“I’m a passing witness.”

Seong Jae, who appeared quietly, smiled gently towards Se Hee.

“I believe the recent situation was a case of self-defense by this lady.”

Seong Jae started by stating his conclusion.

“So, I’ve been watching everything from the beginning until now. This lady was coming out of the mart after shopping, when that molester suddenly rushed in and snatched her bag… and… her waist… I’ll stop here.”

Seong Jae finished speaking, shaking his head as if concerned that the victim, Se Hee, might feel uncomfortable.

“What? Molester?”

As the police nodded at Seong Jae’s words, Hyo Jun lunged forward, foaming at the mouth.

“Now, now, calm down. Did you forcibly touch her body?”

The police officer, whose expression had changed after Seong Jae’s explanation, asked Hyo Jun.

“Well, that…”

Hyo Jun’s face crumpled.

“He suddenly appeared and grabbed your waist?”

This time, the police officer asked Se Hee.

Flustered, Se Hee just nodded.

“On a dark night, when a man suddenly rushes at this lady and grabs her waist, how frightened must she have been? Of course she would swing whatever she could grab.”

Seong Jae added, making it easier for the confused police officers to understand.

“In my opinion, this incident appears to be a case of the lady’s justified self-defense to stop a molester.”

Seong Jae concluded neatly.

“Ah, I see. That must have been very frightening.”

The police officers who had been looking at Se Hee with suspicious eyes suddenly changed to sympathetic gazes towards the victim.

“Yes? Yes… I suppose so.”

Se Hee just nodded along with Seong Jae’s lead.

“What? Self-defense? You call swinging around a club self-defense? Molestation? And I did that because we’re close enough. We’re not strangers, you know.”

Hyo Jun started to rant and rave.

“You grabbed her waist first, didn’t you? And even if you know each other, does that mean you can touch her body as you please?”

Seong Jae delivered a sharp rebuke.

“Ha, really. Who the hell are you? Why are you butting in?”

Hyo Jun yelled at Seong Jae as if telling him to stay out of it.

“I told you, I’m a passing witness. Tsk tsk tsk, you can’t even understand simple words.”

You got hit.

Seong Jae clicked his tongue, swallowing the last words.

“Well then, let’s go to the station to write statements.”

As the police officer tried to wrap up the situation, Seong Jae took out an expensive business card holder from his pocket and handed over a card.

“I am a person of clear identity. I’ll take care of this lady. Please just deal with that molester.”

The police officer who received Seong Jae’s card was startled.

It was a business card with the title of Vice President of Sihan Group, which had recently swept through Yangyang County Office and the city area for business purposes.

“Ah… You came to Yangyang for business recently…”

“Oh my. I’m grateful that you recognize me even though I’m not a celebrity.”

Seong Jae politely greeted him.

“Oh no, not at all. You’re someone who’s working hard for our local development. Then we’ll just… take that man with us.”

The police officer who had just greeted him roughly grabbed Hyo Jun.

“No, why aren’t you listening to me? Molester? Fine. Please, please check the CCTV.”

Hyo Jun struggled, getting agitated.

“Ah, there’s no CCTV around here, making crime prevention difficult, right? We’re planning to install some soon. As a donation for local development.”

Seong Jae bowed politely once again.

“Oh my. Yes, yes. Thank you so much for this.”

The police officers bowed their heads once more and then dragged away the protesting Hyo Jun.

As the police car disappeared from view, Seong Jae approached Se Hee.

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

He looked after Se Hee with utmost care.

“Thank you.”

“I just did what was natural as Se Hee’s knight in shining armor.”

Seong Jae smiled brightly at Se Hee, who gave a faint smile.

Then he started picking up Se Hee’s household items scattered on the street.

“I’ll do it.”

Feeling embarrassed, Se Hee quickly started to gather her things.

“Let’s do it together.”

Seong Jae said kindly as he helped.

“Since when were you watching?”

Se Hee asked casually after all the fallen items were collected.

“Actually, the moment that scoundrel grabbed Se Hee’s waist, I was about to pounce on him.”

Seong Jae stared at Se Hee’s hand.

