“Once tomorrow is over, we’ll have more time. Let’s go for walks and play tugofwar, alright?”

“Bark! Bark!”

“Good girl, our Minji.”

Seo Ha stroked Minji’s head one last time and, relying on the dim light of the lightbulb, went up to the rooftop room. The door was not locked.

“Why is the light on?”

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

Kyung Joon never entered Seo Ha’s room. Even when looking after Hae Sun, Hae Sun would be in the room, and he would sit uncomfortably in the small living room and kitchen, just guarding the place.

“Secretary Ryu?”

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

Knock, knock.

After knocking a few times, Seo Ha opened the door.

Kyung Joon was sprawled across the small bed, asleep in a disheveled state. His jacket was on the back of a chair, his necktie on top of it, and two shopping bags were on the floor.

The orange shopping bag was the one given by Lee Seung Oh. However, the large shopping bag next to it contained items Seo Ha didn’t recognize.

“Secretary Ryu.”

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

Come to think of it, he had looked tired for the past few days. She had seen him leaning against the kitchen wall or lying down several times. It was natural since he had always come to look after Hae Sun while Seo Ha worked late.

Let’s not wake him.

It might be a bit cramped, but Hae Sun could sleep next to her mother. Even if they were always bickering like spies, she couldn’t wake him now.

Seo Ha opened a drawer with a picture of an unknown teddy bear and took out her pajamas. She carefully closed the opened drawer, trying to make as little noise as possible, when the contents of the unfamiliar shopping bag caught her eye.

It was a box of shoes and clothes – women’s clothes.

‘Women’s clothes…?’

He mentioned having someone he liked. It seemed like clothes to be given as a gift to that woman.

Seo Ha had never seen Kyung Joon receive a call from a woman before. It didn’t seem like he was exchanging messages either. It seemed like there were no women to be found even if she washed her eyes and searched, so who and where did he meet someone he liked?

Her mouth soured for no reason. Staring blankly at the shopping bag, Seo Ha turned to leave but then approached the bed and pulled the edge of the blanket.

She should cover him with the blanket.

She carefully pulled the blanket to cover him when Kyung Joon turned over again and swung his hand. In doing so, their hands briefly brushed against each other.

“…?”

It was just a moment, but the back of his hand was hot.

Startled, Seo Ha threw the pajamas she was holding and hurriedly placed her hand on Kyung Joon’s forehead. It wasn’t just hot; it was like a burning coal.

Upon closer inspection, his lips were redder than usual, and the floralpatterned pillow supporting Kyung Joon’s head was soaked with sweat, making the colors darker.

“Secretary Ryu. Secretary Ryu.”

As she called his name while tapping near his shoulder, Kyung Joon slowly opened his eyes.

“… Miss Seo Ha.”

He shook his head slightly and sat up, looking perfectly fine. If she hadn’t touched his forehead, she wouldn’t have known he had a fever.

“What time is it now?”

“It’s past eleven.”

“Late, huh.”

Kyung Joon brushed his disheveled hair back with one hand. Between his flushed lips, an unstable breath escaped with a sigh.

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

Kyung Joon, who seemed completely calm and fine, stood up but suddenly bent towards Seo Ha, interrupting his words.

“Secretary Ryu!”

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

“Wait a moment. You have to lie down again!”

“It’s okay.”

Leaning on Seo Ha’s shoulder, Kyung Joon mumbled nonsense.

“I’m just a bit tired. I’ll be fine after I go home and sleep.”

“Where are you going? You’re burning up with fever!”

“I’ll take the car.”

“You’ll die driving like this. Lie down quickly. I’ll bring you some fever reducer!”

As she pushed him by the shoulder, Kyung Joon collapsed onto the bed. It was clear he was in pain. To think he would lie back down with this little force.

“It’s fine.”

In the midst of it all, she couldn’t tell whether to be proud that his mouth was still functioning or to be dumbfounded.

“It’s not fine. Take off your shirt first.”

“Why the shirt?”

Kyung Joon mumbled as he looked at Seo Ha with halfopened eyes.

“What kind of woman are you? Trying to undress a man out of nowhere?”

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

Seo Ha rummaged through a drawer and took out a boxy tshirt that would roughly fit Kyung Joon. In the meantime, Kyung Joon tried to unbutton his shirt while lying on the bed, but his fingers kept slipping due to his weakened strength.

“Do we need to go to the emergency room?”

“For this much, the emergency room is…”

His voice sounded perfectly fine. Seo Ha pushed away Kyung Joon’s futile attempts with his hands and unbuttoned the shirt herself, one by one. Surprisingly dense and firm muscles were revealed under the fluorescent light.

“Don’t stare. I didn’t exercise for you to see, Miss Seo Ha.”

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

“What’s there to look at? Just stay still!”

His fever was too high. The sweat made his skin sticky. Seo Ha soaked a towel in lukewarm water and carefully wiped down Kyung Joon’s neck.

“… It’s refreshing.”

As the damp towel wiped around his shoulder area, Kyung Joon faintly mumbled.

With a single towel between them, Seo Ha’s hand moved slowly over Kyung Joon’s body. It passed over the straight collarbone, onto the slightly dry and welldefined chest muscles, and gradually downward.

“Ouch.”

As Seo Ha wiped a little harder somewhere around the ribcage, Kyung Joon furrowed his brow.

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