PBWY - 4

It felt like just yesterday that the city was draped in the fresh greenery of spring, but now the season of falling leaves had arrived. Early winter had come.

Yeonhee pulled down the cuffs of her cardigan and rubbed her cold wrists. Sitting near the window seemed to make her feel chilly no matter how many layers she wore or how many blankets she covered herself with.

Her head throbbed, and she pressed her temples with her fingertips. She figured she’d have to skip lunch and lie down on the sofa in the break room instead.

She was huddled in her chair, working on the weekly report, when someone strolled into the office late. Hearing scattered greetings erupt here and there, she guessed it was Junghoon.

He had said he had external appointments this morning, but it seemed he was only just arriving at the office now, at eleven o’clock.

“You’re here, Team Leader?”

Yeonhee greeted him with deliberate professionalism. Lately, it had become quite the challenge to hide her emotions, as just seeing him made her smile involuntarily rise to the surface.

“Good afternoon to you, Yeonhee.”

Junghoon flashed a polite, everyday smile and set down two coffee trays on her desk. Eight takeout coffee cups stood neatly in a row.

“What’s all this?”

“Just a little sugar boost for the planning team before lunch.”

He gestured with his chin, seemingly indicating for her to distribute them, then took one cup from the tray and set it directly on her desk. As he leaned in to rearrange the cups, he whispered softly, almost conspiratorially:

“Hot chocolate for you, Yeonhee, since you get cold easily. Enjoy.”

Before she could say anything in response, he straightened and disappeared into his office. Only his pleasant scent lingered where he had stood—an aroma that subtly yet utterly rattled her heart.

Yeonhee carried the coffee trays around, handing them out to the members of Planning Team 2. Then, she returned to her seat and clasped the lone cup standing tall on her desk. The warmth seeped into her chilled fingers. Without even taking a sip, her heart was warmed simply by the thought of him giving her hot chocolate.

It had been nearly a year since this ambiguous relationship between them began. The bond that had started in winter had now circled through all four seasons and was once again approaching winter.

He was always consistent—kind, thoughtful, and sensitive.

Like just now. Yesterday, in passing, she had casually mentioned how cold the office felt these days. It had been a fleeting comment, easily forgotten, but he had remembered and bought her a hot chocolate.

Either he was very attuned to the feelings of someone who could be moved by such small gestures, or he knew her very well. Perhaps both.

Yeonhee smiled faintly and took a sip of the hot chocolate. The moderately sweet drink slid warmly down her throat.

Things were going well between her and Junghoon. When he was busy, there had been times they hadn’t seen each other for an entire month, but usually, they spent weekends together—eating good food, walking in the park, talking, or lounging around at his place watching movies.

Sometimes, they even went on trips together. There was always a toothbrush of hers in his bathroom.

But.

But they weren’t lovers. They didn’t exchange regular texts or take photos together. They didn’t hold hands while walking in the park, nor had they introduced each other to their families.

And… she still didn’t know how he felt about her. She had never heard even a brief confession.

That he liked her. Or… loved her.

He would say things like “cute” or “pretty,” but it always felt more like something you’d say to a pet parrot than a person.

Yeonhee took another sip of her hot chocolate.

She was always conflicted. What was this relationship between her and him? Was it just a casual physical relationship? Or was it something else?

Everything was uncertain, but there were moments when these thoughts would arise—moments like this, when he did something thoughtful that made her heart swell with unwarranted hope. She would catch herself thinking that maybe, just maybe, he felt the same way.

That perhaps their relationship wasn’t just physical. That perhaps it was love.

It was a ridiculous hope, but it warmed her heart like a mirage. It was the kind of happiness that made her hands and feet tingle, as if her whole body was thawing out.

Could it be that they were lovers, even without an explicit confession or a clear beginning? Could it be that, despite their clumsy start, they were two people who genuinely wanted each other?

