Chapter 7.6

The moment of farewell came cruelly fast.

In-wook, having finished his preparations to leave, stood in front of Hae-soo’s room. It was already close to noon, but Hae-soo was nowhere to be seen.

He wondered if she was still sleeping in, or if she was avoiding him because his confession had become a burden.

He couldn’t figure out what was going on in Hae-soo’s mind. Meanwhile, time kept passing, and the moment to leave was right before him. He couldn’t wait any longer.

In-wook knocked on Hae-soo’s door. He waited for her answer, but there was no sound from the other side.

He couldn’t begin to express how complicated he felt. If he had known it would end up like this, he would never have confessed his feelings. For the first time in his life, a tidal wave of regret washed over him, fierce and overwhelming.

“I’m leaving for the airport now. I’ll leave the spare key on the table on the first floor, so make sure to take it, and just keep the key In-ah gave you. I’ll take care of the rest.”

He let out a deep sigh as he left this message, having waited only for Hae-soo’s reply. Yet, his feet refused to move.

He stood there for quite a while longer. Then, after about ten minutes, he finally forced himself to turn away.

“See you in Korea.”

He hoped it would be possible.

But somehow, he couldn’t feel certain. That fact pained him.

* * *

It was a little later than the originally planned 3 o’clock when they returned the rental car and entered the airport.

In-wook walked quickly. Considering the check-in process, there wasn’t much time to spare.

But for some reason, Chief Kim was moving unusually slowly. In-wook, already on edge, frowned as he looked back at him.

Chief Kim was just staring intently at his phone. That sight irritated In-wook even more.

“Chief Kim, I think we should hurry. If it’s not an urgent message, check it after we’re inside the departure hall.”

“Pardon? Ah, Sir, it’s just that…”

At those words, Chief Kim looked up, glancing between In-wook and his phone with a flustered face. In-wook, already feeling stifled, was about to snap.

His sharp words were about to fly at Chief Kim when, suddenly, a familiar voice pierced In-wook’s ears.

“Ah, why are you only just getting here? I couldn’t even go inside, worried we’d miss each other, so I’ve been waiting the whole time! I was so bored, I couldn’t even look around the duty-free shops.”

In-wook’s face turned toward the source of the familiar voice. To his surprise, he saw In-ah’s face.

“Baek In-ah, why are you here?”

In-wook asked, sounding dumbfounded. She, too, hadn’t shown herself since early morning. Of course, his mind had been so full of Hae-soo that he hadn’t had time to worry, but he figured she’d make her way back on her own.

All he wanted was for In-ah to take care of Hae-soo’s feelings until the day they returned.

He’d even thought, on the way to the airport, that he should have left her some words of advice—and was planning to call In-ah once inside the departure hall.

But here she was. She was supposed to still be in Hallstatt, so why was she here? And what about Hae-soo?

“Why am I here? I’m going home, of course. What, did you rent out the whole airport, oppa?”

“What about Hae-soo—how are you here…?”

In-wook, frowning, tried to check on Hae-soo’s whereabouts. But before he could finish, he had to close his mouth.

He saw Hae-soo in the distance. Maybe she’d come late to see him off, but she was also carrying a suitcase.

“Of course, if I’m going home, how could Yoon Hae-soo not come? She has to go home with me.”

Unaware of In-wook’s complicated feelings, In-ah, having brought Hae-soo close, boasted. But unfortunately, In-wook’s interest was focused on only one thing.

“You…”

In-wook simply could not take his eyes off Hae-soo. There were so many things he wanted to say, filling his mouth. However, seeing Hae-soo constantly glancing at In-ah, he couldn’t bring himself to speak comfortably.

He swallowed a sigh and suddenly thought of someone, turning to look behind him. Chief Kim, who had been standing awkwardly, flinched. He must have immediately understood the silent instruction in In-wook’s gaze.

Chief Kim quickly stepped forward in front of In-wook, reading the situation. Then, he held out his hand toward him.

“If you give me your passport, I’ll handle the check-in and luggage. Sir, please take care of your business at your leisure.”

Chief Kim’s voice was excessively awkward. But In-wook pretended not to notice and handed over his passport and suitcase. At that, In-ah looked at Hae-soo as if she’d been waiting for this.

“You too, give me your passport and luggage. I’ll take care of it.”

“You? Won’t it be hard to handle yours and mine together?”

“With Chief Kim here, what’s there to worry about! Hurry up, hurry!”

In-ah urged Hae-soo sharply. She shook her arm so frantically that, before she knew it, Hae-soo found her own suitcase already by In-ah’s side, staring blankly at it.

With a satisfied expression, In-ah marched off following behind Chief Kim, as if she’d been waiting for this.

Hae-soo gazed at them in a daze. But before long, she had to turn to face forward again. Someone’s gaze, fixed on her, was so hot and intense she couldn’t ignore it.

“What’s going on?”

Before she knew it, In-wook had come right up to her, asking in a rather blunt voice. He even seemed a bit angry.

Hae-soo looked up at him timidly, her face full of hesitation.

“I’m going to Korea with you.”

It was a decision she had only managed to settle on after a full day of agonizing. Yet, In-wook’s reaction was far from ordinary.

She hadn’t expected him to welcome her with open arms, but even so, his expression was far too dark.

He remained silent for a long time, only letting out deep sighs one after another.

“…How did you get the ticket?”

