Warm breath mixed with laughter enveloped Young In’s ear as she froze in embarrassment.

“What am I going to do with you being so defenseless?”

Young In slapped Sung Hyuk’s shoulder and straightened up. Her cheeks were flushed red as she glared at him.

“What exactly happened to you in America?”

“Huh?”

“I’m asking why you’ve become so shameless.”

Three years ago, Cha Sung Hyuk was an arrogant and cynical man. Of course, he was kinder to her compared to others, but his basic personality hadn’t changed. In short, he was the epitome of a ‘tsundere’. But now, the word ‘smooth’ suited him perfectly.

“Something did happen.”

Sung Hyuk said as he got up.

“I haven’t seen you for three years.”

He took a step closer to Young In.

“I realized I’m in no position to be cocky. I’m on my knees begging now. Please accept me.”

Young In took a step back, widening the distance between them again.

“That doesn’t suit you, elder brother.”

“Whether it’s something I’ve never done before, or something that doesn’t suit me, I feel like I have to do anything for you to look at me.”

Young In liked him both then and now.

She didn’t want Cha Sung Hyuk to change because of her. That wasn’t the reason she couldn’t accept him.

She felt sorry that he seemed to think he had done something wrong to break up, when that wasn’t the case. It hurt that she couldn’t be honest with him.

“…Give me the keys.”

Sung Hyuk took the car keys out of his suit pocket and placed them on Young In’s palm.

“It’s troublesome to keep exchanging. I have a spare key, so you just keep that one.”

“This is the last time I’m driving your car for you, elder brother.”

Young In left those firm words and walked towards his car.

“Is that so?”

Sung Hyuk muttered softly as he lazily followed Young In and got into the passenger seat.

Young In made sure he fastened his seatbelt before starting the car. The car smoothly merged into traffic as it left the pub parking lot.

“Have I ever told you?”

Young In glanced at the passenger seat.

“That you’re a good driver.”

“You’ve never said that.”

“You drive well.”

Young In did not exercise the virtue of modesty. Instead, she gave credit to the person who taught her how to drive.

“It’s all thanks to my teacher.”

Sung Hyuk stretched his mouth corners in satisfaction.

“I thought I might have forgotten.”

“How could I forget the teacher who gave me driving lessons in a car worth over 300 million won?”

It was Sung Hyuk who taught Young In, who only had a license on paper, how to drive in real situations.

He was an excellent teacher beyond compare. Except for being excessively generous.

“I was so nervous about hitting something when changing lanes or parking. That’s why I improved quickly though.”

“I clearly told you until my mouth hurt that it was okay even if you scratched or bumped into something.”

“That doesn’t mean I could just go around scratching and bumping into things.”

“Why not? I said it was okay. I don’t know when Chae Young In became so timid.”

“I am timid.”

So timid that she couldn’t reach out for fear of losing its light the moment something dazzlingly wonderful beside her became hers. So foolish that she couldn’t possess it for fear of getting hurt, even knowing it was foolish.

“Then try being bold from now on.”

“……”

Young In just smiled silently.

She wondered if the day would ever come when she could be bold about matters related to Cha Sung Hyuk.

At the same time, Hee Ran went to the sofa with a wine glass filled to the brim.

She intended to make up for the disappointment of not getting drunk on beer that didn’t even register in her liver by getting drunk on wine instead.

Her face, which had been full of irritation until just a moment ago, was now filled with questions.

“He’s clearly interested in me……”

Hee Ran was confused by Sung Hyuk’s attitude.

She wondered why he didn’t drive her home after coming to the Team 5 dinner just to see her.

“Is he playing hard to get?”

She thought it might be possible since he was such an outstanding man. She couldn’t deny that while his aloof and stiff attitude was annoying, it made him more attractive.

It seemed that playing hard to get could make the other person crazy, regardless of gender.

For example, like Cha Sung Hyuk and Chae Young In.

Just as she was drawn to Cha Sung Hyuk, and Seo Jin Gyo was drawn to Chae Young In.

Unfortunately, she failed to achieve the purpose for which she had attended the Team 5 dinner, knowing full well she wouldn’t be welcome.

She had wanted to catch Chae Young In flirting with Seo Jin Gyo, but all she confirmed was that Seo Jin Gyo had one-sided feelings for Chae Young In. Chae Young In seemed to have no personal interest in Seo Jin Gyo at all.

That made her dislike Chae Young In even more. It was quite unpleasant that a man who had never shown interest in her liked a woman she disliked.

She decided to postpone her punishment for Chae Young In for now. Cha Sung Hyuk was more urgent than Chae Young In at the moment.

