The team-building schedule that seemed endless finally came to an end.

Jae Yi quietly nibbled on food in the corner.

The figure of Cha Geon Hak, who had been infinitely gentle towards her, was not yet in sight.

It had been 2 years since she started secretly having a crush on Cha Geon Hak. It was the first time in her life she had liked someone.

She didn’t like him simply because of his handsome looks.

Not long after joining the company, Jae Yi had to give a PowerPoint presentation at a workshop she attended.

It was her first time presenting in front of many people since joining the company, and thinking she could make a good impression in a short time, she prepared thoroughly, even staying up all night.

But. No one acknowledged Jae Yi’s abilities.

Instead, they interpreted her intentions differently and looked at Jae Yi, who gave the presentation, even more strangely.

She was so flustered by the executives’ harsh criticism that she couldn’t even answer.

“Your thinking is too different from other presenters. Doing it that way could actually have the opposite effect.”

“Is that so? But I actually think it’s good.”

With his one statement, everyone’s lips closed.

Cha Geon Hak, who was sitting among the executives, said as he looked over Jae Yi’s proposal.

“I actually think it’s good. Because the way of thinking is different from others. I’d like to try implementing this unexpected approach myself.”

With Cha Geon Hak’s words, the executives quickly changed their tune and were busy praising Jae Yi.

“Looking at it again, if we proceed this way, it doesn’t seem bad.”

“Indeed. It reduces costs too, seems like a good proposal.”

Geon Hak smirked and approached her in front.

Seeing her trembling slightly, Geon Hak bent down and looked alternately at the employee ID hanging around Jae Yi’s neck and her face as he spoke.

“Your name is, Han Jae Yi.”

Geon Hak held out his hand towards Jae Yi, who was still nervous.

When Jae Yi blankly stared at Geon Hak’s hand, he grabbed her hand first and smiled.

“Good job, Han Jae Yi. It was a perfect proposal.”

He was the only one who recognized Jae Yi’s abilities when everyone else disregarded them.

And even here, he noticed Jae Yi alone and reached out his hand like back then.

“Oh my, Jae Yi. What are you doing here alone?”

For a moment, Min Ju’s voice reached Jae Yi’s ears as she was lost in old memories.

Park Min Ju blinked at Jae Yi with her cheeks flushed red. Her body swayed slightly back and forth, as if drunk.

“Why are you drinking alone instead of with us? You know, if you keep distancing yourself from our team, we’re the only ones who get blamed, you know?”

She seemed quite drunk, judging by her slurred speech.

“Don’t be like that, let’s go drink together over there, we’re in the same room anyway.”

“I’m sorry, Team Leader. I can’t handle alcohol well.”

“Again, again you’re being difficult. Han Jae Yi, do you know how annoying you are?”

Is that why she dislikes me for no reason?

“Don’t be like that, let’s go, okay?”

Just as Jae Yi was about to answer, someone called her name.

“Han Jae Yi.”

Jae Yi turned her head towards Geon Hak, who was striding towards her. Park Min Ju, who was next to her, quickly bowed her head.

“H-hello, Executive Director.”

Ignoring her greeting, Geon Hak stared intently at Jae Yi.

What is it? Does he have something to say?

Could it be because of the elevator incident earlier?

“Han Jae Yi. Did you lose anything?”

Lost something?

As Jae Yi tilted her head in confusion, he pulled out the handkerchief from his pocket.

“You dropped this in the elevator earlier.”

“Ah, thank you, Executive Director.”

He nodded and looked at the seat next to Jae Yi.

“Since it’s come to this, may I sit next to Han Jae Yi?”

“Yes, what?”

“Then, excuse me.”

He naturally sat down in the seat next to Jae Yi. Park Min Ju, who was about to go drink elsewhere, suddenly smiled shyly while covering her mouth.

“Then, I should drink here too.”

She took a seat naturally in front of Geon Hak, putting on a nasal voice.

Higher-ups around Geon Hak started changing seats in an instant.

