At Do Ha’s leisurely entrance, Do Hoon furrowed his brows as if something displeased him and opened his mouth.

“Unlike someone, I am not busy−.”

“Mr. Do Ha, it’s been a while.”

“Indeed. Have you been well too, sister-in-law?”

Yoon Seo wouldn’t stop Do Hoon from feeling inferior and jealous of Do Ha, but she wished he wouldn’t show it in front of the person in question.

She felt like kicking Do Hoon’s shin. Thankfully, it was a common occurrence, so Do Ha didn’t react much to Do Hoon’s provocation, and Yoon Seo smiled kindly with relief.

“I’m always the same. More importantly, brother-in-law, I see you again after the department store.”

“That’s right, elder brother. It’s been a while since I saw you too, brother-in-law.”

It was simply a greeting, but a subtle atmosphere surrounded the four people. Perhaps others noticed the mysterious scene, as the attention of those around them began to focus on them. It was bound to draw interest, being a combination of the capable second son and the incompetent eldest son who dropped out of the successor position early on.

Even though times have changed, there was still an old custom in chaebol families of passing the group to the eldest son. So, Chairman Yoon of Gilmyeong Group, who was trying to hand over the position to the second son, and Mibon Group, which made the eldest son and daughter fight, were always hot topics.

“Wow, with people’s intimidating eyes, can we even have a proper conversation?”

“I just came to say hello, so I’m leaving now too.”

After finishing the conversation with Do Hoon, Do Ha grabbed Hae Yeon’s wrist as if he really had finished his business, but at that moment, he flinched at the sarcastic voice heard from behind.

“I heard sister-in-law is working this time. Is it really okay for you to do it?”

Whether it was mockery or sincerity, Do Hoon’s tone was unusually serious, unlike his usual self.

“……”

“……”

Do Ha turned around and just stared at Do Hoon without giving any particular answer to his question, and Do Hoon didn’t avoid that gaze either. An expressionless gaze and a slightly smiling gaze collided.

As the two people from the host family of the event, who already had an interesting relationship, just stared at each other without saying a word, the murmuring began to grow among the invited guests who had been paying attention to them from earlier.

That’s when it happened. A clear and resonant voice cut through the silence.

“Yes, brother-in-law. What reason would there be for me not to be able to work.”

Hae Yeon looked at Do Hoon, slightly raising the corners of her lips.

It was Hae Yeon who broke the silent confrontation between the brothers. Although Hae Yeon didn’t know for what reason Cha Do Hoon was acting like that, she didn’t want Do Ha to be consumed as gossip fodder any longer because of her.

“Well, I guess that’s true.”

Do Hoon shrugged his shoulders and answered Hae Yeon’s words with a hint of laughter, whatever he was thinking. As the conversation ended, Hae Yeon led Do Ha and moved to a different spot, and Yoon Seo, who quietly observed the whole process, was relieved inside.

‘What a surprise that he’s being so docile.’

Originally, Do Hoon being this quiet was not a good sign, but for now, it was fortunate. Especially on a day like this.

Do Ha, who had a subtle confrontation with Do Hoon, was led by Hae Yeon’s hand and reached the center of the event hall.

“I’m fine with what brother-in-law said, so don’t take it to heart either.”

“I should be the one worrying about you, but you’re comforting me instead?”

When Do Ha affectionately caressed Hae Yeon’s eyes at her thoughtful action, Hae Yeon burst into a bright laugh. Unlike the smile she gave to Do Hoon earlier, it was a genuinely emanating smile.

The warm time just for the two of them amidst the complex crowd was brief, as Do Ha was caught by people who had been waiting to talk to him. Hae Yeon, who was swept along with him, struggled for a while but fortunately broke free.

“Phew, I barely escaped.”

Leaving Do Ha, who was still surrounded by people, Hae Yeon moved to a different spot.

As she distanced herself from Do Ha, other sounds seeped into Hae Yeon’s ears. It was about the CH Mice CEO who was on the rise with more aggressive management these days, and most of it was about his management style in particular.

“CEO Cha took over the Changwon Convention Center too, right?”

“That’s the biggest venue in the local area! Yurion PCO must be desperate for that deal, no?”

“That’s right. I heard they’re gritting their teeth because it was snatched away again this time.”

Wherever he went, Do Ha was the center of rumors and gossip, so people brought up dozens of stories even in a short while.

Given the situation, Hae Yeon naturally stood near them and eavesdropped secretly. However, when she tried to listen more, it was either information she had sufficiently investigated or worthless rumors, so she eventually left without any gains.

In any case, she had a separate purpose today.

“Thank you.”

Walking toward her destination, Hae Yeon received a glass handed by an employee and found the protagonist she would meet today. As he was also a figure who drew attention like Do Ha, she could find him without difficulty.

Even from a distance, the tall man looked great in a dark gray tuxedo, a light silver tie, and black cuffs that stood out, perfectly suiting his sharp face and slender physique.

“Ah, let’s talk later. I’m sorry.”

As Hae Yeon approached, the man recognized her, glanced at her, and politely asked for understanding from the person he was talking to. All his actions were respectful and dignified.

