Venice, the city of water, consisting of 118 small islands located in the northeastern part of Italy, in the Veneto region.

In St. Mark’s Square, known as the center of Venice, there is Caffè Florian, always bustling with tourists.

Befitting a cafe that Casanova first visited after successfully escaping from the Prigioni Nuove prison where he was imprisoned for public indecency, both inside and outside the cafe were filled with tourists from all over the world.

Si Heon sat at a table placed near the shabby outer wall of Caffè Florian, leaning his back against the wall.

Perhaps because of his long legs and broad shoulders, tourists passing by would turn to look at him at least once.

His solid physique and thick neckline, clearly visible over the classic dark gray jacket, first caught the eye. Naturally, the gaze moved to his dark eyebrows and distinct eyes, then to his straight nose and firmly closed red lips.

Some people even slowed their steps and exclaimed in admiration at his skin texture, which shone elegantly as it absorbed the low-setting sun.

Just by sitting in the cafe and drinking coffee, he constantly drew attention.

As it was something he had consistently experienced in Korea as well, Si Heon picked up his phone while taking a sip of cappuccino with a strong cinnamon aroma.

− If there had been even one useful talent, would they have just stood by and watched as their company was taken over by another?

− With their rotten minds and complacent attitudes, they let their company be sold for such a low price to another company. Keeping such people on won’t change anything. It’s better to clean house now and hire capable new employees.

It was a video he had received from his junior college friend, Jang Woo.

In the video, Si Heon was twirling an on-the-rocks glass filled with an amber liquid while talking on the phone with his father, Cha Hyun Seob, the chairman of Chahan Life Group.

Even though he had already seen it several times, fine wrinkles formed between his straight brows as if displeased.

This video, secretly filmed by someone, was neatly edited and spread rapidly.

[Cha Si Heon, son of Chahan Life Group chairman. Just when we thought he’d show results after becoming managing director of Chahan Media, a controversy over harsh words erupts.] [Chahan Media, taking its first step into the OTT field, is it falling at the starting line?] [Mass layoffs after the merger with Danbi Media. The real reason turns out to be ‘incompetent employees’]

Si Heon, who had tried to extend into the OTT business by acquiring Danbi Media, became embroiled in a controversy over harsh words and eventually had to step down from his position as managing director.

[Go somewhere and cool your head for a while. Then from next week, start working as the representative of H Telecom’s customer service center. Once things calm down, I’ll bring you back to Chahan Media.]

At his father’s words, which sounded more like an order, Si Heon immediately headed to Venice.

‘To be demoted for refusing to make an official apology demanded by the fired employees…’

He thought this appointment, which seemed like a demotion to him, must surely be a scheme of his mother, Kang Yu Kyung.

Si Heon had never once apologized to anyone since he was young.

Yu Kyung had always been displeased with this point.

Growing up on the lap of his grandfather, who was the first chairman of the Chahan Group, he didn’t know how to apologize, and she had always been distrustful of this when such an incident occurred.

The anger of employees claiming unfairness in the reasons for dismissal did not easily subside, and they demanded an official apology from Si Heon.

Si Heon flatly refused, saying it was incomprehensible. No matter how he thought about it, what he had said wasn’t wrong.

They were incompetent and eventually lost the company.

The tactic of stirring up public opinion by attaching labels like harsh words and power abuse to his statements was also despicable.

In the face of Si Heon’s stubborn attitude of refusing to apologize, Chairman Cha finally decided to pay appropriate compensation. Along with this, he decided to appease the angry employees by removing Si Heon from his position as managing director.

The fact that he had to step down from his position as managing director just for not agreeing to a public apology was infuriating enough, but his mother Kang Yu Kyung came up with an even more absurd proposal.

It was to place him in the position of representative of H Telecom’s customer service center, a subsidiary of H Telecom which Yu Kyung operated.

Si Heon closed his eyes tightly and let out a low sigh.

The sound of bells ringing from the bell tower of St. Mark’s Basilica in the distance penetrates his ears. The mysterious resonance, both solemn and refreshing, feels like it’s calmly organizing his thoughts.

Following the shadow of the increasingly tilting sun, a rather chilly wind brushed through his black hair.

As he organized his thoughts while listening to the bell sound, he slowly rose to his feet.

Nothing will change no matter how much he worries and broods.

In any case, he had no intention of complying with their demands, so he decided to change his mindset.

Let’s enjoy it.

Well, let’s see who wins in the end.

He took a deep breath while slightly gritting his teeth inside his mouth and then releasing.

Thinking that he should return to the hotel and drink some wine before the sun sets further, he moved his feet.

