After finishing her shower, Jae Yi lay down on the bed and picked up her phone.

[I should have treated you today, but thanks to you I ate well. Get home safely,]

Jae Yi typed and deleted the message several times.

Today, she was supposed to pay, but Geon Hak ended up paying first, so she ended up just receiving a free meal.

He seemed to think Jae Yi had made a reservation at the expensive Japanese restaurant for him, so he quickly paid the bill first.

Even though she was the one who suggested eating together, Jae Yi felt bad when he paid first. Above all, she had relied on his kindness again today.

‘I was going to treat you.’

‘It’s the same as if Han Jae Yi treated me. I ate well thanks to you.’

‘But……’

‘If you feel that bad, let’s make another appointment. How about having a meal at my house next time.’

Jae Yi’s eyes widened at his unexpected suggestion.

A meal at the Executive Director’s house.

‘A meal??’

‘You don’t like it?’

‘No. Of course not. I’d love to.’

He nodded, seeming pleased with her answer.

‘Let’s make it next Monday without postponing.’

‘Yes, Executive Director.’

Zing. Jae Yi’s phone rang as she held it. Jae Yi, who was lying in bed, suddenly sat up. It was a message from Geon Hak.

[You seemed very surprised today, so get some rest. See you next week then.]

Jae Yi quickly deleted the message she had written earlier and typed again.

[Yes, Executive Director. Thank you for today.]

“Thank you so much……”

A dark shadow fell over Jae Yi’s face.

Earlier she was too stunned to react, but… that voice was definitely Park Tae In’s.

His voice sounded drunk, but it was unmistakable. As she recalled him again, goosebumps began to rise all over her body. No matter how hard she tried to forget, he was still unforgettable.

As the sensation of Park Tae In gripping her wrist so tightly came back to life, Jae Yi’s body began to tremble involuntarily. Jae Yi hugged her trembling body and slowly comforted herself.

It’s okay, it’s okay. Jae Yi.

‘It’s okay, Han Jae Yi.’

She recalled the feeling of Cha Geon Hak’s hand gently patting her back.

The warm touch on her back.

The Executive Director’s kind gesture comforting her.

The one person who instantly turned a horrific moment into an exciting one.

Zing. Jae Yi’s phone rang once more.

[Sleep well, Han Jae Yi.]

Looking at the message he sent, Jae Yi murmured in a small voice.

“Yes. Sweet dreams to you too, Executive Director.”

* * *

At that time. Hera Hotel lounge.

What, she didn’t want to be found out?

Was it because she had a lot of debt and didn’t want to be discovered by loan sharks? But judging by her behavior, she didn’t seem extravagant at all.

‘I didn’t… want to be found out.’

Who did she not want to find out, when she had no family?

Sigh. Cha Geon Hak, why are you worrying about this kind of thing?

What does that woman mean to you anyway?

He unbuttoned two buttons, feeling stifled, and loosened his tie. Park Yu Jun, who was chatting with a hotelier, turned his gaze to Geon Hak at his appearance.

The guy who said he wasn’t coming suddenly showed up and started drinking heavily as soon as he arrived, which seemed very strange to Yu Jun, who narrowed his eyes.

Judging by his expression, something was clearly up.

“What’s going on? Why are you so gloomy as soon as you arrive?”

As Geon Hak kept pouring strong liquor into his mouth without pause, Park Yu Jun snatched his glass away.

“Why are you like this? Is it because of Su Ah noona again?”

“No.”

“Then what?”

Yu Jun looked at him curiously.

Geon Hak raised his hand to ask the hotelier for a new glass, and a new glass was placed in front of him.

“Besides Yoon Su Ah noona, what could make you act so sensitive?”

Geon Hak’s gaze turned to Park Yu Jun, who was chattering in front of him. Yu Jun, who had grown up with Geon Hak since childhood, knew everything about Geon Hak and was on very close terms with him.

