Jin Young Cheol, sitting in the cafe, raised his head every time the entrance door opened. When he finally saw the face he had been waiting for, a smile spread across his face.

Yoon Seol Hee, with her intellectual appearance in a perfectly fitted skirt suit, approached him.

“Sit here. What would you like to drink?”

“It’s fine. I can’t stay long. I was a bit surprised by your sudden call.”

Jin Young Cheol nodded as if he understood.

“I’ll get straight to the point. I plan to run in this by-election.”

“And?”

“Come work for me. It’s a hundred times more advantageous to build your career under a five-term congressman. Being the deputy spokesperson for the second opposition party might sound good, but it doesn’t really help your career, does it?”

“Why are you suddenly doing this? You didn’t like me before, did you?”

Seeing Yoon Seol Hee full of disbelief, Jin Young Cheol gave a smirk.

“We should separate personal and professional matters. I know well that you’re a capable aide.”

“To be honest, I don’t see much to gain by coming to you, Congressman Jin.”

“My son Sun Woo.”

At the unexpected name from Jin Young Cheol’s lips, Yoon Seol Hee’s face turned pale.

“You still have feelings for Sun Woo, don’t you? If you’re by my side, you’ll often run into Sun Woo, and your old emotions might naturally resurface. After all, it was your first love.”

“I don’t understand why you’re doing this. Sun Woo is already married, isn’t he?”

As Yoon Seol Hee retorted, Jin Young Cheol, thinking of Green, frowned and replied.

“My daughter-in-law lacks the basics. I used to think you were lacking too, but compared to her, you’re a hundred times better as Sun Woo’s match.”

Jin Young Cheol didn’t miss the slight trembling of Yoon Seol Hee’s hand as she brushed her hair. He smiled triumphantly.

“Shall I tell you a secret? After you left like that, that rascal Sun Woo holed up at home for four days, just drinking. If I hadn’t forcibly dragged him out, he would have lived like a derelict for quite a while.”

“Sun Woo did?”

Yoon Seol Hee’s eyes widened in disbelief. She had been hurt more than once, wondering if it was just one-sided love because of his strangely distant attitude even when talking about marriage.

The words that Sun Woo had been so distressed by their breakup were enough to shake Yoon Seol Hee. At that moment, an unexpected voice was heard from behind.

“Deputy Spokesperson Yoon?”

Startled, Yoon Seol Hee jumped to her feet. The person approaching with strong energy was Representative Baek Sun Ju.

“I was passing by and was glad to see Deputy Spokesperson Yoon. Do you have a guest?”

Until then, Baek Sun Ju, unaware of Jin Young Cheol’s presence, froze when she saw him sitting across from Yoon Seol Hee.

“I first learned politics in Congressman Jin’s office. He contacted me, saying he was glad to hear I had returned to the country.”

Yoon Seol Hee, unaware of the relationship between Jin Young Cheol and Baek Sun Ju, hurriedly offered an excuse for this meeting.

Baek Sun Ju nodded but didn’t take her sharp gaze off Jin Young Cheol.

“I was just about to leave. Congressman Jin, it was nice to see you after a long time.”

“Yes, let’s keep in touch.”

Yoon Seol Hee hurriedly tried to leave with Baek Sun Ju, but she didn’t budge.

“Jin Young Cheol, why are you contacting our Deputy Spokesperson Yoon again?”

Baek Sun Ju’s aggressive tone surprised not only Jin Young Cheol but also Yoon Seol Hee.

“Deputy Spokesperson Yoon, you go ahead first.”

Though looking at the two with anxious eyes, Yoon Seol Hee had no choice but to leave first.

Baek Sun Ju boldly pulled out a chair and sat in front of Jin Young Cheol. Her force made Jin Young Cheol instinctively cower.

It had been like this since they were young. He had once been captivated by her, who was as passionate as a wildflower in the field, full of anger, joy, and political ambition. But now, her unchanged demeanor from back then was just burdensome.

“Be honest. What are you doing here?”

“I told you. I heard Yoon Seol Hee had returned to the country and came because I was glad.”

“Hmph, do you think I don’t know you? Let me warn you, I never let anyone take my people. Especially not you!”

Seeing Baek Sun Ju confidently calling Yoon Seol Hee her person, Jin Young Cheol also flared up.

“You sent the child to me, and you dare say such things.”

At that moment, Baek Sun Ju’s eyes turned cold. Thinking that if looks could kill, she would have killed him right then, Jin Young Cheol felt a chill.

Having been in politics for over 30 years, they had clashed here and there, but it was the first time he had brought up Sun Woo. He never imagined her reaction would be this fierce.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Baek Sun Ju, regaining her composure, stood up.

“I’ve warned you clearly. If you touch my people, you’ll die by my hands.”

Even after Baek Sun Ju had already disappeared from sight, Jin Young Cheol trembled as if he had a chill.

******

“Oh my, Director! All these photos are so handsome!”

Na Mi Ran, the secretary who was organizing the materials Sun Woo had handed over, exclaimed in admiration at the photos.

A day before his departure to France, Sun Woo had requested an urgent meeting regarding the promotional direction for the Marseille resort. The head of the PR team and key executives were expected to attend.

“Secretary Na, this is an important meeting, so we can’t make mistakes. Don’t mix up the photo folders.”

The photos to be used in the meeting were of Sun Woo naturally blending with the scenery and landscape of Soswaewon.

