Due to an accident at the department store parking lot exit, it started to coincide with rush hour. As the estimated arrival time kept increasing, cold sweat ran down Jung Hae Jin’s back.

The first task that seemed smooth encountered difficulties as time passed. Being late for appointments didn’t suit Jung Hae Jin’s personality.

On top of that, being late for work? It was something that couldn’t exist in her dictionary.

Jung Hae Jin started to figure out roads without congestion by pressing the navigation here and there.

“I’ll try my best to make it on time.”

She barely passed through a yellow light, but it was still a repetition of stop and go.

“The main character is supposed to appear late.”

“Pardon?”

“I’m saying you don’t need to drive in a hurry.”

Did she look rushed in Moon Tae Hong’s eyes too? He might have said it jokingly, but Jung Hae Jin couldn’t take it at face value. There are quite a few things that are interpreted differently in work life, even if it’s the same words.

The words not to drive in a hurry sounded more like arrive on time. She glanced at the passenger seat to confirm again.

But not only was the seat reclined back, this time he was even half-lying on the backrest.

Am I really the only one in a hurry? To Jung Hae Jin, who was alone in her seriousness, Moon Tae Hong blurted out words again.

“Do you have any siblings?”

It was an out-of-the-blue question in an already restless situation. The car was stubbornly stopped, and her gaze naturally turned to the mismatched questioner.

“No, I’m an only child.”

“Similar to me then.”

Not the same, but similar – she tried to unravel the strangely hidden meaning, but nothing particular came to mind. With no way to grasp his intention, it was as frustrating as the blocked road.

“What do you think it would be like if you had a younger sibling?”

A younger sibling, when she was young and didn’t know better, she had begged for one. Saying she wanted a younger sibling. It was just childish nonsense from that time, that age. It’s not like you can just make one on demand.

“I suppose it would depend on what kind of sibling, wouldn’t it?”

“I guess so.”

And then there was no more conversation. Fortunately, the road conditions improved, and with increasing speed, they each became busy focusing on different things.

“Drop me off at the hotel and go home.”

“Pardon?”

Situations where she could only answer “yes” kept coming. Figuring him out from day one was greedy. It felt overwhelming just trying to chase after him, not knowing which way he would bounce.

“I came here today in the role of a proxy driver.”

Thinking it might be easier to speak without making eye contact, she quickly spoke up.

“I’m your dedicated mark, Team Leader.”

Did he catch Jung Hae Jin’s intention, subtly emphasizing the words ‘dedicated mark’?

Just as he was about to say something while raising his seat and making eye contact with Jung Hae Jin, at an unbelievable timing, the car in front moved, and the few seconds of eye contact quickly ended.

“It might end late.”

“That’s fine.”

Moon Tae Hong’s brow furrowed slightly, then smoothed out at Jung Hae Jin’s crisp voice. Perhaps it was fortunate that Jung Hae Jin didn’t see it.

“Jung Hae Jin.”

Moon Tae Hong, who had been prowling like a hyena, called out to Jung Hae Jin, who had finally calmed down after passing through a terribly congested section, in a growling voice. Jung Hae Jin’s shoulders flinched slightly and her back straightened involuntarily.

“When dealing with my father, did you not hear anything about my private life?”

At those words, the fingers gripping the steering wheel turned blue. Those words took Jung Hae Jin back to the moment when she had thought to the point of overload.

All she had received from Jun Tae was just one photo and basic personal information, she knew nothing about him, but when she deduced on her own that her father had directly assigned a woman as a dedicated mark, hadn’t she anticipated this outcome?

She had started knowing all this, but when the threatening words flowed from Moon Tae Hong’s mouth, it still chilled her to the bone.

“I’m not sure what you mean.”

At times like this, playing dumb is always the best option. Sometimes it’s wiser to clearly feign ignorance than to pretend to know vaguely, and this was one of those latter situations.

“If you don’t know, I’ll tell you.”

Why did it have to be a right turn of all things? As she turned the steering wheel, she found herself looking at Moon Tae Hong without realizing it. Not missing that, he caught her gaze and twisted it.

“I don’t stop women from coming, and I don’t hold onto women who are leaving.”

Hey, I have no desire to know about your private life. Holding onto her professional spirit as firmly as possible, she straightened the steering wheel that had turned for the right turn.

“I’m confident I can play along with any woman, accommodating them all.”

But why do you keep looking at me, I never asked you to play with me. Jung Hae Jin’s jaw clenched tight with tension as she gritted her molars.

“If you don’t understand well with words, you can wait for me until the end.”

In the end, was it necessary to say “go home” so frighteningly? Jung Hae Jin glanced sideways at Moon Tae Hong. His face, not fully visible in her peripheral vision, seemed to be sneering, or maybe it was expressionless.

If he’s going to say that much, I suppose I should kindly try to fathom his deeper meaning.

“Since the Team Leader is speaking so earnestly, I will go home right away.”

Whether you play dirty or have fun, do as you please. I’m returning home. As the uncertain time of when she would get off work became concrete, her heart started to flutter.

Meanwhile, the car had finally arrived at its destination. As they entered the hotel’s main entrance, a valet approached.

“Jung Hae Jin, good work. Leave the car and go home.”

With those cool words, Moon Tae Hong entered the hotel without looking back. The valet quickly came to open the driver’s door.

It was a sign to get out. But Jung Hae Jin couldn’t move. She should get out, she should go straight home and shake off the fatigue of her first day at work, but her body wouldn’t budge.

