Gyeo Wool came out to the lounge dragging an IV pole.

The lounge was empty as if the patients had gone to bed early.

Someone had left the TV on, which was showing the prime time news.

Gyeo Wool walked to the vending machine placed in the corner of the lounge.

“What should I drink?”

Gyeo Wool had come out to drink something as her throat was dry.

She quickly scanned the cans displayed inside the vending machine with her eyes.

Mango juice caught her eye.

She quickly inserted 1000 won into the bill slot and pressed the mango juice button.

With a clunk, the can fell down.

Gyeo Wool bent down to take out the drink.

She sat in a chair and opened the can lid.

The scent of tropical fruit stimulated her nose. She gulped down half of it in one go.

“Delicious.”

An exclamation burst out spontaneously.

It was the most delicious thing she had eaten yesterday and today.

The hospital food was so unpalatable.

Although the caregiver urged her to eat even forcefully, she often left more than half uneaten.

“The Chairman has been hospitalized for several months now…”

Suddenly, Chairman Kang came to mind.

Thinking about how difficult it must be for someone with such picky tastes made her heart ache.

“I should visit him soon after discharge.”

Gyeo Wool turned her head towards the ward entrance.

It was a position where Tae Wook would be visible immediately when he arrived.

He hadn’t been in contact since taking over from the caregiver yesterday.

“I know he’s busy without a moment to spare, but…”

If he came after work, she would have urged him to go back as he must be tired.

If he came in the morning, she would have pushed him to go to work.

Yet, she felt disappointed that he didn’t come or even call.

“He could at least call if he can’t come. Sigh…”

Disappointment flowed out as a sigh.

[Here’s news about the presidential candidates visiting the public. Congressman Choi Min Gyu, a strong candidate from the P Party, visited a market in Gwangjin-gu…]

A familiar name reached Gyeo Wool’s ears through the news anchor’s voice.

Her gaze naturally turned to the TV.

Congressman Choi was wearing the party’s signature purple jacket, shaking hands with merchants one by one and greeting them.

[Today, his family is also seen accompanying him.]

A young woman politely greeting next to Congressman Choi.

Tall with a slender figure.

An oval face with clear features.

The woman on screen was clearly Congressman Choi’s daughter, whom Ki Bum was interested in.

The news screen moved on to another candidate’s campaign scene.

Yet, the woman’s face remained clearly etched in Gyeo Wool’s eyes like an afterimage.

She seemed to shine by her very existence.

She even looked dignified.

However, compared to that woman, Gyeo Wool felt like an insignificant and worthless existence.

Moreover, how could she, who had become a burden rather than a help to Tae Wook, compare to Congressman Choi’s daughter.

Gyeo Wool felt even thirstier than before.

She took a sip of the mango juice she was holding.

“Why is the juice so bitter.”

The juice that was delicious until just now suddenly tasted bitter like swallowing bitter water.

Gyeo Wool stood up abruptly.

And she stared at the tightly closed ward entrance for a long time.

“I said not to expect, and yet…”

Gyeo Wool returned to her room dejectedly.

[This is the timeline separator]

“Are you ready to leave?”

Tae Wook, dressed in casual attire, entered the room and asked Gyeo Wool.

He had come up after completing discharge procedures at the administration office.

“I told you I can go alone.”

Gyeo Wool said as she stood up from the bed where she had been sitting with her luggage packed.

Tae Wook had come to the hospital early in the morning saying he would help with her discharge.

“I was wondering when that would come out.”

Tae Wook grinned as if he had expected it and picked up the large luggage bag placed on the bed.

“You have to go to work. I’ll take a taxi.”

“Han Secretary!”

Tae Wook, who was about to leave the room, suddenly turned his body around.

As a result, Gyeo Wool’s face, who was following closely behind him, bumped right into his chest.

“Oh my!”

She tried to back away in surprise, but Tae Wook’s hand was faster.

His hand gently pressed against the back of her head, preventing her from backing away.

“Let go.”

“No.”

“Mr. CEO…”

Gyeo Wool tried to break free, but the more she did, the more her face pressed against his chest due to the pressure.

“It’s better to stay like this until I finish speaking.”

What kind of words require listening in this position?

What if someone sees us like this?

His hot body temperature transmitted directly to her face.

Thump thump!

She couldn’t distinguish whether the loud heartbeat was his or hers.

“From now on, Han Secretary is forbidden to say she can do it alone or that she’ll take a taxi!”

“What? But you have to go to work…”

“Especially! For three days, you are absolutely not allowed to tell me to go to work or do work. Understood?”

“…”

Gyeo Wool couldn’t answer right away.

It seemed suspicious to prohibit speaking without any explanation.

“Han Secretary, answer!”

