This day when Bo Mi was digging to the Earth’s inner core out of embarrassment was a bothersome day for Jae Kyung.

Jae Kyung, returning after finishing the afternoon meeting, witnessed Han Bo Mi together with Ha Su Young at the entrance of the lounge near the corridor.

It wasn’t that he was uncomfortable because two representatives of Narae Creative, one of the Do Won Group’s collaboration groups, were getting along well.

‘I miss you.’

‘I love you.’

And even the cheesy act of kissing the receiver.

There was no particular reason for Jae Kyung to be bothered that Han Bo Mi had a man, but…

Who could be the person on the other end of the phone making her expression so lovable?

Though it should be completely irrelevant to Jae Kyung, he couldn’t figure out why it bothered him so much no matter how much he thought about it.

“Team Leader Yeon Ga Young contacted about having dinner together tonight. What should we do?”

“Secretary Kim. Have you forgotten about the meeting scheduled for tonight?”

“Th… That…”

Secretary Kim made a troubled expression.

“Acting Chairwoman Lee Hae Young said to prioritize the appointment with Yeon Ga Young.”

“Secretary Kim. Whose person are you?”

“I’m sorry.”

It made him doubt if his grandmother was in her right mind, telling him to prioritize dinner with his potential fiancée over work.

It felt like pressure to have Jae Kyung marry stably and inherit the next position from Representative Hwang Min Jun rather than building up his power.

Inserting Yeon Ga Young into the Paradisus project team was also to increase points of contact with Jae Kyung.

Even knowing that Jae Kyung had been busy running around cleaning up the recall issue that occurred at Do Won Motors for the past few days, she was leisurely talking about dinner.

He knew that a strategic marriage with Representative Hwang Min Jun’s side was the best solution to end the wasteful fight within the Do Won Group.

It wasn’t that Jae Kyung, who had been raised to achieve the position of Do Won Group’s head that his father couldn’t, was now dissatisfied with a loveless marriage.

It was just uncomfortable trying to build personal friendships in a business that didn’t need love.

There’s no need to have meals and go on dates, is there? Just entering the wedding hall would be enough of a performance anyway.

‘I just need you to be alive.’

If it weren’t for Yeon Hee’s desperate wish, he wouldn’t have been dragged into this marriage.

After his father’s death, Yeon Hee treated her son coldly and emotionlessly in order to raise him as a son who would catch the chairman’s eye.

To achieve the dream his father couldn’t, Jae Kyung had to be the best at everything, and on days when he made even a small mistake, he had to receive harsh punishment. Because of her education, Jae Kyung always thought he had to be perfect.

When Jae Kyung opened his eyes in the hospital room 5 years ago, that mother was crying sorrowfully. He still couldn’t forget those hot teardrops falling on his hand. Currently, Jae Kyung was the most precious existence to his mother.

They said Jae Kyung had been lying unconscious for a year after the accident. He actually couldn’t remember anything during that time. He had been heading to his father’s villa to get clues about his father’s death.

What could have happened at that villa?

The doctor said it was short-term memory loss, and the memories might or might not come back.

‘If remembering is dangerous, let’s just bury it.’

Yeon Hee also didn’t want Jae Kyung to be in any more danger, and Jae Kyung had to suffer from headaches that felt like his head would split whenever he tried to recall the past. Both Jae Kyung and Yeon Hee wanted to focus on living in the present rather than finding memories.

Declining Ga Young’s dinner invitation, Jae Kyung attended a dinner meeting with an external company.

Satisfied with the favorable terms of the deal, Jae Kyung felt relieved as he got into the car. Due to not resting from the intense work for days, he closed his eyes for a moment in the car returning to the company.

He was walking under the blinding, intense sunlight in a forest thick with coniferous trees. He still couldn’t see the face of the owner of the delicate hand firmly holding his.

Yet he didn’t want to let go of that hand. A crude ring sparkled on the ring finger of her left hand. Jae Kyung opened his eyes with a pained expression. Frowning, he fumbled for his chest pocket.

The thin ring in the inside pocket of his jacket was the same as the one from the dream. They said it was a ring Jae Kyung had when he was brought to the hospital from the accident. Why was he preciously keeping such a crudely made ring that looked like an amateur had made it?

Thinking it might be a clue to the accident, Jae Kyung always carried the ring with him.

“Director, we’ve arrived.”

“Good work.”

He looked up at the company building where most of the floors’ lights were off. Telling the security guards to wait in the parking lot, he got on the elevator alone. It was inefficient to bring all those big guys up just to handle a few work tasks.

Ding. 48th floor. The doors are opening.

At the elevator’s emotionless mechanical voice, Jae Kyung stepped into the darkness.

His gaze stopped at the lounge in front of the corridor, recalling Han Bo Mi’s phone call in the afternoon.

‘Won… i.’

The first day they met, she called him Won i. That name she called so longingly and sorrowfully.

Who could it be? Not Ha Su Young, not Hwang Min Jun… another man.

Perhaps that man is her lover. If it’s a man who resembles himself enough to be mistaken for him…

Thinking about Han Bo Mi again.

Jae Kyung moved his steps into the dusky corridor. It was past the time for the security company’s patrol.

