BR - 25

While watching the currently most popular Hollywood movie, Eun-chae couldn’t focus on the film.

Watching a movie alone with Seok-kyung in an empty screening room was truly a date.

“Is it boring?”

When she turned her head at Seok-kyung’s voice, she met his eyes as he rested his face on one hand.

It seemed he hadn’t been interested in the movie from the start, as his body and face were slightly turned towards her.

“Should we leave if it’s boring?”

“Ah, no.”

Eun-chae shook her head.

Her ears flushed from his gaze, but she didn’t turn her head back to Seok-kyung.

Especially when he took one of her hands from her lap and held it, rubbing her palm with his thumb, she couldn’t think of anything else.

The slow, strong, circular rubbing, then the gentle scratching, felt like they were having sex with their hands, and a warm sensation spread below.

After that, Seok-kyung took Eun-chae to a restaurant, acting as if nothing had happened.

Again, there were no other customers around.

It seemed he had created only the minimum number of witnesses, so if word spread later, they would know who was responsible.

Seok-kyung ordered a course meal and stared at Eun-chae.

“Is this proof enough?”

“Proof of what?”

“There are many ways to take you around without anyone else knowing.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“Then what did you mean?”

Eun-chae closed her mouth at Seok-kyung’s cold question.

She didn’t want to repeat the same question: what if this relationship gets exposed and you break off your engagement? You’re not going to start over with me, are you?

Perhaps despite all this, even if they were caught, nothing would change.

Suddenly, she began to understand all of Seok-kyung’s actions.

“Let’s stop.”

There was only one reason why he was doing this, knowing full well what the consequences of all his actions would be.

Because nothing would change.

Eun-chae turned her head, feeling her heart tighten.

Then, a grand piano placed alone in a corner of the restaurant caught her eye.

The black body and white keys sparkled under the pin lights.

It waited quietly in its place, beautifully, waiting for someone to play it.

“Want to play?”

When she turned her head at Seok-kyung’s voice, he tilted his head slightly and looked at Eun-chae.

“No.”

“It’s just the two of us listening anyway, why don’t you...”

“I don’t want to.”

Eun-chae answered coldly and sharply, not even looking at Seok-kyung, keeping her gaze fixed on the window until the food came.

Of course, she kept seeing the piano and Seok-kyung’s face reflected faintly in the window.

________________________________________

Looking at the designer clothes, shoes, and bags filling the dressing room, Eun-chae was in a dilemma.

No matter what she chose to wear, she wouldn’t look like herself from a few days ago.

Still, she chose the most plain and monochrome clothes to wear, and the most plain black bag to carry, to minimize the sense of incongruity.

After sleeping comfortably in a good bed and putting on makeup with the high-end cosmetics in the powder room, she really felt like she had returned to her old self.

She took a picture with her phone, amazed at how beautiful she looked in the mirror.

She even colored her lips with her favorite brand of lipstick and went to work, feeling a little excited.

“Oh my! Eun-chae? Is that really you?”

“Eun-chae-ssi? Is today a special day?”

Hyun-jung and Team Leader Park were surprised to see Eun-chae entering the office.

“What do you mean, a special day?”

“No, you look so beautiful today? Your whole vibe has changed.”

“Oh, come on, unnie, stop it.”

Eun-chae blushed and smiled as Hyun-jung came over, circled around her, and checked her face up close.

“Oh my, I thought you weren’t interested in luxury brands or anything like that? I thought you were a pure and clean person. So you’re one of those types?”

Yang Deputy spoke sarcastically as usual.

“What do you mean, ‘one of those types’? Eun-chae looks prettier than usual with makeup and nice clothes, so you’re just jealous, Deputy?”

“Oh my, I’m not the type to be jealous of that.”

Yang Deputy said to Hyun-jung, looking incredulous, then sat down and kept snorting.

“I’ll get some coffee. Anyone want some?”

Eun-chae made an excuse to leave, thinking she needed to get out of there quickly.

As she was putting coffee mix in a paper cup in front of the water purifier, Hyun-woo, who was on his way to work, stopped when he saw her.

“Eun-chae-ssi?”

He scanned her up and down with wide eyes.

“You’re here, Manager?”

“Is that really Eun-chae-ssi? I thought I saw wrong.”

“Yes?”

“No, your vibe today... it’s different from usual.”

“Is it weird?”

Eun-chae checked her clothes and smiled awkwardly. She was used to wearing only neutral-colored clothes, so she felt awkward even though she had only changed into a bright-colored blouse.

