MR 8

8. An Affectionate Relationship

This was precisely what worried me the most whenever I met strangers after losing my memories. Because the “me” from before the accident had such a notoriously eccentric personality, I had no idea what kind of insults or humiliation I might have inflicted on anyone. Not being able to remember that was inflicting a second wound upon them, so hoping against hope that I hadn’t had a bad relationship with this kind man, I spoke up once again. “Whether I spoke harshly or committed acts of violence I shouldn’t have—anything at all. It’s fine, so please tell me the way it is. I’m not just saying that, I really am okay.” “I don’t know why you’re saying such things, but there was absolutely nothing of the sort to worry about.”

What a relief. At least she seemed to have maintained basic courtesy as someone from Han Je-ha’s side. For the first time, I felt a wave of gratitude toward my past self for having enough sense and brains to distinguish between the public and the private. Watching my relieved expression, Secretary Yoon cautiously added: “Although I didn’t have many chances to serve you, whenever I did see you, you always treated me with sincerity. Your honest and unpretentious side… I don’t know how you might feel about hearing this, but I liked it.”

Had I ever heard such positive praise from anyone since regaining consciousness? Secretary Yoon’s sincere answer made me feel like crying. The past days of scrambling to clean up and apologize for the former me’s all sorts of eccentricities flashed before my eyes like a revolving lantern, making my chest swell with emotion.Thank you, Secretary Yoon. You just saved a life.

“That’s why I was extremely worried when I heard the news of Madame’s accident. Every single day, as I drove the Managing Director to the hospital, I prayed every day just to hear the news that you had woken up.” “……Pardon?” “The Managing Director didn’t show it outwardly either, but he must have had a very hard time. No matter what people outside were whispering, the two of you actually have such an affectionate relationship…” “Wait, hold on. What—what are you talking about right now?”

He went to the hospital every single day? The person who was nowhere to be seen while I was barely clinging to life in the hospital? “Didn’t the Managing Director tell you? On the very day Madame regained consciousness, he received a call and was the first to arrive at the hospital. Perhaps you missed each other…”

‘I was drawn to the image of an intelligent and confident wife. No, it would be more correct to say I fell in love at first sight.’‘The Managing Director sent me. He asked me to accompany you to the hospital because you hurt your ankle.’‘Instead of a show-window couple, let’s be a real couple.’

Then could all of that… actually be sincere?

My mind was thrown into chaos by this sudden turn of events. Staring blankly out the window with my thoughts momentarily frozen, I abruptly called out to Secretary Yoon. After raising the topic, I just mumbled with my lips and hesitated. Sensing this, Secretary Yoon smiled gently and met my gaze. Thanks to that thoughtful attitude that put the other person at ease, a ‘to hell with it’ attitude took over, and the words just spilled out. “Mr. Han Je-ha, or rather… could I get his number?”

[Thanks to you, I got good treatment. They said I can come back to get the stitches out in a week.] No. What if he doesn’t even care about this much?Tap, tap. The message I had typed out broke down into consonants and vowels before disappearing without a trace.

[I went to the hospital with Secretary Yoon. Thank you for your consideration.] Too formal? Anyway, he sent his own person to make sure I got treated, so I should probably be a bit more affectionate.

[I feel like my ankle is already completely healed!] ……That’s a bit over the top.

Ah, my head hurts. Why does it take so long just to send a single text message? As I let out a deep sigh and slammed my head against the seat, Secretary Yoon glanced back at me through the rearview mirror. “Is something uncomfortable?” “No! Please don’t mind me.”

At my words, I sidelong-glanced at his profile as he refocused on driving. I had made the excuse when I took his number that I hadn’t managed to save it yet on the new phone I bought after the accident, but I couldn’t help worrying if it would create an unnecessary misunderstanding that I didn’t even know my own husband’s number. Though, strictly speaking, it wasn’t a misunderstanding.

