“Phew…”

A sigh escaped Ji Hyun’s lips as she swallowed a hangover remedy purchased from the pharmacy in one gulp. Her stomach felt like it was churning to death, but she continued to move her body without rest until finally the sky looked yellow to her. It was just as she placed the salad in front of Seung Ho, thinking this was the last delivery.

“You smell.”

“…What?”

Ji Hyun was momentarily taken aback by the sharp words spoken in such a nonchalant voice.

“Of alcohol.”

Could it be that she still smelled of alcohol?

Ji Hyun sniffed her collar lightly, but her nose couldn’t even detect the scent of alcohol, only the lingering fragrance of the perfume she had sprayed that morning.

“Getting excited over your first day at work and going straight to drinking, you’re even more reckless than I thought.”

Seung Ho’s tongue seemed to have a blade attached to it, as every word he spat out was a well-honed remark.

“The smell of alcohol is ruining my appetite, so take it away.”

He even imposed an absurd sense of guilt on her that made no sense…

She couldn’t take it anymore. Just as Ji Hyun thought she had truly reached her limit, she read Seung Ho’s gaze.

The moment she saw his slightly curved eyes, curses welled up inside her. He was enjoying this situation where Ji Hyun was struggling.

“Your stomach must be in bad shape too, so go down and buy some hangover medicine.”

“It’s fine. It’s not that bad.”

Feeling defiant at his pretense of consideration, Ji Hyun gritted her teeth.

Seung Ho put down the bundle of documents he was looking at with a thud and crossed his two fingers in turn.

“You know it hasn’t even been an hour since you came to work, right? Today’s schedule will be quite busy. Even if your stomach is churning, there’s nothing you can do about it. I won’t tell you to go in first or anything like that.”

She wanted to answer that she was fine again, but her stomach turned and flipped. Having no choice, she headed back to the entrance.

‘What on earth were you thinking, drinking so much? Foolish Choi Ji Hyun!’

Ji Hyun wanted to slap herself from yesterday with all her might. Leaning against the flowerbed next to the pharmacy, Ji Hyun looked up. The sky, which had only shown an abundance of clouds, was clear for the first time in a while. It was the kind of weather that made her want to go home.

“Ah, I want to go home.”

The cell phone in her hand vibrated.

“Your timing is impeccable.”

Frowning heavily, Ji Hyun answered the call, but before she could even speak, a rebuke flew in.

−What are you doing spacing out there? You think this is school break time?

“I was just about to come up.”

−Lies…

Startled by his words as if he was watching, Ji Hyun looked around and spotted the black sedan she had seen yesterday. It was Seung Ho’s car. Her footsteps felt heavy as she headed towards him.

‘I really want to go home.’

Watching the neat array of side dishes being served one after another, Ji Hyun held her breath behind Seung Ho.

The reason this high-end Korean restaurant with private rooms was chosen as the meeting place was because it suited the taste of the person they were meeting.

“Finally seeing you, Director Shin Seung Ho.”

A middle-aged woman, elegantly dressed, sat in front of him.

“I expected it, but you’re even younger and more handsome.”

When she smiled, the wrinkles around her eyes didn’t form, instead pulling taut. She was old enough to have a son around Seung Ho’s age if she had married at a young age, but there was a faint passion for men in her eyes.

“You flatter me.”

Seung Ho smiled humbly.

“I was surprised at how young Representative Baek looks.”

It was a remark full of flattery, but the woman addressed as the representative laughed like a young girl. Seung Ho picked up the bottle of warmed sake and poured it into Representative Baek’s cup.

Quietly observing the two, Ji Hyun struggled to straighten her contorted expression. Although she couldn’t see his face as her back was turned, Seung Ho’s rather gentle manner of speech still felt unfamiliar.

“Then let’s talk while we eat.”

“Sounds good. But the secretary…”

Representative Baek, who was about to pick up her spoon, gestured at Ji Hyun with her eyes.

“Does she have to keep standing there?”

Seung Ho turned his head and glanced at Ji Hyun.

“What’s the problem?”

“It’s uncomfortable. I hate it when someone is listening while we talk…”

At first glance, it sounded like she was speaking out of consideration for Ji Hyun who had been standing the whole time, but in reality, it meant for her to step aside so the two could be alone.

Ji Hyun hesitated and looked at the owner of the broad back. Representative Baek, holding a glass of alcohol, glared at Ji Hyun as if to say, ‘Why aren’t you leaving?’ Seung Ho, who took a sip of water with a slow gesture and wiped his mouth with a napkin, replied firmly.

