“Why are you sitting here?”

His voice sounded out of breath, as if he had been running.

Jae Yi still had a look of disbelief on her face about the current situation.

Cha Geon Hak was here.

His usually impeccable clothes and hair were disheveled, and he was breathing heavily.

At his appearance, tears welled up in Jae Yi’s eyes.

“Let’s go, Han Jae Yi.”

Geon Hak’s large hand gently grasped Jae Yi’s wrist.

Jae Yi’s body, which had been unable to move while sitting in the chair, began to move. Tae In watched as Han Jae Yi moved, held by Geon Hak’s hand.

No, I can’t let her slip away like this.

Han Jae Yi was disappearing from his sight once again.

Seeing Han Jae Yi by Cha Geon Hak’s side once more, Tae In also started to move.

“Oh? Jae Yi, Mr. Executive Director!”

Im Jin Seop called out to Jae Yi and Geon Hak, but Geon Hak didn’t stop walking, still holding Jae Yi’s arm.

Feeling the gazes around them, Jae Yi called out to him.

“Mr. Executive Director…”

“Don’t say anything and come with me.”

At his low voice, Jae Yi’s lips closed.

The Cha Myung Group associates bowed their heads in greeting at Geon Hak’s appearance, but he was in a hurry to leave quickly with Jae Yi.

Cha Geon Hak’s touch as he held Jae Yi’s hand and moved was warm.

Enough to make her cry.

As they exited the filming location, Geon Hak’s carelessly parked sedan came into view. He quickly opened the passenger door.

“Get in.”

“Mr. Executive Director, how did you know to come here?”

He messed up his hair as if angry about the current situation.

His languid eyes turned to Jae Yi.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Well…”

“Couldn’t you have at least told me that much? You could have told me you were in a difficult situation and asked for help, couldn’t you?”

He let out a deep sigh and rubbed his face.

“Do you know how worried I was?”

“Mr. Executive Director.”

“I was worried. Worried something might happen to you, Han Jae Yi.”

He composed himself and looked at the passenger seat.

“Get in first. We’ll talk later.”

Jae Yi nodded.

Just as Jae Yi was about to get into his car, she heard Tae In’s voice from behind.

“Noona!”

His loud voice drew the attention of others around them. Murmurs could be heard from the surroundings.

“Don’t go.”

“…”

Jae Yi’s movement stopped for a moment.

He strode up to Jae Yi and grabbed her wrist as she was about to get into Geon Hak’s sedan.

Cha Geon Hak’s face contorted instantly as he watched this.

“Don’t go, noona.”

“Let go…”

“I can’t let go, noona. Please don’t go. I did everything wrong. Let’s talk. Please.”

“I told you. I have nothing to say to you.”

At Jae Yi’s voice, devoid of affection or emotion, Tae In’s hand unconsciously tightened.

“I have something to say. Even if you have nothing to say to me, I do.”

As his grip tightened, Jae Yi furrowed her brow.

Seeing this, Cha Geon Hak’s eyes turned cold.

“What are you doing, Park Tae In?”

“What are you doing, Mr. Cha Executive Director?”

“Let go of that hand before I break it.”

Geon Hak’s large hand grasped Park Tae In’s wrist. Tae In slowly turned his head to look at Geon Hak who had grabbed his arm.

“Can’t you see you’re hurting Han Jae Yi?”

Tae In’s gaze remained fixed on Jae Yi. Without realizing it, he had tightened his grip and was causing Jae Yi pain. Yet Tae In still didn’t let go.

Because if he let go of this hand, she would surely disappear just like this.

“Mr. Cha Executive Director, don’t interfere between me and noona.”

Geon Hak let out a scoffing laugh.

Anyone who saw them would think they were close siblings.

“Interference. I’m not sure who’s interfering here.”

He said, smoothing his raised eyebrow.

“Han Jae Yi and I are dating. It’s only natural for me to be concerned about my woman.”

“…”

The strength left Tae In’s hand.

“What… did you just say?”

It wasn’t only Tae In who was surprised. Jae Yi’s eyes widened in shock at Geon Hak’s words.

And Manager Im Jin Seop, who had followed, was also watching with his mouth agape.

Tae In spoke again, as if asking once more.

“…You’re dating?”

“I think I told Park Tae In before. Why, I don’t know why you never seem to understand what I’m saying. Should I send you to the hospital?”

“If you’re playing around with our noona…”

“Who’s playing around? I don’t do trash things like you.”

“…”

At his tone, which seemed to know everything, Tae In’s lips closed.

One mistake.

That mistake kept holding Tae In back.

Geon Hak released Tae In’s wrist and took a step closer to him. Geon Hak, who was taller than Tae In, looked down at him and grabbed his shoulder tightly, causing Tae In to furrow his brow in pain.

Geon Hak whispered something quietly in his ear, and Park Tae In’s fist began to tremble.

“If you understand, it would be better not to cross the line anymore. Because I’ll never let you have Han Jae Yi, even if I die.”

After advising Tae In, Geon Hak stepped back and moved.

Geon Hak put Jae Yi in the passenger seat and closed the door.

His sedan quickly left the filming location. Tae In stared blankly at the black sedan disappearing with Jae Yi inside.

Tae In’s clenched fist began to tremble.

“Tae In.”

The manager, spotting Tae In standing dazed, quickly led him to the van.

Once in the car, Tae In began pounding the passenger seat with his fist as if unleashing his pent-up anger. Still unable to contain himself, he bit his lower lip hard, causing it to bleed.