Maybe what he said at the hotel before… had been my misunderstanding all along.

The hot chocolate lingering in her mouth tasted particularly sweet today. So sweet it almost made her head hurt. It was a painful yet blissful sensation.

“Where are we going now?”

“I’m taking you somewhere to nourish your body. You’ve been feeling the cold a lot lately.”

He answered easily while turning the steering wheel.

As soon as Friday arrived, Junghoon had suddenly sent the team home 30 minutes early, telling them to enjoy their Friday night. Not long after Yeonhee left the office, he contacted her directly. He told her not to head home but to come to his car on the second basement level.

Since this had happened occasionally before, Yeonhee simply nodded and got into his car. They were now driving along an outer road, heading toward a place near Gyeonggi Province.

It seemed like they were on their way to a Korean fine dining restaurant he had taken her to before. The place was so expensive it could make your eyes pop, but the refined flavors had left an impression, and she thought about it from time to time.

When she was with him, she always ended up eating good food and visiting nice places. If she grew used to this kind of lifestyle, it would only make things harder later. If she had never experienced it, it wouldn’t matter, but once you’ve had a taste of luxury, losing it makes you feel like something’s been taken from you.

To avoid getting too accustomed to the kindness he offered, to avoid being swayed by indulgence, Yeonhee always set boundaries for herself.

This expensive meal isn’t really mine. These clothes he gave me aren’t really mine.

But...

But she couldn’t help but desire Min Junghoon himself. It was a love that flowed despite her efforts to hold it back.

Even if he were to lose everything. Even if he came to her with nothing but the clothes on his back. Even if they ended up living in a tiny room, eating instant noodles and struggling to make ends meet, she could still wholeheartedly embrace him.

To Yeonhee, Junghoon was already that kind of person.

After a while, they arrived at a place that exuded a blend of Eastern and Western charm, more like a sophisticated art gallery than a restaurant.

As soon as the car stopped, Yeonhee gathered her courage and hugged the back of his neck. Startled by the sudden contact, Junghoon froze momentarily before wrapping his arms around her in return.

“What’s this sudden gift?”

“I’m just grateful to you, Junghoon.”

“For what?”

His voice was warm as he smiled and pressed his lips to her cheek. Yeonhee closed her eyes, receiving the sweet kisses that rained down on her face.

“For everything. You’re always kind to me, Junghoon. Thoughtful and gentle... I love everything about you. Every single thing.”

“...”

Junghoon didn’t say a word in response to her abrupt confession.

When she opened her eyes slightly, she saw Junghoon staring down at her with a curious expression. It was hard to read—was it blank, or something else? His eyes seemed to ripple with emotions she couldn’t understand.

Yeonhee simply smiled.

“Was my confession too overwhelming for him?”

But because it was her honest truth, she didn’t try to brush it off playfully. She had no intention of pushing him, but she also saw no reason to hide her feelings. Being grateful to him and liking him were genuine parts of her heart.

“I didn’t say this to make you feel burdened, Junghoon. Don’t take it too seriously. Anyway, I’m hungry.”

She lightened the mood with her words. Junghoon, who had turned his expression neutral again, reached over to unbuckle her seatbelt. Then, tapping her lips with his index finger, he said,

“Well, what you just said has me a little turned on... but since you’re hungry, I’ll feed you first.”

Two seconds after understanding the meaning behind his words, her face flushed bright red.

Junghoon smiled as if nothing had happened and got out of the car first. For a while, Yeonhee fanned her heated face with her hands until he opened the door for her. Only then did she awkwardly step out of the car.

As they walked a few steps toward the entrance, they passed by a willow tree with its branches gracefully hanging down. Just past that, they brushed past a stone harubang before the main building came into view.

Following the guide, they walked across a gravel path and rounded a familiar curve when suddenly, a voice called out from nearby.

“Huh? Jaden? Wait, is that you, Junghoon?”

