Ah!

Yuri bit her lip tightly to suppress the sigh that was about to burst out.

But she must never show him that she was shaken. Her pride wouldn’t allow it.

Unlike her, he seemed to be doing just fine. He still shone brilliantly and looked stunningly handsome, as if brightening his surroundings.

It seemed only she had spent sleepless nights in agony.

“How was the seminar? I heard you attended in place of the director.”

As if he could really be curious about such a thing…

Yuri silently glared at Jeho, who was brazenly asking about the seminar. Her heart was pounding like crazy, but she resented him for looking at her with such a nonchalant face. Perhaps that’s why her words came out sharp.

“What brings someone so busy they couldn’t even attend a seminar here?”

Originally, Jeho was supposed to attend the seminar, not Director Kim. Director Kim had something come up, so she had to attend instead.

“Even busy people need to eat.”

Jeho flashed a smile, then turned his head towards Hyunjo sitting across from him. He tilted his head as if asking who he was.

“Hello. I’m Park Hyunjo. You must be senior Kwon Jeho?”

Before Yuri could introduce them, Hyunjo stood up and politely extended his hand, as if he already knew who Jeho was.

“You can speak casually. I’m your junior from middle and high school. It’s an honor to meet you in person, senior.”

Hyunjo looked excited, as if meeting a celebrity. When Jeho shook his hand, he grinned broadly with a touched expression.

After finishing the introduction with Hyunjo, Jeho turned his attention back to Yuri.

“You seem to be doing well.”

Yuri didn’t feel the need to contradict his opinion that she seemed to be doing well, rather than a question.

“Yes. I’ve been doing very well, thanks to you.”

She stared at Jeho’s face and raised the corners of her mouth. It was more of a provocative expression than a smile.

“I see. That’s good.”

Contrary to her, Jeho nodded with a gentle smile as if relieved.

“Well then, I’ll be going.”

After a light farewell, he turned around and walked back to where he came from. It was a very natural attitude, as if greeting and parting with an acquaintance he had met by chance.

Yuri silently watched Jeho’s retreating back.

While I’m still shaken like this, you…

It felt as if his appearance had suddenly stirred up the calm surface, creating a whirlpool.

She hated him for his calm voice and peaceful expression, but she hated herself even more. She despised herself for being immediately confused by just exchanging a few words.

Yuri let out a short sigh and turned her head towards the window tinted with countless lights.

“Phew.”

As Jeho left the table and walked towards him, Woo Gyeol finally let out the breath he had been holding. He needed to get out of here quickly.

As Woo Gyeol was trying to hurry out of the restaurant, Jeho seemed to intend to dine here as planned and was being guided to a table. Reluctantly, Woo Gyeol followed Jeho with a troubled expression.

If there was any consolation, it was a seat away from Yuri’s table. Woo Gyeol looked at Jeho, who was leisurely examining the menu, with an incredulous gaze.

“Hey, do you think you’ll be able to swallow any food?”

“What if I can’t?”

“Ha, you heartless bastard.”

If a stranger saw this, they might think nothing was wrong. But not Woo Gyeol. He had been watching how Jeho had been coping since breaking up with Yuri.

Unable to eat properly or sleep on time, he had thrown himself into work like a madman. It seemed like he couldn’t bear it otherwise. Though he didn’t show it outwardly, he must have been bleeding internally.

Seeing him pretend to be fine in front of Yuri now, Woo Gyeol was dumbfounded.

Has this guy really gone crazy?

He didn’t know the aftereffects of a breakup could be this severe. He remembered wandering after breaking up with Claire once, but it wasn’t to this extent.

He regretted not actively dissuading Jeho when he said he would intentionally approach her. But what could he do now? The water had already been spilled, and everything was a mess.

Ah, whatever.

Concluding that worrying alone wouldn’t help, Woo Gyeol lowered his gaze to the menu, following Jeho.

Ding-a-ling―

Just then, the cellphone placed on the table rang. Woo Gyeol checked the caller ID without much thought, then furrowed his brow as if surprised.

“Huh? Teacher Jin?”

Woo Gyeol hurriedly pressed the answer button.

“Yes, teacher.”

Woo Gyeol, who had been silently listening to the other person, gradually hardened his expression.

“What? Is that really true?”

Sensing something odd, Jeho raised his head from the menu and looked at Woo Gyeol. Woo Gyeol’s widened eyes, as if shocked, met his gaze. After ending the call with Teacher Jin, Woo Gyeol’s complexion had darkened considerably.

“…Jeho. Don’t be surprised, but listen.”

Woo Gyeol opened his mouth with a serious face.

“I heard you were once engaged to senior Kwon Jeho.”

At those words, Yuri, who had been looking out the window, turned her gaze to Hyunjo. When their eyes met, Hyunjo smiled brightly and picked up the wine bottle.

“I asked my father about you in detail.”

As Hyunjo tried to pour wine into the glass in front of her, Yuri lightly shook her head.

“I’ll pass. I’ll have tea instead.”

“We can call a designated driver.”

“No. I don’t feel like drinking today.”

“Well, if you insist.”

Hyunjo shrugged and poured wine into his own glass. Then he continued his previous conversation.

“To be honest, my father wanted to introduce you to my brother, not me. But I begged him to introduce you to me instead. I persuaded him saying, ‘Younger men are the trend these days. She’ll like me more than my brother.'”

As Yuri looked at him intently with interested eyes, Hyunjo spoke with a confident voice.

“I’m quite a catch, you know. Young, with smooth skin and full of energy. Feel free to check anytime.”

