The meeting ended with the decision to establish a new rate plan reflecting Si Heon’s proposed opinion.

“Chairman Cha. Let’s talk for a moment.”

As the executives were leaving the meeting room one by one after the meeting ended, Si Yeon tapped Si Heon’s shoulder and said.

“Just tell me what it’s about. I need to go.”

Si Heon said, standing at the door after following Si Yeon into the vice president’s office.

“Are you sure there’s no ulterior motive in bringing Jin So Yi’s proposal?”

“Didn’t you see the contents of the proposal?”

“Well, okay, let’s put that aside. Negotiate.”

“Negotiate what?”

“On the condition of breaking up with Jin So Yi. What do you want?”

Si Heon’s eyebrow twitched.

“What would make you break up with Jin So Yi? Returning?”

It was the answer she wanted. That’s why she started this relationship. She didn’t think he would surrender so easily, but it’s the condition she wanted anyway.

“Of all people, why did you choose someone like her?”

Si Yeon’s eyes sharpened. Just thinking about So Yi’s defiant attitude still makes her blood boil.

“I have high standards, you know.”

“What?”

“I don’t date just anyone.”

Si Heon raised his wrist to check his watch.

“Do you have anything else to say?”

“Si Heon. Why on earth are you doing this? Are you really going to marry her?”

“We’ve barely been dating for a month. What’s the rush?”

“Does it look like there’s no rush? I’m on pins and needles worried that Yeon Ri Na’s side might want to pretend the marriage arrangement never existed!”

“You still haven’t given up?”

This is getting tiresome.

As Si Heon let out a slight chuckle, Si Yeon crossed her arms and spoke with a determined expression.

“Cha Si Heon. Let’s do this. If you end things with Jin So Yi, I’ll let you return to Chahan Media right away. And I’ll meet with the fired employees and resolve things well.”

He had heard that some of the employees who were fired from Chahan Media were still protesting in front of the headquarters.

Those people are really persistent. Even though they’ve already received compensation.

“Well. I’ll think about it.”

Si Heon replied nonchalantly, putting both hands in his pockets.

“What is there to think about? The more I think about that insolent girl, the more infuriated I get.”

“She only spoke the truth though.”

“What!?”

“Anyway, I have another appointment, so I’ll go first.”

Si Heon left the office, leaving Si Yeon shouting sharply behind him.

It’s my marriage, why on earth is elder sister making such a fuss? She’s not even my mother.

Si Heon adjusted his tie as he got on the elevator.

“Brother, what did you decide?”

Jang Woo, who followed him, asked in a whisper. He seemed to have already known what Si Yeon was going to say.

“Pending.”

“Pending?”

“When I’ve presented the conditions I want, but can’t accept the conditions they want, it’s pending for now.”

He felt conflicted. He thought it would be a relationship he could easily end anytime. He had set it for a month, but it was a relationship he could end even before that whenever he wanted.

‘I like you.’

Thinking about how his heart fluttered at that confession last night, it doesn’t seem to be the right time now.

He should seriously look for other appropriate conditions besides breaking up with Jin So Yi.

“Why is Team Leader Kwak acting like that?”

Hye Na glanced at where Team Leader Kwak was sitting with a heated expression. Team Leader Kwak, who seemed to be in a good mood all last week, is suddenly under low pressure again today.

“I thought things had calmed down for a while, but now it’s overtime again. I mean, what’s the reason we have to submit a report on customer complaint trends for the past 6 months by today?”

So Yi smiled slightly at Hye Na’s continued words.

In fact, she was secretly glad for Team Leader Kwak’s work instructions, as she was feeling shy about facing Si Heon after yesterday’s events.

“How can you smile right now?”

“I just laughed because it’s absurd. Go ahead. Let me get to work quickly.”

“I think it’s definitely because of your clothes.”

“My clothes?”

So Yi looked down at the clothes Jang Woo had said he bought for her this morning.

She was wearing a white silk blouse and a tweed skirt with a subtle blue tint. The matching jacket was taken off and hung on a coat hanger.

“That’s Chanel’s new winter season item, isn’t it?”

“…Is it?”

“When you came in, Team Leader Kwak was shooting lasers from his eyes. He seemed to recognize your two-piece suit right away.”

So that’s why he’s been in such a bad mood since morning. So Yi smiled bitterly.

“Didn’t you say you have a date with the chairman today?”

“Yes, but I told him in advance. That I might be a bit late.”

When Si Heon had said to meet after work this evening, she replied that she had to work overtime. Si Heon said he would wait, so not to worry and come out slowly.

“You’re lucky. At least your boyfriend who waits for you is the chairman.”

So Yi felt guilty, as if someone might think they were in a passionate romance.

“Hurry and go. So I can finish quickly and leave too.”

“Alright. Enjoy your date.”

Hye Na left the office with a pitying look, as if she couldn’t bear to leave So Yi alone.

The quiet office was filled with the sound of So Yi’s keyboard. After concentrating on writing the report for a while, So Yi put down her mouse with a thud after sending the email.

