Alright, it was done. Jae Heon, who had rolled up the sleeves of both sides while Ra Jin was spaced out, once again wore a smile.

“Let’s really sit down now. The noodles will all swell up and burst.”
Led by him, Ra Jin, who had barely sat down at the table, struggled to come to her senses.

Joke.

Who knew that this twoletter word could flutter one’s heart so much.

She was certain that the image of him murmuring in a low voice and laughing lightly a while ago would be engraved in her brain and never disappear.

Jae Heon was not one to make jokes. If it was a bad joke, who knew.

He, of all people, was behaving differently today.

Why, I wonder. Was it because our relationship had changed?

Did he think we had become… a bit closer?

Was it okay to think like that? Her heart pounded.

“Calm down.”
Thinking that Ra Jin, who continued to remain rigid, was seriously angry, Jae Heon softly spat out.

“I won’t laugh anymore.”
At his words, she snapped to her senses.

No? No, no? Why won’t you laugh?

I want to keep seeing that side of you.

‘It was… really amazing.’
“Eat up quickly. The food’s not poisoned, so don’t worry.”
Even though his bright smile had disappeared, a faint smile still lingered on his lips.

Pushing her regretful feelings aside, Ra Jin picked up her spoon. She couldn’t keep making Jae Heon wait.

“I will enjoy the meal.”
The moment she scooped up the soup and put it in her mouth, Ra Jin opened her eyes wide without realizing.

The soup was refreshing yet deep. She immediately stirred the seasoning with her chopsticks, grabbed the garnish and noodles at once, and twisted them into her mouth.

‘It’s really delicious!’
The banquet noodles Jae Heon made were unequivocally the most delicious banquet noodles she had ever eaten.

“……”
Even without asking how the taste was, he could tell by Ra Jin’s expression.

Looking pleased at the sight of her eating deliciously, Jae Heon also picked up his spoon.

Both of them were used to having dinner alone.

The only times they ate with others were during business meetings or occasional family meals.

In a business setting, they had to concentrate more on the other person’s words than enjoy the taste, and during meals with family, they couldn’t really taste the food because they had to hear unpleasant stories.

For Ra Jin, these days it was her matchmaker, and in the past, it was Yu Jin bragging about herself or her inlaws’ socalled ’emphasizing filial piety’.

When Jae Heon had meals with his grandfather, Chairman Seo Sung Jae, he was tired from all the talk about marriage, and when he occasionally sat down with his younger uncle’s family, it was like walking on thin ice, and he couldn’t wait to get away from there as soon as possible.

Therefore, the two became aware of each other for the first time.

They realized that having dinner face to face with someone could be so peaceful and serene.

They finally understood why it was said that sharing food created affection, and why precious ones were called ‘family’.

“I’ve eaten well.”
“It seems you’ve eaten well.”
Jae Heon glanced at Ra Jin’s bowl and spoke.

“I didn’t realize you were such a good eater.”
Inadvertently, she had finished a bowl of food. Jae Heon’s cooking was very delicious.

The problem was that an unbearable embarrassment came along.

“I’ll cook more next time.”
“……That’s fine.”
It was hard to control herself when she was with Jae Heon.

If they continued like this, she might reveal that she liked him. Ra Jin needed time to calm herself down.

“I’ll do the dishes.”
However, Seo Jae Heon, who had never followed her will, immediately bounced off her words this time too.

“Just put them in the dishwasher. The housekeeper will take care of the rest tomorrow.”
“I know I need to rinse them.”
“You don’t have to. It does it all by itself.”
The dishwasher at Jae Heon’s home was a latest model, so she didn’t need to rinse the dishes like she had to with the one at her parents’ house. Oddly enough, even the dishwasher seemed too perfect, much like its owner.

“Go to the study room. You have to sign the contract.”
“Can I brush my teeth first?”
Upon hearing that she was going to brush her teeth, he recalled their passionate kiss, and his body was quickly enveloped in heat.

“Sure.”
Narrowing his brow, Jae Heon hurriedly left the dining room.

He too needed to calm his mind while brushing his teeth.

‘Should I get a health checkup again?’
His body started to react abnormally to every word, action, look, and expression Ra Jin made.

Unless something was broken, this couldn’t happen.

Thinking of their passionate time the night before, his stomach was burning and hurting.

‘Pull yourself together. Consider the secretary as just a sedative to put your insomnia to sleep.’
A sedative is just a medicine. It’s not a cute or adorable being.

Repeating this to himself, Jae Heon headed to the bathroom.

He remembered that the toiletries Ra Jin had used were in the bathroom attached to the master bedroom, so he entered the bathroom located in the living room to make her feel comfortable.

As he realized his own action of taking out a new toothbrush and toothpaste, he let out a small sigh.

It seems the secretary might indeed be some kind of medicine.

It was very potent, and addictive.

((()))((()))((()))

The two, having finished brushing their teeth, sat awkwardly in the study, facing each other.

“If there are no modifications or additions to the terms, sign it.”
Jae Heon handed Ra Jin a fountain pen.

“Director.”
At her gaze, he suddenly tensed his brow.

‘I have a feeling I shouldn’t hear this.’
Why did bad premonitions never miss?

“May I add a clause?”
“……Let’s hear it.”
“I want to set a term for the contract.”
Ra Jin, who had politely brought her hands together on her lap, seemed determined. She raised her head and looked straight into his eyes.

“I would like the contract period not to exceed three months.”

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