Yoo In took several deep breaths as she looked at the rectangular machine that was trembling.

She didn’t know why her heart was pounding like a student who had stolen a glance at a leaked exam paper before a test, but tension was evident at her fingertips.

Just before the vibration was about to cut off, at the last moment, Yoo In answered the phone.

Then, as if following a predetermined rule, he called her name first.

“Yoo In.”

The languid, serene voice blended perfectly with the calmly deepening night. Yoo In responded softly.

“Yes.”

“Why aren’t you answering, my puppy?”

Ki Yeon had not only dropped her off at her house but also watched her get into the elevator before turning back, and he always made sure to send a message asking if she got in safely.

Although Yoo In, who liked his unusual concern, had been diligently replying, today she had completely forgotten. It was because of Nam Yoo Jin’s sudden appearance.

To be precise, it started with the shopping bags Nam Yoo Jin had brought.

“I was talking with my elder sister for a bit.”

“Nam Yoo Jin must be free, going home to play with her younger sister.”

His low voice pleasantly held a gentle hint of laughter.

“What did you talk about so much? Is Nam Yoo Jin still talking behind my back? I haven’t been bothering her lately.”

“What? She’s not talking behind your back. Just, this and that…”

Startled, Yoo In trailed off vaguely. Had she ever mentioned that her elder sister came home and spoke very scathingly behind his back?

No. She had never even brought up a topic related to him. It was always this man who brought up Nam Yoo Jin, and he had always led those conversations.

Yoo In had deliberately tried not to mention anything about her elder sister.

But why was Ki Yeon so certain? As he had said before, did he really know everything about Nam Yoo Jin?

“Judging by Nam Yoo In’s reaction, it seems like you got an earful again. Why, what did she say?”

This man is not only good at handling people, but he’s also very quick-witted and sharp in understanding others.

Sometimes it’s a very good trait, but at times like this, she wished he didn’t know. No, she wished he would pretend not to know, but Do Ki Yeon would never do that. He was a man who needed to know everything he was curious about inside and out before he was satisfied.

“If the silence gets longer, I’ll really start to suspect something, Yoo In. Should I come back to your place? Do you want to talk face to face?”

“No, no. She didn’t say much. Just that you’re extremely busy these days. And she talked about Ji Han. That’s all it was.”

“Ah. Nam Yoo In’s friend was looking for an agency, wasn’t he? I think I heard something about that.”

Ki Yeon spoke as if he had completely forgotten and just now remembered.

Her elder sister had listed many more amazing facts, but for now, she decided to bury them alone.

She hadn’t decided yet whether it would be better to keep them unknown as they had been until now, or if they might be topics worth bringing up again at an appropriate time.

“Yes, that’s what she said.”

“Hmm. It seems Nam Yoo In didn’t know about it.”

“No, I didn’t. I’ve been in infrequent contact with Ji Han lately. But, sir.”

“Yes, Yoo In.”

Yoo In hesitated for a moment at the affectionate voice.

She had no intention whatsoever of interfering with his work. That’s why it was even more delicate to bring it up.

“Um… about Ji Han.”

“…”

“Will you… accept him at Ilang?”

“…Well, I wonder.”

The low tone sounded dry, with not a hint of emotion. Maybe I shouldn’t have asked after all, she thought, but then he quietly continued.

“What would Nam Yoo In like me to do?”

Was her opinion important in this matter? It was a question with unclear intentions.

“What does my opinion matter? That decision is yours to make, sir. I just asked out of curiosity.”

“I’m asking because Nam Yoo In’s opinion is important to me.”

“…”

What he said sounded exactly like he would do whatever she wanted.

Why would Yoo In’s opinion be needed when her only connection to Ilang was that she was seeing a man named Do Ki Yeon?

Ah, could it be.

“Sir. You’re not going to accept Ji Han just because I ask, are you?”

“Why do you think not? I’m more curious about that reason, Yoo In.”

“No, that… Hah.”

As the unfinished sentence turned into a sigh, Ki Yeon laughed softly, as if teasing.

This pattern that had been repeating since before must seem funny and amusing to Ki Yeon. This man who didn’t know his limits seemed like he would readily hand over the house deed if asked at this rate.

Yoo In opened the window on her desk all the way instead of drinking the ice water she couldn’t earlier, and after taking in and exhaling a full breath of outside air, she spoke carefully.

“Sir. Don’t just do everything I ask. I’m not a baby bird in a nest, why do you keep saying you’ll do everything for me?”

“Because I want to. Because I can. What’s wrong with that? But rather than a baby bird, our Nam Yoo In is more like a puppy.”

“…Stop joking. You should separate work and personal matters, especially for things like this.”

“There’s no boss who separates work and personal matters better than me, Yoo In. I’m a role model in our company, I tell you.”

“If you hire Yoon Ji Han just based on what I say, you’ll immediately lose that role model status.”

“It’s fine. I just have to not make it that way. Your friend will just be a bit tired and uncomfortable, that’s all.”

“Do you have any reason to consider that?”

“You.”

Ha. Yoo In exhaled a short, dejected breath as her head drooped down. Even after this brief exchange, an intense feeling of exhaustion hit her entire body. Along with it, her will to persuade Ki Yeon also crumbled.

