Kang Jinwook was always busy. After his ergence as a highly dominant Alpha, and after Chairman Kang pushed Kang Jinwook to the forefront instead of his eldest son, Kang Jin-tae, his days seed to stretch into what felt like 72 hours instead of just 24.
Moreover, recently, the Turknistan new port project, which he had been putting a lot of effort into, was finally gaining montum, making his days even busier.
Despite all this, there was sothing Kang Jinwook was paying the most attention to these days. Even now, he set aside the reports and was deeply engrossed in looking at photos of Choi Sunwoo.
"Seems like you’ve gained a bit of weight recently since you've been eating well," Secretary Gwak remarked as he casually glanced at Sunwoo’s photo that had appeared on the monitor.
Kang Jinwook’s gaze shifted to Secretary Gwak. His eyes were cold.
"I’m sorry."
Secretary Gwak quickly apologized. Recently, Kang Jinwook's mood had softened, and he had unwittingly let the comnt slip.
Why did I say that? No matter how much Kang Jinwook had changed recently, his nature hadn’t gone anywhere.
As Secretary Gwak regretted his words internally, the following mont unfolded.
"He eats well. He didn’t used to answer when I asked what he wanted to eat, but these days, he tells
every ti."
Kang Jinwook turned back to the monitor and spoke. His tone was neutral, which made Secretary Gwak breathe a sigh of relief.
"It was tteokbokki yesterday, right? He’s still having ice cream."
"Third day. He says when sothing gets stuck in his mind, it just keeps popping up. Is that what happens when you're pregnant? Or is it just Choi Sunwoo?"
Secretary Gwak, who hadn’t been in a relationship or even dated for a long ti, had no answers to this question.
"At least he’s eating well. I was worried for a while when everything he ate was rejected."
At least he knew what to say to please his superior.
"Mm."
Kang Jinwook uttered a vague sound that could hardly be considered a response and turned his attention back to the monitor. The photos had all been sent by Butler Baek, who had taken them himself, and Sunwoo’s image had just been captured monts ago.
These days, Sunwoo had started gardening as part of his prenatal care, alongside walking. He wasn’t doing anything grand, just watering flowers and trees or picking out damaged or withered plants.
Still, moving around outdoors consistently seed to have improved his health a lot. Of course, it helped that he was eating well too.
On top of that, sotis Sunwoo found items he had used in the past and started organizing them separately. He would send Kang Jinwook pictures of these items via ssages occasionally.
Ding-dong.
At that mont, a conversation window on the ssenger app on the PC lit up. Since it was linked to his phone, the notification rang at the sa ti.
The ssage was from Choi Sunwoo. Even before reading it, a faint smile appeared on Kang Jinwook’s lips. But as he checked the photo, his expression changed once again.
The brightness on Kang Jinwook’s face grew, and Secretary Gwak, unable to suppress his curiosity, also looked at the photo. It was a dirty toy covered in dust and dirt. The colorful paint on it had faded sowhat.
[Today's acquisition.]
A ssage from Sunwoo appeared under the photo.
[Found it with a train and car together. Guess where?]
Kang Jinwook typed a reply on the keyboard.
[Hmm... where did you find it?]
[Under the tree where the swing is hanging.]
The ssage ca through imdiately.
[This place seems like a treasure trove. I think I found a few more things.]
In reality, the photo and the ssage were nothing special. Yet, Kang Jinwook reviewed Sunwoo’s ssage as though it were a significant report.
[Do you know when it was used?]
[How could I rember that? Besides, you seem to forget a lot too. I have mory loss, you know? I don’t even recognize my past self.]
[Right.]
[No, it’s true. Wow, you really don’t believe ? I’m not using bad mory as an excuse for illness.]
Sunwoo's speech pattern was fully evident in the text. Kang Jinwook’s lips curved into a soft smile, and he sent several ssages back.
The exchange continued for a few more ssages before it quieted down.
[Sorry for bothering you at work. Finish up quickly, for the sake of leaving on ti.]
That was the last ssage that ca through. Kang Jinwook, having looked at the affectionate ssages, closed the ssenger. Yes, Sunwoo must indeed have mory loss.
If not, sothing like this wouldn’t have happened lately.
After joking around with Sunwoo through the ssages, Secretary Gwak quietly disappeared, perhaps to avoid disturbing him further.
Kang Jinwook opened the ledger that Secretary Gwak had left behind. As Sunwoo had said, in order to leave on ti, he had to keep his eyes, ears, and hands busy.
However, that resolve was shattered on his way to the afternoon eting.
"Hey! Little brother!"
As if he had been waiting for Kang Jinwook to appear, Kang Jin-tae greeted him with a broad smile, raising his hand high.
Kang Jinwook’s face stiffened as he looked around briefly.