“In-ah did. As soon as I said I wanted to go to Korea, she got it for me.”

Hae-soo spoke in a dispirited voice. She couldn’t hide her disappointment. She understood why he might react this way, considering how anxious she’d made him for two days, but still, this felt like too much.

Yet, In-wook’s expression didn’t change at all, even at Hae-soo’s downcast reaction.

“When did you get to the airport?”

“About two hours ago?”

“Ha, then you should have at least told me! I thought you were staying in your room all day because you were uncomfortable seeing me…!”

For a moment, he couldn’t hold back his emotions and they burst out. Only then did Hae-soo, who had been staring at her toes, look up at In-wook.

“Were you… waiting for me?”

“Is that even a question!”

As if he couldn’t hold it in any longer, In-wook pulled Hae-soo into a tight embrace. Surprised, Hae-soo made a dazed face, but soon wrapped her arms around his waist and held him close, nestling into his arms as much as she wanted.

“I’m sorry. I needed time to think because I like you so much. You know my situation in Korea isn’t easy, so I was worried you might get hurt because of me…”

“Why would you think something like that? Who would dare harm me?”

In-wook cut her off immediately, as if he didn’t even need to hear more. Yet Hae-soo didn’t feel bad at all. In fact, his unwavering attitude made her smile softly.

“Well, even if they tried, you’re not the type to just sit and take it, are you?”

“It’s not just me.”

“Huh?”

“From now on, I won’t just stand by and watch if you get hurt, either.”

In-wook gently pulled Hae-soo away from his embrace, just enough to look straight into her sparkling eyes.

“As soon as we get back, I’m going to contact the press. I’ll make sure no more articles about you ever appear in front of me again.”

“Haha, what?”

“It’s the same for posts about you on anonymous sites. I’ll release a statement saying we’ll take strong legal action against baseless slander.”

“Who’s going to take strong legal action? Me? Or you?”

Hae-soo sounded genuinely taken aback. But In-wook had no intention of taking back his words. He hadn’t said them lightly.

“Why would you or I have to do anything when we have a perfectly good legal team? I’ll take care of everything, so you don’t have to worry about a thing.”

In-wook made it clear once again. He had wanted to resolve this himself, even if she hadn’t come back to Korea with him.

More than anything, he didn’t want to see Yoon Hae-soo struggle any longer.

His sincere feelings shone clearly in the way he looked at her. Only then did Hae-soo realize In-wook wasn’t saying these things lightly.

“In-ah was right.”

“What?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

Hae-soo shook her head with a bright smile. At that, In-wook once again pulled her into his arms. It was as if he wanted to make up for the longing that had gnawed at him for the past two days, even if only like this.

Feeling his sincerity so clearly, Hae-soo quietly stayed in his embrace. She could have stayed like that forever, until the moment he decided to let her go.

It was after she had been in his arms for quite a while. As she mulled over In-wook’s words, Hae-soo suddenly turned her head to look up at him.

“But… is it really okay to leave my problem with the Taeseon legal team?”

“Why wouldn’t it be?”

“No matter what, I’m not even an employee of Taeseon, and my problem isn’t related to Taeseon either.”

“If it really bothers you that much, then just become my actual secretary.”

“What?”

Hae-soo let out a hollow laugh. Was he talking about making her his secretary again? She found it completely bewildering. But strangely, the playful retort she expected didn’t come, no matter how long she waited.

Hae-soo looked up at In-wook again. What she saw was his face, wearing an utterly serious expression.

“Honestly, you have more practical experience than anyone on my current secretary team. You’re the one who managed to succeed in getting Arno to open a branch after months of no progress.”

“You’re joking, right?”

“Do I look like I’m joking?”

Hae-soo narrowed her brows and asked him again. Only then did he flash a mischievous smile at the corners of his lips. Then he left a light kiss on her lips. Or so she thought.

In the fleeting moment their lips touched and parted, In-wook’s tongue softly traced over her lips.

Startled, Hae-soo leaned her upper body back and looked around. Fortunately, no one seemed to be paying attention to them.

Hae-soo shot In-wook a reproachful look, but he simply shrugged, as if he didn’t understand what the problem was.

Before another mishap could happen, Hae-soo tried to escape from him. But she couldn’t move at all.

He held her waist firmly. Because of that, his body pressed flush against hers, from just above her navel to the space between her hips.

Hae-soo was shocked. She couldn’t believe it, but at some point, he had gotten aroused, and the hard, fierce sensation against her thigh made his presence unmistakably known, even through their clothes.

An inexplicable embarrassment swept over her. Instinctively, she tried to push him away again with force. But once again, she was no match for him.

With his arms tightly wrapped around her waist, making it impossible for her to move, he leaned in and kissed her again, as if he’d been waiting for this.

“Where do you think you’re going? You’re the one who made me like this. So you have to take responsibility, Yoon Hae-soo.”

He smiled meaningfully. Seeing that mischievous smile, the strength drained from Hae-soo’s arms. With just that one playful smile, any thought of running away vanished as if it had never existed.

She didn’t want to be apart from him even for a moment. Now, she couldn’t help but admit it.

“Yes. I’ll take responsibility, Baek In-wook. For you.”

Her fake boss was incredibly alluring, shameless, full of energy—a very s*xy man.

Looking at In-wook, Hae-soo beamed.

It seemed their trip back home would be much happier, hotter, and more thrilling than she had ever expected.