Seeing the president explode, Ga Eul clicked her tongue disapprovingly.

Jung Mi O had come at the wrong time. The president was already annoyed just from her deflecting earlier. If one lacks luck, they should at least have good intuition. Tsk tsk, poor Jung Mi O.

Mi O, looking more deflated than when she had barged into the office, answered.

“Volunteer work.”

“What?”

“I said I did volunteer work.”

“Volunteer work? You?”

“Is there a law saying I can’t do volunteer work? I went to an orphanage, cleaned, bathed the kids, played with them. Look at this.”

Jung Mi O turned on her phone and held it out to Dae Un. Dae Un looked at the screen from a distance, as if it might transmit an infectious disease. Jung Mi O flipped through the screens. They were all newspaper articles.

“It’s an article about Roy, the leader of Group Impact, doing volunteer work at an orphanage.”

“I’m there too. I told you I volunteered. Look here, here. Jung Mi O, the only non-celebrity among the volunteers who participated in activities with Roy, is known to be the daughter of Jung Sang Su, president of Cheonghae Construction. The beautiful Ms. Jung said she participated in this activity due to a personal connection with Roy, the volunteer group leader…”

“So Han Ga Eul used her wits to prevent you from being sent to America. Such heartwarming stories about the president’s daughter would help improve the company’s image. Especially with apartment sales coming up soon. The reporters were probably mobilized by the entertainment agency.”

Dae Un was dumbfounded. While he had been desperately trying to send Jung Mi O to America, Ga Eul had been helping to keep Jung Mi O from going to America.

Even knowing that Jung Mi O liked him and followed him around. Even knowing how much he detested it.

If Ga Eul had even the slightest feelings for him, she wouldn’t have helped Jung Mi O linger around him. She would have tried to peel Jung Mi O off of him.

“What were you thinking, preventing Jung Mi O from being sent to America?”

Dae Un really wanted to know. Ga Eul just smiled brightly.

Jung Mi O, not caring about Dae Un’s feelings, excitedly chattered on.

“My beauty played a part too. The cameras kept following me. At first, the reporters thought I was a celebrity too, but someone leaked that I’m the Cheonghae Construction president’s daughter.”

“Leaked? You probably blabbed about it yourself.”

Nothing good was bound to come out of Dae Un’s mouth.

“Anyway. I suddenly became a famous person. The internet was buzzing about me, something about noblesse oblige. They say I was a big help to my dad’s business. So he said he won’t send me to America. If only you’d allow it, oppa.”

Though Dae Un’s expression wasn’t particularly good, Jung Mi O gazed at him with hopeful eyes. Feeling sorry for Jung Mi O, Ga Eul chimed in to support her.

“She promised not to bother you, sir. She said she won’t come barging in unannounced anymore.”

“Han Ga Eul, are you really going to do this?”

A frustrated Dae Un shouted at Ga Eul. He wanted to peer into Han Ga Eul’s mind. To see what on earth she was thinking.

But he felt he would only confirm that he wasn’t in her heart.

“It’s true. I won’t bother oppa again. I think I’ll be busy too. Some agencies have shown interest in me after this incident. I’m thinking of maybe becoming a celebrity.”

Receiving a signal from Ga Eul, Jung Mi O excitedly chattered on.

“I found volunteer work fun too. The kids really liked me. So I’m thinking of continuing that as well.”

“You? Yeah right.”

Though Dae Un showed no trust in Jung Mi O, he didn’t say anything about sending her back to America.

He didn’t care where Jung Mi O was anymore.

Let whatever happens happen. Anyway, Ga Eul didn’t have the slightest feelings for him, so what did it matter if Jung Mi O hovered around him or not?

“Oppa, you’re allowing it, right? That I can stay in Korea. I’ll tell Dad that!”

Ki Dae Un checked with Ga Eul again.

“You really don’t mind if Jung Mi O stays in Korea? Don’t you think she’ll keep coming in and out of this office if she stays here? Is that okay with you?”

Ga Eul just grinned. Not knowing it was making Dae Un despair.

Dae Un hated Ga Eul’s smile. He never thought the day would come when he disliked seeing Ga Eul smile.

* * *

“Oppa, Ms. Ga Eul, don’t you want coffee? Should I go buy some?”

The tactless Jung Mi O showed no signs of leaving even after achieving her goal.

Ga Eul was anxious. Sigh, at this rate the president might say he’s sending her to America… Still, she felt pleased seeing how much Jung Mi O had improved.

She wondered if this woman was really the same one who had made her cross the street under the scorching summer sun just days ago to buy coffee. Surely not. Jung Mi O had now been reborn as a budding volunteer activist, Cheonghae Construction’s billboard model, and her father’s beloved daughter.

Moreover, she showed signs of becoming Han Ga Eul’s follower. Though it wasn’t definite yet, of course.

While Ga Eul was feeling pleased at the thought of drinking coffee Jung Mi O would buy, not knowing Dae Un’s feelings, an completely unexpected person visited the office.

“Noona!”

Gyeo Ul called out to Ga Eul as he opened the door.

“Gyeo Ul!”

Gyeo Ul, who was entering, hesitated upon seeing Ki Dae Un and Jung Mi O.

“What brings you here at this time? What about school?”

There’s no vacation for high school seniors. So the boy who should be in school now had come to Ki Dae Un’s office wearing his school uniform.

“Noona, can we talk for a bit?”

Gyeo Ul pulled Ga Eul to go outside.

“Han Gyeo Ul, talk here.”

