Kang Mo, who entered Chairman Kang’s office, smiled brightly as he was greeted by Chairman Kang, who looked as healthy as ever after going through surgery, hospitalization, and recovery.

Gesturing towards the sofa and saying, “Don’t just stand there, sit down,” his voice was as strong as before the surgery.

Although he had already visited the residence and met him several times, it felt good to see Chairman Kang at the company after a long time. As he sat down, Kang Mo greeted him.

“You look much better than before the surgery. Honestly, without exaggeration, you’ll have no problem holding your position until you’re a hundred years old.”

“Ha, what’s the point of living to a hundred.”

Even though he said that, he couldn’t hide the smile on his lips.

“You did well to listen to me, right? You should have had the surgery earlier. Even though you’ll be able to return to your position healthy like this, you said thank you for growing up well and to express gratitude to my father.”

“Ahem!”

Chairman Kang, who seemed embarrassed, cleared his throat to cut off the words. He then got up from the swivel chair he had been sitting in and moved to the head seat on the sofa.

“You, really. You’ll see when you get older too. When your body starts to break down one by one, your heart also tends to weaken.”

“Yes. I understand. But I’ll try not to hesitate before surgery. I can’t bear to see my people worrying, even if I die soon.”

“Aha, so you were very worried because this old man delayed the surgery.”

Kang Mo responded calmly with a snort and a nod, as if playing along with the words that sounded witty.

“Yes, I was very, very worried.”

Chairman Kang looked at Kang Mo, who was even more witty than him, snorted, and casually probed.

“You, don’t just pay lip service. The person you mentioned can’t be me. So, tell me. Who is that person you can’t bear to see worrying, even if you die soon?”

Kang Mo raised his eyebrows as he looked at Chairman Kang, who was like a sly old fox.

“Haven’t you already received a report?”

“I did. It seems she came by briefly this morning, and there are already widespread rumors in the company. I heard Executive Director Lee has a fiancée that even I don’t know about. I’m so curious I can’t stand it.”

Kang Mo smiled silently, quite satisfied with the rumor that had inflated from girlfriend to fiancée in less than half a day.

“So, when can I see my grandchild?”

Kang Mo’s eyes, who had been smiling alone, immediately turned to Chairman Kang. They had just started to fully look into each other’s hearts, and it was not enough to go from lover to fiancée, but he was already looking for a grandchild.

In my heart, I’ve already formed a basketball team.

“You’re looking for rice cake soup in a well.”

Chairman Kang couldn’t hide his smile at the words that were satisfying just by imagining them, and Kang Mo clicked his tongue as if he was disappointed.

“That’s what I’m saying.”

“You’re not digging alone, are you really dating seriously?”

Kang Mo met Chairman Kang’s eyes that were looking at him closely and nodded briefly without avoiding them.

“Yes. Well, it’s just the beginning, so there’s still a long way to go, but I’m absolutely not dating with a light heart.”

Even without checking the company’s CCTV, Chairman Kang felt like he knew who the woman who visited the company today was. Though he wasn’t sure, she would be the only woman Kang Mo had allowed by his side.

Four years ago, Chairman Kang had to go to the woman who might become Kang Mo’s Achilles’ heel and make a difficult request.

At that time, it was an unavoidable decision considering both Kang Mo and the woman’s situation, but after seeing Kang Mo not going near any other woman since then, he wondered if it was really the right decision.

At that time, the woman unexpectedly stepped back easily.

“If I become a hindrance rather than a help to Kang Mo, if my presence causes greater danger to him, I will leave.”

He felt the woman was quite a waste. She lacked nothing in personality, conduct, or appearance. It was regrettable that he had to send away the woman Kang Mo had given his heart to for the first time without Kang Mo’s knowledge.

However, at that time, he thought that choice was the best. It was clear that for the Chang Joo father and son, who were eyeing Kang Mo, she would be a great bait to threaten Kang Mo, so it was an inevitable measure for the safety of both of them.

After sending the woman away like that and secretly protecting her from behind for a long time, Chairman Kang judged that the right time had come and called Kang Mo to Guam, where she was.

If Kang Mo’s feelings hadn’t changed, if he still wanted her, he had no doubt they would get back together.

It seemed Kang Mo recognized the woman at a glance as he intended and brought her to his side, so now he could rest assured.

He felt sorry for the years they were forced to be apart, but wouldn’t their feelings for each other have become more solid? He tries to rationalize it to himself.

Chairman Kang probed Kang Mo’s unwavering gaze.

“It’s just the beginning… Well, it’s fortunate that you’re at least seeing someone. I was very worried because you were living like a stone, but I guess I don’t have to worry anymore. But just in case you break up, the introduction is next time…”

“No.”

Kang Mo hurriedly cut off Chairman Kang’s words before he could finish.

“There will be no break up. I have never thought of anyone other than this woman. So don’t even think about introducing someone else, and I’ll slowly introduce her. I’m sure you’ll be satisfied when you see her. She’s a kind and upright person.”

“Hmm, a kind and upright person… Okay. I’ll look forward to it and wait.”