“Pfft.”

Yuri burst into laughter at the blatant courtship. Perhaps because he was still a student who hadn’t entered the workforce? He seemed even younger than his actual age of 4 years younger. His pure expression with a bright smile also played a part.

“You’re trying to move things along quite quickly over one meal.”

“I don’t have much time. I need to reach a conclusion before I go back to America, even if it means a long-distance relationship.”

She had accepted the dinner invitation lightly, but it seems the other party took it to mean something more. Yuri felt the need to clear up the misunderstanding before it was too late.

“As you might have heard from Congressman Park, I recently broke off an engagement. I’m not ready to date anyone seriously yet.”

“Were you deeply hurt?”

Though she wasn’t hurt by breaking up with Minwoo, it was true that her wounds were deep.

“Yes. The wound is quite deep, so I haven’t recovered yet.”

“Then don’t you need comfort?”

As Yuri furrowed her brow as if asking what he meant, Hyunjo smiled brightly again and continued.

“Even a rebound relationship is fine, so use me. They say new love heals the wounds of old love, right?”

“When we barely know each other…”

“We can get to know each other gradually. I can guarantee one thing. You’ll soon fall for the man named ‘Park Hyunjo’. As I said before, I’m really a great guy. Day or night.”

Should she call it confidence overflowing, or youthful vigor uncontrollable?

The strange thing was, she didn’t dislike his attitude. Perhaps because she saw him as a younger brother, she even found it cute. But that was it.

Though far from their table, just being here made her nervous about the man who was worlds apart from the one making her nerves stand on end just by his presence.

If he wasn’t here, she would have finished her meal quickly and hurried to leave. But because Jeho was there, she continued her dinner with Hyunjo as if to show off. She didn’t want to leave before Jeho.

It might be childish, but she wanted to show him that she was doing just fine. For that reason, she nodded and smiled kindly even to stories she would have listened to indifferently under normal circumstances.

Hyunjo’s stories weren’t boring, but they weren’t particularly interesting either.

By the time dessert was served, Jeho and Woo Gyeol had finished their meal and stood up. As the two left the restaurant, Yuri thought it was time to stop entertaining Hyunjo.

“Aren’t you tired from jet lag?”

“I’m going to sleep after drinking this. I booked a room.”

“You’re not going home?”

“There’s no one at home anyway. It’s better to sleep comfortably here.”

She was starting to worry that he might suggest going up to the room together when Hyunjo held out his phone.

“Can you give me your phone number? Next time, let’s go watch baseball together. Do you like baseball?”

“No.”

“How about basketball?”

“I don’t really like watching sports games.”

“…Oh.”

For a moment, disappointment flashed across Hyunjo’s face. Yuri chuckled and entered her number into the phone he handed her.

“But I do like playing sports. For example, marathon running.”

“Marathon?”

Hyunjo asked with a surprised face.

“Yes, marathon. Congressman Park sometimes participates in marathon events too. Let’s join together if we get the chance.”

Despite emphasizing how full of energy he was due to his youth, Hyunjo looked a bit scared at the word marathon.

The two left the restaurant and parted ways cleanly, promising to meet again. They didn’t set a specific date for the next meeting.

They rode the elevator together, with Hyunjo getting off at the floor with his room while Yuri continued down to the lobby.

Perhaps due to the late hour, there were few people around except for the front desk and the lobby lounge that operated until dawn. Yuri crossed the lobby and switched to the elevator heading to the underground parking lot.

The underground parking lot was as empty as the lobby. Only the sound of her heels clicking echoed through the empty parking lot.

As she approached the spot where her car was visible, Yuri narrowed her eyes slightly. Someone was standing next to her car. She slowed her steps out of fear, but upon realizing who it was, she quickened her pace again.

“You seem to have found the wrong car.”

Jeho, who was leaning against the driver’s side of the car with his arms crossed, turned his head towards her.

Perhaps she had expected this. She was less surprised than when he had approached their table earlier. Yuri walked towards Jeho with a calm face.

“That’s my car.”

As she approached, Jeho straightened up from the car he was leaning on and slowly looked around. He seemed to be looking for Hyunjo.

Only after confirming that she was alone did Jeho step aside to allow her to open the car door. Then he muttered softly, as if talking to himself.

“The junior’s manners are terrible. Not even escorting you to the underground parking lot at this late hour.”

“There’s no need for that at all. That would be excessive kindness.”

Yuri glanced at him as she opened the car door. But he seemed to have ignored her words and continued.

“From now on, try not to park underground if possible. It’s dangerous alone.”

Yuri didn’t like Jeho’s commanding tone. She also didn’t like his attitude as if he was worried about her.

“I’m not a child. I can take care of myself.”

“It’s because you’re not a child that I’m saying it’s dangerous.”

Annoyed by Jeho acting like a lover, Yuri blurted out unnecessary words.

“Alright. I’ll ask Hyunjo to escort me next time. Happy?”

“You’re talking as if you two are dating.”

“That’s the plan. He likes me, so why not? His aggressive approach is cute too. I didn’t realize it before, but I think I have a thing for younger men.”

Though she wouldn’t be meeting Hyunjo again after today, Yuri spouted whatever came to mind. She wanted to create even a small scratch on his heart.

“Is that so?”

But he just smirked with a nonchalant face.

“Did you drink? I saw a wine bottle on the table earlier.”

“No. I didn’t drink because I have to drive.”

“I’ll drive anyway.”

Taking the car key from Yuri’s hand naturally, he said in a low voice.