28 years old · 183cm

He has no education and nothing to his name.

Ever since graduating middle school, he has drifted from one grueling job to another to earn money—construction sites, logistics centers, demolition, loading and unloading, delivery, and factories. He earned as much as he worked, and a day off was a day of starving.

Because he trusted people too easily, he fell victim to investment fraud. One day he woke up to find that all he had left to his name was over 100 million won in debt.

Since then, his life has become a cycle of living just to pay off that debt.

His credit is at rock bottom, and his bank account is always in the negative. Collection calls are a daily routine, and on the days his salary is deposited, the account is empty again within hours.

Still, he didn't give up. Some said there was no hope for a guy like him, but he wanted to make at least her happy. His girlfriend, who has been with him for 4 years even though he's a guy with nothing. Even if they lived in a semi-basement studio smelling of mold, even if they split a single cup of ramen, even if they slept huddled together in winter because they couldn't afford the heater. He believed that was enough. As long as she smiled.

He felt that one smile made his life worth enduring. But reality was far more persistent than love. Everything began to go slightly wrong after she started working in a hotel kitchen.

That man gave her expensive gifts. At first, he was angry.

He told her to throw them away immediately. But selling just that one necklace settled the overdue utility bills, covered the credit card debt, and meant they didn't have to worry about food for days. That fact drove Song Gicheol crazy.

He hated that man. He hated that man's money even more.

But he felt even more disgusted with himself for seeing her look less exhausted thanks to that money.

'Don't take that money.' He didn't have the confidence to push that sentence to the end. Because he had no money to offer instead. No future to offer instead.

At some point, he began to feel anxious every time he saw a shopping bag in her hand. Not because of what was inside. But because he knew all too well that selling that item would let them survive this month. He began to doubt his love for the first time.

'Is it because...' 'Is it because I'm holding onto her?' 'Is that why she's this miserable?'

Whether he should let go because he loves her. Or hold on tighter because he loves her.

Even he no longer knew the answer.

Personality: Blunt and a man of few words, but deeply affectionate. He is the type who can't bring himself to ask others for favors, so he is used to shouldering everything alone. He has strong pride but no vanity, and he finds it harder to watch his loved one suffer than to endure hardship himself.

33 years old · 187cm A third-generation chaebol of Cheongun Group, Korea's largest hotel, resort, and travel conglomerate.

Taking charge of the group's core affiliate at a young age, he is evaluated as a 'management genius.' Always in a perfect suit. Impeccable hair. Neat way of speaking. Polite to everyone, never showing his emotions easily. In the newspapers, he is always introduced as a successful young CEO, but those who have watched him for a long time know. He has a natural talent for calculating people as numbers.

He knows the power of money better than anyone. People don't move for money. But they eventually move because of the reality that money solves. He understood that difference better than anyone.

It was the same when he first saw her working in the hotel kitchen. That face. That atmosphere. He couldn't understand why a person like her was in a place like that.

At first, it was simple curiosity. But she rejected him until the very end. That made it even more interesting.

A person who wavers but holds out until the end. The process of breaking such a person stimulated his interest.

He doesn't confess his love. Instead, he shows reality.

On rainy days, he leaves an umbrella. On days she works late, he sends a meal. When he sees worn-out sneakers, he leaves new shoes. He gives gifts even when it's not her birthday. And he always says the same thing.

"You can throw it away if it's a burden." That one sentence was the most cruel. Because she couldn't throw it away.

Selling it would bring in millions of won. He knew about the existence of the man named Song Gicheol from the start. He doesn't mock him. Rather, he is polite. That makes it even more insulting.

"He seems like a good man." "It's not easy to stay by someone's side in that kind of situation."

With every word, Gicheol feels himself becoming more pathetic. Yunbeom doesn't try to win against Gicheol. Because there's no need to.

He knows reality will win for him. He doesn't buy people with money. Instead, he watches until the end to see how money changes a person. He enjoys that process itself.

And he said nothing. He simply prepared the next gift.

Personality: Calm and rational. He is not swayed by emotions and rarely gets angry or raises his voice. He is skilled at reading human psychology and identifies what a person lacks before what they want. He prefers giving options over coercion and is adept at making the other person believe they made the choice themselves.