Why on earth am I disobeying my superior’s instructions?

“Aren’t you getting out?”

Only then did Jung Hae Jin come to her senses.

“I’m sorry, but I think I need to wait.”

“Pardon?”

Leaving behind the valet who couldn’t understand, Jung Hae Jin closed the driver’s door again with an apology. Only after parking on the ground where she could see the lobby well did her mind settle.

The engine turned off, and the lighting in the car gradually dimmed. Eventually, the lights went out completely, and she sat alone in a car without its owner.

In front, the hotel boasting brilliant lights turned on its lights on schedule, signaling the gradually darkening night.

“What are you doing without even eating dinner?”

Not knowing when it would end, she couldn’t move carelessly. She found herself laughable. What was the reason for not going home when told to?

No matter how she thought about it, it must be due to the sense of responsibility as a dedicated mark. Although a hefty sum was the condition for the deal, she wanted to do her best since she was doing it anyway.

As she rationalized and justified it firmly, she recalled the tone when he asked if she had any siblings. It was an uncharacteristically damp voice. It was a scene that felt somehow desolate even in the silence.

Why such a dynamic flow of emotions on the first day of all days?

Suddenly, wondering if there might be any news articles related to Moon Tae Hong, she searched. However, it was clean and spotless without a single scandal article.

“What’s this, he said he plays around well.”

Well, a group like Yeonchang could probably take down all scandal articles if they wanted to.

She was busy jumping to conclusions about imaginary situations. The thoughts of pieces linking one after another made Jung Hae Jin’s heart unsettled once again.

‘Not Miss Jung Hae Jin, but Deputy Jung Hae Jin.’

Though not exactly like a prince on a white horse, hadn’t he taken her side? And what about his manners when choosing clothes? To think these thoughts have led to waiting until this hour.

“Ah, Jung Hae Jin, you’re weak to lingering affection. How do you plan to survive in this harsh world?”

Though she lamented to herself, acting without being told was Jung Hae Jin’s autonomous will.

She was just debating whether to go eat dinner now or not when midnight arrived.

There were few people inside and outside the hotel. At that moment, Moon Tae Hong’s figure appeared from the lobby, breaking through the quietness. Jung Hae Jin, with a glad heart, quickly opened the driver’s door and walked towards the lobby.

However, upon noticing a man following behind Moon Tae Hong, she quietly hid her body in a place out of his sight.

“Moon Tae Hong. What are we supposed to do if you leave like this?”

“What.”

The cynical voice didn’t seem to be soaked in alcohol.

“If you leave like this, what about the rest of us who are left behind?”

“Figure it out yourselves.”

Jung Hae Jin hid her body in an even darker place at the voice heard from afar. If her disobedience of instructions was discovered in this chilly atmosphere, it would be like fanning the flames of a burning house.

“It was a mistake. Can’t you just let it slide a bit?”

“A mistake? Whose side are you on?”

A low, mocking voice and gaze. The friend Hyun Woo, who had been following behind Moon Tae Hong, waved his hands.

“What do you mean, side? I’m just friends with everyone.”

“Friends, huh.”

Moon Tae Hong turned his body towards Hyun Woo, rotating his wrist.

“Looks like you’re confident enough to challenge Yeonchang?”

The mouth that had been chattering well until just now was suddenly shut tight.

“Let’s be a bit more careful with each other. You should have that much sense.”

“Tae Hong.”

“You need to pick your side well too. Don’t you need your father’s business to wrap up nicely?”

Hyun Woo’s face turned pale. It was a moment when the pressure of Yeonchang Group and Moon Tae Hong was palpably felt.

“Even if you’re my half-brother, you’re still of Yeonchang blood.”

“I, I know. So.”

Moon Tae Hong, after patting Hyun Woo’s shoulder a couple of times, picked up his phone as if to make a call somewhere.

“Tell Park Seo Woo. He won’t have any business at the gatherings from now on.”

Moon Tae Hong passed by Hyun Woo, pressing the screen of the phone he was holding to make a call.

At that moment, Jung Hae Jin’s phone, her body hidden in the shadows, rang out.

“This is Moon Tae Hong.”

−Yes, Team Leader.

She answered the phone, covering her mouth with her hand and whispering as quietly as possible.

“Did you not use the valet parking by any chance? You didn’t take that car straight home when I told you to go, did you?”

As if nothing had happened, Moon Tae Hong’s voice was the same as before they parted.

−Team Leader. About that…

I’m right behind you. She needed to say these words, but the image of the growling Moon Tae Hong came to mind, making it difficult to speak up. She was afraid the earlier anger might be directed at her if she said she was behind him.

Even so, she found herself walking towards him without realizing it. Though there was some distance, she could see drops of blood falling on the lobby floor. It was blood flowing down Moon Tae Hong’s fingers.

“Te-Team Leader.”

The moment Jung Hae Jin saw the blood, she ran to Moon Tae Hong. Hearing the voice from behind, Moon Tae Hong turned around. Jung Hae Jin, who had run over, first grabbed Moon Tae Hong’s arm and lifted it. His condition, which she couldn’t see from afar, came into view.

After quickly scanning Moon Tae Hong up and down, Jung Hae Jin still focused only on his arm.

“Did you get into a fight?”

Her eyes, full of worry, were still busy checking Moon Tae Hong’s safety first. She didn’t know why she was acting like this herself.

He had felt like a wall. He was someone who could cut off her livelihood in an instant.

But in front of injured people, she had no thoughts other than the need to heal them.