Chapter 100
The moment Baek I-hae’s words ended, Seo I-heum and Baek Yeong burst in as if they’d been waiting.
Beside them were Seo-yeol, whom she hadn’t seen in a while, and the familiar Chai Ryeong.
“Noona!”
“I-hae!”
Seo-yeol and Chai Ryeong ran to her the instant they spotted her, as if synchronized.
Relieved to see her unharmed, Baek I-hae watched Baek Yong-jo quietly gauge the situation and try to slip away.
“Where do you think you’re going.”
But Seo Do-gyeom dropped the knife, grabbed his neck with bloodied hands, and slammed him to the floor—foiling that plan.
“Well done. Wipe the blood off your hands.”
Approaching Seo I-heum stepped firmly—but powerfully—on Baek Yong-jo’s head while tossing a handkerchief to Seo Do-gyeom.
Cold for a father toward his injured son, but she recognized it as his way of showing concern.
“We’ve subdued the ones outside. The remaining stragglers elsewhere too.”
Baek Yeong surveyed the sparse Shin Woon faction and reported to Seo I-heum. Then he approached Baek I-hae, kneeling on one knee to meet her eyes.
“Any injuries?”
“None. Thanks to Seo Do-gyeom buying time, just some hair-pulling.”
“What if our noona went bald?”
Seo-yeol, now much taller than even Seo Do-gyeom and Seo I-heum, ground his teeth while gently fixing her disheveled hair. Hard to tell if it was concern or teasing.
While Baek Yeong removed the tape binding her limbs, Seo-yeol finally went to Seo Do-gyeom, helping stop the bleeding and untying his wrists.
Even then, Seo Do-gyeom’s eyes stayed on Baek I-hae. Silently watching Baek Yeong tend to her.
“You won’t let go?! Think you can get away with this?! Even if you try to handle me like Do Ha-jun, my sudden disappearance will raise suspicions!”
“I know. I told you—I’m not killing you. I’m ruining your life.”
At Baek I-hae’s glance, Chai Ryeong nodded and continued.
“The evidence of kidnapping I-hae, plus your tax evasion, stock manipulation—tomorrow the media will be all over it.”
“….What?”
“And the murders and assaults you committed behind the scenes—all going public.”
“How do you…?! The money I paid to silence people—!”
“Money isn’t only yours.”
Baek I-hae said calmly to the stunned Baek Yong-jo.
“If you planned to solve everything with money, you should’ve prepared for when someone offered more.”
She spoke coolly, but she’d have to repay Ye Eun-seol later.
She hadn’t dared ask how much he’d spent. Though they’d allied, they were business rivals, and he’d mentioned his father’s tacit cooperation.
Baek Yong-jo’s face went blank, resistance fading. He hadn’t suspected he’d collapse like this.
[Scenario #6 Quest Success! You have successfully completed ‘Actively Survive Baek Yong-jo’s Threat.’] [Reward: Seo Do-gyeom has overcome his trauma.] [Would you like to end the game?]
As Baek Yong-jo was dragged away, status windows appeared one after another. The words she’d waited for so long.
[Player: What will you do? You can finally return to your original world.]
The player urged her decision. Without even seeing a happy ending, end everything now?
‘What happens to Seo Do-gyeom if I leave?’
Baek I-hae gazed at him. Stopping the bleeding, he sensed her stare, met her eyes briefly—then looked away.
Seeing him rise silently to leave, anxiety surged.
[Player: Don’t worry about what happens to Seo Do-gyeom.]
How could she not? All the resentment had stemmed from liking him.
She’d hated him, never wanted to see his face again—yet she’d seen him calmly decide to die in her place.
Only now did she realize too late: that was Seo Do-gyeom’s sincere way of loving her.
“Seo Do-gyeom.”
He didn’t stop at her call. Seo-yeol fidgeted, glancing between them.
“Do-gyeom.”
Only when she stood and called again did he halt.
Chai Ryeong smiled resignedly, pulling Seo-yeol away to give them space. Baek Yeong silently went to handle the aftermath.
She approached and took Seo Do-gyeom’s still-bleeding hand. He flinched but didn’t pull away. Baek I-hae smiled bitterly.
“Don’t ever again try to die easily for my sake.”
“……Sorry. Even if you ask, I can’t promise that.”
“I know. I might do the same in your position. Still, I’m asking.”
Listening, Seo Do-gyeom slowly nodded. It might become a promise he couldn’t keep, but he’d try to honor her wish.
That alone was enough. Baek I-hae slowly wrapped her arms around his waist and gently patted his back.
She said neither that she forgave him nor that she was sorry for not understanding his heart.
Seo Do-gyeom embraced her. As if he understood everything.
Her shoulder grew damp where his face rested. Sometimes silence said it all.
[Would you like to end the game?] [YES / NO]
The faintly blinking status window appeared as she held him. Baek I-hae closed her eyes slowly and chose.
[NO]
An answer she might regret later. Still, right now, she wanted to follow her present feelings over the future.
Baek I-hae wanted to stay by Seo Do-gyeom’s side.
Five years passed like that.
Fortunately, Baek Yong-jo collapsed completely, just as they’d hoped. Facing public condemnation, he went to prison with nothing left.
