“Why… are you curious about that?”

Yeon Woo felt taken aback by Ga Eul’s guarded expression, which he hadn’t seen in a long time. He quickly blurted out, as if to say he had no other intentions.

“Isn’t it a question you can ask a close friend?”

“…Pardon?”

“I thought we had become quite close…”

“…”

“I guess I was mistaken. I’m sorry.”

Yeon Woo said those words and gave a bitter smile. Ga Eul’s face, which was already pale, turned even whiter as she faced Yeon Woo.

‘What on earth did I say after reacting in a way that would make him curious!’

It was a question that could be asked out of curiosity.

‘That kind of question is just commonly asked.’

The man in front of her was smiling as usual, but it was a slightly more bitter smile than usual, as if he had been hurt.

Since she knew Yeon Woo’s usual smile, she could tell the difference. He was trying hard to smile, but it was a slightly different smile.

Ga Eul fidgeted with her neck and opened her mouth.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to draw a line.”

“It’s okay. I guess I asked a sensitive question. Then instead of this topic…”

You just have to not reveal who it is. Hesitating with regret, Ga Eul finally spoke first.

“No! Yeon Woo is right. I have a boyfriend I started dating not too long ago.”

“Oh, really?”

Yeon Woo’s voice dropped low. However, he quickly collected his expression and tone.

If he went ahead like before, he felt he would see Ga Eul raise her guard again, so he put on a kind mask even more tightly. Then she soon returned to being the recent Ga Eul without any wariness.

Since she already revealed it, Ga Eul spoke without erasing her shy expression.

“It’s only been a few days, so I was a bit hesitant to say it. We really just started dating.”

“I see. You must really like him. It’s the first time I’ve seen you being shy, Ga Eul.”

“Yes, that’s right. …I like him a lot.”

“So who is it? Is it someone I know?”

Ga Eul, who had been fiddling with the hem of her dress, suddenly got startled and waved her hand.

“It’s not someone Yeon Woo would know. We wouldn’t have met if it weren’t for Chairman Shin’s dinner invitation. We have no connections.”

“…That’s true. Of course.”

Yeon Woo, who had been mulling over Ga Eul’s words, nodded and then smiled.

Then, he spoke in his usual kind tone.

“Introduce him to me later.”

“Yes, later, later.”

“Alright. Then shall we have our meal first? You must be hungry, Ga Eul.”

The staff who had approached at some point started placing the food on the table.

The dinner set came with a salad appetizer and burrata cheese served with roasted beets, followed by ragu pasta, the main course of cod dish, and ribeye steak.

“Wow… it’s so delicious.”

“I’m glad it suits your taste. Don’t force yourself to eat, just eat as much as you want.”

“No, it’s really delicious. I’m eating it all because it’s delicious.”

Before long, it was time for the dessert, Hallabong sherbet, to be served.

Ga Eul, who was scooping the ice cream with a spoon, raised her head and asked.

“Ah, but didn’t you say you had something to tell me?”

“Ah, yes.”

“What on earth did you want to say?”

Ga Eul looked at Yeon Woo with a curious expression.

Behind Ga Eul, a staff member appeared with a bouquet of flowers and a large cake.

“Ah, that?”

“Yes.”

“Ah, that…”

Yeon Woo answered vaguely to Ga Eul and waved his hand at the staff member.

The staff member, who had been standing there puzzled for a moment, finally understood the gesture after another wave and discreetly turned back the way he came.

Ga Eul tilted her head for a moment at Yeon Woo’s gesture and slowly looked back, but the staff member had already disappeared. Yeon Woo drew her gaze back to him.

“It was nothing. I just wanted to say that even though we got to know each other through paintings, I hope we can be friends.”

“…Friends?”

Ga Eul, who had widened her eyes for a moment at Yeon Woo’s words, soon smiled. Yeon Woo, who had been observing Ga Eul’s reaction, secretly let out a laugh.

Is it something to be so happy about? Being friends.

“Do you only make friends with people your age? In society, age differences are not really considered. We’re only 4 years apart. If it’s too awkward, we can be close like an older brother and younger sister.”

Ga Eul nodded her head as if enchanted by Yeon Woo’s eloquence.

Yeon Woo inwardly laughed at the words coming out of his mouth.

“We talk well together like this and it’s fun… What do you think, Ga Eul?”

Ga Eul, who gave a bright smile at Yeon Woo’s words, nodded her head. It was a quick agreement, as if she had been waiting for those words.

“Yes, I’d like that. I was also thinking the same thing. I thought it would be a bit of a shame for us to just exchange paintings and grow distant since Yeon Woo is a good person.”

The peach-colored blush on her gentle face looked very cute. But today, it wasn’t pleasant.

His mouth tasted bitter. There was only one answer Yeon Woo could give.

