The back of her head started to feel numb.

Han Jae Yi is sick? Why?

Could it be because of what happened yesterday?

The two of them exchanged glances, not knowing what to do as Geon Hak suddenly approached them.

There was no response from him even after Su Bin finished answering.

“Um, Director?”

Manager Im called out to Geon Hak, but he turned around as if he couldn’t hear anything.

He walked away with large strides.

Geon Hak, who had moved like a madman, got on the elevator.

As the elevator doors opened, Geon Hak’s eyes shook.

“What am I doing right now.”

Why did I press the button for the 3rd basement floor? Why did I come here?

Without realizing it, he was preparing to rush to her. His body reacted first.

“Ha, I’m going crazy.”

Geon Hak rubbed his straight forehead.

Then he pressed the close button again. Just as the elevator was about to close, Geon Hak’s hand pressed the open button again and he got off on the 3rd basement floor.

As the phone in his suit pocket rang, he answered it.

― Director. Where are you right now?

It was a timely call from Secretary Kim. The timing was impeccable.

“Secretary Kim. Come down right now with the car keys.”

― Pardon?

Seemingly flustered by Geon Hak’s words, he replied a beat late.

― Right now, you mean?

“And before you come down, send me Han Jae Yi’s home address first.”

― Han Jae Yi’s home address? Don’t tell me, Director, are you going to Han Jae Yi right now?

Geon Hak pressed his temple in response to his question.

“Han Jae Yi is sick, you know.”

* * *

Jae Yi, who had pulled the blanket up to her chin, fumbled for her phone.

It was already approaching 12:30, though she didn’t know how long she had slept. It seemed like several messages had come in, but she didn’t have time to check them.

Jae Yi, who had suffered from a high fever all night, tossed and turned before falling asleep late. As a result, her eyelids were heavy.

Jae Yi raised herself from the bed.

“Ugh.”

As dizziness washed over her, Jae Yi stopped several times on her way, even though it was a short distance. The refrigerator felt far away today.

Jae Yi opened the refrigerator door and took out a bottle of water.

She had no strength in her hands, so the cap wouldn’t open easily. After several attempts, the cap finally opened.

As she gulped down the water, her dry throat quickly became moist.

“…My throat hurts too.”

She frowned.

There wasn’t a single part of her that didn’t hurt. Even her T-shirt was soaked with sweat, making her feel uncomfortable.

Jae Yi put down the water bottle she was holding on the table and moved her body with difficulty. As she entered the shower room, the bathroom floor felt like it was shaking and her vision went dark.

Bang! Jae Yi, who couldn’t keep her balance properly, fell on the bathroom floor.

Ugh. Her wrist must have been sprained as her pale wrist swelled up red. Sad tears flowed down Jae Yi’s eyes.

Her body, her heart, and her mind all hurt.

There wasn’t a single place that didn’t hurt. It felt as if someone had tightly bound Jae Yi’s body and rolled her up in a mat.

Jae Yi’s eyes closed tightly as she leaned against the wall. As hot tears flowed down her cheeks, Jae Yi rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand.

Crying seemed to make her head hurt even more.

Ding dong―

The sound of the doorbell was faintly heard.

There’s no one who would ring the doorbell at this time.

Just as she thought she might have misheard, someone knocked on Jae Yi’s door relentlessly.

Bang bang!

Jae Yi’s eyelids slowly rose as she sat leaning against the wall. The sound of knocking on the front door and the doorbell continued to shake the house.

I need to get up and check.

But my body won’t listen.

“Han Jae Yi!”

A voice, faint but clear.

Director…?

Jae Yi’s eyes blinked slowly.

Hearing Geon Hak’s voice, Jae Yi slowly raised herself, holding onto the sink.

“Ms. Han Jae Yi. If you’re inside, please open the door. Han Jae Yi!”

It was the voice of Director Cha Geon Hak.

How did the Director know where my house is? Why, here…

Nevertheless, Jae Yi wanted to see his face.

