Ordinary people would have been disoriented by Park Young Ran’s sudden appearance.

She barged in, rambling about contraception and ejaculation, then disappeared after throwing out whatever she wanted to say. How could one remain calm in that situation?

However, one needed the luxury to expend emotions.

As Joo had to find a place to stay immediately, she didn’t even have the energy to care about Young Ran’s visit.

Joo, who went to work at the company, was looking down at her cell phone while making coffee in the break room.

She scoured various real estate apps thoroughly, but there were no suitable places to stay.

To be precise, there were no places with low monthly rent and no deposit.

[#Italics, Flashback] “I put up a rooftop room. Rent the room before a new tenant moves in. I can’t give you any more time.”

Although Joo managed to meet the landlord on Saturday with difficulty, she didn’t receive a good answer.

The only fortunate thing was that she bought time until a new tenant moved in.

Over the weekend, the residents of the neighborhood didn’t show up, as if they had gone down to Hapcheon. But she couldn’t feel relieved.

She didn’t know when they would show up again and turn her life upside down.

Rrrrr―

Before Joo could even sit down after leaving the break room, her office phone rang.

Remembering the call from the security team on Friday, her hand reaching for the phone paused in midair for a moment.

Just as the ringing sound was about to grow longer in the quiet office, Joo picked up the receiver.

“Public Relations Team, Shin Joo speaking.”

[This is the secretary’s office. The chairman would like to see you in person. Can you come up to the chairman’s office right now?]

Did the commotion that occurred last Friday reach the chairman’s ears?

Joo’s hand gripping the receiver tightened.

She thought that this time, her workplace life might truly be in danger.

“Yes. I will come up right now.”

As she carefully put down the receiver, Manager Kim Yang Mi poked her head out from behind the partition.

“Did the CEO call for you? Is there a problem with your written statement?”

Kim Yang Mi had tirelessly helped Joo when she first started her career.

As Yang Mi also had a younger sister around Joo’s age, she would always go out of her way for matters related to Joo.

“No. This time, the chairman called for me.”

“The chairman? Wasn’t it resolved at the CEO’s level?”

“I guess the story flowed up somehow. I’ll have to apologize profusely for my mistake.”

As Yang Mi’s face filled with worry, Joo tried to joke around and stood up from her seat.

“When the team leader comes, please relay the message to the manager.”

“I will. Go and come back.”

Joo, who had been smiling appropriately, left the office with a darkened expression.

Since she had caused a disturbance within the company, she would have nothing to say even if she were recommended to resign.

However, if she lost her job here, she wouldn’t be able to cover her mother’s hospital expenses.

She had to beg until her hands and feet wore out, so she could at least avoid quitting.

With these thoughts, her steps slowed down until she reached the chairman’s office.

Joo, who knocked on the chairman’s office door made of hardwood, entered.

“Come in.”

Chairman Nam of Sunshine Resort, who had been waiting for Joo, spoke to her.

Joo walked over to the black leather sofa where Chairman Nam was sitting and lowered her head.

She was ready to bow her head and confess her sins at any moment.

Chairman Nam pushed the still-warm tea towards where Joo was standing and gestured with his eyes.

“Sit in front. The tea is fine, right?”

“…Ah, yes.”

She was determined to endure even if a scolding poured out towards her. But contrary to expectations, what flew at her was a soft-toned favor.

Was he giving her a carrot before the whip?

She couldn’t let her guard down even with the kindness.

Joo sat stiffly without even touching the teacup.

Seeing her visibly tense demeanor, Nam Jong Pil showed a gentle smile.

“Do you think I called you to scold you?”

“Isn’t it… so?”

Hahaha.

As a hearty laughter filled the meeting room, Joo looked at Jong Pil with a puzzled expression.

“If I called you to scold you, would I have served you tea? What’s so pretty about that.”

“Then what’s so pretty about me that you’re serving me tea?”

Even while being thoroughly guarded, she asked the question astutely.

“I wanted to see your face after a long time. It’s already been 4 years since I saw you with Young Hoon when you entered college.”

“It’s been 5 years.”

Young Hoon was Joo’s father. Young Hoon and Jong Pil had graduated from the same university and maintained a close relationship.

As the daughter of a close friend, he had wanted to meet privately for a long time, but he was cautious about causing harm to Joo, who was a subordinate employee.

However, what happened on Friday was not a matter of separating public and private matters, so he ended up calling Joo.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t attend your father’s funeral. I was busy with a business trip to the Philippines at that time. Even saying I was busy is just an excuse.”

“No, I should be the one apologizing for not being able to express my gratitude in person despite you sending such a large condolence money.”

Instead of Jong Pil, his secretary had gone to the funeral.

It was a week after her father’s funeral that Joo found out there was 10 million won inside the white envelope the secretary had handed over.

