The spot where Tae Yeon’s soft lips touched burned hotly.

If Tae Yeon was trying to make him uncomfortable, it was a complete success.

After that, Tae Yeon kissed Do Joon’s upper body muscles a few more times, smacking her lips like someone tasting delicious food. Then she moved away from Do Joon.

“Haa.”

After Tae Yeon retreated, Do Joon let out the breath he had been holding in confusion.

In his life, Tae Yeon was the first woman to make him so helpless.

Seeing her sleeping with an innocent face as if nothing had happened, not even teasing, he could only laugh in frustration.

Though Tae Yeon had moved away, the sensation that spread through his body from where she had kissed him still remained intact.

Do Joon regretted what he had said earlier that evening. That it wouldn’t be a problem at all if Tae Yeon drew a line or built a wall.

He could only chuckle at the fact that he had thought about crossing that line, that wall, without any countermeasures.

“I didn’t know you were such a dangerous person.”

Whenever he stood next to Tae Yeon, his rational thinking would sometimes lose its way.

Though he had never interfered in others’ lives, strangely, Tae Yeon was an exception.

Was it the start when he felt upset by the mischief caused by Tae Yeon’s family?

Or was it before that, when they were acting like an affectionate couple in front of others to keep up appearances?

At this point, the starting point wasn’t important. What was clear was that he regarded Tae Yeon as a special person.

And he wanted to be remembered as such a person by Tae Yeon as well.

“What nonsense.”

This was greed rather than stubbornness. Realizing his own feelings, Do Joon felt even more conflicted.

Looking at Tae Yeon lying with her back turned to him, he didn’t like this either.

“I think it might be better if you hugged me while sleeping like before.”

Do Joon was about to embrace Tae Yeon as she had done, but he quickly withdrew his arms.

If Tae Yeon were to wake up tomorrow morning and see that position, she might adamantly refuse to sleep together again.

And so, Do Joon created yet another secret between Tae Yeon and himself.

[This is the timeline separator]

The next day.

Tae Yeon, who woke up before Do Joon, prepared to go out in another room so as not to wake him.

It was a morning when she regretted not bringing extra clothes to minimize luggage for the business trip.

“Ah. This dress is too short.”

She had mistakenly packed a dress with a similar pattern while hastily choosing clothes.

It wasn’t a problem when standing, but it was a different story when sitting.

She carefully considered the day’s schedule in her mind. After stopping by the factory to check the schedule once more, there was nothing else for her to take care of.

Do Joon wasn’t the type to comment on her attire either.

It seemed better to choose the slightly shorter dress than wearing the same clothes as yesterday.

Knock knock− Hearing the knock from outside, Tae Yeon cleared her throat.

“Yes, Do Joon.”

“Are you ready?”

“No, not yet.”

“Is there something troubling you?”

Tae Yeon slightly opened the door and looked at Do Joon.

“No. I just spent a lot of time choosing clothes.”

“I see.”

As Do Joon was about to leave, treating it as no big deal, he suddenly turned back.

“It seems you have someone you want to impress.”

“Pardon?”

“No, it’s just that you seem to be choosing your clothes more carefully than usual.”

Do Joon’s dark eyes turned towards Tae Yeon.

“Are you trying to impress me?”

“What?”

Feeling as if her hidden thoughts had been exposed, Tae Yeon laughed awkwardly.

“I’d like that.”

Do Joon left an ambiguous remark and abruptly departed.

Tae Yeon stared blankly at the dress she had been contemplating all morning.

“Conscious… Am I conscious of Do Joon?”

After pondering for a while, Tae Yeon nodded.

“I guess I am. Because he’s always by my side.”

And above all, Do Joon was someone who always maintained a neat appearance.

It was a day when she had to stand beside him. Even if she tried not to care, she couldn’t help but be conscious of him.

“That’s right. The desire to look good.”

She concluded that it wasn’t about wanting to look good as a woman, but about considering the attire of a subordinate working together.

Tae Yeon made that decision without looking too deeply into her own feelings.

Perhaps it was because she lacked the courage to face the real truth.

[This is the timeline separator]

In Do Joon’s car, Tae Yeon immediately placed her large bag on her lap.

Thinking that Do Joon wouldn’t look at her legs anyway, she silently headed to the factory, unaware of her short skirt.

Today’s schedule, which seemed like it would end quickly, finished later than expected.

After missing their scheduled flight and booking tickets for the last flight, the two headed to the airport.

After saying goodbye to the factory manager and getting in the car, Do Joon suddenly took off his jacket and handed it to Tae Yeon.

“Cover yourself.”

“Pardon?”

“When we were heading to the factory earlier, I was too preoccupied thinking about what to discuss in the meeting to notice properly.”