“But Se Hee’s club was faster. Too bad, but well.”

Seong Jae burst into laughter.

At that moment, Se Hee’s face turned red.

“I-I’m not usually like that. I just got so angry…”

“Of course. When you’re angry, you should express it. Otherwise, you’ll get sick. You did well. At least I didn’t act smart enough to get hit, right?”

Seong Jae asked playfully.

“Mr. Seong Jae.”

Se Hee glared at him coyly.

“Hahaha. I’m just kidding. Just kidding.”

Seong Jae, carrying the bag of items, laughed loudly as he walked ahead.

“Is this the company housing?”

The two had already arrived in front of Se Hee’s company housing.

“Yes. Thank you.”

Se Hee received her belongings.

“Um… Would you hit me if I asked for a drink?”

“Mr. Seong Jae!”

“On a day like today, you could make an exception, right? Don’t you feel sorry for me? I came back even after getting scolded badly. Don’t you feel any sympathy?”

Seong Jae asked, blinking his eyes with a pitiful expression.

“Unnecessary sympathy invites trouble.”

Se Hee carefully showed her clenched fist.

“Ah… a beating?”

Seong Jae pretended to be surprised and made a fuss.

Se Hee haughtily turned her head away from such a Seong Jae.

“I won’t tease you anymore. Just once! Okay? To commemorate our meeting in Yangyang.”

But Seong Jae was determined to hold onto Se Hee today.

After such an incident, Seong Jae, with his good intuition, knew that the soft-hearted Se Hee would find it difficult to refuse.

“…This is really just this once. Today I’m… grateful too.”

After pondering for a moment, Se Hee gave the answer Seong Jae had expected.

The corners of Seong Jae’s mouth turned up towards the sky.

“Of course. I promise. I wish I could keep having reasons to be grateful. Ah… Should I just settle down in Yangyang?”

Seong Jae said, humming a tune.

“Sigh.”

Se Hee shook her head as if he was hopeless.

After putting her things in the company housing room and coming down, Seong Jae greeted her with a bright expression.

“No tree falls at the first stroke, right?”

Seong Jae started again.

“I’m not a tree.”

“Of course. Where could there be such a beautiful tree?”

Excited Seong Jae approached and held out one arm as if asking her to link arms.

“This is not okay.”

Se Hee said firmly, pushing away Seong Jae’s arm.

“You’re not falling. Indeed, the iron wall lady.”

Seong Jae chuckled.

Se Hee and Seong Jae found a small bar nearby.

The bar overlooking the dark night sea wasn’t very crowded.

Seong Jae, sitting across from her, gazed at Se Hee intently.

“I didn’t expect this moment to come so quickly. Is this a dream? Can I pinch Se Hee’s cheek once?”

Seong Jae asked Se Hee with dreamy eyes as if in a trance.

“If you say strange things, I’m going home. If you want to pinch, shouldn’t you pinch your own cheek?”

Se Hee retorted primly.

“You don’t give an inch.”

Seong Jae laughed gently and emptied the glass in front of him.

“That man, is he your ex-boyfriend? The atmosphere seemed that way somehow.”

Seong Jae subtly inquired about Se Hee’s personal life.

Se Hee, finding it difficult to answer, silently raised her soft drink glass.

“He seems to be regretting it belatedly. For not recognizing the jewel?”

“It’s not like that. That person is married now.”

Se Hee finished, seeming uncomfortable with the topic.

“Ah… I see. So he crossed a river of no return. Anyway, I think I should thank that scoundrel.”

Seong Jae grinned.

Se Hee glared at Seong Jae as if telling him to stop teasing.

“Okay. Then last question! On the cruise, that man… what happened?”

At Seong Jae’s slowly asked question, a moment of silence fell.

Se Hee’s face darkened in an instant.

“I see. So that’s how it ended up. Looking at Se Hee’s expression, I don’t think I need to hear the answer. Let’s have a drink.”

Seong Jae spoke as if comforting Se Hee and showed a regretful expression, but in reality, he was too happy.

He felt relieved, as if a huge stone that had been weighing heavily on him suddenly disappeared.

