Even as I Hyun pushed him away, Pyeong Hun gazed wistfully in the direction where Ye Rin was, as if reluctant to leave.

“Ah, I still had something to say to Ye Rin…”

“It’s too late now.”

“I know that, but…”

“Our Ye Rin is quite tired today.”

In the meantime, the door slammed shut and Ye Rin disappeared. I Hyun instantly erased the friendly smile he had been putting on.

“Let’s go down.”

His chilly voice was as cold as if they had to go down right away.

“Oh, I was just about to go down anyway.”

“President Han, when did we become so close?”

“Huh?”

“You’ve been speaking informally to me. Should I do the same?”

“Ah. I apologize.”

Pyeong Hun raised a hand to scratch the back of his head.

He had tried to act like an adult since he was his daughter’s boyfriend, but it wasn’t easy with I Hyun as the opponent.

Meanwhile.

The two arrived on the first floor.

Pyeong Hun’s eyes widened when he saw the luxury foreign car parked in front of the villa.

“Don’t tell me that car is yours.”

“…”

“…sir?”

It was a car so rare that only two had been imported into the country.

Instead of answering Pyeong Hun’s question, I Hyun pressed the smart key.

Beep beep-

As the lights came on in that enormous vehicle, Pyeong Hun’s jaw dropped.

‘Where on earth did Han Ye Rin find such an accomplished man?’

Thinking that the best thing his daughter had ever done was dating I Hyun, Pyeong Hun chuckled.

When I Hyun had pointed out his informal speech earlier, he had thought him a petty fellow.

But seeing this expensive car, his attitude changed completely.

He was quite the generous man after all.

“By the way, do you really intend to drive me home?”

“Yes.”

I Hyun left a brief reply and got in the car first.

Approaching hesitantly, Pyeong Hun carefully opened the passenger door.

The interior was luxurious enough to make his eyes widen.

He wondered where on earth his daughter had caught such a splendid man.

How long had they been dating?

There were countless things he was curious about.

As I Hyun smoothly started the car, Pyeong Hun opened his mouth.

“With our Ye Rin…”

“President Han, you’re not planning to come again tomorrow, are you?”

At the sharp tone, Pyeong Hun answered without hesitation.

“No, of course not. How could I keep visiting my grown daughter like this? Right? Hahaha.”

Then he promptly shut his mouth.

‘Ah, this isn’t right.’

This wasn’t the answer he had intended to give.

But in front of I Hyun, he became so nervous that he was being manipulated to say what the other wanted.

It was truly maddening.

I Hyun kept his face expressionless, staring straight ahead.

“I heard you have a good business idea, President Han.”

At I Hyun’s words, Pyeong Hun’s head whipped around.

“Of course. Indeed I do. With just some funding, it could truly revolutionize the world…”

“You can’t find investors?”

“Yes, yes, that’s right.”

Pyeong Hun’s eyes glittered in the darkness.

In truth, he had come to see Ye Rin to try and get even a small amount of money.

But what was this?

It seemed he might not need to open his daughter’s small wallet after all, if he could sweet-talk this huge fish.

Pyeong Hun opened his mouth to start explaining in earnest about the business idea he currently had.

But his words were soon drowned out by I Hyun’s low voice.

“I’d like to see the business plan.”

“Do you really mean that?”

“Yes.”

Pyeong Hun broke into a wide grin.

He never expected I Hyun would ask to see the business plan first, without him having to awkwardly bring it up.

Thinking I Hyun must be quite smitten with his daughter Ye Rin, Pyeong Hun put on a solemn expression.

Though I Hyun wouldn’t be able to see it in the darkness of the car.

“Well, well. I’ll have to make some time then.”

Of course, he had plenty of time.

But not wanting to seem too desperate from the start, he pretended to be busy in front of the undoubtedly busy I Hyun.

Driving along a main road, I Hyun pulled over to the shoulder where they could stop briefly.

“While I review your business plan, I hope you won’t suddenly visit our Ye Rin like this again.”

“Oh, of course! Certainly.”

He hadn’t gone to see Ye Rin because he missed her.

The purpose of his visit was simply to squeeze out a bit more money.

If he could get an investment, he could grant a hundred such requests from I Hyun.

“And no bothersome calls either…”

“Oh, I won’t. I won’t.”

If he could open an even bigger wallet without bothering Ye Rin, why would he keep pestering a daughter who didn’t even welcome him?

I Hyun spoke with an expressionless face to Pyeong Hun, who was answering readily.

“I’m glad we understand each other. But you must have many questions about our relationship.”

Pyeong Hun chuckled.

“Wouldn’t it be better to ask me rather than Ye Rin?”

That was true.

