As the clock ticked on, Kiyonari couldn't help but notice something strange—Ms. Song hadn't been in the room for quite a while. She usually sat quietly behind Kwon Jisung, ready to provide messages whenever necessary, but now the other corner was empty.
Kiyonari's eyes subtly swept the room. Jisung was still talking, throwing in flashy remarks about his company and successes, while Soo-hyun responded with nothing more than a cold stare or a single word. But Ms. Song still, was nowhere in sight.
Kiyonari excused himself for a quick bathroom break, his mind partly occupied by Soo-hyun's disinterest and partly curious about Ms. Song's disappearance.
Where could she have gone off to? He thought.
As he turned to a corner, someone suddenly collided with him—hard enough to jolt him back a step. A flurry of papers and folders slipped from her arms and scattered across the floor.
Kiyonari blinked. "Ms. Song...?"
The woman's head was lowered, her breath uneven, as though she'd been in a rush.
"I—I'm sorry," she said quickly, her tone hushed and shaky.
"It's alright," Kiyonari replied, crouching down to help her pick up the scattered papers. His fingers brushed against sheets filled with what looked like financial documents, names, even what appeared to be confidential files profiles—but she snatched them back immediately before he could read too closely."
"Thank you... thank you..." she repeated in a near whisper, bowing twice before clutching the papers tightly to her chest.
Then, without waiting for another word, she turned and rushed down the hallway, her heels clicking against the floor until her figure disappeared around the corner.
Kiyonari remained frozen in place, still holding one sheet he had unknowingly picked up. His pulse quickened, eyes widening slightly. The entire exchange had lasted only second, yet her frantic demeanor left him unsettled.
What was that about? He thought, glancing in the direction she ran off. Why was she in such a hurry—and what was she carrying?
Shock and confusion clouded his thoughts, but one thing was certain: something wasn't right with Ms. Song.
As Kiyonari straightened himself, ready to head back to the private dining room, something tugged at his attention. The single sheet still in his hand looked different from the others Ms. Song had hurriedly scooped up.
He glanced down at the header.
[Seoul Central Medical Hospital —Diagnostic Results.]
"What?" He muttered under his breath, brows knitting in confusion. The lines of medical jargon and test numbers didn't make much sense at a glance, but the bolded words at the center of the page caught him off guard.
[Prenatal Care Results.]
Kiyonari froze.
His mind turned, puzzled, but before he could process more, something crinkled under his shoe. He looked down—realizing his foot had landed on another paper. No, not paper exactly... it had a glossy sheen.
Carefully, he bent down and picked it up.
The moment he turned it over, his breath hitched.
It was a photo—black and white, grainy, but unmistakable.
Kiyonari's eyes widened. His grip tightened slightly on the photo as his heartbeat quickened.
"This is..." His voice trailed, almost a whisper, "... an ultrasound result...?"
The realization made his stomach churn. Ms. Song had been carrying these along with some documents—hidden among Jisung's business papers. But why?
And more importantly—whose child was it?
*****
After the meeting concluded, the atmosphere was noticeably different. Jisung walked out of the room beside Soo-hyun, his lips curled into a relaxed smile—as if the conversation had gone in his favor. In contrast, Soo-hyun didn't share the sentiment. He walked forward with his usual detached air, ignoring Jisung's attempts at small talk and continuous rambling.
Just then, Soo-hyun spotted Kiyonari approaching from the hallway. Without missing a beat, he issued a curt order:
"Prepare the car, Mr. Soo. We're leaving ."
Kiyonari gave a small nod, but Jisung quickly interjected, his voice lined with surprise.
"Wait, you're leaving already?"
Soo-hyun's cold gaze veered toward him, sharp and unyielding.
"Yes. Is there more that you need, Mr. Kwon?"
Jisung chuckled, trying to keep his composure.
"Come now—I already told you to just call me by my name."
But Soo-hyun was firm, his tone deliberate and clipped.
"I still don't think we're already on a level where we should be casual about each other, Mr. Kwon."
The smile on Jisung's face faltered slightly, twitching at the corners. Yet he pressed on.
"Still, Mr. Je. I want you to stay a bit longer. I want us to get to know each other more."
For a moment, Soo-hyun tilted his head, feigning mild intrigue.
