By Zephyria 
Secretary Park replied clearly, “Understood,” and pulled a phone from his inner pocket. To Seo Yi-kyung, the sound of his voice as he connected the call felt distant.
“…….”
Meanwhile, Han Seung-jae’s gaze remained fixed on one spot. Meeting those eyes, Seo Yi-kyung couldn’t decide how to interpret Han Seung-jae’s meaningful look. He couldn’t tell if the man knew why he had visited the hospital or not.
“Actually, I was thinking we could grab a drink.”
As he spoke, Han Seung-jae abruptly stood up. His long silhouette turned in one swift motion.
He seemed to head toward the desk, where he picked up the suit jacket he had taken off. His long arms slid into the sleeves smoothly.
He turned his head back and gave a slight nod.
“Get up.”
Seo Yi-kyung rose slowly, unconsciously swallowing hard. He had never dreamed that Han Seung-jae would act like this. Even when he had heard the man’s scathing tone at the door, he hadn’t been flustered because he knew that was simply the kind of person he was. But watching the back of Han Seung-jae, who was unexpectedly making time for him, Seo Yi-kyung felt a sensation as if his heart were tightening.
Step, Seo Yi-kyung took a stride. It was because Han Seung-jae, having reached the door, looked back. The cold face was devoid of emotion, making it difficult for Seo Yi-kyung to discern what he was thinking.
As Seo Yi-kyung stepped through the door Han Seung-jae had opened, Secretary Park’s call ended quickly. Secretary Park walked ahead and held the elevator. Han Seung-jae stepped inside, and Seo Yi-kyung took a place beside him.
Secretary Park, who was about to enter, hesitated for a moment. However, no one noticed his momentary pause.
As the elevator doors closed, Secretary Park’s stiff expression was reflected. He glanced at Han Seung-jae, who was looking at Seo Yi-kyung.
Secretary Park had served by Han Seung-jae’s side longer than anyone. The look in Han Seung-jae’s eyes right now was different from usual.
In fact, Han Seung-jae’s mood had become noticeably irritable lately. It likely started from when he began refusing to receive any reports regarding Seo Yi-kyung. After he seemed to decide to trust Seo Yi-kyung, he stopped overturning his instructions. Still, he must have been anxious. It had been a situation that lasted for a very long time, after all. Given Han Seung-jae’s nature—to see and verify everything with his own eyes—it must have been harder to endure.
However, Han Seung-jae’s expression changed subtly upon hearing that Seo Yi-kyung had arrived. Normally, he would have received a report on where Seo Yi-kyung was heading and waited with plenty of leisure. But not anymore. Thus, as he looked at Seo Yi-kyung, who had come to see him unexpectedly, a whirlwind of emotions crossed Han Seung-jae’s eyes.
“Are you going to keep standing there?”
Suddenly, a low voice sounded from behind, breaking Secretary Park’s reverie as he stepped out of the elevator.
“I apologize.”
Secretary Park bowed. Han Seung-jae brushed past him coldly.
“Unlike you, Secretary Park.”
Where are you looking, losing your focus? Han Seung-jae’s trailing words flowed out indifferently. Secretary Park looked up, watching Seo Yi-kyung walk past.
The pale face and delicate features naturally drew the observer’s eye. Because of this, Han Seung-jae seemed to think Secretary Park was spacing out while staring at Seo Yi-kyung. But it seemed Secretary Park wasn’t the only one.
As Han Seung-jae appeared in the first-floor lobby, which was bustling with people coming and going, people stopped in their tracks and bowed their upper bodies. Seo Yi-kyung walked calmly behind him.
Throughout the walk following Han Seung-jae, Secretary Park could tell where people’s gazes were directed. After the initial intimidation of Han Seung-jae’s sudden appearance, everyone stole glances at Seo Yi-kyung. Compared to the Han Seung-jae walking ahead, his frame was infinitely slender. Nevertheless, the way he walked slowly with a straight back exuded a haughty yet elegant dignity. Moreover, perhaps because his face was so white, his pressed red lips stood out vividly.
As Seo Yi-kyung passed, Secretary Park cast a warning glance toward an employee who was whispering that a pleasant scent was wafting from a distance.
Quickly walking ahead, Secretary Park opened the rear door of the sedan parked in front of the building. Then, his expression hardened as he looked at the face of Butler Do, who had stepped out of the stationary car.
“Director Han, you’ve… come out.”
Butler Do greeted Han Seung-jae, but upon meeting his gaze, he raised a hand to cover his cheek. Han Seung-jae watched that gesture with a chilly look.