Turning left was the office of the Paradisus project augmented reality team. Light was leaking from only one place in the corridor covered in gloomy darkness.

Did they work overtime yesterday too, and today as well? Is there a lot of work or is work efficiency low?

Jae Kyung tried to pass by without showing interest, but he heard a strange sound.

It sounded like a shredder, but along with it was a finer humming sound and a fluttering sound like a bird flapping its wings.

Don’t mind it. Whoever it was, it was none of Jae Kyung’s business.

“I won’t lose courage!”

As Bo Mi’s voice rose higher, Jae Kyung finally stopped and opened the door of the augmented reality team’s office.

Not realizing Jae Kyung had come, Bo Mi was singing excitedly while flailing her arms and legs.

What on earth is that? Putting the issue of whether the pitch is right or not aside, even Bo Mi’s absorbed expression was cheerful.

Jae Kyung burst out laughing.

How many years has it been since he laughed like this?

What kind of dance is that, and why is she so bad at singing?

Silly… hmm… and a little cute.

No, quite cute.

“Mmm. If I’m with good friends. I’m not afraid!”

The song flowing from her lips tickles Jae Kyung’s heart.

Hiding his laughter, Jae Kyung approached Bo Mi who was singing and dancing absentmindedly.

“… Won i.”

The name Bo Mi called was that of another man. Tears welled up in her eyes that looked as gentle as a rabbit’s.

That bastard again. Jae Kyung’s mouth hardened.

“Han Bo Mi. Who are you mistaking me for?”

“Director… if you came you should have said something.”

Bo Mi recognized Jae Kyung as she took off her headphones. Her cheeks turned pink like ripe peaches as she seemed to grasp the situation.

“I just arrived. Looks like it was quite an enjoyable time.”

“That…”

Bo Mi pressed her cheeks with the back of her hands. Her soft cheeks were pressed by her hands. Watching them return to their place, Jae Kyung unconsciously twitched his fingertips.

“At night… the office is so quiet. When I’m alone, it’s a little…”

Bo Mi averted her gaze as she stroked the nape of her neck.

“Scary?”

“A little… just a tiny bit.”

Bo Mi pinched her thumb and index finger together then apart. Jae Kyung’s dimple on his cheek seemed to be caught between her fingers then disappeared. Is the director in a good mood today?

“Representative Han Bo Mi. Do you have more work left?”

“Ah… I’m almost done.”

Bo Mi turned around, turned off the monitor screen, and busily swept the messy desk. She looked like a squirrel gathering acorns. He thought she looked especially cute today.

“If you’re scared…”

Was that why? Words he would never have said normally popped out.

“Shall I stay with you?”

“What?”

I didn’t mishear, did I? Bo Mi knocked over the pen holder with the back of her hand as she tried to turn around. Clatter, bang.

The sound of pens falling to the floor broke the silence of the office.

She hurriedly bent down to pick up the pens. She glanced up at Jae Kyung standing proudly in front of her.

If it were Rakwon, he would have picked them up before Bo Mi even bent down…

Even knowing it was a different person, she felt disappointed.

Just as she was about to pick up a rolling pen, Jae Kyung’s hand overlapped Bo Mi’s as if by a lie. Startled by the warm hand temperature unlike Jae Kyung’s cold impression, she looked up.

“Director.”

He bent down and raised his index finger to his lips.

“Shh.”

Jae Kyung’s scent grew stronger. Even knowing it wasn’t that person, Bo Mi’s heart rate increased at the same scent. Jae Kyung stretched out his arm and wrapped it around Bo Mi’s round shoulders.

“Dir…”

Jae Kyung’s palm covered Bo Mi’s lips as he embraced her and went under the desk.

Close. At the overwhelmingly close distance, Bo Mi couldn’t even breathe properly. Perhaps feeling Bo Mi trembling as she forcibly held her breath, Jae Kyung removed his hand.

Just as she was about to shout, [Sorry] his lips clearly moved like that.

Bo Mi ended up stiffly embraced in his arms. The forest scent that made her heart comfortable every time they walked together evoked nostalgia in Bo Mi’s heart.

The same face, same voice, same scent as her lover. She didn’t even feel like resisting. It felt like being in the arms of Rakwon who had returned alive.

As heavy footsteps echoed in the corridor, anxiety swept over her.

Was there someone who would come to the Strategic Planning Headquarters at this hour?

Jae Kyung felt chilled at the thought that someone might be after his life again.

The heavy footsteps echoing in the corridor without hesitation after the security company’s patrol had ended.

His instincts were telling him it would be dangerous if they met. Jae Kyung unknowingly pulled Bo Mi under the desk. He had hurriedly chosen a hiding place in the darkness, but Jae Kyung soon regretted it.

Every time she breathed, a sweet peach scent spread and stimulated Jae Kyung.

Every time Bo Mi rustled, a hot heat rose.

Ha… This is really.

Do Jae Kyung. Get a grip. He couldn’t blame Bo Mi since he had pulled her in himself.

Thump thump. The footsteps grew louder.

The door of the augmented reality team’s office, dark with even the monitor light off, opened.

The sound of the man walking in echoed bizarrely loudly.