Episode 9
When Jae-hyun arrived at Millusso, he entered like a man possessed.
The loud music roared so fiercely it felt like it would rip his eardrums apart.
Frowning, he turned his head.
He was sure it was around here somewhere. His sharp eyes darted around.
Climbing the stairs to the second floor, Myung Jae-hyun recalled the photo Go Sung-gi had shown him. His gaze naturally turned toward the corner.
A man was leaning in, whispering close to her ear.
Jae-hyun’s black eyes trembled uncontrollably. The breath he’d been suppressing—along with the longing for her—exploded from him in that moment.
The hair she used to always tie up was now flowing down. Lightly curled at the ends, it swayed with her laughter. Her beautiful, crescent-shaped eyes bent as she smiled. That tiny face, those delicate features, and those particularly plump upper lips—all the same.
It was Jeong Lee Hon, the very woman who had toyed with Myung Jae-hyun’s heart five years ago. He clenched his fist tightly as he scanned her pale face, her eyes, her nose, her lips in order.
He was curious about the man being so friendly beside her. It wasn’t the man he’d seen before.
The man who had been whispering something repeatedly soon walked out to the stage, and finally, Jae-hyun could clearly see her face. He stared at Lee Hon silently.
Just then, she turned her head.
Their eyes met across the room. Her face froze in shock.
And so did Jae-hyun’s.
He never expected to meet her gaze like this. As another man approached her again, he hurriedly looked away, turning his head.
He pretended nothing happened and walked up the stairs, but his legs felt heavy, like they were tied down with sandbags. Was Lee Hon still looking at him? Was she watching him? He strangely wished that she was.
“Hey. Myung Jae-hyun.”
As Go Sung-gi placed a hand on his shoulder, Jae-hyun’s head immediately turned toward her. Like a reflex.
But when he looked, only the man remained. Lee Hon was gone again—disappeared from in front of him once more.
His black eyes dimmed.
—
Click.
The door lock clicked open as Lee Hon entered her officetel.
Without turning on the lights, she collapsed onto the fabric sofa. Her hands trembled as they held her bag. Her body kept shaking—she’d nearly fallen several times on the way home.
It was definitely Myung Jae-hyun.
She hadn’t intended to run.
But she’d been so shocked, her body reacted before she could think.
She slowly looked around her darkened home. For some reason, the place felt unusually silent today.
She flipped the switch. About ten pyeong of interior space came into view. Rising from the couch, she walked to the small side table. As she turned on a lamp, several photo frames came into sight.
One large frame drew her attention—a picture of her in her grandmother’s arms.
“Grandma…”
She forced a smile.
Her grandmother had suddenly passed away from a heart attack five years ago. The doctor said she must have felt a squeezing pain in her chest several times—but she, foolishly, hadn’t noticed the warning signs.
And so, she lost the one person who meant everything to her.
“I miss you.”
Her eyes began to turn red.
“I miss you so much today, Grandma…”
Her heart swelled painfully in her chest, and she whispered softly,
“Grandma… I saw him today.”
Her voice pierced the still air of the room.
“But I ran away again. I hurt him… again.”
The moment their eyes had met replayed vividly in her mind. Lee Hon lifted another photo frame.
In the photo was a little boy. He was in her arms, smiling brightly.
That innocent grin—somehow, he looked just like someone.
She put the frame down and turned away.
They wouldn’t meet again. Not even by accident.
Please… live well, Myung Jae-hyun.
—
She greeted the office and walked inside. Sitting at her desk, Lee Hon lifted her monitor and grabbed her mug.
The moment her eyes met a female coworker arriving at the same time, she quickly walked over.
“Good morning, Assistant Manager Seo.”
“Good morning? Yes, it’s a good morning, Section Chief Jeong.”
Seeing Seo Min-jung’s sulky expression, Lee Hon playfully patted her on the shoulder.
“Aww, are you mad at me?”
But Min-jung’s face only stiffened more.
“Chief Jeong, can we avoid the morning cuteness? It’s nauseating.”
“I’m really sorry about Friday.”
Putting her hands together in apology, Lee Hon gave a playful wink. Min-jung grumbled.
“You danced all night and disappeared. Then no texts the entire weekend. Isn’t that too much?”
Lee Hon looked apologetic.
