As always, the meal proceeded in a quiet atmosphere.

Si Yeon said she would be a little late, but arrived home not long after the meal started.

She quickly washed her hands and immediately sat down to begin eating.

“Make sure to finish organizing the H Telecom customer center by the end of this month.”

As the meal was coming to an end, Hyun Seob spoke up.

Si Heon nodded while wiping his mouth with a napkin.

Yu Kyung also seemed to have finished eating, as she took a sip of water and then looked at Si Heon and said:

“The engagement ceremony is set for Saturday at 6 PM at the Chahan Hotel.”

“Make sure the reporters don’t find out.”

“Yes, I’ve already told that to Daehan Electronics as well.”

This time, seeming a bit intimidated by Si Heon’s words, Yu Kyung had also informed the president of Daehan Electronics and his wife, who were Ri Na’s parents.

“I hear the bidding for the Infinity Entertainment Resort is scheduled for early next year.”

Hyun Seob’s stern voice echoed lowly in the dining room.

Earlier this year, the Gyeonggi-do Tourism Development Corporation had conducted a public contest for a complex resort development project plan, selecting the Infinity Complex Resort as the business operator and confirming Daehan Construction as the construction company.

Daehan Construction was soon planning to conduct a bidding for media companies to build an indoor media art exhibition hall, and Hong Woo Geon, the younger brother of the Daehan Construction chairman and president of Daehan Electronics, had agreed to recommend Chahan Media.

This had been discussed since the time marriage talks between Yeon Ri Na, the granddaughter of Chairman Yeon, and Si Heon were ongoing.

It was said that a total of 7 trillion won would be invested in this resort project, which would include not only a 5-star hotel but also a foreigner-only casino, convention center, and family park.

Given the enormous prospects expected in the future, Chairman Cha also couldn’t miss the opportunity to get involved in such a business.

“I can manage without any recommendations, there.”

The indoor media art exhibition hall project was exactly what Chahan Media had been pursuing even before Si Heon took office as managing director.

It had already started to be showcased in some areas, including Jeju Island, and was receiving rave reviews, raising expectations for the future.

Si Heon spoke firmly, as he planned to end things with Ri Na as soon as he ascended to the position of executive director anyway, and didn’t want to be entangled with the Infinity Resort bidding project scheduled for early next year.

“Still, there’s no need to take a difficult path when an easy one is available, is there?”

Yu Kyung said haughtily while wiping her mouth with a napkin.

Si Heon wanted to argue further but closed his mouth, not wanting to quarrel over this matter just yet.

“By the way, Jin So Yi or whatever. Have you taken care of her?”

Si Yeon asked while taking a sip of water. Si Heon silently turned his head and stared blankly at Si Yeon.

Jin So Yi.

At that name he had been suppressing all day, his insides began to churn and boil wildly.

She was clearly a woman to be dealt with.

He thought a month would be sufficient, and after reversing everything within that time, it would be over once he turned his back.

Even if his young blood had momentarily clouded his judgment and his body had heated up, it should have been something he could just shake off and move on from.

Like a momentary breeze that coolly soothed the midsummer heat, it should have been something to just brush past.

But those three syllables, possessing nothing, are driving me increasingly mad.

Even when we crossed paths in the elevator.

Even when we faced each other in the meeting room.

I gritted my teeth at the sight of her hurriedly turning her head away, frantically avoiding my gaze.

I gritted my teeth and endured, finding myself so pathetic for telling her to say she liked me, even if just for the duration of the contract.

Saying I would let you go once.

But every time, the collapse was instantaneous.

With just a fleeting glance of those clear eyes, my heart would race madly, and with just a lingering trace of her subtle scent, the blood in my entire body would surge hot.

Did you enjoy sleeping with me?

Do you want to sleep with me again?

She uttered such words so easily, looking up at me with eyes clear as glass.

Buying expensive necklaces, clothes, and food.

She said saying she liked me was nothing compared to that.

She uttered such words so easily with lips as pretty and red as peaches.

Even as she carelessly held a knife in one hand, mercilessly stabbing my chest, my gaze kept turning towards her.

Even if you stab more, I can’t let you go.

How can I possibly deal with you?

We’ve only just begun.

I’ve only just realized my feelings, so what on earth are you asking me to do?

When Si Heon gave no answer, Si Yeon muttered with a disinterested expression.

“I knew from the moment she talked back so precisely.”

She continued speaking while dabbing her mouth with a napkin.

“Clean up well afterwards. So she can’t cling on. Those kinds of girls…”

Cutting off Si Yeon’s words as she spoke with a prim expression, Si Heon stood up from his seat.

“I’ll handle my own affairs. Mind your own business.”