“Do you have many siblings like me and fight for management rights, is the company in financial trouble, are your parents pressuring you to go on blind dates? You don’t have any of those issues, so why are you so gloomy today? If it’s not Yoon Su Ah, you have no reason to be like this. Especially since even Chairman Cha Seong Gu is abroad now, what could you be stressed about?”

Geon Hak’s hand, which was about to bring the straight glass to his lips, stopped on its own.

That’s right. There’s no damn reason.

Yu Jun shook his head at Geon Hak’s attitude. Suddenly, Park Yu Jun’s gaze stopped somewhere.

“Oh?”

He suddenly looked pleased and jumped up from his seat. Then he approached a man who had entered.

“Well, if it isn’t Park Tae In.”

“What a coincidence. I can’t believe I’m seeing Managing Director here.”

“I know, it’s amazing.”

Yu Jun was chatting with Park Tae In, who had just entered.

People here started glancing at his arrival. He was one of the hottest new actors these days. Park Tae In, who had risen as an advertising blue chip after his recent drama ended, received love calls not only from PA Card but also from advertisers of other groups.

There had been talks a few times about using Park Tae In as a model for electronic products at the Cha Myung Group as well.

However. Geon Hak stared straight ahead with an expression of complete disinterest, emptying his glass.

“Ah, this is your first time meeting Executive Director Cha Geon Hak. Say hello.”

Yu Jun was doing something annoying again.

“This is Cha Geon Hak, Executive Director of Cha Myung Group. You’ve heard of him, right?”

Geon Hak’s brow furrowed, annoyed that Yu Jun was introducing people at a casual drinking session.

Tae In approached Geon Hak and bowed his head.

“Hello, Executive Director Cha Geon Hak.”

Yu Jun smiled contentedly at his polite behavior.

“I’m Park Tae In, a rookie actor.”

Geon Hak put down the straight glass he was holding with a thud and tilted his head slightly. Their gazes met.

Tae In shrank back at the sight of Executive Director Cha Geon Hak, who was even more handsome in person than the rumors.

Tae In swallowed hard at his face, which was more handsome than most actors. Above all, his charisma that overwhelmed people was no joke. So this is why everyone talks about Cha Geon Hak.

When Tae In held out his hand with a bright smile, Geon Hak didn’t even take it, looking down at his hand with indifferent eyes.

As if to say, ‘So what?’. Beside him, Yu Jun smiled awkwardly and smoothed things over.

“Executive Director Cha Geon Hak is originally shy with strangers. Haha, Park Tae In, please understand.”

“It’s fine with me.”

“He’s always prickly like this. Come on, at least accept his greeting. He’s the new advertising model for our PA Card. I’ve been pushing him hard these days.”

Geon Hak let out a snicker.

“If Park Yu Jun Managing Director is pushing him, he’ll fail soon.”

Park Yu Jun shouted at Geon Hak’s remark.

“What kind of unlucky thing is that to say? Who’s going to fail?”

“I’m grateful that Executive Director Cha is so concerned.”

Park Tae In smiled gently.

Concern my ass. The muscles around his mouth are all twitching.

Geon Hak let out a dry laugh.

“Is it your usual habit to twist people’s words, Park Tae In?”

“Pardon?”

Yu Jun quickly intervened at Geon Hak’s unusually sharp behavior today.

“Executive Director Cha must be very drunk. Please understand, Park Tae In. Executive Director Cha Geon Hak is in a bad mood today.”

“I’m fine. I’m honored to meet you like this.”

He stared intently at Park Tae In, who kept smiling.

The corner of Geon Hak’s eyebrow twitched.

Where have I seen him before?

Why does he look familiar?

“Have we met somewhere before? You look quite familiar.”

At Geon Hak’s obvious question, Park Yu Jun hurriedly said,

“Where would you have seen him? You must have seen him on TV. He’s on every channel you flip to.”

I guess that could be it.

Geon Hak quickly agreed and nodded. Cha Geon Hak turning his gaze away meant the conversation was over.

Park Yu Jun smiled awkwardly and chatted with Tae In a little ways from Cha Geon Hak.

“By the way, what brings Park Tae In here?”

“I heard my sister was here.”

