[Haven’t you gone home yet?]

It was Do Hun. So Yi picked up her phone and immediately called Do Hun.

“I’m home. I just got back a little while ago.”

– Really? Should we meet for a bit? I’ll come to your place.

When So Yi didn’t have a boyfriend, Do Hun would often come to her place with coffee.

But this was the first time he said he’d come over knowing she was dating someone.

“No, I’m tired.”

– Okay. Let’s meet another time then.

Do Hun’s voice was filled with disappointment.

– But So Yi.

Just as she was about to hang up, Do Hun called out to her.

– That person you’re seeing…, can’t you stop seeing them?

“Huh?”

– It frustrates me to watch. I can clearly see you’re going to get hurt.

You think I can’t see that…? But what can I do, it’s the path I chose.

Later, if I’m struggling, comfort me then, Do Hun.

As So Yi was muttering to herself and not responding, Do Hun continued speaking.

– I’ve never said anything like this before no matter who you dated. But this time it’s really not right. So…

“Do Hun.”

So Yi cut off Do Hun’s words with a deep sigh.

“I know what you mean. Thank you. But I’ll handle it myself. Don’t worry.”

She forced a smile, but somewhere in her heart still ached heavily.

So Yi ended the call, mumbling something about being busy dating for a while and asking for understanding.

[This is the timeline separator]

Along the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Seoul’s skyline, over a dozen treadmills are lined up side by side.

Si Heon had been maintaining the same speed for nearly an hour. The treadmill belt made a rough noise as it rolled rapidly.

With his eyes intensely focused as he continued running, a faint vibration sounded from the watch on Si Heon’s wrist.

Beep beep.

He finally pressed the Stop button as he answered the incoming call from Ji Wook.

“Yeah, speak.”

Si Heon took a deep breath, calming his heavily panting breaths.

– I called to see if you got back okay. But were you seriously working out?

Instead of answering, Si Heon wiped his sweat with a towel and took a sip of water.

– You’ll die if you work out like that after drinking.

“It was just a glass or two of wine. I won’t die.”

– Anyway, was that Jin So Yi you met?

“How do you know that?”

Si Heon asked back, wondering how he knew he had met Jin So Yi when he had only said to go ahead first.

– I was waiting for you on the first floor, but you said to go ahead. While waiting for the designated driver, I overheard someone talking as they came out.

“What did they say?”

– They said some woman had come with Jin So Yi, but her boyfriend came and took her away.

“Woman?”

Si Heon slightly furrowed his brow. A woman? She was clearly with a man.

– Apparently, they ran into Jin So Yi’s old classmate at the restaurant by chance and were together, but things got awkward after Jin So Yi left. So they said they left right after.

The back of his head throbbed.

He had naturally assumed she was drinking with a man she had plans with.

– You said we’d go out together tomorrow, right? I might be a bit late tomorrow because of filming. I’ll see you then.

As he hung up the phone, Si Heon turned his gaze back to the window.

Over the night view of the city shrouded in darkness, the image of So Yi blushing with embarrassment floated up.

“Ah, how annoying.”

Something seemed wrong with his head. The tangled thoughts kept blurring his vision. Trying to regain his hazy focus, Si Heon headed to his room.

In fact, his mind had been a mess throughout his workout.

From her handing over the gift in front of the company to sitting close and attaching the keychain to the man’s car key, it had been replaying endlessly for hours.

This irritating feeling that seeped in during that brief moment just wouldn’t subside.

It was the same when he caught a glimpse of the message So Yi sent to Do Hun on her phone screen on the way home.

[I’m almost home.] [Okay, I’ll call you later.] [Alright, I’ll call when I get home.]

Both her reporting that she was entering home and saying she’d call later bothered him.

Even though it was fake dating that he had proposed, he felt uneasy thinking she was taking it too lightly.

Thinking he should talk to her once more after sending Jang Woo away briefly when they arrived at her place, he turned his gaze and his eyes fell on So Yi.

Those eyes that shone clearly even in the dark. The deep, fine black that suited her clear skin sparkled finely.

Even in the dark, So Yi’s eyes that met his were beautiful. They kept drawing his gaze like a magnet. He may have felt his heart flutter slightly in that moment.

Unfamiliar with the sensation, Si Heon frowned even more. His gaze, barely torn from her eyes, moved to her lips. The bright red color like a ripe apple looked sweet.

Sweet.

Her lips that he had tasted that night in Venice were all sweet, as if coated in honey. He had intended to spend the night moderately and send her back to her room, but he was the one who couldn’t let go.

