I Hyun came down from Ye Rin’s house and immediately called Pyeong Hun.

The call connected almost instantly, before the ringtone could even sound a few times.

“Oh my. What’s the matter at this hour of the night?”

“Chairman Han, since we’re investing in business anyway, I’d like to make one more proposal.”

“Haha. What is it?”

“I heard from Ye Rin that Mrs. Park is receiving hospital treatment.”

“Ah, yes. That’s right.”

“Hospital bills must not be a small amount. It must have been hard for Chairman Han to take care of everything.”

“Haha. It’s what a head of household should do.”

Pyeong Hun was trying to take all the credit while never having paid for Chan Sook’s hospital bills even once.

I Hyun wore a faint sneer on his face.

“If it’s alright with you, since we’ve become entangled in business like this, it must be fate. Would it be okay if I help support the hospital bills?”

“Eh? Really?”

“Yes. I don’t know where she’s being treated now, but I’d like to help ensure she receives care from the country’s top medical staff.”

“Haha. I’d be grateful, but…”

Pyeong Hun pretended to contemplate for a moment, then eagerly accepted I Hyun’s proposal.

“I’m fine with it. Haha. I’m not sure if I should accept such help.”

“If you could give me information about the hospital where Mrs. Park is currently admitted, I’ll send someone tomorrow morning.”

“Ah, yes yes. I’ll do that.”

After ending the call, a sardonic smile spread across I Hyun’s face.

He had played with Ye Rin so much using Chan Sook’s hospital information.

The fact that he gave the information to him so easily was also displeasing.

“But now I’ll be able to see her face often.”

Recalling her delicate figure that had shown tears before him today, his heart inexplicably ached.

I Hyun called Secretary Choi.

“Secretary Choi, there’s something I need you to take care of early tomorrow morning.”

“Director, I’ve stepped back from your work duties now. If it’s urgent, perhaps Secretary Han…”

“It’s a personal matter.”

“Ah, I see.”

That changes things.

Ye Rin had agreed to take over I Hyun’s work duties, and Choi had agreed to handle these personal requests that I Hyun asked for privately.

“It must be urgent. For you to call me this late at night.”

“I sent you a message.”

“Yes. J Hospital? What’s the business there?”

“You don’t need to know the details. Patient Park Chan Sook, arrange for her admission to Jiseok Hospital’s VIP room tomorrow.”

“Should I go personally to escort her?”

“Yes.”

“What kind of relationship does she have with you, Director…”

Secretary Choi seemed to be saying something, but I Hyun, having finished his business, hung up first.

I Hyun didn’t start his car, waiting for a long time in front of Ye Rin’s house.

Finally, the lights in her house went out, and only then did I Hyun move.

[This is the timeline separator]

Ye Rin slowly opened her eyelids to the familiar sound of the alarm.

She got up from bed with difficulty as her head throbbed with pain.

“How did I get home?”

As she slowly recalled yesterday’s events, Ye Rin’s expression changed moment by moment.

“Ah, right. The Director brought me home, didn’t he?”

She could have taken a taxi, so why did he bother?

Thinking about it, it seemed strange that I Hyun drove personally.

“Did the Director not drink?”

No, that’s not right. He definitely said he had a drinking habit.

“He said his drinking habit was not remembering… huh?”

The actions she took believing those words passed before her eyes like scenes from a movie.

“No. No. It can’t be.”

No matter how vigorously she shook her head, nothing changed.

“Why did I do that?”

Even belatedly blaming herself didn’t erase the actions she had taken.

“The Director’s drinking habit should be not remembering…”

Regardless.

The gloomy fact was that I Hyun hadn’t touched a single glass of wine last night.

“Did I just get completely fooled?”

Sigh. Deep sighs kept coming out.

There was only one thing Ye Rin could do. Pretend not to remember anything from last night. There was no other option.

Ye Rin put the clothes she had worn into the washing machine and quickly started preparing for work.

Many things had changed overnight.

She had agreed to fake date I Hyun, and not only had she touched his lips, but she had grabbed his hand first.

How should she face I Hyun when she saw him?

It was a work preparation filled with nothing but sighs.

[This is the timeline separator]

Although she had agreed to fake date I Hyun, the fortunate thing was that he didn’t show it during work hours.

Even when she entered I Hyun’s office to brief him on the schedule, he treated Ye Rin more businesslike than usual.

“Secretary Han, let’s move tonight’s meeting to another day. I have somewhere to stop by.”

“Understood.”

After continuing to talk only about work, I Hyun called out to Ye Rin as she was leaving the office.

“Secretary Han.”

“Yes, Director.”

“How’s your stomach?”

“…”

Ye Rin quickly composed her expression and turned around.

“I think I drank a bit too much yesterday.”

“I see. Was the wine that delicious?”

“Yes… It won’t happen again.”

Watching Ye Rin make such a declaration, I Hyun slowly licked his lower lip as if disappointed.

