MD 01

Episode 01

The road was unusually congested today, as if there had been an accident.

Do Jin-hyuk, Executive Director of Haenam Construction, had been riding in his sedan for over an hour, moving only to stop again in an endless cycle.

Behind the wheel, Chief Jeon nervously glanced at the rearview mirror.

There sat Jin-hyuk in the backseat, eyes closed in a relaxed manner.

Even with his eyes shut, his strikingly handsome features could not be hidden—clear skin with no blemishes, thick brows, a sharp nose, and a defined jawline.

Even as a man myself, I had to admit—he was attractive.

His professional skills were just as remarkable. Since his appointment as executive director, Haenam Construction had secured major contracts and swiftly climbed to the top of the industry.

The new residential brand he had launched, Belle Haenam, broke subscription records every time a new property went on sale, continuing to thrive.

Chief Jeon had always been proud to assist someone like Jin-hyuk—
until he received strict orders from Chairman Do Ju-myeong.

“If you fail to take Jin-hyuk to his blind date again today, Chief Jeon, you’re fired.”

Today’s luncheon was set for Jin-hyuk and the youngest daughter of Dayang Trading.

But after repeatedly skipping previous blind dates, Chairman Do had finally lost his patience.

Chief Jeon could almost hear the chairman’s booming reprimand echoing in his ears.

Finally, the car exited the congested stretch and entered a quiet alley, where it came to a stop.

Sensing the car had stopped, Jin-hyuk slowly lifted his eyelids.

“Is this the place?”

His voice was drowsy, as if he had been napping.

“No, sir… the car can’t go up this road.”

Chief Jeon replied hesitantly, as if apologizing. Jin-hyuk shifted his gaze toward the windshield.

Ahead stretched a narrow, winding uphill road, seemingly without end.

“From here, you’ll have to go on foot.”
“Very well.”

With a sigh, Jin-hyuk stepped out of the car.

The morning sun was already scorching, and a premature heatwave had prompted weather advisories across the inland region.

But thanks to years of disciplined training, the climb was manageable for him—though his growing irritation had little to do with the steepness of the road.

All because of that damned fortune.

As his pace quickened, Chief Jeon fell further behind, his labored breathing fading into the distance.

Before long, Jin-hyuk reached the top of the hill.

Sweat beaded across his straight forehead as he removed his jacket, heat radiating around him.

Turning his head, he spotted a sign.

<Baby Shaman’s Fortune House>

It was a simple, unembellished sign. Without it, the place could have easily been mistaken for an ordinary hanok.

Trumpet creepers draped beautifully over the wall, and the wide gate stood open as if inviting visitors.

Jin-hyuk stepped inside.

The small courtyard was filled with blooming flowers, yet he passed by them without interest.

Instead of a typical front door, a large sliding door separated the courtyard from the interior.

Jin-hyuk slid it open without hesitation.

Inside, seated demurely in a hanbok, was a woman wearing a strange mask—an infant’s photo attached to it.

Startled by his sudden appearance, her shoulders twitched.

So, that’s the Baby Shaman?

The sight was almost laughable.

Then came the sound of heavy breathing—Chief Jeon had finally caught up.

“Huff, huff… This is… Mr. Do Jin-hyuk, your appointment… today…”

The Baby Shaman’s place was strictly appointment-only.
Clients simply entered their name, birth date, and time of birth online, then selected a tier—White, Silver, Gold, VIP, or VVIP—depending on how much they paid.

It was a strikingly commercial system for a place claiming to serve the divine, but Jin-hyuk didn’t mind. At least his identity would remain protected.

“Please, come in.”

The Baby Shaman’s voice was unexpectedly smooth and soft, far from what he had imagined behind such a bizarre mask.

“Then I’ll wait outside,” Chief Jeon said, closing the sliding door.

Jin-hyuk’s sharp eyes swept over the masked woman.
Her lips, soft and pink, nervously bit down on themselves.
Her shoulders curved forward as if to shield herself.
Her hands trembled slightly.

So much for being a gifted shaman. Feels more like a scam.

“Please, have a seat.”

She gestured toward the bare floor—no cushions, nothing.

---

But the Baby Shaman sitting across from Jin-hyuk was not the real one.

The true Baby Shaman was Su-ryeon, Yeonsu’s best friend since their youth.

At twenty, Su-ryeon had collapsed under the strain of a mysterious spiritual illness, forcing her to receive divine ordination. Yeonsu often visited her, as she had today.

But Su-ryeon was now doubled over in pain, clutching her abdomen.

“When did this start?” Yeonsu asked.
“Yesterday.”
“And you let it get this bad?”

Su-ryeon weakly said she had hoped it would pass.
But Yeonsu could tell—it was appendicitis.

“I’m calling an ambulance. We need to get you to the hospital.”

But Su-ryeon shook her head.

“I can’t. I have a VVIP client today.”

Her reputation had grown, bringing in high-profile clients who paid hundreds of times the usual fee.

“Forget the money! If your appendix bursts, you could die!”

Ignoring her protest, Yeonsu called for an ambulance.
As they waited, Su-ryeon’s hand clutched Yeonsu’s.

“Yeonsu… you have to do it for me.”

“What? That’s insane! I can’t do this!”

Yeonsu had only come to ask about her own luck after failing countless job interviews, and now she was being dragged into this mess.

“I’ve already received the fortune. Just tell him this—his marriage luck has arrived. If he doesn’t seize it, misfortune will strike his family.”

Su-ryeon’s face was grave, her voice trembling with pain.

“He doesn’t know what you look like?”
“No. First visit. And besides… there’s this.”

Su-ryeon handed Yeonsu the mask—the one she wore to conceal her identity, hoping to one day return to a normal life.

The sirens grew louder until paramedics appeared, breathless from hauling a stretcher up the hill.

“Don’t let this slip. Please, I’m begging you.”

Lying sideways on the stretcher, Su-ryeon gripped Yeonsu’s hand desperately.

“All I have to say is… his marriage luck is here?”
“And… the woman has strong water energy… born in December…”

But the pain overcame her, cutting off her words.

“We’ll head to the hospital now. Call her guardian to meet us there,” a paramedic instructed.

Moments later, the ambulance sirens faded into the distance.

And shortly after, the day’s VVIP client arrived—
Do Jin-hyuk, Executive Director of Haenam Construction.