“You can use this card to buy anything the secretary wants. And for the time spent meeting that young lady. Think of it as easily processing expenses.”

Mrs. Yoon placed a black card in one of Ye Rin’s hands and a luxury handbag in the other, then stood up first with an unburdened expression.

In contrast to her, Ye Rin felt like she was going crazy, as if carrying heavy stones in both hands and on her chest.

“If I Hyun can’t win that woman’s heart, I might die without ever seeing a daughter-in-law.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“So I think it would be better in many ways for the secretary to have that bag.”

Mrs. Yoon added that she should absolutely not feel burdened.

Even though it was not a bag with a price that wouldn’t be burdensome.

Mother and son truly resembled each other in this way.

This situation where, when she came to her senses, things were flowing as they wanted as if entranced.

Thinking that even if she refused, Mrs. Yoon likely wouldn’t just let it go, Ye Rin reluctantly accepted the gifts.

While thinking she would keep them at home untouched in the shopping bag to give back to Mrs. Yoon later.

[This is the timeline separator]

At the same time, in Chairman Cha’s study.

Su Hyun said he had work at the company and left first.

Normally I Hyun would have just eaten and headed straight to the company, but today he had remaining business.

“I Hyun, give up this unrequited love or whatever right now.”

I Hyun laughed with an expression of disbelief.

“Chairman Cha, why do you tell me not to do it when you’ve done it yourself?”

While living so happily with Mrs. Yoon.

Why tell him not to do something so good.

Seeing I Hyun’s face tinged with rebelliousness, Chairman Cha heaved a deep sigh.

“A person’s heart is the thing least under one’s own control.”

“I know that well.”

I Hyun was not unaware.

That’s why he felt like going crazy these days.

“In business, when you invest time, you can see the results with your own eyes.”

Chairman Cha looked at I Hyun with a face deeply etched with wrinkles.

“But with a person’s heart, no matter how much effort I put in, the door may not open.”

“In the end, you succeeded, Father.”

“I was lucky.”

“There’s no reason that luck can’t work for me too.”

Chairman Cha heaved another deep sigh as he looked at the truly persistent I Hyun.

“Why on earth do you want to go down such a difficult path?”

Of course, it would be nice if their hearts connected and they lived happily.

But looking at I Hyun’s behavior now, that possibility seemed slim.

“There must be many women who would line up for you.”

“I don’t like them.”

Well, this was all going in circles if he tried to say anything.

“Just go on arranged meetings and meet a proper young lady who meets the conditions.”

I Hyun set down his fork that had been picking up an apple with a clatter, as if truly dumbfounded.

“No, Chairman Cha. Why do you do all the good things yourself but not let me do them?”

“It’s good now. But at the time, I went through indescribable heartache, so don’t.”

At the honest confession, I Hyun hesitated for a moment.

“I can’t bear to see my son struggling so much. Choose the easy path.”

Chairman Cha’s will was firm.

He seemed to hope for a strategic marriage where the other party would be eager for I Hyun based on conditions.

“If you live together intimately, feelings can develop even if there were none before.”

As Chairman Cha tried to continue preaching that love could come later even in a strategic marriage, I Hyun cut him off sharply.

“The existing feelings won’t disappear.”

“……”

“I don’t want to meet another woman.”

Chairman Cha pressed a hand to his forehead as if he had a throbbing headache.

“Which family’s daughter is it?”

“……”

“I’ll meet her myself and persuade her.”

At those words, I Hyun abruptly stood up.

“That’s enough. Don’t interfere and mess things up. Father, you don’t understand women’s hearts either.”

“What do you mean I don’t understand? Tsk.”

“That’s enough. Don’t try to help and make things more difficult. I can handle it well on my own.”

Hearing those words, Chairman Cha threw his head back and laughed.

“Hahaha. You talk as if you know so well.”

“At least better than you, Father.”

The gazes of the two men locked in mid-air.

To others they may have looked like father and son, but they were sharpening their blades against each other, each claiming to be a little better.

“Then I’ll be going now.”

Thinking Ye Rin would be uncomfortable if he stayed here long, I Hyun quickly left the study.

[This is the timeline separator]

“Madam, but this card……”

As Ye Rin was trying to return the card to Mrs. Yoon.

The door to the back garden suddenly burst open and a familiar face appeared.

“Mother, what are you doing holding the secretary back?”

“We just had a cup of tea.”

“I told you not to inconvenience people by calling them out separately.”

“I didn’t eat her, son!”

Mrs. Yoon made a wronged face.

“I had a gift I wanted to give, so I called her for that.”

Only then did I Hyun’s eyes notice Ye Rin holding something in both hands.

And her flustered expression, not knowing what to do.

“What is this?”

“I originally bought it to give to a daughter-in-law.”

At the word daughter-in-law, I Hyun’s eyebrows rose slightly.

Wondering if she had somehow found out something and was testing Ye Rin in the meantime, I Hyun’s heart also grew urgent.

But he soon returned to an expressionless face and turned to Mrs. Yoon.

