Kangwook kept his gaze fixed on Yunjoo, his expression displeased, not even glancing at the woman greeting him. Even with his cold indifference, she didn’t leave.

“Yes.”

“You must have come to eat. Your guest is…….”

The woman’s gaze shifted from Kangwook to Yunjoo. She looked Yunjoo’s outfit up and down, her brow furrowing slightly, then turned back to Kangwook with a smile and a suggestive look. Yunjoo glanced back and forth between Kangwook and the woman, then turned her head away.

The moment Kangwook saw Yunjoo’s face turn away from him, irritation flared toward the woman who had greeted him. She had finally met his eyes and smiled at him, and now this woman had barged in out of nowhere and ruined the moment. He sent her a cold look.

“Do you have further business with me?”

“No, it’s not like that. I was just happy to see you.”

“Are we close enough that seeing each other would make you happy?”

“I’m the second daughter of Taegwang Construction.”

“And?”

Taegwang was a construction company that had only just established its footing. Even the Taegwang name drew no interest from Kangwook. The bluntness of his reply left the woman’s face stiff with embarrassment.

“Pardon?”

He couldn’t even remember where he’d seen her. The moment the woman appeared, Yunjoo set down her spoon. Kangwook didn’t urge her to keep eating. He called someone over to clear the table and didn’t spare the woman standing beside him a single glance.

“What do you want for dessert?”

“Coffee, please.”

“I hear the ice cream here is good. Have that. You can order coffee separately.”

How did he know the ice cream was good? The thought slipped out before she could stop it.

“You know the ice cream is good here, so it’s definitely not a man you’ve been coming with.”

“Of course not. I’d have no reason to come here with a man.”

“Right, I suppose not.”

She hated herself for getting annoyed as she said it. She wondered why she even let those words out of her mouth and started this back-and-forth.

“That was your personal life. I shouldn’t have brought it up.”

“I’m in a good mood.”

“About what?”

“It seems like Cha Yunjoo is taking an interest in me.”

“It’s not interest, it’s consideration. I just mentioned it because you knew about the ice cream.”

“I heard what Deputy Secretary Seo Yunhee said. She was bragging that she came here with her boyfriend.”

“I’m not curious.”

“Say you’re curious and enjoy it.”

Kangwook’s almost-excuse of an answer made Yunjoo look back at him. She found it surprising that he would bother explaining something so trivial. The woman who had been watching Kangwook carefully order dessert and observing how he treated Yunjoo felt her expression shift slightly. 

She found it remarkable that President Choi Kangwook was the kind of man who used that tone of voice to tend to a woman’s tastes, and she suddenly grew curious about this woman in clothes that didn’t fit a restaurant like this. She couldn’t bring herself to leave and spoke again.

“I’m curious about who this person in front of you is.”

The woman didn’t know Yunjoo. She had been studying abroad when Kangwook got married, and after returning, she had never met Yunjoo. From what she’d heard, the couple’s relationship wasn’t smooth, and they rarely appeared together. On top of that, Yunjoo didn’t attend social gatherings, so very few people knew her face.

This woman, whose name he couldn’t even remember, someone he’d probably exchanged greetings with once or twice at work-related events, kept talking at him from his side. He saw no reason to be pleasant about it. He had no intention of introducing Yunjoo to a woman who had interrupted his time.

“I don’t see why the woman sitting across from me should have to greet you. I’d appreciate it if you stepped aside. And I don’t believe we know each other well enough to be having this long a conversation.”

“No, that’s not what I meant…….”

“It seems you need a direct approach. You’re being a nuisance, so please step aside.”

Kangwook’s words landed with such cold clarity that the woman’s face went pale. Seeing it, Yunjoo felt a pang of pity for her. She had cursed the woman under her breath when she’d looked at her like someone who didn’t belong beside Kangwook, someone trying so hard to impress him. 

But now, as a fellow woman, she couldn’t help but feel for her. Yunjoo watched the woman’s retreating figure, her lips pressed together, her pride clearly wounded, then looked at Kangwook.

“That’s exactly why you shouldn’t have brought me here looking like this. Now Choi Kangwook just looks ridiculous.”

“How exactly do I look ridiculous?”

“Look at me. The way I’m dressed doesn’t fit this place, and that’s just the truth.”

It occurred to him that Yunjoo might have misunderstood why he hadn’t introduced her.

