Si Heon returned home and headed straight for the mini-bar. He grabbed a can of beer and gulped it down. As he wiped the beer from his mouth with the back of his hand, he let out another chuckle.

Those lips that drew his gaze as if sucking out his soul kept flashing before his eyes.

Am I going crazy, really?

Si Heon lifted the beer can in his hand and drank the rest in one go. He drank it all at once to wash away the stifling feeling stuck in his throat, but the nagging feeling from the past few days remained.

What exactly was bothering him so much? Si Heon carefully retraced his memories.

Was it from when she came to return the necklace, or when he saw her with Do Hun? Or was it from when Chief Choi was spouting nonsense?

It seems to be because of Chief Choi’s rude remarks. That such women are perfect for enjoying before marriage. Comments about her figure.

Having heard such nonsense without receiving a proper apology, no wonder he still felt so uneasy.

Indeed, I should have demanded a proper apology. That was the problem.

Si Heon, having emptied the beer can, crushed it with a crunch.

Will I feel a bit better after receiving an apology?

Even if it’s a fake relationship, she’s officially my woman.

The fact that someone dared to treat my girlfriend that way still angers me. Treating the woman I’m dating like that is the same as disrespecting me.

Is that why I’m so angry?

He tossed the crumpled beer can into the trash bin.

Now that he had found the cause, he felt somewhat better.

He thought he would formally request an apology from Chief Choi when he went to work on Monday.

[This is the timeline separator]

“But, doesn’t something seem a bit strange?”

Team Leader Kwak said in a low voice while refilling Han Jung Hoon’s empty glass.

“What?”

“I mean, about Jin So Yi. Earlier, she clearly seemed unaware that the CEO would be late to the dinner.”

“So what?”

“And she left for home before the CEO even arrived.”

“That can happen. She seemed quite drunk when I saw her.”

Jung Hoon picked up a piece of meat with his chopsticks, as if it was nothing unusual.

“No, earlier the part manager was asking if they had a fight.”

“Why?”

“When the CEO briefly stopped by earlier, he asked where Jin So Yi had gone. When the part manager said she had left early because she was a bit drunk, he frowned intensely.”

Team Leader Kwak narrowed his eyes, tapping his fingertips against his lips.

“No matter how I think about it, something seems off.”

“What’s so strange about it? Besides, it won’t last long anyway.”

Jung Hoon downed the contents of his soju glass and made a ‘keu’ sound.

“What do you mean it won’t last long?”

“Team Leader Kwak, think about it. Why would a perfect man like our CEO bother with a woman like Jin So Yi? He’s just playing around for a bit.”

Jung Hoon sat with his legs spread wide, one hand on his thigh as he refilled his glass with the other.

“Jin So Yi does have the looks. Honestly, she could pass for a celebrity with that appearance. But still, they’re in different leagues, different leagues.”

Team Leader Kwak nodded as if agreeing there was some truth to it.

“So he probably doesn’t even know or care whether she went home or not. Maybe he was just disappointed because he had plans for tonight, but she had already gone home.”

Jung Hoon chuckled as he picked up his glass again.

“Even earlier, when I kept pressing her to have a drink, she didn’t make a peep. Honestly, if she truly believed she could have a serious relationship with the CEO, would she have refused the drinks I offered?”

“Oh my, that’s true.”

Team Leader Kwak laughed out loud.

“I guarantee you, it’ll last a month at most. Even with young and pretty women, you get bored after about a month.”

“What, have you gotten bored of young and pretty women after just a month, Manager Han?”

“A month? I swap them out after a week.”

Once again, the two’s laughter mingled crudely.

“Anyway, Jin So Yi should milk it for all it’s worth within a month.”

Jung Hoon lifted his glass with a pleased smile.

[This is the timeline separator]

“There’s a weekly team leader meeting at 10 AM, a meeting with the CEO of Tel-In at 1 PM, and an AI consultation system improvement meeting at 4 PM.”

Si Heon tapped his desk with his fingertips while looking at his scheduler.

“Secretary Heo.”

“Yes, CEO.”

Jang Woo tensed up at Si Heon’s somewhat solemn voice.

“Contact H Telecom headquarters.”

“Why the headquarters?”

Jang Woo tilted his head.

“I thought about it over the weekend, and I just can’t let it go.”

“Let what go?”

“Chief Choi. Tell him to apologize to me directly.”

“What?”

Jang Woo, who had been standing a step away from Si Heon’s desk, quickly moved closer. His blinking eyes widened.

“Tell him to properly apologize for the nonsense he spouted at me.”

“Sir!”

“Sir?”

