The lobby, paved with obsessively all-white marble without a single blemish, was quiet as it was the weekend.

In contrast to the very sparse human presence, modern and sophisticated sculptural lighting fixtures hung luxuriously from what looked like dizzying heights, emitting light, and the sensual artworks installed here and there seemed to be waiting for someone to admire them.

In this landscape that gave those crossing it the impression of a gallery aimed at young people rather than an entertainment agency, only Yoo In was alone.

Barely suppressing the growing anxiety and discomfort from the echo of her footsteps, she finally arrived at the security desk.

“How may I help you?”

As if weekend visitors weren’t completely absent, the man’s gaze was quite cautious as he asked Yoo In upon her arrival.

For a brief moment, Yoo In opened her mouth while subtly avoiding the eyes that scanned her probingly.

No, she was about to, but was intercepted by someone before she could.

“Hello.”

Shifting her eyes to the unexpected greeting, she saw a man in a neatly pressed deep indigo blue suit standing with a tidy face.

Yoo In narrowed her eyes as she faced the man. The face seemed familiar, but she couldn’t quite place it. Who was he?

The man, seemingly adept at reading others’ intentions, immediately continued.

“I’m Lee Jin Seok, secretary to Director Do Ki Yeon. I couldn’t greet you properly last time due to the circumstances.”

“Ah, yes. Hello.”

Yoo In reflexively returned the same action as the man bowed politely.

Now that he had mentioned it, she remembered.

That time when she was dragged along without knowing the destination, the man she had encountered in front of Ki Yeon’s office. The man who had spoken to Ki Yeon with a strictly businesslike attitude and stiff tone, while casting a briefly wary glance at her.

It seemed that after she had obediently followed Ki Yeon’s request to call upon arrival, he had sent his secretary to greet her.

The man, whose first impression hadn’t been particularly good, straightened up and opened the entrance gate, indicating he would guide her.

“As you’re Director Do’s personal guest, you don’t need to be added to the visitor list.”

Yoo In followed the man’s straight back, taking small steps, as he left a clean instruction to the security guard.

It was a bit amusing, but the presence of the man in front of her became a thread of support in this unfamiliar IL Entertainment building. Just the fact that Ki Yeon had sent him.

Suddenly, remembering the man who had such an enormous influence on her even from unseen places, she felt her previously confused feelings improve a little.

“…”

“…”

As they weren’t particularly close enough to engage in conversation, only silence flowed in the elevator they rode together.

Yoo In, not particularly skilled in conversation, was internally debating whether to bring up the man who was their common acquaintance.

Despite being unsure if it was appropriate to try, she wanted to confirm from someone other than him whether there were any problems with the man who had been too busy to breathe yesterday and today.

While she was just moving her lips, the man, who had roughly sensed her obvious concern, opened his mouth while staring indifferently straight ahead.

“Do you have something to say?”

“Pardon?”

Although his tone was monotonous, Yoo In was startled.

Then the expressionless man laid out a more flexible foundation.

“I’ll answer what I can within my capacity.”

Large eyes looked up at the indicator panel. In a situation where there wasn’t much time left until his office, she couldn’t just let this opportunity pass.

“Is the Director alright?”

“Of course. There’s no reason for him not to be.”

“Perhaps…”

“…”

“There aren’t any problems with his safety, right?”

Jin Seok’s head slowly turned towards her. The faint furrowing and smoothing of his clean brow suggested he was gauging the intention behind Yoo In’s words.

Having grasped a few possibilities, Jin Seok soon regained his poker face. Averting his gaze from the clear and clean face, he responded calmly.

“Did you hear from Nam Yoo Jin?”

“Yes. But, um.”

“Go on.”

“The Director doesn’t know. That I know.”

As if he already knew that much, Jin Seok exhaled calmly and soon recited clearly, as if briefing his superior.

“His position isn’t light or shallow enough to be shaken by such things. Rather, it’s too solid and robust. He’s a person with remarkable talent for facing and solving problems, more wise and realistic than anyone.”

Though he didn’t add more, the implication of his explanation was accurately conveyed. There was absolutely nothing to worry about.

If so, that was fortunate. There was no need to fret unnecessarily, so it should be fortunate. Despite being a very thorough answer that unraveled the tangle of questions, her mood drifted to an odd corner.

Hearing an evaluation of him from others was both novel and unsettling.

Because she couldn’t guess how much of him she didn’t know, how much she actually knew.

Would she be able to have such confidence as time passed?

“And though it’s not my place to interfere, let me tell you one more thing.”

When the words that seemed to be the conclusion were heard, the elevator doors opened wide at that moment.

Jin Seok politely gestured for her to exit first. Then, following right behind Yoo In, he spoke in a lower tone than in the enclosed space.

“The Director doesn’t seem to appreciate secrets.”

“Ah…”

A complex emotion tinged the edges of Yoo In’s cheeks as she made a sound that could have been either admiration or a sigh. The man who had just fired off advice that pierced to the essence led Yoo In as if nothing had happened.

And passing through that corridor they had once encountered, upon reaching the thick wooden door, he cast a glance at Yoo In filled with various unspoken messages.

If one were to interpret that, it would be something like: keep the conversation we just had confidential. When Yoo In showed a nod of affirmation, Jin Seok, in lieu of a verbal response, made a knocking sound.