Naturally, Yeonhee turned her head. She saw a man and woman who seemed to have come out of a private room. The man, apparently familiar with Junghoon, grinned and strode toward them.

“Are you here for a meal? You should’ve said so. Let’s eat together.”

The tall man with silver-framed glasses spoke to Junghoon. He approached without hesitation, flashing a broad smile, suggesting they were quite familiar with each other.

“Yeah.”

But unlike the man, Junghoon gave a curt reply. After glancing down at Yeonhee, who was fidgeting with her bag, he lifted his head again. His expression had been tense since the moment he saw his friend.

Meanwhile, Yeonhee felt uncomfortable for some reason.

The couple in front of them looked like people who exuded elegance effortlessly, clad in obviously expensive clothes. She wasn’t so insecure as to feel inferior about such things, but what bothered her was...

She stared at Junghoon’s back, which was partially shielding her from view.

As soon as Junghoon faced his friend, he had naturally moved his arm to hide her behind him. Given his tall height and broad build, her body was completely concealed.

That action bothered her a little. It felt as though he was trying to hide her.

‘Don’t overthink it. He didn’t say anything to suggest that.’

Gripping the strap of her bag tightly, she shook her head. Jumping to conclusions and sulking alone was the truly pathetic thing to do.

Junghoon and his friend continued their conversation naturally.

Junghoon’s friend, Chan-kyeong, took his girlfriend’s hand and introduced her to Junghoon.

“This is my girlfriend, Yoon Sol. You remember her, right? You saw her at the last gathering.”

Junghoon smiled and shook hands with Yoon Sol, who was smiling brightly as well. It’s nice to see you again. You’re still as cool as ever. The conversation flowed effortlessly. Yeonhee, however, was completely excluded.

“But who’s the person with you...?”

Chan-kyeong peeked over Junghoon’s shoulder, clearly curious about the unfamiliar figure hidden behind him. He grinned brightly at Yeonhee and extended his hand.

“Hi, I’m Park Chan-kyeong, Junghoon’s friend. Are you perhaps Junghoon’s girlfrie—”

“Yeonhee, go ahead and head inside first.”

Before Chan-kyeong could finish his sentence, Junghoon cut him off without hesitation.

Without another word, Junghoon took Yeonhee by the arm and started walking toward Annex Room 2. Behind them, Chan-kyeong called out in a baffled voice.

“Hey! Where are you going all of a sudden?”

“Just wait a minute,” Junghoon replied flatly, his tone devoid of emotion. He ushered Yeonhee into Annex Room 2, pulled out a chair for her, and, as if nothing had happened, smiled warmly.

“Sorry about that. I’ll be back after a quick chat, so just wait here for a bit.”

He was the same as always—kind and gentle.

Unconsciously, Yeonhee nodded.

Before long, she was left alone in the private room. Fiddling with her phone, she deliberately looked around to distract herself.

The annex, built in a traditional Korean hanok style, was impeccably clean and orderly, with each pillar carefully maintained. She had been here several times before, yet suddenly, the place felt unfamiliar.

She tried to shake off the thoughts, but the idea lingered—was he intentionally hiding her? Was he ashamed of her? The depressing thoughts began to creep in, consuming her mind.

‘Am I someone to be embarrassed about?’

She was just herself, nothing more, nothing less. Yet being treated this way simply because she was next to him didn’t feel good.

Letting out a sigh, she got up from her seat, deciding to use the restroom. The small hanok annex didn’t have a bathroom, so she needed to walk through the garden to the main building’s private restroom.

Sliding the door open, she stepped outside. Neither the staff nor Junghoon and his friend were in sight. That was a relief—it would have been awkward to run into them.

She quietly walked across the cold marble floor, passing under the soft glow of ambient lighting. As she rounded a curve and approached the indoor fountain, something caught her attention.

Up ahead, she spotted the broad back of a tall man. It was Junghoon.

