. Snapping the cover open, he took a look and found it to be a lip balm. So, this must be the shade of her lips, he thought.

Suddenly, an idea struck him.

"Everything good?" Yoo-Ji asked her son. Youn just nodded and smiled.

"Oh, ma'am, earlier Rae almost fell from the stairs and hurt her forehead," he pointed to her. She quickly covered the bruise with her bangs.

"Oh, God... let me take a look, sweetheart," Diana quickly cupped her chin and swiped the bangs away.

"Oh, no! It looks quite bad!"

"I'm okay. No need to worry," Rae tried to push Diana's hand away.

"How am I going to explain this to your dad?" Diana sounded concerned about the bruise.

"I'm okay. Don't mention anything to him," Rae spoke slowly.

Diana nodded and returned to the cashier. She checked out Yoo-Ji's purchase.

"Please come again."

"Of course I will. We'll catch up later, okay?" said Yoo-Ji. Youn still felt heavy and reluctant to leave.

"Thank you so much, Rae, and please go to the clinic before it gets worse, okay?" said Yoo-Ji, handing some goods to Youn. He took them from her.

"Thanks, ma'am, and Rae. Till we meet again," said Youn, leaving the shop following his mother.

"Yes, you will meet me again soon, Rae..." he whispered to himself, filled with a mixture of anticipation and longing.