Yoo In slipped out through the slightly opened door, closing it as quietly as possible, and quickly strode down the empty, chilly hallway.

Just before leaving, she had sensed an enigmatic aura emanating from the man’s face she encountered. The calm yet intrigued black pupils and twitching lips bothered her for some reason.

Suddenly, their first kiss from yesterday vividly came to mind, as if preserved. The breath felt up close, that soft touch, the husky voice scratching her throat – it was all so vivid.

“Ah… really.”

A red flush bloomed on the snow-white skin reflected in the mirror above the sink, as if painted with pigment.

Following the lead of the skilled man in everything, before she knew it, she was already in an ordinary relationship like other couples.

Is liking and loving someone like welcoming a sudden downpour with your whole body? Is this how everyone dates… Wait a minute.

“Love?”

Though she had thought of it herself and said it out loud, she covered her mouth with her palm in disbelief.

Love that man? Me? Is it possible to feel something without even knowing what it is?

No way. Yoo In, who repeated this softly several times, washed her clammy hands covered in cold sweat and slowly put her hair up again to cool her flushed face.

After killing time as much as she could, she left the bathroom, when loud noises came from the elevator direction, followed by the sound of rough footsteps and angry muttering.

“…what kind of psycho? Ugh, this is so annoying!”

The person who entered the hallway shouting irritably stopped abruptly upon spotting Yoo In, who was about to head to the office.

As expected, Yoo In, who noticed the visitor, immediately recognized the identity of the sudden visitor and her expression turned cold.

The other person scanned Yoo In up and down with an arrogant gaze and tilted her head. As if trying to recall something from memory, she spoke in a sharp, wary voice.

“Who are you?”

Yoo In didn’t react to the sudden informal speech. Instead, she examined the rude person’s appearance just as the other had done to her.

A designer logo t-shirt over hospital pants caught her eye. Though hidden under a cap, her distinct features were clean without makeup, and her bare feet in hospital slippers made her look like someone planning a hasty escape.

In short, she had been hospitalized and came to Ki Yeon’s office for some urgent reason, whether it was an escape or an outing.

Why?

An unpleasant question spreading from deep within her heart instantly ignited into a great flame.

“A trainee? Hah, really. Kids these days have it so good. You practice dressed like that? Who taught you?”

“…”

“Ah. Whatever. Anyway, get out quickly. This isn’t a place for someone like you to come up to carelessly.”

“Then why are you hanging around here?”

Given that she came on a weekend, it meant she knew he was here now. Conversely, the possibility that she had made prior plans to meet with Ki Yeon couldn’t be ruled out.

However, the arrow that had escaped the control of reason had already been fired, and only the aftermath remained.

The patient who didn’t look like a patient laughed briefly, as if this situation was absurd, then took off her hat and frowned fiercely.

“Ha. Now even this… Hey. Don’t you know who I am?”

“I do.”

“You do? Are you really crazy? Do you want to get kicked out of this company?”

The sharp high-pitched scream clawed at the still air. Yoo In responded calmly with a numb, frozen expression.

“Unfortunately, that won’t happen. I’m not that entangled with this company.”

“What? Then who are you? Why are you…”

The woman trailed off suspiciously and narrowed her eyes. Then, as she gradually drew closer, she began to scrutinize Yoo In’s face carefully.

“…Huh? Now that I look at you closely. No, why are you…?”

It was then, as the other person was making a strange face as if finding it hard to believe. A familiar low voice resonated heavily from behind.

“Why is Kim Sun Young here?”

At the ominously low voice, the gazes of the two facing each other simultaneously turned back.

The man who had appeared without a sound stood with his secretary, who was stuck to him like glue, staring coldly at the two people, or more precisely, at Yoo In’s side with a hardened gaze.

“Why did you come? Isn’t this a time when you should be receiving counseling at the hospital?”

Though his gesture of taking his hands out of his slacks pockets to casually check his watch seemed relaxed, the atmosphere surrounding him was not normal.

A sense of danger and sensitivity was detected, as if tightly sealing a glass bottle about to burst to prevent an explosion.

“I told you I don’t need counseling or anything like that. More importantly, who is she? Why is she here?”

“Why should I explain that to you, Kim Sun Young?”

Ki Yeon, who had spoken almost indifferently, held out one arm to Yoo In. Then he mouthed silently, almost inaudibly. Come here.

Although Sun Young, standing next to them, must have seen it clearly too, Ki Yeon didn’t care and focused his pitch-black, intense gaze solely on Yoo In.

At this, Yoo In sighed tiredly and was about to move when suddenly a force stopped her.

“What’s this weird atmosphere? Hey. You’re Nam Yoo Jin’s sister, right? Director Do, are you dating Nam Yoo Jin’s sister or something?”

