One week later.

Geon Hak kept looking at the watch on his wrist.

He appeared anxious, as if someone watching would think he had an urgent matter to attend to. Ri Na, who was beside Geon Hak, took a sip of the cocktail in her hand and looked at him curiously.

“What’s wrong, do you have something urgent to do?”

“I think I should just greet CEO Yoon and leave early.”

Ri Na made an amused expression at Geon Hak, who hadn’t even taken a sip of his favorite drink today.

CEO Yoon Yi Young, who had been chatting with people, approached and looked at Geon Hak, who wasn’t eating anything.

“Why isn’t Executive Director Cha having anything? Is the food not good?”

Geon Hak smiled gently and said,

“I have another schedule, so I think I should refrain from drinking today.”

“Is that so? I was wondering why our Executive Director Cha wasn’t drinking. Thank you for coming today, Executive Director Cha.”

Yoon Yi Young smiled with her eyes at Geon Hak’s elegant appearance today as well.

“Every time I see our Executive Director Cha, I’m surprised. How can he look so handsome every time I see him?”

Geon Hak responded to CEO Yoon’s words,

“I’m the one who’s surprised every time I see you, CEO Yoon. How can you still be so beautiful? If someone saw you, they might think you’re Ri Na’s friend.”

“Oh my, I didn’t know our Executive Director Cha could say such things. I feel like I’m flying higher than when we exported to 50 countries.”

As the two exchanged cringeworthy compliments, Ri Na shook her head.

“Oh my, look at this. Why are you making that face? Have you ever complimented your mother as a daughter? You really have no aegyo and don’t know how to make people feel good. Compared to you, our Executive Director Cha speaks so beautifully.”

CEO Yoon said with a regretful face,

“If only he wasn’t friends with our Ri Na, I would have wanted to make him my son-in-law long ago.”

Ri Na frowned at Yoon Yi Young making unnecessary comments.

“Mom. Please stop.”

CEO Yoon covered her mouth and laughed.

“Our Executive Director Cha, I made a mistake. You have a woman you’re interested in.”

When Geon Hak smiled faintly, CEO Yoon looked slightly surprised and then smiled brightly.

“Oh my. Back then you denied it, but now it seems real.”

Beside them, Ri Na looked curious about their conversation.

“CEO.”

As the secretary approached and whispered in her ear, she nodded.

“Then, I’ll see you later. Executive Director Cha.”

As CEO Yoon walked away with her secretary, Ri Na, who had been holding a cocktail glass, gently placed it on the table and said,

“A woman you’re interested in? Could it be the person I’m thinking of?”

Geon Hak looked at Ri Na, who was staring at him curiously, and said,

“I met CEO Yoon at Chamyeong Department Store, with Han Jae Yi.”

An interesting emotion spread across Ri Na’s face as she looked at Geon Hak in front of her.

She had thought Cha Geon Hak seemed a bit different lately, and the reason was all because of Han Jae Yi. When did their relationship become so deep?

“It’s fascinating.”

“What is?”

As Geon Hak tilted his head slightly, his hair fell over his forehead.

“Our mom misunderstands the relationship between Han Jae Yi and you, but you don’t say anything. Is that like you? How did you react every time there was a scandal about you in the past? You were the first to issue a rebuttal article, and if that wasn’t enough, you sued everyone from the journalist who wrote the ridiculous article to the celebrity or businessperson involved.”

“Did I?”

“Yes, you did. You always made such a fuss because you were worried about elder sister Su Ah in America.”

Geon Hak laughed softly and looked at Yu Jun entering the restaurant. He rushed in and adjusted his tie.

“Whew, I almost didn’t make it on time because the traffic was so bad.”

“Baton touch.”

“What?”

As Geon Hak passed by him, Yu Jun looked at Geon Hak leaving with an incredulous face. It seemed other people around were also looking in this direction.

“What’s this? Why are you leaving as soon as I arrive?”

“Who knows.”

“Cha Geon Hak has been really strange lately. What’s wrong with him?”

As Yu Jun shook his head, Ri Na answered,

“I told you. Cha Geon Hak has a woman he’s interested in.”

“What woman? Ah, the Yoon Su Ah lookalike? Does he really have feelings for that woman?”

Ri Na picked up the cocktail on the table and took a sip.

“For now. But who knows, when Yoon Su Ah returns, who Cha Geon Hak will choose.”

* * *

“Cut!”

“Good work everyone.”

Tae In began greeting the on-site staff and director.

Thanks to his hard work emitting bright energy on set, Tae In’s filming ended early today.

“What, Tae In, you’re already done filming?”

A co-star approached Tae In.

“Yes.”

“Come to think of it, Tae In, you’re really a workaholic. How can you deliver those long lines in one take without any NGs? Isn’t that too heartless? You should make some NGs occasionally.”

The director’s voice suddenly chimed in while listening quietly.

“What are you saying! Don’t even think about making NGs.”

“Oh my, Director, you heard? You have sharp ears, our director.”

There was something resentful on her face.

“I’m annoyed because I’m being compared to Tae In.”

What am I supposed to do about that? I’m already dying from lack of time.

Tae In was starting to get angry.

He looked at the manager standing behind him. The manager showed his phone and started mouthing the time.

‘5:30!’

Tae In sighed deeply and looked at her, who kept chattering.

“I’ll finish in one take too, so let’s leave together. I finish early because I feel bad if my co-star has to wait for me.”

“That won’t work.”

Tae In, who had been smiling and speaking, suddenly turned serious.

“I’m kidding, just kidding. Tae In, aren’t you being too serious? You’re embarrassing people.”

“I was joking too, senior.”

With his eyes not smiling and only the corners of his mouth raised, he looked rather scary.

“You can go now, Tae In.”