When Gyeo Wool didn’t answer, Tae Wook this time wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her closer.

At this rate, it seemed like they would end up in a complete embrace.

“Ah, I understand!”

This time she answered immediately.

However, Tae Wook’s actions, which seemed like he would let go right after she answered, were as slow as if he had become a sloth.

“Shall we go now?”

Tae Wook took the lead and left the room.

About 10 minutes after leaving the hospital.

The car carrying the two was heading in a completely different direction from the apartment.

“Aren’t we going to the apartment?”

Gyeo Wool asked Tae Wook sitting next to her.

“No, we’re not.”

“Then… where are we going?”

She opened her eyes wide in curiosity.

“Han Secretary is… going on vacation right now.”

“Vacation?”

Gyeo Wool’s eyes widened so much they seemed about to tear at the completely unexpected words.

“Han Secretary must rest for a few days no matter what.”

Tae Wook said as he took out a tablet PC from his leather briefcase.

“Even so, so suddenly…”

“Do you think you would have readily agreed to rest if I told you to?”

“Of course. Certainly.”

When Gyeo Wool answered, Tae Wook, who had turned on the tablet PC, slowly raised his head and looked at Gyeo Wool’s face.

One second, two seconds, three seconds…

Gyeo Wool wanted to turn her head away out of embarrassment from the stare that was too direct.

“Han Secretary.”

“Yes?”

“Don’t lie anywhere. It’s written all over your face that you’re lying.”

“Th-there’s no way.”

Gyeo Wool’s bewildered gaze and Tae Wook’s gaze, which was growing more amused, met in a straight line.

Her heart, which had been beating slowly, started racing madly again.

She could see his large, clear eyes with deep, dark pupils narrowing into curves from the corners.

The smile lines created at the ends of his narrowed eye corners.

How could even the folded wrinkles look so handsome?

“Han Secretary.”

“Y-yes?”

Gyeo Wool realized only then that she had been staring at his face in a daze when he called her.

She averted her gaze, trying not to show her flushed face.

“Are you okay? You seem to have a fever.”

It seems I was too late in averting my gaze.

Tae Wook reached out his hand and placed it on her forehead, looking worried.

“It doesn’t seem too hot…”

He furrowed his brow, seriously checking whether she had a fever or not.

“The place we’re going is a bit far.”

Tae Wook’s voice was filled with concern as he removed his hand from her forehead.

“You seem tired, so get some rest even if just for a moment.”

“Yes. I should do that.”

Gyeo Wool readily agreed and closed her eyes as Tae Wook said.

It wasn’t because she was tired.

Her gaze that kept wanting to turn towards him.

Her heart melting at his kindness.

She felt like he might discover her growing feelings for him at this rate.

She chose to close her eyes completely and bury her back deep in the chair instead.

.

.

.

How much time had passed?

She had fallen asleep while intending to just close her eyes.

When she woke up, Tae Wook was still busily inputting something on his tablet PC.

Even though he’s this busy…

She felt bad thinking that he had made time to accompany her despite his busy schedule.

She decided not to disturb his work and quietly turned her head towards the window.

The car was driving on a forest road densely lined with pine trees on both sides.

Towering pine trees reaching high into the sky.

Though she wasn’t sure, they looked to be at least several decades old.

Just as she thought she could smell the pine scent just by taking it in with her eyes, it happened.

“Let me lower the window for you.”

It seems Tae Wook knew she had woken up.

As Tae Wook asked Driver Choi, the window smoothly lowered and the wind blew into the car.

The strong scent of pine carried on the cold winter wind.

Gyeo Wool slightly stuck her face out the window and took a deep breath.

In an instant, her whole body felt lighter and her heavy head felt clearer.

“Are you okay?”

She heard Tae Wook asking.

Gyeo Wool didn’t know if he was asking about her condition or if the wind laden with pine scent was okay.

However. It was both amazing and grateful how he had opened the window just right, as if reading her thoughts.

“I’m fine.”

She answered brightly.

“You’re not dizzy or feeling unwell?”

“No.”

“That’s a relief.”

A look of relief appeared and disappeared on Tae Wook’s face.

“We’re almost there. Just a little further and we’ll arrive.”

Shortly after, the car came to a stop.

“Wait a moment.”

Tae Wook quickly opened the door and got out.

Driver Choi moved quickly as well, but Tae Wook’s actions were faster.

He opened the car door for her.

“Thank you.”

The words came out spontaneously.

“Such thanks are only for today. Don’t do it from next time.”

Why are there so many things not to do today?

“Let me get the luggage.”

Tae Wook went to Driver Choi who was unloading the luggage.

“Mr. CEO, where are we?”

Unable to contain her curiosity, Gyeo Wool turned her face towards the car trunk so Tae Wook could hear well and asked.