But Secretary Na was captivated by the photos where Sun Woo’s face was prominently captured head-on.

Seeing this, Sun Woo deeply missed the absence of Ahn Yong Gi, who was currently in Marseille.

“Don’t worry, Director. I absolutely won’t make any mistakes.”

Fortunately, Secretary Na soon regained her senses. Shortly after, key executives including Park Chan Wook and Park In Young gathered in the conference room.

“Why are you calling a meeting first thing in the morning when you’re leaving tomorrow?”

As Park Chan Wook playfully chided, Sun Woo smiled and took the microphone.

“I have an urgent proposal regarding the promotional direction for the Marseille resort. Until now, we’ve focused on Korean traditional beauty, concentrating on hanok and Korean-style gardens, but please look at this photo.”

On Sun Woo’s signal, Manager Na Mi Ran displayed a photo on the large screen. Sun Woo, in a stylish suit, was leisurely strolling through Soswaewon in early autumn.

“Oh.”

Praise first burst from the female executives’ lips. With each photo that passed, the praise grew louder.

Whether in a suit or casual everyday wear, he blended so beautifully into the garden.

“What is this? Are we supposed to spend our busy time admiring Director Jin Sun Woo’s photo shoot?”

The sharp voice of Park Soo Ho, the Sales General Director who usually considered Sun Woo a competitor, shot out.

“Oh my, these are just photos my wife casually took. Do they look like a photo shoot to Director Park?”

As Sun Woo playfully retorted, laughter erupted from various corners of the conference room. Park Soo Ho’s face turned bright red.

At this moment, the PR team leader opened his mouth with sparkling eyes.

“Are you suggesting we set the resort’s promotional point as a unique resting place for Europeans tired of business and daily life?”

“That’s right. If we’ve already emphasized Korean beauty in the video advertisements that have gone into production, how about going in this direction for print or large billboard ads? It’s a two-track strategy.”

A significant number of executives nodded at Sun Woo’s words. Satisfied with the meeting’s response, Sun Woo nodded, and Secretary Na moved to the next screen.

“I’ve selected some suitable models. I’ve evenly included foreign and Korean models in the candidate pool.”

“There’s a hot model in her early 20s named Morgan, and I think she’d go well with Jenny, the video model.”

Hearing a familiar name from the PR team leader’s mouth, Sun Woo unknowingly frowned.

“Early 20s seems too young for a Marseille resort model.”

As Park In Young raised an objection, everyone seemed to agree. Sun Woo was secretly relieved.

At that moment, Secretary Na accidentally clicked on a different photo. Suddenly, a photo that Sun Woo didn’t want to reveal was displayed on the large screen.

“Oh my goodness! I didn’t know Director Jin Sun Woo had this side to him!”

As expected, the female executives’ reaction was the quickest. Those intense and wild eyes staring straight through the screen!

Flustered, Sun Woo shouted.

“Secretary Na!”

“Oh, I’m sorry. This is for the Director’s personal collection, I made a mistake.”

As Secretary Na Mi Ran hurriedly tried to take down the photo, Park Chan Wook stopped her.

“Wait. Let’s see more!”

“What?”

Regardless of whether Sun Woo was flustered or not, Park Chan Wook insisted on seeing more photos. As a result, photos that were extremely private from Sun Woo’s perspective were all revealed.

Park Chan Wook was openly looking with a pleased face, and even Park In Young was watching with a faint smile.

“Now that we’ve seen enough photos, let’s move on to selecting the model…”

“Why waste time unnecessarily when we have the perfect model right in front of us?”

“Vice Chairman, what do you mean?”

“Jin Sun Woo, you do it. Be the model for the Marseille resort.”

“Pardon?”

For a moment, Sun Woo’s mouth fell open as if he had been hit hard on the back of the head. Park Chan Wook clapped his hands in delight.

“That’s great! We don’t have to pay expensive model fees, it’s an excellent idea.”

“Chairman!”

“Everyone’s busy, so go back to work now. Only Director Jin, stay behind.”

Having achieved her goal, Secretary Na quickly gathered her equipment and left the conference room, while the other executives gathered around Sun Woo.

“Thanks to Director Jin, I had a heart-fluttering experience at nearly sixty. Thank you.”

“I look forward to the day when Director Jin’s photos are displayed on the large billboards at Incheon Airport and Charles de Gaulle Airport in France.”

After the executives left one by one, leaving behind words that were unclear whether they were well-wishes or curses, only Park Chan Wook, Park In Young, and a dumbfounded Sun Woo remained in the conference room.

“Those photos, your wife took them?”

“…Yes.”

“As expected, she’s talented. I’m glad I set up a studio for her.”

Park Chan Wook called Green right there. Green’s cheerful voice flowed through the phone.

“Send all those photos of Sun Woo taken at Soswaewon to my email.”

“Why? To look at when I’m bored, of course.”

Then, laughter was heard from the other end of the phone.

After hanging up, Park Chan Wook continued speaking to the stunned Sun Woo.

“As soon as you get to France, organize the promotional concept and do the photoshoot before you return.”

“…Are you really telling me to be the model? You’re not joking?”

“Joking? I’ve never been more serious.”

Park Chan Wook looked at Sun Woo’s crumpled face and playfully winked.

“Instead, I’ll assign Green as your photographer. No complaints, right?”

Those words meant that Green would be coming to Marseille where he was.

He tried to resist, but Sun Woo’s lips curled up involuntarily.