Chapter 26: Because I have done something in the past

They say women look three times more beautiful when it snows.

What came to Jeong Doyoon’s mind, seeing the cherry blossom petals fluttering like snow and Yoo Seoa standing amidst them all, was that very rumor.

In that sense, the appropriate answer to Seoa’s earlier question — “Did I look pretty?” — would have been a yes.

He already knew from their first meeting that Yoo Seoa had striking looks, so it wasn’t something that caught him entirely off guard.

‘She probably just said it casually, so why…?’

But when it came time to answer her honestly, he found himself strangely tongue-tied.

And Seoa wasn’t the kind of person who would fail to notice such silence.

“It’d be nice if I could use this face to snag a Saudi prince. Not just hotel stays, but even a corporate-level investment deal…”

“…Don’t you two even speak different languages?”

The topic had somehow shifted naturally to Saudi princes.

Perhaps she was being considerate of his silence.

Or perhaps she wanted to leave just enough room for Doyoon to see her not only as an employee, but as a woman…

“Oh, I speak Arabic well. I lived in the Middle East for a few years.”

“Ms. Seoa… you really are multi-talented.”

“Thank you.”

She kept the conversation going smoothly, never letting awkward silence creep in.

For a conversation between an executive director of another subsidiary and a new hire, the distance felt unusually small.

Had a sense of inner familiarity developed without Doyoon even realizing it?

Or was it simply Seoa who had been narrowing the gap on her own?

“Oh, right. Have you eaten yet? I think I’m starting to get a little hungry from all this walking.”

“Is there something you’d like to eat?”

“It’s not that I’m craving anything in particular… but since this is a date, shouldn’t we eat before parting ways?”

Sometimes she was bold.

“Then… how about that bulgogi place we went to last time?”

“What about that tteokbokki place near the crosswalk? It’s kind of an awkward time for a full meal.”

“Tteokbokki… really?”

“Yeah. You like tteokbokki, don’t you?”

Sometimes she came in boldly, without hesitation.

Pulling him in suddenly, unexpectedly.

“…Is that something you read from my face? I don’t recall telling you my food preferences.”

“Most Korean men like tteokbokki. It’s a statistical inference.”

Whenever Doyoon tried to close the distance, she would casually deflect — always keeping her intentions ambiguous.

He could never quite pin down what she was thinking, or what she truly felt.

Eventually, they entered the tteokbokki shop by the roadside.

When they sat across from each other at a table in the corner, when she handed him a fork and chopsticks from the utensil holder, and when she joked about how spicy the food was, saying her mouth was on fire…

“Now I see why they sell Coolpis as a set. Smart business move.”

“…Is that so.”

She talked as if they were old friends, not someone speaking with a high-ranking superior.

Even though it was only their second meal together, she made it feel like they’d been doing it for years.

But when the oddly familiar meal ended and they stepped back out onto the street, when they walked side by side again, casually chatting about this and that, and when they finally had to part ways at the front entrance of the Yeryeo Hotel—Everything changed again.

“If you say it was because of me, Director Jeong Hwayoon will understand.”

“What do you mean…?”

“You came here today without letting Director Jeong know, right?”

By stating her usefulness outright, she made it hard for him to let go first.

“…Why do you think I came without telling Hwayoon?”

“If there had been a scheduled meeting, there would’ve been instructions from the director in advance.”

It was as if she was certain she could be of use to him.

As if she wanted to ensure Jeong Doyoon would keep her name in mind…

“If you say you ran into me by chance near the hotel and I dragged you here, people will believe it.”

“Isn’t the image of me being dragged by you even more unbelievable?”

“Given the things I’ve done so far, I don’t think anyone would find it too strange.”

Before he could come closer, she would slip away.

Before she drifted too far, she would draw him back in.

For someone only 24 years old and a brand-new employee, she was astonishingly skilled in handling people.

— Smile.

“I had a great time on our date.”

Why did that faint smile, slowly forming on her face, stir a sense of longing — even if only briefly?

“…Do people usually consider this kind of thing a date?”

“We looked at flowers, chatted, refreshed our minds, had a meal… We did everything you’re supposed to on a date, didn’t we?”

She was someone who seemed both understandable and unknowable.

And maybe that’s why he kept watching her as she slowly walked away.

He stared at the spot she had left, his gaze as stoic as ever.

He stood still for a long while, unsure whether that now-empty space was hers or someone else’s.

***

“I’m back.”

The Planning Team 1 office, which he returned to after roughly four hours, looked just as it always did.

