Young Hwa, on her way home from work, moved in a different direction than usual.

After passing far beyond the U&I building, just as she was about to turn into a dark alley, a car pulled up in front of Young Hwa.

It was Sun Woo.

Usually, Sun Woo would contact her first, and Young Hwa would pretend to reluctantly follow. But this time, it was Young Hwa who had made the appointment first.

Sun Woo had said he would gladly give up his own schedule to come meet Young Hwa.

However, concerned about running into someone, Young Hwa had set the pickup location far from the company.

Sun Woo seemed displeased with this precarious meeting, as if they were carrying out some 007 operation.

Even after Young Hwa sat in the passenger seat, Sun Woo remained silent for a long time.

“What’s wrong?”

Unable to bear the silence, Young Hwa spoke first.

“…I’m annoyed.”

Sun Woo’s voice was indeed full of displeasure towards the other person.

And that voice sounded just like he was talking to himself.

The car’s movement became more intense than before. And it seemed to sway slightly from side to side.

Young Hwa’s gaze moved to the hands gripping the steering wheel.

They were trembling?

Young Hwa knew well how to act when the other person was extremely angry.

It was a situation she had experienced many times herself.

When Kang Seok and Jae Hee were angry, they would take out their frustrations on her.

For a while, Young Hwa had rebelled and argued back. But that only fueled their anger more.

“How dare you talk back!”

“Do you know how much money we spend on you, feeding you, housing you, and on top of that, because of your sister!”

They threatened Young Hwa like that.

She couldn’t do anything. Young Hwa had no ability to pay the enormous hospital bills, and she wanted to hold onto hope even in that way.

So Young Hwa’s face and body always had faint bruise marks, and some of those wounds remained as deep scars.

If she had known beforehand, would things have been different?

No, even if she had, Young Hwa’s life wouldn’t have changed.

Young Hwa couldn’t let go of Sang Hwa, so even knowing the truth, she would have been played by their hands.

Only, the sincere gratitude she felt. At least that sincerity, she wouldn’t have given to them.

After driving on the highway for a long time, Sun Woo stopped at a rest area at the entrance to Seoul.

Only then could Young Hwa let go of her pounding heart.

“What exactly are you so angry about?”

Thinking it was a safe place, Young Hwa asked Sun Woo the question she had been holding back.

“Why do I always have to contact you first to meet?”

But the words that came out of Sun Woo’s mouth were quite unexpected.

“What?”

“Why do I have to get so excited and rush out at your one call!”

Young Hwa couldn’t help but chuckle.

“That’s the reason you’re displeased?”

“You don’t wait for my calls. No, you even ignore them sometimes. And then you ask what’s up much later.”

Young Hwa couldn’t refute because Sun Woo’s words were true.

“But do you know how I was just now? I received your call on a day when I had an executive dinner scheduled, but I canceled everything and rushed here.”

You could have just said you had a dinner.

Then, I would have changed the time.

“You think that’s all? You tell me to come to a narrow, dark alley because we can’t be seen by others. Hah-. It’s like I’ve become your subordinate or something. Don’t you think?”

When he said it like that, it did sound that way. But why didn’t Sun Woo saying such things seem as frightening or burdensome as he did on the day they first met?

Rather, it seemed cute, like a sulking seven-year-old boy throwing a tantrum.

“I’m sorry.”

“That’s right. Do you know what annoys me the most?”

The cool air conditioning in the car felt a bit strong.

But Young Hwa just pulled her collar closer rather than turning down the air. She wanted to make sure Sun Woo, who was all heated up, didn’t feel too hot.

“You still haven’t told me why you’re doing this to me, what you need help with. That’s what drives me crazy the most.”

Would she ever be able to say those words?

Even if you rush here now with the desire to have me, there’s no guarantee you’ll feel the same way as time passes.

So Young Hwa wanted to take care of many things during the time Sun Woo was desperate to have her.

If I give everything, you’ll leave.

That’s how human desire works.

“I’ll definitely tell you.”

“What?”

“I don’t know when that will be, but I’ll definitely tell you. Everything.”

Although that day will probably be the day you lose interest in me.

Young Hwa felt a bitterness in her mouth, but she smiled.

“At least tell me the reason. Why you asked to see me. You wouldn’t have called for no reason.”

I wish you were less intelligent.

Sun Woo seemed not only perceptive but also quite smart.

“The new product design competition. Did you plan that because of me?”