Si Heon frowned deeply.

“No, CEO! That matter is already over!”

“I can’t get over it, it’s bothering me too much.”

“We received an apology letter!”

“That was written by his secretary.”

Si Heon’s eyes flashed sharply as he spoke firmly.

“I need a proper apology for daring to spout such nonsense about my girlfriend.”

Si Heon turned his gaze away as if he had nothing more to say, and Jang Woo’s mouth fell open. He kept clenching and unclenching his hands nervously, as if breaking out in a cold sweat.

“What are you doing? Not leaving?”

Si Heon asked, looking at Jang Woo standing blankly in front of him. Jang Woo asked again, as if he thought this still didn’t seem right.

“Really… Should I relay it like that?”

“As opposed to relaying it falsely?”

“But it’s already a settled matter…”

“I thought I had finished talking about this. To you. Just now.”

Si Heon turned his gaze to the monitor, as if he had no intention of discussing it further.

“Yes, I understand. I’ll contact them.”

Jang Woo sighed heavily as he turned to leave the office.

[This is the timeline separator]

The morning meeting had ended.

Si Heon, leaving the conference room, turned his head slightly. The door of the Compensation Support Team’s office, a mix of semi-transparent and clear glass, was immediately visible.

“Good work. Then I’ll be going first.”

The team leaders leaving the conference room greeted Si Heon. Si Heon nodded in response to their greetings.

As he was walking with one hand casually in his pocket, he saw Jin So Yi through the glass door of the Compensation Support Team’s office.

She was standing in front of the copier, talking to someone. She was wearing a square-neck dress that revealed her snow-white neckline. The mint color suited her well, perhaps because her skin was so fair.

She flashed a bright smile at the employee standing in front of her, apparently in the middle of some conversation. After chatting a bit more, she covered her mouth with the printouts in her hand and laughed.

Her long hair, cascading over her shoulders, rippled softly. Had Jin So Yi always smiled so brightly?

“You’re staring quite intently.”

Jang Woo, who had been following Si Heon’s gaze, muttered, “Hul.” Fortunately, all the team leaders had returned to their offices, so no one else was around. Si Heon, coming to his senses, chuckled.

True, I was really staring, wasn’t I?

It was a laugh that burst out of disbelief, but Jang Woo clicked his tongue. This guy has really lost it, he thought to himself as he headed towards the elevator.

[This is the timeline separator]

Like a dam that has started to break, thoughts keep flooding in without pause.

Jin So Yi.

Her clear, smiling face keeps flashing before his eyes.

In fact, it had been like this all weekend. While exercising, while reading a book, while drinking with friends. Jin So Yi kept passing through his mind incessantly.

“Huu, this is driving me crazy.”

He just can’t concentrate. As he was pressing his temples and taking deep breaths to calm down, the intercom bell rang.

− CEO, H Telecom Chief Director Choi Tae Sik is on the line.

“Connect him.”

The secretary’s office staff connected Chief Director Choi’s call upon hearing Si Heon’s response.

I wonder what message was relayed for him to call so quickly. Heo Jang Woo did quite well.

“This is Cha Si Heon.”

− Ah, CEO Cha. This is Chief Director Choi Tae Sik.

“I know.”

Si Heon replied coldly.

− Didn’t we agree to talk things out and end it well?

“If that’s what you called to say, I’m hanging up.”

− Ah! No, you should listen to a Korean person’s words till the end.

At Chief Director Choi’s urgent voice trying to stop Si Heon, Si Heon remained silent, waiting for the next words.

− Well… You. I mean, CEO Cha, I seem to have been rude to the lady you’re seeing. As one gets older, jokes can sometimes get a bit out of hand. I think I went too far. Please don’t be upset.

After a brief pause, Chief Director Choi made a lengthy excuse.

“I didn’t request a call just to soothe my own feelings. It seems my secretary must have relayed the message incorrectly.”

− Ah, no. That’s…

“Chief Director Choi. Shall I arrange for you to give an interview to reporters tomorrow about what kind of women are perfect for enjoying before marriage?”

− C-CEO Cha!

Chief Director Choi’s voice, which had briefly become whiny, frantically called out for CEO Cha.

“Or would you prefer I inform your newly wedded spouse about the kind of treatment you received from the Cuco cooperation manager?”

Tap tap tap, while Si Heon drummed his fingers on the desk, only Chief Director Choi’s urgent breathing could be heard roughly through the receiver.

“If you don’t want an interview, it might be good to reconsider the purpose of your call to me right now, Chief Director Choi.”

At Si Heon’s calm and low voice, Chief Director Choi cleared his throat several times.