Before she knew it, Jae Yi was sitting next to Cha Geon Hak again. Come to think of it, whenever she was with him, the surroundings were always filled with people.

* * *

As time passed, the awkward atmosphere disappeared and everyone became drunk.

Despite drinking quite a lot, Geon Hak remained composed.

Geon Hak, who had been talking with the department heads, turned his head and looked at Jae Yi, who was fiddling with her glass without taking a single sip.

As his languid gaze fell on her, Jae Yi’s heart started fluttering again.

“Do you dislike alcohol?”

Speaking in a much softer voice than before, Jae Yi slowly nodded.

“It’s not that I dislike it, but I can’t drink well.”

“Then would you like to try a little?”

As Jae Yi nodded slightly, he poured a little alcohol into her glass.

Jae Yi picked up the glass. Her brow furrowed involuntarily at the burning sensation going down her throat.

“Eat this with it. It’ll help a bit.”

He handed Jae Yi some Shine Muscat grapes. Jae Yi quickly swallowed. The sweet aroma instantly filled her mouth, making the bitter alcohol taste disappear.

“Executive Director. Let me pour you a drink too. Please accept my drink as well.”

As Park Min Ju slightly lifted her hips from the chair and tried to pour alcohol into Geon Hak’s glass, he stopped her.

“I’m fine.”

“What?”

Park Min Ju’s face turned red as she stopped in an awkward position. Embarrassed, she turned her gaze to Jae Yi, who was eating fruit.

“Then, Jae Yi can have a drink instead of the Executive Director.”

She started forcefully pouring alcohol into Jae Yi’s glass. The alcohol filled up precariously, almost overflowing.

“Drink, Jae Yi.”

When Jae Yi just looked at Min Ju without drinking, she put down the soju bottle noisily and stared at Jae Yi.

“What, you won’t drink the alcohol I’m giving you? Jae Yi, are you being picky about who you accept drinks from?”

“What? What do you mean by that?”

“You accepted the drink the Executive Director gave you, but you’re refusing mine now.”

“I’m not good with alcohol. Alright, I’ll drink a little.”

As she picked up the full glass, the alcohol inevitably spilled down Jae Yi’s wrist.

“Ah, what a waste. Forget it, just don’t drink.”

As Jae Yi wiped the alcohol that had dripped down to her forearm with a handkerchief, Geon Hak looked at her curiously. Under the handkerchief was an embroidered ‘i’.

“Come to think of it, there’s an ‘i’ written on the handkerchief. What does that mean? Earlier I was going to ask—”

Crash!

Park Min Ju knocked over the bottle in front of her. Their conversation was interrupted again.

“Oh my, I’m sorry. My hand slipped.”

Even while wiping the spilled alcohol on the table with tissues, her lips were constantly pouting. Geon Hak looked at Min Ju, who kept ruining the atmosphere.

“Come to think of it, I don’t think I poured a drink for Ms. Park. Drink. Don’t ruin the mood by dropping the bottle while drinking alone.”

Geon Hak picked up the bottle and poured for Park Min Ju. Though his words were sharp, the oblivious Min Ju didn’t notice.

“Ah, thank you, Executive Director.”

Unlike before, a smile spread across her face and Min Ju downed the drink Geon Hak had poured in one go.

Seemingly enjoying talking with Executive Director Cha, Park Min Ju covered her mouth with her palm every time she laughed.

“How was this workshop, any complaints or anything?”

“Not a single one, it was great. I guess since you joined us this time, Executive Director, all the employees worked even harder. Actually, even Han Jae Yi, who’s not usually like this. Maybe because you were here, she worked especially hard.”

Jae Yi, who had been quiet, was suddenly brought up.

“This is the first time I’ve seen Jae Yi work so hard. At the company, she always has a listless expression, and whenever we suggest doing something, she just has a lukewarm reaction.”

Cha Geon Hak’s gaze turned to Jae Yi sitting next to him. He could clearly see her embarrassed expression.

Why am I getting so annoyed?

“Jae Yi. You’re not upset about this kind of thing, right? I’m just being honest.”

