“Let’s go eat.”

As lunchtime arrived, Hye Na poked So Yi’s side as if she had been waiting.

“Jin So Yi, let’s go out to eat today.”

“Why? Is the cafeteria menu not good today?”

“Course A is grilled fish with rice, Course B is pasta. Even carbonara.”

Hye Na, who said she drank late last night, made an “ugh” expression. Neither Course A nor B was suitable for soothing her upset stomach.

“Okay, let’s go out to eat.”

“Let’s go to Onggi Village. I’m craving kimchi stew.”

Hye Na quickly replied.

“Ah, I was actually going to go out during lunch anyway. Baek Do Hun said he’d come by the company briefly.”

“Baek Do Hun? Your former classmate?”

“Yeah. I told him I bought a gift from Italy, so he said he’d come to receive it.”

“Oh, really?”

So Yi grabbed the paper bag containing the gift and got up from her seat.

“Hye Na, go ahead and order first. I’ll just give him the gift and come right away.”

After going down to the lobby, So Yi sent Hye Na to the restaurant first and went out the main entrance.

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“Jin So Yi!”

Do Hun, who had arrived early and was waiting, waved his hand. So Yi’s voluminous hair fluttered in the breeze as she walked towards Do Hun. So Yi gathered her hair with one hand and swept it behind her neck as she approached Do Hun.

“I said I’d give it to you later when we meet, why did you come all the way to the company? It’s not even anything special.”

“How is this not special? You said you bought it in Pisa. It’s even made by a famous leather craftsman. This is made in Italy, you know.”

Do Hun received the paper bag So Yi handed him and took out the gift.

The leather keychain had Do Hun’s name engraved in cursive English. Do Hun excitedly put the keychain in his pocket first.

“But seriously, what’s going on with you? How did you end up dating Cha Si Heon?”

“Well… Is there a special reason for dating? I’m seeing him because I like him.”

“So Yi, you really…”

“Ah, I don’t know. Hurry and go. If you keep your car parked there, it’ll get caught on camera.”

Sensing a lecture was about to come, So Yi quickly pushed him away.

“Let’s really have a serious talk soon.”

“Okay, I got it. I got it, so hurry and go.”

As she pushed him to where the car was parked, Do Hun had no choice but to turn around. So Yi raised her hand to wave goodbye once more before heading to the restaurant.

Si Heon, who had been watching from afar, slowly turned and got into his car. His expression had turned cold.

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“Sir?”

Jang Woo, who was driving, called out to Si Heon while looking in the rearview mirror.

“Elder brother?”

When Si Heon gave no response, still staring out the window, Jang Woo called him again.

Only then did Si Heon slowly turn his head.

“We’ve arrived.”

Lost in thought for a moment, they had already arrived at the parking lot of the restaurant where he was supposed to have a meal with Yu Kyung. Si Heon got out of the car and started walking.

With each step, the image of So Yi meeting her friend in front of the company earlier flashed through his mind.

When she gathered her hair fluttering in the breeze and swept it behind her neck, it reminded him of her closing her eyes and feeling the wind on the Rialto Bridge. Si Heon frowned in annoyance.

‘What did she give him?’

So Yi handed the paper bag to the man. The man seemed to thank her with a bright smile. What kind of relationship do they have?

As Si Heon reached the elevator, he furrowed his brows slightly. Regardless, why does he keep thinking about something that has nothing to do with him? Si Heon let out a short, low breath and opened the door to the reserved room.

“You’re here?”

As he entered the room, Yu Kyung looked up.

“Why did you suddenly want to have lunch together?”

“Is it strange for a mother to want to have a meal with her son?”

“It’s not like you usually do this.”

“You’ve been busy, and I’ve been busy too.”

Si Heon took off his jacket, hung it up, and sat across from Yu Kyung.

“The bulgogi here is good. It’s not too salty either.”

“You didn’t call me here because the bulgogi is delicious.”

I wonder who he takes after to be so perceptive. Yu Kyung picked up her water glass, trying not to reveal her unease.

“Daehan Electronics, Mrs. Lee contacted me.”

As expected, Si Heon frowned at the mention of Ri Na’s mother contacting Yu Kyung.

“It seems she was quite displeased. There were already talks of marriage, and then suddenly your dating news came out.”

“It was a marriage arrangement without my consent.”

“Still, the elders had already discussed the marriage. They’re saying it would have been better if you had at least given them a heads up.”

“A heads up?”

Si Heon laughed mockingly.

“What, should I have reported in advance that I’m going to date?”

Yu Kyung’s head throbbed at Si Heon’s unrestrained words.

“So, do you really intend to marry that girl?”

“Who knows.”

Si Heon answered with a relaxed expression. Yu Kyung felt her insides burning up. She had thought it was clearly an act of rebellion. She thought he was just pretending to date anyone out of defiance.

