Chapter 6 (Part 1)

Since that day, Jinwon couldn’t see In-ah either during commuting or at work. 

In-ah was indeed busy running around in preparation for the launch, but she consciously avoided Jinwon. 

It was the day they were building the set for the product photo shoot. Just like during the preparation for the evaluation meeting, In-ah was checking every detail, so much so that she didn’t even have time to eat.

Jinwon was about to leave the office with Kang Cheol for dinner before working overtime that day.

As the conference room door opened, a familiar woman walked out. It was In-ah’s sister, In-kyung.

“Oh? Team Leader?”

In-kyung also recognized Jinwon at a glance. Jinwon bowed his head in greeting to the delighted In-kyung.

“You still shine brightly.”

At In-kyung’s pleasant smile, Jinwon’s eyes wandered.

“Our In-ah can’t eat properly when a product launch is approaching, so I brought her a lunchbox.”

“Yes.”

“I never got to properly thank you for saving our In-ah the other day…”

Kang Cheol, who was listening, widened his eyes and looked at Jinwon. It was the first he had heard of it. 

Save Seo In-ah? When? Where?

“It’s nothing.”

“I brought one for you too, Team Leader. Come in and join us.”

Jinwon was flustered by In-kyung’s sudden offer and waved his hands repeatedly. In-kyung, as if expecting such a reaction, quickly grabbed Jinwon’s arm.

“Please, don’t refuse. Otherwise, our parents who prepared it will be disappointed.”

“Can I join too? I’m Choi Kang Cheol, the Team Leader next to Seo In-ah’s team.”

“Of course. Please join us.”

Almost being dragged by In-kyung’s strong grip, Jinwon entered the conference room. Kang Cheol, who seemed delighted, was with him.

Inside the conference room, In-ah was stuffing her mouth with spicy stir-fried octopus.

“Ahaha. I’m so glad our In-ah has found her appetite, right?”

Jinwon awkwardly smiled at In-kyung and sat down across from In-ah.

It had been about a week since that day, so it had been a while since Jinwon had seen In-ah’s face.

Jinwon picked up his chopsticks and took a bite of rice, glancing at In-ah throughout. However, In-ah didn’t look at Jinwon even once.

“Our mom wanted to ask what you like, Team Leader, but she couldn’t, and she was quite disappointed.”

As In-kyung said that, she conspicuously glanced at In-ah.

“We didn’t prepare much, but please eat a lot, Team Leader.”

Jinwon bowed his head to express his gratitude to In-kyung.

After In-kyung left, In-ah continued working late into the night on the set, where the furniture was gradually taking shape.

While reviewing detailed materials about the furniture and helping with the installation, In-ah paused. She remembered the materials she left in the office.

Past 10 PM, the office was empty, and the lights were off.

In-ah confidently walked to her desk and rummaged through it to find the necessary materials. As she turned around, she noticed the light on in the Team Leader’s office. It was Jinwon’s office.

Hasn’t he gone home yet? I mean, who cares.

In-ah passed by the lit Team Leader’s office and went out into the hallway. It was when she was walking through the hallway in front of the restroom to get to the set.

From inside the restroom, she heard someone retching violently. It sounded serious to anyone who heard it.

In-ah paused for a moment. Then the loud retching sound stopped abruptly. The sound of running water, as if someone was washing their hands, followed.

In-ah started walking again. Then she suddenly looked back.

At that moment, she saw a man just coming out of the restroom. It was Jinwon. He was staggering, barely managing to walk while holding onto the wall with one hand.

In-ah turned and started walking again.

‘Thud!’

Jinwon, who was slumped over his desk, weakly lifted his head. There was an antacid on the desk, and he saw In-ah turning away.

“I’m okay…”

Jinwon barely squeezed out his voice to In-ah’s back as she left without answering.

“In-ah…”

Only then did In-ah stop and turn around.

“It seems like it’s because of the lunchbox my parents packed, so just take it.”

Jinwon watched In-ah’s back as she left without listening to his response.

***

The next day, Jinwon, who had suffered from severe indigestion all night, went to work with a noticeably pale face.

“That’s strange. You seem even more handsome. What’s different?”

Kang Cheol looked as if he was facing a serious problem, resting his chin in his hand and pondering.

Jinwon let out an incredulous chuckle. Unable to solve the mystery, Kang Cheol asked Jinwon.

“Aren’t you going to the shooting set?”

“I’m going now.”

