While inwardly swallowing an answer that even he thought was extremely impure, Ji Wan deliberately avoided eye contact.

“Forget it, just eat. Before you’re late for school.”

To a woman inexperienced in romance, his answer would seem like barbaric instinct or vulgarity, nothing more, and there was no elegant way to package it, but above all, he couldn’t think of anything else.

“Come on, don’t be like that and say something. Really, I’m at a loss here.”

It was embarrassing for a man with only lewd thoughts in his head to be asked an innocent question by a woman expecting a pure answer.

Ji Wan looked down at the watch on his left wrist.

It wasn’t to check his own work time, but the woman’s school time.

Do Eum’s rice bowl remained untouched, with only a few spoonfuls taken.

As if she had no intention of eating until she got an answer, Do Eum was persistent.

“After dating for 2 years, you should know the person better than anyone, right? Whether they need a flashy proposal or not. Even if it’s not something grand, sincerity alone might be enough for some people.”

Ji Wan vaguely mumbled and pushed the rice bowl in front of Do Eum with a thud.

It was true that Eun Hyeok didn’t need a flashy proposal, as Ji Wan said.

“…Ah, I guess that could be true.”

Whether his answer was helpful or not, Do Eum nodded and continued eating.

At this point, feeding a 25-year-old woman was no less of a chore than feeding a 6-year-old child.

“Ah, Han Woo Seok will probably stop by briefly this afternoon to tell you, but starting tomorrow…”

Ji Wan was taking his time, as if unsure what to say.

“…Yes?”

“I’m going on a business trip.”

“Suddenly? Where to- I mean, when will you be back?”

“Vietnam, then Shanghai, it’ll take about 10 days. Maybe more.”

“…Ah, okay.”

Though surprised enough to almost jump out of her seat, Do Eum tried to maintain a calm expression.

The kiss she had shared with Ji Wan the night before felt like a dream.

Unlike her, who was eating slowly because she could only see the lips that had touched hers, Ji Wan appeared consistently nonchalant.

At this point, maybe Ji Wan didn’t want to talk about last night anymore.

If that was the case, maybe she should just let it go too.

“I’ll pack your suitcase for the trip.”

Thinking like that, it also seemed that last night’s events were nothing special after all.

Unlike herself, a novice in romance, Ji Wan was skilled in this area, and a mere kiss probably wasn’t a big deal to him.

“If you don’t want to be alone, tell So Kyung to come stay for a week.”

“No, I can be alone. I did that before marriage too. If So Kyung stays here, who will take care of Mr. Kim? It’s fine.”

Do Eum’s answer came out grumpily.

“Still, just in case,”

“Sir? I really am fine. I’m not a child.”

The one who wasn’t fine wasn’t Do Eum, but Ji Wan himself.

A man who had never worried about leaving someone behind on a business trip had even considered taking Do Eum with him last night.

It was separate from his duties as a CEO responsible for tens or hundreds of people.

Although their actions and words could determine months or years of their achievements, their every move wasn’t his concern.

But this woman, he worried about when she was out of sight.

No, at some point it had become that way.

Not just worrying about her every move, but feeling like he needed to keep her in sight, his perfect person.

Where she was, what she was doing, if she might suddenly be called to Anseo-dong.

If she ate well, if she might get sick while he was away.

Ji Wan, who thought that not caring was the ‘best’ way to protect her, had to admit that the ‘best’ was wrong every time he felt Do Eum’s presence deeply entering his heart.

Do Eum wasn’t someone he could ignore.

It was unsettling yet terribly comfortable, confusing Ji Wan’s mind like a double-edged sword.

For a man who had always proceeded with everything sequentially and according to plan, the feeling that his whole life was being turned upside down was maddening.

“Han Woo Seok.”

In the quiet sedan,

Ji Wan, who had been staring out the window the whole time, called out and Woo Seok turned around.

“Yes.”

“That camera you install inside the house. To check on dogs or cats left alone, to see if they’re doing well.”

“Ah, a pet cam?”

“Yes, that.”

Ji Wan, who was about to suggest installing one of those at home, closed his mouth unable to finish his words.

A pet cam in a house that doesn’t even keep an ant, let alone a dog.

He was appalled at himself for worrying about the woman’s well-being to the point of wanting to watch her in real-time.

“No, never mind.”

Ji Wan’s brow furrowed slightly as he leaned back against the headrest.

*****

Bando Group Business Support Task Force Room.

Executives dispatched from each affiliate sat around a U-shaped table.

Kwak Sang Tae from Bando Electronics and Oh Jong Taek from Bando Construction, who claimed to be Ki Hyeok’s right and left arms, were also included.

The Business Support Task Force, which manages the overall organization within the group including electronics, hotels, manufacturing, construction, and finance, was truly a gathering of influential figures in their respective positions, with power ranging from executive personnel transfers to managing the owner’s family.

Among them, Oh Pil Doo, known as the second Bando, was a straight principled person close enough to have casual conversations with Chairman Jang Ho Muk.

“About Kong Ki Hoon, the team leader from Bando Construction. There’s a position opening up at Bando Display with this personnel transfer, how about sending him there?”

At Kwak Sang Tae’s words, Oh Jong Taek nodded eagerly while keeping an eye on Oh Pil Doo’s reaction.