“Should I be more aggressive……”

Just as she was deep in thought, her cell phone on the sofa table started vibrating. She craned her neck to see ‘Elder Sister Hyun Shim’ displayed on the screen.

Hee Ran put down her wine glass and answered the phone.

“What?”

Her curt tone was an expression of dissatisfaction at having her thoughts interrupted.

-Hee Ran, you don’t know about Director Oh Chang Geun yet?

“What happened? I haven’t contacted him since he came to my house last time?”

Although she hadn’t said it outright, she knew their relationship was over.

Far from feeling regretful, she felt relieved because she had met a man far more impressive than Oh Chang Geun.

-He was arrested a few days ago on charges of drug use.

“Arrested?”

Hee Ran’s eyes widened as if they would pop out.

-I heard it from a journalist I know. Seongmyeong Construction desperately tried to block it, but articles are about to pour out soon.

“……”

-You didn’t know he was doing drugs either, right?

“Of course I didn’t know. If I had known, would I have dated that bastard?”

Hee Ran nervously bit her nails.

“Surely it won’t affect me too, right?”

-I think it’s better to be mentally prepared just in case.

“I never went anywhere near drugs!”

-As they investigate, your relationship with Director Oh Chang Geun might come to light, and then you might be suspected too. You might have to take a test.

“Because of that worthless bastard, really……”

-Don’t worry too much. I’ll contact you if I hear any new information.

After hanging up, Hee Ran downed the remaining wine in one gulp.

The thought of possibly being called in by the police or prosecutors sent chills down her spine. Even if she was innocent, just being involved in such a matter was terrifying.

On the other hand, she felt an even more desperate need for a shield.

Someone who could exert influence over the police, prosecutors, and media.

The first person that came to Hee Ran’s mind was Cha Sung Hyuk.

Young In dropped Sung Hyuk off near the elevator and left the underground parking lot.

Knowing he wouldn’t easily agree, she didn’t bother saying she would leave the car. She planned to come back early tomorrow morning like last time.

About 5 minutes after leaving the villa.

While stopped briefly at a red light, a faint phone notification sound came from the back seat.

When she looked back, Sung Hyuk’s suit jacket, which he had taken off earlier complaining it was stuffy, was lying there.

“Ah……”

She only now realized that he had forgotten his jacket and that his phone was inside it.

After a brief deliberation, Young In turned the car around.

She couldn’t wait until tomorrow morning to bring back something as important as a phone.

She returned to the villa, parked, and pressed the intercom at the common entrance of the underground parking lot. But there was no response.

She had a feeling he was either in the shower or sleeping. She thought the former was more likely.

Young In entered the passcode and passed through the common entrance. She arrived at the third floor and tried ringing the doorbell again, but it was in vain.

Last week, the owner had told her to go in if she arrived first, but today the owner didn’t know about the situation, so she hesitated to just open the door and go in.

After hesitating in front of the door, she acknowledged there was no other way and unlocked the door. As soon as she entered and put down the jacket at the entrance, she heard footsteps.

When she straightened up, she saw Sung Hyuk’s face.

He was wearing a shower robe. Water was dripping from his hair as if he had rushed out of the bathroom.

Feeling awkward, Young In pointed at the jacket with her eyes.

“You left it in the car.”

Sung Hyuk immediately understood the situation.

“You came back to bring this?”

“It’s because of the phone. I couldn’t just leave thinking you might get an urgent call. I think something came in, you should check.”

Young In added a word, worried he might misunderstand.

“I didn’t touch your phone.”

“You can touch it and look at it. I told you I don’t mind if you see it.”

Sung Hyuk had previously given Young In permission to freely look at his phone. It meant he had nothing to hide from her.

“Why are you talking about the past……”

Young In lowered her gaze and mumbled.

“What was okay then is still okay now. Nothing has changed.”

“I’m leaving now.”

As Young In was about to turn around, she was grabbed by the wrist and had to face Sung Hyuk again. Her left hand was caught, followed by her right.

“I don’t want to let you go.”

“……”

Young In silently stared into his pitch-black eyes that seemed to pull her in.

“If you don’t like it, slap me. Hard enough to wake me up.”

“……”

They say an ideal type is just an ideal.

From a young age, she liked people who were gentle and warm like spring. But the one she actually met was like summer.

Sensitive and unpredictable, hard to predict even a step ahead.

Cha Sung Hyuk was always hot enough to burn everything like the midsummer sun.

Right now, his eyes were full of burning heat.

The moment her back touched the wall, Young In’s eyes slowly closed. And their lips met.