“Yes. Fighting for the remaining scenes, senior. Then I’ll head out first, everyone worked hard.”

Tae In quickly left the set.

He immediately got into the waiting van and cursed quietly.

“That X who can’t even act for shit is trying to finish in one take.”

Tae In leaned heavily into the seat.

“Hyung. Please go to the front of Gerbil Officetel.”

“Hey. What are you going to do if the CEO finds out?”

As the manager looked at Tae In’s face through the rearview mirror, he pulled down the black cap he had placed beside him.

“Don’t worry. I’ll only wait today. Just today.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. So don’t tell anyone. Especially Park Ga Yeon. If you do, I won’t stay quiet either.”

“Okay, okay. I got it.”

As the manager turned the steering wheel again, Tae In closed his eyes tightly.

That night, Tae In waited for her all night. But Jae Yi didn’t appear. She must have seen him and not come in.

But today would be different.

He was going to her house after a week.

Back then, he had lost his senses from drinking and caused a disturbance, but today he planned to meet Han Jae Yi without any mistakes.

* * *

Ding dong―

The doorbell sound stopped Jae Yi’s hand as she was putting her clothes into a carrier, and she quickly checked the intercom.

Jae Yi’s eyes shook as she checked the intercom.

When Jae Yi hurriedly opened the front door, she faced Geon Hak who had come to her house. Surprised, Jae Yi looked at him and he burst into laughter.

“Did you see a ghost?”

“No, that’s not it. I didn’t know you were coming, Executive Director. Director Yi said she was coming.”

“My afternoon schedule ended early, so I came.”

“Ah. I see.”

As Jae Yi just stared at Geon Hak standing in front of the entrance without saying anything, Geon Hak turned his head to look inside the house.

“Then, may I come in now?”

“Ah, yes. Please come in, Executive Director.”

As Jae Yi hurriedly moved her body blocking the entrance, Geon Hak took off his brown straight tip shoes and stepped inside.

Click. As the front door closed, Jae Yi took a deep breath.

Seeing the messy state of the house from organizing clothes, Jae Yi quickly started picking up the clothes.

Geon Hak smiled at her suddenly busy appearance and said,

“Take your time.”

“The house is such a mess because I was pulling out clothes. Ah, Executive Director, please sit here.”

As Jae Yi pointed to the two-seater sofa, Geon Hak sat down naturally.

“Don’t worry about me and finish organizing your clothes.”

“I’ll get you something to drink. I haven’t gone grocery shopping so there’s not much to offer.”

“Water is enough.”

“Okay. Just a moment.”

Jae Yi moved quickly. Geon Hak watched Jae Yi pondering as she opened the refrigerator door, then slowly looked around her studio apartment.

The structure of the house was smaller than expected, but it had all the necessary things. Geon Hak’s gaze fell on a frame placed on the side table.

It was a picture of Han Jae Yi as a high school student. Not a gloomy expression, but a bright Han Jae Yi. High school Han Jae Yi was very pretty. Moreover, in this photo she was smiling so brightly it was dazzling.

“Executive Director. Do you like cherry tomatoes……”

Jae Yi turned her head and met Geon Hak looking at the frame. Her face turned red as he stared intently at the photo.

Quickly closing the refrigerator door, Jae Yi approached Geon Hak.

“Executive Director, that photo.”

“It’s a photo from high school. Your smiling face is really pretty.”

Her face turned even redder at his compliment. Geon Hak bent down to meet Jae Yi’s eyes.

“Why is your face so red?”

“I’m just embarrassed for no reason.”

“What’s there to be embarrassed about? It’s my first time seeing Han Jae Yi smile so brightly like this. You look very happy here.”

I wasn’t happy. I just felt like I could breathe. That was when Park Ga Yeon left home, and my mother’s anger subsided. At that time, I was never happy at any moment.

The falling snow looked so beautiful that I smiled looking up at the sky. Park Tae In captured and sent me that fleeting moment.

“If you’re done looking, please give it back now, Executive Director.”

“Let’s take this frame too.”

“What? No, why……”

“How about showing it to Ye Na? I think Ye Na would like to see Han Jae Yi smiling so prettily like this too.”

She felt shy at being told her smiling face was pretty. Jae Yi’s small ears turned bright red.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea, Executive Director.”

“I think it’s a good idea.”

“No matter how I think about it, it’s not. Please give it back quickly, Executive Dir… Ah!”

As she tried to snatch the frame from his hand, she lost her footing. Jae Yi’s body tilted forward.

Geon Hak quickly grabbed Jae Yi’s waist and they fell together onto the sofa. Jae Yi looked at Geon Hak with wide eyes.

“Are you okay?”

Jae Yi nodded.

“Yes, I’m fine. Are you okay, Executive Director?”

“I thought I was fine, but it seems I’m not as okay as I thought.”

“What?”

Jae Yi looked at him again with wide eyes. As Jae Yi’s nape turned even redder, Geon Hak chuckled.

“I should be the one blushing right now. Why is Han Jae Yi like this?”

“Well……”

“Are you like this because you feel bad for making me this way?”

Geon Hak smiled as he faced Jae Yi, who kept blinking her eyes.

“Then. Why don’t you take responsibility?”

His large hand firmly grasped the back of Jae Yi’s neck and kissed her. A soft moan escaped Jae Yi’s mouth at the sudden kiss.

He held Jae Yi’s waist and the back of her neck as their lips collided. Her heart felt like it would burst again at his kiss. Their breaths moved constantly.

Ding dong―

The doorbell rang through the house.

As their deeply kissing lips parted, a thin thread of saliva connected and then broke. The two just stared into each other’s eyes.

“Noona!”

A clear voice from outside.

The doorbell rang again, and Jae Yi’s eyes began to shake.