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In Venice in November, after daylight saving time had ended, it was only 4:30 PM, but the sun was gradually setting.

So Yi was slowly heading towards the Rialto Bridge to enjoy the sunset view from there.

On both sides of the Rialto Bridge, connected by elegant arched porticos, stone shops and stalls are lined up.

On the outer side of the stalls on both sides, there is a narrow path that allows a panoramic view of the Grand Canal that cuts through Venice.

So Yi took a position in the very middle of the bridge on the outer side of the stalls, along the marble railing. Standing among the tourists lined up along the railing, she took in the panoramic view of Venice to her heart’s content.

Venice, the final destination of her Italian trip, encompassed the grandeur of Rome, the calmness of Pisa, and the elegance of Florence.

“Indeed, I’m glad I came after all.”

She muttered to herself, letting out a low sigh.

Her boyfriend, who was supposed to come together, had brazenly turned his back on her just ten days before the trip, saying he had fallen for another woman.

‘She has a petite and cute charm, but the girl completely lacks sex appeal. She should at least flirt a bit first and have that clingy appeal.’

On the way back after saying her final goodbyes to him, she suddenly remembered the tie pin she had bought as his birthday gift.

Still wanting to give him the gift before parting ways, she immediately followed Young Hyun out, only to overhear his voice talking to someone on the phone.

‘I just broke up with her. Can you believe it? Even when I told her about another woman, her expression didn’t change at all, she just nodded. No wonder I lost interest in dating her.’

Having confirmed that So Yi had left the first-floor cafe, he was standing in front of the elevator to go to the underground parking lot, talking to someone on the phone.

She couldn’t refute. She couldn’t even ask what he was talking about.

It was a reason for breakup she had heard several times before.

‘I feel like I’m the only one who likes you and it’s becoming too hard.’

‘Let’s break up. I’m not having fun dating you anymore.’

The men she had dated a few times since becoming an adult all cited her lack of response as the reason they grew tired and ended things.

It was the same this time too. It was a relationship that had been visibly nearing its end.

Conversations decreased while excuses about being busy increased.

The cooled gaze and indifferent voice had been foretelling the breakup for a while.

Maybe that’s why.

She was rather calm when he said he had fallen for another woman.

Rather, at that point when the year-long relationship finally came to an end, another worry outweighed her sadness.

‘What should I do about the Italy trip we were supposed to go on together…’

After Young Hyun disappeared into the elevator, So Yi threw the tie pin she had been holding into the trash can.

Even at that moment, the worry about whether to go on the trip or not took precedence in So Yi’s mind.

After a brief deliberation, So Yi chose to go alone, using the cancellation fee as an excuse.

Fortunately, the trip was quite satisfactory.

The weather was just right and her mood was good too. It wasn’t as sad or difficult as she had expected, rather she felt unburdened.

‘She has a petite and cute charm, but the girl completely lacks sex appeal. She should at least flirt a bit first and have that clingy appeal.’

However, those words of Young Hyun talking to someone on the phone kept echoing in her mind throughout the trip.

‘Sex appeal… What on earth is that…’

The memory of his voice that day once again cast a dark shadow over her mood that had brightened considerably.

So Yi quickly shook her head and let out a big sigh.

‘Let’s shake it all off. That’s why I came on this trip alone anyway.’

Emptying her mind that had quickly become cluttered, she again cast her gaze towards the sunset.

The unfamiliar air and unfamiliar scenery pushed away her distracting thoughts faster than expected.

Is this why people travel when they’re having a hard time or feeling depressed?

So Yi leaned on the railing, looking at the canal, and let out a bitter smirk.

“The sun is already setting… It’s beautiful.”

So Yi muttered as she watched the sunset gradually darkening.

The Venice sunset unfolding before her eyes completely erased the lingering unease about her breakup with Young Hyun.

The red sunset is burning down over the canal, beautifully shining as if golden powder has been sprinkled.

As gondolas and water taxis pass under the bridge incessantly, leaving behind the quietly setting sun, people on the bridge wave their hands without exception.

The gondoliers, singing canzone with their beautiful voices while rowing, smile brightly whenever their eyes meet.

It was a romantic scene like a movie.

As she stood watching the sunset for a long time, shops on both sides of the canal, which had darkened along with the fading evening glow, began to light up one by one.

“Wow…”

An exclamation came out involuntarily.

The lights of Venice, rising one by one over the darkening water, were too overwhelming to fully take in.

Wanting to see a little more, she climbed onto the railing and slowly looked around. It was then.

“Well, I still think what I said wasn’t wrong at all.”

She turned her head at the voice of the man standing next to her.