“I’m not sending her out.”

“…Pardon?”

Representative Baek’s face contorted at the unexpected resolute answer. To be precise, only her lips slightly deviated from their shape on her tight face filled with Botox.

“My secretary will stay here. So let’s drop the unnecessary talk and get to the point.”

Seung Ho skillfully steered the conversation.

Representative Baek Jang Mi. The business that started as a small shopping mall hit it big.

As the business grew in scale, it was divided by type and split into separate subsidiaries. Although she had let go of everything except the main shopping mall now, she was still making important decisions.

Seung Ho was planning to acquire a small SNS marketing company that Baek had in her possession.

“It’s a small company but quite profitable. Isn’t the price you proposed a bit insulting to me, Director?”

Listening to the conversation, Ji Hyun swallowed her saliva. She had read the documents Seung Ho had handed her on the way here.

Although it was full of difficult terms, she could never forget the number that exceeded ten zeros. Even for Ji Hyun, who was blind when it came to business, the proposal he made was by no means a bargain.

“If that’s what you think, I apologize. I’ll raise the price for you.”

Seung Ho casually accepted her words. Representative Baek, whose eyes had widened, soon pursed her lips.

“I thought a young director might hesitate a bit when it came to bargaining, but you have quite the capacity.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

Seung Ho’s gaze toward Representative Baek softened a bit more, perhaps because she was pleased with the deal. She picked up the grilled yellow croaker in front of her and placed it on Seung Ho’s rice bowl.

“Director Shin, are you seeing anyone right now?”

Suddenly, Ji Hyun’s gaze, which had been lingering in the air, shifted to Seung Ho’s back. It was a matter she had never even thought about. Would the twenty-six-year-old Shin Seung Ho have a lover? She became very curious.

“…”

The woman, who had been swirling the glass of sake, nodded as if she had received an answer.

“It doesn’t make sense for someone as handsome as you to not have a lover. But they also say it’s good to meet a lot of people.”

As the representative continued her gentle words, Seung Ho stopped using his chopsticks and exhaled deeply. Ji Hyun knew very well what that sound meant. When he was feeling unbearably irritated, he would breathe so gracefully. Unaware of this fact, the representative continued.

“I know a girl who is absolutely gorgeous. Want to meet her?”

Representative Baek muttered to herself while using her chopsticks.

“No, she’s a bit too flighty. I’ll introduce you to someone better.”

Seung Ho still remained silent, but perhaps it was because he drank the warm sake in succession instead of water.

The representative, who was heating up her body to the point of turning red, became more and more talkative.

“And if I may offer a piece of advice, it’s better to have a male assistant. If you have a woman by your side, scandals are more likely to happen. If a scandal breaks out before you’re even on the same level, it won’t be good for Director Shin’s thriving image.”

Glancing at Ji Hyun, the representative raised her hand and spoke as if whispering.

“Girls like that are usually desperate to snag a great man. Be careful.”

As if he could no longer stand it, Seung Ho put down his chopsticks with a sharp sound.

“Phew…”

He looked precarious and relaxed as he exhaled with his head tilted back. Perhaps the mask of gentleness he had maintained throughout had been removed, as Representative Baek’s pupils trembled slightly as she looked at Seung Ho.

The atmosphere froze in an instant.

“Oh, um, did I make a mistake?”

The representative’s voice awkwardly dispersed as she tried to deny the situation.

“Banmal…”

“Hm?”

“You’ve been speaking to me informally this whole time. I’m not your son…”

His voice, low yet polite, gave her goosebumps.

“Ah, I’m sorry. I just wanted to get close to you so I made a mistake.”

Ignoring the representative who waved her hands and laughed in embarrassment, Seung Ho tilted his head to the side and spoke to Ji Hyun.

“Bring the documents.”

The representative’s face turned ashen as she sensed the gravity of the situation.

“We can take our time with the contract…”

“If the terms of the sale have been adjusted, we should sign the contract right away. The amount will remain unchanged for you. However…”

Seung Ho’s gaze shifted from Representative Baek to Ji Hyun.

“I’ll need an apology.”

“What?”

Both Representative Baek and Ji Hyun’s faces contorted simultaneously at the shocking words. Only Seung Ho, who was meticulously reviewing the final contract, responded as usual.

“You insulted what’s mine, Representative, so I’m feeling quite disgusted right now. So please apologize.”