Fortunately, everyone seemed hungry and briefly put aside their interest in Hyun’s unrequited love to eat.

As the secretaries were considerately given a separate space to dine, Ye Rin was able to catch her breath.

Throughout the meal, the secretaries whispered about what Hyun had said earlier.

“If Director Cha I Hyun is experiencing unrequited love, the woman must be truly extraordinary, right?”

“That’s what I’m saying. He’s such a perfect man that just looking at him could make one fall in love.”

“Maybe that woman already has a man?”

“True. Otherwise, there’s no way she would reject Director Cha I Hyun.”

A sudden question was directed at Ye Rin, who had been silently listening to the conversation.

“Secretary Han, do you know?”

“Pardon?”

“The woman the Director is head over heels for. I thought you might have seen her.”

Ye Rin gulped.

Hey, that amazing woman you’re all talking about is actually me.

But of course, she couldn’t say that.

“So? What’s she like?”

“Is she incredibly beautiful?”

Everyone’s eyes sparkled as they waited for Ye Rin’s next words.

It was too ambiguous to either confirm or deny.

Confirming felt like praising herself.

But denying seemed like it would damage Hyun’s reputation.

“To be honest, I don’t really know.”

That was the best answer Ye Rin could manage.

Just then.

As if they had finished eating, Lady Yun appeared with a knock.

“Secretary Han, when you’re done eating, could I see you for a moment?”

Though it seemed like a casual request, for some reason sweat trickled down Ye Rin’s back.

Unable to leisurely continue eating in this situation, Ye Rin stood up.

“Ma’am, I’ve finished my meal.”

Lady Yun shook her head, looking at Ye Rin’s untouched bowl.

“Finish that slowly and then come. I have plenty of time.”

Lady Yun gave a kind smile and left first.

The secretaries beside her gestured for her to eat quickly.

“The madam is sensitive about meals.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. She’s one of the few who thinks food is more important than work.”

“When she says to eat slowly and come out, she means it, so you can.”

“I see…”

Though not at all at ease, this too was Lady Yun’s instruction, so there was no choice.

Ye Rin emptied about half her bowl before getting up and heading to the back garden where Lady Yun was waiting.

As Ye Rin approached, Lady Yun smiled brightly and gestured for her to come closer.

Well-cut fruit and steaming chamomile tea were laid out.

“The men have probably gone into the study to talk about boring work matters.”

“Yes.”

As Ye Rin sat down across from her, Lady Yun cautiously observed her expression and began to speak.

“Secretary Han, what do you think of our Hyun?”

At that question, Ye Rin quickly set down her teacup without a sound.

She hurriedly lowered her trembling hands below the table.

She placed them on her knees and clasped them tightly.

Then, with a slight smile, she asked about Lady Yun’s question.

“I’m not sure I understand what you mean.”

“It’s exactly as I said. I’m just so curious how our Hyun appears to an unmarried woman.”

Ye Rin’s lips became parched.

Could it be that she was asking this because of how Hyun’s gaze kept lingering on her earlier in the dining room?

She was about to say that they really weren’t anything to each other, that there was no need to worry if that’s what this was about, but she kept her mouth shut.

Since she wasn’t certain what Lady Yun was thinking, she couldn’t readily say anything.

Lady Yun seemed to think Ye Rin was pondering how to phrase her answer.

“Don’t feel pressured. I was just curious how our Hyun appears to women in their 20s.”

“Ah, I see.”

“Did you know as well?”

“Know what…?”

“That Hyun is experiencing unrequited love.”

Of course she knew.

Moreover, she knew that the woman he was in love with was that disappeared woman, namely herself.

However, if she said she knew, it seemed she would face too many questions, so she decided to pretend not to know.

“I just heard about it for the first time today.”

“Is that so?”

Lady Yun watched Ye Rin’s expression closely.

Ye Rin tried to appear nonchalant as she answered without hesitation.

“Yes, I don’t have any personal conversations with the Director, so I wasn’t aware. I’m sorry.”

“Oh my, no need to apologize. It’s not Secretary Han’s fault.”

Lady Yun waved her hand dismissively.

“It’s not your fault that Hyun is experiencing unrequited love.”

Lady Yun probably meant it sincerely for Ye Rin’s sake, but Ye Rin felt miserable.

It seemed like it might be her fault.

But also maybe not.

She was standing on that ambiguous boundary.

“Maybe it’s because he’s my son, but I can’t see any faults in him.”

“Yes.”

Of course, even objectively speaking, Hyun had no faults.

“I think the woman Hyun loves might be around Secretary Han’s age.”

“…”

“As a mother, I’m just curious how women that age view a man like our Hyun.”

Lady Yun silently waited, as if truly curious about Ye Rin’s answer.

What should she say?

Her head felt like it would explode from the lack of a clear answer.