“Oh, you have a sister? If she looks like Park Tae In, she must be quite beautiful. You must be very close.”

“We’re actually at odds. And she doesn’t look anything like me.”

Yu Jun burst out laughing.

“You really are siblings. I think this is the first time I’ve seen Park Tae In getting so serious. Ah. Then don’t mind me and have a good time. But you know not to cause any trouble, right?”

“Of course.”

The two exchanged conversation while smiling at each other.

Geon Hak stared intently at the back of Park Tae In’s head.

Ah, I remember now. I wondered where I’d seen that flat back of the head – it was at the Japanese restaurant earlier.

‘I’m sorry, I came to the wrong room.’

The image of him abruptly opening the room where Han Jae Yi was and apologizing suddenly came to mind. That back view I saw then was Park Tae In.

Park Tae In clearly left and I entered right after, but why did Han Jae Yi’s face turn so pale?

Are the two of them acquainted?

No, if they had seen each other’s faces, he wouldn’t have closed the door so quickly.

What could it be?

Her expression was clearly one of fear. It was the look of someone who had met someone they never wanted to see again.

Their conversation seemed to be over as Park Tae In left. Yu Jun came over. He plopped down next to Geon Hak and grumbled.

“You’re really living up to your prickly reputation, Cha Geon Hak. You have a real talent for making people uncomfortable. How could you say such things to someone’s face? Moreover, if you fail this time, you’ll lose your shares to your brothers―”

“What do you think of him?”

Geon Hak cut him off mid-sentence and asked, to which Yu Jun replied.

“What do you mean? He has a good reputation in the industry. That’s why other groups are so desperate to use him as an advertising model too.”

“No. I mean his personality.”

“He’s nice. Of course, he’s still a rookie so he’s very compliant, but he seems like a good kid. Even now, he came all the way here to look for his sister.”

Geon Hak’s brow furrowed naturally.

“He has a sister?”

“Yeah. He said he came here to find his sister. They seem to get along well as a family too.”

“How would you know that? He could be chasing after her because she ran off with money.”

Yu Jun narrowed his eyes and said,

“You’re really living up to your name, Cha Geon Hak. You’re an expert at twisting things negatively. Forget it, just drink.”

Yu Jun shook his head. But Han Jae Yi’s trembling face still wouldn’t leave Geon Hak’s mind.

There’s clearly some connection with Park Tae In. But what could it be?

* * *

Tae In got into the van waiting in front of the hotel. His expression changed instantly.

‘If Park Yu Jun Managing Director is pushing him, he’ll fail soon.’

He couldn’t forget Cha Geon Hak’s face as he spat out harsh words towards him without hesitation. That cold gaze. As expected of a chaebol’s son, his arrogance reached the sky.

“Who does he think he is, saying I’ll fail? How rude.”

He spoke in a low voice, and the manager gripping the steering wheel asked,

“Who?”

“Cha Geon Hak.”

“How was it? Your first impression of meeting him? Did you make a good impression on the Executive Director?”

Far from a good impression, he was met with an unfavorable gaze from the moment they first saw each other.

“He didn’t even treat me like a person, but Park Yu Jun kept grinning while giving me advice with a completely changed expression. Those chaebol kids are all so rude.”

The manager, used to Tae In’s grumbling, dealt with him calmly.

“It’s because you’re doing well these days. Don’t worry about such trivial things. Anyway, you worked hard today.”

“I feel like I wasted my time going to see Executive Director Cha Geon Hak’s face while even telling lies.”

The manager chuckled and focused on driving. Tae In turned his head sharply towards the window and let out a deep sigh.

Whirr. As his phone rang, he checked the caller ID.

[Park Ga Yeon.]

His brow furrowed.

[I’m working overtime today so I’ll sleep at your place~]

He cursed under his breath and deleted the message. His gaze holding the phone turned to the background image.

It was a photo of a woman in her early 20s smiling brightly. A deep longing spread across Tae In’s face as he stared at that photo.

“Where on earth are you…… Han Jae Yi.”