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Chapter 73

Si-hyun was momentarily stunned. She recognized the face, but it didn't come to her immediately. As she searched her memory, her brow furrowed unconsciously.

"You don't remember? I guess I'm the only one who remembers. How embarrassing."

"Ah... that..."

Only then did she recall. It was the woman who had barged into the office before, demanding to speak with Hae-joon on the phone.

"I even remember your name, Cha Si-hyun."

"Ah, yes..."

Feeling embarrassed for no reason, Si-hyun gave an awkward smile. Her memory of that day was that the woman had been quite rude, but today felt different—so much so that she wondered if she was mistaken.

"You don't look very happy to see me."

Of course she wasn't. Nothing from that encounter—her actions, expression, or tone—had left a good impression.

"What brings you here? The President isn't here right now."

"I know. That he's not here."

She wondered about the audacity of coming when she knew Hae-joon was away. Surely she wasn't planning to wait alone in the empty office until he returned.

"I need to leave for the day. The President will be away all week and probably won't be back until next week. It would be best if you came back then."

"That's perfect, then."

"Excuse me?"

At the incomprehensible remark, Si-hyun's eyes widened. It was the last thing she'd expected to hear in this situation. What was perfect about her leaving?

"I almost missed you. Let's go together."

"With me?"

"Who else is here?"

Su-ah smiled and got ready to leave. Si-hyun, still confused, followed her out.

---

"Alcohol's a bit much—tea or coffee would be fine, right?"

Su-ah took the lead, walking into a café near the office building. It was past quitting time, so unlike the lunchtime rush, the café was quiet. They took a seat in the corner.

"I know I'm not exactly welcome, but don't look so wary. I'm not here to eat you."

"Wary? Not at all."

Si-hyun forced a smile. Her discomfort must have been written all over her face.

"Don't force it either."

Make up your mind. Si-hyun let her smile fade. She wished she had a mirror to see what expression she was making. Showing up out of nowhere and flustering people, then acting so confident—what was that about?

"Do you have something to say to me?"

She asked what she'd been most curious about. Their only connection was Hae-joon. Whatever she wanted to talk about, it would be about him. She had no idea what it could be.

"Hae-joon's on a business trip abroad, isn't he?"

"Yes..."

She didn't know what their relationship was, but the fact that she knew details that only someone close would be aware of suggested they were close. Even when she'd borrowed her phone before, they'd seemed close.

She was curious about what kind of relationship she had with Hae-joon. She'd never seen a woman by his side before.

"You're wondering how I know that, right?"

Yes. Si-hyun wanted to say it, but just smiled awkwardly instead.

"I'm very interested in Hae-joon, you see."

"......"

"And you're probably curious about what we are to each other."

She took a sip of iced coffee and smiled enigmatically.

"Once, we dated. Now I've been dumped, so we're nothing."

"...I see."

It was hard to imagine him dating anyone. With that prickly personality of his, she found it surprising he'd ever had a relationship. Then again, he was a grown man—and a wealthy, handsome one. Looking at the expensive things the woman wore, she wondered if maybe they'd been set up for a strategic marriage between wealthy families and it had fallen through.

"Things ended badly, so Hae-joon can't even stand the sight of me now."

Si-hyun took a sip of her coffee. She hadn't asked to hear anyone's personal life—why was she talking about this?

"Sorry to interrupt, but why am I hearing all this?"

"Boring, isn't it?"

"Boring aside—whatever happened between you and the President is none of my business."

"You're right. Whatever happens to me doesn't concern you."

She agreed so readily that Si-hyun was taken aback. She'd expected some strange rebuttal, but she was unusually compliant. Completely different from before.

"But it does concern me. That's the problem. A thirsty person looks for a well."

Was she drunk? She was talking nonsense like a drunk person. But she seemed perfectly sober—definitely not a drop of alcohol.

"Could you explain in a way I can understand?"

She drank her coffee and was silent for a moment. An awkward silence settled between them.

"You know Hae-joon likes you a lot, don't you?"

Si-hyun was even more flustered than when she'd first seen her. Even Driver Choi probably didn't know Hae-joon had confessed. How did this woman know? Had Hae-joon told her? He wasn't the loose-lipped type. He wouldn't share his feelings with anyone.

"I don't know what you're talking about..."

Si-hyun tried to deflect. She didn't want to respond rashly.

"There's no way you don't know. You're just pretending not to."

She spoke as if she could see right through her.

"I was surprised. I never imagined Hae-joon would fall for anyone. Especially his secretary."

Even though Si-hyun hadn't agreed, she just kept going. Of course, she wasn't wrong.

"Hae-joon never lets anyone close—so why you? He's so cold to me, so why is he so hung up on his secretary? I was bitter, baffled, and flustered."

Si-hyun let out an incredulous laugh. What was this about? Was she really keeping her from leaving to talk about Hae-joon?

"What are you doing?"

"Just listen. I'm not done yet."

She gestured for her to calm down, as if she knew what she was thinking.

"I've never seen him wait for anyone like that. Never seen him lead someone to eat somewhere. Never seen him stare at anyone so intently. I was there that day too—when you two had tteokbokki together."

"Huh? You were there that day?"

If she meant the day they had tteokbokki, it was the weekend he'd been waiting for her since morning. There was no reason for this woman to be there.

"This is embarrassing, but I was watching him all that day. Deliberately."

She'd thought there must be a reason he wouldn't open his heart. Maybe he just hated her—but it wasn't that. He seemed distracted. She wondered if there was someone else.

So she'd made a point to follow him. She couldn't solve the mystery otherwise. Until she did, she felt she'd keep circling him.

As expected, he was hung up on someone. But she hadn't expected it to be his secretary. She was sure it was her—she remembered her face and name. Cha Si-hyun. She'd been surprised she'd lasted so long by his side.

"Kim Hae-joon doesn't talk much unless spoken to. I'd never seen him chatter like that alone. At first, I thought it might just be someone who looked like him."

Si-hyun agreed. That day, he'd talked nonstop, almost as if to keep her from leaving. They'd sat for another twenty minutes after finishing the tteokbokki before heading home.

"What did you do while you were with him to make him so wrapped around your finger?"

"Wrapped around my finger? I'm just his secretary."

"Just kidding. Let's say 'head over heels.'"

She chuckled and sipped her coffee.

"He really likes you. You can trust me on that."

"......"

"He's probably never really had feelings for anyone before. Me—I was just in his face, so he was curious."

Hearing all this, she grew curious about her real purpose. She wouldn't go out of her way to share such personal things for no reason.

"So what exactly are you trying to say?"

Su-ah exhaled deeply. Then she looked her in the eye and said,

"Don't do something you'll regret later. You're not completely indifferent either."

"......"

"It's miserable when you're truly fond of someone and they won't look at you. I know because I'm in that position. Hae-joon's had a hard life. I want him to live comfortably now—with someone he loves. I've contributed to his suffering too."

She finished her coffee and set down the cup.

"Don't miss your chance. It might be too late to go back. You've got someone speaking from experience—is this too meddlesome?"

She stood up and looked at Si-hyun.

"I'm leaving tomorrow. I don't plan to come back. Give my regards to Hae-joon. Tell him to live well."

She turned and walked out. Si-hyun sat there, unable to respond.

You're not completely indifferent either.

Why did that line keep echoing in her chest? Even after the woman had left, her voice seemed to linger.

Rrrrr.

Her phone on the table buzzed insistently. Looking at the screen, it was Hae-joon.

"Hello."

· The president's out here working hard, and I don't even get one call?

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