Although she herself didn’t care, Kim Yeon Woo considered Kye Da Hae as her rival.

Just looking at how she talked about time, it was clearly a build-up to deliver a big blow.

She was ready to tear down at least one thing, be it personality or tendencies.

“Ah, ah! Look at me! Da Hae said she’d attend the reunion today, I completely forgot. Ahaha!”

Ignoring Seo Jin Hee, who was obviously trying to cover with a lie, Yeon Woo peered at Da Hae’s face.

“Da Hae, is that true?”

“I had a blind date. It just ended, and though it’s at the same place and I have nothing else to do now, I have no intention of attending the reunion.”

Da Hae, who nonchalantly said her piece, smiled gently at Jin Hee who had made an effort.

She wanted to tell her not to bother joining them and leave together, but since social butterfly Jin Hee enjoyed mingling with those people, she left her be.

Kim Yeon Woo glared at that face viciously.

That calmness comes from the backing of her impressive grandmother.

The second daughter of S Corporation, who found this extremely irritating, didn’t want to let go of the Golden Child of Young Son Group so easily.

Even if it wasn’t enough to scratch her pride, she wanted her to at least frown when lying down at night, mulling over her words.

“Hmm, our Da Hae always speaks so clearly and well.”

The unwelcome faces lined up behind Yeon Woo seemed quite interested in this situation.

“Since we’re on the topic, let me ask one more thing.”

Instead of answering, Da Hae checked the watch on her wrist, signaling that she had no time to waste on her.

Unfortunately, it didn’t seem like she understood.

“What’s the secret behind all these sons from big-name families falling like autumn leaves in front of you? Do you have some kind of trick?”

“Looks like she’s the autumn wind and they’re the leaves. What are you all standing around for! Our reservation time is almost up!”

“I’m really curious, Da Hae. Why do you keep turning them down?”

Seo Jin Hee struggled alone between Kim Yeon Woo, who completely ignored her words, and Kye Da Hae, who stood still like a wooden statue.

“Did you reject someone today too? Whose precious son’s tears did you squeeze out today?”

“Oh, Kim Yeon Woo! Stop it already! Kye Da Hae, why are you just standing there listening? Let’s go!”

“You’re not always the one rejecting, right? You’ve been rejected before too, haven’t you?”

It’s neither garlic nor onion, so what’s with all this talk of peeling? Kim Yeon Woo persistently probed.

With her eyes wide open, she seemed to somewhat understand the reason for this aggressive approach.

She was trying to prove that the rumor about her elder brother, the eldest son of S Corporation, being rejected by Kye Da Hae was false.

It wasn’t unreasonable to despise social gatherings when people who were supposed to be well-educated sat around gossiping about such things all day.

At this point, Da Hae decided to give the answer they wanted to hear.

It seemed like that was the only way to end this childish provocation.

Her lips barely parted, not even having a chance to voice her words.

“Speaking as someone with experience.”

Thud, thud. The sound of heavy footsteps approaching.

“It’s definitely always the one doing the rejecting.”

A low voice from behind broke the silence.

Everyone’s gaze simultaneously shifted beyond Da Hae’s shoulder.

“…”

Kang Jae Kyung, who suddenly appeared from the emergency exit. The phrase “see you again,” usually used as a casual farewell, seemed more like a warning coming from him.

“Kang? Director Kang?!”

“Ah, I didn’t cry. For the sake of dignity.”

The second daughter of S Corporation, recognizing Kang Jae Kyung, showed her surprise without hiding it.

Her red-painted lips formed a perfect O, and her large eyes blinked every second.

That statement about not crying for the sake of dignity was an answer to the question about whose precious son’s tears were squeezed out.

Why was Kang Jae Kyung answering the question directed at Kye Da Hae? And what did he mean by saying it’s definitely always the one doing the rejecting based on experience?

Kim Yeon Woo was confused on many levels.

Although Kang Jae Kyung often attended social gatherings, there had never been rumors about him going on blind dates or dating.

It was shocking enough that he had been on a blind date, but the implications that he might have been rejected were even more bewildering.

And of all people, by Kye Da Hae?

Jae Kyung, who had now approached right in front of them, turned his back to everyone. His eyes were solely focused on Da Hae.

The aura of exclusion and avoidance emanating from his broad back acted like a barrier, dividing the sides.

“We didn’t have coffee, did we?”

“Pardon?”

“You said you had nothing else to do now. Wasn’t that time you cleared to meet me?”

“That’s…”

There were many eyes watching. Although she wasn’t one to care about others’ gazes, given the situation, she couldn’t respond carelessly.