Instinctively, Yeonhee took a step back behind the wall. His apparent discomfort with her presence had made this reaction second nature.

What am I, a criminal? Yeonhee found herself laughing bitterly at her own behavior and was about to step forward when a stranger’s voice froze her in place.

“Who is it, really? If you’ve brought her here, she must be someone close. How come I didn’t know? Ah, so all those times you pretended to be busy on weekends…”

Chan-kyeong tilted his head with a sly smile.

Her heart thudded unsteadily.

Yes. This felt exactly like before.

Like that time… when she overheard his phone conversation while lying in bed. When he called their date pathetic and hurled sharp words she didn’t recognize as his. It felt like she was being thrust back into that moment when she first encountered the unfamiliar side of Junghoon.

His voice, lazily spoken, pierced her like an arrow.

“Don’t worry about it. She’s not someone I’d introduce to you.”

...Ah.

Hadn’t she already known? She already knew she was just a casual fling to him. Why was she even hurt by something so obvious? It wasn’t as though this was the first time something like this had happened.

“So, you’re not dating yet?”

“Didn’t I tell you to drop it?”

“Is she a fling? You hate that kind of thing, don’t you?”

Junghoon didn’t respond. Instead, he ran his hand through his hair in irritation. Chan-kyeong, his expression turning serious, shook his head.

“But the timing isn’t great, is it? You should find someone proper. Don’t you remember Byung-in?”

The conversation had gone far enough. Yeonhee turned around.

She couldn’t listen anymore. She shouldn’t. There was no reason to hurt herself by eavesdropping on his conversation like some thief. She quickly started walking away.

But Chan-kyeong’s voice trailed after her.

“You remember Byung-in, don’t you? That jerk fooled around with everyone, and when one of them got pregnant, she showed up outside his company with a picket sign. He ended up getting his engagement called off.”

Her fists clenched tightly as they trembled. She kept walking, but the low murmur of their conversation followed her like a shadow beneath the streetlights. Even when she covered her ears, their words slipped through the cracks.

“Things are tense because of that lately. And I hear some rich ladies are eyeing you as a potential son-in-law. You should be more careful.”

After a long silence, Junghoon finally spoke.

“Chan-kyeong. Park Chan-kyeong, you son of a—”

She didn’t catch the rest. She was practically running by then, and his voice faded out behind her.

Yeonhee quickened her pace. She wanted to run far, far away, but she suppressed the impulse, afraid that the sound of her footsteps would give her away.

Once she was far enough from them, her pace slowed as she headed toward the annex. Her steps dragged, each one heavier than the last. With every movement, her heart lurched painfully.

She had been so foolish, agonizing over this relationship on her own. She had been confused about what they were to each other when the answer was already so clear.

As she walked, shoulders slumped, someone spotted her. It was Yoon Sol, Chan-kyeong’s girlfriend. She had been admiring the pond but now raised her hand in greeting.

“Oh? Hey, earlier—”

But Yeonhee, her face blank like a doll’s, walked past without hearing her. Yoon Sol slowly lowered her hand.

By the time Yeonhee returned to the private room, she sank into her chair and bit her lip hard.

All I did was like him… I was sincere… Yet she had been reduced to a trivial topic of conversation, tossed around as though she were no more than an empty indulgence. It was humiliating.

A fling. A casual partner. Someone Junghoon himself described as “not worth introducing.” That was who she was to him.

It had barely been an hour since she confessed her feelings for him. Yet it felt as though her confession had been coldly dismissed, as though she had overstepped her bounds.

She bowed her head and took a deep breath, trying to keep the tears at bay. In the meantime, footsteps sounded beyond the door, and soon, Junghoon walked in.

“Sorry to keep you waiting, Yeonhee. The conversation took longer than I thought.”

He smiled warmly as he sat down across from her, as charming as ever.

Yeonhee stared at him blankly, as if chasing after a mirage. Suddenly, his kindness sent a shiver down her spine. But what scared her even more… was that she still found his smile achingly beautiful.

