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- “Secretary Yoon, come in for a moment.”
At the sudden summons, Sa-hee quickly rose from her seat. The tangled web of thoughts she had been lost in momentarily unraveled. She had just served tea to a guest earlier, so what could this be about?
“Secretary Yoon.”
“Yes.”
“The guest is leaving now. Please see them out.”
While Ji-hyuk’s face remained impassive, the woman’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
“Haha, Ji-hyuk…?”
“I’ll contact you next time.”
Despite her reluctance, the woman who had stubbornly stayed seated finally stood up at Sa-hee’s prompting. Sa-hee escorted the disgruntled guest out, her own mood equally uneasy.
“Does he ever actually follow up after saying things like that?”
The woman turned to ask as they reached the door. Though her lips curved into a smile, her eyes betrayed fiery frustration. She was the eldest daughter of a prominent entrepreneur and a flutist, wasn’t she? Despite Ji-hyuk’s clear rejection during their last meeting, she had returned to his office uninvited.
“It’s outside my duties as a secretary to comment on Director Ji-hyuk’s personal life.”
“Ah, I see. I misunderstood.”
Though Sa-hee’s response was polite, it carried an undercurrent of reproach. Meeting her steady gaze, the flutist spoke again.
“Well, the two of you seemed so ‘close.’”
What exactly made her think that? Had they given off such an impression? It puzzled Sa-hee.
“Every time you walked in, he couldn’t take his eyes off you. He was busy watching your every move. Was that just my imagination? I thought something was going on between you two.”
Had he really been watching her? Sa-hee hadn’t noticed any such glances.
Perhaps it was all just the woman’s misunderstanding or overactive imagination. Suppressing the flutter in her chest, Sa-hee firmly replied:
“That’s impossible.”
“Well, that settles it. I almost contacted his mother.”
Smirking, the woman flipped her hair back and turned away. Without a word of farewell, her neat heels clicked against the floor as she left. Sa-hee watched her retreating figure for a moment before returning to her desk. Though she stared at her monitor, the woman’s mocking smile kept overlapping in her mind.
Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.
Her phone vibrated. Checking it, she found several unread messages waiting.
[Hi, this is Jua. What does Ji-hyuk like to eat?]
[His favorite restaurants or bars?]
[Music genre, artist preferences, ideal type too?]
It was one of the women who had recently started contacting her. Scrolling through, she saw many more unanswered messages—all from different people.
[Does Ji-hyuk enjoy wine?]
[How does he usually spend his alone time?]
[When was the last time he dated someone?]
The questions ranged from preferences to deeply personal inquiries, making Sa-hee uncomfortable. As someone who had once been married to him, she knew the answers but struggled to decide how much information to share without overstepping professional boundaries. Even knowing too much as a secretary felt inappropriate.
Buzz.
[Ji-hyuk, what are you doing right now?♡]
A new message had just arrived. Though brief, it radiated infatuation. Sa-hee found herself questioning how these women fell so hard for him after barely meeting him—or sometimes not even meeting him at all—acting as if they were already in love.
[He’s currently working_]
As she began typing a reply, another call came through. Setting aside her phone, Sa-hee headed to Ji-hyuk’s office.
“If you don’t have lunch plans, let’s eat together.”
“Yes, understood. Where should I make a reservation?”
“Whatever is convenient for you, Secretary Yoon.”
“Is there anything specific you’d like to eat?”
“No, nothing in particular. Whatever you prefer is fine.”
Even though her superior had said so, choosing her own preference outright felt presumptuous. Frowning slightly while deliberating, Sa-hee didn’t notice Ji-hyuk observing her with a faint smirk.
“Really, anything is fine. Just fill my stomach.”
“Yes, understood.”
After leaving the office, Sa-hee decided on a Korean restaurant called Dowon, known for its clean flavors, excellent taste, and reasonable prices. It was popular, so securing a spot required some effort, but she managed to book one table.
[He’s currently working.]
Sa-hee finished her incomplete message and sent it before preparing to leave.
Buzz.
[Aww, I miss you~]
From “Aww” to “~,” each character sent a jolt through Sa-hee.
“…”
Staring at the screen for a moment, she turned off her phone and slipped it into her bag.
---
The place Sa-hee reserved was Dowon, a traditional Korean restaurant renowned for its elegant dishes and reasonable pricing. Passing through a small garden in the center of the building, Ji-hyuk, Sa-hee, and Jin-ha entered the hanok-style structure and followed the staff’s guidance.
