Chapter 4 (Part 6)

As soon as Do-jin finished the overseas strategy meeting, he was the first to leave the main conference room.

Seok-young, who was waiting by the door, immediately followed alongside and shared the information that he would be most curious about.

“Seo-hye has arrived safely and is rehearsing with the children in the seminar room.”

Do-jin nodded but then checked the time and asked.

“Are there any internal or external schedules that need to be addressed afterward?”

“No, you can spend the remaining afternoon on personal tasks. Just make sure to review the approvals that need to be processed today.”

Do-jin extended his hand, and Seok-young handed over the tablet PC.

As he quickly skimmed through the approval documents that required his signature, he headed toward the first floor.

By the time he arrived in front of the seminar room, he had finished signing the approvals without any issues.

Do-jin handed back the tablet PC and took a few more steps toward the central door of the seminar room.

Yoo-ra from the PR team, who had been observing Seo-hye’s class from the back of the seminar room, noticed Do-jin and bowed politely.

Do-jin gave a slight nod and immediately turned his gaze forward to look at Seo-hye.

She seemed even thinner than a week ago, and perhaps because her features were more defined, she exuded a mature charm.

He wondered what she had been doing. Her tired eyes seemed reddish and dark, yet the decadent appearance stirred a fierce storm in his lower abdomen, which had been simmering as he thought of her on the way down.

He felt an urge to drag her into a room right away, strip everything off, and ravage her relentlessly.

“When I went to Ms. Seo-hye’s house earlier, she seemed disappointed to see that you weren’t there, Managing Director.”

At Seok-young’s whispered words, Do-jin’s gaze slowly turned toward him.

“Her eyes drooped down.”

His pants were on the verge of tearing.

Do-jin’s gaze, asking with his eyes if that was true, was intensely sharp.

Even though Seok-young was relaying the truth, he shrank back under the intensity that would have sewn his lips shut if it were not true.

“Y-yes, that’s correct… Obviously, I explained that you couldn’t come because of your meeting schedule.”

Listening to Seok-young’s elaboration, Do-jin’s gaze grew even darker. He turned his head to look at Seo-hye again and asked softly.

“When does the rehearsal class end?”

“It seems it will end in thirty minutes. Should I send Seo-hye up to your office once she’s finished?”

“No. Since there are only thirty minutes left, I’ll wait here.”

Seok-young, bewildered, adjusted his glasses to see him more clearly.

Is this really my boss? “Only thirty minutes,” he said.

Isn’t he someone whose every minute and second is precious? A merciless person who gives excessive looks if instructions are delayed by even a minute.

And this person is going to stand uncomfortably at a door with nowhere to sit and wait for thirty minutes?

Seok-young looked back and forth between Do-jin and Seo-hye with curious eyes.

After observing the two for about five minutes,

Do-jin, keeping his gaze fixed on Seo-hye, spoke to Seok-young.

“Did you say Ms. Seo-hye’s mother’s hospital is Korea Hospital?”

“Oh, yes, that’s correct. I understand she’s been there for ten years.”

“I believe her liver isn’t doing well, and she was diagnosed with a rare cardiomyopathy about three months ago.”

“Yes, she’s receiving a new drug that hasn’t even been properly approved for coverage domestically. I heard the cardiothoracic surgeon in charge is quite close with Artist Lee.”

“Then, Secretary Yoo, please find out if it’s possible to transfer Seo-hye’s mother to Seonghan Hospital. Arrange a meal with Director Jo on a day that works for him this week.”

“Yes, understood.”

“Go check now. If possible, I’d like to move her to the hospital as soon as tomorrow.”

With a voice full of trust, Yoo Seok-young answered and left the room.

Do-jin turned his gaze back to Seo-hye.

She was moving from desk to desk, looking at the children’s drawings and exchanging words with them.

The way she tucked her hair behind her ear and smiled was heartbreakingly beautiful.

Her smile was so bright, yet living in that hellish house, she hadn’t been able to show that charm, and it pained him to think about it.

For just a month and a half, he had planned to wait for Seo-hye to make up her mind and come to him, without offering much help.

She wasn’t the type to accept help even if it was offered.

However, the more he got to know her, the more he saw her, the more impatient Do-jin became.

His well of patience was quickly drying up as he wanted to have her by his side as soon as possible.

To bring her to him even a day sooner, he needed to resolve the issue of her mother, which was the reason she couldn’t move.

It was then.

Seo-hye, approaching the child sitting in the last row, finally noticed Do-jin.

She widened her eyes in surprise, then quickly averted her gaze and leaned toward the child to hide her face.

“……”

But what difference did it make?

Her ears, already flushed red, caught his attention vividly.

Do-jin, thinking he would nibble and savor those ears as soon as the class ended, had fine wrinkles forming around his eyes.

***

After the class ended, Seo-hye confirmed the schedule for the first shoot next week with Yoo-ra and exchanged farewells.

As she stepped outside, she locked eyes with Do-jin, who was leaning against the door waiting for her.

When had he arrived? 

She had been so startled to see him standing at the door during class.

Earlier, when Seok-young told her that Do-jin couldn’t come because he was in a meeting, she interpreted it as, “Today, Do-jin’s schedule is so busy, don’t even think about meeting him.”

So she hadn’t expected to see him today, and her heart was pounding uncontrollably at the unexpected encounter.

The closer she got to him, the more her heartbeat turned into a drumbeat. She slowed her pace, fearing that if she spoke, her heartbeat would echo throughout the seminar room.

However, he reached out, grabbed Seo-hye’s hand, and pulled her towards him.

As Do-jin leaned forward, they were close enough that their foreheads could touch, and Seo-hye’s entire body began to heat up like a fireball.

“The drawings were cute.”

He initiated the conversation nonchalantly.

Seo-hye clasped her hands below and fidgeted as she replied.

“That’s… a relief. It must have looked that way to the kids too.”

“Yes, and you were very cute too.”

Seo-hye’s forehead creased slightly.

She quickly turned around to check their surroundings, and seeing no one paying attention to them, she pushed him outside.

“L-let’s go quickly.”

“Where should we go?”

Seo-hye pressed her lips together and pushed him a bit further down the hallway.

He allowed himself to be gently pushed and looked down at Seo-hye, asking the same question again.

“Where do you want to go? The hospital, perhaps?”

“……Are you giving me the painting today? You’re going to the hospital with me, right?”

“Of course. I promised.”

Seo-hye’s pulse raced at his serious voice.

It felt as if she had just run a 100-meter dash, and she was struggling to catch her breath.

Seo-hye took a step forward and continued the conversation.

“I thought you were too busy to come today, Mr. Do-jin.”

“Were you disappointed that I didn’t come to pick you up earlier?”

At his straightforward question, Seo-hye paused for about three seconds before answering.

“No.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really.”

“But Secretary Yoo said you were.”

Seo-hye stopped briefly, gave him a weak glare, and then, conscious of the people around, started walking again.

Do-jin deliberately matched her small strides, walking slowly.