With a farewell indicating there was nothing more to say, Si Heon left the family home.

Returning to the hotel, Si Heon headed straight for the lounge.

Thinking he wouldn’t be able to sleep again today, he planned to drink some whiskey before bed.

As he downed one glass after another, he soon emptied an entire bottle.

Thinking this should be enough to make him sleepy, he left the lounge, but when he came to his senses, he was in front of So Yi’s house.

After handing some bills to the designated driver, Si Heon got out of the car and took out his phone.

“I’m in front of your house. Come down.”

Si Heon said, leaning against the car and looking up at So Yi’s lit room.

– I don’t want to.

So Yi answered without a moment’s hesitation.

“If you don’t come out, I’m coming up.”

Si Heon replied immediately, and So Yi was silent for a moment.

– …Alright.

After hanging up the phone, So Yi appeared outside the building a moment later.

She wore a black long padded coat over a gray tracksuit, with her hair tied up tightly.

Even in the dim darkness, So Yi’s fair skin shone brightly white.

Her eyebrows were furrowed slightly and her lips were tightly pressed.

What was so displeasing?

Where had the you who smiled prettily and said you liked me while in my arms gone?

So Yi approached slowly in front of Si Heon with her hands in her long padded coat pockets, and said with her round eyes raised:

“If you have something to say, say it quickly.”

“Say you like me.”

The alcohol encouraged him.

I want to see you in my arms saying you like me like that day.

Those feelings that had grown uncontrollably suddenly spilled out of his mouth.

“I like you.”

So Yi answered with an expression as bitterly cold as the midnight air that had settled.

“Say it with a smile.”

Si Heon said again.

So Yi bit her lip and clenched her fist tightly in her pocket.

Her small, oval face froze even more, and her eyebrows twitched slightly.

This is driving me crazy.

Even the sight of her furrowing her brows and biting her lip is pretty.

As So Yi’s eyes reddened, whether from anger or sadness, she opened her mouth again.

“I never said I’d smi-”

But the rest of her words disappeared into Si Heon’s mouth as he lowered his head and kissed her.

Si Heon cupped So Yi’s cheeks with his large hands and engulfed her lips in one breath.

Surprised, So Yi pulled her hands out of her pockets and pushed against Si Heon’s chest, but Si Heon had already pressed one hand against the back of So Yi’s head while wrapping his other arm around her waist.

So Yi, who had been squirming slightly, soon stopped moving as if giving up.

The small hands that had been pushing against Si Heon’s shoulders began to lose strength, and So Yi tightly grasped Si Heon’s collar.

I can’t let go.

Just today, not seeing you was unbearably difficult.

Your scent, your voice, your every glance makes my heart race like this madly.

How can I possibly let go of you?

No matter how much I think about it, the only reason you’ve changed so much must be Ri Na.

Even if you say it’s not true, even if you say you met her for some reason, why won’t you change your mind?

Why do you keep saying hurtful things, trying to tear my heart to shreds?

What on earth do I need to do?

Now I feel like I’m almost begging.

I feel like I’m going to die from frustration and go crazy from impatience.

I wish someone would just tell me the answer, he screamed madly in his head.

Having never sincerely conveyed his feelings to someone or sincerely apologized, Si Heon didn’t know.

That what So Yi wanted was just one simple thing.

Not knowing that he needed to show sincerity in just one word, Si Heon pulled So Yi even closer into his arms.

Entering her home, So Yi took a deep breath, trying to calm her pounding heart.

Even after taking several deep breaths while leaning against the front door, it showed no signs of settling.

She didn’t expect him to kiss her.

No matter how much I said I would say I liked him as many times as he wanted.

Even if I said I would let him hold me if he asked.

I never thought he would kiss me so unhesitatingly.

So Yi cupped her cheeks with both hands and stared blankly into space.

‘Say you like me.’

‘Say it with a smile.’

That expression was so desperate.

That voice was so sorrowful.

I almost mistook it for the eyes of someone who truly liked me.

What exactly are your feelings?

Why do you keep pretending to be sincere towards me?

If you’re truly sincere…

Why do you keep saying such hurtful things?

I’m sorry for hurting you and upsetting you.

I didn’t intend to play with you.

I truly like you – just those few words would have been enough.

So Yi collapsed onto the bed weakly and squeezed her eyes shut.

Si Yeon’s words about him being a bit easy with women, Young Hyun’s words that he was just playing with me.

Team Leader Kwak’s words that he had gone on a blind date with Ri Na.

It had been driving me crazy, echoing in my ears for days, but foolishly my heart fluttered at just one kiss.

How much more pain am I going to endure…

She could only sigh deeply while gently touching her lips, still warm and not yet cooled.