Do Ha’s face was stiff as he walked down the hotel corridor.

– Team Leader Shin has been dismissed. The company received complaints and Dali Coffee, which was trying to handle Shin Kyu Sik, also became a good excuse.

The secretary’s report was the same as what Joo Ah had said over the phone.

– I didn’t expect him to target Hae Yeon so soon. I’m sorry, Do Ha. I should have paid more attention.

Do Ha didn’t think Chairman Yoon would go this far to make Hae Yeon quit her job. His expression became even more heavy at the thought. Even though what Shin Kyu Sik did was just harassing Hae Yeon within the company, the fact that he touched her at all was a problem.

Bang.

Do Ha, who had been filled with anger towards Chairman Yoon the whole way here, was more rational than ever when he finally opened the door. He knew better than anyone how bad it was to be emotional when dealing with someone like Chairman Yoon.

The place Do Ha opened the door to was a private room in a famous hotel restaurant, a space completely cut off from the outside, perfect for secret conversations.

“You’re here.”

Chairman Yoon’s calm tone was heard as soon as the door opened. Even if it sounded pleasant to others, Do Ha was sick of it. He wanted to leave as soon as possible after saying only what was necessary, but at that moment, another voice flowed in.

“You’re here, Do Ha oppa?”

It was Su Rin. Seeing the two’s obvious intentions, the expressionless Do Ha’s face cracked slightly and the atmosphere changed drastically.

“Chairman.”

Seeing Do Ha standing there and calling Chairman Yoon lower than ever, Su Rin instead made a satisfied expression. Rather than being someone who had no influence on Do Ha, she wanted to be someone who could at least elicit a negative reaction from him.

That was how Lee Su Rin loved.

The first to break the heavy and strange silence was Chairman Yoon.

“Your leg must hurt, come sit over here.”

“I don’t intend to talk for long.”

“Oppa, don’t be like that-”

“Su Rin.”

Do Ha, who had somehow wiped his expression again, cut Su Rin off. Unlike Su Rin who flinched, Do Ha’s voice was low, not caring.

“I have something to discuss with the chairman now, so please leave.”

His bass voice was utterly cold as he spoke. Su Rin’s pride was enough to be hurt, but she smiled alluringly with rounded lips.

“I’ll leave if you ask me like that, oppa.”

Click. Clack.

No one spoke to Su Rin as she got up from her seat and started walking. Even Chairman Yoon, who had called her here, just sipped his jasmine tea without even looking at her.

Su Rin walked with a smile on her face as if it was no big deal. But as she brushed past Do Ha who was standing in the center of the room, she spoke slowly and sweetly.

“Do Ha oppa, I’ll wait outside.”

After Su Rin left, Chairman Yoon smiled meaningfully at her brazen behavior while Do Ha’s expression remained unchanged. There was something more important to discuss. Do Ha approached closer.

“This is a breach of contract.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Chairman Yoon feigned ignorance even though he clearly knew.

“She got into the company on her own.”

“You know too, don’t you? That can’t be an excuse.”

“My decision won’t change no matter what you do like this.”

“Well, looking at it now, it seems you’re halfway there.”

The two went back and forth without a moment to breathe before entering a slight lull. During the conversation, their gazes never met even once. It was because while Do Ha stared intently, Chairman Yoon had his eyes closed, savoring his tea.

“That’s why I told you not to create weaknesses.”

Chairman Yoon finally raised his head and met Do Ha’s gaze as he set down his teacup.

“I’ll say the same thing right back at you, Chairman.”

“……”

The moment one becomes obsessed with something, they inevitably develop a weakness. A fish that freely roamed the ocean can end up on a chopping board if it can’t resist curiosity and comes out of the water. The two were thinking the same thing right now.

Do Ha’s expression, always cold towards his mother, seemed to change for a moment but immediately returned to normal.

“I’ll consider this the last time and take my leave now.”

Do Ha turned his body after speaking concisely. He felt a gaze on his back but opened the door without stopping.

“Seems like you’re done talking.”

The person he encountered was Su Rin.

“It’s lunchtime and we’re at a restaurant, want to eat together?”

Su Rin, who had been waiting outside leaning against the wall, straightened her posture and asked. Her long legs looked slim under the tight-fitting H-line skirt.

Even at the invitation to eat, Do Ha didn’t soften his stiff expression and answered rigidly.

“Don’t do this again next time.”

“It’s just a meal. Why are you overreacting?”

It was Su Rin’s long habit to mix formal and informal speech naturally with Do Ha. This way of speaking was the result of rebelling against Do Ha’s attitude of always putting up walls with her and the desire to get closer to him.

However, Do Ha showed no reaction. He didn’t scold her for a friend’s younger sister speaking informally, nor did he find it cute and feel friendly. A complete non-reaction. It was quite humiliating for Su Rin.