The sound of coffee being sipped, papers rustling, someone typing rapidly… Only familiar noises filled the air.

In any case, what he’d just done could be considered a kind of offsite work.

So first, he intended to make a brief report.

Naturally, his steps took him toward Manager Park.

—Step.

—Step.

“Manager.”

“…Ah, Ms. Yoo Seoa.”

The urgent matter that needed immediate attention had already been resolved thanks to Jeong Doyoon.

Though a proper report would be needed later, he planned to give a quick summary for now.

But before he could even speak, Manager Park opened his mouth first.

When he heard that Director Jeong Hwayoon had summoned him, his head tilted in confusion.

“The director asked for me?”

“She said to send you straight to her office once you got back. …Did something happen?”

“Hmm… I can’t really think of anything in particular…”

He really couldn’t think of anything work-related that would warrant this.

And as for the personal matters between Jeong Hwayoon and Jeong Doyoon — those weren’t his to tell, so he trailed off.

Seeing Seoa just blinking silently, Manager Park urged her to head to the executive office.

So, instead of returning to her desk, she took the elevator straight up.

After knocking twice, she opened the door to find Director Jeong Hwayoon at her desk, flipping through documents.

“Director.”

“…Have a seat for now.”

“How should I put it… he didn’t look like he was in a good mood.”

My personal guess is that Jeong Doyoon is probably the reason.

His expressions are pretty easy to read in many ways.

“I’ll be straightforward.”

“Yes.”

“What did you do with my brother…? According to the general manager, it was just you and him who went out.”

“We went on a date.”

Pfft!

Cough, cough.

“You did what?”

I simply answered straightforwardly because she asked me that way, but the reaction was quite something.

…I kind of wanted to tease her, but I held myself back for now.

“It was about the Saudi prince’s stay—he asked me for advice, so I requested some of his time.”

“Then, what about the Sunrise blacklist… what happened there?”

“There was a commotion. Several rule violations occurred, and Executive Director Jeong Doyoon personally ordered them to check out.”

As Jeong Doyoon had advised a few hours ago, I didn’t mention our conflict.

It was already over, and bringing it up could’ve caused unnecessary misunderstandings.

But after finishing the briefing about the Sunrise eviction, And somehow ending up giving an oral report about the on-site situation too—

“So… nothing really happened with my brother, right?”

“Why are you asking?”

“Well, he said something weird.”

The topic of the date with Jeong Doyoon, which I thought was settled, resurfaced again.

And oddly, the desire to tease Jeong Hayoon also resurfaced with it.

“…No, it’s nothing. Who in the world would like someone that cold anyway?”

“Hmm… but he’s quite handsome.”

“What?”

“Ah, are you… maybe jealous right now? Just kidding.”

I could see Jeong Hayoon’s mind flying off to Andromeda, so I corrected myself midway.

Either way, winning over Jeong Hayoon’s favor was the priority right now.

“Don’t worry too much. Unless the Executive Director tells me to leave, I have no reason to go to him.”

“No, it’s just… haah…”

***

Once the private talk with Jeong Hayoon was somehow wrapped up, time flew by.

Before I knew it, it was already the end of the workday.

“Good job today.”

“Ah, Seo-ah. See you tomorrow.”

Like always, I packed up lightly and started walking toward my officetel.

But I had this nagging feeling like I forgot something, so I paused to think.

“…Ah, right.”

Come to think of it, I forgot to give Seoyeon a heads-up about the Sunrise situation.

Being a fan of such awful people wouldn’t be good for her either, so as her sister, it was wise to give her a warning.

And so, ring ring, after a few dial tones, Seoyeon’s voice came through.

[Hello? Sis?]

“Seoyeon. Hey, I wanted to ask you something…”

Trailing off briefly, I asked Seoyeon how much she liked Sunrise.

Her honest answer came almost immediately: “So much I want to marry them.”

Faced with such an unrealistic answer, I made up my mind and began telling her about Sunrise.

I figured it was better for her to give up now than suffer later on.

“Well, those Sunrise guys… I saw them getting off a hotel elevator holding the wrist of a really pretty woman.”

[W-what? Tell me more details!]

“Sorry. That’s a privacy issue—I can’t say more. Anyway, it seems like they’re interested in someone else… so let’s give up, Seoyeon.”

[Who is it?! Jeong Chanwoo? Baek Siwoo? Or is it that Hwang Jun, that playb—]

Beep.

“…That should be enough.”