“With you being CEO, I imagine all your arranged dates must fall in love with you. Haven’t you found anyone you like among them so far?”
“No, unfortunately not.”
“Then may I ask what your ideal type is?”
Her throat was parched even after emptying an entire bottle.
Thinking she needed another bottle, she straightened up from leaning against the wall.
Just as she was about to head toward the row of water bottles placed on the back table—
“I don’t have a specific ideal type, but……”
The low voice seeping into her ears stopped Yeonsu in her tracks.
Despite being far away, his voice echoed clearly in her ears.
“Someone with long straight hair, fair skin, and distinct features.”
Yeonsu slowly turned toward his direction.
Beyond the camera, she could see Seonjae conducting the interview facing the host.
Yeonsu flinched in surprise.
His gaze, which had been directed at the host, was now fixed on her.
The moment she was reflected in Seonjae’s ink-black pupils, the corner of his mouth drew an oblique line.
“I do find myself attracted to women who exude coldness just by looking at them.”
He was clearly speaking while looking at her.
※※※
The filming that began when the sun rose ended only after the sun had set and night had fallen.
Everyone looked tired from the shooting that lasted longer than expected.
As Yeonsu was packing up her things, she heard whispering.
“Didn’t it seem like CEO Moon Seonjae was talking about Team Leader Seo Yeonsu earlier?”
“You felt that too? He seemed to be looking in her direction.”
Yeonsu heard people’s voices as they glanced at her. Along with unfriendly gazes.
“With all the rumors, I find everything suspicious.”
“True. There’s definitely something there, isn’t there?”
Seonjae’s ideal type comment was like fanning flames. There were already many unfavorable gazes directed at Yeonsu.
Moon Seonjae had clearly been looking at her while speaking.
Some cast members shifted their gaze to her, aware that he was looking at her.
He kept staring at her despite knowing others could easily misunderstand the situation.
‘Is he doing this deliberately?’
No. In fact, Yeonsu was convinced he was doing it on purpose.
With each encounter, she suspected his intentions.
The moment he mentioned his ideal type, she clearly realized it. At least this moment wasn’t coincidental.
Her gaze fell on the pile of water bottles on the table.
Despite emptying so many, her mouth felt dry again as if thirst was returning.
Realizing he was doing this deliberately made Yeonsu feel frustrated.
If he was going to pretend not to know her, he should commit to it completely—why was he getting under her skin like this?
Yeonsu looked around.
Seonjae, who had been in the studio until the end of filming, was nowhere to be seen.
She thought it would be better not to run into him at all.
Yeonsu planned to return to the company to finish her work before going home.
Just as Yeonsu was gathering her things from the table to leave, she came face to face with Seonjae entering the studio.
“Good work today. I’ll be going now.”
Just as Yeonsu bowed her head with a brief greeting—
“Where are you going?”
Yeonsu had tried to leave quickly, worried he might casually strike up a conversation.
Sure enough, Seonjae approached her.
The eyes of the people remaining in the studio were now fixed on the two of them.
She was freshly reminded of Seonjae’s presence.
Every word he spoke, every small action he took drew attention.
Just as Yeonsu was about to leave, knowing nothing good would come from prolonging their conversation—
“Now that we’re done, I’m leaving.”
“I’m going to get dinner. Let’s go together.”
Yeonsu raised her head at the voice.
“Are you talking to me?”
At Yeonsu’s question, the corner of Seonjae’s mouth curved obliquely.
“If I’m speaking to Team Leader Seo Yeonsu, who else would I be talking to?”
Yeonsu furrowed her brow.
The two weren’t on terms to casually have meals together.
Her eyes were now filled with displeasure.
Did he think lightly of her? Is that why he could act this way?
As her thoughts spread like they had grown legs, Yeonsu’s expression darkened.
She suppressed the anger that was about to burst forth. If there hadn’t been people around, she might have asked him.
What exactly was he doing?
Yeonsu pressed down her emotions that were about to explode and parted her lips.
She only wanted to avoid getting further entangled with him.
“I have no intention of having dinner with you, sir.”
Yeonsu’s words of refusal were sharp.
Seonjae seemed to notice this, as his right eyebrow twitched slightly.
