The CEO, who had been on sick leave for over a month, suddenly appeared at the company. The security team, in the middle of an overnight investigation, went into high alert.

“I heard there was an internal data leak incident. Who is it?”

“It’s a female employee from the planning team. We’re currently investigating…”

Before the tense security team leader could finish explaining, Kwon Seung Joo spoke.

“I accessed those files.”

“Pardon?”

In front of the bewildered security team leader, the CEO opened the laptop he brought and showed them logging in with Yoon Eun Seo’s ID and password.

“As you know, I’m currently recuperating in the countryside, so I had to borrow an employee’s ID out of necessity for work.”

The security team leader’s mouth gaped like a carp. He didn’t dare ask, but it was written all over his face.

‘Why use a mere employee’s email instead of your own perfectly good one, sir?’

Not only that. If he wanted to view files externally, couldn’t he have just instructed the secretariat to send them?

Kwon Seung Joo said without changing his expression:

“During my recovery, I wanted to focus solely on getting better. I thought logging into my account would let headquarters know my whereabouts.”

Ah, an expression of understanding appeared on everyone’s faces, including the security team leader’s. Although he was officially on sick leave, everyone secretly knew that the CEO had disappeared and cut off contact even with the secretariat.

So if he deliberately contacted a low-level employee instead of instructing his secretaries, it was somewhat understandable.

“Anyway, I’m the one who accessed the files using Yoon Eun Seo’s email. Is it a problem for me, the CEO, to view internal documents?”

“No, sir!”

The security team leader answered like a fresh recruit standing at attention.

“Are there any other allegations?”

“No, sir.”

“Then there’s no problem.”

With that, Yoon Eun Seo was cleared of suspicion, and she got her confiscated phone back right in front of Kwon Seung Joo. As Yoon Eun Seo walked out of the office where she had been confined, Kwon Seung Joo gave her an almost imperceptible, very slight nod.

“You’ve been inconvenienced.”

Even the security team members who had been fiercely interrogating Yoon Eun Seo until now inwardly clicked their tongues. It was so typical of Kwon Seung Joo to not even say a word of apology when an innocent subordinate had suffered all sorts of hardships until this late hour because of him.

While this was happening, executives began arriving one by one. When news spread that the long-absent CEO had come to the company, they rushed over. Some had messy hair as if they had just woken up, while others reeked of alcohol as if they had been in the middle of a drinking session.

“Director Kim, I’m glad to see you looking well. Are there any after-effects from the surgery?”

“Director Choi, I’m sorry I couldn’t attend your son’s wedding. Belated congratulations.”

“Director Park, how was your business trip to Dubai?”

Kwon Seung Joo greeted and inquired after each executive. His attitude towards the executives, who were much older than him, was polite yet unyielding, never forgetting that he was their superior. Not just the executives, but his secretaries also came running.

“Sir, are you feeling alright?”

“Are you returning to work now?”

To the secretaries’ questions, Kwon Seung Joo answered while looking around at the executives:

“The aftereffects of the car accident are still severe, so I’m still recuperating, but I’ll return by the end of the year. Please hang in there a little longer until then.”

In a few days, it would be December. In other words, he meant he would return within a month.

“Yes, sir.”

“Please don’t worry and focus on your recovery.”

“We’ll take good care of the company.”

After the executives responded, Kwon Seung Joo’s gaze finally fell on his half-brother standing some distance away.

He walked towards his brother with confident steps.

“It’s been a while.”

When face to face with his brother, Kwon Seung Hyun’s shoulders automatically hunched.

Kwon Seung Hyun, who had looked tall, fair, and sophisticated, suddenly appeared small and shabby next to his much taller and well-built brother.

“So, did you successfully complete your MBA?”

At his brother’s question, Kwon Seung Hyun clenched his jaw with a stiff face. Everyone present could tell. He hadn’t completed it.

“I was surprised to see articles saying you came to our company instead of headquarters. Since you’re here anyway, work hard.”

Kwon Seung Joo’s expression remained relaxed as he said this. He must have known that his brother had come intending to do something to the company, taking advantage of his absence. Yet, far from being wary, his attitude was more like ‘glad you came.’

“If you need anything, feel free to talk to the secretariat anytime.”

With a smile on his lips, Kwon Seung Joo patted his frozen brother’s shoulder as if encouraging him. It was a silent declaration that his brother’s existence posed not even the slightest threat to him.

“Well, give my regards to Mother. I’ll see you later.”