After contemplating for a while, Ye Rin cautiously began to speak.

“The Director is a wonderful person.”

“You don’t need to give such flattering praise between us.”

“Then what…”

“His personality is a bit cold, isn’t it?”

“No, not at all.”

“I heard from Secretary Choi, so I know.”

At the words “I know,” Ye Rin tensed up again without realizing it.

What did she know?

That Hyun was looking for the disappeared woman?

Surely Secretary Choi wouldn’t have shared such details?

Her thoughts spiraled one after another.

Sigh.

She truly felt like she wouldn’t live to see her natural lifespan.

Fortunately, Lady Yun didn’t seem to know anything about the disappeared woman.

“I heard he’s quite prickly at the company.”

“Ah, that’s what they say, but…”

“You spend the most time with him these days, so you must know better than anyone.”

“But this really isn’t just flattery.”

“Okay, tell me. Speak freely.”

Though the situation was not at all comfortable, Ye Rin slowly opened her mouth.

“The Director has been so kind to me that I’ve never felt…”

Ah, come to think of it, he hadn’t always been this friendly.

On the first day, he was so cold that they barely exchanged words.

That’s right.

But when did he suddenly start treating her well?

Thinking deeply, it seemed to be after returning from Brand Cheto’s headquarters.

Yes, his prickly tone seemed to have changed a bit since then.

Why?

Ye Rin’s eyes trembled slightly.

Why on earth?

“Secretary Han? What are you thinking so hard about?”

“I’m sorry.”

She couldn’t find the answer on her own.

But she also couldn’t ask Hyun why he was being so nice to her.

For now, it seemed she needed to answer the question posed by Lady Yun sitting across from her.

“The Director was a bit cold at first, but he’s been treating me really well lately.”

“Is that so?”

Lady Yun tilted her head, as if perplexed.

“Then it doesn’t seem to be a personality issue either.”

The reason for her son’s one-sided love seemed to become even more of a mystery.

“Secretary Han, may I ask you for a favor?”

Lady Yun held out a shopping bag that had been sitting on an empty chair to Ye Rin.

“What’s this?”

“A gift for Secretary Han.”

“Pardon?”

“Open it.”

Ye Rin opened the well-wrapped shopping bag with a bewildered expression.

Inside was a luxury handbag.

Ye Rin’s eyes flickered slightly.

“Only three of these bags were imported into our country this time.”

“I see.”

“I bought two of them.”

Lady Yun took a sip of tea with a slight smile.

“I was going to keep one for myself and give the other to my daughter-in-law.”

“Ahem.”

Startled by the sudden mention of a daughter-in-law, Ye Rin choked on her tea and coughed.

“Are you alright?”

“Yes, I was just surprised. I’m fine.”

The tips of Ye Rin’s fingers grew cold again.

As she swallowed hard, Lady Yun quickly continued speaking.

“I think it’s more fitting for Secretary Han to have it.”

“Why would I…”

If she was going to give it to her daughter-in-law, why was she suddenly handing this bag to her?

It was really difficult to follow the flow of the conversation.

“Secretary Han, could you find out about that woman our Hyun is chasing?”

Ye Rin was so shocked that she dropped the bag she was holding.

She thought it was really good that she hadn’t mentioned that she was that woman.

Well, she never intended to say it anyway.

Then Lady Yun held out another black card.

“Whether you persuade our son, or meet and persuade that woman Hyun is crazy about, could you do that for me?”

Ye Rin stared blankly at the bag that had been suddenly thrust upon her, which supposedly only three had been imported into the country, or rather, which Lady Yun had originally intended to give to her daughter-in-law.

“I know you’re busy too, Secretary Han, but I’m this desperate.”

“…”

“Oh, is it not enough? If you don’t like that bag…”

“No, ma’am. It’s too much.”

Ye Rin put the luxury bag back into the shopping bag, as if unable to accept it.

Lady Yun’s face fell.

“I suppose it is a bit much to ask for something so personal? I’m sorry, I was so thoughtless.”

“No! You can give me work instructions anytime, but this gift is just too much.”

Lady Yun smiled brightly.

“No, it’s not. From what I can see, it will be difficult for Hyun to give up his feelings. If that’s the case, the only option is to persuade that young lady. And it seems our Secretary Han is perfect for that task.”

It’s not like she had some mysterious ability, so why was she being asked to do this, Ye Rin wondered, when Lady Yun spoke up.

“Don’t you think women of similar age might understand each other better?”

Hearing that, it did seem to make sense.

Ye Rin gradually began to be swayed by Lady Yun’s eloquent words.

“Especially if I were to step in, it would make the young lady too uncomfortable.”

“Yes, that’s true.”

Absolutely cannot let Lady Yun get involved.

At that thought, Ye Rin’s face instantly hardened.