Yeon Woo nodded his head. Then, as if he felt the same way, he closed his eyes beautifully and smiled.

“I’m glad you feel the same way, Ga Eul…”

* * *

Chairman Shin’s mansion. Yeon Woo, who had parted with Ga Eul, went straight inside the house.

“Yeon Woo, you’re back? How was the meal?”

“I had it. I’m going to go rest in my room for a bit, Mother.”

“Alright, I understand.”

He was a child who grew up without any shortcomings or troubles, always living with a smile.

Da Yeon, Yeon Woo’s mother, looked at Yeon Woo who was unusually lacking a smile today, patted his back, and quickly stepped back. She thought he might have had a tiring day and wanted him to rest even a little bit sooner.

Click, Yeon Woo entered his room and turned on the light.

Unlike usual, he lay down on the bed with his unwashed body, feeling down today.

Yeon Woo suddenly turned his head and made eye contact with a painting.

and .

‘Ah, I had completely forgotten about those…’

They were paintings he had in his hands long ago. No matter how much Chairman Shin cherished paintings, they did not take precedence over Yeon Woo.

He had first encountered Ga Eul at the mansion and heard a rough overview of her circumstances from his grandfather. After meeting Ga Eul at a cafe, he had gone straight to his grandfather’s study.

−Grandfather. Can you give me those paintings?

Yeon Woo pointed specifically to and hanging in the hallway.

They weren’t just any paintings, but the ones Chairman Shin cherished the most.

−Hmm, why do you want those paintings, Yeon Woo?

Even Chairman Shin, who always gave Yeon Woo whatever he wanted, asked back instead of readily giving them to him for the first time.

It wasn’t for any special reason that Chairman Shin asked Yeon Woo such a question. He was simply curious about the reason because the child, who had never shown any interest in paintings, suddenly asked for the ones he cherished the most.

−I… want to give them to Ga Eul.

At Yeon Woo’s answer, Chairman Shin let out a hearty laugh.

Then, he easily nodded his head. It was a generous answer for a painting he wouldn’t sell to anyone.

−You must really like Ga Eul.

−Yes.

Chairman Shin, who had walked straight to the hallway, took down the paintings and personally handed them to Yeon Woo.

−If Yeon Woo wants to take them, this old man has to give them to you.

−Thank you, Grandfather.

When Yeon Woo answered with a smile, closing his eyes beautifully, Chairman Shin patted Yeon Woo’s head and said.

−It’s alright. No matter how much I cherish a painting, it’s not more important than you, Yeon Woo.

Yeon Woo, who had been lying on the bed, suddenly sat up and looked down at and again.

He had obtained those paintings right after his second meeting with her. However, he deliberately didn’t give them to her. Even though he knew she desperately wanted them, he hadn’t won her heart yet. He used them as an excuse to keep meeting her.

Today, he had called her to the restaurant to confess his feelings.

It was a restaurant he had reserved entirely a week in advance because he didn’t want any interference in expressing his feelings.

Yeon Woo let out a hollow laugh.

He didn’t expect things to turn out this way, but…

‘She said they hadn’t been dating for long?’

The smile she had unknowingly shown while thinking of her boyfriend at the restaurant was more transparent and beautiful than any smile he had ever seen.

So he was engulfed in jealousy, wishing that person was him.

Yeon Woo looked down at the paintings and scoffed.

“If I had confessed to her a little bit earlier than that man, would it have been different?”

Would it still have been useless?

Yeon Woo, who had been recalling what happened today, lay down on the bed again and buried his face in his arm.

“What friends.”

He never had any intention of being friends from the beginning. It was a very intentional approach.

A woman he had met briefly. A woman he hadn’t known for long.

Yeon Woo shook his head as he recalled Ga Eul’s smile and entered the bathroom.

How hard could it be to forget a woman he had only seen for a moment?

He should just forget.

* * *

At that moment, Ga Eul received a message from Gi Tae saying he would stop by the gallery for a bit after work, so she made her way to the gallery.

As soon as she pushed open the glass door and entered, she ran into Director Park.

Ga Eul, who had been rolling her eyes here and there for a moment, gave an awkward smile and greeted first.

“Hello, Director.”

“Oh…? Ga Eul, you’re here? Come on in.”

She had already submitted all the paintings for the exhibition and said there was nothing more to submit additionally.

Director Park widened his eyes, seemingly surprised by Ga Eul’s sudden entrance. Ga Eul was equally awkward as it was an unexpected situation.

“But what brings you to the gallery?”

Director Park welcomed Ga Eul pleasantly but was puzzled.

Ga Eul, who had only intended to go straight up to his office to see him, stammered an awkward smile and racked her brain.

“Ah, that’s…”

“I called her. I have something to discuss with her separately.”

