Let’s not go out.

At first, Seo Ha naturally thought that way. Dining with Ryu Kyung Jun and Lee Seung Oh? It would be fortunate if we don’t choke and have to count our fingers and toes one by one.

Then, feeling a sharp gaze unconsciously, she turned her head to see Lee Ji Soo staring at her. It wasn’t a gentle look, but a glare.

“Seo Ha, you seem surprisingly free. You even have time to chat on the phone.”

As Lee Ji Soo threw those words with a smile, the already precarious office atmosphere froze. While everyone pretended to be busy and avoided the situation, only Seo Ha answered innocently.

“No, I’m not. You know I’ve become busy, Team Leader.”

The corners of Lee Ji Soo’s mouth twitched upwards.

“They say the rice plant bows its head as it ripens. I guess that doesn’t apply to our Seo Ha.”

“Huh? But I’m not a rice plant.”

“Ha.”

Lee Ji Soo held her head. A muttering sound was faintly heard, saying something about those with short bag straps.

It’s not even funny that someone who got the team leader position thanks to her lover, despite not having the skills to be hired, is talking about education.

Seeing that sight, Seo Ha changed her mind and decided to go out, whether it was for a meal or whatever. When the blocks of that love Jenga, which seemed to stand forever, start falling one by one and finally collapse, how will that expression change?

So that’s how she ended up going. To a hidden omakase Japanese restaurant in an alley in Gangnam.

“……”

After getting out of the car, Seo Ha had to struggle to manage her expression while looking at the barely visible sign.

“The exterior isn’t as luxurious as you thought, right?”

Mistaking the undisguised displeasure for disappointment, Lee Seung Oh chuckled.

“Despite its appearance, this place is so exclusive that only those who know can make reservations, with not even a phone number online. I guarantee the taste. Ryu’s secretary had booked another place, but I didn’t like it, so I contacted this one directly. Oh, Ryu’s secretary said he’d be late after finishing work, so we can start eating first.”

Right. This is a place where only those who know the direct number can make reservations, and even then, same-day reservations are nearly impossible.

Yet, the reason Lee Seung Oh could book this place today was because he was a regular customer.

Not Lee Seung Oh. Yoon Seo Ha.

“Wow.”

Seo Ha forcefully reset her expression and made a gesture of being impressed.

“You must be a regular here, CEO Lee.”

“Well, I suppose so.”

Lee Seung Oh shrugged his shoulders pretending to be gentlemanly and led the way into the restaurant.

It was exactly as Seo Ha remembered. A modest, elongated space with a private room at the far end, separated by a sliding door.

If anything had changed, it was that the wall full of Polaroid photos of customers had grown considerably.

“There are a lot of customer photos.”

She deliberately avoided looking at the photo of Yoon Seo Ha and Lee Seung Oh still stuck on the second row from the ceiling.

“Please sit this way.”

A friendly waiter guided the two to the only room. Seo Ha sat in the middle, and Lee Seung Oh took a seat opposite her.

“When I first came here, there were hardly any photos. As we kept coming to eat, they gradually increased like that. I liked how it steadily accumulated, just like our company.”

This restaurant was a place Seo Ha had discovered by chance during her college days. When it had just opened and wasn’t well-known yet, Seo Ha used to come here with Seung Oh twice a week.

−’I like how those photos are gradually increasing. The way it steadily accumulates, it’s just like our parents’ company, isn’t it?’

You still remember those words. And you were using them to pretend to be sentimental. Damn murderer.

Despite coming to a favorite restaurant, her appetite was gone. Even the salmon salad with peanut sauce couldn’t stimulate her lost appetite.

“Do you know the saying, ‘If you wish for something earnestly, it will come true’?”

Just as she managed to put the last piece of lettuce in her mouth, Lee Seung Oh asked.

“I always wanted to come here with a woman I liked. And now it’s happening.”

“Haven’t you been here with the team leader?”

“Would you prefer if I hadn’t?”

Lee Seung Oh rested his chin on one hand, looking into Seo Ha’s face with a grin. The words ‘It’s none of my business’ rose to her throat. To swallow those words, Seo Ha took a spoonful of warm miso soup.

“Ryu’s secretary hasn’t arrived yet. I’m not very hungry, so let’s eat the rest when he gets here.”

“Is Ryu’s secretary important?”

“It’s the CEO’s request. It would be beneficial for you if I successfully seduce Ryu’s secretary, right?”

“That’s true. Though it makes me a bit jealous.”

Lee Seung Oh pressed the call button to summon the waiter. The thin sliding door opened as if it had been waiting.

“……”

Seeing the man standing there, Lee Seung Oh’s face turned to surprise.

“Secretary Ryu.”

“Secretary Ryu.”

Seo Ha also stood up awkwardly in surprise.

It’s a mistake. She didn’t expect someone who said he had work to arrive so quickly.

Did he hear? Or not?

Lee Seung Oh, having the same thought as Seo Ha, asked instead.

“Did you just arrive? I thought you were coming later after finishing your work.”

“I just arrived. It ended sooner than expected.”

There was no change in Kyung Jun’s tone or expression. But it’s too early to feel relieved. Ryu Kyung Jun is more skilled than anyone at hiding his true feelings.

Kyung Jun entered the room. But instead of sitting next to Lee Seung Oh as expected, he naturally took a seat next to Seo Ha after circling around the table.