“Kim Sun Young. Let go of that while I’m asking nicely.”

“Why can’t you answer? Is it true? You’re dating a kid? Nam Yoo Jin’s sister?”

Sun Young, who had become roughly agitated, shook Yoo In’s arm that she was holding violently, looking back and forth between Ki Yeon and Yoo In like a madwoman.

Although Yoo In didn’t have direct acquaintance with Sun Young, they knew of each other’s existence. There was a stepping stone between them called Nam Yoo Jin, just like with Ki Yeon.

A member who had been in the same group as her sister. And the member’s younger sister. That was about it. Of course, Yoo In had heard news about Sun Young from time to time.

Still, she never thought they would encounter each other like this. In front of Ki Yeon’s office, no less.

Meanwhile, her wrist that was being shaken was starting to hurt more and more. Just as she was about to twist her arm to pull it out, unable to endure any longer.

“This is…!”

The man clicked his tongue lowly and approached with large strides, coldly striking Sun Young’s forearm. As the thin body was pushed back, the tall man stood protectively in front of Yoo In.

“Kim Sun Young doesn’t listen when spoken to, it seems.”

“Director!”

Sun Young cried out indignantly, clutching her struck wrist. Ki Yeon, as if he couldn’t care less, instructed Jin Seok coldly with an expression full of annoyance and irritation.

“Secretary Lee. Send Kim Sun Young back to the hospital and tell the manager to come to the company building immediately.”

“Yes. I underst-”

“Wait a minute! Director Do! I came because I have something to say!”

Whether intentional or not, Sun Young’s tone sounded quite desperate.

The man who was about to pass by with his arm around Yoo In’s shoulder hesitated. The next moment, the man let out a chilling, cold laugh and slowly turned his head, drawling sarcastically.

“Go ahead. I’ll listen through my secretary. And from now on, make an appointment before coming. If you disobey one more time, you won’t be able to sit in front of me until the day you leave this company.”

“…”

“Ah, I almost forgot the most important thing.”

The man, imitating a casual tone, pulled his lover whom he had been protectively shielding and stood closely in front of Sun Young.

“Apologize to my guest. This person is not someone to be treated rudely by just anyone.”

“Wh-what did you say?”

Sun Young couldn’t close her mouth, which had fallen open helplessly as she tried to comprehend if Ki Yeon’s words that had passed through her eardrums were true.

“Are you not going to apologize?”

The warning through gritted teeth was quieter than anything. Like just before a fierce storm approaches and sweeps everything away. Everyone around him could clearly sense this.

Especially Sun Young, who was at the eye of the storm, still seemed unable to accept the situation she was in, looking at Ki Yeon with eyes that seemed to ask if she really had to do this, but Ki Yeon only glared back with ice-cold black eyes, not budging from behind Yoo In.

Yoo In, who was intuiting Sun Young’s state, was also in a difficult position, but she didn’t back down. Sun Young had acted out of line first, after all.

In the suffocating tension, Sun Young, who had been biting her lips resentfully, let out a small sound.

“S-so… sorry.”

“Do it properly. With manners.”

“…I’m sorry.”

There was not a shred of sincerity in the volume that had shrunk to a whisper and the face distorted with humiliation. However, Ki Yeon signaled to Jin Seok that this was enough.

The man who caught his superior’s signal tapped Sun Young’s shoulder area to guide her movement, but Sun Young, who was repeating unstable breaths while her shoulders trembled, seemed too distraught to listen.

“Take her to the hospital properly. Tell the station to keep a close eye on the patient.”

Despite Ki Yeon’s cold tone, Jin Seok nodded in acknowledgment without changing his expression.

The man who had cleanly brought the situation to a close grabbed Yoo In’s hand tightly and then took large, hurried steps without delay.

As the office door they had entered closed with a thud, Ki Yeon exhaled rather roughly, releasing the anger he had been holding in, and Yoo In plopped down on the reception sofa.

For a moment, a heavy silence fell between them. Ki Yeon, who had been running his hands through his hair several times with a sigh as if feeling stifled, spoke first.

“Nam Yoo In. Why were you engaging with her?”

Yoo In looked up at the man who had approached. Wondering if it was Sun Young or herself who was making him angry.

“I barely said anything.”

“That’s why. Why did you exchange even those few words? You hate facing people you don’t know.”

“Kim Sun Young isn’t someone I don’t know. Rather, I know her too well.”

“You know Kim Sun Young well? What do you know? Her name? Her face?”

“…”

“Yoo In. Do you really not understand why I’m acting like this?”

The dark and chilly features, as if submerged under a cold lake, were asking a pitiful question. Do you really not know?

Yoo In, gazing at him, realized one thing. Ki Yeon wasn’t angry. He was expressing a different kind of regret and frustration.

“Why don’t you understand this.”