Their morning was exactly the same as any other day.

Tae Sung, who woke up earlier than Ji Wan, prepared breakfast, while Ji Wan woke up to the smell of toasting bread, quickly got ready for work, and sat down at the breakfast table he had set.

The conversation during the meal was as uneventful as usual.

“Still no memories coming back?”

“I’m reviewing the case files. I’ve mostly figured things out, but nothing’s coming back to me.”

“Your injuries are all healed, right?”

“Don’t worry about that. I’m slowly preparing to return to work.”

First, she asked about Tae Sung’s condition.

“Make sure you explain to the security guard and building representative today. They seriously misunderstood that we’re actually married.”

“Isn’t that true?”

“Even if it were true, there was a confidentiality clause. Otherwise I’ll file a lawsuit for damages.”

“That would be a breach of contract lawsuit.”

“Ugh, same difference! Always acting so smart.”

As usual, she briefly argued with Tae Sung over the same issue.

“You’re eating breakfast well now without complaining.”

“Huh? When did I ever complain?”

“You always sat down grumbling that you’re busy, that you don’t usually eat breakfast.”

“Ah, well. Humans are creatures of adaptation, after all.”

“I’m glad I’ve seeped into your life.”

“Don’t read too much into me eating breakfast…!”

She blanched in shock at Tae Sung’s mischievous joke.

♩♪♬♩♪♬―

Then the notification alerting that it was time to leave for work sounded.

Ji Wan took that alarm as her cue, quickly downing her now lukewarm coffee in one shot and hurriedly getting up from her seat.

“Well, let’s do our best today too! The meal was delicious!”

Tae Sung responded by nodding to her before starting to clear the empty plates.

Up to this point, it was exactly the same as other mornings.

But if there was a subtle difference, it was that during this utterly ordinary time, Tae Sung’s gaze turned to Ji Wan’s nape more often than usual.

And that Ji Wan’s steps after leaving the table didn’t head straight for the front door as usual, but lingered around Tae Sung for a moment.

“Um, Tae Sung.”

Ji Wan hesitated before calling out to him.

Tae Sung turned his gaze to her with a gentle smile.

Ji Wan cleared her throat awkwardly, fiddling with her ear as she asked sheepishly.

“Do you want to meet outside for dinner tonight?”

“Tonight?”

“I want to treat you, to thank you for yesterday too. But if the situation is dangerous or going out is inconvenient, that’s fine.”

Tae Sung’s gaze as he looked at her showed momentary puzzlement.

But soon he regained his relaxed smile and replied with an even deeper smile.

“Should I take this as a date proposal?”

“What? Oh, no! Not quite a date…!”

“A first date proposal… Even if the situation is dangerous and going out is inconvenient, I should go, right?”

She had only wanted to properly thank him because she was so grateful for yesterday, but from the moment Tae Sung called it a date, something felt off.

She had tried to ask as plainly as possible to avoid it sounding that way, but this glib man never lets things slide easily.

Feeling unnecessarily flustered, Ji Wan quickly headed towards the front door as she spoke.

“Then think about where we should meet and let me know. I’ll look for a good restaurant or bar nearby. Oh! It’s definitely not a date, so don’t dress up specially!”

Ji Wan emphasized the last sentence extra loudly before hurriedly leaving the house.

Tae Sung quietly watched the door open and close rapidly, then only after being left alone in the house did he let out an obvious chuckle.

“…I didn’t know she could be so cute.”

The muttered words he let slip were thoughts he himself hadn’t fully realized.

Tae Sung’s brow twitched slightly as he belatedly registered what he had just said.

The cheesy lines he would calculatedly use in front of her to captivate Ji Wan’s heart.

But this time, for some reason, he was glad she hadn’t heard it.

Though he didn’t know why he was thinking this way, in any case.

“Hmm…”

Tae Sung let out a deep sigh with a meaningful expression before starting to clear the breakfast table again.

The expression on his face, left alone, was strangely bright even though there was no one to put on an act for.

Anyway, it was that kind of morning where everything felt different, even though everything was exactly the same as usual.

* * *

“Not possible.”

On a day so packed that there wasn’t even a gap between schedules.

Yang Secretary, who was moving to the next schedule with Hwa Young, said with a resolute expression.

Having expected this, Hwa Young glanced at the cold-hearted Yang Secretary and began her begging strategy.

“Why not? The old man’s birthday comes every year. We met at the family dinner before too!”

“Chairman Choi Yu Ria is preparing this party with special care. She said to make sure to dress you up nicely and bring you, as it’s a good opportunity to impress former Chairman Choi Maeng Ho.”

“It’s not even fun there! Just let me skip it. Hm? In exchange, I’ll let you leave work early today too! I absolutely won’t call you in on weekends!”

The one thing Hwa Young wanted right now was to skip the afternoon family event and have some free time.

For Yang Secretary, who follows Choi Yu Ria’s words more than Hwa Young’s despite being Hwa Young’s secretary, this was an absurd request.

Hwa Young was well aware of this fact, but she had another important thing she absolutely wanted to do today.

Determined to accomplish what she set her mind to, Hwa Young began negotiations to somehow secure her afternoon.

“Instead, I’ll work like crazy until quitting time. No social media, no coffee breaks.”

