“By any chance, was that jerk not in front of the company?”

Juwon asked, staring straight ahead after the car started moving.

“Huh? Oh. No, he wasn’t there.”

“That’s a relief.”

Ina glanced sideways at Juwon as he answered.

As she looked at Juwon driving leisurely with one hand, his hairstyle caught her eye.

On Friday, his bangs were down, but now it was a neat pomade style brushed up.

Juwon’s side profile with his striking forehead revealed looked truly like a sculpture.

“What are you staring at?”

When Juwon glanced at Ina and asked, flustered Ina quickly turned her head towards the window.

“No, it’s just… I don’t think I’ve seen you with your bangs up before.”

“Is it weird?”

“No? It looks handsome though?”

At the sudden answer that came out of nowhere like a punchline, Juwon burst out laughing.

Embarrassed by her own answer, Ina bit her lip slightly.

“I’m flattered? For you to compliment me every time you see me?”

When there was no response from the still embarrassed Ina, Juwon asked with a laugh.

“Should we go straight to your place?”

“Huh? We need to eat dinner first? I said I’d treat you, remember.”

“Right. What do you want to eat?”

“Huh? I should be the one asking you that? What do you want to eat? I’ll treat you to something expensive today.”

Juwon replied with a chuckle.

“Well, I’m fine with anything really.”

“There’s no such thing as anything. We should eat something delicious if we’re going to eat. Isn’t there anything you want to eat?”

“I don’t know, not really… Let’s just eat what you want.”

“Hmm, I have too many things I want to eat, that’s the problem…”

Juwon glanced at Ina with a laugh.

“Then I’ll head to your neighborhood for now and you can choose there.”

Juwon steered the car towards Kondae Station.

A little later, as the car entered the area near Kondae Station, Ina suggested going to a beef rib restaurant.

“Beef ribs?”

“Yeah. There’s a famous beef rib place in our neighborhood. It’s really delicious.”

“We can eat something simple though.”

“It’s really tasty here. You’ll say it’s delicious too if you try it.”

“Hmm, meat on a Monday?”

“It’s because it’s Monday that we need meat. Turn right at the alley up ahead there.”

Ina said, eyes shining at the thought of beef ribs, and Juwon drove the car in the direction she pointed.

Shortly after, the two arrived at the restaurant, went to the table they were guided to, and sat down.

Ina, who seemed familiar with the place, ordered the beef ribs herself and also got a bottle of soju.

“Alcohol on a Monday?”

When Juwon asked with his arms crossed, Ina nodded.

“It’d be a shame to have meat without alcohol. You have a drink too. I’ll pay for the designated driver.”

At those words, Juwon uncrossed his arms and laughed.

“Ms. Seo Ina must make a lot of money, huh?”

“Hmm.”

Ina pretended to be lost in thought for a moment, then soon replied.

“Well, I make enough to treat you to beef and pay for a designated driver.”

“Oh really? That’s impressive.”

Juwon laughed as if Ina’s confident words were cute.

A little later, a middle-aged woman employee in a uniform came pulling a cart.

The table was filled with fresh side dishes like salad, japchae, crab soy sauce, and seasoned vegetables.

And when the much-anticipated beef ribs were placed on the grill, Ina poured soju using its crimson color as a side dish.

Ina poured a glass for Juwon too and raised her glass, saying they should toast.

Juwon gladly toasted with a chuckle.

“Ah!”

Ina emptied her glass in one go right after the toast and put it down with a refreshing sound.

Juwon looked at Ina in amusement.

“What are you, some middle-aged man who just came back from hard labor?”

At those words, Ina smiled embarrassedly and ate a mouthful of the japchae in front of her.

“Juwon. The japchae is delicious. You should try some too.”

Ina brought the plate of japchae right in front of Juwon.

Juwon picked up his chopsticks to try it and nodded approvingly.

Then, the woman employee who was grilling the meat and had been intently watching the two spoke, alternating glances between them.

“But wow, how did two such good-looking and pretty people end up together?”

At the woman’s words, there was a momentary silence at the table.

Juwon was expressionless, but Ina couldn’t hide her embarrassed look.

“Hahaha. Do we… look like a couple?”

Ina asked the woman with an extremely awkward smile.

“What? Oh my. You’re not a couple?”

The woman asked back, startled.

“Hahaha.”

Ina glanced at Juwon with a robotic smile, and Juwon poured soju into his and Ina’s glasses with an indifferent expression.

“No. We’re not a couple, just friends. Haha.”

Ina answered, scratching her head.

“Oh my. I misunderstood then. I feel so sorry, what should I do?”

“No, it’s okay. You don’t need to feel sorry. Hahaha.”

Juwon suppressed a laugh that was about to come out at the continuous robotic laughter coming from Ina’s mouth.

“Oh dear. I just thought you two looked so good together that I was sure you were a couple. I’m really sorry.”

“No, it’s alright. It’s understandable to misunderstand.”

Juwon held back his laughter and handed a glass to Ina.

“Ms. Seo Ina, stop laughing and have another glass of soju.”

“I should? Hahaha.”

Ina hurriedly drank the soju and Juwon brought his glass to his mouth as well.

“It’s all cooked now, so you can eat. Enjoy your meal.”

After the woman employee left, Ina glanced at Juwon and said.

“I guess when a young man and woman are together, people see them as a couple.”

“Well, I suppose that can happen.”

“Still, it was a bit embarrassing. Right?”

Ina said that and picked up a perfectly cooked piece of beef rib, starting to make a top-notch wrap.

Instead of answering, Juwon stared at the quite large wrap Ina was making.

“Can you fit that big thing in your mouth?”