Foolish. Pathetic.

Was it her fate to cling to someone she should let go of, desperately yearning for their affection? Was she truly such a fool, unable to escape even though she knew better? Was she just a lovesick idiot, stuck here because she lacked the pride to walk away?

He pushed the menu toward her.

“Order anything you want. You need to eat well and stay healthy.”

Under the soft lighting, his clean-cut face looked especially polished today. He was breathtakingly stunning—so much so that it felt dizzying. At the same time, he seemed eerily unfamiliar.

That’s right. He was never hers to begin with. From the very start, he had never given her the title of “girlfriend.” She had been the one running herself ragged, caught in the hamster wheel of love’s illusion.

Yeonhee smiled back at him.

“Junghoon, you should choose something nice.”

Had there ever been a time when she made her own choices? Everything had always been dictated by his will.

Her voice, surprisingly steady, sounded well-rehearsed.

I didn’t see anything.

She closed her eyes.

I didn’t hear anything.

She covered her ears.

By pretending not to know, she could let herself be drenched in the kindness of someone who called her a casual fling.

Stepping onto the thorny path, knowing full well what lay ahead, she was beyond saving.

Meanwhile, in Chankyeong’s car on the way back, Yoon Sol spoke abruptly.

“Hey, about that Junghoon guy’s girlfriend…”

“Hm? She’s not his girlfriend. Just someone he’s seeing.”

“Either way, I think she overheard your conversation earlier. Shouldn’t you tell Junghoon?”

Her voice carried a note of concern.

After failing to greet Yeonhee properly and returning to Chankyeong’s side, Yoon Sol had overheard the exchange. About how Junghoon called it casual, how he needed to be more careful, how a marriage proposal from the chairman’s niece at Sangwon Group had come up.

Yoon Sol was sure Yeonhee had heard it, too, and it made her uneasy.

She must’ve been hurt.

Junghoon always gave off a chill, even when smiling, so she couldn’t bring herself to address it directly. Now, on the way back, she finally broached the subject.

Chankyeong simply shrugged.

“It doesn’t matter.”

“What do you mean? What if she misunderstands?”

“It’s not a misunderstanding. And Junghoon doesn’t care if other people get hurt. It’s obvious, isn’t it? That temper of his.”

“Still…”

Yoon Sol trailed off hesitantly.

She couldn’t stop thinking about Yeonhee’s face. Her fair skin and doe-like eyes. She wasn’t the type of dazzling beauty that commanded attention, but there was something about her that drew people in. Her gentle eyes seemed clouded with sadness, and it weighed on Yoon Sol’s heart.

Chankyeong grabbed her hand tightly and smiled.

“Does it bother you? Don’t worry about it. You’ll see for yourself if you keep spending time around Junghoon, but he’s not that type of person. Besides, poking your nose into personal matters just leads to trouble.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. He hates it when people touch on his private life. I’ve been friends with him for over ten years, even back when we were in the U.S., but I’ve never once been inside his house. That says it all, doesn’t it?”

“Hmm. I guess that’s a relief, but still…”

“I just brought it up earlier, and he blew up at me. I forgot how foul-mouthed that guy can get when provoked.”

Chankyeong shuddered as if he couldn’t bear to recall it.

Earlier, all he did was casually suggest that Junghoon should find someone suitable to date, but it earned him a barrage of curses. He had been told to stop sniffing around like a nosy dog and mind his own business. The insults, laced with expletives, had come fast and hard.

“Seriously… How did I end up being friends with someone like him?”

Shaking his head with a mix of disbelief and laughter, Chankyeong stepped on the gas, and the car glided smoothly forward.

After that day, Yeonhee kept herself so busy that she barely noticed how the hours flew by. She took on tasks that weren’t hers, pulled future deadlines closer, and worked overtime relentlessly.