“Why did you give that to the secretary?”

“I just wanted to give it to her.”

“I know there’s no such thing as ‘just’ with you, Mother.”

I Hyun had already stepped between Mrs. Yoon and Ye Rin as he spoke in a pleasing baritone.

“What did you ask the secretary to do?”

“I told her to meet that woman you’re in unrequited love with.”

“Why did you do that?”

“I just thought since they’re similar in age, the secretary might know some solution.”

“I’ll handle my own affairs.”

Mrs. Yoon protested as if truly wronged.

“I didn’t ask for free.”

“What do you mean?”

“I gave the secretary a card to buy whatever she wants to her heart’s content.”

At those words, I Hyun’s expression changed subtly.

“I’ll take care of the secretary myself.”

Taking advantage of that gap, Ye Rin emerged from behind I Hyun’s back.

“Madam, this card is really fine. I’ll let you know if I need it.”

“You can keep it……”

Since I Hyun was glaring at Mrs. Yoon, she had no choice but to take the card from Ye Rin’s hand.

“You won’t accept the bag even if I give it, so make sure to take it, Secretary Han.”

“Yes, Madam.”

[This is the timeline separator]

In I Hyun’s car heading to the company.

I Hyun broke the heavy silence that had settled.

“I’m sorry, I left you alone with my mother because I vacated my seat.”

“No, it was fine.”

When she first met her, Ye Rin thought Mrs. Yoon was a very strict person.

But after seeing her for a long time, she didn’t seem to be an inflexible person.

Of course, that was because she was an outsider.

If she found out that the woman I Hyun liked was her, her attitude would surely change.

Because she didn’t meet Mrs. Yoon’s expectations.

“What did you two talk about?”

“Madam asked me to persuade that woman you’re in unrequited love with, Director.”

“I see.”

“Of course, I didn’t mention anything about that woman having disappeared.”

“You did well.”

I Hyun, who had been looking ahead while driving, slowly turned his head.

His gaze met Ye Rin’s as she was looking at him while continuing her report.

“The moment they find out that woman has disappeared.”

“……”

“Our whole family will set out to find her.”

Ah, just thinking about it was dizzying.

So Ye Rin unknowingly squeezed her eyes shut.

“Then the secretary’s achievement will disappear. Don’t you think?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“But you know. We have to find that woman for the secretary to meet and persuade her directly or for me to go and plead. Don’t you agree?”

“Yes, that’s true……”

Fortunately, I Hyun didn’t say anything about why she hadn’t brought that woman yet.

Rather, he uttered something a bit more unexpected.

“You can take your time finding her.”

“Pardon?”

He had been acting like he would die right away if that woman wasn’t brought immediately.

She was curious why he suddenly changed his stance like that.

“I’m not fully prepared yet.”

Prepared?

Was he thinking of dragging her straight to the wedding hall as soon as that woman appeared before his eyes?

Right, that would be just like I Hyun.

He probably hasn’t even secured a venue yet since work has been so busy lately.

And preparations for things like the newlywed home are far from done.

As Ye Rin was drawing her own conclusions like that.

I Hyun added an explanation.

“I haven’t been able to practice much with the secretary.”

“Excuse me?”

“Secretary Han, didn’t you say this morning that you’d do anything I asked once I woke up?”

“……”

No way.

It can’t be.

Ye Rin shook her head without realizing.

Seeing that, I Hyun chuckled again.

“Looks like you know what I’m going to ask.”

“I don’t know. And I don’t want to know in the future either.”

At her honest feelings, I Hyun laughed loudly this time.

“Let’s think of it as saving a person.”

“……”

“If I suddenly meet that woman and don’t know what to do, how flustered would I be?”

That just happens naturally, you know.

But she couldn’t say that because she could predict too well what I Hyun would say.

“The secretary must have a lot of dating experience.”

If not this, then.

“The secretary must be skilled from lots of dating experience, but it’s my first time.”

Or.

“I’m the type to run countless simulations even before a meeting. So I want to thoroughly prepare for dating in advance too.”

He would probably say something similar to this.

Right on cue, I Hyun’s car arrived in front of Jiseok Electronics headquarters.

“Oh dear. It’s work hours but I mixed in personal talk again, I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine.”

It might be better to finish that conversation now.

But when had I Hyun ever moved as she wanted?

I Hyun turned off the engine and smiled at Ye Rin.

“Let’s continue the rest after work.”

“…… Alright.”

This must all be karma for her past deeds.

Thinking that, Ye Rin got out of the car with a heavy heart.

“Secretary Han, don’t forget this too.”

I Hyun personally grabbed the bag Mrs. Yoon had meant to give to a daughter-in-law but ended up giving to Ye Rin.

The moment she walked into the office carrying this, all eyes would obviously be on her.

“Director, we’re meeting after work anyway, right?”

“That’s right.”

“Then can I take this with me then?”

“Sure. Whatever is convenient for the secretary.”

I Hyun nodded readily.

The fact that she would meet him after work was the only pleasant moment.