However, contrary to such worries, Do Joon approached closely, perched on the edge of the table, and brought up work talk.

“Previously, Jin’s proposal for konjac rice had two flavors – multigrain and doenjang, correct?”

“That’s right.”

“I’m wondering if there will be demand for the doenjang flavor.”

“To be honest, I haven’t personally made and tasted it, so I agree with your concern, Director.”

“Let’s go to the factory in Busan, taste it ourselves, and then have a detailed discussion.”

“Understood. I’ll call to set up a schedule, visit, and report back to you.”

Tae Yeon naturally thought she would be going on the business trip alone, but that didn’t seem to be the case.

Do Joon looked down at Tae Yeon with his arms crossed.

“Aren’t you going to ask about my schedule?”

“Pardon?”

“Ask Secretary Choi, and she’ll let you know my available times.”

And as if he was done speaking, Do Joon stood up to leave the conference room first.

Tae Yeon grabbed his arm abruptly to stop him.

“You’re coming along too, Director?”

“Did you think you would be going alone?”

Questions hung in the air without answers for a moment.

“I can handle it on my own…”

“I’m coming too. It’s an important matter where I need to taste it myself and make a decision.”

Before Do Joon came, the previous director had never participated in the detailed process of developing new products.

All he had done was sign off on approval documents and suck up to higher-ups.

Do Joon asked first.

“Do you dislike going with me?”

“Pardon?”

“Let me rephrase the question. Do you dislike that Director Cha Do Joon is joining the business trip, or…”

“…”

Do Joon glanced at the tightly closed conference room door once and whispered softly to Tae Yeon.

“Do you dislike having to see your husband, Cha Do Joon, even on a business trip?”

“May I speak honestly?”

“Go ahead.”

“It’s not that I dislike it, but I’m a bit taken aback.”

“About what?”

“I didn’t expect you would come along on such a minor business trip, Director.”

She couldn’t bring herself to ask if he would have gone along if it had been another employee’s proposal that was approved.

She didn’t want to be laughed at by Do Joon if it turned out to be just her own misconception.

Do Joon made a face as if to say, why is that a problem?

“My job is to ensure that new products are created without issues from start to finish and launched into the world.”

Tae Yeon gripped the diary in her hand tightly.

“Even if the factory were on a deserted island instead of Busan, I intend to go with you.”

“What?”

“Ah, it’s just a figure of speech. I’m not saying I’d follow you to a deserted island.”

Isn’t that the same thing? She couldn’t help but feel a bit displeased, wondering if he was coming along because he didn’t trust her.

As if reading Tae Yeon’s mind, Do Joon added one more thing as he walked towards the conference room door.

“Of course, you would do well going alone, but I’m coming along to help if there are any difficulties with coordination on-site.”

Do Joon turned around.

“Like a reliable insurance policy, so to speak.”

Do Joon clearly conveyed that his joining the business trip was not to monitor how well Tae Yeon was doing her job, but to help things go more smoothly.

She understood, but that didn’t mean she felt comfortable going on a trip with him.

“So make sure to consider my schedule when setting up the trip dates.”

[This is the timeline separator]

While resting after arriving home, a message arrived on Tae Yeon’s phone.

She thought it would be from President Jin, but the sender was Chairman Cha.

Tae Yeon hurriedly opened her phone screen.

[My daughter-in-law, I prepared a belated birthday gift but haven’t been able to give it to you yet. Let me know when you’re free, and I’ll come personally.]

Tae Yeon immediately called Chairman Cha. After just a few rings, the Chairman’s voice, full of laughter, came through.

“Father, I’m calling after seeing your message.”

−My dear, I hope I’m not interrupting your evening.

“Not at all. I was just resting.”

−The birthday gift is quite late, but I still wanted to give it to you, so I contacted you.

“I’ll come to Baeksang-jae at a time that works for you, Chairman.”

−Ho ho ho. No, I’ll come to see you. Ah, but visiting your newlywed home might be intrusive…

While talking with Chairman Cha, Do Joon’s voice was heard from outside.

“Jin Tae Yeon, may I come in for a moment?”

Tae Yeon excused herself to Chairman Cha and then opened the door. His bangs were wet, as if he had just finished exercising and returned.

“What is it?”

Do Joon shifted his gaze to the phone in Tae Yeon’s hand.

“Is it Chairman Cha?”

“Huh? Ah, yes.”

Do Joon frowned deeply and gestured for Tae Yeon to hand over the phone.

When Tae Yeon hesitated, Do Joon bent down and put his mouth close to Tae Yeon’s phone.

“Father, I thought I told you not to contact us so abruptly like this. It’s inconvenient.”

The sound of Chairman Cha mumbling something came through the receiver.

Tae Yeon tapped Do Joon’s shoulder. He looked up at her while still seated.

“I called him. We’ll talk after I finish the call, please leave.”

At her firm tone, Do Joon looked dumbfounded. Tae Yeon reached for the doorknob, ready to close the door.

