Ugh…….

My head feels like it’s going to split open.

Jae Yi raised herself up from the bed, clutching her forehead.

Ye Na did a flower pose and looked at Jae Yi with a bright smile.

“Wow. Elder sister is awaaake.”

“Did our Ye Na sleep well?”

Ye Na nodded and hugged Jae Yi’s waist tightly.

Jae Yi looked at Ye Na with a surprised face as she hugged her first thing in the morning.

“Y-Ye Na.”

Ye Na looked up at Jae Yi with wide round eyes.

“I was surprised you didn’t wake up, elder sister.”

Ah. Jae Yi brushed her hair back and gave an awkward smile.

She had slept like the dead from drinking, so it was natural for Ye Na to be surprised. She hadn’t even heard the alarm sound.

“I’m sorry, Ye Na. Elder sister must have surprised you.”

But. How did I get in here?

She couldn’t remember anything from last night. As if her mind had gone completely blank.

She definitely remembered leaving with the Managing Director, but…

After that, her memory was cut off like a film reel, she couldn’t recall anything. It was like scattered puzzle pieces.

Surely, I didn’t make a mistake…

Hmm. Han Jae Yi, let’s think carefully.

Last night, I was drinking with Park Yu Jun, and kept drinking what he gave me until I got drunk without realizing.

I remember the Managing Director arriving, but after that, I can’t recall anything at all.

Jae Yi quickly gathered her wits and looked at Ye Na who was hugging her. Ye Na was already fully prepared to go to daycare.

“Our Ye Na is so admirable. You’re already ready for daycare? Oh, how pretty.”

Jae Yi stroked Ye Na’s flowing hair and Ye Na blinked, saying:

“Elder sister.”

“Yes?”

“Uncle came into the room earlier.”

Uncle? Ah, she must mean the Managing Director.

No matter how many times she told Ye Na to call him ‘elder brother’, Ye Na never used that word for the Managing Director. It seemed she didn’t use it because it sounded similar to ‘dad’.

“Uncle came by.”

I fell asleep without even removing my makeup. The Managing Director must have seen me in that unsightly state.

Sigh. I should never drink alcohol I can’t handle again.

“But you know. Uncle didn’t look like he was in a good mood.”

At Ye Na’s unexpected words, Jae Yi quickly asked:

“Why, did uncle not look like he was in a good mood?”

“Even when Ye Na called him, he didn’t smile and just kept looking at elder sister.”

He kept looking at me? Why on earth? Did I make some mistake?

Knock knock.

Jae Yi was startled by the sound of knocking on the door. Thinking it might be the Managing Director, she hurriedly fixed her messy hair.

“Yes. Come in.”

Jae Yi’s voice trembled slightly, as if she was a bit nervous.

The door swung open.

“Miss Jae Yi.”

With the appearance of Mrs. Kim instead of Cha Geon Hak, the tension instantly dissipated.

It’s not the Managing Director.

“Yes, Mrs. Kim.”

“Are you up? I came up to wake you, thinking you were still sleeping.”

“I’m sorry for troubling you, Mrs. Kim.”

“No need to be sorry. The Managing Director specially asked me to take care of you before he left.”

The Managing Director did?

Kim Sung Kyung continued speaking.

“The Managing Director had urgent business to attend to this morning, so he left early. That’s why he earnestly asked me to take care of Miss Jae Yi.”

He left early. I wanted to see him.

“Miss Jae Yi, I heard you drank a lot yesterday. Is your stomach very upset? I’ve made some hangover soup, so wash up quickly and come down.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Kim.”

Mrs. Kim looked at Ye Na who was snuggled in Jae Yi’s arms.

“Ye Na must be very hungry too. Do you want to go down with auntie first?”

“Yes!”

Ye Na nodded and waved at Jae Yi.

“Elder sister, come quickly too.”

“Okay, I will, Ye Na.”

As Ye Na left holding Mrs. Kim’s hand, Jae Yi covered her face with her hands.

Last night. Surely, I didn’t say anything unnecessary to the Managing Director, did I?

‘…want to.’

A sudden memory flashed.

W-What? What did I want to do?

* * *

PA Group Managing Director’s Office.

― Sir, Mr. Cha Geon Hak from Cha Myung Group is here.

“What?!”

Yu Jun was about to drink hangover medicine when he was startled and pressed the intercom again.

“Secretary Yoon. Tell him I’m not―.”

Bang.

Before Yu Jun could finish speaking, the office door opened roughly. Cha Geon Hak appeared, wearing a dark navy suit.

Surprised, Yu Jun tried to swallow the saliva in his mouth but choked and coughed.