“Nam Yoo In just needs to say what she wants, why is it so difficult?”

I really lost. I lost. If Ki Yeon were in front of her right now, she probably would have raised both hands and feet in surrender.

Ki Yeon, who had been cleverly dodging and not giving the answer Yoo In wanted, never intended to bend in the first place.

Not knowing that, how reckless must she have looked trying to fight a losing battle?

“I don’t know. It’s your company, so you do as you see fit.”

“Alright. Well. If that’s really Nam Yoo In’s wish.”

Yoo In opened her mouth in bewilderment at his attitude of agreeing so naturally, as if it wasn’t difficult at all, before letting out a small laugh.

What was this? The feeling of having taken a long, winding route for what could have been a very simple straight path.

Ah, now she understood. It started with Ji Han, but in fact, he was letting Yoo In know. That she shouldn’t try to win against his stubbornness, and that she shouldn’t try to persuade him.

That she had to choose one of two options: either go along with him or give up.

Yoo In, completely drained, flopped down on the bed just as Yoo Jin had done.

Today too, she had learned one thing accurately about Do Ki Yeon.

“I feel like a complete fool right now.”

“Why? Who made our puppy feel foolish?”

“There is such a person.”

Ki Yeon laughed softly at the resentful resignation.

“Bring them here. I’ll scold them.”

“…No thanks. I don’t want that person to be scolded. They’re not someone who should be scolded by just anyone.”

“Wow, that person must be really lucky. For Nam Yoo In to care for them so much.”

“Ha, really.”

At last, a faint laugh like a shallow breath burst from Yoo In’s lips.

This man, who was sweet one moment and bitter the next, spicy yet mild, changing several times in a minute, had a charm that made it impossible to dislike him.

“That sounds nice, Yoo In. Always laugh for me like that.”

Though it seemed like an ordinary statement, Yoo In strangely felt her heart tighten and an odd chill run down her spine.

Her heart seemed to have moved to her eardrums, pounding loudly. What was so special about being asked to laugh? Why was she reacting like this over something so small?

Come to think of it, Yoo In was more thrilled by such small words than by compliments about her beauty.

Rather than praise about her appearance that could be given to a stranger on the street, these small things filled with Ki Yeon’s sincerity touched her heart more deeply.

Whether he knew it or not, Ki Yeon was exceptionally talented at making Yoo In’s heart flutter. As if he was born with the skill.

“I want to hang up now.”

“Already?”

“Not already, we’ve been talking for 30 minutes.”

After finishing the call that lasted a total of 40 minutes, with the final greetings taking an additional 10 minutes, Yoo In came out to the living room, cooling her flushed skin with the back of her hand, to find Yoo Jin looking at her with a subtle smile.

She looked triumphant, as if she had a lot to say, which made Yoo In uneasy.

“Who was it that made you lock the door? I was about to eavesdrop but gave up.”

“I almost reported you for invasion of privacy.”

“Who was it? Why are you hiding it? Am I not allowed to know? Why? Why is it a secret?”

“It’s a secret because you’re acting like this, elder sister.”

“What did I do? If you’re honest, am I going to eat you? Is it a man? Are you dating? Is it the person who gave you that bracelet?”

Yoo In glanced at her elder sister with a bored expression and headed to the kitchen without saying a word, when a loud voice echoed through the living room behind her.

“Ah, who is it! Where did you meet them!”

As she was pouring cold water into a glass without answering, she heard the sound of running footsteps.

“Hey, Nam Yoo In.”

Yoo Jin’s voice became more stern, but Yoo In just glanced at her indifferently.

“Don’t tell me you’re dating a celebrity?”

Pfft.

At Yoo Jin’s absurd guess, the cold water Yoo In was holding suddenly spurted forward.

Despite her T-shirt, the table, and the floor getting wet, Yoo Jin paid no attention and shouted while painfully hitting Yoo In’s shoulders.

“Is it true? Is it really true! Is that why Yoon Ji Han is making such a fuss about debuting? Huh? Is it?”

“No, cough. Wait-”

“Who is it? Is it someone I know? You said you hated celebrities so much, but now you’re dating one? Wow, really!”

“Yoon Ji Han is cough! Suddenly, why. Cough cough!”

“Kim Sang Hyun? No, he’s not your type. Heo Joo Won? Not him either? Then who?”

Nam Yoo Jin, who had jumped to an enormously wrong conclusion, was proceeding to find Nam Yoo In’s love interest by counting on her fingers.

She seemed completely oblivious to her younger sister who was almost choking from coughing.

When Yoo In pushed away Yoo Jin’s arm with her shoulder, which must have been red and swollen from being hit so much, and pointed to the tissues with a nod, Yoo Jin brought them over while still listing male celebrity names.

After roughly wiping off the moisture, Yoo In cut off Yoo Jin’s words with a completely disgusted expression.

“Elder sister.”

“What? Who is it?”

“It’s not a celebrity. So stop talking nonsense. I clearly said it wasn’t!”

As Yoo In turned around coldly and entered the bathroom, an even higher-pitched sound than before pierced her back.

“Hey, so you’re admitting you have a boyfriend?!”

Yoo In shook her head and slammed the bathroom door shut with a bang.