“I briefly stopped by the pop-up store and as expected, Team Leader Yun’s sense is truly exceptional. It must not have been easy to create such an atmosphere with just verbal instructions, haha.”

Ah Rin tried to lighten the stiff atmosphere by forcibly separating her lips that refused to part and speaking.

“I heard that Team Leader Yun worked hard. When are you heading down, President?”

However, Ha Yeon, with a businesswoman’s constitution, quickly sorted out her emotions and continued the conversation while looking at Ah Rin. Ah Rin thought it was fortunate that at least Ha Yeon had a clearer separation between work and personal matters compared to Yu Hyun.

“The day after tomorrow.”

“Then if you don’t have dinner plans, shall we eat together?”

But this time, it was Yu Hyun who answered the suggestion.

“It’s alright.”

“Oppa…?”

Ah Rin tried to dissuade Yu Hyun. Yu Hyun held Ah Rin’s hand and continued speaking in a resolute voice.

“There’s no need for a meal.”

Ah Rin tried to pull her hand away while glancing at Ha Yeon, but Yu Hyun didn’t let go easily.

“We plan to have dinner with just our family. I’ll just accept your kind intentions, Managing Director.”

Ha Yeon’s gaze landed on their clasped hands. Her eyes were trembling to an incomparable degree compared to a moment ago.

“…Can’t we at least have a meal together? As a way to wish each other well since the real work is about to begin…”

Yu Hyun cut off Ha Yeon’s words. He was firm.

“Is there a need for personal ties when working? Besides, we won’t even see each other for work in the future, so I don’t think there’s a need to build a relationship.”

“How cold.”

“Even if you say that, I have nothing to say.”

This time, Ah Rin couldn’t readily intervene.

Because there was an atmosphere between the two who were once lovers that she couldn’t dare intrude upon.

Because it seemed like she saw herself in Ha Yeon.

Because she felt she understood Ha Yeon’s heart.

And because she also seemed to understand Yu Hyun’s heart drawing the line.

“Oppa, let go of this hand for a moment.”

Ah Rin forcibly pulled her hand out of Yu Hyun’s grasp.

“Managing Director, I’ll be right back after going to the restroom.”

“Ah, yes. Go ahead.”

When Ah Rin stood up, Yu Hyun tried to stand up as well.

“Why are you following me to the restroom? Just stay here.”

Ah Rin pressed down on Yu Hyun’s shoulder and sat him back down on the chair.

‘No matter what, this isn’t right. What are you doing?’

Ah Rin left the conference room, ignoring Yu Hyun’s gaze on her.

She hoped the two of them would at least have a conversation while she was gone.

Contrary to Ah Rin’s wish, Yu Hyun drew an even clearer line with Ha Yeon.

“I hope you refrain from making such suggestions again. If I had known that the managing director of LW Group was Min Ha Yeon, we would not have accepted this proposal.”

“Yu Hyun-ah. I told you. There were circumstances, being this heartless without even hearing me out is…”

At Ha Yeon’s plea, Yu Hyun hardened his expression even more and said,

“Managing Director Min Ha Yeon.”

He shook off Ha Yeon’s hand holding his.

“I hope you don’t make me snap at you anymore, Managing Director Min. And don’t call for Ah Rin.”

“Yu Hyun-ah.”

“If there’s nothing more to say, I’ll wrap up and leave.”

Yu Hyun picked up Ah Rin’s bag and stood up. Ha Yeon quickly got up and followed Yu Hyun.

Ha Yeon blocked Yu Hyun who was about to walk out the door. Yu Hyun raised the corner of his lips crookedly. Sharp words flowed from between his lips.

“Min Ha Yeon, if you have a conscience, you shouldn’t be doing this. You’re the one who abandoned me after making me bark when you said bark and wait when you said wait.”

“Yu Hyun-ah.”

“And now you shamelessly come and ask for understanding? Don’t make me laugh. Even facing your disgusting face right now is a big decision for me.”

It was a cold side of Yu Hyun that Ah Rin had never seen before.