He was worried about her drinking without him, but he thought it might be good to see her drunk occasionally when she was with him.

He had a feeling it could be a catalyst for bringing them closer.

“Can’t a couple have a drink together now and then?”

Ye Rin was about to say something to I Hyun, who was smiling at her, but held back.

She couldn’t ask why he made only her drink when they had agreed to drink together.

The moment she asked that, it would be admitting that I Hyun wasn’t drunk.

And that meant I Hyun’s drinking habit would disappear like a bubble.

Ye Rin straightened her back, deciding to pretend not to remember well.

“From now on, if you drink, Director, I’ll just drink water beside you.”

“Where’s the fun in that?”

“Pardon?”

“Isn’t it about having deep conversations while drinking with your girlfriend?”

“…”

“That’s what people who date normally seem to do.”

That was true.

“I have a very low alcohol tolerance. Please understand this part.”

“Well, alright. You did seem to have a very low tolerance when I saw you yesterday.”

Just as Ye Rin was about to change the subject, thinking it would be best not to mention yesterday’s events as much as possible.

I Hyun asked.

“Come to think of it, I don’t know Secretary Han’s drinking habit.”

“Pardon?”

“I told you about my drinking habit. But I haven’t heard about Secretary Han’s.”

Ye Rin tightly gripped her diary with both hands.

Biting her lips, Ye Rin spoke without being able to meet I Hyun’s eyes.

“I also tend to not remember when I’m drunk.”

“Oh my. Really?”

“Yes. Like you, Director.”

I Hyun laughed as if amused and then stood up.

“Then if we drink together, there’s no one who remembers what happened that day?”

“I guess that’s how it would be?”

“Interesting. How can our drinking habits be the same?”

“…”

“It seems we must be meant for each other.”

“What? It seems inappropriate to conclude that just because our drinking habits are the same.”

Despite Ye Rin’s iron wall, I Hyun didn’t back down.

Rather, he came around the desk and spoke as he approached.

“So how much of last night does Secretary Han remember?”

Ye Rin unknowingly closed her eyes tightly and then opened them.

She remembered everything.

From pouring out her inner thoughts, to touching I Hyun’s lips.

Then throwing a tantrum about not wanting her drink taken away.

And finally, fiddling with I Hyun’s hand and interlocking fingers.

‘I don’t remember anything, I don’t remember.’

Hypnotizing herself like that, Ye Rin lifted her eyelids.

She was startled to find I Hyun’s face right in front of her and stepped back.

“I…”

I Hyun waited with his head tilted slightly as if anticipating Ye Rin’s answer.

“As I said, I was very drunk yesterday.”

“And so?”

“I really don’t remember anything at all.”

Finally, Ye Rin smiled awkwardly.

“I’m sorry.”

“No need. Why are you apologizing? These things happen.”

I Hyun smiled generously as he brushed back his well-styled hair with one hand.

“You really don’t remember?”

It was a piercing gaze that seemed to see right through Ye Rin.

Ye Rin nodded her head vigorously.

“Yes. When I opened my eyes, I was at home.”

Hahaha. She laughed awkwardly.

‘Whew. What can he do with someone who doesn’t remember?’

Just as she was feeling relieved.

I Hyun came in suddenly without warning.

“Then you don’t remember all those things we did last night?”

I Hyun slowly licked his lower lip as if it was too regrettable.

“It was a night too thrilling for me to remember alone.”

Ye Rin’s lips parted wide.

‘It wasn’t that thrilling of a night.’

The words she couldn’t say out loud just swirled in her mouth.

I Hyun’s lips were pulled up at the corners as if intrigued.

“It’s a shame you don’t remember.”

Ye Rin could only roll her eyes.

“Since you don’t remember, shall I explain that night’s events in detail for you? Is that okay?”

“Yes…”

It wasn’t okay, but she had to pretend it was.

After all, it was a story she already knew.

Hearing it once more from I Hyun’s mouth wouldn’t make her faint from shock.

“Yesterday, Secretary Han, you poked my lips with your finger like this.”

I Hyun took another step closer, narrowing the distance.

Because he was leaning down to her waist, their gazes overlapped at a close distance just like last night.

I Hyun whispered softly as if telling a secret.

“And then you kissed me.”

“What?”

“It’s surprising, isn’t it? I was really surprised yesterday too.”

A kiss?

She definitely hadn’t done that.

She just lightly touched his lips with her finger.

Why had that suddenly transformed into a kiss?

Ye Rin was about to say something but closed her lips again.

It seemed to appear to I Hyun’s eyes that she was surprised.

“And then our hands, like this.”

I Hyun grabbed Ye Rin’s delicate wrist as she had done and lifted it.

Then he interlocked their fingers and smiled.

“We held hands like this.”

“…”

“Of course, it wasn’t me, but Secretary Han who initiated it first.”

I Hyun put on a serious face while still holding her hand.