When a man who had turned everything upside down in a person’s heart smiled so brightly, it should have been even more ridiculous. Yet, for some reason, the annoyance, amusement, absurdity, and worries that had built up until now seemed to melt away.

A cute exhale escaped her lips. Blaming this vague heart that easily unraveled every time, Chae-yoon, who thought it was Jae-oh’s fault, shifted her gaze away from him as she continued to playfully glare at him.

“Ah, now I don’t know either.”

In response to her reaction of letting things be, Jae-oh extended his lips even further and cautiously embraced Chae-yoon.

Although she knew she should resist being embraced, Chae-yoon quietly nestled into Jae-oh’s arms. It looked pretty, so Jae-oh raised his hand and gently stroked the back of Chae-yoon’s head.

“There won’t be any rumors about us being married.”

“Whether you say it or not, I won’t care from now on.”

“Nice to hear that.”

The leisurely voice, imbued with a sense of calmness, sounded pleasant as it flowed slowly.

Leaning her head against his chest, Chae-yoon closed her eyes.

The faint sound of a heartbeat, the gentle touch that stroked her annoyed heart, and even his scent wafting around her nose.

Is there a condition more comforting than this to put the heart at ease?
The unsettled mind at Director Jung’s order gradually calmed. Without thinking or worrying about what had already happened, a fundamental thought suddenly occurred to her.

‘Why Director Jung?’

With so many capable employees, why him?

‘Could it be… Did he find out about that incident?’

A hypothesis crossed her mind that he might know about the trouble with Director Jung. Since there was an issue that even the team leader had to step in to mediate, it seemed plausible that Jae-oh knew about it. However, if the team leader didn’t report it to Jae-oh, it would remain unknown.

Also, if Jae-oh knew something, considering Jae-oh’s personality, he would have immediately called Director Jung and questioned him rather than opting for a personnel transfer.

Jae-oh, a man who would take action immediately if he set his mind to it.

Given his strong driving force and lack of patience, Chae-yoon concluded that Jae-oh was more likely to be unaware of the issue between Director Jung and her. Leaning against Jae-oh’s chest, Chae-yoon, who had relieved worry, gently lifted her head, which had been resting on his chest.

“I’ll go now.”

“Already?”

“Already. There’s so much material to review.”

After deciding to focus on the hotel business, Jae-oh’s schedule was filled with hotel-related meetings. To digest and understand those schedules thoroughly, Chae-yoon needed to review the materials as soon as possible.

Seeing Chae-yoon’s relieved eyes, Jae-oh nodded and pressed his face against hers.

He pushed his face to hers to ask for a kiss.

Chae-yoon understood the meaning and placed her lips on his.

Not on his lips, but on his cheek.

Then, the expression that had always been good-natured and smiling crumpled in an instant.

“Who kisses on the cheek…”

“I’m going.”

Smiling brightly, Chae-yoon left Jae-oh’s office without looking back.

Director Jung wasn’t at his desk, but Chae-yoon didn’t care and headed straight to her own seat.

Her eyes gleamed as she looked at the marketing comparison data with other hotels.

[Star Icon]

Outside the executive office corridor.

Standing in front of the window with a clear view of the outside, Director Jung couldn’t stay still.

“Is Song Chae-yoon really the wife of the executive director?”

No matter how much he thought about it, it seemed that way. When Assistant Yang came to find the lady, the only person present was Song Chae-yoon.

“Then what happens to me now?”

Director Jung recalled the moments when he had told Chae-yoon about what he had done to her and about making eye contact with the executive director. He felt a chill down his spine.

“Oh, what should I do?”

While trying to calm his still agitated heart by chewing on his lips, a low voice reached his ears.

“Ms. Jung Ga-kyung?”

Director Jung jumped and turned around.

His face, which had turned pale, was heavily dyed with a deep blush. Without showing any concern, Woo-jong greeted him.

“Hello. I’m Kim Woo-jong.”

Director Jung awkwardly smiled and accepted the greeting.

“Yes. Hello.”

“Mr. Executive Director is waiting to see you now. Shall we go together?”
Just 10 minutes ago, the anticipation felt like a source of joy, but now it seemed like chains.

Director Jung called after Woo-jong, who was walking away.

“Secretary Kim.”

Woo-jong stopped and turned his body toward Director Jung.

“Do you know why Executive Director… wants to see me?”

“Well, he didn’t tell me that.”

Woo-jong lightly smiled and resumed walking towards Jae-oh’s office.

Following behind Woo-jong, Director Jung sighed heavily.

The footsteps following Woo-jong felt like a heavy burden.

[Star Icon]

The office that Woo-jong entered behind was different from the outside air.

Perhaps due to the mood, Director Jung slightly hunched his shoulders as he approached Jae-oh’s desk.

As Woo-jong went to Jae-oh’s side, handed over the documents, and Jae-oh took them and began to unfold them—these ordinary and natural actions surprised Director Jung, making him break into a cold sweat.

It was a moment when he felt an uncomfortable feeling, thinking that the term “awkward” accurately described the atmosphere.

“Why do I know about the personnel transfer here?”

In the indifferent voice that rang out, Director Jung, once again taken aback, responded with strength in his clasped hands.

“…No. I don’t know.”

The documents in Jae-oh’s hands were casually placed on the desk. Director Jung’s shoulders twitched, and he felt deflated.

“Our wife hasn’t been here for long, and she’s working even on weekends.”

The task that Chae-yoon had taken on came to mind, and his already pale face deteriorated rapidly.

“Oh, yes…”

“After seeing that, I thought, ‘Oh, that team must be really busy,’ so I brought her. Can we expect good results?”

In the indifferent tone, there was no sense of expectation.

Director Jung awkwardly raised the corners of his lips and reluctantly answered.

“Yes…”

“Your response doesn’t look very good. Are you not confident?”

Director Jung raised his head, gazing at Jae-oh with a bewildered expression.

“Huh? Oh, no. I’ll do my best.”

“Just your best?”

When Jae-oh caught onto his words and teased him, Director Jung noticeably flustered.

“Uh…”

Not sure what went wrong, Director Jung blinked nervously as he looked at Jae-oh.

“Well…”

Just as Director Jung was about to correct his words, Jae-oh spoke.

“I didn’t bring someone who would only do their best; I brought someone who excels. Don’t you think you should do more than just your best?”

“Oh, that…”

Realizing how his words might have affected Jae-oh, Director Jung attempted to clarify.

“At least, you should be more helpful than our wife. There’s quite a difference in experience between you two.”

At the mention of the conversation he had with a colleague, Director Jung’s mind began to confuse and swirl with chaos.

‘He means…’

[How much of a difference in experience is there between him and me? Even if it helps with work, I should be the more valuable one.]

As this conversation with a colleague resurfaced in Director Jung’s mind, a moment of confusion ensued. In that moment, a low voice permeated.

“Even if it helps, shouldn’t Ms. Jung Ga-kyung be more helpful?”

A chill ran down his spine, eerie and unsettling.