Ha Yeon unconsciously swallowed at his razor-sharp voice that seemed like it could cut through thin paper.

“Just listen to what I have to say. I had no choice back then either. Father!”

“Get lost.”

“Yu Hyun-ah.”

Yu Hyun grabbed the wrist of Ha Yeon who wasn’t budging and pushed her against the wall. Ha Yeon closed her mouth at Yu Hyun’s face that came close.

“Do I have to resort to violence against a woman for you to stop?”

“……”

“Let your emotions spill out in front of Ah Rin one more time. Then there won’t be any managing director treatment or whatnot.”

Ha Yeon had no choice but to let go of the wrist she was holding at Yu Hyun’s words.

Left alone, Ha Yeon collapsed to the floor, drained of strength. The sound of crying was heard in the conference room for only a brief moment.

Late at night, the colorful lights sparkled like golden paint embroidered on a black canvas.

From the top floor of the VAN Group headquarters, one could overlook the night view of Seoul at a glance.

And at the highest point was Jae Hyuk.

Chairman Ban had stepped down from the front lines of management due to worsening health from an illness. Jae Hyuk held the title of vice chairman, but played the actual role of the chairman.

Over the past year, Jae Hyuk had devoted himself solely to work. He worked without sleeping or eating well.

“Vice Chairman.”

With a knock, Director Han opened the office door and entered.

“What is it?”

Director Han approached Jae Hyuk who was standing in front of the full-length windows.

“There was a call from Madam Jung asking how to handle this week’s dinner appointment with Chairman Min.”

“She doesn’t get tired, does she?”

Jae Hyuk clicked his tongue at Madam Jung who didn’t seem to get tired.

“Refuse it.”

He spoke in a resolute voice and sat down on the chair.

“If we refuse again this time, I think Madam Jung will make a huge fuss. It would be better if you went and at least pretended to…”

Director Han, who knew Madam Jung’s personality, tried to persuade Jae Hyuk.

“Tell her to do that then.”

But Jae Hyuk was also not an easy opponent.

As if she had been waiting for this day, as soon as Ah Rin stamped the divorce papers, Madam Jung pushed Yu Jin in front of him.

Jae Hyuk had no intention of doing as Madam Jung wished.

“I don’t understand Chairman Min either. Why does he keep pushing for marriage when it’s being rejected to this extent?”

The dinner appointment was a joint work of Chairman Min and Madam Jung. And no matter how many times it was refused, the appointments were endlessly made.

“I’m pretty sure I clearly conveyed before that I have no intention of getting married.”

The talk of marriage with the LW Group had been going on for a very long time. It was a promise, though not really a promise, made between the adults since before he could even remember. However, the other party was not Min Yu Jin from the beginning.

At first, Chairman Min’s youngest daughter fell in love with Jae Hyuk at first sight and chased after him like crazy. It began with Chairman Min, who couldn’t ignore his daughter’s pleas, proposing marriage to Jae Hyuk.

However, the love of a thoughtless 15-year-old girl didn’t last long. As easily as she fell in love, her feelings cooled just as quickly, and the talk of marriage with the youngest daughter of the LW Group fizzled out.

But then one day, Chairman Min once again proposed marriage between his second daughter Min Yu Jin and Jae Hyuk.

It was a marriage proposal between high school student Min Yu Jin and college student Jae Hyuk.

Jae Hyuk naturally refused. He wanted to marry someone he loved, and he had a vague thought that he hoped that person would be Ah Rin.

“I suppose he wants to give strength to Managing Director Min. What was it? That Managing Director Min is a non-marriage advocate?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Min Yu Jin’s elder sister, Min Ha Yeon.

The time she really started to stand out was this year. Chairman Min called Ha Yeon, who had been at the Singapore branch, back and officially announced that he would make her the next successor.

However, Ha Yeon’s power within the company was small. The ways for a company to grow its power were limited.

Among them, the most definite method was marriage. With each other’s children at stake, there was less worry about betrayal.