If she were to say, “Yes, let’s go,” and follow him out, it might be good for now, but it would mean using the man.

She wasn’t shameless enough to readily use a man she had previously dismissed as crazy when he had told her to use him.

As she pondered for a moment on what to do, the man took a step closer to her, his arm brushing her shoulder as he pressed the elevator button behind her.

The pink high heels, which had stepped back thinking he was trying to embrace her, neatly came together while pretending nothing had happened.

Jae Kyung, straightening his tilted upper body, grabbed Da Hae’s wrist and deliberately checked the time on her watch.

After calmly examining the watch, his eyes moved to its owner. His tightly pressed lips loosened into a gentle curve.

“Then it’s still my time.”

Facing the charmingly smiling Kang Jae Kyung at such close proximity was like being under a magician’s spell.

Da Hae, who had been standing there stupidly as if bound, unconsciously walked with his escort.

Through the closing elevator doors, she could see the dumbfounded Kim Yeon Woo.

It felt somewhat nice to receive that kind of gaze she had never experienced before.

The two who came down to the underground parking lot stopped in front of Da Hae’s car.

The sleek sedan shone brightly like a polished Go stone.

Da Hae’s hands, clasped behind her back, fidgeted and intertwined.

On the way here, she had thought about it, and there weren’t exactly no words to replace ‘using’.

“I’m indebted to you. Thank you.”

Although it wasn’t exactly a situation where help was needed, she did manage to leave smoothly thanks to him, so she expressed her gratitude.

Jae Kyung’s head tilted slightly downward. The corners of his sharp eyes curved slightly.

“Was I useful?”

His unique relaxed demeanor was annoying, but she didn’t refute it.

Well… it seemed like he had been useful.

Jae Kyung, who had taken the elevator alone, had turned back remembering the snowflakes that had been fluttering since early evening.

He had seen that she had brought her car, so she probably wouldn’t be shivering in the cold streets like last time, but if her driving was poor, she might abandon the car and take a taxi.

If so, he had intended to drive her home. Of course, it wouldn’t be easy.

He was secretly looking forward to what excuse this woman, who clearly drew lines, would use to reject him this time.

It was a bizarre expectation, even by his own standards.

The elevator stopped on the floor below the restaurant. He used the emergency exit for the rest.

That seemed like the best way to avoid crossing paths.

“What’s the secret behind all these sons from big-name families falling like autumn leaves in front of you? Do you have some kind of trick?”

“Looks like she’s the autumn wind and they’re the leaves. What are you all standing around for! Our reservation time is almost up!”

It was fitting that the chilly Kye Da Hae was compared to the autumn wind.

Her head held high even when surrounded by a pack of dogs, and her bored eyes looking down as if everything was pathetic.

Lips smiling dryly without emotion.

The meaning behind the chuckle and the horizontally shaken head of the son from a big-name family who was rejected today was complex in many ways.

It doesn’t seem like it would be easy to recruit her as an ally. That’s why he’s looking forward to it.

To getting closer to the woman who’s always at the eye of the storm every time they meet.

“Ms. Kye Da Hae.”

Da Hae’s head turned stiffly at the low voice calling her name.

His downcast gaze also focused on Da Hae.

“There’s a saying that marriage completes the single life.”

Da Hae didn’t respond.

She thought he was going to say something with that look suitable for making a pass, but it seemed his nonsensical talk about using wasn’t over yet.

As she stared at him silently with a face that showed no sympathy, the man spoke casually.

“Only after getting married do you truly understand the benefits of being single.”

“I know that well enough without having to experience it.”

Da Hae smiled, curling the corners of her eyes.

“Then, if you’ll excuse me…”

“No will to improve the situation, and…”

“That’s none of Kang Jae Kyung’s business,”

“Ah. You have a passive personality.”

I didn’t see you that way. Even his muttering seemed determined to provoke her.

Da Hae’s eyes, which had maintained their composure until now, finally sharpened.

“Do you often hear that you’re rash? Or rude?”

In her 29 years of life, Kye Da Hae prided herself on being passive only on the day she was born by cesarean section.

She had declined the staff, secretaries, and Bae Jung Soon’s attempts to attach various personnel because she was the type who was only satisfied when doing things herself.

“I tend to have good insight. If being direct is considered rude, well, I’ll admit to that.”

“Is judging as you please considered insight? Even generously, it seems more like rashness.”

“Rashness?”

“Yes.”

Hmm, the man who had been stroking his smooth chin while humming lowered his waist and brought his face down.

Their aligned gazes met as if in confrontation.

“That’s rich coming from a single-by-choice person going on blind dates, isn’t it?”