“The meal just arrived, I see.”

Kyung Jun glanced at the empty salad bowl and spoke. Lee Seung Oh, who didn’t look particularly pleased, belatedly raised his hand to call the waiter.

“Here, please prepare a separate salad for the new guest with the next course. Also bring a bottle of sake recommended by the chef.”

“Would you like the sake warmed?”

“That too, as the chef recommends.”

Soon, three bowls of abalone porridge were brought and placed in front of each person. There was also a salmon salad in front of Kyung Jun. Seo Ha emptied her abalone porridge like her mood and wiped her mouth with a napkin.

“What did you want to say, CEO?”

“Something to say?”

Lee Seung Oh shrugged his shoulders.

“Do I need to have something to say? I just wanted to have dinner with Seo Ha.”

“Since Secretary Ryu is here too, I thought you might have something to say related to the company.”

“You’re surprisingly quick-witted. This is why I like you, Seo Ha.”

Lee Seung Oh gave a nod to Kyung Jun. It was a signal to speak on his behalf.

“It’s about the establishment of Design Team 2. The idea is to create a new design studio centered around Jo Seo Ha.”

“… Me?”

Seo Ha pointed at herself with a bewildered expression. While it was expected from Lee Seung Oh, who was good at ruining the company, it was really surprising that Ryu Kyung Jun agreed to this plan.

No one knows that the core is the main designer, so push it through, but isn’t Jo Seo Ha currently a talented rookie designer without any experience?

“It’s a decision made at the executive meeting. There’s no need to feel pressured. Ironically, Team Leader Lee Ji Soo played a big part in this happening.”

“The team leader?”

Seo Ha looked at Lee Seung Oh with eyes seeking explanation as Kyung Jun’s words became increasingly incomprehensible.

“With the recent disciplinary incident and all, I think, apart from personal feelings, that Jo Seo Ha might quit because of Team Leader Lee Ji Soo. If the key designer for this season leaves, the loss would be enormous, right?”

While listening to the explanation, Seo Ha’s mind raced busily.

It’s certainly not a bad proposal. But now she knows how to return to her original body. After that, as long as she knows what happens to Jo Seo Ha, she can become Yoon Seo Ha anytime.

Therefore, Jo Seo Ha cannot become a team leader. She shouldn’t take on such an important role.

Seo Ha quickly came to a conclusion and raised her head.

“What about team members?”

“We’ll leave that to voluntary transfers. Those who wish to move from the existing team can do so.”

“I don’t think anyone will want to.”

Seo Ha spoke honestly. Really, no one would want to move.

Who would want to be a comparison next to a genius rookie designer who has already received all the spotlight? Especially knowing they’d incur the dislike of Lee Ji Soo, who has real power.

“It should be fine even if Jo Seo Ha is alone. We’ll provide sufficient support, and it’s actually an environment where Jo Seo Ha can focus solely on work if she just works hard.”

Lee Seung Oh put the abalone dish that had just arrived into his mouth and chewed it down.

“Since it’s been decided through a meeting, it’s hard to reverse. I’ve made a special effort for this, so just work hard. Well, it would be even better if you treat me to tteokbokki or something personally.”

“CEO.”

Kyung Jun called Lee Seung Oh in a low tone. The meaning ‘Don’t make unnecessary advances’ was clear enough for even Seo Ha to feel it.

“Secretary Ryu, come on. Is it not okay to get treated to a plate of tteokbokki?”

“You should always be cautious.”

“See how strict he is.”

Lee Seung Oh shook his head and smiled a bit playfully.

“What do you think, Seo Ha? Do you really need team members?”

She can do the work sufficiently alone. In fact, it might be more efficient as she would be freed from the miscellaneous tasks that the youngest designer usually has to do.

But Seo Ha needed a team leader. A team leader who could take over and complete the remaining work if Jo Seo Ha suddenly disappeared.

Where could she find such a person right now?

Seo Ha let out a small sigh of hopelessness.

“If no one wants to join, I’ll try to manage on my own for now. I’d appreciate it if you could add staff later.”

“That’s the spirit. Very good.”

Lee Seung Oh seemed quite satisfied, while Kyung Jun had nothing particular to say.

The next dish and warm sake arrived. Lee Seung Oh first picked up the sake bottle and filled Seo Ha’s and Kyung Jun’s cups, then filled his own.

“To Jo Seo Ha’s new team.”

As Lee Seung Oh emptied his cup first, Kyung Jun followed suit. Seo Ha just lightly touched the cup to her lips and put it down.

“Seo Ha, are you not good with alcohol?”

“I’m not very good at it. I also need to manage my condition……”

“Managing your condition is good. But have just one drink. After all, this is a gathering for Jo Seo Ha.”

If she had to drink, she could. She just didn’t want to drink while looking at Lee Seung Oh’s face.

“You’re not drinking? I’m disappointed.”

Lee Seung Oh urged. Seo Ha reached for the brimming cup of alcohol, deciding to just drink it and get it over with.

“CEO.”

Just before Seo Ha could pick up the cup, Kyung Jun’s hand grabbed it first, by a hair’s breadth.

“I’ll drink on her behalf. It’s important for Jo Seo Ha to manage her condition.”

Before anyone could stop him, gulp, all the alcohol went down Kyung Jun’s throat.