Tae Wook’s expression turned cold at Min Gyu’s words.

“He must have visited ‘The Space’ almost for two months to see Team Leader Han.”

Min Gyu continued speaking, unaware of Tae Wook’s change.

“He visited ‘The Space’ so often that our hotel staff even asked me if Team Leader Han was my hidden lover.”

“The CEO will misunderstand. The Vice President and I are not that kind of relationship.”

Gyeo Wool, her face pale, tried to restrain Min Gyu.

However, he added more.

“Why? Did I say something wrong? Honestly, the more you look at Team Leader Han, the more attractive she becomes.”

Gyeo Wool felt her mind go blank.

Even if that wasn’t Min Gyu’s intention, he was choosing words that were perfect for making listeners suspicious.

“This is unexpected. Ms. Han Gyeo Wool, you were famous for putting up walls against men when you were at our company.”

Tae Wook’s voice was no different than usual.

But judging by the slight curl at the corner of his mouth, he was clearly displeased.

“Walls! That’s exactly right.”

Min Gyu even clapped his hands, as if that was what he wanted to say.

“But those walls are a bit different from what CEO Kang mentioned. I mean I tried and tried to recruit Team Leader Han to our hotel but gave up. Hahaha…”

Min Gyu burst into laughter, opening his mouth so wide his uvula was visible.

“While CEO Kang might be able to, I’m too scared to approach someone like Team Leader Han who puts up walls, no matter how capable and pretty she is.”

Gyeo Wool finally realized Min Gyu was doing this on purpose.

Min Gyu must have noticed that Tae Wook and Gyeo Wool were not just connected through work.

Well. It would have been stranger not to notice with Tae Wook showing it so clearly.

“And thanks to Team Leader Han putting up those walls, I met a good connection.”

“A good connection? Could it be…”

Gyeo Wool had a hunch.

Deputy Manager Kim Ji Yeon.

Around the time L Hotel construction was nearing its end, Min Gyu’s visits to ‘The Space’ became less frequent.

And around that time, Deputy Manager Kim Ji Yeon said she was dating a man with marriage in mind.

Since Kim Ji Yeon had always said she was against marriage, the company people couldn’t help but be surprised by her dating news.

And they were very curious about who the man who captured her heart was.

−You’ll know when you see him.

Deputy Manager Kim Ji Yeon had only shyly said that and never spoke about her boyfriend.

−We’ve set the wedding date.

A few days ago, she quietly shared the wedding news only with Gyeo Wool.

“It’s probably the person you’re thinking of, Team Leader Han.”

“I really didn’t know.”

“She asked to keep it a secret until the wedding.”

Tae Wook’s nerves, which had been on edge, relaxed at the conversation between Gyeo Wool and Min Gyu.

“Congratulations. You and Deputy Manager Kim Ji Yeon really suit each other well.”

“Right? I think we suit each other really well too.”

Tae Wook alternately looked at Min Gyu, who was smiling happily, and Gyeo Wool, who wore a relieved expression.

They suit each other well…

For a moment, he had doubted the relationship between Gyeo Wool and Min Gyu, swayed by Min Gyu’s words.

But not only their appearances, but also their personalities…

It wasn’t just that they matched or didn’t match, but they gave a completely different feeling.

“I guess we’ll be receiving wedding invitations soon.”

“I’ll make sure to send Team Leader Han an invitation and a gift specially. Aren’t you the main contributor to my meeting Ji Yeon?”

“I…”

Gyeo Wool hesitated, unable to finish her words.

She wasn’t sure whether to say that she would be leaving Jeju to stay in Seoul.

“Ms. Han Gyeo Wool will be working with me soon.”

Tae Wook stepped in.

“Is she resigning from ‘The Space’ and returning to CEO Kang’s company?”

“No. While continuing her work at ‘The Space’, I asked her to help with the resort work.”

“If it’s helping with the resort work…”

Min Gyu seemed to understand what Tae Wook meant.

“Ms. Han Gyeo Wool, it would be a waste to let a talented person like you rot as a salaried employee in a small architecture company.”

Tae Wook’s gaze bored into Gyeo Wool’s eyes.

An increasingly intense gaze.

Gyeo Wool couldn’t avoid Tae Wook’s strongly binding gaze.

[This is the timeline separator]

“Please let me off here.”

As they approached the bus stop where Gyeo Wool had met Tae Wook earlier, she asked to be let off.

“I’ll let you off a bit further. You’ll have to walk too much otherwise.”

“It’s fine. Please let me off.”

“So stubborn.”

Tae Wook pulled the car over to the side of the road.

“Drive carefully.”

As Gyeo Wool greeted him and opened the car door to leave, Tae Wook even turned off the engine and followed her out.

“Why are you getting out?”

“I thought I’d walk a bit too.”

Tae Wook grinned and started walking shoulder to shoulder with Gyeo Wool.

“Thanks for the gift.”

Tae Wook said, lightly touching his necktie with his finger.

“I was worried you might throw it away.”

“This? There’s no way I’d throw away a gift from you, of all people.”

It was a completely different statement from what he had said to her on the day she bought the necktie as a gift.

−Think twice before giving a necktie as a gift. The recipient might think differently from Secretary Han.

“I thought you didn’t like necktie gifts.”

“It’s not that I don’t like them. It’s just, well…”

He rubbed his thick eyebrow with his finger, wearing an embarrassed expression.