There were rampant rumors that Chairman Min was trying to marry off Ha Yeon. But whenever that happened, it was said that Ha Yeon refused the other party, saying she was a non-marriage advocate.

Just how noisily did they push for Ha Yeon’s marriage that it reached Jae Hyuk’s ears?

No parent can win against their child, so at some point, Chairman Min gave up on marrying off Ha Yeon and became desperate to marry Yu Jin to Jae Hyuk.

Jae Hyuk saw through Chairman Min’s intention of trying to marry Yu Jin to him.

“Since Madam Jung is also actively pushing for Vice Chairman’s marriage, the two of them must have matching opinions.”

At Director Han’s words, Jae Hyuk quietly tapped the desk with his long fingers.

“No matter how important the company is, this is too much. Chairman Min is truly a heartless person. He probably doesn’t sincerely want his own daughter to marry me.”

“Why would you say that, Vice Chairman?”

At Director Han’s words without ill intent, Jae Hyuk gave a smirk.

“That side is a first marriage, and I’m remarrying, so?”

Director Han shook his head vigorously, saying that wasn’t the case.

“Is divorce a flaw these days?”

“Plus, aren’t the rumors about me rampant? A guy who chased after his ex-wife and ended up getting divorced.”

“That can also be seen as a charm. True love, something like that. And to be honest, the one more desperate for this marriage is Madam Jung, but in a way, the one in a hurry is Chairman Min. Since Managing Director Min’s power is weak, what does it matter if they can gain the strength of the VAN Group?”

For Jae Hyuk, Ah Rin’s place was a noble position that no one else could fill. Jae Hyuk didn’t want anyone other than her by his side.

It wasn’t at all with the thought that Ah Rin might come back and he was waiting for her.

“Tell them I’m not meeting.”

“Sigh, I understand.”

Director Han knew Jae Hyuk well, so he knew it was useless to talk about it any further here. But he also knew Madam Jung’s personality too well, so he could easily predict what would happen in the future without much thought.

Director Han put his hand on his forehead, feeling a throbbing headache.

“Madam Jung said to convey that if it’s refused again this time, she won’t let it slide. You may really need to be prepared this time.”

Jae Hyuk waved his hand at Director Han’s warning without saying a word.

Left alone in the office, Jae Hyuk leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes.

Thinking about it, he missed Ah Rin like crazy again.

Even after a year had passed, Ah Rin’s image was so vivid in his mind.

“…Ah Rin-ah.”

His heart ached at the name he struggled to utter, rising to the tip of his throat.

He missed her like crazy.

Time flew by quickly and it was the first day Memoria opened a pop-up store at the LW Department Store Gangnam branch.

Does something like beginner’s luck exist?

The prepared stock was sold out in an instant, and all the display shelves were empty.

“Boss, it only took an hour and a half for everything to sell out.”

A part-time worker approached Ah Rin.

“Oh…”

“I’ve done a lot of part-time jobs like this, but this is the first time it sold out so quickly. It’s really incredible.”

As the praises poured in, Ah Rin felt dazed. Her heart pounded.

‘It seems like our desserts have been recognized by people.’

Ah Rin’s heart warmed at the fact that their products, made with dedication, received such great love.

Even after that, customers who saw the SNS notice the day before and came to the pop-up store lined up.

“I’m sorry. Everything has already been sold out. We haven’t been able to post a notice yet. If you happen to pass by tomorrow, please stop in. If you bring this coupon, we’ll give you some extra bread.”

Only after apologizing several times to the customers who came late did Ah Rin post a notice on Memoria’s official SNS that today’s stock had completely sold out.

“Phew.”

The pop-up store closed its doors much earlier than expected.

The feeling was strange.

“Good work today.”

“No, it was nothing. See you tomorrow. You worked hard too. I’m counting on you tomorrow as well.”

“Yes, boss. Have a good night.”

After saying goodbye to the people she worked with, Ah Rin headed to the escalator. Until then, she could not even imagine what would happen to her.