Cheeks flushed red, Ji Hyun raised her voice without realizing it.

“Seung Ho and I are definitely not in that kind of relationship.”

“Yeah. I wasn’t talking about you, but in most novels, it’s like that.”

Instead of examining her friend’s changed complexion, Mi Ri absentmindedly tore the dried filefish that came out as a side dish into small pieces.

“Most male protagonists have complicated feelings. They like the female lead, but they’re clumsy at expressing it. Then, when they meet after being apart for a long time, they can’t hold back. So they go for a kiss!”

Watching Mi Ri excitedly explain while clapping her hands, Ji Hyun thought for the first time that Ha Jun’s advice might be right. She was worried that her friend, a web novel maniac, might conduct her love life through writing as well.

“Mi Ri, how about you try quitting novels this time?”

At the cautious suggestion, she shook her head firmly.

“You might as well tell me to stop breathing.”

Ji Hyun smiled faintly at the unwavering response and fiddled with the peanut crumbs. Seung Ho’s expressionless face, which was particularly so in front of her, flashed before her eyes. Ji Hyun’s mind was complicated.

Why did he take care of things behind the scenes while saying hurtful words without hesitation?

It was a clear fact that she had received help from Shin Seung Ho. Without the sponsorship from the Whale Foundation, she wouldn’t have been able to attend university, let alone be here. Lost in thought, Ji Hyun whispered softly.

“But why does he torment me?”

“Because he likes you.”

“What?”

Startled by the sudden matter-of-fact answer, Ji Hyun stared at Mi Ri, who was chewing on dried filefish.

“Why are you so surprised? Wasn’t I talking about a web novel cliché?”

“Oh? Oh… right.”

Ji Hyun smiled bitterly. Liking her, that made no sense in reality.

The pretty face that had been smiling all day didn’t show a single smile towards Ji Hyun. How could that be all? Even though he called for her directly, she was thoroughly ignored today.

Does he really dislike me? Then why did he hire me in the first place?

Ji Hyun bit her lips hard. It felt like her insides were burning up, so she picked up the glass and downed the beer.

“Yeah. Let’s drink to our heart’s content today. Anyway, congrats on getting a job!”

Mi Ri, oblivious to the reason, stood up and filled the empty glass. The two of them drank excessively for the first time in a while.

“Ugh.”

Walking down the street, Ji Hyun’s face turned pale. It was fine up to the point where she and Mi Ri drank and poured yesterday, but what happened after was the problem. Ji Hyun dragged the nearly unconscious Mi Ri and put her to bed at home.

The result of the heavy drinking was cruel. A terrible hangover clung to her from the morning.

Hyun Sook, who greeted the girls who had returned home dead drunk last night, said she would make a hangover soup in the morning, but Ji Hyun couldn’t eat it.

It was because the work start time Seung Ho had mentioned was too early. Barely getting ready for work with a spinning head, Ji Hyun envied Hyun Sook and Mi Ri, who were still fast asleep.

If there was a silver lining, it was that he had informed her of the place she had to go to work today. If he had come to pick her up in the car like yesterday, she would have surely been ill-mannered in the car.

Just the thought of it was terrible. Before taking the subway, Ji Hyun stopped by a convenience store and picked up a freshly squeezed fruit juice.

Determined to endure another day well, she downed the drink in one go.

“This place is…”

Arriving at the address Seung Ho had given her, Ji Hyun blankly stared at the building. It was a familiar place. It was the apartment she and Mi Ri had envied while passing by.

The building, with all the windows facing the Han River, was also famous for being home to many celebrities. Ji Hyun hesitated for a while at the entrance of the apartment.

‘Why did he tell me to come here?’

It was too personal to be called a company, and if it was the house he lived in, his family’s mansion was not far from here. Finally, she lightly shook her head to clear her mind. Now was not the time to raise questions. Going to work immediately was the priority.

Even though it was an apartment, the inside of the building was very spacious and complex, so Ji Hyun had a hard time finding the entrance to the apartment.

Just then, her cell phone rang. It was Shin Seung Ho.

-Don’t look around like a country bumpkin and press the number at the front door. I’ll send you the number and unit in a text message.

How did he know I was looking around? Is he watching from somewhere?

Surprised, Ji Hyun turned her head and looked around, but Seung Ho was nowhere to be seen. After checking several times if the unit number written in the message was correct, Ji Hyun cautiously pressed the doorbell.