The reason was simple: she was trying to erase the voices of those two men that echoed in her mind. She was trying to forget.

Every time she had a moment to herself, Junghoon’s words would resurface like a nail driven into her thoughts:

“She’s not someone I’d introduce to you.”

And then there was Chankyeong’s voice:

“You need to find someone more suitable.”

The harsh truth sent a chill down her spine. Ever since overhearing her lowly position during that fateful conversation at the Korean restaurant, her mind had been a tangled mess. She tried to forget, but the memory would creep back, trapping her in painful thoughts.

No, no. Don’t think about it. There’s no need to hurt yourself further.

Yeonhee threw herself into typing furiously at her keyboard.

“Yeonhee, you should take a break. Are you okay?”

Mr Kwon, her colleague at the next desk, spoke up, noticing her tightly pressed lips.

She had been working late nights for days without proper sleep, her face set in a hard expression as she remained glued to her computer. It was only natural for Mr Kwon to sound concerned.

But Yeonhee didn’t hear him. Her focused gaze stayed fixed on her monitor. She needed to keep herself distracted, to stay occupied. It was the only defense mechanism she had.

She scribbled circles absentmindedly on a notepad as she spoke on the phone with someone from another department.

“Yes, I understand that MP has approved it, but the team leader has rejected it. It’s the same with CA.”

The person on the other end let out a long sigh. They knew all too well who had rejected it—Team Leader Min Junghoon. Once he denied something, there was no hope of overturning it. He was strict and unwavering when it came to work.

“I know, but… fixing it will take too long. You know how it is, Yeonhee. If we miss the deadline, we’ll be the only ones getting yelled at.”

“I’m sorry,” she replied in an apologetic tone. “But the team leader said he won’t sign off on it until the damage is fully addressed. He’s made it very clear that the final approval will only come after that.”

“Ugh… Fine. Thanks, Yeonhee. By the way, aren’t things slowing down for you guys now that the planning team’s work is almost done?”

“Well… sort of,” she said vaguely, feeling a bit awkward. The truth was, she was keeping herself busy by taking on unnecessary tasks.

Ending the call with a promise to touch base later, Yeonhee immediately grabbed a black file folder and got to work. It contained a mess of papers left disorganized by a former employee who had retired.

There was no real need for her to sort through it right now, but she felt compelled to do something—anything.

She flipped through the pages, removing staples and organizing them into new sections. She sorted through stacks of competitor data, numbers running across the sheets like ants.

Then suddenly, with a soft drip-drip, something fell onto the paper. It was a nosebleed. Her head throbbed faintly.

Without batting an eye, Yeonhee grabbed a tissue and pressed it against her nose. It wasn’t surprising—she had spent sleepless nights tossing and turning, and her relentless work during the day left her body utterly drained. It was only natural, really. She wasn’t a machine. It was inevitable that her body would give out eventually.

Mr Kwon, the assistant manager sitting next to her, cried out in alarm.

“What’s this? A nosebleed?”

Panicking, Mr Kwon quickly pulled out tissues and replaced the blood-soaked ones Yeonhee was holding, gently pressing a fresh tissue against her nose. Then, tilting her chin downward, he looked at her with concern.

“Don’t tilt your head back; the blood will go down your throat. I told you to take it easy! It’s not like anyone’s paying you extra for working this hard. Why are you overdoing it?”

He softly patted her shoulder, shaking his head in disbelief.

Yeonhee offered him a faint smile at his kind gesture.

“It’s just a nosebleed. Thank you for worrying about me, Mr Kwon.”

“Are you sure everything’s okay? How about we grab a drink tonight?”

Mr Kwon cautiously suggested, his tone filled with genuine concern. Yeonhee understood his well-meaning intention, but she simply shook her head.

“I’m fine. I’ll take it easier from now on.”

