“Since I’m in charge anyway, let’s go on the site visits together.”

Unlike his calm demeanor, Hae Jin’s mind was in chaos, incapable of normal thought processes.

“Let’s spend the night together.”

Spend the night, spend the night, spend the night,

As the word echoed and reverberated in her ears, her head felt dizzy.

Does this man not realize what he just said?

Or is he someone for whom such things are commonplace?

She had always been pure, more principled than anyone, full of self-restraint, yet Hae Jin blushed at those words.

The reason was because they came from Tae Hong’s mouth. Who is Moon Tae Hong? Isn’t he like an unpredictable rugby ball, not stopping women who come or chasing those who go?

“Is there something on my face?”

“Ah, no.”

She awkwardly averted her gaze. The glimpse she caught showed a face that truly seemed oblivious, but did he really not know? As time passed, she felt she needed to ask again.

“Let’s get out.”

Just as she was about to ask, the car stopped. The sound of seatbelts being unbuckled was heard. When Hae Jin looked around, it was a familiar place – in front of Tae Hong’s house.

She followed suit and unbuckled her seatbelt, reaching out to open the door, but couldn’t. She had to clarify this matter.

It’s not like they wouldn’t see each other for a while; they’d meet tomorrow and the day after. She couldn’t keep worrying about this.

“Team leader. About what you said earlier.”

Tae Hong leaned on the steering wheel, turning his head slightly towards her.

What, is he posing for a photo shoot? It was such a natural action, but it suited him so well that she missed the timing to ask.

“Earlier? What did I say earlier?”

Is he playing dumb, or not? His expression and behavior seemed to show he truly didn’t know the intention, but it would be better to make sure.

If she were to ask later, “Didn’t you ask me to spend the night with you earlier?”, then all the embarrassment would surely be hers alone.

“Among what you said to me earlier. You know, that.”

“That we should go on site visits together?”

“No, before that.”

“Before?”

His face seemed to say ‘What is this, twenty questions?’, but Hae Jin couldn’t bring herself to say it out loud. Tae Hong had misspoken, yet the embarrassment fell to Hae Jin.

“What did I say before that? That I’m in charge?”

“Before that.”

Tae Hong seemed to be getting annoyed as he took his hands off the steering wheel and raised his face.

“Why don’t you say it, Deputy Jung Hae Jin? I feel like I’m on some kind of quiz show.”

No, that’s not it. How can I say those words? Unlike you, I’m not someone who just blurts out such things.

“Well, um.”

Although the first rule of office life is to do as you’re told, the words wouldn’t come easily. Oh dear, this is troublesome.

“So.”

Hae Jin glanced at Tae Hong and finally squeezed her eyes shut.

“You said let’s spend the night together.”

After saying it, she clenched her molars tightly. She knew her face must be as red as a tomato without even looking in a mirror.

Overcoming the rush of embarrassment, she opened her eyes. Tae Hong’s expression was exactly like this:

What on earth are you doing?

I know, right? What am I doing?

Fanning her heated face with her hand, she turned away from him. Continuing to look at him felt like her face might explode.

“Deputy Jung Hae Jin.”

However, Tae Hong didn’t seem to have any intention of leaving her alone. Since she had brought it up, he would probably say something too.

“Spend the night together? Me? With whom? With Deputy Jung Hae Jin?”

Are you acting right now? If so, you deserve a Best Actor award. She kept fanning herself, thinking it would be ridiculous to nod. But Tae Hong just let out an incredulous chuckle.

“Why would I? Why would I sleep with Deputy Jung Hae Jin?”

When Tae Hong asked so bluntly, Hae Jin was at a loss for words.

He was the one who misspoke, so why did she have to face the backlash?

And honestly, even if he hadn’t said such a thing, was this level of overreaction necessary? It was subtly starting to irritate her.

“No, that’s not it. You clearly told me earlier that we should spend the night together.”

The more she spoke, the more dumbfounded Tae Hong’s face, expression, and gestures became. As this continued, Hae Jin began to wonder if she had misheard.

“That’s strange. I’m not the kind of guy who would say such things to just any woman.”

Wait, this is annoying in its own way. Look here, Team Leader Moon Tae Hong.

“You’re not my type either, Team Leader.”

Hmph, tch, pff. But he seemed slightly angry too. I should be the one getting angry, why are you losing your temper?

“Perhaps.”

Tae Hong stroked his chin and turned his body completely. His narrowed gaze bore into her intensely, binding Hae Jin’s field of vision. As his expression changed, her lips grew dry.

“Did Deputy Jung Hae Jin hear what she wanted to hear?”

“What I wanted to hear?”

What does this mean now? What I wanted to hear? So, does he mean I want to sleep with him or something?

“Think about it. People tend to hear what they want to hear.”

His body, which had been facing Hae Jin, gradually came closer. His large frame blocked her view, and his small breath disturbed her nose.

“Do you want to sleep with me?”

