The door opened to reveal Do Jin and Yoon Ju standing outside.

“Huh? It’s that handsome man from earlier.”
Yoon Ju was the first to recognize Jin Woo.

“It seems you are acquainted with this associate.”
Yoon Ju, taking a large step onto the elevator, laughed first. In response to Yoon Ju’s familiarity, Jin Woo simply nodded without giving much of a response.

“Do you have some business at the company?”
“Yes.”
The bright smile he had shown to Ji Na could not be found. The aura emanating from Jin Woo’s handsome face was somehow different from the ordinary office workers.

Jin Woo responded coolly and then directed his gaze straight ahead.

Do Jin, for his part, was consciously aware of Jin Woo. Although they did not exchange greetings, an unidentifiable subtle tension filled the confined space.

“Manager, would you like to join me this weekend…”
Yoon Ju, who had been glancing at Jin Woo, now addressed Do Jin.

“You seem to be close with this associate, what’s your relationship?”
At Do Jin’s sharp question, cutting off Yoon Ju’s words, Jin Woo chuckled. His hands in his pockets, still standing at an angle, Jin Woo kept his gaze straight ahead as he responded.

“I like her.”
At Jin Woo’s words, Do Jin’s eyebrows twitched momentarily. Perhaps he didn’t yet know that he was Ji Na’s boyfriend.

“She has a boyfriend.”
Do Jin’s incredulous tone seemed to reproach Jin Woo’s morality.

“I am aware.”
Jin Woo’s voice lowered slightly.

“As you know, feelings of affection don’t always go as planned.”
Jin Woo glanced at Yoon Ju as he continued to speak. As if he was hinting at the relationship between Do Jin and Yoon Ju. Do Jin’s eyes lengthened subtly over his glasses, as if trying to gauge Jin Woo’s intentions.

In the meantime, the elevator had arrived at the first floor.

“Ah, the two of you look good together. Well then.”
Jin Woo neatly greeted them and exited the elevator first.

Do Jin watched Jin Woo’s retreating figure with an awkward expression. He didn’t seem to like what he saw. On the other hand, Yoon Ju clasped her hands together with a slightly stunned look.

“Wow, he’s really handsome.”
Do Jin glanced at Yoon Ju with a flustered face.

“He said we look good together. Manager.”
“Let’s get off work.”
Without hiding his discomfort, Do Jin took the first steps to leave.

“Let’s go together. Managerrr.”
Yoon Ju called out playfully and quickly followed after Do Jin.

It was time to leave work when I returned to the office after stopping by the general affairs team. The empty desks of the people who had left work came into view.

The last place Ji Na’s gaze landed was Do Jin’s desk. Unlike before, it was neatly organized, suggesting that he had come and gone while she was away.

‘Sigh…’
Her energy drained out. At some point, Do Jin, who was in the same office, felt distant. She had checked Do Jin’s message, but there was still no reply. Holding her phone, Ji Na started to tap out a message.

[Have you left work……?] She erased it.

[Did your outside work go well?] She erased it again.

[It must have been hard going to the outside work and coming back. Have a good dinner and rest well.] After much consideration, she ended up not sending the message she had written. Ji Na dropped the hand holding her phone, powerless.

‘I’ve lost confidence in front of him.’
That was it. The moment she could not read the passion in her boyfriend’s eyes.

Perhaps Ji Na also knew the truth, and she was afraid to face it.

‘You should get married too. Doesn’t Do Jin say anything?’
‘I’m getting married this time. I’ll send you an invitation.’

The expectant cheers and curiosity of family and friends were pressing heavily on her heart like a boulder.

“Phew…”
Ji Na let out a weak sigh as she tidied her desk. She planned to submit the report early the next morning. Her phone rang as she was packing her bag.

[Okay. Let’s go hiking this weekend.] It was a text from Do Jin. Ji Na smiled faintly. The idea of going hiking together and sharing various stories after a long time excited her. Ji Na’s shoulders, which had been drooping just moments before, perked up again.

“Ah, the clothes.”
Holding the shopping bag containing Jin Woo’s coffeestained clothes, Ji Na’s gaze became calm. A faint scent that seemed imbued with Jin Woo’s body odor lingered at the tip of her nose.

‘I should return them.’
She thought she knew Jin Woo’s intention. And his intense gaze staring at her.

‘Pull yourself together, Ji Na.’
She wasn’t the immature 18yearold girl anymore.

The next day, the office was noisy from the time of arrival. Director Jung’s thick voice echoed around the room.

“These are the interns who will be working with us from today. I specifically requested that our department be in charge and they sent me new manpower specially.”
‘Specially’ was mentioned twice. It was typical of Director Jung’s style, who was number one in selfpromotion.

“Intern Seo Jin Woo. Intern Jo Young Hee. They are our new planning and marketing family members, so let’s teach them well.”