She smiles brightly at Jae Yi.

She’s smiling after saying that?

Geon Hak looked exasperated at Park Min Ju’s behavior. Above all, Han Jae Yi didn’t say anything. She doesn’t even get angry when someone talks about her like that. How annoying.

Cha Geon Hak’s downcast eyes turned to Park Min Ju in front.

“Even if it’s not the person themselves, hearing someone openly insulting makes others angry too.”

Flustered, Park Min Ju looked at Geon Hak. The atmosphere suddenly turned cold.

Everyone was glancing this way, though not staring openly.

Park Min Ju’s face gradually reddened, embarrassed by his words.

“Aren’t you going to apologize?”

Park Min Ju’s tightly closed lips hurriedly opened.

“S-sorry… Assistant Manager Han. I’m too drunk.”

“It’s okay, Team Leader.”

“I’m really sorry, Jae Yi, really…”

As soon as Park Min Ju’s apology ended, Geon Hak abruptly stood up.

He looked at Jae Yi’s face once before leaving the place. With an expression that seemed quite angry.

* * *

Jae Yi, who had come down to the room first, let out a held breath.

“Phew.”

Even entering the room, she wouldn’t be able to rest comfortably. Jae Yi’s face deepened with worry at the thought of being nagged by Team Leader Park Min Ju.

“Assistant Manager Han.”

She spotted Secretary Kim waiting in front of .

Jae Yi gently bowed her head and greeted him.

“Hello, Secretary Kim.”

She glanced to the side, but Cha Geon Hak was nowhere to be seen.

“I’ve moved Assistant Manager Han’s luggage to a different room.”

“What?”

Surprised, Jae Yi looked at him with a puzzled expression.

“The Executive Director said you shouldn’t use the same room as Team Leader Park, so I had no choice but to move it first. I’m sorry for moving your luggage without saying anything.”

“Ah. It’s okay.”

Actually, I really wanted to move.

Secretary Kim handed her the card he was holding. It was a much more luxurious card compared to the one she had received before.

“It’s a room on the 18th floor. Assistant Manager Han, you can go there. I’ll inform the other employees separately.”

“Thank you for your consideration, Secretary Kim.”

As Do Yoon was about to pass by Jae Yi with a bow, she hurriedly spoke.

“Um, Secretary Kim. Could you please tell the Executive Director thank you for his consideration?”

“I’ll convey that message to him.”

Jae Yi bowed to him once more.

She looked at the gold card in her hand. Just from the card, she knew that the room she would be staying in tonight was the best.

Jae Yi murmured while looking at the card.

“Thank you for helping me again, Executive Director.”

* * *

Geon Hak, leaning on the terrace railing, turned his head at the sound of someone approaching.

“Han Jae Yi. I changed her room.”

“Good work.”

“Han Jae Yi says thank you for your consideration.”

“You can go now.”

“Yes, Executive Director.”

He roughly ran his hand through his hair, as if something was bothering him greatly. Geon Hak couldn’t understand why he was making such a fuss.

He kept disliking the sight of her being treated poorly. It also irritated him to see her calmly accepting and moving on.

Wee-ing, wee-ing. As the phone in his pants pocket rang, he took it out to check the caller.

It was a call from Su Ah.

He raised his hand to gently rub the back of his neck, and Han Jae Yi’s startled reaction to his touch flashed in his mind.

‘Heart-shaped?’

Haah, what’s this? Why am I thinking of Han Jae Yi?

As the phone in his hand kept ringing, Geon Hak was about to press the answer button but stopped. His gaze turned downward.

He saw the figure of a woman leaving this place.

The woman sat on a bench, slumping her shoulders and covering her face with her hands. As her usually composed shoulders gradually began to shake, Geon Hak’s eyes wavered.

“Why… is she crying?”

Had she always been crying like this behind everyone’s back while pretending to be calm?

Rejecting Su Ah’s call, Geon Hak hurriedly moved.

He didn’t understand why he was acting this way.

Just, seeing her cry when she had always been so composed, Geon Hak simply couldn’t stay still.