Hee Jun had a very strong sense of pride.

This was largely due to his parents, who had raised him with excessive indulgence since childhood.

Whenever Hee Jun did anything, his parents would give him a thumbs up, saying “our son,” “our great son.”

Even while attending medical school, Hee Jun’s family was the most well-off among his peers.

As the only son of the most famous large hospital in Gangnam, and a dermatologist himself, people around him tried their best to get involved with him somehow.

Always receiving such treatment, today he met a stronger man than himself for the first time.

Already feeling inferior physically compared to I Hyun and overwhelmed by his presence, he also felt very unpleasant as if his former woman, Ye Rin, had been taken away.

Seo Yun, observing Hee Jun deep in thought, drove the point home.

“Elder brother, I sincerely hope you and Ye Rin get back together.”

At those words, Hee Jun recalled the days he had spent with Ye Rin, whom he hadn’t met for months.

That bright smile she gave him, looking at him shyly, kept flashing before his eyes.

“Elder brother, you still have feelings for Han Ye Rin, don’t you?”

There was no answer, but the silence was an affirmation.

Seo Yun had heard him call Ye Rin’s name in his sleep a few times after their relationship ended.

At that time, she was very angry.

But now that she thought about it, it was an opportunity for Seo Yun.

If Hee Jun still had feelings for Ye Rin and his male pride was provoked, things would be easily resolved.

Seo Yun pulled up her red lips and pulled the trigger.

“Can you just sit back and watch Han Ye Rin getting involved with another man?”

“No.”

Hee Jun ground the ice in his mouth.

“I can’t let that happen.”

Hee Jun thought to himself.

He was determined to see the face of Cha I Hyun, who had acted so nonchalant today as if he owned the world, crumple.

[This is the timeline separator]

The bright spring sunshine poured into the office of Jiseok Electronics.

Then the sound of dignified footsteps echoed in the corridor, and soon I Hyun appeared.

As all the secretaries stood up to greet him, I Hyun responded with a bright smile.

“Everyone, keep up the good work today as well.”

I Hyun’s gaze, which had been smiling throughout, lingered a little longer on Ye Rin.

“Secretary Han, bring me the documents I requested as soon as they’re organized.”

As Ye Rin raised her head to face I Hyun, their gazes intertwined intensely in mid-air.

After looking at each other for quite a while, Ye Rin was the first to avert her eyes.

“I’ll deliver them right away, Director.”

“Alright, then follow me in.”

[This is the timeline separator]

“You’ve organized this very clearly, good job.”

It wasn’t just empty words, but sincere.

Ye Rin tended to organize documents from each team in an easy-to-understand manner, and those materials were so concise that work efficiency had increased significantly.

I Hyun closed the file folder with a thud, satisfied, and gazed steadily at Ye Rin.

“What kind of date would you like to have this weekend?”

At that question, Ye Rin looked slightly embarrassed.

“Director, I have a prior engagement this Saturday. If it’s alright with you, could we spend a bit more time together on Sunday?”

“Yes, let’s do that.”

After readily agreeing, I Hyun belatedly became curious about Ye Rin’s Saturday schedule.

“Where are you going on Saturday?”

“I have a regular volunteer activity that I do once a month.”

At those words, I Hyun showed great interest.

I Hyun himself regularly donated to orphanages, so he was even more curious about Ye Rin’s story.

“I usually go to an orphanage to prepare lunch and spend time with the children. That’s this Saturday.”

“I see.”

I Hyun nodded once in understanding.

“I thought it would be difficult to make time that day, so I suggested we have our date on Sunday.”

“May I join you for that volunteer work?”

“Yes, of course.”

A bright smile spread across Ye Rin’s face.

“I think the children would be very happy if you came along, Director.”

“Is that so? It might be lonely if Han Ye Rin goes alone.”

“Ah…”

As they were talking, Ye Rin belatedly realized something she had forgotten and bit her lip.

“What’s wrong?”

“Well, that…”

“Speak comfortably.”

There was only one reason for her hesitation.

The regular orphanage volunteer work was something she did with Na Ri.

So if I Hyun came along, he would find out that she and Na Ri were close friends…

After thinking for a moment, Ye Rin quickly spoke up.

“I met CEO Kim Na Ri of Cheto before, and while talking, we found out we volunteered at the same orphanage.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, so we agreed to go together this time, but I forgot about it.”

I Hyun raised his eyebrows slightly, as if it wasn’t a problem.

“Let’s go together. I know CEO Kim Na Ri of Cheto anyway.”

“Yes, alright.”

Ye Rin was looking forward to the volunteer work this week, curious about I Hyun’s appearance outside of work.

She was especially excited to see how I Hyun would be with the children.

“On that day, do you plan to travel with CEO Kim Na Ri then?”

