In the end, Ga-eul couldn’t even touch the cake and stood up.

Ga-eul, still shy, walked ahead, and Kitaeyeon, walking behind her, secretly chuckled.

Although he felt a sudden urge to tease her more, he restrained himself from running away from her embrace and walked towards the car.

The two got into the car to go back the way they came.

“I left some documents in the office, so I think I need to stop by for a moment.”

Distracted by Ga-eul, Kitaeyeon forgot something he had to take care of. Ga-eul nodded with a smile at Kitaeyeon’s words.

“Yes, then let’s go to the gallery first.”

“Sure.”

Kitaeyeon also heaved a sigh of relief at the date that went as smoothly as usual. The way back was comfortable, unlike when they hurried to the reserved restaurant. Both Ga-eul and Kitaeyeon were smiling.

When they arrived at the gallery, Kitaeyeon got out of the driver’s seat. Ga-eul also got out of the passenger seat following Kitaeyeon. Seeing Ga-eul, who got out of the car following him, Kitaeyeon stopped for a moment and asked her.

“Why. You’ll be down in a minute; just stay.”

“Just… I want to go with you.”

Cute Yoon Ga-eul.

Kitaeyeon messed up Ga-eul’s hair and nodded between her fingers, smiling.

“Okay, let’s go up together.”

Ga-eul lowered the hand with the ring and smiled broadly. Then they walked together.

Before they knew it, the footsteps of the two, matching each other, were neither fast nor slow but harmonious.

As they walked towards the gallery entrance from the parking lot, a familiar voice caught their ears.

“Miss Ga-eul!”

“…?”

At the sound of her name being called, Ga-eul turned her head.

Yeonwoo was standing there.

Ga-eul’s complexion darkened.

If they were just walking, it wouldn’t matter. But they were holding hands.

Surprised, Ga-eul, just like yesterday, suddenly pulled her hand away from him.

Although it wasn’t pulled away as abruptly as yesterday, because Ga-eul withdrew her hand again momentarily, Kitaeyeon’s mouth, which was smiling, instantly drooped.

Kitaeyeon didn’t say anything.

He just silently looked at Ga-eul, who was once again doing strange things.

The two began an awkward exchange of greetings.

“Miss Ga-eul, it feels a bit awkward after not seeing you for a while.”

“Haha, yes. Mr. Shin Yeonwoo. But why are you here… for some reason?”

Ga-eul asked while glancing around.

Only then did Yeonwoo, who gave Kitaeyeon a look after a while, politely greeted him.

“Hello, sir.”

“…….?”

“No, Mr. Han Kitaeye. Ahaha…”

As Kitaeyeon didn’t return the greeting, Yeonwoo, who was momentarily embarrassed, smiled elegantly and turned back to Ga-eul.

“I happened to see the gallery while passing by, so I stopped by to say hello. But where are you going? Since I happened to see you, I wanted to have a little chat…….?”

Upon Yeonwoo’s question, Ga-eul quickly nodded.

“Yes. It doesn’t seem possible right now. I have a prior appointment with the chairman, so…”
“Oh, I see. That’s a shame. I was thinking of having dinner with a friend.”

“Haha…”

“We agreed to be friends.”

Kitae’s expression, looking down at the chattering couple, crumpled and wrinkled. Then, in a slightly chilly tone, he asked.

“Yoon Ga-eul. What are you doing right now?”

“…What? What are you talking about?”

“What have you been up to since yesterday?”

Watching Kitae talk while tapping the hand he let go, Ga-eul shrugged her shoulders.

“Miss Ga-eul…?”

“…”

“Oh, I just came nearby to see your face for a moment…”

Yeonwoo sensed the chilly atmosphere all of a sudden.

“I’m sorry. I’ll go first. Don’t worry about us, and have a good conversation.”

Having sensed something strange, Yeonwoo made an effort to step aside with regret.

Yeonwoo disappeared from sight.

Suddenly, leaning against the gallery’s exterior wall, Kitae looked down at Ga-eul coldly.

Upon reflection, Yoon Ga-eul didn’t run away and let go of his hand last night because of Cha Hyesoo.

It was merely to hide the fact that they were pretending to be a couple in front of others.

Now that he knew that fact, the soaring feeling he had been feeling endlessly sank deeply.

Kitae looked down at his hand that was once again pushed away. Now he realized that Ga-eul, who let go of his hand in front of others again, had severely lowered his mood.

“Now say it with your own mouth. What do you want to do?”

“Well, that…”

“Ugh!”

Ga-eul stammered in embarrassment. Kitae, who was still hiding something with an embarrassed expression, suddenly grabbed Ga-eul’s hand and walked into the gallery.

“Chairman. It’s too fast…”

His steps were incredibly fast. Unlike a little while ago when he was considerate, she could barely keep up with him.

Ga-eul’s pupils shrank. The atmosphere that had been affectionate until a moment ago was nowhere to be found.

Was it because of Shin Yeonwoo, who suddenly appeared in front of the gallery? If he had told her in advance and come, there might not have been a need to let go of his hand in the first place.