It was Juwon.

As soon as he entered, Juwon quickly scanned the coffee shop and, spotting the three people sitting at this table, strode over.

Ina’s heart began to flutter at the sight of the tall and handsome Juwon wearing a dark gray suit today.

Although he must be tired from working overtime, for some reason Juwon’s sculpted face seemed to radiate.

‘I really am in bad shape.’

As Ina looked at Juwon with a somewhat embarrassed face, he stopped in front of the three of them.

“Hey, Lee Juwon! You’re here?”

Minho, who was sitting down, looked up at Juwon and greeted him with a voice mixed with half joy, half betrayal.

“Yeah. You’re here, elder brother? It’s been a while.”

Juwon greeted Minho, putting his hand on his shoulder, then sat down across from Ina.

Then, as his eyes met Ina’s, he raised the corners of his mouth slightly and gave a gentle smile.

Not missing that moment, Juhee wiggled her eyebrows at Minho and asked with her eyes.

‘Elder brother, did you just see that? Hearts popping out of Lee Juwon’s eyes?’

Minho looked at Juwon with disapproving eyes instead of answering.

“Hey. Lee Juwon. Didn’t you say you had to work 30 more minutes? Why did you rush over here?”

“I can do the rest tomorrow.”

Juwon coolly answered Juhee’s question, then picked up the coffee in front of Ina as if it were his own and took a sip.

At that nonchalant action, Juhee and Minho made expressions of disbelief as Ina took out her wallet.

“Should I order you a coffee?”

“No need. I can just drink yours like it’s mine.”

At the word ‘yours’ that came from Juwon’s mouth, Juhee and Minho’s nostrils flared simultaneously.

“Hey. Lee Juwon. I didn’t know you were the type to use words like ‘yours’.”

As Minho spoke with an expression of having heard something he shouldn’t have, Juwon chuckled and replied.

“Well, I’m not Hong Gildong, so why wouldn’t I be able to call my sweetheart ‘yours’?”

As Minho laughed in amazement, Juhee stood up abruptly and said.

“Ugh, I can’t take any more of this cheesiness. I’m going to the bathroom for a bit.”

Then Ina quickly got up as well and said.

“Juhee. I’ll go with you.”

As soon as the two women disappeared into the bathroom, Minho narrowed his eyes and looked at Juwon.

“Hey. Lee Juwon.”

“What.”

“You’re really something, you know?”

“What do you mean?”

“When I asked you who Seo Ina was back then, you just said she was a friend.”

“She was a friend then.”

“But now you’ve gone and made her your sweetheart?”

“Yeah. So what?”

“Wow. You really are shameless…”

Minho picked up the water glass on the table, gulped it down, and put it back.

“Didn’t Seo Ina say she wanted to buy me a meal?”

“I said I’d buy it instead. But you kept saying you were too busy.”

“She was going to bring coffee to the office too?”

“I told her you’re rarely in the office these days.”

Watching Juwon block every move without hesitation, Minho laughed in disbelief.

“You punk, you deliberately prevented Seo Ina and me from meeting, didn’t you?”

“Yeah.”

Juwon answered immediately.

“Well, well? At least you’re not lying?”

“Why would I let you meet?”

“What?”

“Your ideal type is a petite, cute woman with big eyes, right? Think I wouldn’t know that?”

Minho looked at Juwon with an incredulous expression and then burst out laughing.

“Wow. You really are a calculated bastard, aren’t you?”

“I’m grateful for what I’m grateful for, but what’s not possible isn’t possible.”

“What’s not possible?”

“Our Ina. She’s pretty in my eyes, so imagine how she looks to others?”

Minho frowned at the words ‘our Ina’, which were even worse than ‘yours’.

“Geez! Really, geez! You punk!”

Minho shook his ears as if he’d heard something he shouldn’t have and crunched on the ice left in his water glass.

“I’m really grateful for you helping Ina back then. Let me know when you have time. I’ll treat you to a big meal.”

“Forget it. I’m not eating with you.”

As Minho turned his head away as if offended, Juwon chuckled.

Soon after, when the two women returned from the bathroom, Minho looked at his watch.

“As much as I’d like to have a light beer, I need to head back to the office now.”

“At this hour?”

Juhee asked in surprise, and Minho answered as he stood up.

“Yeah. There’s too much material I need to review for next week’s trial. The office staff haven’t gone home yet either.”

“Oh my, elder brother, how will you manage being so tired?”

Juhee stood up as well with a worried expression.

Minho smiled and patted Juhee’s head.

“This is my job, what can I do? I’ll try to make time to visit Japan soon, then we can talk all we want.”

“Really? You’re coming to Japan?”

Juhee asked with an excited face.

“Yeah. I’ve been working non-stop, so I’m planning to take a few days off after this trial is over.”

“Great, great. Good thinking. Come in the winter for sure. I’ll treat you to lots of delicious food.”

“The delicious food should be my treat to you. I’ll definitely make time to visit.”

“Okay, elder brother.”

Juwon also stood up and said to Minho.

“Let’s have a meal together sometime when you’re free, elder brother.”

“Forget it, punk! I told you I’m not eating with you!”

Juwon chuckled at Minho’s whiny words.

Minho gave a slight bow to Ina as well.

“Then, Ina. I’ll see you next time.”

