Chae Won took out Hee Joo’s phone at the notification sound.

Chae Won looked down at Jae Min’s message, replied briefly, then put the phone in her bag.

As she straightened her head, she saw Yoo Gun staring at her with an expressionless face.

After Secretary An, who had just finished eating, disappeared, there was certainly a stiff atmosphere.

“By the way.”

Chae Won started a topic in a bright voice.

“About the actress Wang Se Kyung you asked for. She came today. As I heard, she has an extremely cute appearance. It’s a complete twist that an actress with such an innocent look, as if she doesn’t know anything about the world, likes alcohol so much.”

Her tone and eyes were lively. As if nothing had happened.

Chae Won thought that if she tried to create an atmosphere unnecessarily, an unwanted serious mood would settle, and then she would have to explain about yesterday’s incident with an irresponsible answer.

If he had any sense, he would take it as a rejection and give up even if he had feelings, she thought.

“If the presence of celebrities is burdensome, let me know anytime.”

Chae Won smiled softly at Yoo Gun’s response.

The nation’s little sister Wang Se Kyung is visiting our dermatology clinic, what better publicity effect is there?

Chae Won gladly accepted Yoo Gun’s proposal for a deal with no loss.

“I don’t think there will be any such thing, but if anything becomes burdensome, I’ll let you know.”

With this, the topic of Wang Se Kyung ended.

He just nodded slightly and only looked without speaking, and Chae Won also didn’t have anything particular to say now.

More precisely, this time without conversation passing, silently facing Yoo Gun’s gaze that filled the gap in between, was a bit difficult for Chae Won as yesterday’s incident came to mind.

Chae Won tapped her neck as if it was stiff for no reason.

“Ah, I’m tired. Eating made me really sleepy. Shall we finish taking photos and go in now?”

“Sit down, I have something to say.”

Chae Won, who was about to stand up, stopped moving at his monotonous voice.

She tried hard to avoid it by speaking in a bright tone about this and that, but it seems she has to face it after all.

It was time to say such unsightly and irresponsible words like, I was swept up in a momentary impulse, but I regret it, so let’s pretend it never happened.

“Alright, Choi Yoo Gun. Let’s just talk frankly.”

Chae Won took a sip of the water placed in front of her.

Chae Won’s expression became serious, having decided to take the beating quickly if it was a beating she had to take anyway.

“About yesterday, I’m really sorry, but as a mistake…”

“I need to do something that requires a third party’s opinion, and you’ll have to help me today. Kim Chae Won.”

The tension broke on Chae Won’s solemn face.

“What?”

“Since we agreed to compensate time with time, I’ll use those six hours for you to help me with my work today.”

A dumbfounded expression lingered on Chae Won’s face for a moment.

She naturally thought he would bring up the kiss from yesterday, but looking again, his face was extremely businesslike.

Is he also trying to just cover it up, considering it an event that occurred due to a sudden impulse?

Yes, if so, it’s rather fortunate.

“What kind of work?”

“We’re putting trainees into a famous audition program under the company name, and I’ll be monitoring the pre-broadcast stage and concept-based show they’ve practiced in advance today. Help me with that.”

“How can I… Shouldn’t employees or related people look at that?”

“As it’s fierce competition, we need the opinion of a third party who’s not an employee, but I can’t ask just anyone due to concerns about information leaks.”

She had heard that there was an important filming with the agency’s name attached coming up.

And that the agency’s prospective participants were setting concepts and practicing over and over again.

She understood up to the point of asking for opinions from a viewer’s perspective while pre-monitoring that, but…

Chae Won lifted her wrist to check the time.

“Listen, Choi Yoo Gun. It’s almost 10 o’clock now. Six hours means until 4 AM, when am I supposed to sleep and how am I supposed to work tomorrow?”

“You can choose to help three hours each for two days, or two hours each for three days. I’d prefer to finish today, though.”

It was difficult to face him so she asked Secretary An to join and wanted to take pictures all at once to stay away from him for a few days, but if she has to see him every day for three days again, isn’t today’s photo meaningless?

Even now, pretending to be calm, facing him was very difficult.

“How about I help you with something else next time? Today is a bit…”

“Next time?”

“Yes.”

“There is no next time. I need help now.”

So that means she can choose how many days to meet, but refusal is not an option.

Looking at him with a cold expression that once again seemed to reject rejection, Chae Won closed her lips for a moment.

Both the fact that he’s thoroughly compensating for the time he lost, and the lack of mention about yesterday’s kiss, and also the fact that there’s no expression of difficulty while facing like this – does this mean he really considers it a momentary impulse and is trying to cover it up too?

Or is it rather that he’s taking it seriously and wants to be together today as well?

Looking at his unreadable expression, Chae Won was confused.

“Then.”

Has there ever been a time in her life when she was dragged around by someone like this?

Why does it feel like she can’t control her head and body in front of this man, and there’s only one option?

“I’ll just do it today.”

This won’t do. End it today. And then don’t see him for a while.

Just stay focused and make sure nothing like yesterday happens again.

Let’s end it, not drag it on uncomfortably, clear all remaining debts as of today.

Chae Won changed her mind and met Yoo Gun’s gaze.

*

He figured it out from when Chae Won had Secretary An, whom she wasn’t even close to, join them.

