The heat spread quickly from the lips that touched in an instant.

Si Heon grabbed So Yi’s shoulders in surprise and pulled her body away.

“Jin So Yi.”

Si Heon called So Yi in a low voice.

His gaze closed on the plump lips that had turned red.

It was too late. The fire had already started to catch on the firewood.

Si Heon spoke in a low voice, as if scratching the floor.

“Do you know what this means?”

So Yi, who had been staring blankly at Si Heon, nodded. And then she raised her heels again.

There was no hesitation.

This time, Si Heon also lowered his head towards So Yi. Their lips overlapped quickly, interlocking tightly and swallowing each other’s breaths.

Neither of them could remember when they had entered Si Heon’s room.

The door opened and there was a sound of something crashing down.

It was dark because the lights weren’t on, but it wasn’t difficult to find where the bed was.

Only after laying So Yi down did their lips part for a moment.

“I told you clearly. I said I wouldn’t let you sleep tonight.”

Even in the pitch darkness, So Yi’s round eyes shone intensely. With a silent nod as the signal, their deep night together began.

Si Heon’s words about not letting her sleep were true.

It seemed to end but didn’t, and when it seemed unfinished, it continued again.

So Yi spent the whole night in Si Heon’s arms without a chance to sleep.

When So Yi finally couldn’t hold back and burst into tears, Si Heon kissed her eyes.

In the end, until the black night was over, So Yi couldn’t leave Si Heon’s broad embrace even for a step.

It was a long, stormy night.

The next day, So Yi met eyes with Si Heon, who was lying on his side next to her with one arm propping up his head.

“When did you wake up?”

So Yi asked in a voice still full of sleep, her eyes not fully open.

“While ordering Jang Woo to buy some clothes.”

“Again?”

“What can I do? The boss I serve has lost his mind over a woman.”

“What an evil boss.”

So Yi chuckled dryly.

“An evil lover too.”

“What?”

“I said I wouldn’t let you sleep, but you ended up sleeping, which is vexing.”

“Ah…”

“There’s still an hour before Jang Woo arrives.”

Si Heon smiled as he slowly lowered his head towards So Yi. So Yi tried to hide by pulling up the blanket, but in the end, their morning burned hot once again.

[This is the timeline separator]

“I want to see you after work today too. But I’m supposed to have dinner with my mother.”

Si Heon said as he stopped in front of the company.

“It’s okay. I’m tired too, so I just want to go straight home and sleep today.”

“Still, come out in front of your house for a bit when I call later. I have something to give you.”

“What is it?”

“You’ll see later.”

Si Heon said as he lightly kissed So Yi’s lips.

“Go on in now.”

After So Yi went into the building, Si Heon headed to the parking lot.

Zing.

Just as he finished parking, a message came from Yu Kyung.

[It’s at 7 PM tonight at the fine dining restaurant in Chahan Hotel. Wait in the first floor lobby and we’ll go up together when we meet.]

Si Heon stared at the message from Yu Kyung for a long time before firmly closing his lips.

He’d have to keep this a secret from So Yi.

As for Yeon Ri Na.

He could just go on the blind date, play along for a bit, and then settle things after confirming his return to Chahan Media.

His tightly closed dark eyes twitched slightly.

Si Heon slowly lifted his eyelids and put strength into the corners of his eyes.

Somehow, I must reclaim my position and have Jin So Yi as well.

[This is the timeline separator]

“Jin team leader. How did you handle that difficult customer to withdraw the complaint right away?”

Team Leader Kwak asked So Yi with disbelieving eyes.

“Ah… The customer turned out to have a broader mind than expected.”

So Yi laughed awkwardly, unable to say that Si Heon had used his own money to silence them.

“Jin So Yi! You said you’re not meeting the CEO today, right?”

“Yeah, the CEO said he has an appointment today.”

“It’s Friday night, want to have a drink with me?”

Hye Na, sitting in the next seat, poked her head out and asked.

“No. I need to go home and sleep today.”

“Huh?”

“I couldn’t sleep at all yesterday, so I’m too sleepy.”

Only then did Hye Na examine So Yi’s face closely and widened her eyes.

“Gasp. Why does your face look like that? You didn’t walk all the way to Incheon and back, did you?”

“No. There was just some… stuff that happened.”

Saying there was some stuff that happened, So Yi blushed alone as she recalled yesterday’s events.

It was a dizzying night even thinking about it again.

Si Heon’s breath, exhaled through gritted teeth, echoed in her ears once more.

The moment of gently meeting eyes and leaning in for a kiss also came to mind.

The whole room had been filled with their passionate breaths.

It felt good enough to lose her mind, but he didn’t let her lose consciousness.

Although there were no words like “I like you” or “I love you”, it just felt good.