Do Joon stood up and obediently left her room.

After firmly closing the door, Tae Yeon continued her conversation with Chairman Cha.

“Father, I’m sorry. Do Joon suddenly came in during our call.”

−Ho ho ho. No, it’s fine. You’re newlyweds, and I was thoughtlessly on the phone for too long.

“Not at all. I’ll visit you soon.”

−Anytime is good for me. I should hang up now. Who knows how much nagging I’ll get from that boy Do Joon…

Chairman Cha quickly ended the call, as if being chased by someone. She felt needlessly sorry.

Tae Yeon opened the door and went out to the living room. Do Joon wasn’t in his room, perhaps having gone to take a shower.

When she entered the master bedroom on the first floor, she could hear the sound of water from the attached bathroom.

And not long after, the sound stopped, the bathroom door opened, and Do Joon walked out. With just a towel wrapped around his lower body.

Below his well-sculpted chest muscles, as if someone had deliberately molded them, were even more harmonious abs. His well-defined upper body muscles were like a carefully crafted sculpture. Water that hadn’t been fully wiped off was still trickling down between them.

It was dizzying and dangerous.

Startled by his unexpected appearance, Tae Yeon covered her mouth with both hands in surprise.

As Tae Yeon was about to step out to go to the living room, Do Joon spoke in a low voice.

“Weren’t you waiting because you had something to say?”

Still turned away, Tae Yeon said,

“I’ll talk after you get dressed.”

Do Joon had already come close behind Tae Yeon.

“What if I don’t get dressed?”

“What?”

Tae Yeon whirled around to confront him about what he meant.

He was so close that all Tae Yeon could see was apricot-colored skin filling her vision.

She took a step back. And fixed her gaze on his face.

“What you just said, what exactly do you mean?”

“Mean? There’s no particular meaning. I just meant I don’t intend to put on pajamas.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s stuffy?”

At this ridiculous answer, Tae Yeon opened her mouth and fired off words.

“Do Joon, do you think ‘it’s stuffy’ is a reasonable excuse for not wearing clothes? You’re not an animal.”

Do Joon looked intrigued, as if telling her to continue.

“It seems our couple pajamas are the problem. That brand’s products cling tightly to the body, so that must be why. I’ll go to the department store tomorrow and pick out comfortable pajamas, so please bear with it just for today.”

It was a good opportunity to not have to wear couple pajamas with him.

However, Do Joon slowly shook his head, seemingly unchanged in his thoughts.

“There’s a habit I haven’t mentioned out of consideration for you, Jin Tae Yeon.”

Seeing Do Joon’s darkened eyes, she felt a bit scared, sensing that even worse words might come out.

“What is it?”

“I usually sleep without wearing anything.”

“…”

Tae Yeon blinked, wondering if she had heard correctly.

Wait. Nothing?

If nothing, then not just pajamas, but underwear too…

“No way!”

Tae Yeon shouted. Seeing her reaction, Do Joon raised the corners of his mouth as if amused and asked,

“You’re very adamant, Jin Tae Yeon.”

“When you were alone, I didn’t care if you slept naked or bundled up, but sleeping naked while living with me… Haa, don’t you think that might be a bit difficult?”

Tae Yeon clasped her hands together in front of her chest as if pleading earnestly.

“Difficult?”

“Yes. Don’t you think so?”

It was very amusing to see Tae Yeon flustered and at a loss.

A mischievous smile spread across Do Joon’s face.

“For whom? For me? Or for you?”

“Of course for me…”

Tae Yeon trailed off.

Do Joon is the one sleeping naked, so why could it be difficult for him? What does this mean?

Soon realizing the implication, Tae Yeon’s face turned slightly red. Her voice trembled subtly.

“Do Joon, you said it’s difficult to sleep with clothes on, right?”

“That’s right.”

“What you just said indirectly – that it might be difficult for you to sleep naked next to me – wasn’t that it?”

Faced with this pointed question, it was Do Joon’s turn to be at a loss for words. Tae Yeon tilted her head.

“If it’s difficult both dressed and undressed, couldn’t you just wear pajamas for my sake?”

“What I said just now was to tease you, Jin Tae Yeon.”

Tae Yeon looked at Do Joon skeptically.

“I haven’t slept fully clothed very often. Lately, sleeping all bundled up has been giving me sleep paralysis. So I’ve been having frequent headaches at work too.”

Maybe he shouldn’t have mentioned the sleep paralysis.

But it seemed to have worked on Tae Yeon. She was looking at Do Joon with concern.

“Really?”

“Yes. I keep having nightmares too. Quite frequently.”

Do Joon raised one hand to his forehead and sighed as if in distress.

He desperately tried to hold back a laugh that was about to escape as he watched Tae Yeon’s very troubled face.

After pondering for a moment, Tae Yeon made a decision.

“Then… do as you wish.”

“Are you saying I can sleep naked?”