“Cough, cough.”

Geon Hak smirked at the sight.

“Did you do something wrong? You seem tense seeing me first thing in the morning?”

Yu Jun also felt strange. Geon Hak seemed scarier than usual.

His face reddening, Yu Jun hit his own chest and said:

“You surprised me coming without notice first thing in the morning. What’s going on all of a sudden……”

Yu Jun’s voice trembled slightly. He kept tensing up looking at Geon Hak without realizing it.

Geon Hak plopped down on the leather sofa and glared fiercely at Yu Jun with his fingers interlaced.

Yu Jun got up and approached to sit in front of Geon Hak. He was holding a hangover remedy stick in his hand.

“How are you feeling?”

“I drank so much yesterday. My stomach hurts.”

As Yu Jun sucked on the stick, Cha Geon Hak rubbed his forehead.

“I told you. You should have drunk in moderation, the alcohol smell is still strong.”

“What’s with the nagging first thing in the morning. Don’t tell me. You came just to say this?”

“Of course not.”

One corner of Geon Hak’s mouth turned up crookedly.

“You. What did you say to Han Jae Yi yesterday.”

“Why? What did I supposedly say?”

Yu Jun asked with an innocent face, not remembering anything. Geon Hak slowly closed and opened his eyes as if suppressing his anger.

“Try to remember.”

Yu Jun furrowed his brow, trying to recall last night’s events. He shook his head, seemingly unable to remember.

“I don’t know?”

He rolled up the finished stick and tossed it into the trash can.

“What on earth did I say……”

Flash!

Something started to come back to Yu Jun’s mind.

‘Whew, I can’t live because of you. I told you to drink in moderation.’

Huh? Why did Kim Ri Na say that?

‘Jae Yi was going to find out anyway. Cha Geon Hak would never tell her, so Jae Yi should know too.’

Ah. No way.

‘It’s Cha Geon Hak’s first love, Yoon Su Ah. The woman Cha Geon Hak loved very much.’

Hick!

Yu Jun’s eyes suddenly grew wide.

Ha, looks like you finally remembered. Geon Hak’s lips curled up sardonically.

“Seems like you remembered.”

“N-No. It’s a misunderstanding……”

Yu Jun waved both hands frantically.

Misunderstanding my ass.

Geon Hak loosened his tie and asked in a chillingly low voice:

“A misunderstanding?”

“C-Cha Managing Director, you probably won’t believe me but. It really is a misunderstanding. I had no intention of saying anything. As you know, when I drink my damn mouth can’t stay shut. There was absolutely no malice. You know that.”

Having blurted out those words of all things, Yu Jun should be begging on his hands and knees.

As Geon Hak cracked his knuckles with interlaced fingers, Yu Jun’s upper body automatically pressed back against the sofa.

Once upon a time, Cha Geon Hak had mastered all sports, so Yu Jun’s eyes began to tremble slightly.

“Cha Managing Director. Surely, you’re not planning to hit me on what was my birthday yesterday?”

“Hit you? No matter what, I have some dignity. How about just passing out for 30 seconds?”

“C-Cha Managing Director……!”

Geon Hak abruptly stood up and clenched his fist tightly. The fist he clenched without a hint of color was fierce.

Knock knock.

Secretary Yoon’s voice was heard along with the sound of knocking on the door.

“Director, Park Tae In is waiting outside. What should I do?”

“Oh, oh! Secretary Yoon. Tell him I’ll be out soon, ask him to wait a moment!”

Yu Jun sighed in relief, feeling like he had been saved. Geon Hak unclenched his fist.

“What a shame. I was going to give our Managing Director Park a good wake-up call after a long time.”

Geon Hak tidied his wrinkled suit and fixed his loosened tie.

“N-No, I’m already wide awake.”

“Oh really?”

“Cha Managing Director. I promise I’ll never say anything unnecessary again. I was completely wrong this time. How about letting it go just this once? I’ll do any favor you want.”

Cha Geon Hak’s thick eyebrows twitched.

“That sounds good. Say one more unnecessary thing. You’d better be really prepared then.”

“Then, then…”

Geon Hak glanced at Yu Jun who was readily admitting his fault and moved. He swung open the office door.

“Managing Director……”

Park Tae In, who had been waiting for Yu Jun outside, was about to call him but closed his mouth at the sight of Geon Hak.

The smile instantly disappeared from Park Tae In’s face, who had not expected Cha Geon Hak to be here at all.

Ha. This is driving me crazy.

Geon Hak smirked.

“If you’re going to act, do it all the way. Why are your facial expressions changing so quickly? It’s disconcerting.”