“Are you talking about me not introducing you?”

“You had reason to be embarrassed. I understand, but it still doesn’t feel good.”

“Cha Yunjoo.”

“Ah, it’s not that I wanted to be introduced. That’s not it.”

She said it quickly to correct herself, realizing it might sound like her feelings were hurt over not being introduced, but his expression wasn’t exactly one of belief. Really, nothing was going her way today.

“Did my not introducing you make you feel that way?”

“That’s Choi Kangwook’s business.”

“Cha Yunjoo, listen carefully. Don’t go giving your name to women like that. And you don’t need to shrink yourself either.”

“Mr. Kangwook.”

“Whoever is beside me, in whatever state, is in the same place as me. No exceptions.”

Yunjoo looked at Kangwook as he spoke, facing her directly, and felt something warm and soft stir in her chest. She couldn’t look away, wondering whether Choi Kangwook knew what he was saying to her right now. She couldn’t understand why he kept catching her off guard like this.

Yunjoo held his gaze without looking away, but he wasn’t someone whose thoughts showed just from looking. All she could see were those dark eyes, as unreadable as ever. Kangwook knew why she was looking at him, but he couldn’t let her see. It was because he didn’t want her to catch a glimpse of feelings he himself didn’t yet fully understand.

They returned to the company parking lot and walked to where Yunjoo’s car was. Yunjoo had been about to get in when she turned back to Kangwook.

“Thank you for lunch.”

“Come home and sleep, even if it’s late.”

“I’ll handle it.”

“Can’t you just say yes?”

“Yes. Happy now?”

“Yeah, that works.”

He had to hold back the hand that had started to reach out, struck by the urge to touch Yunjoo as she laughed at his strange stubbornness with an incredulous look on her face.

* * *

This car really did suit her. Having a car was convenient. Leaving Kangwook behind and heading to the workshop, she felt at ease. She loved that she could feel this comfortable while working. As Yunjoo stepped into the workshop, a familiar voice reached her and quickened her steps.

“I’m here!”

“Uncle! You came?”

“Yeah, I’m here. Why don’t you move faster? Most of the people working here are people who’ve worked with me before. That alright with you?”

“Of course. That’s your specialty, Uncle.”

“Right, that’s how it should be. You know I’ll scrap everything if even you pull something on me, right?”

“Yes, yes. Have you eaten lunch?”

“What time do you think it is? I ate. Let’s take a look at the drawings first.”

“Come over here.”

Yunjoo and Uncle Seok went over the drawings together and exchanged opinions. They agreed to do some light prep work today and get moving in earnest starting tomorrow, and they began by checking the materials and supplies that had come in.

She wanted to work without a single thought, to her heart’s content. And she wanted to do it well. Yunjoo felt alive. It made her so happy to be able to throw herself into work with a clear mind like this.

Contrary to what she’d expected, Kangwook was supportive of her work, kept his hands off it, and in some ways was even helping her. The fact that she no longer had to keep checking the time as it grew late and stress herself out trying to get home made her so happy that a smile kept slipping onto her face. Uncle Seok watched her grinning to herself and shook his head.

“Why are you sitting there grinning to yourself?”

“Because I’m happy.”

“About what? There’s a mountain of work piled up. I’m already losing energy just thinking about what’s ahead.”

“Hehe, I don’t have to go racing home like a madwoman while I’m working anymore. That’s why I’m so happy.”

“Ha, I suppose you would be. Your husband must be pleased.”

“He said I could. Heheh.”

“We’ll see. Once the days you don’t come home start piling up, things will change.”

“I don’t know. I’m not even scared. Fighting, Uncle!”

“Fighting, what fighting? You think this is a sports match?”

Even with Uncle Seok’s gruff words, Yunjoo kept smiling at the thought, laughing as she checked things one by one, and laughing even harder whenever her eyes met Uncle Seok’s. He watched her for a moment, then threw out a remark.

“You’ll swallow dust. Close your mouth and work, you little rascal.”

“Uncle, once we start working in earnest tomorrow, how long do you think it’ll take?”

“Well, at least two weeks, I’d say. And then we’ll have to put it on the stage and rework it again.”

“That’s what I figured.”

“You sure nothing’s wrong? If your husband doesn’t like it…….”

“Uncle, nobody knows I’m married. So stop bringing it up.”

“What!”