Chapter 2
In-hyuk scratched his ear.
“I have a feeling Chairman is talking badly about me again.”
He smirked as if it didn’t bother him at all and adjusted the tablet in his hands.
His secretary, Seung-jae, who was driving, looked at him through the rearview mirror.
“Why did the chairman call you this time?”
“Marriage.”
“Ah.”
“It seems he wants to make his savior’s granddaughter his grandson’s wife.”
If that granddaughter had wanted control of the company, Chairman Do Gi-seop would probably have offered her DY Group itself.
He was the kind of person who would actually do that.
“I’m sure he’s only thinking that way because he’s so grateful.”
“He even said he’d change his will.”
Gi-seop had always made it clear that the company’s successor would be chosen based on ability.
Because of that, DY Group still had no official heir.
Of course, most people believed Executive Director Do In-hyuk was the strongest candidate.
Even so, In-hyuk’s aunt, Do Jeong-joo, couldn’t be ignored.
“Then why not at least go on a blind date with her?”
“I don’t know. I’m not that attached to DY Group.”
Even while saying that, In-hyuk continued checking his overflowing emails.
His eyes moved quickly across the screen despite the moving car.
“What? Is being an executive director’s secretary not enough? Should I make you the chairman’s secretary instead?”
In-hyuk chuckled.
Even though he knew it was a joke, the always-serious Seung-jae waved his hands.
“I didn’t mean it like that.”
“I know. Your reactions are always entertaining, so I just like teasing you.”
“…Honestly, sir.”
Seung-jae let out a quiet sigh.
Just then, In-hyuk’s phone vibrated.
He checked the caller and glanced at the time.
“Secretary Kim, what’s my schedule this afternoon again?”
“You don’t have any outside appointments.”
“Oh, right.”
His finger stopped tapping the screen.
“Then let’s stop by the office, finish only the urgent approvals, and leave work early.”
“Understood.”
His phone vibrated again.
[Okay, then I’ll wait for you at home. I want to see you soon. I love you.
The message was full of affection.
In-hyuk only read it.
He didn’t reply.
He slipped the phone back into his jacket and returned to checking the emails on his tablet.
* * *
“Good morning.”
Hae-yoon had taken a half-day off in the morning.
The moment she sat down at work, she immediately stood up again.
“I’m going over to the next team!”
“Okay. Good luck.”
Carrying only a thick envelope of documents, she headed to the management team’s office next door.
Hae-yoon worked on the PR team at Line Entertainment, but she had temporarily been assigned manager duties.
If it had been any other actor’s request, she would have refused.
But since it was actress Hong Si-yeon, she couldn’t say no.
“Good morning, Team Leader.”
“Hae-yoon, you’re here? Take this too.”
The management team leader handed her another script.
“The actress already looked at this one before, but make sure she reviews it today and calls us. Got it?”
“Yes, understood. By the way, Team Leader, when will the manager be back?”
There was a reason Hae-yoon had suddenly become Si-yeon’s manager again.
Si-yeon’s original manager had been hospitalized after a traffic accident.
When Hae-yoon first joined Line Entertainment, she had worked in the management team as Si-yeon’s manager.
Later, her grandfather Tae-soo’s health declined, and she transferred to the PR team so she could help care for him.
“For now, it’ll be about a month…”
“That’s longer than I expected.”
“Yes, but it could change depending on his condition.”
Si-yeon had said she didn’t want a stranger filling in for her manager, so she specifically requested Hae-yoon.
Since Hae-yoon had received so much kindness from her, she couldn’t refuse.
“He must have been seriously hurt.”
“He was hit by a car that ran a red light while he was crossing the street early in the morning.”
The team leader clicked his tongue sadly.
“Anyway, I’m counting on you.”
“Of course. If it’s for Actress Si-yeon, I’ll do it.”
Hae-yoon smiled brightly as she carefully packed the scripts.
“Oh, and don’t ring the doorbell. You remember, right?”
Si-yeon hated hearing the doorbell.
That’s why she had shared her door password with the managers she trusted.
After the team leader reminded her not to accidentally upset Si-yeon by ringing the bell, Hae-yoon headed to her apartment.
It was a famous luxury apartment complex known for its excellent security.