Dae Un, seeing this, hastily said.

“Your sister has a duty to watch over me here.”

I’d rather not be left alone in the office with Jung Mi O. Dae Un’s eyes said that.

“Talk here, I said. Is there something you can’t say in front of me?”

As Dae Un urged, the hesitant Gyeo Ul opened his mouth.

“Noona, do you have some money?”

“Money? Why?”

“Sung Mok ran away from home. I think I need to go look for him.”

“Sung Mok ran away? Why?”

“I don’t know either. He was absent today. His mom came to school and met with all of Sung Mok’s close friends. So rumors spread throughout the school that Sung Mok had run away. That’s how I found out too.”

“You left school early because of that? To go look for Sung Mok? Do you know where he is?”

“Sung Mok just sent me a text. He said he was sorry. He asked me to tell you he was sorry too. Then he talked about the time our families went on a trip together. He said that was the happiest time of his life. You remember too, right noona?”

“Yes, I remember. We went to a beach in Taean with his family.”

“I checked Sung Mok’s SNS, and he had posted pictures from that time too. So I want to go there once. I have a feeling Sung Mok might have gone there. I have a bad feeling. I’m worried Sung Mok might do something stupid. His phone is turned off now.”

“I’ll go with you. I can’t let you go alone. You’re still a minor. We might not be able to return today, and minors can’t stay overnight alone.”

“Let’s go in my car. I owe Sung Mok too. He came to clean my office when Oh Myeong Se wrecked it, remember?”

Dae Un stepped in. Showing that he was someone who repays what he receives. Of course, Dae Un had other intentions as well.

He had never been outside of Seoul with Ga Eul. He’d never even gone on a trip with her. So he wanted to try it when there was an excuse.

Maybe he could get close to Ga Eul again, who had grown distant. It could be the start of a new relationship.

Dae Un thought an opportunity had come for him.

But the hateful Jung Mi O butted in.

“I’m going too.”

Dae Un immediately frowned and glared at Jung Mi O. See this? I told you we should send her to America.

Jung Mi O, undaunted by Dae Un’s glare, shouted.

“I can’t stand to see you two go on a trip.”

“We’re not going on a trip, just the two of us. Gyeo Ul is going too. And Sung Mok will be there.”

“You want to go to America, don’t you!”

Ga Eul and Dae Un shouted simultaneously.

“I won’t interfere. It’s fine if I don’t interfere, right?”

“You said you wouldn’t bother me. I’m very bothered by you right now. Bothered, I tell you. I should tell your father. I’m dying of annoyance because of you, so he should send you to America.”

Before Dae Un could finish speaking, Jung Mi O disappeared. Leaving behind words that she would never bother him again.

Just then, Gyeo Ul urgently called for Ga Eul.

“Noona, look at this! Sung Mok left a comment on the post I left on his SNS.”

Gyeo Ul handed his phone to Ga Eul.

“I should tell Sung Mok that I’m coming now and to wait.”

Gyeo Ul, taking back his phone from Ga Eul, quickly typed in the letters.

A moment later, Gyeo Ul said.

“Sung Mok replied. He said to come find him if we can. But to come alone. He said he’d disappear if we bring his parents.”

“Is that so? That’s a relief. It seems we’ve bought some time at least. Let’s hurry.”

“But Sung Mok said to come alone?”

“You think ‘come alone’ means literally come alone? He probably means don’t contact his parents. This works out well. Take this chance to rest properly too. Forget about studying and let’s go have fun for a few days.”

Ga Eul was satisfied with her spontaneous idea. Going on a trip to celebrate becoming a Gangnam building owner seemed like a good idea.

“For how many days? What about grandmother?”

“We should bring grandmother too. It’s been a long time since we went on a trip. Since it’s come to this, let’s have a family trip. We’ll find Sung Mok and have a vacation. Kill two birds with one stone, drain the pond and catch the crayfish, sweep the yard and pick up money too.”

“Is that okay?”

The prematurely aged Gyeo Ul asked worriedly. Gyeo Ul’s words carried concerns about money. Typical of Gyeo Ul, who plays the role of the younger sibling in a pair of poor siblings always worried about money.

“Of course it’s okay. I have something to tell grandmother and you when we get there too.”

I’ll announce that I’ve become a Gangnam building owner there! How happy will grandmother and Gyeo Ul be when they hear we can live without worrying about money now? Ga Eul was excited, both wanting to tell them quickly and wanting to build up the suspense as much as possible.

“Sir!”

Ga Eul called out to the president boldly.

“What now, asking for vacation? Just earlier you said you’d use a personal day to go spend money. Now you want to go on vacation? Is the company your playground?”

“Come on, sir. Do you think I can’t tell the difference between work and play? Since you said you’d drive us there, I thought it would be nice if you came on vacation with us too.”

Seeing the president still making a sour face, Ga Eul quickly added.

“I’m grateful to you sir, so I was planning to cover the vacation expenses.”

Ga Eul generously offered, trying to somehow get a summer vacation. Thinking that now that she was rich, vacation expenses were no big deal. Not realizing she was shooting herself in the foot.

“Alright. I’m giving you vacation for Gyeo Ul’s sake, since it’s summer break and he hasn’t been able to rest properly.”

Hiding his excitement at unexpectedly going on a trip with Ga Eul, Dae Un grumbled.

“Yes~, thanks to our wonderful president, we get to have a summer vacation.”

With her heart swelling, Ga Eul quickly took out her phone and called her grandmother. Telling her to pack her bags right away.