Once Han Seung-jae was seated, Seo Yi-kyung also entered the car, brushing past the driver who was holding the opposite door.
As the door closed, Seo Yi-kyung felt a sting in his cheek. Even without looking beside him, he knew Han Seung-jae was staring.
Secretary Park climbed into the passenger seat. Seo Yi-kyung caught sight of Butler Do in the rearview mirror as the sedan glided away. For some time, he had prevented Han Seung-jae from finding Butler Do. He had made several excuses, saying the man had a cold. Even today, hadn’t he used Butler Do as an excuse for going to the hospital?
Seo Yi-kyung curled the fingers resting on his lap. However, there was no way Han Seung-jae hadn’t seen Butler Do’s face just now. Yet, no words came from him.
* * *
Han Seung-jae swirled the glass in his hand. Red wine surged at his fingertips. Han Seung-jae took a light sip of the wine and looked ahead. Outside the window lay a darkening landscape.
Seo Yi-kyung toyed with the wine glass he was holding. The words he heard at the hospital echoed in his ears.
—The uterine lining isn’t visible yet. I think we can confirm it next week, so please come back then with a guardian.
Perhaps that was why. It was difficult to bring the wine to his lips. Seo Yi-kyung repeated the words ‘come with’ in his mind. That was why he had gone to see Han Seung-jae, but confessing that fact was incredibly difficult.
Han Seung-jae preferred seeing things for himself. Thinking it would be better to show him directly, he had asked him to make time next week.
“You’ve been quiet for a while.”
Han Seung-jae seemed to be speaking to the motionless Seo Yi-kyung before setting down his glass. An observing employee approached and refilled Han Seung-jae’s glass.
Once the employee withdrew, Han Seung-jae looked at Seo Yi-kyung slowly and spoke.
“Butler Do, is it really a cold?”
Seo Yi-kyung, who had been clutching the glass and hesitating whether to drink or not, flinched. He lifted his head to look at Han Seung-jae, his lips parting. Han Seung-jae’s voice resonated lowly.
“You finally look at me.”
“That is…”
Seo Yi-kyung let go of the wine glass he had been holding. He still had no desire to drink. Just as Seo Yi-kyung was about to continue, Han Seung-jae lifted the filled glass of wine.
“Is this wine not to your liking?”
Seo Yi-kyung carefully opened his lips while watching the wine slosh at Han Seung-jae’s fingertips. Despite the gentle words, Han Seung-jae’s atmosphere had changed somehow. He was a man who loathed lying above all else.
“Seo Dong-hu. No, Hyung…”
“So, did you tell me those things to hide that fact for him?”
Han Seung-jae asked indifferently, looking at the wine glass as if cutting off Seo Yi-kyung’s words.
Seo Yi-kyung’s complexion clouded. Hide it? That was absurd. He had never thought such a thing in the first place. He had simply tried to protect Butler Do, who had gone through a distressing ordeal. However, that fact could not cover the lie he had told Han Seung-jae.
“Seung-jae.”
Han Seung-jae shifted his gaze away from the wine. Seo Yi-kyung tried to bring up the words that had been lingering in his mouth.
“At the hospital today.”
It wasn’t something that could be hidden even if he tried. Perhaps the man already knew. Seo Yi-kyung bit his lower lip and then let go.
“The examination…”
“Director Han.”
At the sound of his name, Han Seung-jae’s gaze shifted to the side. Seo Yi-kyung turned his head as well. Secretary Park quickly approached and lowered his upper body, presenting the phone he was holding.
“President Han continues to call, even though I told him you are in a meeting.”
President Han was Han Seung-jae’s father. Even as he spoke, an incoming call arrived on Secretary Park’s phone. Buzz—the vibration sounded repeatedly.
Han Seung-jae took the phone from Secretary Park’s grip, murmuring as if he had no choice but to take it. For Secretary Park, it wasn’t a matter of being able to ignore the call. He was a person who had to see things through once he made up his mind. And that blood flowed in Han Seung-jae’s veins as well.
“It’s me.”
Han Seung-jae stood up, pressing the phone to his ear. He likely intended to ramble on about how long it had been since they last spoke.
“Just tell me your business.”
Suddenly, Han Seung-jae’s legs stopped as he tried to move. His head tilted down. It was because Seo Yi-kyung had grabbed Han Seung-jae’s hand as it was about to brush past the table.
Seo Yi-kyung looked up and opened his mouth. Simultaneously, Han Yechan’s boisterous voice flowed through the phone.
[Come over here once the meeting is over. Chae-ho tells me that Ra-hyun is coming to Korea soon.]