“You said you’re busy, so why bother seeing her?”

At Juwon’s words that burst out impatiently, Minho glared at him with an annoyed look.

“Yes. Take care on your way back.”

Ina jabbed Juwon’s side and bade farewell to Minho.

Minho shook his head and opened the door to leave.

After Minho left, Juhee also shook her head and looked at Juwon.

“Hey. Really, Lee Juwon… You’re completely meticulous, aren’t you?”

“Stop saying weird things and get up. We should go home too.”

“Okay. Just let me finish this.”

As Juhee drank her tea, Juwon gently took Ina’s hand and looked at her.

As hearts began to crawl out of Juwon’s eyes again, Juhee made a retching sound.

Ina felt embarrassed seeing Juhee like that, but Juwon continued to smile softly at Ina as if he didn’t care.

A moment later, the three people left the coffee shop and headed to Juwon’s house.

Juhee was scheduled to leave on a morning flight tomorrow.

When Juhee said she wanted to spend one more night with Ina before leaving, Ina readily agreed.

“Hey. Lee Juwon. Don’t bother us tonight. I’m going to stay up all night talking with Ina.”

Juhee said as she grabbed the doorknob, just before entering the room with Ina.

“You know Ina has to go to work tomorrow, right? Talk for a bit and then sleep.”

Juhee glared at Juwon with narrowed eyes, then took Ina’s hand and went into the room.

Juhee and Ina fell asleep talking about various things, like where they would go and what they would do next time they met, and when would be a good time for Ina to come to Japan.

The next morning, Juwon’s car stopped in front of Ina’s company, and Ina shared a long hug with Juhee.

“I’ll try to visit Japan before you have your baby.”

“Yeah. Come with Juwon. I’ll introduce you to our Ryuhei. And my mom will be really happy to see you too.”

“Yeah. I’d like to meet your mother once. She was so fond of me.”

“She’ll probably like you even more now? Since you’ll be her daughter-in-law. Hehehe.”

As Juhee wiggled her eyebrows and spoke, Ina’s face turned bright red.

“There you go again, saying weird things in the morning. Ina’s late. She needs to go in quickly.”

At Juwon’s words, Juhee glared at him once before hugging Ina one more time.

“Our cute Ina, stay healthy and keep being lovey-dovey with our Ju. Got it?”

“Yeah. I got it. You take care on your way back and stay healthy too. I’ll call you often.”

“Yeah. Okay. Go on in now.”

Ina smiled, squeezed Juhee’s hand once, and got out of the car.

“Take Juhee back safely and have a good day at work.”

As Ina spoke to Juwon in the driver’s seat, he reached out and stroked her cheek.

“Okay. I’ll call you later.”

Juwon said to Ina with eyes full of affection.

* * *

On the first Friday of November, a light rain fell from the morning.

With November’s arrival, Ina’s work at the company became busier, and Juwon had been working overtime all week.

Apart from a brief meeting on Monday night, they hadn’t seen each other for 3 days when Friday came.

The rain left the streets damp, and an occasional chilly wind blew, heralding winter.

Finishing work about 30 minutes later than usual, Ina left the office with Eun Jeong and Sena and went down to the first floor, chatting.

Just as they opened their umbrellas and were about to exit the main entrance, someone called out to Ina.

It was Juwon.

Wearing black slacks, a black knit top, and a dark gray jacket over it, Juwon walked towards Ina holding an umbrella.

Ina looked at Juwon with surprised eyes.

She had been disappointed, hearing only that he would likely work overtime today, but here he was waiting… When did he arrive?

Ina’s heart fluttered at the sight of Juwon approaching, looking like he stepped out of a fashion magazine.

After not seeing him for 3 days, he looked even more stylish and handsome.

And Sena and Eun Jeong’s hearts were also pounding at the sight of him looking like a prince with an umbrella.

Is it okay for my heart to race like this over someone else’s man…?

Juwon’s walk through the rain seemed to be in slow motion.

Juwon, holding a black umbrella, walked right up to Ina and greeted Sena and Eun Jeong.

“Hello.”

Sena and Eun Jeong returned shy smiles and eye greetings.

Juwon deliberately folded his large umbrella and slipped under Ina’s small one, taking it from her hand.

Sena and Eun Jeong swallowed dryly as they looked at the umbrella height that rose as tall as Juwon.

“Well then, be careful going home in the rain. We’ll be on our way.”

As Juwon smiled gently and gave an eye greeting, Sena and Eun Jeong hurriedly bowed their heads.

“Yes. G-goodbye.”

Ina also said goodbye to the two women in a daze.

“See you on Monday, Sena, Eun Jeong.”

“Yes. Take care going home, Ms. Manager.”

Sena’s face was full of an expression that said she would die of envy.

Juwon put his arm around Ina’s shoulders and turned to leave.

After walking a few steps, Juwon put his hand on Ina’s waist and pulled her in close, embracing her tightly.

Watching that bold skinship from afar, Sena and Eun Jeong writhed in envy without anyone needing to go first.

“Gasp! I’m so envious I’m going crazy! I absolutely can’t go home like this. Eun Jeong, didn’t you say you had no plans earlier? It’s raining, should we go have some makgeolli?”

“Let’s do it! Let’s go! Right now!”

Eun Jeong shouted as if she was going to drink the whole bottle of makgeolli.