Seong Jae happily emptied the glass in front of him.

“I came down to Yangyang on business. Because my father is so meticulous…”

With a comfortable heart, Seong Jae changed the subject and started talking about himself and Se Hee.

Seeing Se Hee nodding to his words and looking at him with a serious expression, Seong Jae’s face was blooming with a smile.

The small seaside bar was overflowing with Seong Jae’s rosy energy.

However, not far from there, the deep blue eyes that had been quietly watching the two for a long time were sinking coldly.

* * *

After a brief handover, Se Hee was already smoothly carrying out her work alone.

With an adaptability as if she had worked here for over 3 years, she handled the workload of three people without complaint.

As a result, Manager Jung and Section Chief Hong had nothing to do.

“Was this place… originally not needing many people? Right?”

Feeling awkward, Manager Jung passed the embarrassment to Section Chief Hong.

“Wouldn’t the head office know how to allocate personnel properly?”

Understanding Manager Jung’s meaning, Section Chief Hong said, trying to hold back laughter.

“Then what about those bastards who ran away saying they couldn’t handle it? Jeez.”

Manager Jung raised his voice unnecessarily.

Section Chief Hong stared at Manager Jung.

“Hey, Hong. What’s with that look? Are you saying it’s because of me? You little…”

“No, I didn’t say anything, why are you like this, Manager? Perhaps feeling guilty?”

Section Chief Hong looked askance at Manager Jung with a brazen face.

“Guilty conscience? I can look up at the sky without shame… Ahem. Okay. I have exactly two points. Me. Exactly two points. Other than that, I’m really a clean person.”

Manager Jung said, glaring.

“Yes, yes. And unfortunately, I’m included in one of those points.”

“Ahem. That… I’m sorry.”

As if recalling past dark history, Manager Jung lowered his head as if to say no more.

“Since Lee is curious, let’s end that story here. With that apologetic heart fully packed, you’re treating us to Korean beef today, right? Not with the company card, but your personal card.”

Section Chief Hong raised the corners of his mouth.

“Personal card? You little… Alright. You brat. Lee, are you free today?”

Manager Jung, sighing deeply while looking at the smirking Section Chief Hong, asked Se Hee.

“Yes. Since you told me in advance yesterday, I naturally kept it open. Shall we leave now? It’s exactly 6 PM.”

Although curious about the conversation between the two, Se Hee didn’t ask, following Section Chief Hong’s words.

“Oh! With an excellent employee arriving, our quitting time has changed. The quitting time.”

Manager Jung clapped his hands and stood up.

“That’s right. It’s 10 minutes later than your usual quitting time. Did our manager consider Lee’s feelings today?”

Section Chief Hong shook his head mischievously.

“What? You little brat, really? Hey, you rascal. Today, you’re getting pork belly only. You brat.”

Manager Jung shouted loudly.

“No, Manager. How can that be? In a dinner for unity, how can the menu not be in harmony?”

Section Chief Hong was brazenly retorting until the end.

Their bickering showed no signs of ending even until they arrived at the dinner venue.

As it demonstrated how close the relationship between the two was, Se Hee, who was slowly following behind them, felt warm inside.

In fact, since morning, the company messenger had exploded with messages from Sun Ah, full of worry.

The content was about being extremely cautious about the poor environment and Manager Jung’s old-fashioned mindset.

However, Se Hee felt that life in Yangyang might not be so bad.

No, rather it was good.

Because she wouldn’t have to see the uncomfortable Cha Hyo Jun anymore.

Surely there wouldn’t be another incident like yesterday?

Se Hee didn’t actually know what happened after he was taken to the police station with the officers.

As Se Hee walked quietly, the sea with crashing waves came into view.

Thinking about it, it seemed really nice that you could see the sea just by walking a little.

Especially in Yangyang, the sea was really clear and blue.

Blue sea.

The night sea at this late hour was dark.

The color of the dark sea resembled his eyes a lot.

Kyle’s eyes, which were close to black.

Ah, thinking about it, a painfully large sensation was transmitted to her chest again.

Longing, like waves on the night sea, endlessly surged into Se Hee’s heart.

‘Kyle.’