Her body reacted to his voice. Jae Yi slowly moved her heavy feet and opened the front door.

Click. As the door lock sound was heard, the door opened.

“Di… rector.”

Jae Yi’s voice came out with difficulty. A sigh of relief flowed from Geon Hak’s lips as he confirmed Han Jae Yi’s face standing in front of the entrance.

“Ms. Han Jae Yi, are you alright?”

As the Director’s face appeared to be double and Jae Yi’s vision gradually blurred.

“Yes, I’m fine…”

Thud.

As her body tilted forward towards Geon Hak, he hurriedly caught Jae Yi.

What do you mean you’re fine. After showing this kind of appearance.

Geon Hak looked at Han Jae Yi in his arms. Her body was hot like a fireball.

Whether she had lived her life with the words “I’m fine” always on her lips, she was unconsciously saying she was fine even while being this sick.

As expected, there’s not a single thing about Han Jae Yi that he likes.

Geon Hak hurriedly picked her up in his arms and left the house.

* * *

“What did you say?”

“Why are you asking when you heard me? I said I found Han Jae Yi.”

Tae In’s eyes wavered for a moment.

“You’re… lying again.”

“It’s true this time. So sign the contract with Cha Myung Group. For such a picky group like Cha Myung to offer these conditions, they’re treating you extremely well.”

Right now, Tae In was more concerned about Han Jae Yi than the advertising contract with Cha Myung Group.

His face suddenly turned cold.

“If this is a lie again, I won’t see you anymore.”

She frowned and shouted, “Aish! I’m telling you it’s true. If you really don’t believe me, why don’t you call Cha Myung Group yourself and check? Whether Han Jae Yi is really an employee of Cha Myung Group or not.”

Ga Yeon took out a paper from her bag and handed it to Tae In. Tae In started dialing the extension number, seemingly wanting to check for himself.

With a short dial tone, a woman’s voice was heard over the call.

― Yes. How may I help you?

As he heard a woman’s voice different from Han Jae Yi’s, Tae In’s eyes sank low.

Just as he was about to end the call, Ga Yeon snatched Tae In’s phone and put it on speaker.

“Isn’t that Han Jae Yi’s desk?”

― Yes, it is. Who is this?

Tae In’s eyes began to shake aimlessly.

He snatched her phone back and asked, swallowing the saliva that had filled his mouth.

“I’d like to speak with Han Jae Yi. Is Han Jae Yi… at her desk?”

Tae In’s voice, searching for Jae Yi, was noticeably trembling.

― Han Jae Yi. She couldn’t come to work today due to personal reasons. If you tell me your name, I’ll personally relay the message to Han Jae Yi.

“No, it’s fine. Thank you for your time.”

Tae In pressed the end call button.

Ga Yeon chuckled as Tae In’s hand holding the phone trembled slightly.

“See. It’s true this time, right?”

“…”

“I was shocked too. I didn’t expect Han Jae Yi to be there.”

She had no intention of ever telling Park Tae In that Han Jae Yi was at Cha Myung Group. But seeing Tae In refuse the Cha Myung Group advertising model position, Ga Yeon had no choice but to honestly reveal it.

“So, do this job properly. If the contract falls through because of you, I won’t let it slide, you know? You know my personality.”

“…Did you meet her?”

His eyes began to change again. As soon as Han Jae Yi’s name comes up, his eyes change; his obsession is starting again.

“I found her, so of course I met her.”

“You didn’t hit her, right?”

“Aish, really! What nonsense. Why would I hit her! Hey. I don’t hit just anyone anymore. If I get caught hitting someone, I’m screwed. Would I hit her?”

“Don’t hit her. Don’t touch her. If you touch Han Jae Yi again, I won’t let it go this time.”

