Ji-Ah marched straight back to Ha-Joon's office, phone still in her hand like she'd forgotten to put it down.
She pushed the door open without knocking.
Inside sat Ha-Joon behind his desk, Seo-Jun beside him with a laptop open, Do-Hyun leaning casually against the wall, and two of Ha-Joon's assigned bodyguards standing near the door, arms crossed, unreadable as ever.
Ji-Ah blinked. "Wow. Is this a meeting or an ambush?"
No one answered.
She squinted at the laptop. "Why is there a video playing?"
Seo-Jun cleared his throat. "Ah. Right. So—before you panic—"
Ji-Ah walked closer, instinctively angling her phone camera toward the screen. "What's happening?"
Seo-Jun pointed calmly. "Camera is attached to Kai-Wen's tie. Speaker's in his breast pocket."
Ji-Ah froze. "…You bugged him."
"We accessorized him," Seo-Jun corrected.
On the laptop screen, the image shook slightly as Kai-Wen and Do-Yoon walked outside.
Wind brushed past them, lifting Do-Yoon's hair—long strands flying loosely around her face as she tucked one side behind her ear.
Kai-Wen's tie fluttered a little, the camera angle dipping and correcting.
Ji-Ah leaned closer. "Oh. Wow. That's… very HD."
Do-Hyun smirked. "Careful. You're about to watch your own reputation collapse."
On screen, Kai-Wen spoke casually.
"So," he said, voice clear through the speaker, "how's work been since I was away?"
Do-Yoon sighed. "Busy. Messy. Same as always."
"Miss me?" he asked lightly.
She scoffed. "Don't flatter yourself."
Ji-Ah nodded approvingly. "She's honest."
The conversation stayed light for a while—work complaints, office gossip, harmless laughter.
Then Kai-Wen's tone shifted, just slightly.
"What do you think about Ji-Ah the new employee?"
Kai-Wen turned fully to Do-Yoo he noticed how her eyebrows knitted together.
The wind rustled again. Do-Yoon slowed her steps.
There was a pause.
Ji-Ah's shoulders stiffened.
On screen, Do-Yoon spoke carefully. "She's… capable. Very hardworking."
Ji-Ah whispered, "Okay, good start."
"But," Do-Yoon continued, "she's kind of… ice-cold."
Ji-Ah gasped softly. "Ice?! I smile!"
Seo-Jun muttered, "Sometimes."
Do-Yoon went on, unaware. "And honestly… I think she's a little lucky. It feels like the boss trusts her more."
Ji-Ah blinked. "…What?"
"There was a time I volunteered for a project," Do-Yoon said, brushing her hair back as the wind caught it again.
"But he chose Ji-Ah instead."
Ji-Ah stared at the screen, then at Ha-Joon. "I didn't even know she felt that way."
Do-Hyun leaned closer, whispering loudly, "Office trauma unlocked."
Then Do-Yoon added, almost casually—
"And I think… she likes the boss."
Ji-Ah shouted, "WHAT?!"
Everyone flinched.
On screen, Do-Yoon kept walking, completely unaware.
"I mean," she continued, "everyone thinks that Now. It's the latest office gossip."
Seo-Jun choked on air.
Do-Hyun burst out laughing. "Everyone?! Since when is this a public vote?"
One of the bodyguards turned his head away, shoulders shaking just slightly.
Ji-Ah spun toward Ha-Joon. "They think I like you?!"
Ha-Joon didn't move.
His face remained stern, composed—but his jaw tightened just a fraction, and his shoulders… subtly stiffened.
"…Continue watching," he said calmly.
Do-Hyun grinned. "Boss didn't deny it."
Ji-Ah groaned, dropping into a chair. "I leave for ten minutes and suddenly I'm in a workplace rumor documentary."
On the screen, Kai-Wen cleared his throat, carefully steering the conversation forward.
And in the room, the tension mixed with barely-contained laughter—proof that even in the middle of danger, chaos still followed Ji-Ah everywhere.
Do-Yoo let out a quiet sigh, slowing her steps.