The manager, having quickly tidied up the surroundings, got into the van and turned his head.

“Hey, Park Tae In!”

Surprised by Tae In’s bleeding lip, he hurriedly pulled out some tissues and handed them over.

“Are you crazy? You have drama filming tomorrow, what if you get a face injury?”

The manager spoke as if angry at Tae In’s behavior, but Tae In couldn’t hear anything.

Tae In rubbed his mouth with the back of his hand.

Cha Geon Hak.

“I won’t let this go.”

* * *

Jae Yi looked at Geon Hak gripping the steering wheel. She recalled his unrestrained words to Tae In.

‘Han Jae Yi and I are dating. It’s only natural for me to be concerned about my woman.’

Jae Yi’s heart fluttered at Geon Hak’s words.

Jae Yi didn’t know how to react to his sudden statement.

With the talkative Manager Im having heard everything, it was only a matter of time before rumors spread. Why did you say such a thing?

Feeling Jae Yi’s glancing gaze, Geon Hak turned the steering wheel and parked the car near a park. He had already turned off the engine and looked at Jae Yi.

“What are you so curious about that you keep glancing at me?”

“Why did you say that?”

“Say what?”

“You and I aren’t actually dating. You said that because of Park Tae In, right? Even so, you shouldn’t have said that. You’ll suffer harm because of me…”

“I told you. Why don’t you think about your own hardships?”

“Mr. Executive Director…”

He unbuckled his seatbelt and leaned closer to Jae Yi. Startled by his sudden approach, Jae Yi composed her trembling emotions and met his eyes.

“Do you know what I was thinking as I rushed here today?”

Jae Yi watched Geon Hak as he continued to speak.

“What if Han Jae Yi is trembling in fear because of Park Tae In, what if she cries while I’m not there. How did they meet while I was away? From start to finish, my mind was completely filled with thoughts of you, Han Jae Yi.”

Jae Yi’s eyes began to tremble.

She could see his sincerity.

His true feelings, which she had never seen before.

He was thinking about her more than Jae Yi had imagined.

“When I arrived at the filming location and saw Han Jae Yi safe, I felt my heart drop.”

“Mr. Executive Director.”

“Even if I didn’t say we were dating, we’ve already crossed that line. We may not have gone on a date, but I think we’ve spent enough time at home like any other couple. Or was it just me having fun?”

Her heart felt like it would burst from excitement.

“Then, are we… dating?”

“If you really want to hear it, I’ll tell you. Let’s date.”

Ah.

“I’m dating Han Jae Yi.”

As tears filled Jae Yi’s eyes, Geon Hak looked at her with a startled expression.

Surprised by Jae Yi’s sudden tears, Geon Hak quickly unbuckled her seatbelt and cupped her face in his hands. Then he slowly wiped away the tears gathered in her eyes and said,

“Why are you crying?”

“I’m so happy that you and I… have become a relationship that can be expressed in words.”

“Ha, you find happiness in the smallest things. You make me feel sorry when I look at you.”

A tender smile spread across his lips, and Geon Hak stroked Jae Yi’s hair.

“From now on, whenever something like this happens, don’t worry alone, tell me. Then I’ll always rush to Han Jae Yi’s side.”

Jae Yi happily wrapped her arms around Geon Hak’s neck, and he slowly stroked her small back.

“I told you, didn’t I? That I like you, Han Jae Yi. More than you thought, no, looking at today, it seems I like you more than I thought. What will you do now? Can you handle me?”

Jae Yi unwrapped her arms from his neck and faced him.

“What?”

“There’s one thing Han Jae Yi doesn’t know. I’m a much more persistent man than you might think, so you might find it difficult.”

Geon Hak tucked a strand of hair that had fallen over her shoulder behind her ear and smiled.

“If it’s you, Mr. Executive Director, I like it.”

“I’m glad you approve.”

Geon Hak lightly tapped her nose bridge and crinkled his eyes. His eye smile was incredibly handsome.

But I wonder what Mr. Executive Director said earlier that made Park Tae In’s face suddenly darken.

Jae Yi looked at Geon Hak with a curious expression.

His thick eyebrows twitched.

“What? What are you curious about now?”

Jae Yi nodded.

“What did you say to Park Tae In earlier that made his expression darken?”

Recalling his warning to Park Tae In, Geon Hak chuckled.

As the disheveled hair on his forehead poked his eyes, he brushed it back.

“I can’t tell you that.”

“Can’t you tell me?”

“Empty-handed?”

At his question, Jae Yi’s cheeks reddened and as she gently closed her eyes, a short “ha” sound escaped from Geon Hak’s mouth.

Come to think of it, Han Jae Yi is quite extraordinary.

Geon Hak felt like he was going crazy at the sight of Han Jae Yi.

It was always Han Jae Yi who played with him. Jae Yi’s eyelashes trembled as she waited for Geon Hak with her eyes closed.

Why isn’t he doing it? Did I overdo it?

Jae Yi’s face reddened even more.

Without realizing it, she had acted embarrassingly in front of Cha Geon Hak out of excitement. As Jae Yi gently lifted her eyelids, Geon Hak’s head tilted slightly.

“Who told you to open your eyes?”

In an instant, their lips met.

“Mmph.”

A languid and hot breath heated up the car interior. He quickly laid Jae Yi down on the seat with his body and kissed her.

Feeling both embarrassed and happy, Jae Yi let a tear fall, and Geon Hak also became intoxicated by her scent that always inflamed him.

Only hot breaths rose inside the car.