Cha Geon Hak adjusted his cufflinks as he came down the stairs from the second floor. Manager Lee bowed his head and greeted him.

“Good morning, Executive Director.”

“Hello.”

Geon Hak entered the dining room.

“Executive Director, you’re late today. Please have a seat. I specially prepared beef bone soup for you today.”

As Geon Hak sat down at the prepared table, he noticed Ye Na sitting across from him, eating her meal with relish.

Lately, Geon Hak’s face showed obvious fatigue due to Ye Na crying every night.

Cha Seong Gu frowned at Geon Hak’s silent demeanor.

“The housekeeper specially prepared your favorite beef bone soup, simmering it for hours. You could at least say thank you.”

“Grandfather, you’re really too much.”

“What did I do? What did I do to you…!”

Cha Seong Gu was about to yell but when he made eye contact with Ye Na, who was looking at him with wide eyes, he immediately softened his expression. Then he asked gently:

“What did I do?”

Geon Hak shook his head.

“I’ve been waking up at dawn these past few days. Of course, it’s partly due to my tendency to be a light sleeper. But if you care for Ye Na so much, why did you insist on putting this young child’s room on the second floor? You dote on her in the mornings but want to sleep peacefully at night?”

“You cold-hearted bastard.”

“Blood will come out if pricked with a needle. If you care for Ye Na so much, move her to a room on the first floor. Right next to your room, Chairman.”

As Ye Na chewed away and pointed at the bulgogi, Cha Seong Gu placed some bulgogi on top of her rice.

“Ye Na, chew thoroughly.”

Ye Na nodded and stuffed the spoonful of bulgogi into her mouth.

“How can you give her such a big piece? Housekeeper, please cut the meat into smaller pieces for Ye Na.”

Though he grumbled, Geon Hak had been taking care of Ye Na in every way these past few days.

“I heard you’ve been putting Ye Na back to sleep every night and dawn.”

“So what? You don’t seem grateful at all in the mornings, as if you’ve forgotten everything.”

Geon Hak watched Ye Na eat deliciously, even getting rice grains on her mouth. Her chubby cheeks had become even fuller these past few days, looking utterly adorable.

As Ye Na swallowed her food after constantly moving her tiny lips, one corner of Geon Hak’s mouth curved up slightly.

I kind of want to make her cry.

When Geon Hak reached out to pinch Ye Na’s soft cheek, she burst into tears.

“Waaah!”

“Why are you making her cry again when she was eating so well?”

“It’s punishment for running away.”

“What are you talking about now?”

Cha Seong Gu clicked his tongue and comforted Ye Na.

“Our Ye Na is a good girl. There, there.”

Geon Hak smirked as he watched Ye Na cry.

This morning too, Ye Na had fallen asleep in his arms.

He was too tired to take her back to her room, but suddenly Ye Na woke up next to him and shook him awake.

‘You’re up? I’ll take you to your room in a bit.’

Despite Geon Hak’s words, Ye Na jumped down from the bed, stood on her tiptoes to open the door handle, and ran away just like that. As if she didn’t want to be with him.

“Stop crying and eat your food.”

“Hic.”

Ye Na wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and stuffed more rice into her small mouth. Hah, she listens so well again.

* * *

Executive Director’s Office, Cha Myung Group.

“Phew.”

Geon Hak unbuttoned his jacket and leaned his head back on the sofa headrest.

Sitting across from him, Yu Jun narrowed his eyes as he looked at Geon Hak.

“What have you been doing every night to look so exhausted?”

As Yu Jun gave him a lewd look, Geon Hak looked back at him with an annoyed expression.

“What about you? What did you do all night to come bother me first thing in the morning?”

Geon Hak massaged between his eyebrows with his thumb.

“I met Park Tae In yesterday.”

“Park Tae In?”

“What did you do to Park Tae In for him to ask about you while drinking with me?”

Hah, interesting.