Ye Rin would surely see him as a materialistic person if she heard his questions.

As Pyeong Hun nodded vigorously, I Hyun unlocked the car doors.

“You should get out for now. I’ll tell you about my relationship with Ye Rin another time if I get the chance.”

“Yes, yes, thank you. For driving me this far.”

Though he was dropped off on a strange road some distance from where he lived, that wasn’t important right now.

Pyeong Hun got out of I Hyun’s car and saw him off with a goofy grin until he drove away, then turned around.

“What an unexpected windfall!”

He had guessed I Hyun was extremely wealthy just from the clothes he wore and the car he drove.

But to think he had enough money to spare to invest in the business of his girlfriend’s father, when they weren’t even engaged.

“Well, our Ye Rin did inherit my good looks, so she’s quite a catch.”

Pyeong Hun walked down the night street in high spirits, his narrow shoulders thrown back.

The few strands of hair left on his head fluttered gently in the breeze.

“I’m so curious about where those two met.”

Though he couldn’t meet or contact Ye Rin directly anymore, it didn’t matter.

He could just ask that rich fellow who was smitten with his daughter for all the details.

[This is the timeline separator]

At the same time.

Secretary Choi was driving Na Ri’s car for her.

“I’m really fine, Secretary Choi.”

She hadn’t been drinking, so she could have driven herself just fine.

But perhaps due to I Hyun’s instructions, Secretary Choi had insisted on taking the wheel himself.

“No, if the Director finds out I let you go alone like this, I’ll be in big trouble.”

“I could keep it a secret.”

Secretary Choi didn’t budge even at Na Ri’s words.

Thinking he was truly impossible to persuade, Na Ri decided to relax.

“I hear that once Ye Rin adjusts to the work, you’ll be stepping back from hands-on duties, Secretary Choi?”

“Oh, you discussed that as well?”

Na Ri felt a pang of guilt at those words and laughed awkwardly.

After going to such lengths to hide that she and Ye Rin were close friends, pretending they had only recently met for business, and now to make such a mistake.

Na Ri tried to act nonchalant as she spoke brightly.

“Yes. We got quite close over dinner today.”

“You two must get along very well.”

“We’re the same age and have a lot in common, so we decided to be friends.”

Since they were actually close friends who talked almost daily, it seemed better to say they had become close like this now.

Fortunately, Secretary Choi didn’t seem suspicious.

“I heard from Secretary Han Ye Rin that the Director is quite kind…”

“What? The Director is kind?”

Secretary Choi was shocked, as if he’d heard something unbelievable.

As the traffic light changed, he slowly reduced speed and turned his body towards Na Ri.

“That can’t be right.”

“Re…ally?”

‘Oh, was I not supposed to mention that either?’

Worried her loose lips might get back to I Hyun, Na Ri tensed up.

As she clenched and unclenched her hands on her lap, Secretary Choi tilted his head and turned back to face forward.

“Secretary Han probably thinks that because she hasn’t worked with the Director for long.”

“That could be it.”

Secretary Choi looked like he had a lot more to say.

“I’ve known the Director since we were young, growing up together, and I’ve watched him all this time.”

“Yes.”

“He has never once acted kindly towards anyone.”

“Ah, I see.”

“Of course, that doesn’t mean he’s a bad person, but how should I put it… He can be a bit cold.”

Hearing those words, Na Ri was certain.

There was only one reason why a man cold to everyone would act kindly only to Ye Rin.

‘It seems he’s properly fallen for our Ye Rin.’

From their conversation today, it seemed Ye Rin didn’t dislike I Hyun as a man either.

‘Those two suit each other quite well.’

Though she couldn’t interfere in their relationship, it was a shame since they seemed to go well together even from afar.

“I tend to drive safely, so it’s taking some time to get to your home. I hope you don’t have any urgent business?”

Secretary Choi continued to drive smoothly, being considerate of Na Ri’s comfort.

His attitude was quite impressive.

“No, not at all. I didn’t have any plans afterwards, so I was thinking of having a drink with Secretary Han Ye Rin, but Director Cha I Hyun stole her away.”

“Would you like to have that drink with me instead?”

“What?”

Na Ri nodded at Secretary Choi’s suggestion.

“Sure. There’s a quiet pub near my house, shall we go there?”

[This is the timeline separator]

I Hyun drove with one hand while pulling down his necktie to loosen it, as if his throat felt constricted.

Until now, I Hyun had never taken an interest in others’ affairs.

But today was an exception.

Whenever she faced Pyeong Hun, Ye Rin looked quite subdued.

He could tell at a glance that their father-daughter relationship was not ordinary.

That’s why he didn’t want them to meet if possible.

“It’s enough for me alone to unsettle Han Ye Rin.”