The scandal inevitably affected Baek Yeong, his biological son, but uninterested in the company, he resigned.
Later, Ye Eun-seol told her he’d helped her absorb the company—making her father very pleased.
Afterward, Baek I-hae safely gave birth to a daughter. Compared to her past life, it was astonishing how many people stayed by her side, genuinely rejoicing.
‘It was funny—Seo Do-gyeom misunderstanding it was Baek Yeong’s child yet saying he’d do his best anyway.’
Serious Seo Do-gyeom hadn’t known, but to everyone watching, it had been pure comedy.
When he later realized the child was his and Baek I-hae’s, his face—joy mixed with confusion—had led him to kneel and apologize even more.
‘I worried what if someone found the pregnancy test at home.’
Fortunately—or not—the housekeeper told only Seo I-heum, so Seo Do-gyeom truly hadn’t known until then.
Upon hearing the report, Seo I-heum had barely contained his boiling anger—only exploding murderously when Seo Do-gyeom learned the truth.
The organization members, including Old Man Oh, had to hold him back.
“Hyung, the s…! Everything ready?”
Now towering over Seo Do-gyeom and Seo I-heum, Seo-yeol still awkwardly asked Baek I-hae.
“Yes, just a minute! Please take good care of Do-hee. We’ll bring something tasty back.”
“Why keep leaving the kid with me instead of others…?”
Baek Yeong grumbled, taking the small child Baek I-hae handed him. Unusually for a baby separated from her mother, Do-hee smiled brightly and reached for his long hair.
“But Do-hee likes oppa’s face best. She’s fussy with others but hardly cries in front of you.”
“……”
“Look at Ye Eun-seol. She brings all those toys and snacks Do-hee supposedly loves, but Do-hee just cries and ignores her.”
Baek Yeong groaned, unable to deny it. Beside him, Chai Ryeong giggled.
“Takes after her mom. I-hae fell for the boss at first sight too.”
This time, Baek I-hae groaned—hard to deny.
“You said family photos today, right? Have a good time.”
“Yes. I wanted to take some at least once. A bit late, though.”
Leaving the child with Baek Yeong and Chai Ryeong, Baek I-hae stepped out. Seo-yeol asked,
“That dress—Baek Yeong picked it, right?”
The sky-blue dress suited her perfectly. She nodded, getting into the car Seo-yeol was driving.
“Yeah. Do-gyeom’s sulking because of it.”
“Makes sense—feels like Baek Yeong stole both mom and daughter. Though hyung can be pretty petty too.”
He grumbled that Seo Do-gyeom should yield on a day like this, but still prioritized Baek I-hae’s side.
It was endearing and touching. Though she felt sorry he still couldn’t move on from another woman, that was his trial to overcome.
At the pre-booked studio, Seo I-heum and Seo Do-gyeom were already waiting.
“Old man, you dressed up nicely today.”
“It’s family photos—can’t skimp on preparation.”
“You went all out last time with just Do-hee too.”
Baek I-hae burst into laughter. Their daughter resembled Baek I-hae in looks but Seo Do-gyeom in stoicism—yet endlessly loved.
As a mother, how could she not adore her? Seo I-heum smiled watching Baek I-hae, still treating her like a child.
“You still sulking?”
“….Dunno.”
“Dunno, huh? Come on—don’t I look pretty today?”
To cheer him, she twirled lightly. Only then did Seo Do-gyeom look and slowly nod.
“You were always pretty.”
Now quite used to giving compliments.
“Okay, everyone look here. The gentleman in back, lightly place your hand on the lady’s shoulder in front. Yes, like that!”
Following the photographer’s directions, the group awkwardly smiled at the camera. Baek I-hae and Seo I-heum sat side by side in front; Seo-yeol stood behind her with a hand on her shoulder.
Seo Do-gyeom briefly looked displeased but quietly took his place behind Seo I-heum.
“You all photograph so well—great faces. But the handsome guy in back keeps looking only at the lady instead of the camera.”
At the photographer’s comment while showing the shot, the called-out Seo Do-gyeom cleared his throat awkwardly.
From a short distance, sipping water and watching, Baek I-hae naturally burst into laughter.
[Game has ended.]
Then, the status window that hadn’t appeared since the Baek Yong-jo incident suddenly emerged.
With completely unexpected words.
[We sincerely wish Baek I-hae a happy life.]
‘A happy life.’
Baek I-hae slowly blinked. No “happy ending” message appeared, but instinct told her everything was over.
At the same time, another window from the player appeared.
[Player: You deserve to be loved enough, even without helping anyone.]
It flickered faintly before slowly vanishing, but the message struck deep.
Baek I-hae stared blankly at the window. The player’s stated condition for game end had clearly been witnessing an undeniably happy ending.
And seeing the female protagonist truly happy.
That was when it hit her. A voice whispered in her puzzled ear.
[You are someone’s precious person too.]
“I-hae?”
Seo Do-gyeom approached the dazed Baek I-hae with a concerned look, as if checking for pain. She slowly shook her head.
“No. Just… this moment feels dreamily happy.”
Then she smiled softly. Why had it taken her so long to realize who the player was?
It was her own voice—from before possessing Baek I-hae.
The End.