Geon Hak chuckled and took out a cigarette from his pocket, putting it in his mouth.

He searched for a lighter but couldn’t find it, raising his eyebrows. Yu Jun also searched his pockets but gestured that he didn’t have one.

Geon Hak snapped the cigarette in his mouth in half and tossed it onto the table.

“What did he say?”

“He was worried you dislike him too much. Said he’s scared to make a contract readily.”

“Looks like he went whining to you.”

Yu Jun gulped down the cold water Secretary Kim had brought earlier. Geon Hak’s eyebrow naturally raised at the sight.

“Anything else to say?”

“Well, besides all the random things he said while drunk…”

Judging by his expression, it seemed Yu Jun had rambled on again while drunk. He often made that mistake when intoxicated and would always confess afterwards.

“Out of nowhere, he asked if you had a woman you liked.”

An intrigued smile spread across Geon Hak’s face and the corners of his mouth slowly turned up.

“And?”

“So I said you did. As I was going on about how you’re surprisingly sentimental, I ended up mentioning that Yoon Su Ah is Han Seo Airlines’ daughter.”

Geon Hak slowly closed his eyes and opened them again.

“You sold out your friend while drunk.”

Yu Jun’s face was filled with an apologetic expression.

You’re trying to find my weakness, aren’t you Park Tae In.

“I’m sorry. I drank way too much yesterday. Oh right, he also said this. That he met a woman he’d been looking for here at Cha Myung Group after 6 years.”

“…”

Geon Hak’s face showed a momentary disturbance.

“So he came to the company unannounced but ran into you, making you dislike him even more. Ah, what was her name again…”

Yu Jun kept scratching his forehead as if he couldn’t remember.

“Ah, that’s right! I remember now. He said her name was Jae Yi, Han Jae Yi.”

* * *

“Ms. Han Jae Yi.”

“Yes, Manager.”

“Can you put these approval documents on Team 2 Manager Yoon’s desk? My stomach suddenly hurts a lot.”

“Yes, I’ll do…”

Jae Yi got up after watching Manager Kim rush out.

Though they were in the same marketing team as Team 2, they were on different floors, so Jae Yi pressed the elevator button.

When the elevator doors opened, Jae Yi looked forward.

Ah…

Jae Yi was momentarily flustered seeing the woman in the elevator, but she slightly bowed her head and got in.

A smile gently formed on the woman’s lips.

It was Geon Hak’s girlfriend she had seen before.

Though she tried not to look, her eyes kept moving towards the woman. Even as a woman herself, she had to admit the woman’s charisma was no joke. There probably weren’t many women who could pull off a short haircut that well.

After glancing at her for a while, Jae Yi turned her head away.

Ding―

They arrived at the floor Jae Yi had pressed. Jae Yi gave a slight bow in greeting and got off holding the approval documents in her arms.

Jae Yi’s steps felt heavy as she headed to Manager Yoon’s desk.

She’s still… so pretty.

Without realizing it, she was envying her again.

After the incident at the hospital, she hadn’t spoken to the Executive Director.

“Sigh.”

A sigh naturally escaped Jae Yi’s lips.

After placing the approval documents on Manager Yoon’s desk, she found the woman waiting for her as she was leaving.

Jae Yi’s surprised steps came to a halt.

“Were you startled? I’d like to talk for a moment, if that’s alright?”

Her heart felt like it would burst at the unexpected proposal from the Executive Director’s girlfriend.

What could she want to talk about?

No way.

Could she know everything?

Sigh. They say you can’t live after committing a crime. It’s really true.

Jae Yi slowly nodded her head.

“Yes.”

The woman had already led Jae Yi to a secluded area.

“You remember me, right?”

“Yes, I remember.”

“I’m not usually interested in others so I wasn’t sure, but I remembered how Geon Hak stepped in back then. You’re Assistant Manager Han, right?”

She remembered Jae Yi.

“Yes.”