“Anyway, what should I say…” The reason I was now agonizing over a single message—even though until I left the house I had been heavily sneering at his hypocritical attitude—was entirely because of what Secretary Yoon had told me. He went to the hospital every single day.

When I thought of him lingering outside a hospital room that no one visited before turning back, it made me feel like I could forgive him even if he were my parents’ enemy—let alone a husband who had been unilaterally asked for a divorce.‘That’s a bit too overwhelmingly touching.’

And so, feeling sorry for having ranted, raved, and played all by myself in my head, I was currently agonizing over how to express my gratitude for getting me treated. What should I say? What kind of revolutionary sentence could express my thanks politely without being over the top?

Just as I was tearing at my hair and glaring at the innocent phone, Secretary Yoon, who had been driving quietly, spoke up casually, “Madame.” “Ah, yes.” “If it’s not an intrusion, might I offer a suggestion?” “Pardon?!”

Startled right along with me by my excessive shock, Secretary Yoon apologized for meddling uninvited. Managing my expression belatedly, I smoothed down my voice, which had shot up in panic. “No, it’s just that… I’ve never been to the company before. Well, maybe I have been there before, but I probably haven’t.”

“I just thought it might be nice for you to drop the Managing Director off, and perhaps the two of you could enjoy a nice dinner together afterward. I apologize if I made you uncomfortable.” “No, I’m fine, but wouldn’t he… I mean, wouldn’t he hate that?” “The Managing Director?”

At my words, Secretary Yoon chuckled as if he had heard an amusing joke and replied decisively: “That will never happen.”

We had really come here.

I bit my lip, looking up at the towering skyscrapers of Moyeon Town.Am I doing something useless? We agreed to be a real couple, but that didn’t mean we were at a stage where I could just waltz into his workplace overnight. “We have arrived, Madame.”

Drawn as if under a spell by Secretary Yoon’s reckless optimism—insuring that he would never hate it—regret was already crashing over me. Contrary to my feelings, the elevator steadily climbed floors and quickly reached the executive level. “Right this way.”

With a clear chime, the doors opened, and Secretary Yoon took the lead with a light step. I dragged my feet behind him like a cow headed to the slaughterhouse. “Welcome, Madame.”

The secretary sitting at the desk in front of the office flinched in surprise and hurriedly bowed at the waist. Exchanging awkward greetings, I sat on the guest sofa and looked around cautiously. Between Secretary Yoon, who said he saw me at the founding anniversary ceremony, and his secretary, whom I was meeting for the first time, recognizing me—did he faithfully keep the condition of fulfilling his public responsibilities?

‘Please say yes.’

In truth, that was merely my wish, and the more likely scenario was this: For instance, rumors of a crazy woman being rampant among his subordinates, or that because the crazy woman happened to be the boss’s wife, they were forced to endure her tyranny with tears in their eyes…

Baek Yi-jun. You weren’t that rock-bottom, were you?

While I was habitually fretting over my past self, Secretary Yoon finished talking at the desk and approached me.Please let him not be in his seat. Since he was a Managing Director, he should be extremely busy, meaning empty seats ought to be a common occurrence. Please not be there, not be there, not be there!

As I looked up, reciting a prayer-like chant in my mind, Secretary Yoon— “I will escort you inside.”

—guided me toward the office with a bright, fresh face.

Right, there was no way Secretary Yoon, who had his schedule memorized, would have brought me to an office where he wasn’t present. Realizing that even my common sense was failing me, I let out a soft sigh, thinking I must have truly lost my mind, and stood in front of the office door with the slowest steps possible.

“Managing Director, it’s Yoon Do-yoon.” Come in.

A voice, both unfamiliar and familiar, clashed from beyond the thick door. Secretary Yoon showed the kindness of opening the door himself, clearing the path for me.Let’s keep it simple. If I’m going to thank him anyway, isn’t it better to do it face-to-face? It will probably… be good.

Reassuring myself like that, I slowly stepped through the opened door.