It was the same nose he had touched on the day she cried. The feeling of his fingertips, which resurface whenever she’s about to forget, was intense. If she made any careless movement under his piercing gaze, it felt like she would be captured instantly.

She couldn’t think of a way to break free from his bound gaze. She couldn’t come up with a way to escape his breath so close to her.

“Sleeping with Jung Hae Jin.”

His voice, spoken like a declaration of war, was cold, and the way he measured her with his eyes was terribly wild.

Even though it wasn’t real, a shiver ran through her from head to toe. Although he didn’t come any closer, the tense atmosphere didn’t dissipate.

Feeling the sting of her parched lips, she slightly rolled her lower lip. His fingertip touched her lips.

“If you look like this.”

The touch of his hand caressing her chapped lips was infinitely gentle.

“I might just give in.”

Tap tap, he tapped her lips that he had just smoothly caressed. As if nothing had happened, he withdrew his body and straightened his tightly pulled shirt.

“You said you’d commute to Grace Hotel?”

It felt like something had passed by in an instant, and what clearly told her what it was, was his breath on her nose and his touch on her lips.

Still enveloped in the atmosphere he had created, she could only nod.

“Alright. Do that.”

Ha, she sighed deeply inside, careful not to let him notice. Only then did the tension that had been so tightly wound up begin to release.

“Thank you. Then I’ll make good use of those 3 times.”

Hae Jin showed a faint smile. She didn’t notice Tae Hong’s brow slightly furrowing.

“And Team Leader.”

Just as she was about to get out, Hae Jin quickly turned back to Tae Hong. Tae Hong, who was also about to get out, turned his body back again.

“Since I’m planning to use all 3 times for hotel site visits anyway.”

“And?”

Has he caught on?

“We’re doing all this work for the company, right?”

“So?”

He’s caught on.

“Would it be alright to use the corporate card?”

Tae Hong chuckled. The more he did, the brighter Hae Jin smiled.

Why? Because you can’t spit on a smiling face.

“Go ahead.”

As expected, there’s no defense against a smiling face.

“Thank you. I’ll do my best to enjoy it for the sake of the company.”

Tae Hong could only laugh at Hae Jin’s words. His face said, “What kind of person is this?” but she didn’t back down.

Hae Jin bowed her head slightly and stretched one leg out of the car. Tae Hong sat back in the driver’s seat. As Tae Hong was walking towards his house, he urgently walked back to the driver’s seat where Hae Jin was sitting.

Knock knock, he tapped on the window. Hae Jin, who was about to drive off, hurriedly lowered the window.

“Team Leader, do you have something else to say?”

Having received even the corporate card, I should show an even more dedicated work ethic. Hae Jin looked at Tae Hong with sparkling eyes.

“Deputy Jung Hae Jin.”

Tae Hong’s expression became awkward as he hesitated. What is it, is he asking for the corporate card back? She carefully caressed the corporate card in her pocket.

“About what I said earlier.”

As expected, taking back what you’ve given is the most unfair thing. Sure enough. Her regretful hand kept fondling the corporate card.

“When I said I’m not the kind of guy who would say such things to just any woman.”

Hae Jin tilted her head. It was the beginning of a completely unexpected development.

“That was a mistake.”

What kind of situation is this?

“Deputy Jung Hae Jin isn’t just any woman to me.”

Leaving only those words, Tae Hong turned back the way he came. One hand couldn’t close or open the window, and the other hand that had been caressing the corporate card had long since stopped.

What did I just hear?

Hae Jin couldn’t leave the parking lot right away. Even though Tae Hong had disappeared, Hae Jin couldn’t leave the parking lot for a while.

**

How did she get home? She had been here a few times, so she came home on a route she had memorized down to the lanes. She had arrived, but even with her home right in front of her, Hae Jin couldn’t get out of the car.

Not just any woman, and that those words were a mistake too.

Tae Hong’s words seemed to keep repeating in her ears. Feeling like her face might burst, she put both hands on her cheeks.

Ah, it’s hot.

Is my body running a fever?

Has my head gone crazy, or has my heart?

The mistake wasn’t Tae Hong’s, but her own. She thought she needed to sort out right from wrong to prevent unnecessary emotions from arising in a relationship where they work together all day.

She should have just let it go, shouldn’t have pressed the oblivious him to the end, shouldn’t have acted up saying the dashcam was evidence. If she hadn’t, her face and heart wouldn’t be burning up like this.

No, this isn’t her fault.

As much as she hates to admit it, it’s the fault of his handsome face, unpredictable personality, and Best Actor level acting skills pretending not to know anything.

The biggest problem is him saying she’s not just any woman to him. Why does he make such a convincing expression when he says that?

Hae Jin shook her head vigorously. In her mind, a rugby ball was bouncing around freely.

She wanted to blame it all on Team Leader Moon Tae Hong, on the rugby ball, on anyone.

Get a grip, Jung Hae Jin. He said you’re not just anyone because you play an important role in this project.

You shouldn’t let your imagination run wild.

It’s just a momentary confusion caused by your heart fluttering after such a long time.