The place Seo Yeo Eun led him to was a sushi restaurant near the company.

She had reserved a room in advance and had also pre-ordered the menu.

Seeing the sushi that came out as soon as they sat down, Do Ha raised an eyebrow crookedly.

“Did you investigate my taste?”

On the plate, only the types of sushi he enjoyed eating were beautifully plated.

The woman picked up the teapot and filled his empty cup while answering.

“I received a little help from Director Cha Hyun. Since you’re not one to waste time, I didn’t want to take up too much of it.”

Looking at the woman gently explaining her reasons, Do Ha smiled coolly.

“You know you’re taking up my time, Miss Seo Yeo Eun.”

At his words, the white hand of the woman pouring tea paused briefly. Then, putting down the teapot, she bowed her head.

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine.”

He had heard that his weekly schedule and various personal information had flowed to this woman.

From their previous encounter at the department store, and today as well.

It was certainly unpleasant, but he wasn’t as upset as he thought he’d be.

He was just curious about the thoughts inside that small head of hers.

With an indifferent expression, he lifted his teacup and asked.

“Is this the second time?”

“Pardon?”

“I’m asking if today is your second attempt.”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

The woman who quickly blushed pink at his question nodded her head.

Would color spread like that if you dropped a drop of paint on wet rice paper? The pink hue slowly spreading down to her ears was somehow sensual.

It seemed as if pink water would stain his fingertips if he reached out and touched her.

That strangely stirred something deep inside his chest.

Cha Do Ha, swallowing his tea, continued his questioning.

“Without a portfolio?”

Seo Yeo Eun’s shoulders flinched at the question thrown because she didn’t have the portfolio she always carried.

Her slender, straight neck moved slowly as she swallowed.

The faintly visible bulge of flesh beyond her crisply ironed white blouse rippled softly.

Is this how she looks when nervous?

Do Ha briefly rested his gaze below the woman’s collarbone before raising his eyes to meet hers again.

“I don’t know what you’re here to sell. Even taking up my precious time?”

He deliberately spoke coldly. Because he liked seeing her nervous appearance.

The pink embarrassment climbing up to her earlobes, the neck so straight he wanted to break it, the round chest heaving as she swallowed her breath.

It was pleasing to see.

At that moment, the woman moved her plump lips and spit out an answer.

“I am… a walking portfolio.”

Her brown eyes, now seemingly free of tension, shone firmly.

“Please look at me, Director.”

For a moment, Do Ha’s lips curved into a faint arc.

Asking him to look at her.

“I like your confidence.”

“Thank you.”

The woman slightly raised the corners of her mouth and gently bowed her head, bending that straight neck.

Then, in a more relaxed voice, she quietly opened her mouth.

“I heard the sweet shrimp sushi here is delicious.”

Then she politely extended her hand to point at the sushi, urging him to eat. The smile that played at the corners of her gently curved eyes was quite friendly.

Is she a woman skilled in entertaining?

Every action she had shown since entering the restaurant gave that impression.

From how she treated the staff, to how she considered him when sitting down, to pouring tea and recommending food.

Not excessive, so it doesn’t overflow. Sophisticated and disciplined, even elegant.

Is it acquired through training, or just her natural demeanor?

Would she show this kind of appearance to other guys, claiming to entertain them?

It was a bit funny that he was curious about even such things.

Do Ha, letting out a light snort, picked up his chopsticks as she suggested.

Only the quiet clinking of chopsticks echoed softly in the silent room.

Occasionally their eyes would meet, but she would quickly lower her gaze and not add a single word.

It was when half the plate was empty.

Do Ha spoke first.

“I only fed Miss Seo Yeo Eun a bowl of udon, but you’re repaying with sushi. Aren’t you taking a loss?”

As the silence broke, the woman’s tightly drawn shoulders loosened slightly.

A slightly subdued voice quietly offered an answer.

“I’m in sales, so I consider it an investment.”

“So it’s not a date?”

It was a joke-like remark. Just curious about this woman’s reaction.

At the words thrown with a slight smile, the woman’s clear brown eyes fluttered and trembled.