When Tae Yeon didn’t take the jacket, Do Joon swiftly grabbed her bag with one hand. Her skirt looked even shorter as it had ridden up while sitting.

Do Joon’s eyes narrowed at the sight of her fair skin.

“We’re not leaving until you cover up with this.”

Tae Yeon took Do Joon’s jacket and covered her knees.

“I’ll cover up.”

“Good thinking. We almost had to spend another night here. Or was that your intention?”

“What do you mean?”

It felt as if his warmth could be felt on her legs, perhaps because he had been wearing it until just now.

“I said it was okay to draw a line, but it seems you’ve decided to openly seduce me.”

“Pardon?”

“How do you expect me to concentrate on driving with you sitting next to me in such clothes?”

Do Joon started the car after uttering those words in a soft voice.

“When driving, one should keep their eyes on the road ahead.”

“…”

“My gaze keeps turning towards Jin Tae Yeon, oh my.”

Tae Yeon bit her lip.

“Let’s continue with this seduction when we get back to Seoul.”

“Seduction? I accidentally packed the wrong dress, mistaking it for a similar one.”

“Is that so? Then let’s conclude that Jin Tae Yeon’s subconscious wanted to seduce me.”

Seduction? Tae Yeon was about to deny it once more, but she asked herself. Was there really no such intention at all?

Perhaps she wanted to test Do Joon. Because he seemed like a man who didn’t care what she wore. Wondering if he only pretended to be interested when around others.

The statement that her subconscious wanted to seduce Do Joon.

She couldn’t deny that completely.

But she couldn’t readily admit it in front of him either, so Tae Yeon chose to remain silent.

[This is the timeline separator]

After the Busan business trip.

Tae Yeon was incredibly busy due to the launch of a new product.

She went through countless meetings to concretize the product concept.

Today too, as the meeting ended well past quitting time, Tae Yeon sat down to handle the remaining work.

The office was completely empty as everyone except Tae Yeon had gone home.

Her head was throbbing after being worn out from meetings all day long.

As Tae Yeon was pressing her temples with her fingers, her message window lit up.

[Do you still have a lot of work left?]

It was a message from Do Joon.

Though there was still much to do, she decided it was time to call it a day.

Just as she was about to reply to Do Joon, a soft voice poured down from above her head.

“It seems you’re planning to leave work.”

“Yes. I was about to send you a message.”

Do Joon glanced around the empty office and asked.

“Do we need to leave separately by any chance?”

It was a considerate question, mindful of Tae Yeon’s concern for the glances of company people.

“That would be… nice.”

“You’re quite thorough.”

“I tend to be that way.”

As they walked towards the elevator together, the conversation between the two never ceased.

“I’m curious about something.”

“Ask away.”

“That thorough barrier you put up against me, could I ever break it down someday?”

“What would you do after breaking it down?”

“I plan to enter alone, then build the wall even higher. So that no other man can even think of crossing it.”

It was always like this. The things this man said were perfect for misunderstanding.

While waiting for the elevator, Tae Yeon cautiously spoke up.

“Director, are you always like this?”

“What kind of person do I seem like to you?”

“Hmm… A man who leaves room for interpretation.”

“Hahaha.”

Do Joon tilted his head back and laughed as if hearing such a thing for the first time. Then he made a face as if wronged.

“Why did you think that?”

“All the things you say…”

“Did I make your heart flutter?”

Just as Tae Yeon was about to answer, the elevator arrived.

As it was the elevator for general employees, not the executive-only one, everyone was surprised to see Do Joon and bowed their heads in greeting.

Tae Yeon quickly stepped into the elevator first. It was out of concern that someone might misunderstand if they saw her with Do Joon.

Although she expected him to wait and take the executive elevator, Do Joon unhesitatingly followed her into the elevator.

Though it was past regular working hours, there were quite a few employees in the elevator.

As Tae Yeon stood right in front of the door watching the changing numbers on the display, it happened.

Someone on her left was lightly tapping her hand with their finger.

She didn’t need to look to know who it was. The person to her left was Do Joon.

She bit her lower lip and slightly pulled her hand forward. Fortunately, Do Joon’s playfulness stopped.

When the rest of the employees got off on the first floor, Tae Yeon let out the breath she had been holding. Then she turned towards Do Joon.

“Director, why did you do that?”

“I wanted to hold your hand.”

“…”

It was another honest answer without hesitation. As Tae Yeon was at a loss for words, Do Joon looked at the CCTV in the corner of the elevator as if resenting it.

“Jin Tae Yeon, do you know how cute you look when you make that face?”

“What face am I making?”

“That expression of being flustered and not knowing what to do, yet also curious.”

Hit right on the mark, Tae Yeon could only move her lips.

“That’s why I’m crossing the line.”