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Chapter 21
Clink.
Lost in thought for a moment, Yujin turned her head at the sound of the door opening.
“Why didn’t you answer when I called you?”
“What? You called me?”
“I couldn’t see you anywhere.”
“Oh…”
In Heejae’s hands was a tray with two cups of coffee and some cookies.
“Sit down.”
He pulled up a chair beside his desk so she could sit, while he himself sat in front of the desk. Yujin took the camera back out of her bag.
“Actually, I think we’ll need to shoot some footage of you driving to work on Monday morning too.”
“Didn’t you already film me when I was driving earlier?”
“I did, but I was thinking—something like ‘Manager Kang’s morning commute.’ You know, in a suit, with your ID card around your neck. You get the vibe, right?”
“Tch. Seriously.”
Heejae chuckled under his breath. He agreed to the filming since she insisted, but he couldn’t shake how ridiculously corny it all felt.
“Did it come out well at least?”
“I mean, I filmed it as best as I could, but… this is all new to me too…”
Yujin fiddled with the camera settings, muttering softly. Truthfully, she had filmed—but spent most of that time stealing glances at him instead.
At the office, Kang Heejae was the epitome of professionalism, exuding that sharp, charismatic aura of a team leader. But here, in his personal life, he was the warm, teasing oppa’s friend she’d known for years.
“Let’s just finish up and get this work over with. Feels like a burden dragging around all day.”
Heejae sighed like it was a nuisance.
“Okay. All set.”
With the settings complete, she fixed the camera atop his desk and smiled.
“Done!”
Yujin let out a bright cry, her face glowing like a student who had just finished her homework.
She had volunteered eagerly—partly because it was her colleague’s request, but mostly because she didn’t want to miss a chance to spend the whole day with Kang Heejae. But she hadn’t realized how much stress it had quietly been.
“It’s not done yet.”
“What?”
Heejae leaned back in his chair with an easy smile.
“You still need that morning commute footage, don’t you?”
“Oh, right!”
Her excitement fizzled in an instant. She had completely forgotten in her relief.
Her eyebrows drooped in disappointment.
“That means we’ll have to go to work together Monday morning.”
“If I come pick you up, that solves it.”
Yujin’s face flushed as she mumbled in a small voice. His lips curved upward, smooth and unhurried.
“Or… you could just stay until Sunday.”
“…What?”
Had she really just heard that? Yujin blinked, as if her brain refused to process the words.
“What’s with that look? The filming’s done. Are you heading home now, Yujin-ssi?”
Yujin-ssi. Yujin-ssi.
Every time he called her that way, it stirred something in her chest.
It felt… like he was seeing her as a woman.
“Why don’t we have a glass of wine before you go?”
Her face flared red at the velvety tone of his voice. It felt almost like he was seducing her.
Before she could even decide how to respond, he was already rising from his chair. Her gaze instinctively followed him upward.
“Consider it a treat for working hard today. I’ll give you some good wine. Tidy up and come out.”
He walked out of the study first. Left behind, Yujin exhaled a shaky breath.
“Phew…”
After packing up the camera and interview notes, she paused, pulling cosmetics from her bag.
“Why is my makeup coming off like this now of all times…”
She hadn’t touched it since the afternoon, and by evening it was a mess. She dabbed her face quickly with a puff, then carefully glossed her lips. Lipstick would make it too obvious she had fixed her makeup—gloss was safer.
“Yujin-ah, what are you doing? Come out already.”
“Huh? Oh! I’m coming!”
His voice echoed from afar, startling her so badly she nearly dropped everything.
“Jeez, scared me.”
Like a kid caught sneaking snacks, she scrambled out of the study with her things.
“Cheers.”
Heejae clinked his glass against hers.
Clink.
The sound rang pleasantly in her ears as she smiled and took a sip.
“It’s delicious.”
And it really was, just as he promised.
“To be honest, I’ve barely ever had wine.”
“Then what do you usually drink?”
“I was in college—so of course, soju or beer. Sometimes makgeolli?”
Heejae, seated close beside her, listened intently. Unlike her, he had always enjoyed the occasional wine or whiskey, and had even designed this home’s bar counter with that hobby in mind.
But he never imagined he’d one day sit here, sharing wine with Yujin.
Her chatter was constant, lively, and utterly charming.
“Makgeolli’s good.”
“My favorite is chestnut makgeolli.”
He burst out laughing.
“So specific.”
“There was this pancake place near campus. Their makgeolli was insanely good. The assorted pancake platter was delicious too, but it was expensive, so we didn’t order it much.”
Her face lit up with joy as she recalled it.
They were close friends’ siblings, yet opportunities to talk like this, just the two of them, had been rare.
“Take it slow.”
She had already emptied her glass, so he gently refilled it.
Just then, her phone buzzed noisily on the table. Yujin sighed at the caller ID and picked up.
“Yeah?”
—Where are you?
“Why do you keep calling when you’re supposed to be on a business trip? I’m not a kid.”
Her tone came out sharp from annoyance. She frowned, eyes narrowing.
—Why so prickly? I’m just worried about my only sister, that’s all.
“Tone down the overprotective act, please. I’m already in my mid-twenties, I’ve got a job now.”
Their sibling bickering made Heejae chuckle quietly.
The living room was quiet enough that her brother’s voice carried faintly through the phone.
—Where are you? Why is it so quiet—
Before she knew it, her phone was gone from her hand. Her eyes widened.
“I’m with her, Im Yujin-ssi.”
She turned to see Heejae holding her phone, speaking smoothly.
—What the—Kang Heejae?
“Yeah.”
Her lips parted soundlessly. Why is he…
—Were you two together all day?
“Mm. Work stuff. Had to get some things done with her.”
—You could’ve just said so. Why didn’t she say anything?
Because… because it would’ve sounded like we were doing something we shouldn’t.
Like kissing, maybe.
Yujin quickly drank from her glass, moistening her dry lips. But her nerves made her gulp too quickly, draining another glass before she knew it.
“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure she gets home safe.”
—Fine. I’ll hang up now.
“Hold on.”
Just before the call could end, Heejae stopped him.
Yujin blinked in surprise, glass still in hand, as he looked at her with a low smile that lingered far too long.
—Well? You called me, so say it.
Heejae raised his hand and brushed his thumb lightly across her lips.
“…”
The shift in the air was instantaneous. Yujin’s eyes darted helplessly, her heart thundering in her chest.
“When did you say you’d be back? Tomorrow, wasn’t it?”
—Yeah. Tomorrow evening flight.
“Good. Let’s grab a drink when you’re back.”
—Sounds good. Later then.
The call ended. Heejae set the phone down in front of her, but his gaze never left her.
His thumb was still resting on her lips.
“You heard him. Yuhyun’s back on Sunday.”
Thump. Thump-thump.
Her heart pounded violently at those words.
“So that means, tonight… you’re staying with me, Im Yujin-ssi.”