Everyone clearly witnessed it. Kwon Seung Hyun’s shoulders trembling behind Kwon Seung Joo’s back.

*

Eun Seo returned home by taxi after leaving the company. It was 1 AM when she arrived.

Unable to even take off her shoes, she sat on the porch waiting for Seung Joo. However, no matter how long she waited, there was no sign of the gate opening.

Forgetting the cold, Eun Seo tried to sort out her confused thoughts.

Judging by how he had taken her side and explained things, he was clearly her eighteen-year-old Seung Joo.

But.

His gait, his gaze, his expression, his manner of speaking, even the tone of his voice. No matter how you looked at it, that was the thirty-three-year-old Kwon Seung Joo.

He even recognized each executive accurately and spoke to them. Even his attitude towards his half-brother was something the Seung Joo who had lost his memories could never do.

Then there was only one conclusion.

‘His memories… have returned.’

Eun Seo’s vision went dark.

Until now, what she had feared was that if Seung Joo’s memories returned, would he forget all about her? Would her kind and sweet Seung Joo disappear?

But what actually happened was different. Seung Joo clearly remembered her. Yet he looked at her with the same eyes as before.

As if everything that had happened was nothing.

The fact that he hadn’t forgotten what had happened meant he also remembered confessing to her…

Eun Seo’s knees began to tremble.

What on earth would Kwon Seung Joo say to her?

Would he say let’s pretend nothing happened since it occurred while he was not in his right mind?

Or would he say I was bad for taking advantage of his pure boyish state to sway his heart?

A cold voice, an indifferent expression, vividly appeared before Eun Seo’s eyes as if real.

‘In light of your help, I won’t hold you responsible.’

The Kwon Seung Joo in her imagination coldly rebuked her.

‘But the fact is, I find it extremely unpleasant.’

Just imagining it made her feel like she was being strangled.

Even as she thought this and that, Seung Joo did not return. Suddenly, Eun Seo had a thought. Now that his memories had returned, maybe he didn’t need to come back. Maybe he had gone back to his original home…

Just as she thought this, suddenly the gate opened. It had been a full two hours since Eun Seo had arrived home.

Seeing Kwon Seung Joo approaching with long strides, almost running, Eun Seo turned deathly pale. She was so terrified of the first words that would come out of his mouth, she wished she could disappear somewhere.

However, his first words were:

“Elder sister!”

He hurriedly approached and hastily took off his suit jacket to wrap around Eun Seo’s shoulders.

“Why are you out here in the cold? Your lips have turned blue!”

Still in the unmistakable appearance and attire of ‘Kwon Seung Joo’, he looked at Eun Seo with an incredibly worried expression.

“I was worried there might be someone tailing me, so I took a taxi and circled around for a while before coming back. Did you wait long?”

All strength left her body. My Seung Joo was still here, unchanged. He hadn’t disappeared…

As Eun Seo stumbled and nearly collapsed, her legs giving way, Seung Joo supported her in surprise.

“Are you alright?”

With that, Eun Seo burst into tears.

“What’s wrong with you!”

She clenched her fists and pounded his broad chest over and over.

“Who told you to act like that? Are you an actor? Do you have a debut coming up?”

Eun Seo cried, throwing childish tantrums that made no sense. Tears wouldn’t stop falling from the overwhelming sense of relief.

“I’m sorry for startling you. It’s my fault.”

Though it must have hurt quite a bit as she gritted her teeth and kept hitting him, the man who had come running to save her and had done nothing wrong apologized over and over. As if he had really done something wrong.

No matter how long she cried, she couldn’t calm down. Finally, Seung Joo held her trembling body tightly in his broad embrace and patted her back.

“It’s okay, it’s all over now. Those people won’t bother you anymore.”

Seung Joo doesn’t know why I was so scared. It wasn’t because I was called in by the security team and interrogated. It wasn’t because I was threatened with being fired or sued.

I was so scared thinking that you, who said you liked me, had disappeared…!

The feelings she had been suppressing and holding back all this time swelled up in her chest.

She could no longer bear it without speaking.

“Let go.”

Seung Joo seemed to want to hold her more, but Eun Seo forcefully pulled away from his embrace. She wiped away the falling tears while looking straight at his face.

“I’m sorry. I can’t accept your feelings.”

Seung Joo flinched. Before his beautiful face could be clouded with sadness, Eun Seo spoke again.

“Not now.”

“…?”

To his confused face, she said between sobs:

“One year and one month from now.”