For 20 minutes, Hae Jin inspected her outfit and makeup in front of the mirror.

To avoid being late for the party, she needed to leave in 15 minutes at the latest. Parties weren’t difficult events for Hae Jin. She had often accompanied her father and had been invited several times herself.

She was informed that the dress code for this founding anniversary party was black. Although she had sold all her luxury items, she had kept her dresses.

This was partly because some were gifts from her father, and partly due to a vague expectation that she might wear them again someday.

When quickly packing, she took out the most modest black dress among those she had.

All the dresses she owned were custom-made and thus not worth selling. She usually preferred flashy dresses for parties, but as she was attending this event as an employee of Yeonchang Group, there was no need to stand out.

If anyone were to stand out, it would be Tae Hong. She wondered if he was preparing well right now.

Given his knack for dressing, she was curious about what outfit he would wear to the party. Considering his ability to pull off any look so far, she thought he might end up being the star of the party.

As Hae Jin entered the final stages of preparation, she let down her loosely tied hair.

“This should do.”

Hae Jin turned in front of the mirror to check her back view, and added the final touch with accessories. Now she just had to leave at the prearranged time with him.

Buzz, the cell phone on the table rang. Thinking it might be Tae Hong who had already finished preparing, she quickly picked it up. But the caller was Chairman Jun Tae.

“Yes, Chairman.”

She lowered her voice, trying not to sound surprised.

−You’ll be heading to the party soon, I suppose.

Jun Tae acted as if he knew all the schedules. Hae Jin was flustered but tried not to show it, simply answering, “Yes.”

−About Tae Hong’s marriage that I mentioned before. Our prospective daughter-in-law, Se Young, will be at the party.

“Jo, Se Young?”

−Oh, Manager Jung knows her too. Since you’re aware, I can ask this more comfortably. I hope you can help facilitate a meeting between Se Young and Tae Hong at today’s party.

Hae Jin couldn’t answer hastily. Jo Se Young? Why try to connect that ill-mannered girl with the accomplished Tae Hong?

Moreover, hadn’t Ha Min said he was about to face a search and seizure?

−Why are you silent?

Jun Tae urged her to give the answer he had already decided. Just then, there was a knock on the room door. It must be Tae Hong.

“Yes, I understand.”

So Hae Jin had no choice but to quickly finish the call and hang up.

I’m counting on you, she ended the call with Jun Tae’s hearty laugh echoing through the phone.

If she hadn’t heard Tae Hong knocking on the door outside, she would have surely stood there blankly without a plan. She had received Jun Tae’s instructions in an unexpected situation.

But why did she want to disobey?

Hae Jin shook her head briefly, picked up her clutch bag, and opened the door as if nothing had happened.

As the door opened, the two just looked at each other for a while.

Tae Hong, dressed in the latest clothes from the most famous brand, looked absolutely stunning. His hair neatly swept back with pomade, his notably prominent nose and red lips caught her eye.

Tae Hong was sure to stand out more than any other figure she had seen at numerous parties before.

While she was lost in admiration, the alarm she had set to know the departure deadline went off. Only then did Hae Jin come to her senses.

But Tae Hong seemed similar to her. He was just staring at her with an even fiercer gaze, without saying a word.

“Did you forget something?”

“Let’s go.”

Tae Hong cleared his throat and walked ahead. Not knowing why, Hae Jin took large strides to keep up with Tae Hong who was walking quickly. It wasn’t easy in a mermaid dress.

She really didn’t know why he had been acting like this since morning. But she had no time to worry about him. She had been given a crucial task.

Should she really follow through with it? She was conflicted about whether to follow the golden rule of workplace life: do as you’re told.

Why Jo Se Young of all people? Did he really lack judgment in people? But then again, his judgment in hiring her was quite discerning. She couldn’t fathom his true intentions.

Deep in thought, her left cheek felt strangely hot. It felt like an intense laser light. When she turned her head towards the source, wasn’t Tae Hong staring at her intently?

“Is there something on my face?”

As he still maintained his fierce expression, she was about to take out a mirror, thinking something might really be on her face.

“That brand’s clothes suit Manager Jung very well.”

If he was going to compliment her, he could have softened his expression a bit. It was so scary she almost missed that it was a compliment.

“Thank you. You look your best today too, Team Leader.”

She raised her thumb to show her approval. Phew, only then did the corners of Tae Hong’s lips turn up.

Ah, so that’s why he had frowned. Only then did she understand why he had scowled. She decided to accept her belated compliment on her superior’s coordination as her own mistake.

The two had a tug-of-war in front of the driver’s seat.

“I’ll drive.”

Said the one who wanted to drive.

“You can drive when you’re wearing pants.”

Said the one who wanted to drive instead.

In the end, Tae Hong was the winner, and Hae Jin decided to sit in the passenger seat, judging that it was impossible to drive in a mermaid dress.

As she sat in the passenger seat, worries and concerns flooded her all at once. Thinking carefully, Se Young’s appearance in the lounge was strange from the start.

