Chapter 4 (Part 4)

The meeting was eventually postponed. Although it was unclear how the humiliated Team Leader Goo would react, the situation was resolved for the moment.

In-ah left the noisy office and sought a quiet space of her own. 

It was the furniture storage room. In-ah crawled under a desk in a corner and opened her project files.

Thanks to the desk facing the wall, it was the perfect hiding spot if one were to play hide and seek.

Having discovered this place by chance, In-ah often came here to focus.

Today, she was escaping from the chirping sparrows who would chatter about the noisy meeting room incident.

Then it happened.

“I told you. I need time.”

Someone’s voice was heard, but In-ah paid no attention. She had seen many people come here to make phone calls.

However, the next moment, In-ah stopped her hand that was taking notes. She had heard an unexpected name.

“Team Leader Lee Jinwon needs to show some vulnerability. You can’t just kick him out.”

Had Jinwon already made enemies?

“Yes, yes. I’m working on it, so please wait a little longer for good news.”

To identify the speaker, In-ah peeked over the desk. But she could only see the back of the man leaving the storage room after ending the call.

In-ah, lost in thought, continued to draw the same line on the paper.

If Jinwon were to leave the company, there would be no reason to feel unnecessary confusion anymore. 

In that case, she could return to her life before Jinwon reappeared after seven years.

Still hating him, resenting him, and… missing him.

The sound that broke the silence in the storage room snapped In-ah out of her thoughts. Her phone was ringing.

• Where are you?

It was him. The one she hated, resented, and missed…

“What’s the matter?”

• Oh, it’s… Never mind. I’ll tell you later.

Jinwon hung up without saying anything further. In-ah let out a small sigh.

It felt like she had heard Jinwon’s unspoken words.

Are you okay? I’m sorry if I made the situation worse by stepping in.

To those words she hadn’t heard, In-ah quietly responded. 

Thank you. Thank you for standing up for me, Team Leader.

Yes. As a team leader, it’s something he could easily do for a team member. 

In-ah repeated firmly to herself, as if concluding the matter.

***

Jinwon, along with In-ah, Hye-yoon, and Sang-wook, visited Corners Hotel for a work-related meeting.

The representative from Conners Hotel showed a miniature model of the new wing and continued explaining the architecture to the design team. Sang-wook whispered to In-ah, sharing opinions, and Jinwon kept glancing at the two.

Then, the meeting room door opened, and Shin-hye entered.

“Jinwon! I finally get to see you like this.”

Hye-yoon and Sang-wook, who were seeing Shin-hye for the first time and were unaware of her relationship with Jinwon, widened their eyes in surprise.

“Oh, Jinwon and I were study mates abroad. Nice to meet you. I’m Jeong Shin-hye, the representative of Conners Hotel.”

Only then did Hye-yoon and Sang-wook nod and bow to greet Shin-hye.

“It’s almost lunchtime. How about we eat first and continue?”

“Sounds great~”

Sang-wook responded energetically. Hye-yoon, who was a bit more perceptive, just smiled.

“Your meals are ready, so shall we move?”

Led by Shin-hye, the four left the meeting room and started walking somewhere. Shin-hye occasionally turned back and smiled at Jinwon, who was right behind her. Seeing this, Hye-yoon’s lips twitched with curiosity.

The group was following Shin-hye up the stairs when it happened.

“Ah!”

Shin-hye lost her balance and seemed to fall, but she flew into Jinwon’s arms. Everyone looked at the two in surprise. Shin-hye’s lips curled upwards, higher and higher, while Jinwon’s expression remained unchanged. He only glanced briefly at In-ah behind him.

“That was close. Thanks, Jinwon.”

Jinwon helped Shin-hye stand up and moved her away from him. Trying to hide her awkwardness, Shin-hye chatted with Hye-yoon and Sang-wook, who were standing behind her.

“Jinwon saved me a lot during our study days. I tend to trip a lot.”

Shin-hye didn’t forget to glance at In-ah while chattering about things no one asked. But In-ah seemed not very focused on what Shin-hye was saying.

Shin-hye led the ‘Lysian’ team to a dining area reserved for VIPs. As Hye-yoon and Sang-wook stepped into the VIP room, they both wore the same expression, unable to close their gaping mouths.