But from the moment she ran into them at the hotel, she felt something was wrong. Suspicious, she called Jang Woo and asked, and he said they were genuinely dating.

Cha Si Heon must have told him to say that. Unable to believe it, she had someone follow them this time. Only after seeing the photos of her son kissing in front of his house last night did Yu Kyung come to her senses.

It wasn’t just a casual relationship. It was by no means something to be taken lightly. Some action was necessary.

“Am I a bit late?”

Just then, Ri Na entered the room, guided by an employee. Si Heon’s eyebrows furrowed fiercely.

“Ri Na happened to contact me saying she was near the company.”

“It’s been a while, Si Heon oppa.”

Feeling the need to stop Si Heon before the relationship deepened further, Yu Kyung had arranged this meeting.

“I thought we could have a meal together after so long.”

Despite Si Heon’s deeply furrowed brow, Ri Na remained composed. She casually took off her coat, handed it to the employee, and sat down next to Si Heon.

“Oppa, I hear you’re dating these days?”

Ri Na smiled coyly. Was she smiling or glaring? Even that seemed laughable to Si Heon, and he snorted.

She probably thought he wouldn’t be able to do anything in front of Yeon Ri Na. Si Heon felt the urge to utterly shatter his mother’s expectations.

“Ri Na.”

“Yes, oppa.”

“My mother says…”

Si Heon slowly stood up, placing both hands on the table.

“The bulgogi here is delicious.”

Yu Kyung’s eyes narrowed. As Ri Na, who had been looking up at Si Heon with a puzzled expression, turned her head towards Yu Kyung, Si Heon picked up his jacket.

“Well then, you two must have a lot to catch up on after so long. Enjoy your time.”

Si Heon opened the door of the room after giving a polite greeting. The strong scent of perfume Ri Na had been wearing wafted in unpleasantly.

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After leaving the restaurant, Si Heon immediately called Jang Woo. Jang Woo, who happened to still be nearby, came right away to pick up Si Heon.

“Elder brother, what about your meal?”

Jang Woo, who was about to have lunch himself, asked curiously why Si Heon had already left the restaurant. Si Heon silently glared at the innocent window.

No matter how he thought about it, he couldn’t understand. What on earth was she trying to accomplish by inviting Yeon Ri Na to the meal? Did she think he would feel sorry or uncomfortable?

And why does Yeon Ri Na come running when called? Even though she clearly knows he’s been avoiding her, what is Yeon Ri Na thinking?

Si Heon’s forehead creased deeply.

If you want to return to Chahan Media, choose Yeon Ri Na.

After doing some investigation on her own, she realized that his relationship with Jin So Yi was no joke. And this is the best method she could come up with to somehow separate him from Jin So Yi?

Yu Kyung’s move was too shallow and obvious.

“Jang Woo.”

Si Heon opened his mouth while keeping his gaze fixed outside the window.

“Let’s go get something to eat.”

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The main conference room at H Telecom headquarters was bustling with preparations for the regular meeting.

Yu Kyung, the president and CEO of H Telecom, as well as H Telecom executives and affiliate representatives, were entering the conference room one by one to participate in the meeting.

Just as Si Heon, who arrived a bit late, was entering the conference room, Executive Director Kim, whom he met at the entrance, approached Si Heon with a bright smile.

“Oh my, Director Cha. Nice to see you. How is it, is the work manageable?”

“Nice to see you too, Executive Director Kim. The work is manageable, but there are quite a few areas in the overall work system and organizational structure that need improvement. I plan to make some adjustments here and there while I’m here.”

“Is that so? As expected, Director Cha is different. The previous Director Park was quite incompetent. I thought he might cause an accident someday, and sure enough, there was a personal information leak. In this day and age, can you believe it? Right?”

“That’s right. I plan to pay more attention and check on that aspect as well.”

“Good. Let’s go in, the meeting will start soon.”

Si Heon bowed politely once more before entering the conference room.

Yu Kyung, seated in the center, was wearing horn-rimmed glasses and looking at some documents. In reality, she was just pretending to look at the documents to avoid making eye contact with Si Heon.

As Si Heon indifferently turned his head, his gaze fell on Si Yeon sitting next to her.

Si Yeon was looking at him with her eyes scrunched up, as if something displeased her.

Si Heon responded to Si Yeon’s gaze with a dry look and took his seat.

Shortly after, the meeting began.

The meeting started with a proposal from H Telecom’s Internet Business Division to manufacture set-top boxes using eco-friendly materials. The meeting lasted about 2 hours, and they decided to take a 10-minute break.

“Director Cha. Is it true?”

Executive Director Choi, who was sitting next to Si Heon, quietly asked.

“What is?”

“Is it true that you’re really dating that woman? These days, everyone’s talking about Director Cha.”