Knock knock-.

A low response was heard from inside. The man opened the office door, ushered Yoo In in, then closed it sharply and disappeared.

For a moment, her vision blurred due to the midday light pouring in abundantly through the fully raised blinds of the floor-to-ceiling windows.

As the image gradually became clearer on her opaque cornea, she could see a man sitting like a king of some jungle at the edge of the sunlight, wearing a picturesque smile.

Ki Yeon tilted his head slightly to the side like a mischievous child.

“My Nam Yoo In has finally arrived.”

Ki Yeon, wearing a full smile, spread his arms towards Yoo In. Her body, automatically drawn to him, was soon nestled snugly in the man’s firm embrace.

Ki Yeon, leaving several affectionate and loving kisses on Yoo In’s ear as she was fully embraced, lightly lifted her slight body and sat her on his thigh.

Yoo In, dumbfounded by suddenly finding herself perched on his knee, reproached him with an incredulous face.

“Is this okay in the office?”

“What’s wrong with it? Is there a law that says I can’t sit my lover on my knee in the office?”

“What if your secretary suddenly comes in?”

“That won’t happen. One of a secretary’s virtues is knocking. And there’s no one in this company who can enter here without my permission.”

Yoo In couldn’t help but smile slightly at his serious mention of a virtue she had never heard of before. The man, smiling mischievously in return, hugged Yoo In’s waist and rested his forehead near her collarbone.

The next moment, there was a hint of fatigue mixed in his voice.

“Our Nam Yoo In. You must have had a hard time coming here. Did you have any trouble on the way? How did you come?”

“I took a taxi.”

“Hmm. Weren’t you scared coming up?”

“Why would I be scared? You provided a bodyguard, didn’t you?”

Ki Yeon’s subtle laughter could be felt. Yoo In, feeling unexpectedly sorry for the silent smile, gently patted the back of the man leaning on her while quietly exhaling.

She hoped he could rest a little from the piles of documents stacked on the desk. She hoped this could provide some comfort, even if just a little.

He remained silent for a while, maintaining a peaceful atmosphere in the appropriate indoor temperature. Yoo In, following his lead in silence, spoke up after a moment, quietly but somewhat lightly.

“What should I do here while you work, Director?”

“You could just keep sticking to me like this.”

“…That’s a bit…”

Yoo In, who cut off her sentence with dissatisfaction, firmly pushed away the broad shoulders wrapped in a gray-toned checked shirt.

Ki Yeon, pretending to reluctantly separate, raised his upper arm and locked eyes intensely.

“Do whatever you want in here. Did you eat lunch?”

“Yes. I had something light at home. What about you, Director?”

“Yeah. I had something simple too.”

“Now hurry up and work. I won’t disturb you.”

Ki Yeon’s large hand, leaving a lingering sense of regret, let go of Yoo In’s waist as she quickly applied strength to her legs and left his embrace.

Looking at her obliquely, Ki Yeon soon smiled and added:

“You can read the books on the bookshelf. Or watch TV. Or do you want to look at Nam Yoo Jin’s script for the upcoming shoot?”

“The script? Is it okay for me to see that? Won’t you get dragged away for script leakage, Director?”

“Dragged away? Who? Me?”

The man frowned as if hearing such a ridiculous thing for the first time, then shook his head.

“Do whatever you like and make yourself comfortable. Do you need coffee?”

“Um. Yes.”

“Iced?”

“Iced.”

When Ki Yeon ordered takeout coffee on the intercom as if relaying the order, Jin Seok brought in two iced Americanos filled with ice in less than 5 minutes.

Yoo In sat on the reception sofa, and Ki Yeon at his work desk, each drinking their share of coffee.

The man soon seemed to forget Yoo In’s presence as he sank into the swamp of work, and Yoo In, gradually bored of sitting still, got up making as little noise as possible and wandered around the office.

She hung on the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the dazzling skyscrapers, appreciated the paintings hung in a style similar to the lobby, and finally stood in front of the bookshelf filled with books.

“…”

Ki Yeon glanced sideways at the small back of her head, clearly showing what she was pondering, and smiled slightly.

It was truly lovable how she scurried about here and there like a curious puppy, checking her surroundings.

Even when he was acting shamelessly, breaking his promise with her, he had been so angry and heated that his insides burned, but now, seeing Yoo In fluttering about before his eyes, he realized once again that his judgment had been correct.

It would have been a big problem if he hadn’t seen Yoo In today. Really.

Ki Yeon, who had let out a hollow laugh, had just shifted his gaze from stealing glances to looking at the monitor when Yoo In, who had been busy choosing a book, was caught in his sight sneaking towards the door.

“Where are you going?”

Yoo In, who had turned around so quickly that the skirt hem on her seemingly fragile thighs fluttered, blinked her large eyes.

“I’m going to the bathroom.”

“Go ahead. It’s at the end of the corridor.”

As if wondering if she had disturbed him, she looked at Ki Yeon with eyes glistening with moisture, then responded with a “Yes” and quietly opened the door and left.

Thud.

As soon as she left, Ki Yeon put down the fountain pen he was holding with a sound and rubbed his slightly upturned lips.

“She’s so cute it’s killing me.”

He muttered words that the cute subject couldn’t hear.