Seeing Tae In still thinking so dearly of Han Jae Yi, Ga Yeon snorted and said,

“Well, aren’t you a romantic. Do you think Han Jae Yi will come back just because you’re like this? You think she’ll become your sister again? You were the person Han Jae Yi trusted the most. The one she trusted and relied on…”

His eyes flashed for a moment, and Ga Yeon’s lips naturally closed.

“Anyway. The contract conditions this time are better than any other group. So check the documents again and speak well to the CEO.”

As she was about to leave after saying her piece, Tae In called her back once more.

“Wait a moment.”

Ga Yeon’s footsteps stopped.

“How did… Jae Yi noona look?”

“How did she look? When she saw me, her face turned pale white like she was about to faint. She’s a kid who left with just her body at dawn because she hates us. She’s the one who disappeared without a trace like that.”

“…”

“So if you’re doing this because you miss the old Han Jae Yi, it’s better to wake up from that dream. Anyway, the new mom and dad have completely separated, so she’s a stranger to us now. She’s neither family nor anything else.”

“She’s not a stranger. She’s still my sister.”

“Your sister is, fuck that.”

Ga Yeon shook her head and left the house.

Tae In collapsed onto the sofa as if his legs had lost strength. As he tightly gripped the phone in his hand, the phone’s background image showed.

It was a picture taken with Jae Yi.

A photo taken to commemorate becoming twenty years old for the first time.

“I won’t… let go anymore.”

After Jae Yi disappeared like that, the two of them also legally separated completely. But to Tae In, Jae Yi was family, and more than that. He wanted to continue to be connected with her, even if it meant doing this.

* * *

Jae Yi’s eyelids slowly rolled up. The white ceiling was welcoming her.

As Jae Yi slowly lowered her gaze, she saw the white bandage wrapped around her wrist and Geon Hak sleeping on the sofa.

It wasn’t… a dream.

So it was the Director who brought me to the hospital.

She looked at Geon Hak sleeping with his arms crossed.

Again, the Director came when I was like this. I always showed him the appearances I least wanted to show.

Nevertheless, this appearance of mine.

She thought it was fortunate that it was the Director who saw it, not someone else.

Jae Yi stared intently at the soundly sleeping Geon Hak. If she were to pick the happiest moments, it would be all the moments spent with the Director.

When she became on the same side as the Director and won.

When she had a meal alone with him for the first time in her life.

When she heard him call her pretty for the first time.

‘Ms. Han Jae Yi. Shall we cross the line?’

And lastly, the night she spent with the Director was the happiest moment. But he was a person she shouldn’t hold in her heart anymore.

Even if the Director was nice to her, his feelings were different from hers. She had to run away to prevent her feelings from growing any bigger.

After sitting on the hospital bed for a while looking at him, Jae Yi quietly left the room.

Click. As the hospital room door closed, Jae Yi slowly moved her steps while holding onto the railing.

Her condition was better than before, but her footsteps felt quite heavy.

One step.

With every two steps, a surge of emotion welled up.

Now I really have to give up on the Director.

Will I be able to give up on the Director?

‘Your very existence is unfortunate.’

As mom said, if I stay by the Director’s side, it would be unfortunate.

I… don’t suit the Director.

As Jae Yi was moving her steps, her legs suddenly lost strength and her body staggered.

Thud, a warm sensation enveloped her back.

Ah.

The faint scent spreading from her nose. The smell of tobacco mixed with perfume. Even without turning her head, she felt like she knew who was standing behind her right now.

As Jae Yi slowly turned her head, her eyes met with Cha Geon Hak looking down at her.

He let out a low laugh, perhaps finding Jae Yi’s action of sneaking out of the hospital room ridiculous.

“Where are you running off to while you’re sick, Ms. Han Jae Yi?”

As Jae Yi’s lips gently closed, he grabbed her shoulders and turned her around. His face showed clear signs of fatigue.

“What if you get hurt doing that?”

Every time he entered her space.

Every time he kept being kind to her.

She wanted to keep staying by Cha Geon Hak’s side.

“Why are you being so nice to me? Director, do you… like me?”