“Director Do Jae Kyung?”

Han Bo Mi’s voice cracked as it rose an octave, her face flushing as if set aflame.

Why is this person here?

“Get in.”

“I’m fine.”

Though it would be quite a walk to reach the bus stop or subway station, Bo Mi’s heart raced at the thought of her relationship with CEO Hwang Min Jun being suspected.

What should I say if he asks why I’m here?

Did he see me coming out of CEO Hwang Min Jun’s house?

Should I say I was doing cat mom activities?

“It’s quite a walk.”

“Thank you for your concern, but I prefer walking to riding in a car.”

Bo Mi bowed her head in greeting and quickened her pace.

“Director Han Bo Mi.”

Ha. When did you put up walls when you were clinging to me with teary eyes before?

Jae Kyung slowly drove the car, following Bo Mi.

“I’m not asking.”

“Pardon?”

“Don’t make me repeat myself.”

As they argued, a yellow sports car came roaring up the hill from the opposite direction, blasting loud music.

Yeon Ga Jin. CEO Hwang Min Jun’s nephew and Madam Hwang’s son.

The man driving turned his head, glancing at Jae Kyung’s car before his gaze landed on Bo Mi beyond it.

Screech!

“Ha! Sh-”

An expletive-laced exclamation escaped Ga Jin’s lips.

“Han Bo Mi! You!”

As the yellow sports car came to a stop, the back door of Jae Kyung’s car opened.

“Director. Please.”

Jae Kyung had clearly told her to get in, but.

“Please… drive quickly.”

This wasn’t what he meant.

Bo Mi’s desperate tone left Jae Kyung dumbfounded.

What’s with this woman? She refuses when I offer but then treats me like a chauffeur?

From their first meeting, he just couldn’t figure her out.

The moment Ga Jin got out of his car, Jae Kyung found himself instinctively stepping on the accelerator and driving off.

“Director Han Bo Mi. What’s going on?”

“I’m sorry. You can drop me off anywhere.”

As a bus stop came into view, Bo Mi finally seemed to calm down, placing a hand on her chest and letting out a long sigh.

“Where do you live?”

“Ah… Just drop me off here. I’ll take the bus.”

“Then I should charge you a fare.”

“Um… well…”

Bo Mi stammered, seemingly flustered.

“Were you planning to ride for free?”

“No! Absolutely not.”

Bo Mi shook her head, her short hair swaying.

“I’ll treat you to a meal next time.”

“When is next time?”

“You’re busy, Director, and we probably won’t run into each other much at the company… Is a meal too much? How about I buy you a takeout coffee instead?”

Her chattering was quite…

Jae Kyung raised an eyebrow.

What am I thinking?

It must be because of that business card.

He was so drawn into her voice that he forgot about the headache that had felt like his head was being hammered.

‘…So if you’ve watched till the end, when you meet Han Bo Mi, shout “Narrator!” I’ll buy you a cool iced Americano.’

Coffee for just anyone… Something bothered Jae Kyung.

“You seem to like buying coffee.”

That irritation must be due to the relationship between CEO Hwang Min Jun and Director Han Bo Mi.

He needed to confirm what kind of relationship it was.

“Ah… yes. Do you not like coffee?”

Bo Mi asked nervously. Will he just let it go?

“I prefer a meal to coffee.”

Bo Mi’s thoughts were in turmoil at Jae Kyung’s response. He clearly seemed to dislike her, but… why? Why?

“A meal sounds good.”

She’d lost her mind. No matter how urgent it was, she felt like she’d entered a tiger’s den to avoid a fox.

“Then when would be a good time…”

“As it happens, I have time now. Let’s go eat.”

“Now? With me?”

A meal now! Good heavens. She’d already spent over an hour staring at a rice bowl instead of Min Jun’s face in a silent meal… And now she had to do it again?

“Who else would I eat with?”

Jae Kyung turned to look at Bo Mi sitting in the back seat.

I get it. I get it, so stop looking at me like that.

It’s uncomfortable… She shrank back like a rabbit cornered by a predator.

In this relationship, Do Jae Kyung was clearly superior. Just like with Hwang Min Jun.

“That’s right. I’ll treat you, so we should eat together. Since I’ve already been so rude as to sit in the back seat…”

Thinking of CEO Hwang Min Jun, she absolutely should not get entangled with Do Jae Kyung personally, but how did it end up like this?

If only Yeon Ga Jin hadn’t been there then…

He was one of the people on Bo Mi’s list of individuals she’d like to avoid meeting in life if possible.

While Bo Mi was answering, the car had already arrived at the parking lot of a traditional Korean restaurant. There were several luxury cars like Jae Kyung’s parked at the entrance.

Bo Mi hurried after Jae Kyung, who entered familiarly, taking small steps like a duckling following its mother. If it were Paradise, he would have matched his pace to Bo Mi’s.