“Team Leader, I just sent it now.”

She stretched as she spoke to Team Leader Kwak. Outside the window, darkness had already settled deeply.

“Good work. You can go home now.”

Team Leader Kwak’s voice rang coldly from inside the partition. So Yi put on the jacket she had taken off and picked up her bag.

“Then I’ll be going.”

The empty company corridor was full of cold air. So Yi quickly moved her steps and got on the elevator.

‘I like you.’

As she was about to call Si Heon, the single confession she made to him last night quickly flashed through her mind.

“Ah, I’m crazy. Why did I suddenly confess like that?”

Although she had made an unintended confession last week, yesterday was too out of the blue.

Why did she make a fuss by herself when no one asked? Her face flushed for no reason.

Whether it’s okay to keep liking him like this. Why he keeps kissing so casually while liking someone else. What will happen to us in the future – numerous questions had been swirling in her head all day.

‘More than Choi Ji Wook?’

So Yi smiled at Si Heon’s words that followed. Why did he ask if she liked him more than actor Choi Ji Wook in that moment.

It made her feel fluttery, as if he might have been jealous.

She wished he would like her.

She kept wishing that the chairman would like her too.

‘I can’t embrace someone who has a lover.’

‘My lover also looks quite drunk right now.’

His voice, which she clearly heard in her fading consciousness, was filled with sincerity.

Lover. That’s what he called me.

Then can I have a little hope…?

Ding, So Yi shook her head as the elevator arrived at the first floor with a notification sound.

Don’t be greedy. This relationship will end in 2 weeks. Get a grip.

She let go of her vain desires with a deep sigh and picked up her phone.

“Chairman, I’m done now.”

− I’m at the back entrance of the company. Waiting for you.

“Already? I’m heading to the back entrance now.”

As the automatic door opened, a cold wind rushed in. So Yi slightly stretched out her hand as if to measure the temperature of the air, with her phone in one hand.

“Oh?”

At that moment, a snow-white snowflake landed on So Yi’s palm.

“It’s snowing!”

A clear and cheerful voice, like an excited child, went through the receiver.

− Snow?

“Yes! It’s the first snow of the year!”

Si Heon, who was watching So Yi coming out of the back entrance from afar, said with a gentle smile.

“It’s pretty.”

− Right? The snow is falling more and more. It’s so beautiful.

“No, not the snow.”

− Then what?

So Yi, who had been walking while looking up at the sky, slowly lowered her head.

She could see at once the figure of Si Heon leaning against his car body in the distance, looking at her.

− I mean you. You look pretty walking with an excited expression because of the snow.

Si Heon said in a soft voice, like the snowflakes gently landing and seeping into her palm.

The snowflakes on her palm should be cold, but they were warm.

Si Heon’s voice, which seeped in warmly and softly, immediately made So Yi’s heart race and turned her cheeks red.

Finding that cute again, Si Heon grinned from afar.

At the word “pretty,” the corners of her mouth rose on their own. So Yi, who had hung up the phone, approached Si Heon with a bright smile.

By now, the white snowflakes, which had grown thicker, were pouring down on Si Heon’s head.

As she pondered for a moment whether it was the snow flowers shining brilliantly with the moonlight or the chairman’s eyes, Si Heon spread his arms wide.

“What?”

“I should hug you.”

Here? Even though it’s the back entrance, it’s still near the company?

As So Yi hesitated with her eyes wide open, Si Heon hugged her snugly in his arms.

“I didn’t get an answer yesterday.”

“What answer?”

Could he be talking about when he asked, ‘More than Choi Ji Wook?’

So Yi blinked her eyelids while in Si Heon’s embrace.

“I asked if you like me more than Choi Ji Wook.”

Si Heon lowered his gaze as he gently separated So Yi’s shoulders.

“Ah… Yes. I like you. Much more than actor Choi Ji Wook…”

The corners of his mouth curved up as if it was the words he had been waiting for, and came closer and closer.

“You said something pretty again, so here’s a service.”

Si Heon lowered his head further and kissed her.

With one hand firmly supporting So Yi’s waist, and the other hand cupping So Yi’s soft cheek.

On that snow-white night, like dandelion seeds scattering in the wind and blooming all over the world, So Yi swallowed many words in her heart.

If it’s okay to keep liking him. Why he keeps me by his side while liking someone else.

She buried for a moment the desire to ask why he keeps kissing her and what will happen to their relationship now.

When he speaks in such a soft voice calling her pretty, maybe the chairman is starting to waver little by little too. Seeing him embrace me so warmly like this, maybe he’s starting to like me.

Overwhelming emotions that couldn’t be controlled kept encouraging expectations.

Maybe the chairman will give up on that woman and come to like me.

So she only tried to comfort her own heart, telling herself not to rush and not to hurry.

A moment later, Si Heon slowly separated his lips and stroked So Yi’s red cheek with his thumb, saying in a low voice.

“Let’s go. On our date.”

It was an evening where her mood became as white and fluffy as the snow falling gently without a breeze.