But even if it had no effect, Su Rin used informal and formal speech appropriately out of inertia.

“You know what I mean, Lee Su Rin.”

“Oh my, how could I have possibly known?”

Su Rin widened her eyes innocently as if hearing it for the first time. Do Ha remained cold at Su Rin’s consistent attitude. The “this behavior” that Do Ha told Su Rin not to do meant not to respond to Chairman Yoon’s summons.

Before Do Ha married Hae Yeon, things like today happened quite often. A planned meeting disguised as a coincidence.

Both Do Ha who said not to do it and Su Rin who claimed not to know were well aware that the current situation was orchestrated by Chairman Yoon. It can’t be said that wanting something and trying to get it is wrong in itself. But there was a problem with Lee Su Rin’s method.

“It’s hard for me too, Do Ha oppa.”

She meant that she didn’t know about this situation until the end. Do Ha muttered with lowered eyes.

“Really? As hard as it is for me. No, it’s beyond hard, it’s agonizing. Because I can’t see my wife’s face even one more time at times like this.”

Su Rin’s smiling face stiffened awkwardly. It wasn’t because of the term ‘wife’. Do Ha’s expressionless face.

She might have preferred it if he got angry instead, as it would at least mix their emotions. But no matter what she did, Do Ha never raised his voice, changed his expression, or even furrowed his brows.

As if her existence had no impact on him at all.

Su Rin’s mind slowly twisted as she watched with a hollow gaze until Do Ha left.

* * *

Yoon Seo looked at the clock with an irritated expression. It was long past midnight. In other words, it was now past 12 AM.

“Just like last time at the event.”

Yoon Seo rubbed her forehead, feeling the headache that had become chronic ever since she set foot in this house.

Tomorrow was none other than the 60th founding anniversary of the Kilmyung Group. This year happened to be a busy year with many events like the 5th and 60th anniversaries, as if it was planned.

“I don’t know when he’ll come home again like this.”

The start of the Kilmyung Group, founded by the late honorary chairman, was too weak to be called a ‘company’.

It was Chairman Yoon Myung Gil’s ability that turned that small company into a globally recognized group in Korea. Because the group became famous thanks to Kilmyung Foods, the food company she founded 30 years ago.

Despite Honorary Chairman Yoon Doo Ho’s opposition, Chairman Yoon chose the path of independence by starting a business, and her pioneering and entrepreneurial spirit were still recognized by many to this day.

“That’s probably the reason for pushing Cha Do Ha.”

Cha Do Ha, who established his own company with his own strength, not ‘given by’ Chairman Yoon like Cha Do Hoon. Furthermore, he grew the company to the point where people often said it aimed to be the industry’s number one, reminding them of Chairman Yoon’s younger days.

Ding dong.

“He’s finally here.”

Yoon Seo, who had been having bitter thoughts until just now, barely suppressed her annoyance at Do Hoon who was coming home late even though he was the subject of tomorrow’s party. But when she actually saw Do Hoon in front of her, she thought she should have just vented her anger.

“What, you weren’t sleeping yet?”

Do Hoon, who had come home after drinking despite being told countless times that tomorrow was the founding anniversary, giggled.

Yoon Seo’s anger reached the top of her head, but she couldn’t push Do Hoon today of all days. If she upset him beforehand with that personality of his, there was no telling what ridiculous thing he might do at the event.

Sighing deeply, Yoon Seo asked in a deliberately calm tone.

“You do know what day it is tomorrow, right?”

“Hey, Han Yoon Seo. What do you take me for?”

Do Hoon retorted with a deep frown. What do you take me for? Yoon Seo really wanted to tell him, but she desperately held back the urge and forced herself to relax her expression.

“Tomorrow is a day when all the family members gather. The guests’ eyes will be focused on us, so please pay attention.”

“Family?”

Do Hoon laughed loudly as if it was funny when the word family came up. In fact, Yoon Seo also found it absurd to categorize them as a family.

“Since when did you consider us family? Even just looking at you and me, we’re not family.”

Do Hoon scoffed as if it was absurd. Yoon Seo was also disgusted by the expression ‘family’, but as the daughter-in-law of the Cha family, she had given up on such things long ago.

Because asserting pride at times like this was not important at all. What was truly important lay elsewhere.

– If I get together with Do Ha, you’ll be able to obtain the position you desire.

Remembering Su Rin’s tempting proposal, which was as alluring as her voice, Yoon Seo’s expression had somehow become relaxed.

“You and I are family, so stop and go wash up.”

Yoon Seo, who had quickly finished saying what she wanted to say like slurping noodles, turned towards the bedroom to avoid getting further involved. Seeing that from behind, Do Hoon laughed meaningfully as if he was never drunk and muttered.

“Well, it’ll be fun to watch when all those people gather tomorrow.”

Thinking of the people attending the party, Do Hoon giggled and headed to the bathroom.