Episode 4
Geonhak rushed down to the lobby, moving quickly.
He approached Jae-yi, who was sitting alone on a bench, crying.
For a moment, her image overlapped with someone else in his mind, and his brow furrowed.
> *Why are you crying here?*
> *I don’t cry over things like that.*
That old voice suddenly echoed in his head, and his steps froze.
A faint memory brushed through him. He frowned again.
What the hell is this?
Still confused, he walked up to Han Jae-yi, seated on the bench.
Even now, he didn’t understand why he kept being so kind to a regular employee.
Was it because she looked lonely?
Because she didn’t cry or blame others like most people?
Is that why he was making such a big deal out of this?
At the soft sound of movement, Jae-yi lowered the hands covering her face.
When she saw Geonhak standing in front of her, her eyes widened.
“E-Executive Director…”
Geonhak, too, looked taken aback.
“…This is insane.”
So she wasn’t crying after all.
He rubbed his forehead, muttering in disbelief.
Jae-yi quickly stood from the bench and looked at him.
She’d thought everyone would be asleep by now.
“What brings you here at this hour…?”
“What about you?
I thought you were crying.”
“W-what?”
She blinked, confused.
“Crying? Me? I don’t cry, sir.”
He’d come running here, rejecting Soo-ah’s call, thinking she was crying.
Now, even he was startled by his own behavior.
Am I seriously losing it?
How many times has this happened today?
“…I’m not thinking straight.”
“Sorry?”
“It’s nothing.”
Geonhak let out a long sigh and plopped down beside her, staring at her face.
I really thought… you were crying.
He couldn’t believe he’d come this far because of that.
Stretching out his long legs, he asked:
“What brings you out here at this hour? Everyone else is asleep.”
“That’s why I came.
I like how peaceful it feels when the whole place is quiet.
What about you, sir?”
“I…”
He looked over at her again.
“I just… ended up here somehow.”
Because of you.
“Oh… I see.”
Jae-yi gave a small nod, then tilted her head up to the night sky, looking content.
After a moment, she turned back to him.
“Executive Director?”
“Yes?”
“Thank you. For earlier.”
“For which part?
I’ve helped you so many times today, I’ve lost count.”
He smiled faintly, and her heart started pounding again.
Now that she thought about it, coming out here was a stroke of luck.
It gave her this moment—this time with him.
She turned her gaze forward, then slowly spoke.
“No one wanted to partner with me, but you chose to.
And you even brought back my handkerchief… Thank you so much.”
Geonhak quietly watched her as she spoke.
The lamplight cast a soft glow across her face.
She was smiling bashfully, her pale cheeks flushed a soft red.
It caught him off guard.
“And thank you again… for moving me to a better room.
I really appreciated that.”
He nodded slowly.
“But tell me—were you really grateful?”
“…Sorry?”
“If you’re thankful, why aren’t you looking me in the eye while saying it?”
“O-oh… well…”
“Look at me when you talk.
That’s how people have conversations.”
As Jae-yi fidgeted nervously with her fingers, Geonhak leaned in—fast.
“Ah!”
She gasped as their eyes met.
Now that he thought about it, her bangs always covered her eyes.
He’d never really gotten a clear look before.
Fwoosh—
A breeze passed between them, making her bangs flutter.
For a moment, her black eyes sparkled under the light.
The very eyes he’d always wanted to see.
He reached out, and she flinched.
“E-Executive Director…”
“Hold still.”
His long fingers gently pushed back her hair, tucking her bangs aside.
“Your hair was in your face.”
Her earlobes turned bright red, like they might burst.
He smiled at the sight.
“T-thank you.”
“…And I’m sorry. For earlier in the elevator.
I was a little sharp with you.”
She shook her head quickly.
“No, sir, you don’t need to apologize. It’s not like you—”
“I still wanted to.
If I embarrassed you… I’m sorry.”
Thump. Thump.
Her heart was racing again—like always, when she was near him.
She didn’t want him to know how she felt.
But being this close made her so happy she couldn’t stop smiling.
I’m happy.
Geonhak turned to look at her—and her lips curled into a soft smile.
He paused.
He’d never seen her smile before.
You *do* know how to smile.
Her smile… was beautiful.
So beautiful it left him speechless.
—
**A few days later.**
Ever since Geonhak stepped in for Jae-yi, her coworkers began treating her much more kindly.
