“Our designer?”

Hae Sun looked at Seo Ha’s face with a curious expression and then smiled.

“I expect great results. An excellent talent has joined our company.”

“How do you know if I’m an excellent talent or not?”

“I can tell by looking at your eyes. Our Secretary Ryu also has such good eyes.”

Seo Ha hesitated and then carefully asked.

“Do you know Secretary Ryu?”

“He’s our secretary. Come to think of it, I don’t see him. Did he leave work early?”

Hae Sun lived in the past. But she was also in the present. Wherever she was, she searched for Seo Ha.

‘If Yoon Seo Ha appears in front of her, Mom might fully return to the present.’

When Yoon Seo Ha’s body is in danger, her soul returns.

It was still a guess, but considering past experiences and the surrounding circumstances, it was an almost perfect hypothesis.

Until now, she thought that just as Yoon Seo Ha had entered Jo Seo Ha’s body, Jo Seo Ha would be in Yoon Seo Ha’s body. She couldn’t open her eyes, but she would be sleeping inside.

“Mom. I don’t know.”

Seo Ha muttered quietly.

“What happens to Jo Seo Ha if I regain myself? Where could Jo Seo Ha be?”

Hae Sun’s gaze was once again fixed on the empty wallpaper. Whatever she was looking at, the slight smile on her lips was just happy.

[This is the timeline separator]

“Are, are you serious? About creating a new design studio.”

As soon as Ji Soo spoke, Lee Seung Oh put his hand to his forehead.

“It’s not a decision I can make alone. We need to go through a meeting.”

“But you’re the, the CEO, elder brother.”

“Being the CEO doesn’t mean I can do everything as I please.”

Lee Seung Oh answered roughly while taking off his jacket and holding it out. But Ji Soo’s hands, which should have naturally come to take and hang the coat, were not there.

“Darling?”

Lee Seung Oh turned around and his eyes met Ji Soo’s.

“What’s wrong?”

Ji Soo looked like she was about to burst into tears.

“I, I don’t like it.”

“Even if you don’t like it, there’s nothing we can do. Anyway, Jo Seo Ha had the best performance in this evaluation. If Jo Seo Ha gets upset and quits in this situation, the next season will be ruined.”

“What about me? I, I was even unfairly suspended and just returned!”

“That’s why we’re separating it, isn’t it? So you don’t get stressed. We have to go through the executive meeting first, so let’s talk about it later.”

Ji Soo knew too well that this ‘separation’ was for Jo Seo Ha, not Lee Ji Soo. But she couldn’t say it out loud. Just saying those words would make her miserable.

“Alright, elder brother.”

Ji Soo gritted her teeth and reached out to take Seung Oh’s jacket.

“At the meeting, talk about launching a brand for me.”

“A brand?”

Lee Seung Oh frowned and asked back.

“You said you were launching a new brand. I, I want to do that. I want to create a brand with my name on it.”

“Darling. A brand is-”

“You said, said you love me.”

Large eyes were filled with tears about to fall. Lee Seung Oh was about to say something but just sighed instead.

“Okay. I’ll talk about it at the meeting tomorrow first.”

As soon as Ji Soo heard those words, she realized.

That brand, it’s not for me.

He didn’t say ‘Let’s do that.’ He said ‘I’ll talk about it.’

When he first hired her as a designer, or when she was promoted to team leader, or when he dealt with designers who disrespected and looked down on Ji Soo, he didn’t answer so vaguely.

If it’s like this, there’s only one way. To make Lee Seung Oh clearly see that Jo Seo Ha doesn’t have the qualifications or ability.

“I’m sorry. I was just throwing a little tantrum.”

Ji Soo lowered her gaze slightly and spoke in a subdued voice.

“Actually, I, I know we need a new design studio or brand. I also kn, know that Jo Seo Ha is talented. It’s just… I didn’t like you being interested in another woman because of that. Even her name is Se, Seo Ha. Like Yoon Seo Ha.”

Lee Seung Oh frowned when he heard the name ‘Yoon Seo Ha’.

“Why is Yoon Seo Ha being mentioned here?”

“It’s interesting. Like Y, Yoon Seo Ha, Jo Seo Ha also does design. She’s talented… And, her style seems a bit similar. If you just look at the clothes, I can’t tell if Yoon Seo Ha did it or Jo Seo Ha did it.”

“She must have studied to join this company. Anyone can become similar that way.”

“I’m not saying it’s ba, bad. Just that it’s like that.”

Ji Soo answered obediently while carefully brushing Lee Seung Oh’s jacket with a clothes brush.

“Cr, create a new design studio and let Jo Seo Ha take charge of it. I think that’s right. What you do is always the right thing, isn’t it, elder brother?”

Lee Seung Oh’s slightly stiffened expression softened. He hugged Ji Soo from behind as she was hanging the jacket in the closet and kissed her hair.

“I like you when you’re like this. Docile, and my words take priority over everything else. You know? Yoon Seo Ha was never like this at all.”

“That’s why you had a lot of tr, trouble, right? I’m not like that.”

“Of course. That’s why I chose you. Actually, you’ve been throwing a lot of tantrums lately, and I was wondering what to do.”

“I’m, I’m sorry. I didn’t want to ma, make things difficult for you.”

Ji Soo drooped her shoulders even more and leaned into Lee Seung Oh’s embrace.

“Do whatever you wa, want. Whether it’s the design studio or the brand, it’s all yours anyway. I just need you to listen to one thing.”