"And even Hye-Rin is pissed," she added suddenly. "She's been acting weird lately. "
She shook her head, as if brushing the thought away.
In Ha-Joon's office, Ji-Ah leaned forward. "Hye-Rin too? What is this, a club?"
Do-Hyun muttered, "You're very popular."
On the screen, Kai-Wen adjusted his pace, keeping his tone casual—almost careless.
"By the way," he asked, carefully, "is Do-Hea still coming around?"
Do-Yoo stopped walking.
There was a pause long enough to make everyone in the office hold their breath.
"Yes," she said finally. "Still. And always."
Then she turned sharply toward Kai-Wen, eyes narrowing just a little. "Why, Kai? Why ask?"
Kai-Wen lifted both hands lightly, shaking his head. "Nothing. Just curious."
She studied him for a second longer, then looked away. "I'm going home."
"Okay," he replied easily.
She walked off, her hair lifting again as the wind passed, her figure slowly disappearing down the sidewalk.
The screen stayed on Kai-Wen for a moment longer.
He watched her go, then leaned slightly toward his tie—toward the hidden camera.
"I don't think anything's wrong with her," he said quietly.
Then he laughed softly, shaking his head.
"But Ji-Ah?" he added. "Yeah… she's scary. Works too hard, talks too much, and somehow survives everything. Honestly, I'm impressed."
In the office, Ji-Ah slapped her hand on the desk. "EXCUSE ME?!"
Do-Hyun burst out laughing. "Scary survives everything—accurate."
Seo-Jun grinned. "At least he's honest."
Ha-Joon remained silent, eyes fixed on the screen—but this time, his shoulders were noticeably more relaxed.
And Ji-Ah, despite herself, couldn't stop the small smile creeping onto her face.
Kai-Wen slipped back into Ha-Joon's office like nothing dramatic had just happened.
Seo-Jun was already waiting for him.
"Okay, hero," he said, stepping close and carefully unclipping the tiny camera from Kai-Wen's tie.
"Hold still. If this breaks, Mr. Ha will look at me like I betrayed three generations."
Kai-Wen chuckled. "Relax. I walked straighter than my life choices today."
Seo-Jun pulled the small speaker from Kai-Wen's breast pocket next. "And… done."
Ji-Ah, who had been pacing, stopped and let out a long sigh. "I don't think Do-Yoo is the one behind it."
Everyone looked at her.
"She hesitated," Ji-Ah continued. "And she mentioned Hye-Rin. That wasn't planned. That felt… real."
Do-Hyun crossed his arms, nodding. "Yeah. She didn't sound like someone setting a trap. More like someone caught in one."
Seo-Jun tilted his head. "Plus, if she were guilty, she would've talked less. Guilty people either overshare or shut down completely. She did neither."
Kai-Wen raised a finger. "For the record, she also didn't look like someone enjoying this. That 'I'm going home' energy? Very genuine."
Ji-Ah sighed again, rubbing her temple. "Great. So now I feel bad and confused."
Do-Hyun smirked. "Welcome to adulthood."
Ha-Joon, who had been quiet the entire time, finally spoke.
"Then we shift focus," he said calmly. "Hye-Rin is our next lead. Subtle. No pressure. No confrontation."
''But we don't Leave Do-Yoo we need to get more information.''
Ji-Ah blinked. "Subtle… as in not me talking?"
Seo-Jun answered immediately. "Exactly."
"Wow," Ji-Ah muttered. "That hurts."
Ha-Joon turned to Kai-Wen. "You did well."
Kai-Wen straightened slightly, surprised. "Just returning a favor. Ji-Ah once helped me when no one else would. Consider us even."
Ji-Ah looked at him, touched. "…I didn't know that counted as a favor."
"It did," he said simply.
Ha-Joon gave a short nod. "Thank you."
Then he looked around the room, voice firm but lighter than before.
"Everyone, go home now."
Do-Hyun raised an eyebrow. "Wow. Kicked out early? Is this character development?"
Ji-Ah grabbed her bag quickly. "I'm not questioning it."
As they filed out, the tension finally eased—just a little.
But the game wasn't over yet.