“No, you look beautiful.”

Hyun-woo waved his hand and said.

“I know I should be careful saying this, but I can’t help it. You look really beautiful today.”

“T-thank you.”

Eun-chae blushed, realizing that it wasn’t just flattery but a sincere compliment.

“Would you like some coffee?”

“Sure.”

“I’ll bring it to you soon.”

Eun-chae quickly turned away, avoiding his gaze. Hyun-woo watched her for a moment as she grabbed another paper cup and poured coffee mix, then went into the office.

The problem was that two more people saw this scene.

It was Seok-kyung, who had come down to visit another department and heard their conversation from beginning to end.

“D-Director?”

Secretary Won, who had just returned from the restroom, called Seok-kyung with a tearful face.

Seok-kyung didn’t answer and headed to the planning department. Secretary Won followed him, watching his reaction with a worried look.

“Are you okay?”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, you suddenly look unwell. Did something upset you...?”

“I’m in a great mood.”

There’s no reason to be upset.

Seok-kyung frowned, looking at the back of Secretary Won’s neck, who was shrinking.

It wasn’t like he would feel bad seeing Eun-chae, wearing the clothes and accessories he had bought for her, and being complimented by another man while looking so beautiful.

Damn it. Why is she blushing? Is it her first time hearing a compliment? Or is it because the one who complimented her was handsome and nice Manager Kang?

No, was Eun-chae always this beautiful?

Everything was irritating.

“Director? What brings you here?”

Team Leader Park, surprised to see Seok-kyung suddenly appearing in the planning department, approached and asked.

“Does the planning department have any government-funded projects this year?”

“Yes? Ah, no. Not yet...”

“Why not? If the planning department secures a government-funded project, they’ll receive national subsidies, and with that, we can hire people and proceed with the project, which will benefit the company more, wouldn’t it?”

“Ah, yes. I understand. I’ll check and...”

“Is this a place where I have to tell you everything to get things done, the planning department?”

“I’m sorry.”

The whole department shrank their shoulders at the tense atmosphere.

Eun-chae, who had returned with the coffee she had made, also noticed Seok-kyung’s words from the middle and was stiff.

Her beautifully shimmering peach-colored lips.

I don’t like it.

“Tch.”

Seok-kyung clicked his tongue.

He turned around without greeting anyone and passed by Eun-chae. He glanced at her with cold eyes, and she looked up at him with tense eyes.

What did you do to your eyes?

Seok-kyung frowned at the shimmering makeup around her eyes and turned his head.

Shimmering eyes, beautifully shimmering big eyes.

“Haa...”

Seok-kyung leaned against the wall and sighed deeply.

“Are you okay, Director? Are you feeling unwell?”

“I have a headache.”

“H-headache? Should I get you some painkillers? Or the hospital?”

“No, I’m fine. My head is just full.”

My head is full of Lee Eun-chae, that’s why.

If there was a way to remove the person filling his head at the hospital, he would even consider surgery.

Why is he like this?

“You need to rest. You haven’t rested properly since coming to Studio FIRST. And suddenly you have to prepare for the wedding...”

Secretary Won chattered beside him, trying to figure out the cause of his headache.

But he didn’t know it was counterproductive.

Seok-kyung barely suppressed the urge to cover Secretary Won’s mouth and headed to his office.

________________________________________

“It looks like we’re going to be working overtime for a while.”

Team Leader Park sighed deeply and lamented.

“I have the data I gathered after checking the government projects. I’ll send it to you by email.”

Hyun-woo comforted Team Leader Park.

Eun-chae handed out the coffee she had made to her colleagues. There wasn’t much she could do since she had just been converted to a full-time employee.

“Eun-chae-ssi. Please organize these documents.”

Yang Deputy handed over a thick stack of documents without even thanking her for the coffee.

“What is this?”

“It’s written there. It’s the data for last year’s government project tasks.”

“I know that, but...”

“We need to organize last year’s properly so there won’t be any problems when applying for this year’s project. We need to check if the national subsidies were used properly, and compare the receipts and draft amounts...”

I know that, but...

Eun-chae listened to Yang Deputy without interrupting, but the problem was that the documents Yang Deputy handed over should have been organized and passed on to the management support department already.

She didn’t understand why they were passing it on to her now.

“Got it?”

“Shouldn’t these documents have been passed on to the management support department already?”

“That’s why they contacted us. They said to send it by tomorrow.”

“Yes? Tomorrow?”

“Yeah.”

Yang Deputy replied to Eun-chae with a what’s-the-problem expression.