As Malhee told her to stay seated, Hyunji remained still and didn’t move. She was quite different from Soeun, who stubbornly tried to get up and help with cleaning a few times.

‘What if our Huiuk gets married and lives with someone?’

Sometimes, her fleeting expression seemed a bit mischievous, making Malhee worry, but it wasn’t comparable to Soeun. Malhee, taking advantage of Huiuk doing the dishes, cautiously asked.

“I actually didn’t hear properly from our Huiuk. Are your parents really overseas?”

“Yes. Both of them are in Dubai. My father does business dealing with the UAE Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology in Dubai, and my mother is a homemaker.”

“I see. By any chance, what’s the name of the company?”

“It’s called Khasun Artificial Intelligence Industrial Technology. You might not be familiar even if I tell you. Oh! Would you like to see the website?”
Malhee’s eyes glazed over at Hyunji’s natural English pronunciation. With a difficult-to-explain expression, Hyunji thought for a moment and then took out her phone, searching for something and showing a website. It was a building with a sign in curly letters.

“This is my dad’s company.”

“This is your father’s building?”

“The photo is a bit enlarged, but it’s not that big in reality. Dubai is an enormous city. My dad’s company is on the smaller side.”

Malhee swallowed the saliva that had gathered in her mouth. She had lived with a bent back, supporting her son’s studies, and even after making her son a lawyer, life didn’t become much easier. Now, it felt like she was finally receiving the reward.

If our son’s fortune flourishes, our household will too. My fortune will flourish too!

With a greedy smile, Malhee held Hyunji’s hand.

“Oh, our Huiuk is just an ordinary son from an ordinary family. Huiuk brought home a princess from an extraordinary family.”

“Huiuk Oppa is a real prince too, Mother.”

How could she say things so beautifully? Unlike Soeun, Hyunji didn’t have a single unfavorable aspect.

Reading Malhee’s desire to marry Huiuk as soon as possible, Hyunji revealed her future plans.

“My parents will be temporarily returning in a week due to work. It would be nice if we could all meet then. If Mother’s health is okay.”

“Oh, I’m fine. Anytime is fine!”

Seeing her mother blossom like a fully bloomed flower, Huiuk also smiled proudly.

On Monday, a nationwide heatwave warning was issued.

Song Munkyung, the head of the department, greeted Taehoon when he arrived at work.

“Director, have you come out?”

“Yes. Did you have a good weekend?”

“It was good except for the heat. Did Director have a peaceful weekend too?”

“Yes.”

Although they exchanged friendly words, in Taehoon’s perspective, it was a lifeless greeting.

Since Han Soeun visited, the essence of the house had been damaged. A home that should be peaceful and comfortable had become a messy and uncomfortable space.

The bedroom was especially problematic. After dropping off Soeun at home, Taehoon went straight to the bedroom and lay on the bed, but he couldn’t sleep at all. It seemed that traces of Soeun were left on the bed, in the blanket, and on the pillow. The fragrant scent that Han Soeun carried seemed to linger everywhere. He couldn’t close his eyes or open them.

Eventually, on Saturday, Taehoon had to stay in a hotel despite having a perfectly fine home. During his hotel stay, he asked a cleaning assistant to change the bed sheets, blankets, and pillowcases. Only after confirming that the bedroom was completely organized the next day could Taehoon return home.

However, that was not the only problem. Changing something didn’t alter the meaning of the space. In the floating air, it felt like Han Soeun had swallowed and exhaled her breath continuously. Perhaps she had really stolen Taehoon’s sleep. It turned out to be a more persistent issue than he had thought.
In the end, Taejun faced Monday again, exhausted and unable to shake off the fatigue from another sleepless night.

As Taejun exchanged brief greetings and tried to enter his office, Moonkyung hurriedly approached, holding out a document.

“Assistant Manager Han Soeun came and left this morning.”

The document Moonkyung handed over contained information about the recruitment of TF Team members. Saturday morning, during a brief conversation over a meal with Soeun, she had managed to write a recommendation for additional personnel for the TF Team. One was Soeun’s colleague, Staff Park Bobae, and the other was an employee unfamiliar to Taejun.

Mobile Service Team Manager Jang Eunpyo. Male.

Even though he might have glanced at his face while passing by, Taejun couldn’t remember a man named Eunpyo Jang.

Soeun’s written explanation about why she recommended the two wasn’t particularly different. In a brief note stating that she recommended them as enthusiastic volunteers, Taejun felt somewhat uncomfortable for some reason.

Perhaps due to the excessive heat, there weren’t many visitors to the center. Even with the air conditioning running continuously as per regulations, it was a tiring day.

“Director Kim Taejun bought ice cream!”

Around 3 PM, members of the support team shouted as they treated employees to ice cream. Thanks to this, the center quickly turned into a party atmosphere. Even the customers who visited the center unexpectedly received unexpected gifts.

“Wow, this ice cream is my favorite! Isn’t Director Kim Taejun really great?”

Bobae said to Soeun while handing her ice cream. Soeun smiled without saying a word. It was also her favorite ice cream. Since she had never talked to Taejun about it, it couldn’t be because of her that this happened. Nevertheless, Soeun kept thinking of herself as somehow special. It was an issue of the heart.

Kim Taejun was a good leader and a courteous person to everyone. She shouldn’t think of him as anything special. He was as distant as the distance between the first and seventh floors, between a one-room villa on the third floor and a luxurious apartment on the 30th floor.

“Chief?”

Bobae called Soeun, who seemed lost in thought.

“Why are you thinking so hard?”

“No, it’s just too hot.”

“Yeah, it’s really hot today. That’s probably why the ice cream tastes even better. Our Director is the best.”

Bobae seemed to fall in love with the director because of one ice cream.

“Chief, when you work on the TF Team on the seventh floor, do you also talk to Director Kim?”

Bobae asked Soeun with eyes full of curiosity.

“Well… just work-related conversations.”

Dodging Bobae’s question, Soeun answered briefly, feeling that it might not be appropriate to talk about their connection.

“You don’t talk about personal matters?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, Director must be very busy. If it’s not work-related, there won’t be any other contact.”

Quickly agreeing with Bobae, Soeun once again pondered how distant Taejun was.

Right. Like the ice cream on this hot day, I developed a liking for the man who showed kindness when my heart was desolate.

But I shouldn’t misunderstand. He’s just a kind and generous director to all employees.