“A week passed without any particular events.

And on the third day, at 5 in the morning, the phone alarm rang. Se-ah, with a sleepy face, got up from bed and headed straight to the dressing room after a quick wash.

As Se-ah was choosing a shirt and tie with the wardrobe open, the bathroom door inside the room opened. Locking eyes with Kang-woo, who was untying his gown.

“Did you sleep well? You didn’t have to force yourself to get up.”

“I decided to change my routine to waking up early. It feels good to wake up at this hour. The earlier I wake up, the longer the day feels.”

Smiling, Kang-woo responded to her sleepy murmurs. After the shower, he took off the gown that had been draped for a while. Se-ah naturally received it and hung it on the hanger. Then, he handed her slacks and a shirt one by one.

“With eyes half-closed. You’ve been talking nonsense a lot lately.”

Although his lips were mumbling, his hand on the shirt buttons was neat. Watching Se-ah observe him discreetly as he filled each button, he said, “Did the HR team contact you?”

“Yes. Kang-woo didn’t know?”

“Yeah.”

“You’re lying. Pretending not to know doesn’t make sense when it comes to HR hiring. Just tell me.”

She reached for Kang-woo’s neck with the hand holding the tie. Even if he lowered his head to make it easier for her, he resisted with a mischievous smile.

“Step on my instep and climb up.”

“Is that okay?”

“I have no choice.”

They were both going through some trouble trying to do it for each other. The couple enjoyed the slightly awkward time.

She struggled to tie a pretty knot on the tie. After finishing it with a satisfied expression, Se-ah put the tie down and came down from his instep.

“Thank you.”

“What for.”

Unless it was a special day, he didn’t particularly like putting on decorations. He only picked up a watch, which he wore frequently these days, omitting cufflinks and a tie pin. The watch with the unclasped buckle passed through his muscular wrist.

“Tell me about the conversation with the HR manager. I’m curious.”

“You don’t have to pretend you don’t know unless it’s something serious about the HR hiring process.”

Se-ah looked at Kang-woo intently while tapping the dress room. It was a mischievous expression. Kang-woo trembled and looked guilty.

“I won’t pretend I don’t know for no reason.”

“What fact? You can tell me.”

“Forget it. I don’t want to become a harsh person.”

With closed lips, he put on the suit jacket. The hem of the jacket was snugly tied around his waist. Se-ah’s gaze, which had gone down, returned to Kang-woo’s face.

“Your curiosity is incredible from the morning. Thanks to you, it seems like I’m not going to sleep.”

The twinkling eyes were so cute that Kang-woo gently touched her soft cheek. He tried to free his foot from the display of perfumes, but Se-ah spread her arms to block him.

“Answer quickly and go. I won’t send you to work until you tell me.”

Like a child hindering her dad from going to work, Se-ah grabbed his waistband. The hard muscles penetrated the gap between her fingers.”
“Okay. Promise me you won’t sulk instead.”

“Of course. Kang-woo, you misunderstood. I don’t sulk easily.”

Although her head nodded as if to say so, her eyes still looked suspicious.

“There’s a lot the CEO should do, more than you think.”

“…Right. But why are you saying this all of a sudden?”

“I don’t have time to get involved in the hiring of assistant writers.”

A blunt and business-like response. Se-ah’s ears, which were still innocent, turned red belatedly.

“Oh, right. I must have been mistaken. Ah…”

“Is your heart hurt?”

“No, no. I told you to tell me, so I won’t sulk.”

It seemed like he might have made a slight mistake now. Despite the awkward smile and the denial with hands crossed, Kang-woo maintained a calm expression.

“If you’re upset, you’ll succeed. Take this seriously.”

“What?”

“I’ll be involved in hiring the main writer.”

“Ah, I see.”

“I’ll negotiate conditions for you and everything. How about it? Feeling motivated?”

Se-ah, with her lips sealed, did not respond.

With a cheerful smile and a twist of his mouth, Kang-woo directed his steps towards the perfume display. Spraying lightly on his wrist and bringing his hand behind his ear, Kang-woo waited until Se-ah, who had followed late, caught up.

“The HR team proposed a main writer. But I might not renew the contract.”

“They said they wanted to work with you.”

“Yes. But I haven’t decided whether to continue working at CI Soft.”

He reached out and embraced Se-ah. Because of Se-ah, who was struggling as if suffocating, he had to release some of the strength, making it somewhat strenuous.

“Do as you wish. Even if you go to a competitor.”

“…”

“I’ll always support you.”

Se-ah’s eyes, which had a childish expression, turned red.

This man keeps touching my heart lately.

Even with a little attention and ordinary kindness, her heart had fluttered for a long time. The days when she suffered alone in a distant place after getting married. The affection he belatedly gave was warm and cold, making her pout.