Jisung continued. "That way, we could be more familiar with each other. Don't you think so to? Mr. Je."
"Well, there's a lot of things I have to do back at the company..."
Jisung didn't let him finish. His voice carried insistence.
"I know you're busy. I am too. But this is the only time we get to know each other more, Mr. Je."
Soo-hyun's eyes flickered, his brows furrowing ever so slightly. He's really desperate, he thought, noting the eagerness behind Jisung's words.
Then, Jisung pushed further, his tone laced with confidence.
"There's a nice place I know where we could relax and talk more. Care to join me, Mr. Je?"
Soo-hyun remained still, quietly watching him, weighting the offer in silence. The moment stretched before he finally parted his lips.
"... Alright then."
He turned back to Kiyonari, issuing his command withouth hesitation.
"Mr. Soo."
"Yes?"
"Cancel all my other engagements today. Tell them that I still have an appointment with Mr. Kwon."
Kiyonari was worried and skeptical about the sudden change of plans, but he obeyed Soo-hyun's order without protest.
Soon, the small group stepped into a bar. It wasn't loud or rowdy as he had imagined—instead, the atmosphere was dim and elegant, the kind of place reserved for high-profile clients who valued privacy. The low lighting and polished decor made the establishment feel exclusive.
As they entered, Jisung flicked his gaze over his shoulder at the two secretaries trailing behind. Then, with a practiced smile, he spoke.
"I think it'll be better if we have a little privacy."
Kioynari perked up, his steps halting slightly. He quickly turned his attention to Soo-hyun, waiting for his response.
Soo-hyun's sharp eyes lingered on Jisung, unreadable. Jisung chuckled sheepishly, raising his hand slightly.
"I just think it would be okay if we had this time to ourselves, Mr. Je."
The icy weight of Soo-hyun's stare silenced the space between them. Then he shifted his gaze toward Kiyonari. "Leave us for now."
Kiyonari stepped forward instinctively.
"But sir..."
"That's an order, Mr. Soo." His tone was low, firm, leaving no room for argument.
At that, Jisung's lips curved into a smirk before he quickly turned sternly to his own secretary. "Mina."
The young woman flinched, straightening in alarm.
"Y-Yes?"
"Why don't you escort Mr. Soo somewhere nice."
Mina hesitated.
"B-But sir, we really can't stay for long here. You still have a meeting with our—"
Her words were cut short as Jisung's voice sharpened like a whip.
"Ms. Song." His tone was commanding, his steps bringing him closer to her. "How many times do I have to repeat myself?"
He glared down at her, his words biting.
"You haven't been helpful at all. So the least you could do is listen to me and do as you're told. You get me?"
Mina bit her lip hard, lowering her head in shame. Her hands curled tightly into the fabric of her skirt. "... Yes, sir."
Satisfied, Jisung pulled back, his expression softening again into that smug smile he wore so well.
"Let us go, Mr. Je."
Soo-hyun said nothing, simply moving past him and settling into their private seats, leaving Kiyonari behind with Mina.
The silence that followed was heavy. Mina remained downcast, her steps small and hesitant, as if Jisung's words still clung to her like chains. Watching her, Kiyonari felt an uncomfortable twist in his chest.
Jisung's treatment of her—cold, dismissive, degrading—looked all too familiar. But it was also different.
Soo-hyun might be harsh, and his words are as sharp as knives, but he never humiliated Kiyonari in front of others. Not yet.
He never turned him into a spectacle. Again, not yet.
His cruelty was always reserved for moments when they were alone, never in public where others might pity Kiyonari. That difference was strange, but still it mattered.
Kiyonari couldn't stand the heaviness around Mina. So, after moment, he softened his tone, offering a small smile. "Shall we? There's a café nearby. How about we get some coffee while we wait?"
At the mere mention of coffee, Mina finally lifted her head. Her eyes, though still tired, brightened slightly, a spark of genuine interest shining through.
Kiyonari chuckled softly, relieved to see even that small change. His smile warmed, gentle and reassuring.
*****
Days passed, and the meetings between Soo-hyun and Jisung dragged on, each one feeling heavier than the last to Kiyonari.
One morning, an envelope arrived. Its cream-white paper carried an insignia of the Association—formal, dignified, and suffocating all at once.