Kang Jinwook was headed to the floor where the overseas business departnt was located, intending to find the conference room where etings were most frequently held.
But there, right in front of the conference room, Kang Jin-tae was waiting, making sure that all the employees in the vicinity could see him, casting occasional sidelong glances at them.
"What brings you here?"
Kang Jinwook's brow furrowed when he saw Im Haewon among the employees.
"Why, is there any need for a special reason? Just ca to see my little brother. You and I are both busy, so it’s not easy to et up, is it?"
Kang Jin-tae acted as if they were close, like real brothers, which seed odd. When had they ever been this close? Kang Jin-tae ca up to Kang Jinwook in a playful manner.
"When does your eting end? Let’s have dinner together tonight."
"I don’t have ti."
Kang Jinwook decisively declined. However, Kang Jin-tae wasn’t bothered.
"You should. I’ve learned sothing very interesting."
Kang Jinwook’s eyebrows shot up. Kang Jin-tae ca a bit closer and lowered his voice, as if sharing a secret.
"It’s about Sunwoo. Do you mind if I speak about it here?"
Kang Jinwook's gaze shifted to Im Haewon, who was standing a bit away, quietly observing the situation.
As soon as Kang Jin-tae finished speaking, Im Haewon’s expression stiffened slightly.
"I ran into Sunwoo at the hospital the other day. I was worried that there might be a health problem, so I asked about it."
Kang Jin-tae kept speaking loudly, making sure everyone around could hear. Sure enough, the atmosphere shifted, becoming tense and charged.
Kang Jinwook’s expression darkened as he noticed the shift in the room.
"Okay. Then I’ll make ti after the eting, so wait for ."
When dealing with soone who started a fight, you had to respond properly. If there was sothing to protect, you had to do it even more. After receiving Kang Jinwook’s positive response, Kang Jin-tae finally backed off.
"That’s my little brother. Alright then, I’ll wait in your office. Don’t mind , go handle what you need to."
Kang Jin-tae put on an act, pretending to be a concerned older brother, and smiled broadly. As he turned, his eyes t Im Haewon’s. The two quickly looked away, acting as if nothing had happened.
The overseas business departnt eting dragged on again. Despite the business running smoothly, there was a lot to sort out and coordinate.
Im Haewon sat in a dark corner of the room, watching the eting, then quietly took out his phone from his pocket as he felt a vibration.
When he checked the bright screen, a new ssage had co in. The sender was soone from Kang Jin-tae’s office.
He clicked the notification to read the ssage.
[Please co to the traditional Korean restaurant after work. It’s reserved under Vice President Kang Jin-tae’s na, so just ntion it and you’ll be guided to your seat. Vice President Kang instructed
to let you know first.]
Though written politely, it was effectively an order that left little room for refusal. He had made a deal with Kang Jin-tae to settle a debt.
Im Haewon bit the inside of his soft lips, then put his phone back into his pocket. His gaze landed on Kang Jinwook, who was at the center of the eting.
Did his keen senses notice I was looking? Kang Jinwook suddenly turned his eyes toward Im Haewon.
The room was dark, but it felt like Kang Jinwook was staring directly at him, unaffected by the dimness.
Im Haewon couldn’t hold his gaze for long and quickly looked away. After so ti, the sharp sensation faded.
"Well, the eting is adjourned."
Just then, the eting ended. Im Haewon, who had been assisting, hurriedly stood up from his chair. He pressed the button to open the room.
The employee beside him rushed to the door and swung it wide open. Today, several executives, including Kang Jinwook, had attended the eting.
The highest-ranking chairman stood up and began to move, followed by the older executives who slowly made their way out. Kang Jinwook remained seated for a while even after they had left.
Im Haewon kept sneaking glances at him.
"Haewon!"
At that mont, a colleague called his na, and Im Haewon quickly left the room. Since he was here to assist, he couldn’t afford to dawdle.
Amid the flurry of movent, Kang Jinwook also left the eting room. Im Haewon’s attention was fully on him, and without realizing it, pheromones began to leak from him.
Had Kang Jinwook noticed the change? While walking ahead, Kang Jinwook suddenly stopped and looked over at him. Their eyes t briefly, and then Kang Jinwook turned and moved again.
"Wow, what’s this? Haewon, you knew he was here, right? You two must have sothing going on, huh?"
A colleague, who had been watching both of them, asked in a loud voice. Im Haewon couldn’t even respond, just watching Kang Jinwook’s disappearing back.
Before long, Kang Jinwook was completely out of sight.
"I’m leaving a bit earlier today."
"Ah. Okay. But why? Got sothing urgent?"
His colleague, who had been glancing between Im Haewon and Kang Jinwook, asked in a sly voice. Im Haewon simply answered no.
It wasn’t urgent. He just had a feeling that what mattered would begin now.
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