It might not interfere with the emotions I had for revenge.

It was the first time I felt so strongly about someone.

The way I loved someone was so unfamiliar and frightening, not knowing how it would change.

But as Jaeha said, I didn’t want to waste time worrying about an uncertain future.

“And now, I can’t endure it anymore.”

His words, claiming he had run out of patience, could erase the lingering uneasiness that remained.

I felt that hiding my emotions any longer was meaningless.

Just as I sensed his feelings, he must have felt mine too.
“I feel the same way. It seems too late to go back now.”

I revealed my sincere feelings that I had been hiding all this time.

Jaeha responded to my sincerity with a warm smile and spread his arms wide, as if it was now my turn to approach.

What is this? Until I acknowledge my feelings, it felt suffocating, like my chest was tightly blocked.

After accepting it, I felt so relieved.

With Jaeha waiting quietly, arms outstretched, I lifted my two feet toward him.

As I jumped into his arms, Jaeha staggered.

Collapsing onto the sandy beach, our bodies overlapped, and the sound of his heartbeat echoed loudly.

A pleasant thump.

Being with this man makes my heart so much at ease.

Smiling at this fact, I raised my body a bit more, so I could see Jaeha’s face.

His trembling pupils and gaze were entangled.

In the silence, perhaps a couple of waves had surged toward us.

“I like you.”

I lightly kissed his lips and left a short lingering kiss.

After separating from him at the end of the lingering kiss, Jaeha let out a disappointed laugh.

“Could this be the end?”

Although I knew what he was saying, I deliberately responded as if I hadn’t heard.

“Shall we go back now? It seems too late.”

Standing up from the spot, shaking off the sand, Jaeha, who was looking at me, had his two pupils glitter.

As if he had thought of something joyful.

“Why are you shaking off the sand like that?”

Jaeha, who had been constantly shaking off the sand, pulled me from behind.

“Shall we shower together?”

It murmured in my ear.

Jihan sat at Seojae’s desk, looking at the laptop screen.

Director Kim came to find Jihan at home for a report, even though it was the weekend.

He massaged his stiff neck during the lengthy report.

“It’s from Intec. The final bid announcement will be out soon.”

Jihan, who seemed disinterested in the report, looked up at the mention of Intec.

“I will share the detailed schedule when you come to the office. And…”

Director Kim continued the report but hesitated at the end of his words.

Jihan raised his hand as if to say it’s okay without waiting for the hesitation.

“I’m fine, so go ahead and tell me.”

“You two have just returned from your honeymoon destination. You are currently returning to Seoul for your residence. It seems that Seojaeha is preparing internal meetings and briefings regarding the acquisition with Intec as soon as he returns.”

‘Again, Seojaeha!’

He closed the laptop screen with a loud sound.

Seeing Jihan wiping his face with a displeased expression, Director Kim immediately stood up, looking tense.

“I’m sorry.”

With a stiff face, Director Kim apologized, and Jihan nodded.

“It’s okay. Is it Kim Youngmin, Vice Chairman, who hasn’t contacted yet?”

“No. There hasn’t been any communication so far.”
When we first planned the Intec project, we intended to proceed on a large scale, equivalent to a substantial investment.

However, when Jaeha showed interest in Intec, a fleeting thought crossed Jihan’s mind.

‘What if we pursue a merger and acquisition instead of investment?’

Although the risks would increase compared to investment, the potential benefits from a merger were clear.

If Hozin Construction adds construction machinery business, it could expand its market from domestic to international.

However, the biggest obstacle in this plan was the severely lacking funds.

Originally, the plan was to raise the insufficient investment funds after the merger with W Group, so a merger seemed impossible.

“CEO Seo Jaeha is preparing a project. It seems quite important from my gut feeling.”

Jihan recalled the memory of Vice Chairman Kim Youngmin visiting him earlier.

He subtly suggested a method to Jihan, who was pondering over financial circulation.

“If the problem is insufficient funds, what about consolidating some real estate and subsidiaries, and using the remaining funds as collateral?”

“Collateral?”

“I have one place in mind.”

Youngmin hinted at using shares as collateral. If what Youngmin said was true, it seemed possible to fill the urgent funds.

As Jaeha continued to make serious moves, Jihan became even more anxious.

The disappointed look in Muzin’s eyes that he saw at the hotel still lingered in his memory.

‘He said the method I came up with as the successor is just marriage.’

Jihan felt embarrassed.

Being marked by Muzin as a troublemaker due to his personal life issues.

Hearing among the employees that he was an incompetent CEO who couldn’t handle financial circulation without W Group.

‘I’m the successor of Hozin, not Seo Jaeha…!’

To redeem the group’s image, Jihan had to somehow make the Intec project happen.

With this thought, Jihan stopped the fingers that were tapping on the table.

“Director Kim. There’s always someone who often asks for favors whenever we’re dealing with annoying matters.”

Breaking the heavy silence, Jihan called Director Kim.

Director Kim immediately thought of ‘that person’ and nodded in response.

“Are you referring to Mr. Jung?”
“Sure. I’ll see that person’s face soon. After seeing them, try to leave.”

“Understood. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Director Kim bowed deeply towards Jihan and left the office.

Jihan, who had been sitting alone contemplating for a while, stood up from his seat.

As he was about to leave the office, he felt a strange atmosphere and turned back towards the room.

“What is this feeling…”

Although an inexplicable discomfort was felt, Jihan quickly shook his head.

It was the same as usual in the office.

Moreover, the office was a place where no one entered without his permission.

“I must be quite sensitive.”

After leaving the office, Jihan met eyes with Serin, who was sitting in the living room.

Seeing him come out of the room, Serin approached with a warm smile.

“Do you need something, oppa?”

“Don’t you have any plans for the weekend?”

It was a feeling for Jihan to properly face Serin’s face after a long time.

For a while, he didn’t even have time to face Serin due to the Intec project.

However, more than the joy of seeing her again, her presence bothered him.

It was uncomfortable to see her just playing with her phone at home on a weekend morning.

“Ah, well… No, nothing special.”

“In the afternoon, Mom is going to the department store. How about going out together with her?”

Moreover, the fact that Serin was in the space where he had been alone bothered him more than he thought.

Especially on a day like today when Director Kim had to report or do something.

However, Serin seemed happy about the attention she received and smiled brightly.

“Really? Then, I should contact you. Would you like to come, oppa?”

With a brighter face, Serin clung to him, putting her arm around his.

“Huh? Let’s go together.”

Even with Serin’s sweet voice asking again, he didn’t hesitate.

After a moment of silence, Jihan gently pulled away Serin’s arm.

“I’m good. Go with Mom.”