The woman seemed to have a bigger heart than Kang Mo. The woman also hadn’t met anyone since leaving Kang Mo, but now that he thought about it, it bothered him that she left Kang Mo too readily.

Even though he was the one who made the woman leave, it was contradictory for him to have such thoughts, but he still needed assurance.

Knowing how deep Kang Mo’s feelings for the woman were, he couldn’t be simply happy because if they broke up again here, Kang Mo would be in an irreversible state.

Should I meet her directly and check the woman’s heart too…?

Leaving the brief thought behind, Chairman Kang brought up the main point of why he had called Kang Mo.

“Executive Director Lee, your father Seok Hoon, no, the day CEO Lee will come out is not far off, and you’re preparing well, right?”

Kang Mo’s heart swelled at the title of his father he heard for the first time in a long time. Matching Chairman Kang’s intention, who switched from the appearance of a grandfather to that of a chairman, he straightened his posture and reported.

“Yes, Chairman. We are preparing so that he can immediately perform his duties when he comes. There will be no problem.”

“Okay. Executive Director Lee has worked hard during this time.”

“No. You’ve worked harder, Chairman, taking on even the CEO’s work.”

“It would have been better if he could come out before the holidays… I’m sure Executive Director Lee will take good care of it, but make sure there is no lack in welcoming him.”

“Yes, Chairman.”

“And…”

Kang Mo closely watched Chairman Kang, who paused for a moment. Sensing something on his mind from his uneasy expression, he carefully spoke.

“Kim Chang Joo recently had a conflict over the ready-mix concrete issue, and given the timing, we are keeping a close eye on him. I will pay attention so that you don’t have to worry, Chairman.”

Chairman Kang looked at Kang Mo, who had easily grasped his intentions, with admiring eyes.

When Seok Hoon left the CEO position, Kang Mo was just a rookie learning the ropes. When did he grow like this to firmly support him from behind?

Chairman Kang’s lips curved into a satisfied smile, proud of Kang Mo, who had achieved remarkable growth in just 5 years.

Returning to his office, Kang Mo immediately opened the envelope he received from Seung Ho as soon as he sat down.

The file inside the envelope was a report related to Seo Hee’s stepbrother Han Tae Oh. He focused on checking the additional details he had instructed to find out, in addition to the brief verbal report he had received before.

The document contained a detailed record of Tae Oh’s career as the head of the planning division at a mid-sized food company.

His career seemed to be faithfully following the path that a wealthy man’s son would have taken, and there didn’t seem to be anything particularly noteworthy. Kang Mo’s gaze lingered for a long time on the item listing the specifics after concentrating on scanning his career for a while.

“Four years ago, on XX month XX day, he caught a sexual harasser at a subway station in Seoul and handed him over to the police as a current offender.

Despite his cold and chilly personality, his reputation at work is good.

His relationships with women are clean.”

“Ha, I thought he would have made a lot of women cry, but I guess he’s different from how he looks.”

“He is not currently seeing anyone, but over the past few days, he has visited Seo Eun officetel several times, staying in the ground parking lot for about 30 minutes before just leaving.”

“Wait, Seo Eun officetel? That’s the officetel Seo Hee was originally supposed to move into.”

His relationships with women are clean, and he’s not seeing anyone. But of all places, the place he visits every day like a sparrow visiting a mill is Seo Eun officetel…

How am I supposed to interpret this?

Suddenly, the memory of a certain day when he had visited Seo Hee’s family home vividly passed through his mind.

The appearance of the man approaching Seo Hee, the man’s gaze that felt strangely grating even from a distance, Seo Hee stepping back, the awkwardness of that day’s remnants that was too uncomfortable to be greeting an acquaintance, the man’s gaze that persistently followed her until she left her seat.

He was so happy with Seo Hee’s appearance running towards him that he couldn’t think deeply about the situation that day, but it grated on Kang Mo’s nerves again.

Could it be… that he sees Seo Hee, his sister, as a woman? No way, no way.

The uneasy feeling wouldn’t go away, making his chest feel stuffy. Then suddenly, Kang Mo’s eyes sparkled with realization.

Wait, 4 years ago? Sexual harasser? Ha… look at this bastard.

Four years ago, there was a time when Kang Mo also had someone follow another person’s movements. The main culprit who made Seo Hee’s work life miserable. The executive at Seo Hee’s workplace, whom he had encountered once, was someone Kang Mo had his eye on.

However, before Kang Mo’s side could make a move, someone else took the lead. According to the report he received at the time, he was caught as a current offender on the subway. Could it be that the current offender caught by Han Tae Oh is the same person?

Kang Mo’s expression darkened as he called Seung Ho again.

It didn’t take long for the news Seung Ho brought to be exactly as expected.

The person who caught the executive who made Seo Hee’s body and mind miserable as a current sexual harasser was none other than Han Tae Oh. Seo Hee wouldn’t have voluntarily shared her difficult daily life with a man she usually had a hard time with, so how did Han Tae Oh find out and punish the executive? His mind becomes complicated.