“And now, it’s just you and me here.”

Indeed, just the two of us.

Despite knowing it was a joke, I couldn’t help feeling flustered. Trying to change the subject, Yuri quickly looked around. Her eyes fell on a cat tower in the corner.

“Do you have a cat?”

Was it hiding, wary of strangers? The cat was nowhere to be seen.

Though not particularly fond of animals, she thought having a cat around would be less uncomfortable than being alone together. But soon came a disappointing answer.

“It’s at my parents’ home. The cat and my friend. They’ll be back on the weekend.”

So in the end, he’s alone tonight.

In that case…

“I should get going now.”

Yuri quickly rose from the sofa, grabbing her bag placed beside her. But before she could fully stand up, Jeho grabbed her wrist. In an awkward position, neither standing nor sitting, Yuri looked at Jeho. Meeting her gaze, he tightened his fingers.

“I’d like it if you could stay a bit longer…”

Was it because his voice cracked at the end? Somehow his gaze seemed wistful. His complexion also appeared pale. A man who had never shown weakness before… Yuri was seized by an unfamiliar feeling.

Should I say it stirred her protective instincts? Something tightened in her chest, her throat tickled, and she couldn’t bring herself to leave.

In the end, Yuri sat back down on the sofa. As she took her seat, Jeho released her wrist and leaned back.

It must be her imagination, but the wrist he had held felt as if it had been burned, the heat slowly spreading throughout her body.

I don’t know why I’m like this. It’s just a wrist grab, what’s the big deal? Yuri gently wrapped her hand around her wrist, trying hard to maintain her composure.

“Have you eaten dinner?”

Yuri was the first to break the awkward silence.

“…No, not yet.”

“Then shall I prepare something simple? It must be difficult with your injured shoulder.”

Instead of answering, Jeho leaned his head back on the sofa and closed his eyes silently. Taking it as permission, Yuri headed straight for the kitchen.

The refrigerator was empty. It seems neither the homeowner nor Jeho were the type to eat at home. Besides water bottles, there wasn’t even a common side dish like stir-fried anchovies or kimchi in sight.

Fortunately, she found some retort products and canned tuna in the cupboard. She chose mushroom porridge and spicy canned tuna, portioning them into bowls. After heating the porridge in the microwave, she set a simple table and returned to the living room. It took less than 10 minutes, but Jeho had already fallen asleep on the sofa.

He must have been very tired, having just come up from the province. Yuri was about to sneak out of the apartment without waking him, but changed her mind at the entrance. She thought he should sleep in a warm place, given his injured state.

Returning to the sofa, Yuri gently touched Jeho’s shoulder.

“Mmm.”

Instead of waking, he frowned and mumbled.

“…Let me sleep a little more.”

Was he dreaming? It didn’t seem like he was talking to her.

“Don’t stay here, let’s go to the bedroom.”

Yuri touched Jeho’s shoulder again.

But then it happened. He suddenly reached out and pulled her towards him. Caught off guard by the sudden action, Yuri found herself in his embrace before she could resist.

“Ah, Jasmine.”

A sweet sigh escaped Jeho’s lips as he held Yuri.

[This is the timeline separator]

“…Stop it.”

As Jeho kept his eyes closed with no intention of waking up, disappointment flickered in the green eyes looking down at him.

“…Mmm, let me sleep a little more.”

“Meow.”

Jasmine mewed sadly at the harsh rejection. When her owner, Woo Gyeol, slept in late on the weekend and didn’t prepare her meal, Jasmine came looking for Jeho in the next room. But Jeho, like Woo Gyeol, showed no signs of wanting to get up.

“Meow.”

But Jasmine didn’t give up and continued to pester Jeho. Thump thump, she hit his face with her tail, and pat pat, she swatted his chest with her paws.

“Ah, Jasmine.”

As if he had no choice, Jeho pulled Jasmine into his arms with his eyes still closed. If he hugged her and stroked her head, Jasmine would complain “Meow, meow” but allow him 10 more minutes of sleep.

But why did it feel different today? Jasmine’s body felt warmer and softer than usual.

Something felt off, but he was too exhausted to open his eyes easily. As he pulled Jasmine closer, a sweet and fresh scent wafted from the soft body that squirmed in resistance.

This scent?

It’s not Jasmine…

His eyes flew open in an instant.

“…Ah.”

Yuri’s face, flushed red in the bright light, filled his vision. Had he dozed off for a moment? Jeho frowned and blinked slowly. He could still feel the soft touch and sweet scent from his dream.

As he slowly sat up, Yuri hastily backed away.

“Don’t sleep on the sofa, go to bed.”

Before Jeho could say anything, Yuri clutched her bag to her chest and hurried towards the entrance.

“Ah, right.”

As she opened the front door, she paused and looked back.

“I’ve prepared a meal on the dining table. Eat it when you wake up later.”

Having said her piece, she opened the door and left the apartment.

Bang, the sound of the door closing roughly followed.

[This is the timeline separator]

The next morning, Sunyeong was surprised to find Yuri had arrived at work before her.

“Yuri, you’re early. Would you like this?”

Approaching Yuri, Sunyeong held out one of the two takeout cups she was holding.

“The cafe in front is having a plus-one event for their opening. It’s jasmine iced tea.”

Yuri, who was about to accept the cup without thinking, quickly withdrew her hand at the mention of jasmine.

“No, I’m fine.”

“Don’t be shy. I can’t drink both of these.”

“Um, I don’t really like jasmine.”

“Oh, really?”

“Yes. The scent is too artificial.”