She used to come here almost every day until a year and a half ago, so it felt strangely familiar.
She entered the entrance password with ease.
“Even this hasn’t changed.”
She took the elevator to the 35th floor.
Trying not to think about the dizzying height, she entered the apartment password she still remembered.
The front door opened.
Just as she was about to step inside—
“Huh…?”
There was an unfamiliar pair of shoes in the entrance.
Men’s dress shoes.
Hae-yoon froze in surprise.
She quietly closed the door but wasn’t sure whether she should go inside.
No one at the company had ever mentioned anything about Si-yeon’s private life.
As far as she knew, Si-yeon wasn’t dating anyone.
Could something troublesome be happening?
She squeezed her eyes shut.
“Um… Actress Si-yeon? It’s me, Yoon Hae-yoon.”
She announced herself first.
She didn’t want to walk in unexpectedly and witness something she shouldn’t.
But there was no reply.
After hesitating for a moment, she took off her shoes.
“Actress? Are you inside?”
Her voice was careful.
Stretching her neck to look around, she walked into the living room.
Sunlight poured in through the large floor-to-ceiling windows.
She remembered thinking the same thing the first time she had visited this home.
But where was Si-yeon?
She couldn’t just wander around someone else’s house.
She decided it would be better to call her.
Just as Hae-yoon reached into her bag for her phone—
“Huh? Who… Oh. Hae-yoon?”
A graceful voice made her turn around.
Si-yeon had come out of the bedroom wearing only a comfortable silk nightgown.
Her long, slender bare legs looked especially pale in the sunlight.
“Hello, Actress. It’s been a long time.”
“Oh, right. That’s right. You were coming today, weren’t you?”
As if she had completely forgotten, Si-yeon nodded slowly.
Then she glanced toward the bedroom and quickly grabbed the doorknob.
It looked as if she were about to close the slightly open door.
Instead, it opened even wider.
“Did you find it? I don’t think it’s in the bedroom…”
A man stepped out of the bedroom while speaking to Si-yeon.
Then his eyes landed on Hae-yoon.
“…Miss Yoon Hae-yoon?”
“…Mr. Do In-hyuk?”
Silence filled the room.
“You two know each other?”
Even after Si-yeon’s question, neither of them answered.
Both were too shocked.
She had seen this man only about an hour ago.
Why was he here?
And more importantly…
Why was he coming out of Hong Si-yeon’s bedroom?
“Um… Hae-yoon.”
Si-yeon finally spoke.
Hae-yoon had been staring at In-hyuk the entire time and flinched.
“You came because of the script, right?”
“Oh… Yes. The team leader said there was a script you had to review by today.”
“I completely forgot.”
Looking embarrassed, Si-yeon glanced at In-hyuk.
“Should I leave it here?”
Hae-yoon pointed to the coffee table.
Si-yeon nodded.
Hae-yoon finally put down the thick envelope.
“Then… I guess I’ll…”
She couldn’t finish her sentence.
Should she leave now?
Or should she first find out what kind of relationship these two had?
Meeting at home like this meant they were obviously close.
If something happened later, it would be better if she already knew.
One was one of South Korea’s most famous actresses.
The other was the executive director of DY Group, someone everyone in the country knew.
“In-hyuk.”
While Hae-yoon’s thoughts were racing, Si-yeon gently took hold of In-hyuk’s arm.
The gesture looked completely natural.
“Could you step aside for a moment? I think we need to explain the situation.”
She glanced at Hae-yoon.
“It wouldn’t be good if rumors started because of this.”
Hae-yoon swallowed nervously.
“We should clear things up.”
In-hyuk thought for a moment.
Hae-yoon stood awkwardly in the living room, her eyes darting nervously between them.
“No. I’ll explain it myself…”
Just as In-hyuk was about to finish speaking—
His phone rang.
Si-yeon nodded, telling him it was fine to answer it.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t a call he could ignore.
Looking troubled, In-hyuk finally accepted the call.
“Yes, Director. No, it’s fine. Go ahead.”
He glanced at Hae-yoon, then reluctantly went back into the bedroom.
Even as the bedroom door closed behind him, In-hyuk still looked uneasy.