He was standing in front of the flustered Ga Eul, having come down at some point. Ga Eul, who was about to smile brightly, glanced at Director Park next to her and tried hard to collect herself. She had to pretend to be calm.

Gi Tae, who had been looking only at Ga Eul as he came down, laughed as he saw Ga Eul’s expression.

“Then, I will take Yoon Ga Eul with me.”

“You had an appointment. Go on up, Ga Eul.”

“Yes, Director.”

Ga Eul quickly turned and followed Gi Tae who had already turned his back.

She really couldn’t help the smile that was slightly escaping. Perhaps that’s how dating is.

Even after Director Park disappeared, Ga Eul bit her lower lip tightly. But in the end, a pretty smile formed.

The elevator opened and the two of them got on. As soon as the door closed, Gi Tae wrapped his arm around Ga Eul’s waist.

“Yoon Ga Eul. Why do you keep smiling?”

“Just because.”

“What do you mean just because?”

“It really is just because.”

As they chatted, the elevator door opened before they knew it. Ga Eul unconsciously looked around.

It was because he didn’t let go of his hand around her waist even though the door had opened. There was always a secretary in front of his office. Ga Eul, who had been turning her head busily, was asked by Gi Tae who looked down at her.

“What are you looking for?”

“Ah, just wondering if someone is here.”

“They all went home, no one’s here. Come on in.”

“Okay.”

As soon as the door closed, Gi Tae pushed Ga Eul against the wall. His hand around her waist was still the same. However, he pulled her closer and their bodies were completely pressed together.

“What did you do today?”

“I just met a friend, ate together, and hung out.”

“Is that so?”

Ga Eul’s cheeks flushed peach color at the lips that touched and parted.

Looking down at that face, Gi Tae inwardly recalled Ga Eul’s classmates he had seen before.

‘Is she talking about Ju A, her female friend, and that entry-level employee pretending to be a friend?’

While Gi Tae had no particular feelings when recalling Ju A, he felt irritated when he thought of Do Jin. So he removed his lips and asked.

“Those friends from last time?”

“No, it’s someone else.”

“Really? Then, well…”

The corners of Gi Tae’s mouth slowly rose. Then, he looked down at various parts of Ga Eul’s face nestled in his arms.

Her transparent and gentle face felt pleasantly soft to the touch, her innocent and cute eyes were rolling around busily as if embarrassed by something.

The lips that had a slight vitality turned red and looked appetizing after being kissed several times.

So whenever he kissed her once, it made him want to join their lips again.

Eventually, unable to hold back, Gi Tae asked.

“Ga Eul.”

“…Yes?”

At the affectionate voice calling her name without the surname, Ga Eul bit her lower lip shyly. At that small action, Gi Tae’s gaze went down to her lips for a moment and then back up.

“Shall we go to the studio apartment?”

At Gi Tae’s question, Ga Eul hesitated for a moment and slightly grasped the hem of Gi Tae’s shirt.

What was she doing? Gi Tae quietly looked down at Ga Eul’s movement.

Why were her hands so small? Her fidgeting behavior captured his gaze. As Gi Tae was looking down at Ga Eul’s hands for a while, Ga Eul shook her head and said.

“I had something I wanted to do with you today. Can’t you do it with me?”

Actually, he wanted to take Ga Eul to the studio apartment right away. Just having their lips touch was enough to make her embrace, which was sweeter than he had thought, feel crazy. So he wanted to spend time alone together again.

They say knowing is scarier, and that was exactly his current state. Even just making eye contact made him want to be alone with her.

It was natural to be passionate since they hadn’t been dating for long.

Ga Eul looked up at Gi Tae with expectant eyes. One of Gi Tae’s eyebrows, which had been flawless, rose up as if distorted.

You’re not going to do it with me…?

The eyes looking up at him with such a question were shining with anticipation.

Whenever the hand holding the hem of his shirt loosened and wriggled, all his senses were involuntarily drawn there again.

With just one touch of her hand, he was filled with the desire to take Ga Eul to his studio apartment right away. But the upward gaze warned him not to disappoint her expectation.

He was always

He followed his grandfather’s wishes well without objection when it came to business since their intentions aligned, but he immediately and mercilessly withdrew from the marriage with Cha Hye Su.

“Yesterday, you said you would do everything I wanted to do together…”

“Ha…”

As if Gi Tae had forgotten that promise, Ga Eul added one more thing.

“When we drank wine at your studio apartment. Can’t we?”

That’s not it.

I want to hold you right now.

Although he still didn’t know what Ga Eul wanted, he could tell it wasn’t the same as what he had in mind.

With such a pure face, there’s no way she would say she wanted that.

“It was just something you said…”

In the end, Gi Tae, who had slightly cooled down from what he wanted to do, sighed and asked while tapping her soft nose tip.

“What do you want to do with me?”