She joked lightly and took over holding the tissue herself. Mr Kwon, however, placed his hand gently over hers with a sigh, his concern only deepening. It was evident he was troubled to see someone he secretly admired bleeding and overworking herself.

At that moment, someone quietly observed the two from beyond the team leader’s office window. Unlike usual, the blinds were drawn up, giving a clear view of the office.

“......”

Junghoon’s gaze lingered on Mr Kwon’s hand over Yeonhee’s, as well as his hand on her shoulder. His expression darkened. He abruptly tossed his fountain pen onto the desk, the pen rolling across the surface, leaving small dots of black ink in its wake.

Pressing his fingers against his temples with irritation, he finally stood up and pulled the blinds down.

A firm wall was now set between the office and the team leader’s room.

About thirty minutes past regular office hours, the office was half-empty.

Yeonhee had just finished consoling Min-gyeong, a colleague from another department who had called to vent her frustrations, and managed to hang up the phone.

Her throat dry, Yeonhee drank a glass of water and tapped her shoulders lightly to release some tension. Just as she was about to return to her work, the phone began ringing again. Thinking it might be Min-gyeong calling back, she glanced at the screen, but it showed the team leader’s office number.

Her heart sank.

“Yes, Team Leader?”

“Yes or no. Just answer that.”

“…Pardon?”

Junghoon’s calm yet firm voice came through the receiver without warning. Reflexively, Yeonhee turned to glance at the team leader’s office window, but all she could see were the gray blinds drawn tightly shut.

“Are you working overtime again today?”

“Yes, Team Leader.”

“......”

The silence on the line was sharp and cold. From the background, she could hear a faint tapping sound—Junghoon’s fingertips drumming against his desk.

Lately, Yeonhee had been using overtime as an excuse to avoid having dinner or even contact with him. It seemed he had finally caught on to her avoidance.

“What work are you doing right now?”

“Well, um…”

“Did I fail to properly assess the workload? I don’t recall there being anything that would require you to work overtime like this. Or is there an issue with task distribution?”

“……”

“I suppose I’ll have to call Deputy Manager Yoo in to discuss this. We need to figure out why the task allocation is such a mess. Would that be fine with you?”

His cold voice sent a chill down her spine. Yeonhee shook her head instinctively, even though he couldn’t see her.

“Team Leader, no, that’s not—”

“Yes or no. I only want those answers.”

Yeonhee’s lips moved silently in confusion. Whenever he shed his gentle facade and returned to his authoritative persona as the team leader, she felt herself shrink back into the role of a timid subordinate.

When no response came from her, Junghoon asked one last question.

“So, Yeonhee, are you working overtime again today?”

“Yes.”

She had to keep taking calls from Min-gyeong and providing feedback. At least for tonight, it was true.

“All right.”

Junghoon replied curtly and hung up immediately.

Yeonhee sat frozen, still holding the receiver. Hearing his voice had sent a pang through her chest, and simultaneously, she found herself longing for him. She wanted to walk into his office and face him.

Not to hear his cold, distant tone, but to feel his warm and gentle comfort. She missed the way his hand softly stroked her hair, the warmth of his lips brushing against her temple.

But she couldn’t. Instead of his smile, all she could do was stare out the window. A chilly draft seeped through the cracks.

“Yeonhee, did you get scolded?”

Mr Kwon, who had been observing her expression, asked cautiously. Yeonhee offered a faint smile and nodded.

“Yes, a little.”

“Was it about the project you worked on with the MD team?”

“Uh, something like that…”

Yeonhee trailed off vaguely.

She couldn’t possibly explain that he was upset because she’d been avoiding him, neglecting her role as his “partner,” in the most intimate sense of the word.

About ten minutes later, the door to the team leader’s office opened. Junghoon stepped out, impeccably dressed in his usual tailored half-coat, his face calm as ever.

“Looks like it’s just the two of you left tonight.”

Everyone else had already left, leaving only Mr Kwon and Yeonhee behind.