Surprised that Yuri, who had never expressed a dislike before, repeatedly emphasized her distaste, Sunyeong tilted her head curiously as she walked to her own desk. After confirming Sunyeong had sat down, Yuri turned her attention back to her computer monitor.

In truth, her throat was parched and she was thirsty, considering going out to buy a drink. But of all things, the bonus drink Sunyeong brought had to be jasmine tea!

Yuri bit her lip and glared at the blueprint on the screen.

―Ah, Jasmine.

The moment Sunyeong offered the cup, Jeho’s voice, whispering as if in a dream, echoed in her ear. Judging by his actions, Jasmine was clearly his lover. Whether they had broken up or were still together was unclear, but she must have been a significant presence to appear in his dreams.

Was it because she learned he had a lover named Jasmine? Though she had worried about having another erotic dream last night, she ended up sleeping soundly until morning without any dreams at all.

“Hah.”

To have feelings for a man who has another woman in his heart…

Yuri let out a short, self-deprecating laugh without realizing it. She had been needlessly anxious all this time. It wasn’t even a sincere confession, just a light joke in passing, but knowing that, she had foolishly let her heart waver… Was it because Kwon Jeho’s very existence was burdensome?

But now that her solitary imagination had shattered, the groundless excitement would disappear too. If so, there shouldn’t be a big problem even if he designs a newlywed home.

Yes, let’s not be greatly shaken no matter what answer I hear today!

As she organized her thoughts, her heart felt lighter. Yuri clicked the mouse to turn the page of the blueprint with a brighter expression.

[This is the timeline separator]

What could be the matter? It was past 10 o’clock, but Jeho had not come to work. When she casually asked Sunyeong, the answer came that he would come to work in the afternoon.

“Is he not feeling well?”

“It’s not that, he’s probably tired from the business trip to the provinces. The director is also taking the day off today.”

She was worried his injury might have worsened, but since he was coming in the afternoon anyway, she could ask then. However, even after lunch time passed, Jeho did not appear. Perhaps because of this, worry prevented her from concentrating on work.

Finally deciding to call him, Yuri picked up her phone. But soon she found herself staring blankly.

She didn’t know his phone number. She had never thought to ask, and he had never offered it.

A relationship where she didn’t even know his phone number. Perhaps this was the true nature of her relationship with him. She looked for the company’s emergency contact list, but since all the paperwork procedures weren’t completed yet, Kwon Jeho’s contact information was not yet listed.

Has his condition worsened?

Yuri tried to shake off her uneasy feelings and focus on her work. But soon the image of Jeho’s face, frowning in pain with his shirt stained red, came to mind. Followed by the wistful look in his eyes as he held her wrist, asking her not to go.

“Um, I’ll be leaving early today.”

In the end, Yuri left the office about an hour before the usual quitting time. She drove aimlessly towards the apartment where Jeho was staying. Though unlikely, if he was suffering alone by any chance…

“No way.”

It ached as if she herself was injured. And besides the pain, she worried if he might be starving alone at home with no one to take care of him.

Recalling the empty refrigerator and cupboard, Yuri stopped by a porridge specialty shop on the way to buy some ginseng chicken porridge. Though the apartment number was hazy last night as she had followed in a daze, fortunately the memory came back as soon as she entered the building.

Ding dong―.

Not long after ringing the bell, the front door opened and a young-faced woman poked her head out. The woman with round features and snow-white skin looked at Yuri standing outside with a puzzled expression.

“Who are you?”

For a moment, Yuri wondered if she had come to the wrong place and quickly looked around. But if her memory was correct, this was definitely the home of Jeho’s friend.

“Is Kwon Jeho here right now?”

“Jeho oppa?”

The woman’s eyes widened at Yuri’s question. The atmosphere suggested she was wondering how Yuri knew Jeho was here.

Just then, a familiar voice was heard from behind.

“Jasmine.”

At the same time, the woman turned back and said,

“Jeho oppa, someone’s here to see you?”

This woman is Jasmine?

Yuri’s eyes widened as she looked at the woman.

[This is the timeline separator]

“Hah, hah, hah.”

Breathing heavily, Yuri got into her car, started the engine, and hurriedly drove off. Though her throat was tight from running non-stop, she couldn’t delay for a moment. She had to get out of there first.

She couldn’t make a fool of herself in front of Jeho and his lover. Yuri frowned as she gripped the steering wheel.

“Ah, how foolish.”

I shouldn’t have come without thinking…

Of course, she couldn’t call because she didn’t have his number, and she couldn’t just sit and worry.

But it was clearly crossing a line.

What were you thinking, going there when he’s getting married the day after tomorrow! What were you thinking!

Even if it was an arranged marriage, marriage was marriage. Yuri berated herself for her rash actions as she drove roughly.

If there was one fortunate thing amidst the misfortune, it was that she had confirmed one thing. That he and Jasmine were currently in a relationship. Which meant that from now on, she could let his words go in one ear and out the other, and she didn’t need to let her heart flutter over needless imagination.

In a way, it was an opportunity to escape from the worries that had been weighing her down until now. But on the other hand, it felt lonely and empty, as if she had lost something precious. It was a feeling that couldn’t be easily explained. Like the pain of being cut by a sharp blade.

Stopping at a red light, Yuri stared out the window with hollow eyes. The cars passing by at high speed seemed to move slowly, probably due to her jumbled emotions.

Having left work early, there was about an hour left until the appointment time of 6:30. Yuri drove without a specific destination, following the flow of traffic. Before she knew it, she had come near the KG Group headquarters.

For a moment, she thought about going up to see Minwoo. If she had coffee in his office and then went to try on formal wear together, it would roughly fill the gap.

Yuri parked her car on the side of the road and looked up at the towering building.