Even Park Min-joo—who had always bullied her in subtle ways—suddenly lost her footing and kept glancing around nervously.
“Did you guys see?
Assistant Manager Park said she never repeats outfits, but today she’s wearing that same lilac blouse from last week.”
“I saw it too!
She used to make a big deal about never re-wearing clothes, and now this?”
They giggled among themselves.
“Remember that Chanel bag she brought to Guam?
Apparently, it was a fake.”
“What? She said it was a limited edition—only 100 in Korea!”
Even at lunch, talk about Park Min-joo never stopped.
“But Jae-yi.”
“Yes?”
“Ever think about trimming your bangs? Or maybe just growing them out?
You looked *so* pretty that day without them. You should try it more often.”
Now they were gossiping about her hair.
“If not your bangs, maybe a full makeover?
How about a shopping trip this weekend?”
Jae-yi hated this kind of thing and cut in quickly.
“Thank you for the suggestion, but I like my style as it is.”
“Aw, come on. Just join us.”
“I’m fine, really.
Maybe Assistant Manager Park would like to go instead?”
Everyone frowned, unimpressed.
She didn’t want to stay there any longer.
“I’ll get going first.”
“Already? You haven’t even finished eating.”
“My stomach’s acting up a little.”
She placed her water glass on her tray and stood up.
The others made annoyed faces for a moment—then went right back to trash-talking Min-joo.
Jae-yi rolled her eyes and walked away quickly.
Finally outside the cafeteria, she could breathe again.
“Phew…”
She’d always eaten alone, and she preferred it that way.
What she hated most was this—endless gossip, always tearing people down.
I need to get out of here.
As she walked off, her steps paused.
She spotted Cha Geonhak talking with Manager Kim.
It was the first time she’d seen him since the retreat.
Even just by chance…
She’d wanted to see him.
Her heart started pounding again.
She raised a hand to her face and felt the heat flush to her cheeks.
His casual clothes were handsome, sure—
But in a suit? He was stunning.
That black suit today… he looked perfect.
Maybe it’s just because it’s been a while,
but I can’t stop staring.
“Han Jae-yi!”
She turned her head and saw her colleague Seung-woo walking toward her with a cheerful smile.
“Oh—Assistant Manager Kang.”
“It’s been a while.”
“Yes. I heard you hurt your back. Are you alright now?”
He patted his lower back and laughed.
“As you can see.”
She nodded politely.
“Have you been busy lately?”
“Yeah, my team’s full of uptight types, so the vibe’s been rough.
Honestly, I should’ve gone to marketing when I had the chance.”
From a short distance away, Geonhak turned to see Jae-yi chatting easily with another man.
Was she… always that smiley?
The image of her on the bench, smiling under the night sky, flashed through his mind.
That smile had caught him off guard.
“Executive Director?”
Secretary Kim’s voice pulled him out of his thoughts.
Geonhak turned to Manager Kim.
“Let’s continue this later.”
Manager Kim bowed and stepped away.
Secretary Do-yoon stepped up next.
“Executive Director Park Yoo-joon has arrived.”
Geonhak nodded and walked off.
Jae-yi, meanwhile, watched his retreating figure.
So he’s leaving already…
Her heart thundered again.
Ever since the retreat, her feelings for him had grown.
She liked him—deeply.
The way he looked out for her… it made her heart swell.
So much that it scared her.
She was afraid she might actually say it out loud one day.
That she liked him.
That her heart was already too far gone.
Seung-woo blinked, startled.
“Han Jae-yi… your face is bright red. Are you running a fever?”
She shook her head frantically.
“N-no! Not at all!”
—
Step, step.
Geonhak walked briskly—then stopped dead in his tracks.
Do-yoon halted right behind him.
A strange emotion was rising in his chest.
What… is this?
Why am I so annoyed seeing her with another guy?
He rubbed his forehead in frustration.
“Is something wrong, sir?”
Geonhak’s brow twitched slightly.
“Do I look off to you, Secretary Kim?”
“Yes, sir. You look… unusually irritated.”
“Thought so.
Wonder why?”
“…Pardon?”
“Why am I so bothered?”
Do-yoon looked more flustered than his boss.
No way. Am I… jealous?
“…Hah.
No way.”
Episode End…
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