When his focus blurred for a moment at the sudden memory of that night, So Yi parted her lips.

‘Why, why?’

She asked why as she nibbled on her plump, red lips.

‘Because you’re pretty.’

Jang Woo swallowed a cough at the words he had uttered without realizing.

Though he quickly averted his gaze, pretending to be nonchalant, he was dumbfounded. What on earth was he thinking to say such a thing.

Si Heon roughly ran his hand through his hair. Unable to shake off the unpleasant feeling, he entered the shower.

Warm water poured down as he turned the shower lever. He organized his thoughts while showering for a long time.

Could he possibly be jealous that his one-month fake girlfriend was with another man?

At the fleeting thought, Si Heon let out a laugh. Jealousy? Laughing again at how absurd it was, he rubbed his face with both hands.

Though he tried to shake it off by shaking his head, the feeling of tightness in his chest remained.

Si Heon lowered the water temperature a bit more. Though the weather had gotten chillier as November began, it didn’t matter. It seemed he would have to finish with a cold shower again today to cool this burning heat.

[This is the timeline separator]

The office was noisy from early in the morning.

“Ms. Jin! Did you receive that necklace as a gift?”

“Wow! That’s Van Cleef, isn’t it?”

She deeply regretted not wearing it when leaving work. She had thoughtlessly put it on when told to wear it to Si Heon’s gathering with his classmates today, but the employees swarmed like bees when they saw the necklace around So Yi’s neck.

“Wow, I’m so envious. Isn’t this over 10 million won?”

So Yi’s pupils shook rapidly. Was it that expensive?

“That’s right. It’s the most expensive design in the Alhambra line.”

Hye Na answered instead. The employees’ gazes all focused on the four-leaf clover shaped pendant with subtle white mother-of-pearl inlays.

“Wow, but Ms. Jin’s neck is so slender and her skin is so fair, it looks really good…”

“Isn’t everyone preparing for the meeting?”

Team Leader Kwak’s shout poured cold water over the ongoing compliments. The excitement that had been heated up by So Yi’s necklace instantly subsided.

The employees who quickly returned to their seats clicked their mice. The printer made a whirring sound as it warmed up, and the employees’ proposals started printing one by one.

The Compensation Support Team holds a monthly meeting to find improvement points based on received complaints related to call quality, and Si Heon said he would attend today as well.

So Yi firmly pressed her lips together to wash away yesterday’s humiliation. She must not show that bumbling appearance again.

But So Yi’s eyes, which had been full of enthusiasm, began to tremble with bewilderment.

“Jin, are you not done yet?”

Everyone had moved to the meeting room, but So Yi was still clicking her mouse with a very distorted expression.

“Team Leader! So Yi says her proposal file is gone!”

Hye Na, who was standing beside her with an anxious expression, answered instead.

“What?”

“No, I definitely checked that it was saved before turning off the computer yesterday…”

“Jin, are you crazy? Did you forget I said the CEO is attending today’s meeting? Or did you think you could slack off because you’re dating the CEO?”

Team Leader Kwak’s voice rang out, nearly splitting her ears. Though Team Leader Kwak’s words went too far, So Yi couldn’t find the timing to refute.

The shock of the proposal file disappearing without a trace was too great. She was so dumbfounded that even her hands were trembling.

“No, I definitely wrote it. I saved it yesterday and even double-checked…”

“Let’s go to the meeting room for now. I’ll report that Jin didn’t prepare the proposal, so keep that in mind…”

“I can still present even without the proposal file.”

“What?”

Team Leader Kwak made an expression of disbelief at the words that she could present even without the proposal file.

“I remember all the content, but I’m just frustrated that I can’t show you the supporting data or charts.”

So Yi bit her lip and sighed.

In fact, she had put in even more effort when she heard Si Heon would attend. She wanted to make up for her mistake. He must have been disappointed in her already, so how pathetic would he think she was if he saw her work was a mess.

“Then let’s go for now. It’s almost time for the meeting.”

Hye Na comforted So Yi as if there was no other choice. So Yi, who had finally given up on finding the proposal file, sighed regretfully.

“There’s no other way. I’ll ask for understanding and present.”

Even though the team member said she would try to present somehow, Team Leader Kwak’s distorted expression showed no signs of smoothing out.

“Wow, as expected of Jin So Yi. Amazing.”

“Let’s go for now. It’s time for the meeting.”

Hye Na gave a thumbs up as if impressed. Team Leader Kwak still had a bewildered expression and said nothing. In the end, So Yi led her towards the meeting room as if guiding her.