Upon arrival at the resort, Ji An looked at the staff members filling the lobby and gasped.

They said this was a workshop for new employees, but the number of people lined up was staggering.

Kang Hyun’s house, the executive meeting room, and the executive office. The scale of the company, which she had not noticed due to the nature of her work, surprised her anew.

“Team H.”
Ji An carefully stood her suitcase and checked the team assignments. Kang Hyun was still by her side.

He had his hands in his trouser pockets and was standing askew, staring at her flushed cheeks. He looked a little dark because he was facing the situation where she would fit in and laugh with strangers.

It was good to see her lively face, but he couldn’t stop his feelings from twisting.

“Executive Director, then I’ll join over there.”
As soon as Ji An checked her team and a simple schedule, Kang Hyun straightened his bad posture and lowered the corners of his eyes.

He looked like a problem student pretending to be a model student to look good in front of his homeroom teacher.

He felt a little funny about his late actions, but he wanted to do his best.

It was time for Han Seo Yoon, who was trapped in a dazzling cage that she could not escape unless Tae Kang Hyun opened the door, to adapt to the reality that she was no longer here.

“All right.”
“Where will you be, Executive Director?”
“I’ll be nearby. Call me if you need me.”
When Kang Hyun said goodbye in a stiff tone, Ji An laughed softly.

He looked like a bodyguard protecting her, not a boss serving her.

“Executive Director, I’m your secretary. Please contact me if you need anything.”
Ji An raised her free hand and waved it slightly.

Hesitant, Kang Hyun, who had stiffened his shoulders, also waved his hand with a very awkward movement.

“Miss Ji An.”
Kang Hyun, who was only licking his lips while watching Ji An turn around, caught her hem with a frantic roll of his eyes.

Even in his own eyes, his gesture was so pathetic that a chuckle slipped out.

The obsession of the past when he thought he could protect Seo Yoon only by knowing, seeing, and controlling her in his arms. It was clearly a disease, and a noose choking Seo Yoon.

While he was struggling to empty and let go of all the habits that had hardened and gnawed at Seo Yoon over a long time, his actions took precedence like this.

“Yes.”
“People, be careful. It’s not good to get too close with people you just met. Even if they are kind on the surface, you don’t know what they are thinking inside. Also……”
No, go. Kang Hyun, who was closing his mouth that was spouting useless words, released his fingers holding the hem.

Under the intense gaze that didn’t fall, Ji An closed and opened her eyelids firmly to correct her sight that felt a bit swaying.

Twisting her body, she could distinctly feel Kang Hyun’s gaze following her, making the back of her head flush.

Was it because they had been sitting close in the car for a long time, eating lunch together? Or had they just been too close too often?

It felt odd, being slightly distant in the same space.

At the same time, something indescribable disturbed her deeply.

Even for someone as obtuse as she was, it was hard to miss the meaning in the man’s persistent gaze.

With his gentle actions, anyone would have thought that he liked her.

Did Seo Yoon want deeper satisfaction from her, someone who had the same face but could never return?

She couldn’t shake the thought that he saw her as Han Seo Yoon, not Seo Ji An.

The intention to kiss her was clear….

Her onedimensional desire to comfort and help him had become more complicated as it began to harbor other feelings.

A substitute for Han Seo Yoon. Even if Kang Hyun confessed his love to her, the reason was clear.

“It’s all because of the president.”
Murmuring and resenting her heart that fluttered like a chronic illness, she reached out her lips to blame Kang Hyun and joined the line in front of a sign with a large H.

“Hello, Ms. Seo Ji An?”
“Yes, hello.”
“Nice to meet you.”
As soon as she received the badge with her department and name written on it, the staff began to gather around her.

“How old are you?”
“I don’t think I saw you on the bus, did you come by car?”
As they called roll, the staff who had gathered around Ji An brightened their eyes.

They were curious about the new secretary of the executive director’s office, who had suddenly returned after being the last to join.

Although Ji An defined the reasons for the barrage of questions to her as two, in reality, it was simply favoritism.

The workshop of a construction company, which had an overwhelmingly high male ratio, attracted attention to the one, or at most two, female employees in each team.

Some enjoyed the adoration willingly, while others recoiled in the uncomfortable environment, but Ji An, who had already been overloaded with the notes she had seen last night and Tae Kang Hyun, did not pay much attention to the surroundings.

“Ms. Ji An, I’m Park Jin Ho from the Plant Design Team.”