At the same time, Yi Hyun was sitting alone at the reception table in the chairman’s office, drinking coffee.

A moment later, In Hwa entered the office, saw Yi Hyun, and scoffed.

“Did your business trip go well? You must be tired from the early morning flight, but you came straight to the company. You’re really something.”

“When was I not like this? Why are you in my room anyway?”

“I have something to tell you.”

“What is it?”

“I have a woman I want to marry.”

“You’re so impatient. Just like my son.”

“It’s not impatience, it’s certainty. There’s no reason to delay or reconsider.”

“Lee Ha Jun, she’s pretty.”

Yi Hyun flinched for a moment at In Hwa’s words tinged with laughter, then sighed and nodded lightly.

Given that Il Jun knew, it would be strange if In Hwa didn’t know.

“Yes, she’s pretty, kind, modest, calm…”

“She’s cute too, that one.”

“You can tell that from a photo?”

“No, I met her.”

“Chairman!!”

“Don’t shout. Close your mouth and listen to the end.”

“…”

“I went to tell her to play around a bit and leave on her own, but when I met her, she was quite decent. Her late father was the president of a construction company. If only it had been that level, it would have been good. What a shame.”

Yi Hyun’s eyes flashed at In Hwa’s unexpectedly generous evaluation.

“Are you serious?”

“When have I ever said things I don’t mean? While looking into her background, I found out her late father was the president of Ilsung Construction. That company, though small, was very solid. They even built our Masan factory dormitory back then. It doesn’t seem like a company that would collapse so suddenly just because the president died suddenly.”

“So you’re giving your permission?”

“If she were the daughter of Ilsung Construction’s president, it might be a bit lacking, but you’re not my eldest son to inherit my position, so I could close my eyes and okay a daughter-in-law. But that’s not the case now. It’s regrettable, but what can we do? You should give her up.”

“I refuse.”

“Am I speaking nicely, so you think this is a suggestion? Is that it?”

“When have I ever obediently listened to you, Chairman?”

“You should listen. What if I end up doing something to Ha Jun because of this?”

“Chairman!”

“What? You think I can’t do it? Sending that girl somewhere out of your reach without a trace, that’s nothing to me. You know that well, don’t you?”

Yi Hyun bit his lower lip hard.

“Yu Ha has come to Korea. We’ll have a formal dinner with both families soon and set the engagement date right away. How about having your brother’s wedding this winter and yours next summer?”

“I refuse.”

“You don’t like Yu Ha? She says you’re her first love. Should I look for another corporate daughter for you?”

“Ha Jun is my first love. If it’s not Ha Jun, I’ll just live alone for the rest of my life. You know, when I say I’ll do something, I do it.”

“Do as you please. It’s your life, you handle it. Your brother will get married and give me grandchildren anyway. By the way, you’re not saying you’ll quit the company? You’re not prepared to give up your inheritance or be removed from the family registry?”

“You know everything without me saying it. And you know well that despite what others say about me being idle or a prodigal, the work I do for the group is not insignificant, right? Can I really drop out?”

“Do as you please, whether you drop out or not. I’ve made myself clear. If she had just been the daughter of Ilsung Construction’s president, I would have approved. This is sincere. And,”

“Ha, should we turn back time then?”

Yi Hyun cut off In Hwa’s words with a scornful laugh. Without hiding his eyes burning with determination, Yi Hyun stormed out of his seat.

“Haa… with that damn temper. Not listening to people till the end.”

“If it’s a real connection, well. I’d have no reason to object. If it’s truly sincere.”

From the start, he had acted recklessly because he wanted to appear that way, but in reality, he was a son without any flaws. And as his mother, she knew better than anyone that her son was not one to speak nonsense.

It was undoubtedly the first time In Hwa had seen her son show such desire and determination for something. There was definitely something different from his past immature behavior of carelessly desiring things and then quickly losing interest.

To think that the boy who had so easily given up the position of future chairman of Jae In Group to his brother was now burning with desire for a woman.

In Hwa sank deep into the leather sofa.

“Let’s see how you do, my son. I’ll watch how your life unfolds.”

[This is the timeline separator]

Returning to the director’s office with anger boiling to the top of his head, Yi Hyun immediately summoned Ji Won.

“You called for me.”

“Ilsung Construction. It went bankrupt about 6 or 7 years ago. Investigate it. The president, the president’s family, the vice president, the vice president’s family, and all other executives too. Dig into the company’s cash flow, debt relationships, major shareholders, everything!”

It was a seriously out-of-place order, but faced with Yi Hyun’s terrifying intensity that was clearly full of anger, Ji Won nodded immediately without a word.

“Yes.”

“You may go.”

After Ji Won quietly bowed his head and disappeared with quick steps, Yi Hyun, left alone, slowly chewed over In Hwa’s words from earlier.