“I didn’t expect you to be here, Managing Director Cha.”

As Tae In bowed his head in greeting, Geon Hak just nodded slightly and looked at him.

“Ah. Mr. Park Tae In.”

“Yes, Managing Director.”

Han Jae Yi, who had been stressed all day because of the flower bouquet from Park Tae In, came to mind. Geon Hak rubbed his eyebrow and said:

“Didn’t I clearly warn you?”

“Pardon?”

“Not to meddle as you please.”

“Yes. As you said, Managing Director, I have not meddled at all.”

“Is that so? You’ve already caused harm to my employee.”

“……”

‘Just one more time. If I catch you meddling like this in my company again, I won’t stand by. Don’t cause harm to my employee, Mr. Park Tae In.’

The employee Cha Geon Hak mentioned was Han Jae Yi. At the time, he didn’t understand what Geon Hak meant, but now he finally understood.

“It’s not for the Managing Director to be concerned about. That flower bouquet was sent to my elder sister.”

Talking about elder sister nonsense.

“What elder sister when not a drop of blood is shared, elder sister.”

Geon Hak reached out and grabbed Park Tae In’s shoulder.

“Han Jae Yi said she doesn’t like it, so why don’t you stop? If you keep bothering my woman, I don’t think I’ll be able to stand by anymore either.”

Geon Hak’s cold gaze poured endlessly over Park Tae In’s face.

“No matter what the Managing Director says, I can’t give up on elder sister Jae Yi.”

“Ha, I made a mistake. Mr. Park Tae In is the type who can’t understand what people say. I kept trying to reason with you verbally. Well then, let’s see.”

Geon Hak smirked and pushed Tae In’s shoulder as he moved, and Tae In clenched his fist tightly.

Yu Jun’s eyes wavered as he heard the whole conversation from behind.

Just a moment ago, Yu Jun had felt grateful to Park Tae In for saving him, but now the smile disappeared from his face.

‘I found the woman I truly loved again at Cha Myung Group after 6 years.’

The conversation with Tae In from a few months ago came to mind.

‘It’s Han Jae Yi. Our elder sister Jae Yi.’

Yu Jun’s face was filled with bewilderment, as he had not thought at all that it would be that Han Jae Yi.

* * *

Cha Myung Group Conference Room.

All day today, Jae Yi had not left Geon Hak’s mind.

Han Jae Yi’s face as she looked at him.

‘Just… like me more. More than your first love.’

Her eyes had looked so sad last night that Geon Hak’s heart ached. He couldn’t forget how Han Jae Yi had stared straight into his eyes as she spoke.

Geon Hak’s eyes wavered at the fact that Han Jae Yi knew Yoon Su Ah’s identity.

‘Miss Han Jae Yi, I…’

Jae Yi quickly raised her hand to cover Geon Hak’s mouth. As if telling him not to say anything more. Geon Hak’s eyes sank deeply.

‘Give me your answer later. Not now.’

As he slowly nodded, Jae Yi’s hand that had been covering Geon Hak’s mouth lowered.

She smiled brightly as if she had never worn a sad expression and hugged Geon Hak’s neck. Her forced smile kept bothering him.

“Then. I’ll conclude the presentation.”

The lights turned on in the dark conference room.

The advertising video had passed by in an instant, but nothing had registered in Geon Hak’s eyes. As Manager Im’s presentation ended, everyone seemed to be looking at Cha Geon Hak, waiting for his response.

“The work seems to have turned out better. Good job.”

At Geon Hak’s words, smiles spread across the faces of Manager Im and Assistant Manager Kim who had worked hard for days.

“Well then, let’s wrap up this meeting here.”

“Thank you, Managing Director.”

By chance, Geon Hak noticed the woman sitting on his right.

Why is that woman here?

Geon Hak furrowed his brow and looked at Park Ga Yeon, the team leader from Wooyeon Entertainment.

“But why is Wooyeon here?”

Im Jin Seop hurriedly said:

“Ah, the Wooyeon Entertainment team leader asked to watch together, so she came along. She was a big help with Park Tae In’s contract and our advertising shoot―”

“That doesn’t mean anyone can enter the conference room as they please.”

Geon Hak looked at Ga Yeon with displeasure.

“Team Leader Park Ga Yeon.”

“Yes, Managing Director.”

“The work related to actor Park Tae In’s contract is already finished, is there really a need to be here together?”

“Ah.”

“Then let’s hear it. Does the Wooyeon Entertainment team leader have any other strategies in mind?”

At his sudden question, Ga Yeon’s lips quivered.