“I’ll treat you to coffee after lunch. Something came up suddenly—I had no choice.”
“Did something happen with Jin-gang?”
She shook her head.
“No, it’s not that… I just wasn’t feeling well.”
“Chief Kang said the moment you locked eyes with some guy, you ran off in a panic. Is that true?”
The smile vanished from Lee Hon’s face.
“What? No, that’s not true.”
Narrowing her eyes in curiosity, Min-jung leaned in closer. Feeling uncomfortable, Lee Hon smiled weakly and looked away.
“Assistant Manager Seo, shouldn’t you get back to your seat now?”
“Whoa, shutting me down just like that. Fine, whatever.”
Lee Hon chuckled softly and headed toward the break room.
—
She had met Min-seong, her fellow recruit, during a speech class while preparing for the Food Group interview. They’d entered the company at the same time and were even assigned to the same branch. With her bright and easygoing personality, they’d quickly become close.
Lee Hon poured hot water over a green tea bag in her mug.
Buzz buzz.
Her phone vibrated, and she hurried to check the message. It was from Hyung-woo’s mom.
> [Jin-gang cried the whole trip saying he missed you, but he ate breakfast just fine this morning and went to school with Hyung-woo. Don’t worry.]
A smile formed on her lips, and she quickly typed back:
> [Thank you so much, Mrs. Hyung-woo :)]
She stared at the screen.
It was a photo of Jin-gang—smiling with a missing front tooth, his tongue playfully sticking out.
“I already miss you.”
Voices buzzed nearby.
“Isn’t the new executive starting today?”
“I heard he transferred from another affiliate. Super strict. They say he’s older and really old-fashioned. Ugh, sounds exhausting.”
Lee Hon ignored the office chatter and returned to her seat.
As soon as lunch ended, everyone scrambled to tidy up. Even Deputy Manager Choi Ki-hyung, who usually never wore a tie, was fully suited up.
Seeing this rare sight, Seo Min-jung poked Lee Hon in the side.
“How important is this new executive that even our team lead is dressed up?”
“No idea.”
“Our ace, Chief Jeong—any idea who it is?”
“I’ve heard some things.”
“Well, it won’t matter to you. You always do a good job.”
Just then, Choi Ki-hyung stood and raised his voice.
“Attention, everyone. You all know the new executive is arriving today. Let’s all do our best and stay on his good side.”
Right as the marketing team finished responding, Executive Director Yoo Mi-ryeong suddenly descended, shouting commands. Everyone stood and greeted her. She raised her hand to wave them down.
Then, the other executives—all juniors to her—entered in sequence. The atmosphere became heavy with pressure.
Lee Hon’s phone buzzed again. She hurried to check.
> Nuna. I’m at scho—
It was from Jin-gang. Smiling, she quickly tapped a reply.
> [Jin-gang, who told you to text at school?]
While she was distracted, a man entered the office through the middle of the gathered team.
Wearing a deep navy suit, hands in his pockets, he walked in with an air of casual arrogance. He gave a lazy nod.
“I’m Executive Director Myung Jae-hyun, assigned to the Myungga & Food marketing team.”
Hearing that familiar voice, Lee Hon’s fingers froze. And then… her heart dropped at the sound of his name.
As soon as his introduction ended, murmurs of awe spread.
Everyone was shocked at how handsome the new executive was—so different from what the rumors said. Seo Min-jung gasped, lips parted.
“Oh my god. I’m staying with this company for life. That face… and he’s an executive? Unreal.”
Min-jung’s squealing voice faded out.
Lee Hon’s phone slipped from her hand and hit the desk with a thud. Her heart pounded like it would explode.
Unlike everyone else, her face had gone pale.
Her legs trembled. Her whole body shook.
No way…
Why is Myung Jae-hyun here?
Like someone burdened by sin, Lee Hon quivered in her seat. Seo Min-jung poked her in the side.
“What’s wrong? Are you sick?”
He swore he’d never come here. That’s why I came…
> “Must be nice for you. You can always join Myungga Group later, right? You’ll go to Myungga & Food, yeah?”
> “Not a chance. I’d die before going there. Maybe another affiliate.”
> “Really? Then I’ll go.”
But now, the very Myung Jae-hyun who had declared he’d never step foot in Myungga Group… had come back.
And as an executive.
And to her department—Marketing.
—