Kiyonari turned it over in his hands, the weight of it oddly heavy.
I wonder what the result says... he thought, thumb brushing over the seal. Compatibility results? Or more pressure to push this forward?
The sound of footsteps pulled him from his thoughts. Soo-hyun emerged from his office, coat already slung over his arm.
"Is that from the Association?" His voice was calm, but his eyes lingered on the envelope.
Kiyonari straightened immediately from his seat. "Director Je. Yes. It was delivered this morning."
"I see." Soo-hyun's gaze shifted away, as though the envelope didn't matter in the slightest, though Kiyonari caught the faint twitch of his jaw.
"Are you heading out, sir?" Kiyonari asked carefully, holding the letter tighter with his fingers.
Soo-hyun slipped one hand into his pocket as he strode past. "Yeah. I'm meeting with Mr. Kwon."
Kiyonari's brows twitched, a silent thought crossing his mind: With Mr. Kwon again?
The man's persistence was starting to feel unnatural for him. Lately, they have been seeing each other every lunchtime and at dinner—as part of the 15 day trial period of the matchmaking date.
"I see," Kiyonari said aloud, masking his unease. "Do you want me to prepare the car?"
"No need." Soo-hyun's answer was curt, final. He was already walking toward the exit, his presence like a storm cloud in motion.
Left behind with unopened envelope, Kiyonari felt the pit in his stomach deepen. The letter might hold answers—or more chains. But for now, it would remain sealed.
As the elevator doors began sliding shut, Kiyonari's thoughts churned. The weight of the Association's sealed envelope lingered heavy in his hand, but what gnawed at him wasn't the paper—it was the sharp memory that flashed across his mind.
The ultrasound photo.
He remembered it vividly—the faint outline of a small life on that black-and-white print.
Kiyonari's pulse spiked. Almost instinctively, his legs moved before his mind caught up. He darted forward, sliding his hand between the narrowing gap and forcing the elevator doors open.
Soo-hyun's eyes flickered, his brow arching slightly at the sight of his secretary panting at the threshold.
"Mr. Soo...?" His tone was sharp, clipped. "What are you doing?"
Kiyonari straightened himself quickly, struggling to calm the rush of his heartbeat.
"Forgive me, sir, but..." He hesitated, gripping the envelope tighter. "I know I might sound like I'm meddling... but there's something I want you to know."
[??]
"It's about Ms. Song... and Mr. Kwon."
"What about Ms. Song?" Soo-hyun pressed, his tone cool but his eyes narrowing.
Kiyonari hesitated.
He drew breath. "The other day... during your meeting with Mr. Kwon... I accidentally came across something. A result."
Soo-hyun's brows furrowed. "A result?"
"Yes." Kiyonari's voice dropped lower, as if afraid elevator itself might overhear. "It was a hospital document."
For the first time, Soo-hyun's expression flickered. A muscle in his jaw twitched. "And you're telling me this because...?"
Kiyonari bit his lip. "Because I think Mr. Kwon might be hiding something. And Ms. Song... she looked terrified that day. If what I saw is true, then—"
He stopped himself. His gut told him to say pregnant, but it felt too heavy to voice outright.
"Are you sure about meeting Mr. Kwon alone again?" He changed the question.
Soo-hyun's jaw tensed. The silence stretched for a moment, only broken by the low hum of the elevator.
Kiyonari swallowed, lowering his gaze respectfully. "I just... worry that these repeated meetings aren't in your best interest."
For a heartbeat, he thought he had gone too far—stepped over the line of a mere secretary. But beneath Soo-hyun's cold eyes was a flicker, subtle and unreadable, as if he was gauging Kiyonari's true intent.
"... You're bold today," Soo-hyun muttered finally. He adjusted his sleeve and stepped fully into the elevator. "But it doesn't matter. This is something I have to see through myself."
"If your suspicion is right, then..."
The doors began to slide shut again, and Soo-hyun added, "Stay here. Wait for my return."
Kiyonari's lips parted, as though he wanted to say more or to reveal the gnawing suspicion he held. But the doors sealed shut before he could utter another word.
Left in the hallway with the unopened letter still clutched in his hand, Kiyonari exhaled shakily.
"Damn it..." He whispered under his breath. "What exactly are you planning, Mr. Kwon?"