“I apologize for getting angry that day.”

“Apologize? It’s, it’s okay.”

Gyeo Wool stuttered, flustered as if she had heard something completely unexpected.

She never thought Tae Wook would easily bring up an apology.

“That day, I thought Secretary Han had noticed that the suit and necktie I was wearing didn’t match.”

Tae Wook’s thought was correct.

Gyeo Wool had been bothered by the necktie Tae Wook was wearing the whole time.

So, to pass the time, she picked out a necktie at the department store and even had it gift-wrapped.

“I never expected you to give it as a gift. I was only thinking about the past.”

“Don’t tell me you misunderstood that I had bought a gift for someone else?”

“I realized it was for me when I saw the birthday card.”

And then he cancelled even an important dinner and immediately boarded a plane to Jeju Island.

Gyeo Wool now understood why Tae Wook had been so prickly that day.

And also the fact that he must have misunderstood that the person she was trying to give the gift to was Min Gyu.

“Even I can see that the suit and necktie really match well today.”

Tae Wook smiled softly as he looked down at the clothes he was wearing.

“As a thank you for the gift, I’d like to treat you to dinner tomorrow evening, if that’s okay?”

“Tomorrow?”

“Why? Do you have plans?”

“There’s a company dinner…”

“Can’t you skip the company dinner?”

Tae Wook asked, subtly expecting her to say she would skip it.

“It’s a dinner my senior arranged as a farewell party since I’m moving to Seoul.”

“I guess it’s an event you absolutely can’t miss.”

Disappointment tinged Tae Wook’s voice.

“Let’s have dinner after you come up to Seoul.”

As they talked and walked, they had already reached a place where the company building was visible.

“When are you going up to Seoul?”

“The morning after tomorrow. I thought it might be less shocking for CEO Bang if I’m not noticeable.”

The afternoon after tomorrow.

Finally, they will sign the construction contract with Flore Resort.

That’s when Eun Young will find out that Tae Wook is the resort’s representative.

“I believe Secretary Han will persuade CEO Bang well.”

“Yes. I have to.”

Gyeo Wool answered, but she couldn’t let go of her worries.

Eun Young might still insist on not signing the contract.

“If it seems too difficult, give me a call. I’ll help as much as I can.”

“Thank you.”

“Go on in.”

“Yes. Take care on your way back.”

Gyeo Wool started walking towards the company.

However, Tae Wook remained in place, watching Gyeo Wool.

Until she entered the company building and was completely out of sight.

[This is the timeline separator]

The largest sushi restaurant in Jeju.

Over 20 halls were overflowing with customers.

And ‘The Space’ staff entered the largest hall among them.

“Team Leader, this isn’t your seat.”

“I’m comfortable here.”

When Gyeo Wool tried to sit in a corner seat, the staff stopped her.

“Today’s guest of honor should sit in the middle.”

They pulled her to sit at the center table where Eun Young was sitting.

“Isn’t this too much, senior? This place is expensive.”

“If I could, I’d want to rent a hotel for the company dinner instead of a sushi restaurant.”

Eun Young looked at Gyeo Wool with tears in her eyes.

“I’ve only made you suffer for 3 years and now I’m sending you to a difficult position, but this is all I can do for you and it breaks my heart.”

“Why are you like this? I’m only grateful to you, senior.”

Gyeo Wool placed her hand on top of Eun Young’s.

It was when everyone was filling their stomachs with sashimi and food.

Bang bang bang!

One employee went to the front of the hall and tapped a glass with a spoon.

Then, people’s attention turned to that employee.

“We will now invite today’s farewell party’s guest of honor, Team Leader Han, to the front. Team Leader Han, please come out.”

“Why me…”

Gyeo Wool hesitated to go out, wearing a burdened expression.

“Hurry and go.”

Eun Young pushed Gyeo Wool’s back, sending her to the front of the hall.

“Before hearing the determination of our Team Leader who is leaving for Seoul, we would like her to receive a small gift from us.”

As soon as the employee finished speaking, the hall lights went out and a video played on one wall.

It was a message of support for Gyeo Wool from all employees, starting with the youngest female employee.

“Team Leader, don’t cry alone because you’re lonely.”

“You shouldn’t work overtime even after going to Seoul.”

“Team Leader, just focus on your work. If we hear news that you got sick from helping others with their work, we’ll invade Seoul right away.”

“You have to come back soon.”

Before she knew it, tears were flowing from Gyeo Wool’s eyes.

After a moment, the lights came on.

Seeing Gyeo Wool’s face full of tears, someone handed her an entire box of tissues.

She wiped her tears and took in the faces of each employee one by one.

“You said it was a small gift, but it’s too big. Thank you. Even if I go to Seoul, my heart will always be with ‘The Space’. I’ll be back well.”

Gyeo Wool greeted them and returned to her seat.

“Just try to overwork yourself. I’ll invade Seoul.”

Eun Young filled Gyeo Wool’s glass with beer and filled her own as well.

“Senior, you must finish the vertical garden construction well.”

“Of course.”

When Eun Young smiled, Gyeo Wool clinked her glass against Eun Young’s.

A moment later.

“Tell me! Kang Tae Wook, why are you here!”

An angry woman’s shouting voice echoed through the sushi restaurant.

It was the voice of Eun Young, who had left the hall saying she was going to the bathroom.