“What is it?”

“You’re going to cut existing team members to put in the design studio, right?”

“That’s right.”

“Don’t, don’t force them out. Just let those who want to go volunteer. That’s okay, right? I’ve, I’ve grown very attached to my team members…”

Ji Soo added in a small voice, mumbling, ‘If you don’t like it, there’s nothing I can do…’ Lee Seung Oh thought for a moment and then hugged Ji Soo more affectionately while whispering.

“Let’s do that. If my princess wants it, I should at least do that much.”

[This is the timeline separator]

“Let’s go.”

Seung Oh got into the back seat that Ryu Kyung Jun had opened for him. He should be used to it by now, but it’s uncomfortable every time he gets in.

It was because he knew that Kyung Jun was acting as a chauffeur not out of pure goodwill or sense of responsibility as a secretary, but to monitor and tame him.

“There’s a general executive meeting in the morning. At 3 PM, there’s a meeting with Y Department Store.”

“A design studio, huh.”

Seung Oh muttered in a tone that didn’t seem very willing.

“Do you think it’s really necessary, Secretary Ryu? And for just one person, Jo Seo Ha.”

“I’ve told you many times. The Chairman is not someone who buys companies without performance at a cheap price. If you can’t show growth potential, even if the merger and acquisition is successful, you can’t expect a good price or an executive position at Taeyang Group. If those conditions are fine with you, then I have nothing to say.”

The last words that Ryu Kyung Jun added in passing were the key for Lee Seung Oh.

“If it were you, Secretary Ryu, you could probably get better conditions even in the current state.”

“There’s no reason for me to do that. You should remember that I am thoroughly a person of Taeyang Group.”

Kyung Jun skillfully turned the steering wheel. In the luxury sedan smoothly turning right, Lee Seung Oh had to feel the same discomfort as always.

Boring meetings continued from the morning. Besides the design studio, there were plenty of other things to discuss.

Kyung Jun, participating in the meeting as an in-house director rather than a secretary, listened to the nonsense going back and forth with one ear and let it out with the other, only opening his mouth for the most important matters.

One of them was the preparation for a new brand.

“We can’t delay it any longer. Kangyun’s existing brands are too stagnant and there’s no influx of new customers. Stagnant water is bound to rot.”

Although he was an in-house director, Kyung Jun’s remarks carried more weight in practical meetings than Lee Seung Oh, who was the CEO.

As soon as he opened his mouth, the buzzing atmosphere of the meeting instantly calmed down. From Lee Seung Oh’s perspective, it wasn’t a very pleasing thing.

“Will the new design studio we just decided on be planning the brand?”

Someone asked. The answer was already prepared for this obvious question.

“No. Of course, the CEO’s opinion is important, but-”

Kyung Jun glanced at Lee Seung Oh sitting next to him and continued speaking.

“We’ll use an in-house competition. All designers hoping to be the main designer can participate in the competition, and not just related departments, but all employees will vote. What do you think, CEO?”

On the surface, Lee Seung Oh is the CEO. These moments when Kyung Jun would state his opinion and then ask for thoughts as if doing a favor were the most pride-crushing moments for CEO Lee Seung Oh.

“Well. The key seems to be whether we can trust the judgment of ordinary employees.”

“Even if they’re ordinary employees, this is a clothing company. They’ve seen things and heard things. Moreover, employees are broadly part of the customer base, so they might know public tastes better than designers.”

It was obvious that his opinion would be disregarded, overwhelmed by such rhetoric.

At the end of the meeting, matters regarding the new design studio and brand were roughly decided. Of course, it was still confidential to employees other than the executives who attended the meeting.

“What shall we do for lunch, CEO?”

As Lee Seung Oh was trying to rest a bit, Kyung Jun entered the CEO’s office and asked.

Lee Seung Oh often thought that Kyung Jun was like a snake.

A very large snake with slanted eyes and hidden powerful fangs. Sometimes he felt a sudden fear that it might coil around him and suffocate him before he realized it.

“I don’t have much appetite. I’d rather just eat a sandwich here instead of going out.”

Actually, he wanted to go out and have a proper meal. But there was no excuse to go alone without Ryu Kyung Jun.

After all, isn’t Ryu Kyung Jun the one who manages all of Lee Seung Oh’s schedules with the title of chief secretary?

Jo Seo Ha needs to handle things quickly. Is she doing well?

There is a way to find out. Seung Oh took out his phone from his pocket and pressed the call button.

[Yes, CEO.]

Jo Seo Ha answered the phone in an extremely businesslike tone.

“Ms. Jo Seo Ha. You’ve come to work, right?”

When he heard the name Jo Seo Ha, Kyung Jun briefly paused his steps as he was about to leave.

[Yes. I’m working.]

“Are you available for dinner after work today?”

[… Just the two of us?]

“Do you want to eat just the two of us?”

[…..]

“I’d prefer just the two of us too, but considering people’s eyes… Just a moment.”

Lee Seung Oh chuckled and then casually spoke to Kyung Jun.

“How about dinner today? If you’re busy, I’ll just eat with Jo Seo Ha.”

“Dinner…”

Kyung Jun muttered quietly and then nodded slightly.

“Alright. I’ll find a suitable place for the three of us and make a reservation.”

She seems to be doing well after all. While Lee Seung Oh felt relieved, he also felt a strange discomfort as he spoke into the phone again.

“Secretary Ryu will be coming too. I’ll send you the address, so come there after work.”