“Seniors, hello.”
Hae Joo entered the room guided by the staff.

The noisy music that filled the hallway ceased as soon as the door closed.

Upon Hae Joo’s entrance, everyone glanced around as if on cue. Yun Ji broke the settling atmosphere.

“Thanks for coming. Hae Joo, sit next to the director.”
This was not a gathering formed out of ambition.

Yun Ji yielded the seat of honor to Hae Joo for the sake of filling the headcount, making her colleagues stare at her in surprise.

Yet, they kept their mouths shut in front of Yun Ji.

“I can sit at the end here.”
“Would we be able to converse if you sat there? Come quickly.”
The colleagues, who had fought for a spot in the director’s vision, were pushed aside. With no other choice, Hae Joo went to the place prepared by Yun Ji.

“I brought a birthday gift for the director. Where should I put it?”
In response to Hae Joo’s question, Sun Young, who had been complaining all along, retorted.

“Is this your first time at a birthday party? Give it to the person of the day.”
It really was Hae Joo’s first time being invited to someone’s birthday.

She only nodded at the unnecessary scolding.

“Don’t spoil the director’s mood since you’re here.”
“I will do my best.”
“Everyone came despite their schedules. Even if you can’t do much, at least match the atmosphere.”
At Sun Young’s useless nagging, Yun Ji glared at her. Only then did she close her mouth and gulped down the beer in front of her.

“Hae Joo, you can drink the nonalcoholic cocktail in front.”
“Yes, senior.”
“It’s given to keep you sober during the conversation.”
“Yes.”
How Hae Joo behaved that day determined a lot. It was an occasion with the future at stake for Yun Ji.

“Don’t mind whatever the kids say.”
“…..”
“As long as things go well today, there will be no need to make things difficult for you.”
Yun Ji also knew about Hae Joo’s potential.

She predicted that Hae Joo’s innate charm and acting would shine through in Director Kwak’s upcoming film.

If she was chosen as the lead alongside Hae Joo, Yun Ji could make a comeback.

“Director, are you coming?”
In the middle of the conversation, a call from Jin Han came on Yun Ji’s phone.

She gestured to her seated colleagues to bring out the cake and left the room.

Then, Hae Joo’s phone also rang.

It was a call from Do Jun, she excused herself and quickly rose.

Only after confirming that there was no one in the restroom did Hae Joo press the call button.

“Do Jun.”
Where are you?
“I came to the director’s birthday party.”
So where is that?
“It’s a room in the K club.”
You don’t need to cling to that jerk.
“Even if I give up my career as an actress?”
Opportunities come in life. I’ll make it happen.
Hae Joo bit her lower lip hard.

She coolly repelled what Do Jun had said easily.

“Do Jun, you talk as if you’re responsible for my life.”
Is that not allowed?
“Do you trust others over yourself, Do Jun?”
There’s no reason for us to be strangers.
“That damned couple…”
Enough, get out of there now.
Hae Joo was a respectable member of society, bearing the weight of the title of actress. It was difficult for her to completely isolate herself.

In all honesty, she wanted to flee from this place, but she held back, fearing that her absence would be noticeable.

“By now, the director must have arrived. It’s not easy to just leave.”
I’ll head over there, just tell me your business and get out.
Hae Joo ended her call and put down her phone.

As she slowly emerged into the hallway, Sun Young was rearranging the cocktails in the room to look appealing.

“Was this nonalcoholic?”
“Yes.”
Yoon Ji sent a message asking to light the cake.

As another colleague was inserting the candles into the cake, Sun Young picked up a bottle of whiskey.

Then, she poured a small amount into the cocktail on Hae Joo’s table.

“What are you doing?”
“Who drinks because they want to? Tolerance is mental.”
“But this is a bit…”
“All this time, the director has tolerated Hae Joo because she’s good, not because she’s pretty.”
Sun Young also mixed whiskey into another nonalcoholic cocktail. She was finally satisfied when the color matched.

“Didn’t you pour too much?”
“You won’t die from this much.”
Just then, Hae Joo finished her call and came back. As she headed to her seat, Yoon Ji also walked in ominously.

“The guest of honor has arrived!”
Everyone who was seated stood up and loudly sang the birthday song.

Jin Han revealed himself amidst fervent anticipation.

Fireworks went off and champagne popped, causing a great commotion.

“Director, happy birthday!”
“Enough, just a bit!”
Despite his words, Jin Han’s expression wasn’t bad.

When champagne got on his head, he wiped it off with a napkin Yoon Ji gave him and waved his hand.

“I got it, everyone stop.”
“Birthday drink! Birthday drink!”
In response to everyone’s shout, Yoon Ji offered a heavily poured shot.

Jin Han had to down the drink even before he could sit.

“You only learn bad things.”
There was a burst of laughter at the notsobitter scolding.