A small mole on the nape of his short-cropped neck. The spot where Bo Mi used to kiss him was there too. Even the location of the mole was the same… No. Don’t make connections.

His back view was like Paradise, but he wasn’t Paradise.

Paradise had never worn a suit… Surely if it were Paradise, he would have shone brighter than anyone even in a rented suit from a photo studio.

She was still thinking of someone already dead, trapped in Paradise’s existence.

“Welcome.”

Though it was a bit early for dinner, the restaurant owner greeted Jae Kyung warmly. A savory food aroma wafted from the kitchen, where preparations seemed to be underway.

Though she had nibbled earlier, Bo Mi unconsciously rubbed her stomach, feeling hungry.

The two were led to a small room.

“The cold noodles here are delicious.”

Jae Kyung opened the menu and handed it to Bo Mi.

“Ah… I love cold noodles. I didn’t know there was a place like this.”

Though it was the neighborhood she’d lived in for over a decade until entering university, Bo Mi had no freedom. Eating at such a fancy restaurant was only when Min Jun called her out.

“Grilled pork ribs with cold noodles.”

“Uh… uh…”

Bo Mi’s face slowly turned red like spreading paint at Jae Kyung’s words.

“You saw my business card?”

“It was interesting, as you said.”

“Ah… I… really.”

Bo Mi stroked her neck, her face red to the ears. It was a shame her face was hidden by her fallen hair.

“I thought no one would listen to the end… I made the company introduction too long. Everyone said to cut it…”

Bo Mi started making excuses.

“The employees said my introduction was too boring and told me to at least mention a food I like, so I added that.”

Jae Kyung forgot that the purpose of this meal was to learn about the connection between CEO Hwang and Han Bo Mi, and didn’t bother to cut off Bo Mi’s unnecessary information.

Her voice and manner of speaking sounded exceptionally pleasant to him.

Her ever-changing expressions and gentle tone even gave a refreshing feeling. Like that coniferous forest…

“Excuse me.”

A waiter entered with charcoal-grilled pork ribs and cold noodles. An appetizing spread was laid out before the two.

As the conversation stopped, silence fell, and only the aroma of the perfectly glistening pork ribs filled the room.

Bo Mi unconsciously swallowed. I ate earlier, but…

Jae Kyung smiled seeing Bo Mi’s expression soften at the sight of the food.

“I’ll enjoy the meal. Director Han Bo Mi.”

“Ah… Yes. Please eat a lot.”

He really seems to intend to eat at my expense.

Well, since it’s come to this, let’s try to build a good cooperative relationship. Isn’t it better not to be on bad terms?

“If you say the last keyword, I’ll buy you an iced Americano too. This is separate from the ride fee.”

“Does anyone really say that embarrassing thing?”

Bo Mi’s eyes crinkled and her nostrils flared at Jae Kyung’s words. He didn’t know what was so funny, but her smiling face was quite cute.

“Among men, only Director Ha Su Young would say the keyword to get free coffee.”

Ha Su Young. The moment Su Young’s name left Bo Mi’s lips, Jae Kyung’s eyebrow twitched. Co-CEO of Narae Creative with Han Bo Mi, from the same university and department. The two of them, along with juniors and seniors from the same university, had founded a startup company 4 years ago.

‘With just a few employees, they wanted to wear all the hats. This is why young people these days. Tsk. Two CEOs, really.’

He recalled an executive nitpicking when reviewing Narae Creative’s documents.

According to the data Jae Kyung had examined, it was a development company created by a ragtag group ignorant about management, armed only with technical skills. It’s either luck or impressive that these people, who seemed like children left by the river, managed not to go bankrupt for four years.

Could this seemingly naive woman really be CEO Hwang Min Jun’s pawn, here to deceive him?

“So I made coffee coupons just for Director Ha. He kept imitating characters and dancing.”

Bo Mi covered her mouth and shook her shoulders, suppressing laughter as she seemed to recall Su Young’s antics.

“So you buy coffee for just anyone, it seems.”

“Ah… That’s not true. I’m not that easy, you know.”

Did she perhaps offend Jae Kyung?

“I buy it because they’re special people.”

Special, he says. If Ha Su Young is special, then…

“Then I must be special too.”

Dimples formed on Jae Kyung’s cheeks as his eyes crinkled.

Bo Mi finally realized that Jae Kyung was teasing her.

“Of course. You are special.”

“How am I special?”

“Well, first of all…”

Bo Mi trailed off, seeming flustered.

“My looks?”

“Is that why you keep staring?”

“No, it’s not. That… that’s…”

This is amusing. One thing’s for sure, I can’t take my eyes off this woman because she’s so strange every time I see her.

“Director Han Bo Mi.”

In contrast to his voice, sweet as if seducing her, Jae Kyung leaned towards Bo Mi with eyes that looked ready to devour her at any moment.

“How about we become truly special to each other?”