“Hae Yeon, it’s been a while.”

The man greeted her with a bright voice and a beaming smile, as if it wasn’t just empty words. He was the person Hae Yeon had been waiting for all along, Lee Yoon Ho.

Unlike Do Ha, who was a textbook handsome man, Yoon Ho had elongated eyes without double eyelids and always wore his trademark affable smile. Thanks to that, he easily gained favor and gave a comfortable impression wherever he went.

However, that smiling face had the power to make others feel pressure. The aspect of being like a flashy silk snake was also one of his traits.

In that sense, he seemed to resemble his younger sister, Lee Su Rin. A glamorous exterior with a poisonous interior.

“Hello, Yoon Ho.”

“I want to see you often, but it’s a shame I can’t because of Do Ha.”

Yoon Ho covered his mouth with his other hand that wasn’t holding a glass and added ‘paranoia’ so only Hae Yeon could hear. On any other day, Hae Yeon would have laughed along, but due to nervousness, she couldn’t smile back.

“Yoon Ho.”

“Yes, Hae Yeon.”

Even with Hae Yeon’s serious atmosphere, Yoon Ho smiled kindly without showing surprise. Hae Yeon, who had maintained composure from the moment she discovered Do Ha’s wound until today, felt her fingertips trembling.

This trembling of her body wasn’t because she couldn’t trust Yoon Ho. It was because he was one of the few acquaintances Do Ha, who disliked and didn’t enjoy interacting with others, had maintained until now.

In other words, it meant he was someone Do Ha genuinely trusted. When Hae Yeon met Lee Yoon Ho years ago, she already sensed that. The reason Do Ha didn’t keep him close wasn’t due to any other reason but Yoon Ho’s mischievous playfulness.

The problem was that he was the biological brother of Lee Su Rin.

That was the biggest burden. Of course, it wasn’t a decision made without any countermeasures.

She had asked Joo Ah in case she could obtain any useful information before making up her mind. It was the result she drew out like a complaint after casually mentioning the incident of accidentally meeting Lee Su Rin at the department store to Joo Ah.

− That family is complicated too.

It was a fragmented statement, but Hae Yeon understood. In chaebol families, siblings were not family but rivals to be pushed out. The Gilmyeong Group was like that too. Among the three brothers, only Do Ha and Do Hee were exceptional, while the relationship with the eldest, Do Hoon, was worse than with outsiders.

− Although your husband’s group had picked Do Ha as the successor from a long time ago, it’s not like that over there.

− What do you mean?

− I heard that senile Chairman Mibon made the two children competitors when they were young. So even the shareholders and executives are divided into factions.

Joo Ah continued with a sigh.

− They say it’s friendly competition on the outside, but you know. In this field, such words are all lies. Only the naive Do Hee doesn’t know, but those who should know, all know. That the Mibon Group siblings have a bad relationship.

Only after hearing that did Hae Yeon decide to approach Lee Yoon Ho. So she was facing him now.

“I have a favor to ask regarding Do Ha.”

Hae Yeon whispered in a low voice.

“Shall we move over there?”

When Hae Yeon gestured toward a secluded corner, Yoon Ho followed along without dropping his smile or giving any particular answer.

Even while moving to a less crowded place, Hae Yeon kept an eye on Do Ha, who was a little distance away. Fortunately, he was surrounded by businessmen and wasn’t paying attention to this side.

Hae Yeon suppressed her pounding heart, forcibly lifted the corners of her mouth, and slowly moved her steps. Finally arriving at a remote and quiet place, Yoon Ho parted his lips.

“What favor could Hae Yeon be asking of me? And about Do Ha’s matter at that.”

Yoon Ho narrowed his long, slit-like eyes. Hae Yeon, who had no room to care about the man exuding a strange fox-like aura, took a deep breath and spoke straightforwardly.

“I lost my memories.”

“…Pardon?”

Yoon Ho’s dark eyes wavered. Thinking he had misheard, he asked back, looking unusually flustered. Unfortunately, Hae Yeon, who had no capacity to mind him, was relentless.

In the first place, it was better for an ordinary person like herself not to even attempt clumsily deceiving someone like Lee Yoon Ho. Hae Yeon’s expression was resolute.

“The memories of one year ago. I lost them, Yoon Ho.”

Yoon Ho swallowed his saliva as if he had noticed something at the keyword ‘one year ago’.

“This doesn’t seem to be a conversation to have here.”

“Yes, but now was the only opportunity.”

Even with abridged words, Yoon Ho understood the meaning, and his answer was as heavy as his expression.

Hae Yeon raised the champagne glass in her hand in front of Yoon Ho, despite his darkened countenance. Yoon Ho looked at Hae Yeon’s glass with rising bubbles and clinked his own glass against it with a ‘ting’ sound.

“I understand. I will contact you separately.”

“Thank you, Yoon Ho.”

The two people, who exchanged greetings with eye smiles, returned to their respective places and continued their social activities.

However, unlike Hae Yeon, who acted no different from usual, Yoon Ho had a somewhat awkward attitude, a slight change that only Hae Yeon, who knew the reason, could notice.