No. To be precise, he knew from when she looked at him with an expression as if she had made a terrible mistake after the kiss yesterday.

This woman, she’ll say something different tomorrow.

‘I’m sorry about yesterday, but let’s consider it a mistake.’

It’s true that it was impulsive, but it would be a lie if she had no feelings for him.

So Yoo Gun had no intention of concluding it as a mistake at all.

“Do you have someone who helps with housework? The house is quite clean.”

Chae Won, who had just entered, looked around Yoo Gun’s house.

“Well, I don’t have time anyway.”

Chae Won nodded at Yoo Gun’s words and looked at the living room interior decorated with a harmony of white and gray, then said.

“You’re doing well. I’ve found that when you’re busy, it’s wise to hire someone to help and focus on work. It would have been really good if you had delegated today’s work to an employee too.”

Several remarks with lingering resentment flowed out.

Questioning why the CEO does such things, saying employees should be ordered to do it, the CEO should only approve, she who was pretending to know about management turned around after finishing her house tour.

“How long is the video?”

“It’s an unedited version shot internally with many participants, so it’s long. About three hours.”

“That is long. You’re really thorough with your work to check all that and send it out.”

“If you feel too tired to continue, let me know. We can split the time and meet for a few days.”

Chae Won, her eyes more straight than ever, shook her head.

“Do you know what my secret is for never losing my place in the top ranks, even during the college entrance exam and in medical school?”

It wouldn’t be Kim Chae Won if she didn’t brag about herself.

Yoo Gun, standing askew, decides to play along with her.

“What is it?”

“Concentration. In my opinion, I have superior concentration compared to others. I can even pull all-nighters without drinking coffee, and in that fatigue, I could memorize without missing a single letter and get excellent grades. That was my specialty.”

Yoo Gun saw that her specialty of talking about something insignificant as if it were her superpower ability seemed to have activated again.

But because it’s cute, he plays along.

“That’s impressive.”

Chae Won said with a satisfied smile.

“If I don’t do it, I don’t. But if I do it, I do it properly. You’re getting help from highly skilled personnel today, Choi Yoo Gun.”

She, who had boasted about herself until the end, sat down on the sofa.

“Shall we watch then? I might criticize quite coldly, so don’t get too upset.”

She picked up a square cushion next to her, placed it on her crossed knees, and rested her hands comfortably.

Yoo Gun, who had been watching, also sat on the sofa while picking up the remote control.

Chae Won naturally distanced herself as she sat down, seemingly conscious of their shoulders that had brushed against each other.

Although she pretended to be calm, she actually didn’t look him in the eye well or was very conscious of small contacts.

“That friend seems to be very nervous. His fingertips keep moving restlessly, making even me, the viewer, a bit uncomfortable.”

“So all these people are still non-celebrities, right? Your agency really has a lot of hidden gems, Choi Yoo Gun?”

“Hmm, that student’s music is calm, but I think the clothing style is too excessive. So it’s a bit hard to immerse myself.”

Her opinions, as she focused while nodding along with the music flowing, were more perceptive than expected.

In fact, this video has already been monitored.

As she said, he is the CEO, so employees do this kind of work, and Yoo Gun only needs to receive reports of problems that have been filed.

But there is meaning in watching again.

“Yawn.”

And in seeing Kim Chae Won yawn like this.

“Are you sleepy?”

Chae Won, who was yawning for the second time without realizing it, startled and straightened her back.

“No?”

“Didn’t you say you have superior concentration compared to others?”

“Of course, I’m fine. I’m not sleepy at all.”

Chae Won looked at Yoo Gun with her eyes wide open as if to prove it.

But she, who probably didn’t sleep properly last night either, inevitably slumped 15 minutes later.

“How about that friend’s introduction video? I think it lacks impact.”

Chae Won, caught dozing off, startled at Yoo Gun’s voice and straightened her neck.

“Who?”

She spoke nonchalantly, pretending she hadn’t fallen asleep at all.

“Did you sleep?”

“No. Ah, I was just lost in thought for a moment.”

“I’ll rewind it.”

“Yes, rewind…”

Due to her who seemed to have been particularly lost in thought, the rewinding continues.

The three-hour video keeps going backward instead of forward to the end.

“Are you sleepy?”

“No… Not sleepy at all…”

Her voice has long since lost its strength.

“Kim Chae Won.”

“Yes… I’m not sleeping.”

It’s been a while since she rested her head on the cushion she was hugging.

“You’re careless.”

“I’m not…”

Yoo Gun chuckled and looked at Chae Won with even deeper eyes.

Have I ever stared at someone’s sleeping face like this before?

Closed eyes, long eyelashes, pure nostrils, red lips – just looking fills up so many things.

It’s a first.

“Kim Chae Won.”

“…No.”

“Now you’re even speaking informally.”

He has no intention of persuading her rejection to conclude it as a mistake.

What’s needed is acknowledgment.

“Are you sleeping?”

“Yes…”

She who finally admitted now sleeps openly.

“Since you couldn’t do it properly today, we’ll have to do it again tomorrow.”

Her hair that has fallen further as she leans more covers her eyes.

Yoo Gun slightly brushed away her hair that was interfering with the view.

As I did too.

She’ll need time to think. However.

“Do your thinking by my side, Kim Chae Won.”