Everyone in the studio, including Ji Yeon and Kang Hyun, turned to look at her upon hearing the sound, and Steve, who was explaining to another couple, rushed over to Se Ah in shock.

“I’ll help you with this, please, everyone else, focus on your cooking!”

He quickly brought a first-aid kit from the back, disinfected Se Ah’s hand, and treated it to stop the bleeding.

Then, in a whisper so no one else could hear, he spoke softly into Se Ah’s ear.
“It’s a deep cut, and it shouldn’t get wet. Let’s call it a day for now. I’ll inform you about the next lesson, so just go to my place upstairs for now. You know the password, right?”

Se Ah’s eyes flickered with uncertainty, but she soon nodded.

Then she hurriedly gathered her belongings and left the studio.

Ji Yeon watched her leave with a cold, icy gaze.

“Ugh… water…”

Waking up with a splitting headache and a dry throat, Min Woo slowly blinked his eyes open.

He had spent the early evening at a bar, rebelling against his father’s decision to hand over the project to Kang Hyun.

He couldn’t believe it.

His father knew what that project meant to him, yet he handed it over to Kang Hyun right before his eyes.

Even though he had made a small mistake, he was furious that his father had taken the project away and quickly given it to someone else without helping him.

He was sure if it were Cha Gun Woo, Cha Jae Woo, or the children of Lady Kim Ji Won in the same situation, the decision wouldn’t have been made so hastily.

‘How could my father do this to me? To hand it over to Lee Kang Hyun of all people!’

These thoughts overwhelmed him, making it difficult to remain sane.

After the meeting ended early in the evening, he went straight to the bar and drank on an empty stomach, wanting to forget everything.

Angry about the whole situation, he just wanted to forget it all for a moment.

And then…

Suddenly sitting up, Min Woo blankly stared at the ceiling.

Only then he noticed his surroundings.

This time, everything was vividly clear to Cha Min Woo.

Sitting alone in a private bar, suddenly wanting some comfort, he made a call.

Rrrr[dash] Rrrr[dash] [The number you have dialed is either not in service or has call restrictions. Please check the number and dial again.]

He unknowingly dialed Eun Ji Yeon’s old phone number several times.

Even though he knew she had changed her number, he kept calling the old one without thinking straight.

Rrrr[dash] Rrrr[dash]

There was no way the call would connect to a discontinued number.

“Why so quick, Eun Ji Yeon? How can it be so easy? You said 10 years! You liked me for 10 years! Shouldn’t you struggle for a few years at least?”

He muttered to himself in disbelief, yelling without an audience.

He poured the drink in front of him into his mouth, letting out his anger at no one in particular.

Just then, a message arrived on Cha Min Woo’s phone.

[Director, due to personal reasons, I plan to take annual leave on Monday. Director Kim Yi Young has agreed to assist with the work on Monday. There are no major meetings in your schedule, so it should be fine, but please contact me if there’s anything urgent. I couldn’t see you today, so I’m messaging you this. I hope you understand.]

It was from his secretary, Kang Ji Hyun.

His mind was foggy, and although he had trouble understanding the message, he clearly recognized it was from Kang Ji Hyun.

Kang Ji Hyun.
“Maybe Kang Ji Hyun will understand me. She might offer me words of comfort, unlike Eun Ji Yeon, who pretends not to know me, or Jung Se Ah, who lies, or my father, who abandoned me. She will tell me it’s not my fault, that my mistake was really minor.”

The irrational thoughts filled the mind of Cha Min Woo, who had lost his rationality.

“Yeah, she would do that.”

Cha Min Woo immediately called Kang Ji Hyun.

She answered the phone almost instantly.

“Kang Ji Hyun?”

“Yes, Director. This is Kang Ji Hyun. What can I do for you?”

“I need to talk to you. Come out now.”

“Now? But…”

“Don’t want to?”

“No, no, that’s not it. Just tell me where.”

Kang Ji Hyun noticed Cha Min Woo’s tone was different from usual but decided to follow his request.

Although the words he had said to her in the past still hurt, her fondness for him made it difficult to refuse outright.

Within 30 minutes, Ji Hyun arrived at the destination.

The location Cha Min Woo mentioned was a private bar frequented only by VVIPs, a place she knew due to her previous work assisting an executive.

Upon entering, guided by a staff member, she saw Cha Min Woo sitting with his head up, sighing.

“Director Cha Min Woo.”

“You’re here. Someone to listen to my concerns.”

A slightly more composed Cha Min Woo tapped the seat beside him, indicating for her to sit.

“What’ll you have? A cocktail? Or…”

“I’ll just have water, thank you. But why did you call me?”

There was a hint of coldness in Kang Ji Hyun’s tone.

“Why? Hmm…”

Min Woo let out a heavy sigh before continuing.

“I’m feeling really down and wanted to talk to someone, and I thought of Kang Ji Hyun.”

“Me?”

“I know I was harsh last time. But now, at this moment, I thought of Kang Ji Hyun. Why do you think that is?”

Her mind swirled with confusion.

He had clearly tried to coldly cut off their relationship… And now, why this sudden change?

Suddenly, Min Woo reached out and lightly tapped one of Kang Ji Hyun’s fingers.

Startled, Ji Hyun looked at him, meeting his languid gaze.

“I’m really struggling right now. Can you listen to me, Kang Ji Hyun?”

For a few seconds, Ji Hyun remained motionless, then slowly, her face nodded in agreement.

In such a situation, a person with feelings couldn’t help but be swayed.