Kang Hyun, who had been quietly listening to Yeonju’s words, parted his dry lips.

“Other things.”
“A lot. Do you think there’s something she hasn’t heard? Young as she is, she seduced men with her body and changed her fortune. That’s the most common thing she hears from your stepmother.”
A deep sigh seeped out.

Even while isolating Seo Yoon in his arms from the world, he couldn’t stop those who were actually approaching her.

Since when have I become such an incompetent person?

“No matter how much you say the gathering doesn’t leak words outside, still. Why did you bring her there?”
“She feels suffocated being at home all the time and I don’t want her roaming around alone. For a change of mood.”
“It’s bragging, you lunatic.”
Yeonju, who had heard a ridiculous answer, spat out a curse immediately.

“I was Seo Yoon’s misfortune.”
His low voice scratched his parched throat.

The guilt of the past slowly strangled his throat, preventing him from taking a step forward.

The nagging Yeonju put down saying that the phrase ‘you should be good when you have’ wasn’t for nothing scattered like tinnitus.

It felt just as distant.

Leaning his head on the back of the sofa, Kang Hyun quietly stared at the ceiling.

The more he realized that the long time he spent with Seo Yoon was nothing but his own desire, not love, the more hollow he felt.

Yeonju, who left Kang Hyun and came out of the office, took out her cell phone in front of the elevator.

Upon selecting ‘Dosagwan’, the dull nickname she’d given Seokwon, a dull call connecting tone, just like its owner, followed.

“I like Director Do.”
After her cherished younger sibling died, and her friend fell apart. Amidst the chaos of daily life messed up by a single traffic accident, she found herself drawn to the blunt man who stoically stayed by her side.

Before she knew it, it had happened and, not knowing how to suppress her feelings, she confessed as soon as she became aware of them.

“I have no intention of meeting with Ms. Seo Yeonju.”
And just as swiftly as she confessed, she was brutally rejected.

She had lived by the principle of not stopping those who come and not holding back those who leave.

However, no matter how many times she asked why, she only received the answer that he didn’t intend to meet her, so strangely enough, she couldn’t give up.

It wasn’t the first time she had been rejected, but pride welled up in her.

“…After seeing Kim Soye, I feel a bit uncomfortable.”
Looking at Seokwon’s number, which was densely packed in her recent call list, Yeonju lightly tapped her forehead.

After encountering Kim Soye who was obsessed with Kang Hyun, she felt paranoid that Seokwon might consider her a stalker.

But he’s kind when we meet in person.

She’s been pestering him for a clear answer like whether he likes her, dislikes her, doesn’t see her as a woman, but, whether he doesn’t want to hurt a friend’s friend or not, he always evaded the answer with the words that he didn’t intend to meet her.

The elevator door opened as she was staring at her phone, which was still not connecting.

“Ah? Hello.”
“It doesn’t seem like a good hello.”
As Jia greeted them cheerfully, Seokwon, who was holding his mobile phone, hurriedly moved his hand down.

“Huh?”
“No, there’s coffee inside for you, Jia.”
Yeonjoo, who lightly tapped Jia’s back as she tilted her head and came out of the elevator, promptly got on the elevator and waved her hand.

“The director is….”
“Director Do has a promise with me. Please tell Kang Hyun!”
With a bang, the door closed, and as Jia’s bewildered face disappeared, Yeonjoo quickly turned around and opened her eyes wide.

“Why don’t you answer the phone?”
“I was… busy.”
“Even Director Do seems to be busy inside the elevator.”
Seokwon, who stepped back to match Yeonjoo’s stride forward, turned his head and avoided the issue.

“Do Seokwon.”
“Yes.”
“Do you dislike me?”
“No.”
“Then do you like me?”
“I don’t think we need to divide human relationships into such binaries….”
Is that what you call a statement now!

Yeonjoo stepped closer to Seokwon, who was once again evading her answer.

The breath she took deeply and exhaled roamed around Seokwon’s neck, so close.

The sweet scent emanating from her short hair trembling on her jawline filled the confined space.

Facing her vibrant, strong gaze as always, Seokwon stiffened his lips.

“Okay, I admit I was too aggressive all this while.”
“I’m glad you realized.”
Yeonjoo’s eyes narrowed in discontent with his bright response, unlike his burly, hunting doglike physique.

“Let’s date formally, aside from bumping into each other at work, just three times.”
“Three times?”
“Yes, three times. If you still don’t want to see me after that, I’ll back off cleanly.”
A hand, like her smooth voice, brushed against Seokwon’s wrinkled clothes.

“Alright, just three times.”
Seokwon’s response, squeezed out with a gasp, was mixed.