“Yes, that’s the plan.”

“I see. I’ll go separately if you let me know the location, and we’ll meet there.”

[This is the timeline separator]

After I Hyun went into his office, Secretary Choi’s eyes narrowed sideways.

‘Come to think of it, the Director speaks quite kindly to Ye Rin.’

Compared to his previous assistants who couldn’t stand I Hyun’s intense personality and quit within a week, this was truly different treatment.

It didn’t make sense to say that I Hyun had come to his senses.

He wasn’t the type to consider others’ feelings in the first place.

So he wouldn’t think that the secretaries quit because he pushed them too hard.

‘Then why is he so kind to Secretary Han?’

It was a puzzling question.

‘Ah, could it be that Secretary Han found that woman the Director was so desperate to find?’

If he was being kind out of gratitude for that, it would make sense.

Perhaps thinking similarly to Secretary Choi, Hye Jin glanced at the tightly closed door of the Director’s office and approached to speak.

“The Director has never raised his voice at Secretary Han, right? Is Secretary Han particularly good at her job?”

It was a question asked out of envy.

“Yes. She does her work neatly. That’s why she was the most recommended candidate from HR when I was looking for my successor.”

Hearing this acknowledgment of Ye Rin, Hye Jin pouted.

“But Secretary Choi, why didn’t you recommend me as your successor? I could do well as the Director’s executive secretary too.”

Secretary Choi looked at Hye Jin incredulously as she said this.

Someone who often neglected tasks when assigned and was chronically late was coveting the role of executive secretary.

If Hye Jin had taken on that role, she probably wouldn’t have lasted even a day.

“Secretary Shin Hye Jin, how much progress have you made on the documents I requested yesterday?”

“What? What documents?”

Seeing her wide-eyed response, it seemed unlikely the task would be completed on time.

“I asked you to organize and bring me the last quarter’s sales report.”

“Ah, right! You did, didn’t you? I’m sorry. I’ll start working on it now.”

Hye Jin returned to her seat with an awkward smile.

Just then, Ye Rin, who had gone into I Hyun’s office, came out.

Secretary Choi picked up an invitation that had arrived by mail yesterday and knocked on I Hyun’s office door.

Upon entering, he saw I Hyun’s face fixed on some documents.

“Director, you’ve been invited to KK Food’s foundation anniversary celebration.”

“Is that so?”

“This year too, it’s with a partner. They’re asking for an RSVP by next week.”

“Do I have time to…”

I Hyun was about to say he didn’t have time, but then he put down his fountain pen and fell into thought for a moment.

“I’ll think about it a bit more and let you know.”

“Yes, understood.”

“Alright, you may go.”

Thinking the matter was settled, I Hyun shifted his gaze back to the documents.

Then, noticing that Secretary Choi was still standing there without leaving the office, he belatedly asked.

“What is it?”

“Director, how is the search for the lost woman progressing?”

“Ah, that.”

I Hyun raised his head again to look at Secretary Choi.

“If Secretary Han is too busy, should I help with the search?”

“No. Secretary Han is doing well, so you don’t need to worry about it.”

“Have you made any progress?”

“No, not really.”

A smile gradually spread across I Hyun’s face, though it was unclear what he was thinking.

“Secretary Han and I are working on something separately right now. I think she might be too busy with that to search properly, but it’s fine.”

“It’s fine?”

“Yes. There’s no need to rush. I told her she could take her time.”

Hearing I Hyun’s words, Secretary Choi’s confusion only deepened instead of being resolved.

It was such a shock that he had given instructions to take it slow, when not long ago he had been frantically insisting on finding that woman immediately as if his life depended on it.

Secretary Choi carefully probed I Hyun with a question.

“Secretary Han seems to be adapting well. I’m curious how you see it, Director.”

“Secretary Han Ye Rin? She’s perfect.”

At those words, a surprised expression settled on Secretary Choi’s face.

I Hyun had never evaluated anyone like that before.

For such a perfectionist to describe someone as perfect was unprecedented.

“That’s fortunate. If Secretary Han adapts well, I think I can hand over all my work to her now.”

“Yes. Pass things on to her one by one, slowly.”

“Alright. I’m very happy to have my weekends free since Secretary Han arrived.”

Secretary Choi’s face was full of genuine smiles as he said this.

Seeing this, I Hyun felt a bit guilty, wondering if he had overworked Secretary Choi all this time.

“Then Secretary Choi, you should rest well this weekend too.”

“But Director, you didn’t have any plans yet. Did you make an appointment in the meantime?”

Clearly, when he checked the calendar before entering the office, the weekend schedule was empty.

But from what he was saying now, it seemed some plans had been made.

“Yes, I do. I’m thinking of going to quite a nice place.”

At those words, curiosity filled Secretary Choi’s eyes.