Even if she was attending the founding anniversary party, unlike us who were on a business trip, would it make sense for her to stay at the hotel for days? Especially since Se Young wasn’t even involved in practical affairs.

Come to think of it, this wasn’t all. When they met at the lounge, her attention was solely on Tae Hong, and she already knew about him.

Considering the circumstances, the stage had already been set.

Moon Tae Hong and Jo Se Young, they didn’t match. Objectively speaking, it was a waste for Tae Hong. How would I feel seeing Moon Tae Hong and Jo Se Young together? Not good.

Knowing that Tae Hong’s heart is directed towards me, while not being certain about deciding to accept it, can I tell him to go to Jo Se Young?

What should I do?

**

The founding anniversary party was grand and lavish. There were many attendees. If it had been Hae Jin’s first party, she would have felt quite intimidated by the atmosphere.

Fortunately, as it wasn’t Hae Jin’s first time, she could act naturally beside Tae Hong.

“Team Leader, do you know everyone here?”

Standing close to Tae Hong, Hae Jin carefully looked around.

“I know about half of them. It wouldn’t hurt for Manager Jung to familiarize herself with the faces too.”

Hae Jin nodded and gripped her clutch bag more tightly.

“Don’t wander off and get lost, stick close to me.”

Tae Hong bent slightly to meet Hae Jin’s gaze and winked. How could one mention Jo Se Young in front of such a person?

Hae Jin looked up at Tae Hong.

“Um, Team Leader.”

But she had to say it. Se Young would attend this place anyway, and since she came with a purpose, she would surely search with keen eyes.

“There’s someone I must meet today.”

Hae Jin barely parted her lips to speak. While exchanging eye greetings with passing people, Tae Hong attentively listened to her words.

“It’s, well. The one we met that time.”

She was about to mention Hamin Group’s Jo Se Young when an unusually loud sound of high heels was heard behind them. Hae Jin unconsciously turned around, and Tae Hong followed suit.

“Oh my, Tae Hong.”

Se Young appeared in a red dress.

With a dazzling bright red dress, voluminous wavy hairstyle, and dangling accessories, she drew attention from the surroundings to the point where one might think it was a wedding after-party.

As expected, but at an incredibly perfect timing, Se Young’s appearance cut Hae Jin’s words short.

“We meet again here.”

As if forgetting the previous humiliation, Se Young was even more excited. Ignoring her greeting, Tae Hong bent towards Hae Jin.

“Manager Jung, what were you going to say earlier?”

“Ah, well.”

With the person in question appearing, Hae Jin quickly racked her brain for what to say, but it became unnecessary.

“Didn’t you get a call from the Chairman?”

Only at the mention of the Chairman did Tae Hong’s gaze turn to Se Young. Excited to have Tae Hong’s attention, Se Young started chattering away.

“He arranged our meeting today, didn’t you know?”

Was this the Chairman’s idea of pursuing a natural encounter? How is blatantly stating it a natural pursuit?

Thanks to Se Young’s mindless chatter, Hae Jin no longer needed to say anything. Of course, she couldn’t look straight at Tae Hong’s face, which had turned cold.

“A meeting, who with whom?”

“Tae Hong and me, of course.”

This girl really has no tact. It’s almost a skill to be able to speak so cheerfully even after seeing Tae Hong’s expression.

“You and me?”

Tae Hong asking again means he’s giving a proper chance to explain, but Se Young probably won’t realize that.

“Well.”

Standing askew with his arms crossed, Tae Hong scrutinized Se Young from head to toe. Hae Jin stood silently beside them, not uttering a word.

“How dare a woman who doesn’t even know the basics aspire to this?”

Se Young’s face, which had been full of anticipation, turned the same color as her red dress.

“Error in outfit, error in hair, error in accessories.”

His outstretched finger checked each point in the air, making ticking sounds.

“Error in manners, error in basic decorum.”

Finally, Tae Hong’s finger swept from head to toe. Overall, it meant Jo Se Young was all error.

“Nothing suits you, so on what grounds are you arranging a meeting?”

Se Young’s body could be seen trembling. With the dress code being black, she stood out everywhere in her red dress.

So, her trembling body, full of wounded pride, was also very noticeable to people around.

“If you’re embarrassed, go back and tell the arranger. Tell them not to do unnecessary things.”

Se Young bit her bright red lips until they darkened even more, then turned away. She disappeared without having even one private conversation with Tae Hong.

“Manager Jung, what were you going to say earlier?”

Ah, well, now that she’s already gone, is there any need to say it? So she refrained from speaking.

“It’s nothing.”

Tae Hong was busy greeting people approaching again. The issue she had been worrying about the entire way here, Tae Hong had resolved in one go.

And he even left a fierce warning for the arranger.

He has such clear principles, why can’t she make up her mind about even one emotion?

Could she really just watch someone like Jo Se Young stand next to Tae Hong?

She stared at Tae Hong’s back as he conversed with people. With his broad shoulders, appropriate wit that made people feel good, and impeccable manners, he was a man without any flaws.

Rather than Jo Se Young having him, wouldn’t it be better if I had him?