No matter how much I think about it, it was strange.

It’s true that Yeonwoo spent a lot of time with Kim Seungho, so rumors about him trying to seduce her could spread. That’s possible.

But switching to another man? That was a mockery, portraying Yeonwoo as a much inferior person.

All the gossip that had spread within Roan Yul so far was usually whispered behind the scenes, never openly acknowledged or confronted in front of the individuals involved. What kind of malicious rumor could make people avoid Yeonwoo?

“…”

Watching the raindrops falling from the dim sky, Yeonwoo pondered and then laughed hollowly.

What would I do even if I found out? Nothing would change.

In a situation already at its worst, could it get any worse?

He decided to embrace the pouring rain. It seemed to cool down his overheated mind.

Stepping out from under the tree, Yeonwoo walked toward the company. As he walked, he contemplated how to deal with his soaked hair and clothes.

Even though it was the middle of summer, getting caught in a sudden heavy rain made his body start to cool down. Running his fingers along his arms, he was lost in thought when he looked up.

“Uh…?”

A black umbrella suddenly appeared above Yeonwoo. It shielded him from the rain, creating a momentary sanctuary.

“Why are you standing alone in the rain?”

The familiar scent lingered within the umbrella’s shelter.

It was Junhwi.

Whether he came straight from a business trip at the airport or not, he was dragging a suitcase with his other hand.

“Lawyer. How did you end up here…?”

In a moment of difficulty, he appeared like a dream once again.

Upon seeing him, an uncontrollable sadness threatened to burst all at once. Tears welled up abruptly.

Yeonwoo faintly smiled, pressing the corners of his eyes with his palm, wiping away the rain flowing down his face as casually as wiping away raindrops.

It was fortunate to be caught in the rain.

“Put this on.”

“I’m fine! I can just run quickly.”

What if people from the company see us! With an embarrassed expression, Yeonwoo rejected Junhwi’s offer to share the umbrella.

But this time, Junhwi didn’t back down according to Yeonwoo’s wishes.

With an annoyed expression, as if saying, “Do it properly, inside and outside,” Junhwi insisted and handed the umbrella to Yeonwoo. One side of his shoulder was already soaked.

Some people passing by stared at the two of them with keen interest. Yeonwoo’s shoulders involuntarily shrank.

“If you get close to Attorney Kim again, you might change to another lawyer.”

Why did that saying suddenly come to mind? Especially now, with the unpleasant rumors involving Kim Seungho weighing heavily on his mind, he didn’t want to involve Junhwi in this.

“Where’s Attorney Kim?”

“I’ll handle it myself.”

“But you’re all wet…”

“Use it. Before we both get soaked together.”

Reluctantly, Yeonwoo accepted the umbrella that Junhwi was offering with both hands.

His shoulders recoiled at Junhwi’s eyes, as sharp and piercing as the raindrops relentlessly beating down.

“And.”

“…”

“You need to explain why you cried.”
His neatly combed hair, slicked back, was damp and hung over his forehead. Beneath that, his intense eyes had a summer-like feel.

Ever-changing seasons. Sending out the scorching sunlight as if to melt the whole body, the late summer brought with it a sudden cool breeze.

While Yeonwoo hesitated to respond, he turned his body toward the pouring rain.

Watching his broad back getting farther away, Yeonwoo began to ponder how to explain what happened, starting another round of contemplation.

⭐⭐⭐

However, Junhwi couldn’t ask Yeonwoo why he had cried.

Was it an issue of standing under the air conditioner with a soaked body? Or was it because his heart hurt? Yeonwoo lay down, suffering from a severe cold.

The next morning, as he tried to get up, an unusual pain stabbed deeply, causing him to collapse on the floor.

Yeonwoo struggled to get out of bed and raise his body temperature. 38.5 degrees. On top of that, aching pain surged through his entire body.

“They say you can’t catch a summer cold.”

Ugh, moving with a feverish body, Yeonwoo involuntarily let out a groan. Fumbling for medicine, he managed to find his phone.

It had been years since he stayed away from work due to illness. After sending a message to Ms. Soojin, claiming he couldn’t come in because of a high fever, he collapsed onto the bed as if fainting.

While he was in the state of drowsiness from the medicine, the company kept calling incessantly. All the calls were from Lim Nayoon, Secretary Im, and Manager Kang.

He had neither the strength to speak nor the energy to hold the phone. Yeonwoo just blankly stared at the ringing cellphone.

[Why are you taking leave all of a sudden? It’s awkward to just write it without any discussion.] [We keep getting inquiries because of the situation room.] [If you receive a text from Director Kim Yeonwoo, please answer the call.]

Since he didn’t answer the phone, Manager Kang scolded Yeonwoo through text messages.