When Cha Do Ha’s mother had been married for about 10 years, Youngdo Pharmaceuticals went bankrupt.

Youngdo Pharmaceuticals hoped that the Hanju Group would acquire them, but Chairman Cha Ji Seop did not fully grant that wish.

He divided the shares finely and eventually brought in other companies.

Shocked by this, Cha Do Ha’s maternal grandfather passed away, and Youngdo Pharmaceuticals disappeared into history.

“Sungto Chemical carried out restructuring, but Hanju Chemical still took over the Youngdo Pharmaceutical employees as they were. The current senior researchers were young researchers at that time…”

“So what’s the main point?”

Throughout her story, Cha Do Ha’s expression remained calm.

But she thought that couldn’t be all.

“I think it might be a meaningful affiliate for the Director. The researchers must also feel attached to the Director.”

There’s absolutely no reason for Cha Do Ha to get involved in Chairman Cha Ji Seop or Cha Hyun’s intentions.

Image training?

Given Cha Do Ha’s personality, it’s absolutely not something he would accept.

Cha Hyun knows this too, so he mentioned using beauty and pushed Yeo Eun into it.

For Cha Do Ha, who is like that, to call her to see her skills, even if it’s just once, there must be another reason.

Could it be because this matter is related to Hanju Bio, that is, Youngdo Pharmaceuticals?

“Show a different side of yourself.”

If she were Cha Do Ha, she would be furious at her respected father’s betrayal and take care of her mother, the biggest victim of that betrayal.

Jung Mi Hee, the only blood relative of Chairman Jung Il Young of Youngdo Pharmaceuticals.

For her, the meaning of Youngdo Pharmaceuticals, though torn apart, would be special, and Cha Do Ha wouldn’t miss that point.

“I think it would be good if you could also show those people that the Director hasn’t forgotten Youngdo Pharmaceuticals.”

Cha Do Ha, who had been listening silently to her words, let out a chuckle.

Then he picked up the car keys placed on the desk.

“Let’s hear the rest of the story over dinner.”

* * *

In Woo felt uneasy.

It was because Do Ha’s attitude didn’t sit well with him at all.

Though a cousin three years younger, he wasn’t exactly an obedient presence since childhood.

He was exceptionally bright and quick to learn anything.

At such a young age, a three-year difference should be enormous, but the little guy was so smart that he often followed what In Woo did, sometimes leaving him feeling deflated.

He grew quickly too.

Having lived together since childhood, In Woo didn’t notice much, but at some point, they became eye-to-eye, and before he knew it, Do Ha’s height surpassed his.

With such a guy being not so compliant, he couldn’t help but feel uncomfortable.

No matter how much he was the eldest grandson of this family, his position was always precariously shaken because of Do Ha.

He escaped from that precariousness six years ago when the accident happened.

When his uncle Cha Kang died tragically, and Chairman Cha Ji Seop’s heart completely turned away from Cha Kang, Do Ha’s place here disappeared.

Moreover, when In Woo had to clean up after Cha Kang, Do Ha also bowed his head to him.

Fearing that he might feel uncomfortable, after graduation, Do Ha settled in the United States, and he openly supported In Woo as Hanju’s successor.

That’s why when Chairman Cha Ji Seop called him back to Korea, he was just defiant.

He even refused to work at the headquarters, saying his presence could be a burden to In Woo.

Even when reluctantly following Chairman Cha Ji Seop’s wishes, his basic attitude didn’t change.

Because Do Ha was like that, In Woo could also give his heart with ease.

After all, Do Ha was just one of the Hanju Group workers he would command.

Now, that Do Ha was volunteering to be his rival.

Thinking about where it went wrong, the answer, ridiculously, was ‘Seo Yeo Eun’.

It was clearly visible in his behavior in the chairman’s office earlier.

[I heard you had Team Leader Seo Yeo Eun come to work at the company?]

It was a question Chairman Cha Ji Seop casually threw at the end of the meeting.

[Yes.] [That’s good news to hear. You thought well.] [It’s not permanent. I just called her to see her skills, so don’t get ahead of yourself, Chairman.]

At Do Ha’s answer, Chairman Cha Ji Seop burst into laughter.

[You seem to like her quite a bit. You didn’t mind the trouble of calling her to headquarters just to see her skills. We should give that friend more incentives, shouldn’t we?] [Go ahead. If you’re going to give it, give plenty so that she’ll keep her mouth shut and follow me no matter what I do, Chairman.]

At Do Ha’s words, Chairman Cha Ji Seop’s expression hardened.

Then, after glancing slightly at In Woo, Chairman Cha Ji Seop smiled again and looked at Do Ha.

[Alright. In return, change that cold attitude of yours completely. What was that in front of Chairman Ji that day? How embarrassing it must have been. He’s going to be your father-in-law, after all.]

For a moment, a bright smile appeared on Do Ha’s face.

[If you don’t want me to do that, treat Team Leader Seo well. Don’t do things like throwing envelopes at her in front of me, hurting her pride.] [Did it upset you? I did it for you to see, though.]

Chairman Cha Ji Seop’s voice was sly, as if trying to teach that this was Seo Yeo Eun’s use.

But Do Ha continued his words without blinking an eye.

[Make the envelope thick, and hand it over quietly. Keep your manners, Chairman.]

