As expected, there was no change in Kyung Jun’s behavior after the first confession attempt. In fact, things were just too busy.

When Seo Ha left home, her mother was still sleeping, and when she returned, she was already in bed. It was difficult to even see her mother’s face, let alone Kyung Jun’s.

While things seemed to be fizzling out, the evaluation meeting was suddenly just a day away.

All preparations were complete. The products were ironed and neatly hung on hangers, and the matching accessories and shoes were checked multiple times.

Although it was called an evaluation meeting, the scale of preparation was no different from a fashion show.

Seo Ha, exhausted, received Lee Seung Oh’s message and frowned deeply.

What is he up to now?

Whatever it was, she had to go up and see. Seo Ha hid her reluctance behind a fearful expression and went up to the CEO’s office, only to run into Kyung Jun coming out of the door.

“Hello, Secretary Ryu.”

Kyung Jun’s expression was colder than usual. The slight furrowing of his brow made him look somewhat displeased.

“Are you going into the CEO’s office?”

Seo Ha was about to point out his rudeness for asking without even greeting her, but she held back.

“Yes. The CEO called for me.”

“I see.”

The displeasure on Kyung Jun’s brow deepened.

“Go on in. I have some other business to attend to.”

Seo Ha mouthed ‘Whatever’ silently. Then, before Kyung Jun could say anything else, she quickly knocked on the door.

“Come in.”

Lee Seung Oh’s voice answered a bit loudly. As she opened the door and entered, she glanced at Kyung Jun, who was now openly expressing his displeasure. It was quite a sight.

“You called for me, CEO…”

Seo Ha couldn’t finish her sentence as she gaped at the scene before her upon entering.

“Why so surprised?”

Lee Seung Oh asked with a grin.

The table he was leaning against was filled with shopping bags from various luxury brands. There were big ones and small ones. Black, green, orange. The colors were diverse.

This crazy bastard. Did he buy all this with the company card?

Seo Ha struggled to control her trembling lips, fueled by anger, and forced an awkward smile.

“What’s the matter, CEO?”

“I was thinking, you know.”

Lee Seung Oh pulled out a small bouquet of flowers from behind the largest box.

“Even animals bring food to their mates when courting. I thought maybe I approached this too empty-handed.”

“Food… you say?”

“Pick one from here. Whichever you like, just one.”

He was really milking it despite using the company card. And not even offering all of it, but asking her to choose just one like he was being charitable?

“Don’t make that face. I’ll keep the rest and give them to you one by one as we date. In the end, it means all of this is yours, Cho Seo Ha.”

At this point, she could shake her head and say, ‘I don’t need any of this!’ That’s probably what Lee Ji Soo would have done. In a very obvious and tacky way.

Without any hesitation, Seo Ha picked up the large orange shopping bag right in front of Lee Seung Oh.

“This one.”

Lee Seung Oh, who had expected her to say ‘I don’t need any of this,’ seemed slightly taken aback before bursting into laughter.

“Haha, how bold. More ambitious than I thought.”

The shopping bag Seo Ha chose was from the most expensive brand among those present. If sold second-hand, it could fetch over ten million won in cash.

“I’ll accept the gift since you’re giving it. But if the condition for receiving this is dating you, my answer remains the same as before.”

Seo Ha spoke as if she might put the shopping bag back down at any moment. Lee Seung Oh chuckled and slightly raised both hands above his shoulders.

“Just think of it as my goodwill. You’ll be meeting a lot of people tomorrow, and you should look the part of a designer, right?”

“You’re giving this to me to carry at the evaluation meeting?”

“For now, yes. It’s also a bribe to get on my good side.”

Lee Seung Oh winked. Seo Ha felt nauseated and any remaining affection completely disappeared.

“I’ll have Secretary Ryu send it to your home later, so leave it here. And since we’ve met, try to seduce him a bit.”

Lee Seung Oh emphasized the last part in a lower voice.

11 PM.

Seo Ha arrived home, almost crawling from exhaustion. Min Ji greeted her excitedly, barking from the front gate, while Jae Wook was nowhere to be seen, probably out on a night delivery.

“Is the owner not here? Did you eat?”

“Woof!”

Touching Min Ji’s belly, who had flipped over as if to show off, it felt full. Seo Ha crouched down and petted Min Ji all over before standing up.

As much as she wanted to play more, she needed to go up quickly so Kyung Jun, who hadn’t even gone home yet, could switch shifts.

“Once tomorrow is over, I’ll have more time. We’ll go for walks and play tug-of-war. Okay?”

“Woof woof!”

“Good girl. Our Min Ji.”

After giving Min Ji’s head one last pat, Seo Ha climbed up to the rooftop room, guided by the dim light bulb. The door was unlocked.

“Why are the lights on?”

Seo Ha hesitated when she saw the lights on in her room.

Kyung Jun never entered Seo Ha’s room. Even when tending to Hae Sun, he would sit uncomfortably in the small living room cum kitchen, just keeping watch while Hae Sun was in the room.

“Secretary Ryu?”