“Huh?”
Suddenly, a woman passing by grabbed Ji-hyuk’s arm. His eyebrows shot up as he gave her a questioning look, clearly reluctant to touch her.
Startled, Sa-hee and Jin-ha moved to intervene but froze when the woman hugged Ji-hyuk tightly around the waist. Buried in his embrace, she eventually looked up at him. By then, Ji-hyuk’s expression had long since turned icy.
The woman laughed brightly upon seeing his cold demeanor. Then, unexpectedly, she removed her sunglasses, revealing her face. At that moment, Ji-hyuk’s frosty mask melted away.
“Shin Ji-hyuk.”
“When did you arrive?”
“About two weeks ago. I was planning to contact you anyway.”
“Why bother? And let go first—we can talk properly.”
At his toneless voice, the woman released her hold and stood upright. Her face beamed like the sun.
“Do we need a reason to contact each other? I was just thinking about it.”
Hanging her sunglasses on her chest, the woman exchanged nods with Sa-hee and Jin-ha. They bowed slightly in return.
“You’re here for lunch, right? Mind if I join?”
“Why would I?”
“We’re friends, aren’t we? Plus, I’m starving.”
Ji-hyuk chuckled dryly.
“Don’t force it. Didn’t you have plans too?”
“They fell through. There was a minor accident, and my date couldn’t make it. Anyway, you’ll let me join, right?”
Ji-hyuk glanced back at Sa-hee and Jin-ha, seeking their consent. Both nodded in agreement.
“Yay! Thank you! Let’s go!”
Radiating childlike joy, the woman linked arms with Ji-hyuk and led the way. Watching them, Sa-hee and Jin-ha exchanged awkward smiles before hurrying after them.
---
“Jang Na-yeon.”
“I’m Yoon Sa-hee.”
“Song Jin-ha.”
Once seated, introductions were made under Na-yeon’s initiative. Despite their age differences, they agreed to keep things casual.
Na-yeon explained that she and Ji-hyuk had been childhood friends. While Sa-hee had often seen Ji-hyuk with male companions, a female friend was a refreshing novelty.
“Wow, this looks delicious. It’s my first time trying food here.”
Soon, dishes arrived quickly, and Na-yeon eagerly anticipated the meal like a child. Shared main courses and individual portions were placed before everyone.
“Mmm, delicious. This place is great.”
“Do you like it?”
“Yes, it’s very good.”
“Enjoy your meal.”
“You too, Sa-hee.”
Sa-hee smiled, exchanging pleasantries with Na-yeon. Unlike the newcomer, the trio was familiar with Dowon’s offerings, having dined there multiple times before.
The food lived up to expectations—clean, flavorful, and true to the ingredients’ essence. Sa-hee ate heartily while keeping an eye on everyone’s needs—a habit ingrained from her role. Noticing Jin-ha’s soup bowl was empty, she pushed hers toward him.
“No, it’s fine. I’m okay.”
“I won’t finish mine. Please take it, Chauffeur Song.”
After some hesitation, Jin-ha accepted the dish with gratitude.
“Thank you for the meal.”
“Not at all. Seeing you enjoy it makes me happy.”
Jin-ha scratched the back of his neck shyly. His bowl was now empty—he had indeed needed more.
Ji-hyuk silently observed the interaction.
“Ji-hyuk, let’s have a drink.”
Breaking the silence, Na-yeon leaned in pleadingly.
“It’s too early for drinks.”
“What’s wrong with daytime drinking? Do you have work later?”
“I need to return to the office.”
“So, do you have work or not?”
Ji-hyuk stared at her blankly. Na-yeon, sitting beside him, tugged and shook his arm playfully, demanding an answer. Finally, Ji-hyuk sighed.
“Secretary Yoon, care for a drink?”
“As you wish.”
“Then let’s have one. Now let go.”
Only then did Ji-hyuk shake off Na-yeon’s grip. Laughing gleefully, she cheered at his acquiescence.
Sa-hee was inwardly surprised. Ji-hyuk, who disliked being touched by others, allowed Na-yeon to cling to him freely. This was unprecedented—she was the first exception besides Sa-hee herself.
Suppressing the strange stirring within her, Sa-hee gulped down cold water to steady herself.
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