“Geez, is being handsome everything? What a temper.”

Kang Cheol, who was perfectly fine despite eating the same lunch, followed Jinwon to the shooting set.

The shoot was in full swing. A female model was portraying the feeling of a career woman heading to work, set against the backdrop of the newly launching dressing room furniture.

Jinwon searched for In-ah with his eyes.

He saw In-ah standing behind the photographer, who was busy pressing the shutter. She was watching the model with a sharp gaze.

“Alright, let’s take a short break.”

At the photographer’s voice, the staff dispersed from around the camera.

The photographer, checking the photos on the monitor, turned his head and paused.

“Who is that standing over there?”

People’s gazes turned to the person the photographer pointed out. An employee next to him whispered to the photographer.

“That’s Team Leader Lee Jinwon.”

Jinwon was bewildered by the sudden attention directed at him.

“Team Leader, could you help with the shoot?”

Jinwon widened his eyes, not understanding the meaning. Then the photographer spoke soothingly.

“It’s not difficult, Team Leader. Just stand next to the female model.”

“No, I won’t do it. Someone else…”

Jinwon’s hurried words were interrupted by the photographer’s firm statement.

“No, Team Leader, you’re the perfect fit here. With such visuals, how can you refuse? Can’t you do this much for the new product promotion?”

Jinwon was at a loss for words. Unconsciously, he glanced towards In-ah.

Even at that moment, In-ah was focused on examining the furniture, not sparing a glance at Jinwon. However, Jinwon was swayed by the photographer’s final words. For the promotion of the newly launching product, for In-ah.

“The beige knit and white pants hanging over there would be perfect.”

A little later.

“Wow–!”

As if on cue, the staff and employees at the shooting set exclaimed in unison.

The suit he usually wore was, of course, stylish, but the knit with clean white pants was a perfect match. On top of that, the stylist’s touch on his hairstyle and light makeup made him look like a model.

Even In-ah couldn’t help but look. And without realizing it, her eyes were fixed on Jinwon.

Eight years ago, Jinwon was impeccably handsome, but now, with the added scent of a mature man, his charm was at an enormous level.

“He could be a model.”

The photographer holding the camera let slip his genuine thoughts toward Jinwon.

The photographer gave advice to Jinwon, who was awkwardly standing next to the female model.

“Just turn your face slightly. Good, just like that~”

The employees watching the shoot were busy whispering among themselves.

“Isn’t the Team Leader going to start modeling now?”

“No, he’ll get offers before he even starts.”

“Really? I knew he was handsome, but it’s incredible.”

It wasn’t just the employees showing great interest in Jinwon. The model, facing Jinwon from the closest distance, couldn’t stop her lips from curling up.

“Could you wrap your arm slightly around the female model’s waist?”

At the photographer’s sudden request, Jinwon hesitantly reached out his hand. Then the female model naturally wrapped her arms around Jinwon’s neck. Startled, Jinwon quickly turned his face away.

“Oh my, look at the Team Leader’s face turning red.”

“Ahh- is he blushing? What’s going on, what’s going on!”

At this rate, Jinwon’s fan club was about to form. In-ah let out a small sigh.

After finishing a session of shooting, the photographer and In-ah checked the photos they had just taken on the monitor.

“Seo In-ah, what do you think?”

The photographer asked for the opinion of In-ah, the person in charge.

“It’s good.”

It was a soulless tone that anyone could recognize. It was a rare sight from In-ah, who usually approached everything with enthusiasm.

“Did you even look at it properly?”

At the photographer’s pointed remark, In-ah had no choice but to check the photos again. As she looked at the photos, an inexplicable irritation began to simmer.

Barely suppressing it, In-ah pointed at the photos and made a comment.

“This seems problematic. The focus should be on the furniture, not the models.”

The photos In-ah pointed out were those where Jinwon and the female model were closely together.

“You have a point. Shall we go again? A little more distance this time.”

Watching the shoot proceed again, Hye-yoon murmured.

“That girl, she’s subtly clever, isn’t she?”

“She’s quite skilled, our In-ah.”

Sang-wook, who had come to stand next to her, answered as if he had been waiting.

At that moment, the female model, who had been gazing intently at Jinwon, raised her hand and slowly traced Jinwon’s jawline with her finger.

The continuous sound of the shutter stopped. Then the female model, feeling awkward, pouted her lips and said.

“Isn’t this level of ad-lib allowed? It’s not like we’re on public broadcasting.”