Yuhyn had this realization again that day.

LW Group’s eldest, Min Hayeon, and second, Min Yujin.

Since then, meeting Hayeon had become more uncomfortable for Yuhyn, not because he still had feelings for her, but because he hated the thought of Arin being reminded of Jaehyuk through Yujin.

Remembering those emotions, Yuhyn looked at Arin.

“Oppa.”

“Arin.”

Unable to refuse Arin’s request, Yuhyn washed his face dry. He hated the idea of making her think of her ex-husband, but collaborating with LW Group would be a good opportunity for Memoria, which he loved more than anyone.

Yuhyn was conflicted but eventually decided to go along with Arin’s wish. However, he set a condition: to avoid having Arin and Hayeon meet as much as possible.

‘I was going to meet Min Hayeon alone this time.’

Yuhyn had scheduled meetings on the days the store was closed and went to Seoul alone. But this time, with Arin also in Seoul for the broadcast, it seemed impossible to refuse her request.

“Let’s go together, okay? It’s about Memoria.”

“……Alright.”

Yuhyn had to remind himself again that he loved her, even if it meant following her wishes in something he detested.

“Really?”

Yuhyn’s voice was hoarse.

“Thank you, oppa.”

Seeing Arin’s happy face, Yuhyn felt complicated.

He couldn’t bear to watch Hayeon reveal her lingering feelings in front of Arin.

With an unspeakable truth, Yuhyn bit the inside of his cheek.

Arriving at LW Group’s headquarters, Arin and Yuhyn went up to the 16th-floor conference room as directed by the information desk.

As the door opened, Hayeon, who was sitting in the farthest corner, got up abruptly.

“Hello, Director.”

Arin greeted Hayeon warmly as she approached her.

“Welcome.”

Hayeon also approached Arin and offered a handshake.

“It’s been a while. CEO Choi.”
“It’s been a while. I’ve been staying in Jeju Island.”

Hayeon’s gaze shifted to Yuhyn, who stood behind Arin.

“……Have you been well?”

Hayeon asked with a trembling voice. Yuhyn, ignoring her gaze, replied curtly.

“Yes.”

Hayeon spoke informally, while Yuhyn responded formally.

Seeing Yuhyn’s clear boundary, a bitter emotion crossed Hayeon’s face.

However, Hayeon was a woman who had received the harshest education as an heiress of a chaebol family. She quickly composed her expression and smiled at Arin.

“Shall we sit down?”

At Hayeon’s suggestion, Arin smiled awkwardly. It had been a very short time, but Arin had already witnessed the tension between the two.

“What would you like to drink?”

Hayeon, having regained her smile, asked Arin.

“Lemon tea, please.”

Yuhyn spoke gruffly. Hayeon’s eyes wavered again.

“Would you like lemon tea too, CEO Choi?”

Arin looked back and forth between Hayeon and Yuhyn.

“Ah, yes. Lemon tea, please.”

The only calm person was Yuhyn. Despite sensing Hayeon’s wavering eyes, he behaved as if he didn’t care at all.

His gaze and words were solely directed at Arin.

While Hayeon ordered tea through her secretary, Yuhyn reached out his hand towards Arin.

“Arin, give me your bag.”

“Huh?”

Yuhyn waved his hand again towards Arin.

It was a typical gesture of Yuhyn, but Arin felt more self-conscious than ever because Hayeon was watching them.

“Give it here. There’s no place to put it. Quickly.”

Eventually, Arin handed her bag to Yuhyn.

“Ah, thanks, oppa…….”

Yuhyn, placing both bags side by side on the chair next to him, seemed satisfied. Hayeon, who had been watching, couldn’t hide her emotions any longer.

Arin was bothered by Hayeon’s gaze. The fist clenched white under the table was pitiable.

‘Sigh. Oppa seems to be acting more like this because he knows Director Min still has feelings for him.’

Yuhyn’s attitude was not incomprehensible to her.

Every time Arin saw Hayeon’s hurt face, she was reminded of her past and felt uncomfortable.

Yuhyn was kind to everyone and always smiled warmly, even in front of people he disliked.

Of course, Arin knew through Cheol-yong, who had studied with Yuhyn in France and now worked at Memoria’s Yeonnam branch, that the two had been lovers and had not parted on good terms.

Arin also believed that if an ex-lover still had feelings for you, it was necessary to draw a clear line.

But this was not a private meeting with Hayeon. It was surprising that Yuhyn, who was usually clear about separating personal and professional matters, was consistently cold to Hayeon, even though they had been lovers in the past but were now meeting for work.

Arin inadvertently kept an eye on Hayeon. When their eyes met, Hayeon quickly composed herself and forced a smile. Arin felt even more uncomfortable.

But it wasn’t her place to say anything to Yuhyn.

‘Besides, today is the last meeting.’

Arin awkwardly lifted the corners of her mouth, facing Hayeon.

Breaking the silence first, Hayeon spoke.

“It’s a pity that today is the last time I’m meeting with CEO Choi.”

“I feel the same. It’s regrettable not to have the opportunity to see Director Min.”

“But it’s good that we ended well. Have you visited the pop-up store?”

“Yes. I went there with oppa yesterday. It’s just like our shop, so it was really nice. It must have been hard to create.”

Hayeon tried to look unaffected, as if she had never been shaken, gazing at Yuhyn with a steady look.
“Yes. Our Manager Yoon mentioned that Yuhyn contributed a lot in recreating the shop’s atmosphere.”

Hayeon’s gaze once again found Yuhyn. When their eyes met, he abruptly turned his head away.

A second wave of bitterness crossed Hayeon’s face as she looked at Yuhyn.

In the end, it was Arin who ended up being conscious of the situation.