“I’m about to leave too! Are you heading out, Team Leader? Have a safe trip home!”

Mr Kwon stood and greeted him politely.

But the look in Junghoon’s eyes as he glanced at Mr Kwon was strangely cold, almost excessively so. Mr Kwon hesitated for a moment, unsettled, but Junghoon’s expression soon softened, and Kwon chuckled awkwardly in response.

Junghoon gestured toward the clock as he moved past.

“It’s late. Just wrap up quickly and head out.”

With that, he walked straight past Yeonhee and out of the office without so much as a glance in her direction.

Yeonhee stared at his retreating back for a moment before turning her gaze back to her monitor. His curt demeanor, as if he were drawing a firm line between them, stung. She had been avoiding him, yes, but confronting his coldness now made her chest ache.

About twenty minutes later, Mr Kwon glanced at Yeonhee, stretched with a long yawn, and stood up abruptly, waving a corporate card in the air.

“Let’s go, Yeonhee! Let’s grab some dinner!”

“It’s fine.”

“Come on. I’m the one who’s hungry. We still have the team dining budget left for this month. I’ll take care of submitting the expense report.”

Mr Kwon grabbed her arm and gently pulled her to her feet despite her hesitation.

“You’re going to overwork yourself if you keep this up. There’s that steak place near the office that’s really good. Let’s go.”

“Fine.”

Unable to resist his insistence, Yeonhee finally picked up the coat draped over her chair.

After locking her monitor, she left with Mr Kwon. Outside, the winter air was biting, a sharp reminder of the season’s arrival.

They laughed and chatted over dinner, pretending to enjoy the meal. But in truth, Yeonhee barely ate half of it.

After sending Mr Kwon off, who insisted on leaving early, Yeonhee returned to the office alone. She planned to finish organizing Manager Lee’s paperwork and listen to Min-gyeong’s complaints, staying late into the night.

She stepped off the elevator and walked slowly toward her desk. As she absentmindedly rounded the partition for the Planning Team, she suddenly stopped in her tracks. Sitting at her desk, legs crossed casually, was Junghoon.

Despite being in an ordinary office chair, his commanding aura made it feel as though he were seated in a team leader’s chair.

Yeonhee stared at him in disbelief and asked, “Junghoon... I mean, Team Leader? What are you doing here?”

Junghoon rested his left elbow on the armrest and propped his chin on his hand without answering. Tilting his head slightly, he gazed at her silently with an unreadable expression.

“Where have you been?” he finally asked.

“I went out for dinner.”

“With whom?”

“Mr Kwon.”

Her voice trailed off, growing smaller. She hadn’t done anything wrong, yet his cold, piercing gaze made her feel inexplicably guilty.

“Why are you back in the office?” she asked cautiously.

Junghoon didn’t reply. Instead, he lightly tapped the desk with his fingers, his sharp eyes fixed on her for an uncomfortably long time.

“…Team Leader?”

When she hesitantly called out to him again, he finally stood up.

“Good work,” he said simply before turning around and walking away without another word.

Yeonhee blinked in confusion as she watched him leave. Then, her eyes fell on something unfamiliar atop her desk. It was a luxurious paper bag bearing the logo of a high-end hotel.

Grabbing the bag, she quickly ran after him. His long strides had already taken him near the building’s entrance.

“Team Leader! You forgot this,” she called out, holding out the paper bag.

Junghoon stopped and glanced at the bag in her hand.

“Oh, that.”

With an indifferent expression, he took the bag and immediately tossed it into a nearby trash can, as if he had intended to discard it all along.

Shocked, Yeonhee looked up at him, but Junghoon showed no sign of explanation. Without so much as a farewell, he walked out of the office.

“…”

Yeonhee glanced at the trash can, where the bag now sat discarded, then lowered her shoulders and trudged back to her desk.

The luxurious meal in the hotel-branded bag, untouched by anyone, remained abandoned in the trash.