First, they were astonished by the long table that seemed fit for medieval nobility. Then, they were overwhelmed by the luxurious dishes that were hard to count.

“I prepared this hoping you’d enjoy it, so please indulge yourselves.”

As Shin-hye spoke, everyone began to take their seats, and Shin-hye swiftly claimed the seat next to Jinwon. Then she continuously placed dishes in front of Jinwon.

“Is it okay to satisfy personal desires in a public setting like that?”

Hye-yoon muttered with a pout. Next to her, Sang-wook, who had picked up a fork, raised an eyebrow.

“I find that more interesting.”

Following Sang-wook’s gaze, they saw Shin-hye’s hand on the table. Her hand was slowly inching towards Jinwon’s hand.

Hye-yoon nearly spat out the wine she had just sipped upon seeing this.

“Watch closely. Just as they get close, he moves away again.”

Looking closely, Jinwon moved his hand under the table, away from Shin-hye’s approaching hand.

Hye-yoon, holding back laughter, mouthed to In-ah, 

‘What’s going on?’

Feeling a sense of rivalry, Sang-wook began pulling dishes towards In-ah.

“In-ah, isn’t it inconvenient with everything so far away? Just let me know if there’s anything you want.”

With a gentle voice, Shin-hye, who was watching Sang-wook and In-ah with a satisfied smile, spoke.

“But, are you all single? That seems to be the trend these days. Everyone seems to marry late.”

“Representative Jeong, aren’t you single too, right?”

Unable to hold back, Hye-yoon asked.

“That’s my choice. There’s still so much I want to do.”

Shin-hye gazed intently at Jinwon, making her intentions clear.

Almost simultaneously, Jinwon stood up.

“Where are you going?”

“Just a moment. You all go ahead.”

As Jinwon left the VIP room, Shin-hye put down her chopsticks on the table.

Entering the restroom, Jinwon’s gaze fell on a corner. He found a child squatting against the wall.

Jinwon, who was about to leave after washing his hands, glanced back at the child and looked around the restroom. None of the doors were closed. This meant the child’s guardian wasn’t in the restroom.

Jinwon spoke to the child.

“What are you doing here?”

“Just sitting.”

Jinwon squatted down next to the child. The child looked up at Jinwon.

“What are you doing, mister?”

“Just sitting.”

The child, with a sulky expression, suddenly stood up and left the restroom. Jinwon followed.

The child went to a corner of the hallway and squatted again. Jinwon sat beside him as if copying and pasting.

The child glared at Jinwon with a face full of dissatisfaction. Then, an unexpected question came out of his mouth.

“Mister, how tall are you?”

“Why? Are you curious about how to grow tall like me?”

The child nodded vigorously, showing strong interest.

“Kyung-soo!”

An elderly lady approached the child and Jinwon. However, she didn’t look like an ordinary old woman.

Her fashion, made entirely of luxury brands, was extraordinary, and the presence of two men who seemed like bodyguards made her seem even more so.

“Do you know how long I’ve been looking for you?”

The child pouted and slowly stood up. However, he didn’t take the hand the grandmother offered and started walking away.

“Excuse me!”

At Jinwon’s call, the old lady and the child turned back.

“Excuse me, but how are you related to the child…?”

“Chairwoman!”

A piercingly high-pitched voice from Shin-hye was heard. Shin-hye, who appeared out of nowhere, ran over and bowed deeply to the old lady.

“You came. Hello, Kyung-soo.”

“I came because they said you’d have shaved ice today, but there’s no mango shaved ice. What’s going on?”

“Oh, I’m sorry. If I knew you were coming today, I would have set some aside. Kyung-soo, are you very disappointed?”

Shin-hye affectionately patted the child’s head.

Jinwon, having roughly grasped the situation, was about to leave.

“You…”

The old lady, referred to as Chairwoman, looked sharply at Jinwon and asked.

“Haven’t we met somewhere before?”

“No, this is our first meeting.”

Jinwon’s answer came out without any hesitation.

“Is that so? Thank you for taking care of the child.”

“Just a moment.”

Jinwon sought permission and whispered something to the child. The child pouted again and then tugged at the old lady’s clothes.

“I want to eat something other than mango shaved ice.”

The old lady, pretending to be surprised, left with the child. 

Shin-hye alternated her gaze between the old lady and Jinwon, smiling in satisfaction.