Ilsung Construction, which In Hwa had particularly emphasized. The company of Ha Jun’s late father.

“I can’t really turn back time… but if it really doesn’t work out, I’ll just rebuild it myself.”

Although he wasn’t sure of In Hwa’s true intentions yet, Yi Hyun was prepared to do anything.

He was truly seriously crazy. For this woman named Lee Ha Jun.

“That’s right, I’m crazy. Even now, I’m dying to see her.”

Yi Hyun immediately picked up his phone and called Ha Jun. Since he couldn’t see her right now, he at least needed to hear her voice.

The monotonous ringing sound played, and then the calm voice he so longed to hear flowed out.

− Yes.

“Did you get to work okay?”

− Yes.

“Let’s have lunch together later.”

− That’s difficult. I have a prior engagement.

“With who?”

− With the secretarial staff.

“Even if you work together every day, can’t you eat separately?”

− …They were so helpful with the engagement party and other things, so I promised to treat them to a meal.

“Ah~ In that case, I should step back. Instead, I’ll make a dinner reservation. I’ll come pick you up, so come down right after work.”

− Okay.

At the cool response, Yi Hyun’s mouth twitched uncontrollably.

Now that he had acknowledged his inexplicable obsession and possessiveness towards Ha Jun as love, he was no longer angry or anxious because of her.

“I should have asked her to date earlier. Instead of playing the creditor.”

A bright smile spread across Yi Hyun’s handsome face.

[This is the timeline separator]

Ha Jun, who had ended the call, stared at the phone screen with pained eyes for a moment before pressing the button to turn it off.

As she was about to leave the office, Ha Jun hesitated for a moment at Yi Hyun’s incoming call but ended up answering it.

She was very grateful and at the same time very sad that she could hear Yi Hyun’s voice for the last time, truly the last time.

“I’m going now.”

“Okay… take care. Call me when you arrive. Understood?”

“Take care, Ha Jun. I’ll call.”

“Yes.”

Ha Jun smiled slightly as if to say not to worry and opened the door to leave.

The two women left behind silently looked at the closed door and sighed. Unable to hold back the welling tears, Yeon A pressed her fingers hard against her eyes. At that moment, the door to the executive director’s office opened and Se Ra came out.

“What are you doing there?”

“Executive Director!”

“Yeon A, why are you like that? Are you crying?”

“Ah, no! Something got in my eye.”

Yeon A hurriedly lowered her head. Se Ra looked at her strangely and turned her head towards Hyun Ju.

“Let’s go to the chairman’s office.”

“Yes.”

As Se Ra was about to go out, she suddenly stopped and turned around.

“By the way, I don’t see Lee Ha Jun. Where did she go?”

“Yes, for a moment…”

Se Ra felt something strange as she watched Hyun Ju trail off.

“…I see. Let’s talk again after we get back.”

Hyun Ju followed behind Se Ra as she started walking again.

Left alone, Yeon A finally burst into tears that she had been holding back for a moment.

[This is the timeline separator]

The highway, with the holiday season over, was quiet.

The car Ha Jun was driving was speeding along the West Coast Highway. Her expression was still blank, but her eyes full of pain could not be hidden.

The car kept driving without stopping. When the sign for the beach, their destination, came into view in the distance, Ha Jun finally shed the tears she had been holding back.

“Hic… huk…”

She had really left Yi Hyun.

The steering wheel jerked sharply, and the car was roughly pulled over to the shoulder. Hunched over the steering wheel, Ha Jun cried loudly and heartily.

She cried and cried, more intensely and desperately than ever before in Lee Ha Jun’s life as she remembered it, contorting her entire body and soul.

The endless tears soaked not only her face but also her arms where her face touched. It was only after a long time that the crying that seemed to never stop began to subside.

Ha Jun slowly raised her head and rubbed her soaked face with the back of her hand.

The car started moving again.

After parking the car at the designated spot and returning the remote key, Ha Jun started walking towards the house where Hyun Ju’s grandmother lived, carrying her few belongings.

After walking along the road for about 5 minutes from the beach, the sign for the village hall that Hyun Ju had mentioned came into view.

Walking a bit further into the quiet and peaceful fishing village, the blue-doored house that was her destination appeared.

As she opened the half-open door and entered, she was greeted by the back view of a white-haired grandmother sitting on a wooden platform in the yard, doing something.

“Excuse me.”

“…”

“Grandmother, hello?”

“…”

As Ha Jun tilted her head, looking at the grandmother who didn’t even turn around, let alone answer, she remembered what Hyun Ju had said.

She said grandmother doesn’t hear well.

Ha Jun slowly approached the front of the grandmother. Only when a person’s shadow loomed before her eyes did the grandmother raise her head.

“Hmm? Who is it?”