Young Hwa went straight to the point without hesitation. She wanted to deny it, but Sun Woo wouldn’t believe her anyway, and lying would only mock the other person.

“…Yes.”

Sun Woo’s answer was short, and Young Hwa smiled.

“Thank you. But…”

“Just be grateful. Why add a ‘but’?”

“Did you look into me?”

Sun Woo averted his gaze. That was as good as an answer.

“Do you dislike it?”

She shook her head.

“Then, could you help me with one more thing?”

“What?”

“When is the merger?”

Sun Woo’s expression changed from displeasure to serious and sharp.

“Why are you asking that?”

“I know The K has quite a good corporate image. So even though it’s essentially a merger arranged like a corporate engagement, there won’t be any gossip, right? Because the other party is Chairman Ji Kang Seok.”

Instead of answering such a heavy topic, Sun Woo just nodded once as if telling her to continue.

“If U&I’s corporate image is damaged, will the merger still be valid?”

“It would depend on the purpose of the merger, but it would likely still be valid. This merger is meant to maintain U&I’s identity while keeping it operational. But if there’s a premise of damaged corporate image, they might go for a new merger with a completely new brand.”

“I see.”

“Of course, that’s not being considered now. U&I is a brand with high growth potential.”

Young Hwa nodded.

“Why are you asking that?”

Young Hwa knew how attached Kang Seok was to U&I Fashion.

He had used U&I Fashion as a stepping stone to rise from a regular professor to the position of university president.

The culmination of all his sweat and effort.

So, just like with In Ha, she wanted to let U&I fall when it was in full bloom.

“Who will be attending the product review meeting?”

“All the executives scheduled for appointment to The K’s new business division, and also willing employees who have applied for transfers.”

Young Hwa smiled with satisfaction. It would be a grand feast.

“Thank you.”

“You called me away from a dinner just to ask that?”

While showing a look of disappointment, Sun Woo still smiled.

“Is it not okay to call you for something like this?”

She had to confirm.

The K, which values image, shouldn’t cancel the merger because of the product review meeting.

She wanted to see Kang Seok struggling to save U&I somehow.

“I was hoping to hear a different reason besides that one.”

Young Hwa pretended not to understand Sun Woo’s words.

“There’s no other reason. I just had something to confirm.”

Sun Woo sighed again and moistened his dry lips.

“Are you going to keep doing this?”

“Doing what?”

“You’re playing with me so much. At times like this, you should at least give me a reward for gratitude.”

“Ah. A reward.”

Young Hwa turned her head towards the window, observing people laughing and enjoying themselves at the rest area.

They were having happy, enjoyable times.

“You said you’d teach me how to drive, right?”

Soon, a big typhoon will come.

After the typhoon passes, summer will end.

It was a typhoon that would drive away the hot and stuffy season.

“Would you teach me a bit this weekend?”

“Really?”

Sun Woo asked back as if he couldn’t believe it.

“Yes. I thought I didn’t need it, but I’ve become interested in learning.”

Although in a way it was Young Hwa giving Sun Woo a reward, Sun Woo was delighted as if he had received a gift himself.

***

In Ha shook Jae Hee’s arm in frustration.

“No, if I could just hand it over like that when you tell me to, I would have done it already.”

Jae Hee was just as frustrated.

Just when she thought they had solved the new product design, now there was another mountain to climb.

“Isn’t it a planned product? Can’t you just give the opportunity to the designers below as a gesture and not do it yourself?”

“How can I do that! Mom, you should have seen Kang Sun Woo’s expression then. He said to me, ‘I have no doubt that the grand prize will come from the design department.’ How can I back out after he said that!”

In Ha pretended to cry while pestering Jae Hee.

“What about Dad? Doesn’t Dad have anything?”

“Child. Don’t you know your dad has only designed men’s clothing his whole life?”

In Ha flailed her arms and legs wildly as if she had given up on everything.

“Isn’t there some way to get some dirt on Young Hwa? Why did she have to die so early…”

Jae Hee slapped In Ha’s hand as she was about to say something inappropriate.

“Why are you bringing her up!”

It was just a warning not to mention that ominous name.

“Ah, In Ha.”

“What is it, Mom?”

“I think I saw something in Young Hwa’s room before.”

“What? What was it, Mom?”

“Young Hwa hasn’t come back yet, right?”

After looking around, Jae Hee hurriedly went up to the second floor.