“You’re supposed to be diligent during regular work hours anyway. Don’t use your basic duties as a bargaining chip.”

“Then I won’t go to my friend’s house party next week! It was the friend you didn’t like!”

“It’s not that I dislike that person, but Chairman Choi Yu Ria finds that friend unsatisfactory. Because of the drug conviction.”

“Anyway, is it okay to give me free time today in exchange for not going there?”

Hwa Young put forth another bargaining chip.

That party was one Yang Secretary had been trying to dissuade her from for a month, so it should be much more appealing.

But Yang Secretary flatly rejected Hwa Young’s proposal this time as well.

“Not possible. You wouldn’t be able to go to that party anyway because of Chairman Choi Yu Ria.”

“Ah! Really! It’s my time, why can’t I use it as I want!”

“That is your fate as a director, ma’am. As one who wears the crown, you must bear it.”

If you can’t even speak properly, at least don’t be so hateful.

Hwa Young glared at Yang Secretary with sharp eyes.

Yang Secretary lightly avoided his gaze and began reciting the key agenda items for the upcoming meeting.

“There are three main points that need to be discussed regarding the ‘Cafe Time’ franchise location this time. First, selecting the cafe location. Second, the signature menu only sold at LU Department Store…”

This was meant to change the subject so that she would never bring up free time again.

Knowing this, Hwa Young considered insisting once more regardless of what Yang Secretary was saying, but soon changed her mind.

‘No, whining now won’t get me anywhere anyway. He’d just run off and tattle to the chairman. Then what…’

Hwa Young, whose cunning was unmatched, pondered deeply.

It didn’t even take 5 minutes to find the easiest and simplest solution.

‘Can’t be helped. I’ll just have to run away.’

Hwa Young’s eyes, having made her decision, regained their spark.

Even at this moment, Yang Secretary was deliberately ignoring Hwa Young and focusing only on talking about the meeting.

“This time, what you absolutely must check is the part Chairman Choi mentioned several times…”

So he didn’t notice at all.

The fact that Do Hwa Young’s eyes now closely resembled those of a troublemaker just before causing a huge incident.

* * *

As quitting time approached, a message arrived from Tae Sung.

There had been no contact all day, so it seems he was preparing something on his own again.

Ji Wan, who had been typing her best for an on-time departure, stretched her sore wrists and made a puzzled expression.

“Where on earth are we going that it has to be a secret…”

He was such an inscrutable man.

This morning she had clearly insisted it wasn’t a date, but knowing that full well, he was still acting suspiciously.

But Ji Wan, who had already grown accustomed to Tae Sung’s ways, just chuckled instead of grumbling.

“Are you going somewhere nice after work today? Your face looks radiant.”

Her senior Joo Ah, who noticed her, came over and asked.

Startled, Ji Wan quickly composed her expression and replied nonchalantly.

“What do you mean, somewhere nice…”

“Seeing how you immediately stiffened up, it must be true. Why? Do you have a blind date today?”

“No! Come on, why are you so desperate to read into things?”

“Hmm? I only said it once.”

“Ah… even once is…”

This wouldn’t do. Continuing the conversation would only lead to strange misunderstandings.

Ji Wan got up from her seat as if fleeing and quickly grabbed her bag.

“See you tomorrow!”

“Tomorrow’s the weekend.”

“Oh, right. Then see you on Monday!”

“Good luck on your blind date! You have to tell me how it goes!”

Joo Ah waved, watching her flustered colleague with amusement until the end.

It definitely wasn’t a blind date, but her eyes didn’t look like she would believe otherwise anyway.

Rather than engaging in a futile argument, disappearing quickly was the better strategy.

Ji Wan only hurried her steps towards the main entrance even more.

Arriving at the main entrance in such a rush.

Ji Wan hitched up her bag that kept slipping off her shoulder as she looked for his sedan.

She even knew the license plate of his rather fancy car, but Tae Sung’s car wasn’t on the street in front of the main entrance he had mentioned.

Ji Wan stood in a spot where he could easily find her and took out her phone.

Just as she was about to contact Tae Sung.

Vroooom―

A sports car stopped in front of her with a majestic exhaust note.

It appeared so flashy and ostentatiously that not only Ji Wan’s eyes, but those of the people around were drawn to the car.

Surprised by the unusual entrance, Ji Wan looked over the car with bewildered eyes.

Just then, the darkly tinted passenger window smoothly lowered.

Though the face of the person inside wasn’t clearly visible, the voice that leaked out was too distinct to ignore.

“Lee Ji Wan! Get in!”

“Huh? Me…?”

“We don’t have time to admire our Onyx! Just get in first!”

It was clearly Ji Wan’s name.

Unless there was another Lee Ji Wan working at the same newspaper company, it was definitely calling for Ji Wan, who was eyeing the car suspiciously.

Ji Wan bent down, not hiding her surprised expression.

The striking features of a man gripping the steering wheel came into view all too clearly.

“D-Do Hwa Young…?!”

Yes, it was unmistakably Do Hwa Young.

This man who had stopped his car in front of her and called out her name so brazenly.

Hwa Young’s eyes, having confirmed the startled Ji Wan, curved mischievously, in a different way from Tae Sung’s.

“That’s right, it’s me. Hwa Young. If you recognize me, just get in already! We really need to hurry!”