His voice was firm, and his expression was stern.

[Then I’ll take the lessons obediently.] [Don’t tell me you’re actually falling for Team Leader Seo?] [Why are you like this, Chairman?]

Do Ha let out a chilling laugh at Chairman Cha Ji Seop’s words.

Then, without showing any sign of being flustered, he continued.

[If the body is to go, the heart must go to some extent too. I’m getting attached because you gave me an interesting toy, but if that’s not allowed either, I’ll quit everything.]

No, rather, he was threatening Chairman Cha Ji Seop.

[At least my toy should be in a clean place. Intact, without anyone else’s hands on it, including yours, Chairman.]

Even In Woo felt a chill down his spine at the last words.

[So if you want to get what you want, do well. Don’t mess with Seo Yeo Eun carelessly.]

He wasn’t sure exactly what Seo Yeo Eun meant to Do Ha.

But one thing was clear.

That Seo Yeo Eun was moving Do Ha’s heart, even if just slightly.

Is that why In Woo’s heart was fluttering along?

Since the accident six years ago involving Cha Kang, nothing in the world had been interesting, but now he had a feeling that something interesting might happen.

Silently swallowing his laughter, In Woo got on the elevator, glanced once at the 12th floor where the Strategic Planning Division was located, and then pressed the button for the 1st floor, leaving the Hanju Group headquarters building.

* * *

The place Cha Do Ha brought her for lunch was the Japanese restaurant they had visited before.

That day, she had personally chosen each menu item to feed Cha Do Ha dinner, but today it felt like the opposite.

Cha Do Ha, flipping through the menu with the waiter standing by, threw out a comment.

“I noticed you didn’t eat shrimp that day?”

He seemed indifferent, but when did he notice that?

Yeo Eun smiled faintly and answered briefly.

“I… can’t eat shrimp very well.”

Then Cha Do Ha, who was reading the menu, looked up.

“What about crab?”

When his dark gaze met hers, she involuntarily tensed up.

Yeo Eun, clasping her hands on her knees, calmly replied.

“I can eat crab.”

“Raw too?”

“I haven’t tried that yet…”

Cha Do Ha, lowering his gaze indifferently again, pointed at the menu with his index finger.

“I’ll have this as is. For the lady, let’s do beef instead of sweet shrimp.”

The waiter nodded and diligently wrote down the order.

Cha Do Ha’s gaze turned back to Yeo Eun.

“It’s gotten a bit chilly, so udon would be better than cold soba, right?”

“Yes.”

As she nodded, Cha Do Ha slightly curled up the corners of his mouth and handed the menu to the waiter.

“Then, that’s it.”

The waiter, taking the menu, looked back and forth between Cha Do Ha and her face, smiling broadly, then bowed his head and left the room.

The sliding door closed quietly, and a moment of silence fell.

Cha Do Ha picked up the teapot and filled her cup, and Yeo Eun straightened her back and reached out.

“I’ll…”

“I’ll do it.”

Cha Do Ha, lowering his gaze, insisted on filling the teacup and put down the teapot.

“Tell me how to show a different side than now.”

It was still an extension of work.

Yet her heart was busy beating like a small drum, pounding away.

That day too, sitting here looking at Cha Do Ha, she was captivated by a strange heat, and now it was the same.

No, now that heat was even more intense than then.

Yeo Eun, moving her lips, carefully opened her mouth.

Cha Do Ha’s visually apparent image.

And Cha Do Ha’s unique color compared to that image.

How the people around him feel about the imbalance created by his seeming perfection.

What needs to be done first to achieve this.

Yeo Eun continued her potentially boring story.

As the sushi course dishes came out one by one, and until the final dessert arrived, Cha Do Ha silently listened to her story.

“Your style is so good that there’s no need to change the style itself. But depending on the occasion, you need to change the color of your tie, suit color, or design to remove stiffness. It’s also good to add variety to boutonnieres or cuff links.”

“Is my current style stiff?”

“No. That’s not it.”

That wasn’t it.

Cha Do Ha’s style is already close to perfect as it is.

It’s just that his image is so haughty and arrogant that there’s a need to lighten the color a bit.

“When you want to appear particularly gentle… that’s when you should make those changes.”

“Tomorrow I have a meeting with the Federation of Korean Industries’ old men, so what should I wear there?”

“Navy blue.”

She answered without hesitation.

The Federation of Korean Industries’ old men, what virtue should the young Cha Do Ha show them if not trustworthiness?

“A color that conveys trust. Navy blue with a white shirt, a tie in the same color family, small patterns? Stripes would be good too.”

Looking at Yeo Eun answering quickly, Cha Do Ha chuckled.

Then he finally said one thing.

“You’re passionate.”

At his teasing words, she bit her lip, and Cha Do Ha picked up his teacup and finished the remaining tea.

“With that passion, why don’t you choose for me yourself?”

“Me?”

“Why? Don’t you want to enter my room?”

Cha Do Ha’s face, as he put down the teacup, had a languid yet strange light.

It was quite seductive, and Yeo Eun, who had been staring at Cha Do Ha as if enchanted, shook her head.

“No. I’ll choose for you.”

“Then come this evening.”

Tilting his head slightly, he curled up one corner of his mouth crookedly and placed a key card on the table.

“Bring some cheap bagged coffee if you like.”