“This? It’s not for me though? I’m making it for you?”

“For me?”

“Yeah. You made time in your busy schedule to drive me home from work, so I should at least make you a wrap.”

Ina finished making the top-notch wrap expertly and held it out to Juwon nicely wrapped.

Juwon silently stared at the wrap for a moment, then reached out his hand.

“Okay. Thanks. I’ll enjoy it.”

Juwon took the wrap, put it right in his mouth, and slowly savored the taste.

Then he soon nodded.

“Mmm. It’s delicious.”

“Right? It’s good, isn’t it?”

Juwon, who nodded, picked up a lettuce leaf as if to return the favor.

Then he dipped a piece of meat lightly in the sauce and placed it on top of the lettuce.

Ina, who had been intently watching, crossed her arms and asked.

“Are you by any chance making that for me?”

“Yeah.”

Seeing that the size was barely half of the top-notch wrap she made, Ina added.

“Then add one more piece of meat for me and more onions too.”

Just as he was putting onions on top, Juwon looked up at Ina.

“One more?”

“Yeah. A big piece if possible.”

Juwon chuckled and picked up the biggest piece of meat.

Then he rolled the wrap nicely and held it out to Ina.

“Thanks.”

Ina smiled brightly and took the wrap.

As the wrap with two big pieces of meat went into her mouth, Ina’s small cheeks puffed up.

Watching her chewing the wrap with her small mouth, she looked just like a chipmunk.

That sight of her, looking like she stuffed her cheeks full of acorns, finally made Juwon burst out laughing.

“Why are you laughing?”

Ina tilted her head and asked.

“Huh? It’s nothing. Hurry up and eat.”

Juwon laughed and placed a piece of meat on the plate in front of Ina.

2 hours later.

The two, who had enjoyed their meal, got up from their seats and Ina settled the bill.

“That was a good meal. I ate too well on a Monday thanks to you.”

“No, it’s nothing much. As long as you enjoyed it, that’s all that matters.”

Ina replied with a big smile.

“But you eat really well, more than I expected.”

“Of course. I told you my favorite thing is eating delicious food.”

“Hmm.”

Juwon crossed his arms and stared at Ina as if observing her.

“But aren’t you too skinny for how much you eat?”

At Juwon’s words, Ina blinked and looked up at him.

“Why?”

When Juwon asked, Ina raised her heels and told him to lend her his ear for a second.

Juwon bent down and brought his ear close to Ina’s mouth, and she whispered softly.

“Women’s bodies aren’t all that meets the eye. There are bits of fat secretly accumulated here and there that men don’t know about…”

At that revelation, divulged carefully as if sharing a national secret, Juwon turned his head and looked at Ina.

Ina was looking up at Juwon’s face with the most serious expression, her dark brown eyes sparkling.

As laughter threatened to spill out again, Juwon covered his mouth with his hand and nodded.

“I see. There are bits of fat secretly accumulated here and there that men don’t know about.”

When Juwon spoke with a serious expression, Ina also nodded solemnly.

“Yeah. So what you see isn’t everything.”

Juwon nodded again and laughter burst out.

Quickly covering his mouth, Juwon turned his head to the side and rapidly released his laughter.

Then he promptly recomposed himself and asked Ina.

“Shall we head home now? It’s Monday, so go in and sleep early.”

“Okay. Let’s do that. You should also go rest soon.”

A little later, the designated driver Juwon called arrived and the two got in the car.

* * *

Some time later, Juwon’s car entered the area where Ina’s villa was located.

Ina, who had been silently looking ahead, suddenly frowned.

It was because she saw Jeonghun’s car parked in front of the villa.

“Has he really gone crazy…”

Hearing Ina’s words, Juwon was about to ask why when Jeonghun opened the car door and came out.

Upon spotting Jeonghun, Juwon’s expression instantly turned cold.

Ina was unbuckling her seatbelt to open the door when Juwon reached out and grabbed her hand.

“Wait a moment.”

Then Juwon paid the designated driver extra, saying he would get off here.

After the driver left, Juwon got out of the car first and opened the door on Ina’s side.

“Huh? Oh. Thanks.”

As Ina got out of the car in a daze, Jeonghun walked over with a blazing, angry look in his eyes.

Walking right up to them, Jeonghun glared at the two with a red and blue face.

“Hey! Seo Ina! How can you say you don’t know this jerk after all this? You called him that day too, didn’t you? Huh?”

At that brazen voice, Juwon stepped right in front of Jeonghun.

“Both that day and today, you need to learn to watch your mouth.”

At Juwon’s low growl as he looked down on him, Jeonghun glared fiercely.

“What? What did you say?”

As Jeonghun acted like he would throw a punch any moment, Ina quickly stepped in front of Juwon.

Jeonghun then glowered at Ina with a murderous expression.

“Hey! What are you doing now? What, now that you got caught cheating, you’re just going to be blatant about it? Hey! You’ve been two-timing all along, haven’t you? Tell me! Since when have you been hooking up with this jerk? Huh?”

At Jeonghun’s vicious snarling, the moment Juwon reached out his hand, Ina suddenly raised her hand and slapped Jeonghun’s cheek.

Jeonghun’s head whipped to the side and Juwon looked at Ina with surprised eyes.

Jeonghun touched his left cheek with a dazed expression and stared at Ina.

“Did you just… hit me?”

Jeonghun asked with bloodshot eyes.

“Yes! I hit you! I couldn’t stand the vulgar words coming out of that filthy mouth of yours so I hit you! What are you going to do about it?”

Ina yelled in a voice filled with rage.

Jeonghun trembled his lips with an incredulous look.