She had always thought of sleeping together as an obligatory act between lovers, but now she understood why everyone goes crazy for it.

Her body was tired, but her mood was bubbly and good.

So Yi barely held back her lips from curling up as she started work.

[This is the timeline separator]

After work, Si Heon headed straight to Chahan Hotel.

We could have just met at the restaurant, why insist on meeting in the lobby to go up together?

Si Heon frowned irritably as he stood with his hands in his pants pockets.

A moment later, he saw Ri Na approaching from afar.

“Si Heon oppa. Did you wait long?”

Ri Na, wearing a dark beige coat with her long straight hair swaying, approached Si Heon with a bright smile.

Is she shameless? How can she smile like that when I left with Jin So Yi that day?

Si Heon turned without replying and headed for the elevator.

“I’m sorry about that day. For making such a mistake in front of the person you’re seeing.”

“If you know, then keep your mouth shut. Who knows what nonsense you might spout again.”

He pressed the elevator button, speaking in an icy cold voice.

Ri Na bit her lip in embarrassment for a moment, then looked at Si Heon’s shoulder and spoke again.

“Oh? There’s dust here.”

As she tapped Si Heon’s shoulder saying something was on it, Si Heon turned his head with a serious expression.

“Yeon Ri Na. I still can’t get used to it. Are there too many people watching?”

“What? What do you mean?”

“Act like your real self.”

“My real self?”

As Ri Na widened her eyes as if she didn’t understand, the elevator arrived.

Si Heon let out a scornful laugh and stepped into the elevator.

“Didn’t you see that day? Me leaving affectionately with Jin So Yi.”

Since it was a VIP-only elevator with no one else inside except the two of them, Si Heon spoke openly.

“I saw.”

“And you still want to go on a blind date with me?”

“You’re not going to marry that woman anyway, oppa.”

Her eyes were clearly smiling, but her gaze was sharp. As if finely honed to subtly strike at the core.

“Then who am I going to marry?”

“Me. You’re going to marry me anyway, oppa.”

What confidence is this?

What on earth have I done and how have I behaved for her to drink kimchi soup by the bowlful like this?

Si Heon just smirked without giving any answer.

Ri Na gritted her teeth inwardly, but curved the corners of her eyes softly to show a smile.

The elevator arrived at Ashreu and the doors opened, with a staff member waiting to guide them to the reserved room.

After being silent for a moment, Ri Na looked at Si Heon as they entered the room and spoke.

“Get rid of that woman as soon as possible.”

“What?”

Si Heon frowned fiercely.

“I’ll think of it as a momentary mistake by a virile man before marriage.”

Ri Na slowly reached out to pick up the water glass on the table and slowly closed and opened her eyes.

“You know my personality, oppa. I’ve been waiting and enduring a lot until now.”

Ri Na’s eyes gradually began to turn cold.

She slowly closed and opened her eyes, filling the corners with coldness as she turned her gaze to Si Heon.

“If you can’t get rid of her, I’ll do it for you. I’ll make sure the whole country knows how you two break up.”

Si Heon laughed loudly at Ri Na’s true face finally showing.

“Whether you’ve been waiting and enduring a lot or not, that’s none of my business.”

Si Heon slowly pulled back his body with an expression full of derision and hardened his face.

“If you touch even a single hair on Jin So Yi’s head or let any of her personal information circulate.”

He spoke to Ri Na in a growling voice, grinding his molars.

“I’ll make sure you can’t get married in this industry.”

[This is the timeline separator] [I’m home now.]

So Yi, who went straight home after work, sent a message to Si Heon after arriving home.

He said he was meeting his mother, but maybe they’re having a serious conversation since there’s no reply.

Could he be getting scolded for confronting the vice president that day?

Come to think of it, I’m really hopeless too.

Confronting the vice president with my eyes wide open like that, and then thinking I could date the CEO?

So Yi sighed as she put her phone with no messages on the table.

Her heart felt stuffy, but she smiled again at the thought of being in Si Heon’s embrace until this morning.

She must be crazy. She’s clearly not in her right mind, she thought as she entered the bathroom to take a shower.

Today was a good day all day long. The customer who had filed a strong complaint withdrew it immediately, and there were only simple cases that could be resolved with basic compensation among the complaints received all day.

She didn’t lose in the coffee bet with her team members, and on the way home, there was a seat available on the bus right away.

She couldn’t help but hum.

Because you’re the only person I want to have right now. I can’t think of anything else.

Above all, his words kept coming to mind, making the corners of her mouth rise.

After showering and having a simple dinner, So Yi looked at her phone. Still no contact from Si Heon.

Could he be having an important conversation?

As she was about to put the piled-up laundry in the washing machine, a message came from Hye Na.

[What’s this? Is this real?]