Far above the human world, beyond the swirling grey-blue veil of the earthly atmosphere, existed the Yeo-Shim Gung (여심궁), the Palace of the Heart's Desire. It was a realm not made of stone or air, but of pure, crystalline emotion. Here, the Deities responsible for human affection and cosmic balance resided.
The most serene chamber belonged to Hae-Rin (혜린), the Goddess of Pyar (Love). She was the youngest of the high pantheon, yet her influence was vital. She was the embodiment of gentle radiance. Her presence alone was a soft balm to any soul that encountered her. Her eyes held the shimmer of first affection, and her voice was said to sound like the quiet rustle of cherry blossoms in spring—utterly pure, utterly enchanting. Her purpose was singular: to spread Pyar (Love), to nurture its growth, and to ensure that the thread of true connection did not fray into bitterness.
She was currently standing before the Cosmic Loom, a massive structure where the threads of all human lives were woven into the tapestry of fate. Min-Joon's thread—a once vibrant gold—had just snapped, leaving a charred, gaping hole in the fabric.
A feeling of profound sadness settled over Hae-Rin. She did not judge the man who had been obsessed with control, nor the woman who had sought freedom through greed. She only grieved for the potential of the Pyar that had been suffocated.
A figure materialized beside her: the Elder Deity, Gwan-Ryung, the Keeper of the Threads, whose face was a study in ancient wisdom and weary concern.
"Hae-Rin," Gwan-Ryung's voice was deep, echoing softly within the chamber. "The death of Kim Min-Joon... it was a profound act of betrayal. The energy released by that violation—the simultaneous breach of financial and marital trust—has created a dangerous imbalance. The thread was severed by pure Maw-Ui (malice/greed), not by natural cause."
Hae-Rin turned, her white Hanbok shimmering. "The darkness is spreading, Elder Gwan-Ryung. Humans mistake possession for affection, and greed for ambition. The foundation of Pyar in the Seoul region is dangerously unstable."
"Precisely," Gwan-Ryung affirmed. "And this is your task, Hae-Rin. A decree has been issued from the Highest Authority. This is a task of restitution."
Gwan-Ryung projected a shimmering image from the Loom: the lifeless body of Kim Min-Joon in the Busan warehouse.
"Min-Joon's life was taken unjustly, based on a catastrophic misjudgment of trust, not fate. For the balance to be restored, Min-Joon must be granted a second chance. He must have a clean slate, free from the shadow of his first, disastrous union."
Hae-Rin listened intently, her pure heart already agreeing to the challenging mission.
Gwan-Ryung continued, his tone solemn: "Your mission is twofold, Hae-Rin. First, you are granted the power to resurrect Kim Min-Joon. You will breathe life back into his body, but his memory of the betrayal and death will be hazy—a terrifying nightmare, not a clear truth. Second, you must guide him to true Pyar. He is not to repeat the mistake of marrying for strategy and security."
This was the critical part: The decree stated that Min-Joon must have a completely clean slate in his personal life, before his first marriage to Seo-Yun even occurred.
"You will return him to a fixed point in time," Gwan-Ryung explained. "A point where he is already a successful CEO, but crucially, before his first official public introduction to Kang Seo-Yun."
Hae-Rin processed the information. She was not just healing a wound; she was altering a segment of the timeline to prevent a fatal error.
"And my role, Elder?" Hae-Rin asked.
"You will descend to the mortal realm. You will be placed directly in his path. You will be his fated encounter. You are tasked with showing him what true Pyar is—the kind that builds on genuine connection, not contracts. If he chooses the wrong path again—if he chooses the path of strategy over the path of the heart—his thread will be permanently extinguished."
The seriousness of the task was immense. Hae-Rin, the embodiment of affection, had to descend and teach a cynical, controlling CEO about the meaning of his own heart.
"I accept the decree," Hae-Rin said, a soft, resolute light filling her eyes. "I will descend to Seoul. I will use the power of the Yeo-Shim to resurrect Kim Min-Joon and guide him to his true destiny."
Gwan-Ryung gave a faint smile. "May your light prevail, Goddess Hae-Rin. Remember your strength lies in your purity. You are so enchanting that any mortal who speaks to you feels immediate comfort and goodwill. Use this divine nature to draw him towards the light. The journey begins now."
With a nod, Hae-Rin raised her hands. The Cosmic Loom responded to her will. A focused beam of pure, shimmering golden energy shot out, tracing the path from the palace high above down to the silent, blood-stained warehouse in Busan.
The light engulfed Hae-Rin, transforming her shimmering form into one suitable for the human world. She would still possess her enchanting grace and her core mission to spread Pyar, but she would walk among mortals, ready to begin her ultimate task: to save the soul of a CEO lost to ambition and to teach him how to truly love.
The final image Gwan-Ryung saw before Hae-Rin vanished was a sudden, violent flicker of golden light over the Busan docks. The life-force of Kim Min-Joon was being violently, miraculously reattached to his broken body. The timeline was being rewritten.