She was so preoccupied with repaying the loans her father had taken out under her mother’s name that she had no time to ponder whether it was right to accept such a large sum of money.

“If you ever need my help, let me know. I will be a reliable supporter for you.”

Joo’s gaze, which had been lingering on the teacup, was lifted.

Seeing the disbelieving look in her eyes, Jong Pil smiled.

“It’s not just lip service. Your father was a startup member of our company. Your father was on my side, so I should be on your side too.”

“Thank you for your words alone. …I’m not just saying this either.”

At the hastily added remark, the corners of Jong Pil’s lips curled up. Joo also smiled in response.

She was truly grateful. No one had ever reached out a helping hand first.

Even those she considered close turned their backs when her family fell apart.

While thinking it was perhaps a natural thing, she was tired of the relentlessly tough life. That’s why Jong Pil’s single word lifted Joo back up.

Knock knock.

At the knocking sound, Joo’s head turned towards the door.

“Seems like my son is here.”

As if displeased, Jong Pil didn’t even glance at Nam Do Hyun entering through the door.

Joo’s eyes met Do Hyun’s, and she naturally rose from the sofa.

“I will take my leave then.”

“Yes. See you again next time.”

Joo, who also gave a brief nod to Do Hyun, grabbed the doorknob of the chairman’s office.

Before even opening the door, Do Hyun approached Jong Pil and questioned him.

“What’s the reason for this childish behavior?”

“At this age, if someone calls me childish, does it mean I’m living young?”

Do Hyun’s voice lowered as he tried to suppress his excitement.

“I’m not in the mood for word games right now.”

It was the first time seeing Do Hyun unable to control his emotions to such an extent.

The suffocating atmosphere flowing between Do Hyun and Jong Pil seemed to push against Joo’s back.

Before she could even take a step out through the open door, Jong Pil’s voice rang out.

“I’m sending Director Kim to Clark. You’re excluded from all long-term overseas business trips until you get married.”

“Are you going to block my business trips just because of that measly marriage?”

Joo, who unintentionally overheard the private conversation, quietly closed the door while trying to hide her presence as much as possible.

“You’re already thirty-one. It will take another 3 years for the Clark Resort to be completed, so you’re saying you’ll stay buried in the Philippines until then?”

“Father, your priorities are wrong. Marriage is something I can sufficiently do after returning, isn’t it?”

“Do you think I don’t know you? Even now, you have no thoughts of marriage, so there’s no way you’ll change after 3 years.”

It was no different from a shield and a spear.

Nam Do Hyun was going crazy because he couldn’t communicate with his father at all.

It was the first deal he had won after becoming the CEO and the largest-scale resort under Sunshine’s own construction.

As he had prepared it himself, he planned to reside in Clark and oversee the construction.

If only his father’s interference wasn’t there.

“The resort construction starts in two months, so are you telling me to get married right away? With whom?”

“Bring anyone. This father will welcome them with open arms.”

Do Hyun pressed both sides of his temples with his thumb and middle finger as his head throbbed.

“Ha, Father, you’re saying not to go so easily.”

“It’s so you give up faster.”

Do Hyun, who had been looking down, lifted his head and gazed at Jong Pil with an unwavering gaze.

“No matter what happens, I’m going to Clark to oversee the construction.”

“The moment you go, you’re expelled by the authority of the chairman.”

Even though he was well over sixty, he was the one who created Sunshine.

It meant that the influential power within the company was still greater for the founder Nam Jong Pil than the current power Nam Do Hyun.

Do Hyun could sense that it would not be an easy fight.

[This is the timeline separator]

Room and board provided.

Captivated by those four words, Joo found herself at a meat restaurant about 30 minutes away from the company.

It was difficult to cover living expenses, rent, and hospital bills with just the monthly salary.

She was already looking for a part-time job to do after work anyway, so she thought it was rather fortunate.

As it was after work hours, the inside of the meat restaurant was bustling with people in suits.

Passing by the round tables, Joo rolled her eyes to find someone who looked like the owner.

A man who appeared to be in his late 40s stopped washing dishes and approached Joo.

“What can I get for you?”

“Ah, I’m Shin Joo, who’s supposed to start working together from tonight.”

The owner’s lips, which had been carrying a business smile, dropped like a snapped fishing line.

“The new employee?”

“Yes. Please take good care of me.”

The owner scolded in a heavily annoyed voice and took off the tight-fitting rubber gloves on his plump hands.

“Young people these days are all like this. Don’t you know about being punctual? I’m busy as hell, so why are you so late?”

She had arrived on time but was only 3 minutes late while looking for the owner.

However, not wanting to provoke the owner’s temper from the first day, Joo bowed her head.

“I’m sor―”

Before she could finish her sentence, a wet rubber glove flew towards her chest.

“Go inside and start with the dishes.”