There was no answer from inside. The familiar men’s shoes at the entrance meant he hadn’t gone home either.

Knock knock.

Seo Ha knocked a couple of times before opening the door.

Kyung Jun was sprawled awkwardly asleep on the small bed. His jacket was on the chair back, his tie on top of it, and two shopping bags on the floor.

The orange shopping bag was the one Lee Seung Oh had given. But the large shopping bag next to it was unfamiliar to Seo Ha.

“Secretary Ryu.”

Instead of answering, Kyung Jun turned over in his sleep.

Come to think of it, he had looked tired for several days now. She had seen him lying on the bench or leaning against the kitchen wall a few times. It was understandable, given that he had been coming to take care of Hae Sun while Seo Ha worked late.

Let’s not wake him up.

Even if it’s a bit cramped, she could sleep next to her mother. No matter if he was a spy and they were always bickering, she couldn’t wake him now.

Seo Ha opened the drawer with the unfamiliar bear design and took out her pajamas. As she carefully closed the open drawer to minimize noise, she noticed the contents of the unfamiliar shopping bag.

It contained a shoe box and clothes. Women’s clothes at that.

‘Women’s clothes…?’

He had mentioned liking someone. These clothes seemed to be a gift for that woman.

Seo Ha had never seen Kyung Jun receive a call from a woman. He didn’t seem to be exchanging messages with anyone either. There didn’t seem to be any women around him, so who could he like and where did he meet her?

She felt a bitter taste in her mouth for no reason. As Seo Ha stared blankly at the shopping bag, she turned to leave but then approached the bed again and pulled at the edge of the blanket.

He should at least be covered.

As she carefully pulled the blanket to cover him, Kyung Jun stirred again and waved his hand. Their hand backs brushed briefly.

“…?”

It was just a moment, but his hand was hot.

Surprised, Seo Ha threw down the pajamas she was holding and quickly placed her hand on Kyung Jun’s forehead. It wasn’t just hot, it was burning.

Upon closer inspection, his lips were redder than usual, and the floral pillowcase supporting Kyung Jun’s head was soaked with sweat, making the color darker.

“Secretary Ryu. Secretary Ryu.”

As she called out while tapping near his shoulder, Kyung Jun slowly opened his eyes.

“… Cho Seo Ha.”

The way he sat up, slightly shaking his head, seemed perfectly normal. If she hadn’t felt his forehead, she wouldn’t have known he had a fever.

“What time is it now?”

“It’s past eleven.”

“It’s late.”

Kyung Jun brushed up his disheveled hair with one hand. An unstable breath escaped through his reddened lips.

“The CEO is asleep. I’ll be going now, so you rest, and tomorrow…”

As Kyung Jun was standing up, looking completely fine and composed, he suddenly cut off mid-sentence and his large body collapsed towards Seo Ha.

“Secretary Ryu!”

He was big and heavy. And hot. His white shirt was soaked with sweat, clinging to his back.

“Wait a moment. You need to lie back down!”

“It’s fine.”

Kyung Jun mumbled, almost deliriously, while leaning on Seo Ha’s shoulder.

“I’m just a bit tired. I’ll be better after sleeping at home.”

“Where do you think you’re going? You’re burning up!”

“I’ll go by car.”

“You’ll die driving that car! Lie down quickly. I’ll bring some fever reducer!”

When she pushed his shoulders, Kyung Jun slumped back onto the bed. He was clearly very sick. To be pushed back down by such little force.

“I said I’m fine.”

It was admirable or perhaps ridiculous that his mouth was still working at a time like this.

“You’re not fine. Take off your shirt first.”

“Why the shirt.”

Kyung Jun mumbled, looking at Seo Ha with half-open eyes.

“This woman’s no good. Where does she get off undressing a man?”

“Stop talking nonsense. Wearing wet clothes will make your fever worse.”

Seo Ha rummaged through the drawer and pulled out a box tee that might fit Kyung Jun. Meanwhile, Kyung Jun tried to unbutton his shirt while lying on the bed, but his fingers kept slipping due to lack of strength.

“Shouldn’t we go to the emergency room?”

“The emergency room for something like this.”

How can his voice sound so normal? Seo Ha pushed away Kyung Jun’s fumbling hands and started unbuttoning his shirt herself. Unexpectedly dense and firm muscles were revealed under the fluorescent light.

“Don’t stare. I didn’t work out for you to see, Cho Seo Ha.”

To be honest, she did stare a little. Seo Ha raised her voice to express strong denial.

“Who’s staring? Just stay still!”

The fever was too high. His skin was sticky with sweat. Seo Ha brought a towel dampened with lukewarm water and started wiping down Kyung Jun’s body thoroughly, starting from his nape.

“… That feels cool.”

Kyung Jun mumbled faintly as the damp towel wiped down his shoulder area.

With just a towel between them, Seo Ha’s hand moved slowly over Kyung Jun’s body. Past the straight collarbone, to the slightly lean chest with clearly defined muscles, and gradually lower.

“Ugh.”

When Seo Ha wiped a bit forcefully somewhere around his ribs, Kyung Jun furrowed his brow.