“Ah, I’m late with my introduction. My name is Kim Ri Na. Nice to meet you.”

Ri Na smiled brightly and held out her hand to Jae Yi. Jae Yi hurriedly grasped her hand.

“Assistant Manager Han. You like our Geon Hak, don’t you?”

“…”

It was a sudden question.

This was a question she hadn’t expected at all.

Was it that obvious even to his girlfriend?

What should I do? It seems like she’s already noticed.

How much must she dislike and hate me from her perspective?

Unlike Ri Na who kept smiling at Jae Yi, Jae Yi’s face was dark. Jae Yi even felt sorry for her.

“No? From what I saw, your relationship seemed too close to just be between a superior and subordinate at work.”

There’s no need to be honest about my feelings to the Executive Director’s girlfriend.

I don’t want their relationship to worsen because of me.

“We’re not anything.”

“…You’re not?”

Her face changed completely.

That’s strange. I’m sure I said it right.

Why does she seem even more upset when I said we’re not anything?

“Why aren’t you anything? You two seemed close.”

“…Pardon?”

As Jae Yi looked at Ri Na with a bewildered face, she quickly said:

“I’m not Cha Geon Hak’s girlfriend.”

“Wh-What?”

“I’m not his lover, just a friend.”

“…”

“I don’t know why that bastard said that that day, but in my opinion, it seems he said that out of consideration for you, Assistant Manager Han.”

My head is spinning.

So, now…

The woman in front of me is saying she’s not the Executive Director’s girlfriend, but just a friend?

“So, I hope there’s no misunderstanding.”

Jae Yi’s stiff face immediately brightened. Ri Na burst out laughing.

“Wow. I didn’t expect you to be this innocent. Assistant Manager Han, do you know your thoughts are all written on your face?”

Jae Yi’s cheeks turned slightly red. She must have unknowingly shown her emotions.

“You looked upset earlier. But as soon as I said I’m not Cha Geon Hak’s girlfriend, your face completely changed. How can a person be this pure? You’re so cute.”

Ri Na said with a gentle smile on her lips.

“I really wanted to tell you this when I met you, Assistant Manager Han. Cha Geon Hak and I are nothing, so don’t worry. So from now on, at least greet me when we see each other.”

Jae Yi nodded her head.

“Yes.”

Suddenly, Ri Na pulled Jae Yi in front of her into a hug. Startled, Jae Yi blinked in surprise.

Ri Na whispered softly into Jae Yi’s ear, causing Jae Yi’s eyes to widen.

* * *

Korean BBQ Restaurant.

“Jae Yi, eat more meat too.”

As Su Bin placed meat on Jae Yi’s plate, Manager Im sitting next to her watched enviously.

“Assistant Manager Han, you’re too much.”

“What is it?”

“No, you should take care of me too. You only put meat on Assistant Manager Han’s plate.”

“Manager, you eat well even without me taking care of you. Jae Yi’s face has been so pale because she hasn’t been eating beef.”

Jae Yi smiled as the two bickered.

This was a team dinner that had been planned for a while. With the expensive Korean BBQ restaurant, not a single person was absent.

“Our Team 1’s performance for the third quarter was the best, so everyone eat and drink a lot! The Executive Director specially prepared this dinner just for our team, so everyone eat and drink to your heart’s content! Don’t think about going home early today!”

The atmosphere of the team dinner that started with Manager Kim Yong Su’s especially excited words was more joyful than ever.

As Jae Yi picked up her glass and took a sip, Su Bin looked at her with a very satisfied expression.

“Jae Yi, what’s going on? You’re drinking on your own without me even telling you to.”

“Just. I’m in a good mood.”

“Is that so? Well that’s good then.”

Perhaps because she had heard the whole truth from Ri Na earlier, she felt like she was floating on cloud nine.

“Jae Yi, have another drink.”

“Alright. Just a little more please.”

Just as Jae Yi picked up her glass, her eyes met directly with Geon Hak’s as he entered.