He was gauging how the final decision-maker would respond.

“Would Seo Ji Wan stand for that? With Vietnam, Shanghai, and domestic sites, he’s already spread thin, and if Kong Ki Hoon is gone too, he’ll practically have to manage everything alone.”

“If it’s a job that can’t be done without one person, well. Kong has been at Construction for too long. Stagnant water always rots, and innovative personnel transfers are nothing special for the development of both the company and individuals, right?”

Oh Pil Doo stood up, closing the documents he was looking at.

“Let’s reconsider.”

Left alone in the meeting room after everyone had left, Kwak Sang Tae immediately took out his phone.

It was a message to Ki Hyeok.

*****

Ji Wan, who had left the tavern, got into the waiting sedan.

Through the rearview mirror, Kong Ki Hoon could be seen still bowing in farewell to the receding sedan.

Their relationship began back in college days when they were studying business administration.

They attended the same lectures and engaged in heated debates on a single topic for days, making the five-year age difference insignificant.

The line between the two, who used to address each other casually, became clearly drawn as they each settled into their positions.

Although Ji Wan knew about Ki Hoon’s appointment as the CEO of Bando Construction in advance, he didn’t call him separately except for official occasions, and Ki Hoon also didn’t seek out Ji Wan privately except for work reports, maintaining their loyalty on both sides of the line.

So today’s meeting was their first in 8 years since Ki Hoon’s entry into the company after graduation.

The two were similar in not making excuses for failures and not taking easy paths when there was a righteous way.

It was a rare, pleasant drinking session.

A conversation without formalities, a friend who understood without need for lengthy explanations.

Do Eum, who had come to pick him up, examined Ji Wan’s expression as he was just getting out of the car.

“Sir, did you drink a lot?”

A strong alcohol scent wafted through the back seat door opened by Woo Seok.

“No, he drank in good spirits.”

Having assessed the situation, Do Eum hurried to follow Ji Wan as he entered the house.

At the entrance, the suitcase Do Eum had packed over two hours was neatly placed.

Ji Wan glanced at it briefly before plopping down on the living room sofa.

Do Eum, who had been following the man who usually went straight to his room after work, stood awkwardly in the middle of the living room.

“…Aren’t you going in?”

The man, who had been leaning back fully, straightened up and placed his interlocked hands on his widely spread legs.

Tick tock.

His elegantly interlocked fingers moved slowly.

A suffocating silence where 1 minute felt like 10.

“Why don’t you sit down?”

Do Eum, who had been just watching, sat on the opposite sofa.

“Closer.”

“Pardon?”

Ji Wan, who had briefly lowered his gaze to the floor, looked up at Do Eum and exhaled deeply.

“I said, come closer.”

His low voice, slowed by alcohol, made each word distinctly clear.

Since he was a man who didn’t like repeating himself, Do Eum abruptly stood up and slowly walked towards Ji Wan.

“H-here?”

Unable to gauge how close he wanted her, her steps were hesitant.

“No, here.”

Thud.

Ji Wan, who had been watching, pulled Do Eum’s wrist and sat her on the table in front of him.

It wasn’t a place to sit, and the distance was too close even considering Do Eum’s attempt to minimize it based on his ‘come closer’.

After seating her, Ji Wan remained silent for a while.

His face, staring silently at her, looked troubled as if he had something to say, so Do Eum was prepared to let go of yesterday’s incident if he suggested it.

If he said it was a mistake, she was ready to agree and move on,

And if there was still lingering attachment and he wanted to do it again, she wanted to try her best to do well.

She just prayed that he wouldn’t tell her to get out, contract or whatever be damned.

“Remember when I said there shouldn’t be personal feelings in our relationship?”

Nod nod.

Do Eum’s small head bobbed up and down.

The woman, terrified of what he might say, wouldn’t know how lovely she looked in the eyes of the drunk man,

Or how maddening her tightly closed red lips were.

“I was… wrong.”

Ji Wan’s face contorted as if in pain as he muttered resignedly.

Damn it.

The curse mixed with rough breathing was uncharacteristically irritated for the usually composed man.

“I told you not to waver… but I wavered.”

Incomprehensible words continued like a monologue.

“And not content with that, I want to make you waver too.”

Do Eum, who had been tense thinking her feelings might have been exposed to him,

And that he might tell her to return all the money and leave, lowered her gaze.

Thump thump thump.

The sound of her heart beating wildly seemed to shake even the floor she stood on.

It was a confession.

That last night’s kiss wasn’t a mistake but sincere, that even for him, experienced in such matters, the kiss with her was by no means insignificant, this stubborn man was now confessing to her.

She was glad.

No, more than glad, she was ecstatically happy.

“Call me a coward if you want, I can’t help it. Do that too if you want.”

Ji Wan’s dark eyes, slowly raised, were as fierce as those of a hungry, angry lion.

“Still, I’m going to do it, so listen.”

If what this man was doing now was a confession, maybe she could gather courage too.

All the words he spat out as if ordering were infinitely slow.

Ji Wan gently lifted Do Eum’s chin, who had lowered her gaze to their clasped hands.

“…Um.”

“You, don’t waver.”