“I’ll be going now.”
Yeonsu gave another greeting. And just as she was about to turn around, Team Leader Oh was standing where she turned, having approached without her noticing. It was the same designer, Team Leader Oh Hyejung, to whom Yeonsu had delivered the suit.
“Where are you going, Yeonsu? We have a company dinner.”
“Company dinner?”
Yeonsu’s eyes widened at the mention of a company dinner.
“You didn’t know? There was a notice about having dinner after the shoot. The CEO is treating us to Korean beef, right?”
“Yes, but……”
Yeonsu flinched at the low voice coming from right behind her.
At that moment, her eyes met Seonjae’s.
“Team Leader Seo Yeonsu seems to dislike my treat.”
He slowly pulled up one corner of his mouth.
“What? That can’t be true. It’s Korean beef, after all.”
Seonjae wouldn’t take his eyes off Yeonsu even as Team Leader Oh spoke to him.
※※※
They must have rented out the entire restaurant for the company dinner, as only the filming team was inside.
Long tables stretched from the entrance to the back of the restaurant.
Yeonsu scanned her surroundings before her gaze landed on Seonjae, who was seated at a distance.
Seonjae was surrounded by numerous employees, from the PR department to the sales team.
That man probably wouldn’t even know where she was sitting.
She thought that was fortunate.
“CEO, I’m Park Younghyun, Managing Director of Taeseo Trading’s PR department.”
“Managing Director Park. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“Oh my, I’m honored. Thank you for personally agreeing to the interview.”
“It’s nothing. I was the one who wanted to do it.”
Yeonsu deliberately avoided looking in his direction.
Why did Moon Seonjae’s voice sound so clear in this large restaurant?
At his comment about volunteering for the filming, Yeonsu unconsciously turned toward him.
Seonjae’s gaze, which had been facing Managing Director Park, slowly shifted until their eyes met.
Their gazes locked too quickly for it to be a coincidence.
Moreover, he was staring intently at Yeonsu.
In the end, Yeonsu had no choice but to look away first.
Her throat was parched again. It was a thirst that water couldn’t quench. She poured alcohol into the glass in front of her.
“Huh? Team Leader Seo, you’re drinking?”
“Yes, my throat is dry.”
“I thought you weren’t drinking since you drove here. Give it to me, I’ll pour for you. I’m good at mixing soju and beer.”
Team Leader Oh Hyejung, who was sitting across from her, took the soju bottle Yeonsu was holding and filled the empty glass.
The night sky had already darkened when Yeonsu emptied her glass in one go.
“Wow, you drank that in one shot?”
Team Leader Oh took Yeonsu’s empty glass with a surprised face.
“We’ve known each other for years since Seungji Apparel, but this is the first time I’m drinking with you.”
“That’s right. It’s been five years.”
“Come out to company dinners more often from now on. Let’s get closer.”
Team Leader Oh had been working continuously since Yeonsu first joined the company.
This was uncommon in the fashion industry where job changes were frequent.
She used to socialize with people when she first started working.
But after losing Huimang and returning to work, she became extremely averse to socializing.
Perhaps thinking of her child, Yeonsu’s gaze darkened.
The baby she had cherished for ten months was stillborn, and her guilt for not being able to protect her child made it impossible to laugh and joke around.
She spent the first few years barely living, and by the time she started feeling a little better, it was already too late.
The distance between her and others had only grown day by day.
“……Yes, let’s do that.”
Moon Seonjae, the father of her child, had forgotten her and was living well. Perhaps it was finally okay for her to smile and live normally too.
Yeonsu tilted her glass again. Though she occasionally felt his gaze on her, she deliberately avoided looking back.
That was the best approach.
The atmosphere at the company dinner grew livelier.
Yeonsu put down her glass, feeling she might get drunk if she drank more.
Looking toward where Seonjae was sitting, she noticed his seat was empty.
“I should get going now.”
She thought it was time to leave after staying an appropriate amount of time.
She needed to return to the company before it got too late. She had urgent work to finish.
Besides, she was sitting alone with Team Leader Oh at her table, while the other tables were bustling with people.
Yeonsu understood what that meant.