But only for a moment; her face soon hardened as she sat up straight, looking quite serious.

“A date, if I were to ask…”

Her voice trembled finely at the end.

“Would you accept?”

“No.”

Do Ha, staring blankly at the woman as he answered, lowered his gaze again.

Finding it amusing that the woman was making such a serious face at words thrown to see her reaction, he put on an even colder expression and quietly continued eating.

Time steadily flowed like that.

When the promised hour was up and he put down his chopsticks, the woman who had been silently standing up said she would pay and left the restaurant ahead of him.

He carefully took in the woman’s back as she walked down the hallway.

Her narrow back, slim waist, the luscious curve below, and beautifully extended legs.

For some reason, it felt like sour water was pooling in his mouth.

The two people who had left the restaurant silently like that finally met eyes when they stopped in front of his car.

The brown eyes looking up at him were moist like the humid night air.

The woman, who hadn’t uttered a single word despite saying she came for business, quietly bowed her head without even managing to say goodbye.

Do Ha, who had been looking at her with indifferent eyes, blurted out.

“Aren’t you going to stop me?”

For whatever reason, she seemed quite desperate to become his image trainer, but in the end he had to prompt the woman who remained silent to the end.

But the woman’s response to that was a bit amusing.

“Because you won’t…”

Lips holding a faint smile uttered in a slightly dry voice.

“Let yourself be stopped.”

“Interesting.”

Do Ha nodded with a smirk.

And then he gave the woman a reason to promise a next time.

“Is there a third time?”

At those words, the woman with expectation filling her eyes smiled prettily.

“I’ll try exactly ten times.”

What is this.

Do Ha’s low laughter pierced the slightly humid September evening air.

* * *

Watching Cha Do Ha’s car drive away, Yeo Eun let out a deep sigh.

Although she hadn’t managed to say a word about image training, it wasn’t a failed sales attempt.

At least she was given the chance to try ten times.

Apart from that, her heart wasn’t feeling too good.

Cha Do Ha.

Ridiculously, that man wouldn’t leave her mind, like residue caught in a filter.

[There’s a family event today, but Do Ha won’t attend as usual. He’ll probably be drinking somewhere.]

That’s what Cha Hyun had said when she called her.

[So Yeo Eun, try to feed Do Ha something. Anything is fine.]

That’s how she was given the opportunity for a second attempt.

At that time, a question suddenly crossed her mind.

[Is there a separate reason why the Director doesn’t attend family events even though Chairman Cha Ji Seop has given up his position?]

Was it too presumptuous a question?

Cha Hyun was quiet on the other end of the phone.

Cha Hyun is usually uninhibited, so it’s a bit scary when she keeps silent like this.

Still, it was something that needed to be said.

[It’s necessary for the training.]

To train someone, you need to know them completely.

Only then can you give the best advice within a range that doesn’t cause resistance.

Cha Hyun, who had already experienced Persona’s image training, would understand such a situation better than anyone.

Maybe that’s why.

Without much deliberation, Cha Hyun smoothly unfolded a rather serious story.

[Do Ha has a half-sibling. A child only six years old. Born after their father died, so should we call them a posthumous child? Or just an illegitimate child?]

He has a half-sibling?

That proud and noble Cha Do Ha.

[The child comes to every family event. Holding Director Cha In Woo’s hand tightly. While Do Ha was treated like a criminal’s son, that child rather boldly entered the house.]

Director Cha In Woo, inherently gentle and warm-hearted, is the type who can’t even pass by an injured animal.

For such a person to take in his uncle’s illegitimate child, it might have been a very natural thing.

But Cha Do Ha couldn’t do that.

The second-best option he chose was avoidance, or rather, ignoring.

[Do Ha absolutely never attends any gathering where that child is present.]

Cha Hyun’s voice distorted as if regretful.

[Our Do Ha has some immature aspects, doesn’t he?] [No. I think it’s natural. He must have felt that much betrayal towards his father.]

“How can you be exactly the same as me even in this?”

Yeo Eun smiled bitterly and only hailed a taxi after Cha Do Ha’s car had completely disappeared from view.

Today, she thinks she might need a drink too.