Surprisingly, the person who opened the door was Seung Ho. He greeted Ji Hyun with a towel on his wet hair, as if he had just taken a shower.

“Come in.”

At the soapy scent wafting from his gesture, Ji Hyun suddenly felt like the hangover was rising again. She carefully took off her shoes and passed through the middle door, and a long corridor appeared. Ji Hyun, who was in an apartment with a corridor for the first time, swallowed her saliva and followed Seung Ho down the hallway.

Ji Hyun’s eyes widened. One entire wall of the living room they arrived at was made of windows, and the Han River came into view. The river water sparkled like stars as it was hit by the sunlight.

“Ah…”

A sigh of admiration came out involuntarily.

Seung Ho, who had finished drying his hair, opened the refrigerator and took out a bottle of water. He smirked at Ji Hyun, who couldn’t take her eyes off the scenery outside the window.

“How rural.”

Startled by the presence, she quickly turned around and looked at Seung Ho. With his naturally falling black hair and training attire, he looked the most comfortable she had ever seen him.

Could it be…?

She was anxious. Ji Hyun hesitated and opened her mouth.

“Wh-where is this place?”

Taking a sip of water and wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, his expression was as usual.

“The place where I live.”

“What?”

Instead of answering the implicit question of why he didn’t go to the family mansion, he picked up a bundle of documents from the desk in the living room.

“I don’t like being asked twice, so keep that in mind.”

“Got it.”

“Breakfast?”

“Huh?”

When the dazed Ji Hyun asked back, Seung Ho stared at her as if reprimanding.

“Your head can’t possibly be that bad…”

“Oh, I didn’t eat.”

Looking at the water bottle he had put down, Ji Hyun involuntarily frowned. It seemed like the alcohol she had drunk yesterday was coming up.

“Then go buy something.”

“What do you want? What do you like?”

Without lifting his head as he read through the documents, Seung Ho answered indifferently.

“Anything.”

At his words, Ji Hyun, sensing something ominous, desperately wanted to leave work, even though she had just started.

“Anything.”

To Ji Hyun, that was the most difficult thing to say, and for Seung Ho, it was the master key to torment her.

“I don’t eat sandwiches with eggs in them.”

That’s what he said when she brought the third menu.

As she got back in the elevator and went down, Ji Hyun clenched her teeth. He hadn’t changed at all from 8 years ago. For some reason, her same-age boss was acting as if he couldn’t wait to torment her.

Her stomach, which had only had a hastily drunk beverage in the morning, was crying out for something to eat, but there was no time to have a proper meal.

After going up and down several times in poor condition, her vision swam and cold sweat broke out.

Silence flowed in the space Ji Hyun had left a moment ago.

Taking his eyes off the documents, Seung Ho stared at the place she had left.

“Ha, with that attitude…”

He didn’t like it from the moment he saw her bloodshot, light eyes. The alcohol smell faintly emanating from her body, rather than the shampoo scent from her tied-up hair, stimulated his nerves.

“Which bastard did she drink with?”

Seung Ho’s eyes narrowed as he recalled yesterday’s events.

“I have plans with a friend. You can just drop me off nearby.”

He wanted to ask what friend it was. ‘Gender? Name?’ He had the urge to ask even trivial things that could predict the situation, but he held back. He had no intention of taking her home in the first place, but hearing it directly from Ji Hyun’s mouth made him irritated.

He had a fleeting regret that he should have left her at Techno Valley later. Then the appointment would have been broken…

‘They say memories are beautified…’

Deceived by the 8 years that had passed, he too was forgetting.

That Choi Ji Hyun was the only person Shin Seung Ho, who was not swayed by emotions for most things, went crazy over.

With the alarm of the front door opening, Ji Hyun appeared, staggering slightly. It was clear that the hangover she was trying to forcibly suppress was tormenting her terribly.

Feeling so nauseous that she covered her mouth with the back of her hand, Ji Hyun held out a paper bag to him. It was a salad.

Instead of checking the contents, Seung Ho stared at Ji Hyun. It was entertaining to watch her complexion turn pale and blue in real time.

That’s why you shouldn’t drink without me.

He took the bag and slowly pushed it towards the edge, just like when he received the egg sandwich.

Ji Hyun’s pupils shook violently. It seemed she had reached her limit in terms of willpower and physical strength.

Seeing that, Seung Ho became a little happy.

“I’ve been too benevolent so far.”