Yoonhee stood up from her seat upon seeing Jae Heon and Ra Jin who had come in together, and bowed courteously.

“Did you have a good trip, Director?”

Jae Heon, maintaining his usual icy demeanor, merely nodded and proceeded into his office.

Then Yoonhee immediately clung to Ra Jin as if she had been waiting to do so.

“Manager, what happened?”

“What do you mean?”

“The two of you were at the café, weren’t you? Did you at least have a conversation? Surely the Director didn’t summon you as soon as you sat down?”

“Pretty much.”

“What?”

Seriously, the Director is of no help. Always getting in the way of our Manager.

“Such a hindrance.”

“Huh? Yoonhee, what did you just say?”

“Ah, no. Haha.”

Although Ra Jin acknowledged that Jae Heon was grumpy and finicky, she was stern with Yoonhee whenever she spoke ill of her boss.

Especially after nearly making a mistake in a public setting, Yoonhee had become more cautious, heeding Ra Jin’s words.

“But why did the Director return so early? Usually, when he has lunch with the Chairman, he comes back a little after lunchtime.”

Ra Jin nodded.

“I was wondering the same thing.”

Something was off with Jae Heon today. He couldn’t have abruptly left his lunch meeting with the Chairman to apologize to me.

‘I’ll have to ask him later when we leave work.’

Just as Ra Jin was contemplating this, Yoonhee crossed her arms, her eyes sparkling.

“Why?”

“Manager. How about Mr. Sun, the assistant manager? He’s really good, isn’t he? Handsome face, good manners, good at work, and even younger.”

“I think of him as a good colleague.”

“As a man?”

“Haven’t thought about it. Don’t plan to either.”

Yoonhee looked disappointed at Ra Jin’s firm response.

“But Assistant Manager Sun is a really good person.”

“Then he’ll meet a good person. Now, let’s get to work. You wanted to leave early today, right? Finish organizing the data quickly so we can leave.”

“Aww. Alright.”

Ra Jin couldn’t bring herself to tell Yoonhee that she had a boyfriend.

‘Thank you for thinking of me, Yoonhee.’

With that thought, Ra Jin headed for her desk.

She had just started her afternoon tasks, yet she was already looking forward to leaving.

“Are you really sure about this place?”

Upon hearing Jae Heon’s question, Ra Jin nodded forcefully.

“I can’t stop thinking about the bulgogi set meal we had last time. It was the tastiest bulgogi I’ve ever eaten.”

“I’m glad then.”

After work, the two headed for .

Jae Heon had actually intended to take her to a hotel sky lounge, a high-end Italian, or a French restaurant.

However, Ra Jin chose the place where they had first shared a meal.

“Is it okay to go again?”

“Why? Who said we can’t?”

“Wasn’t it a hideout for the Chairman and the Director?”

“The Director?”

As Jae Heon’s eyes narrowed, Ra Jin quickly added,

“He left the office before the car did.”

“Still, it’s after work, isn’t it?”

Ugh. Ra Jin, who looked somewhat offended, calmly replied.

“I didn’t know you were so petty.”

He chuckled lightly in response.

“As petty as you?”

You? Ra Jin’s pupils quivered at his word.

He had said ‘my woman’ at lunchtime, a phrase that had stayed in her mind all afternoon.

And now this ‘you.’

Ra Jin’s heart was pounding so hard that she couldn’t focus.

“I didn’t forgive you when you messed up, did I?”

Teasingly, he looked into her eyes, and Ra Jin’s lips pouted a little.

“So both you, Jae Heon, and I have two penalties each, right?”

“Yes.”

He couldn’t help but smile, finding Ra Jin, who pouted her lips, too adorable.

“Why are you smiling?”

“Because you’re funny, Ra Jin.”

“Funny how?”

“Your face.”

“What? What did you say?”

Jae Heon burst into laughter at Ra Jin’s flustered face, and the sound echoed throughout the car like ripples.

‘So unfair. How can I say anything when you smile like that?’

Her heart started pounding again. Ra Jin turned her gaze out the car window.

“Sorry, are you mad?”
“No, I thought your amusing face might distract me while driving.”

“Ha ha, you’re angry.”

“Sir, you look quite amusing.”

“Indeed. Quite amusing.”

Damn it. He’s really enjoying teasing me.

“When I’m with you, I find myself smiling. Like a madman.”

Jae Heon probably said it without much thought. But hearing it felt different.

For a moment, Ra Jin suppressed her boiling cheeks with her palm.

As if a broken dam had let the water flood in, his affection rushed in just as quickly.

There were precursors. The tender gaze whenever he looked at her, or the softness in his voice when he called her ‘Ra Jin.’

But its impact was far more overwhelming than she had anticipated.

She couldn’t compose herself, as if drowning.

The emotion that surged along with excitement was fear.

She was already afraid.

Of three months later, when they would break up.

Being with Jae Heon made her happy and sad at the same time. Because she knew this happiness had an expiration date.

“Ra Jin?”

Snapping back to reality at his voice, Ra Jin looked up. Jae Heon casually glanced her way.

“Are you angry? Your eyes suddenly dimmed.”

“…No, not at all.”