The board members had left.
Her uncle had retreated, frustrated and rattled.
Only Yeon-hwa and Do-yoon remained in the silent boardroom.
She was collecting the documents Yerin had delivered — the rival company's proposal — when the door opened again.
This time without knocking.
"Yeon-hwa."
Min-joon stepped in, stopping short when he saw who stood beside her.
Kang Do-yoon didn't move.
Didn't shift.
Didn't blink.
But the temperature in the room dropped.
And behind Min-joon…
Choi Yerin peeked inside, biting her lip softly, lowering her gaze as if she had been pushed into the situation.
Of course.
Min-joon cleared his throat, stiffening under Do-yoon's gaze.
"I… heard you were in a meeting," he said. "Yerin told me she brought the documents, but she felt uneasy afterward. I thought it would be good to come clear things up."
Yeon-hwa gave a faint nod.
"Go on," she said calmly. "Clear it up."
Min-joon hesitated.
He wasn't used to this version of her — calm, elegant, unreadable.
Normally she would lean forward, eyes shining, begging him to clarify things.
Now she simply waited.
Expressionless.
Cold.
Yerin stepped beside him, giving a soft little bow.
"Miss Seo… please don't misunderstand. Min-joon and I were very close in college, so when he saw how upset I was—"
Yeon-hwa cut in immediately.
"College."
Yerin blinked.
"Yes?"
"Not childhood."
A beat of silence.
Yerin blinked again, confused.
Min-joon shifted awkwardly, clearing his throat.
"Yes, we met in college—"
"Then you weren't there during his childhood at all," she said softly, eyes untouched by emotion.
Min-joon stilled.
Do-yoon's jaw tightened.
Yerin opened her mouth, flustered.
"N-no, but… we were very close after that. He trusted me. We studied together. We spent years—"
"You spent years in your world," Yeon-hwa corrected gently.
"You weren't part of his childhood. Our families were."
Yerin's lips parted in embarrassment.
Min-joon rubbed the back of his neck.
"Yeon-hwa, that's not what she meant. She just wanted to clear things up so you don't misinterpret—"
"What is there to interpret?" she asked.
His words dried up.
She raised an eyebrow slightly.
"You broke the engagement publicly. You made your choices. I accepted them."
He swallowed.
"I only meant—"
She held up one hand.
"No explanations needed."
Her voice was too calm.
Too steady.
Min-joon frowned faintly, something unsettled creeping into his expression.
"You're… being distant."
"I am being professional," she replied. "This is my company. Not a space for your personal affairs."
Yerin's shoulders stiffened.
"But I only came to apologize—"
"You are from Changwoon Group," Yeon-hwa said. "A rival."
Yerin froze.
"I expect the apology you give to be for entering a restricted room," Yeon-hwa continued, "not for your personal connection to Min-joon."
"I… I'm really sorry…"
"Accepted," she replied simply. "Please remember this is a corporate setting."
Min-joon stepped forward slightly.
"Yeon-hwa—"
Do-yoon spoke before she could answer.
His voice was a blade dipped in ice.
"You shouldn't be here."
Min-joon stiffened.
"This isn't a matter for you, CEO Kang."
"Yes," Do-yoon said calmly. "It is."
Min-joon narrowed his eyes.
"Why?"
Do-yoon didn't blink.
"Because you're disturbing Seo Hwa Group's acting leadership during work hours. That alone is enough of a reason."
Min-joon opened his mouth—
And Do-yoon added, quietly:
"And because you lost the right to use her name so casually the day you broke the engagement."
Min-joon froze.
The room fell silent.
Yerin's breath caught.
Yeon-hwa simply looked away, as if none of this touched her.
Perfect.
Do-yoon continued, tone colder:
"Miss Seo doesn't need your clarifications. She understood your actions perfectly the first time."
The words hit Min-joon like a slap.
Yerin looked between the two men helplessly.
"I just wanted to help—"
"You didn't," Do-yoon said.
Yerin's shoulders shook.
Min-joon inhaled sharply.
"Yeon-hwa," he said quietly, "you're really… different."
She didn't look at him.
"I should hope so."
He swallowed.
"It's just… I didn't expect you to become so—"
"Calm?" she asked.
He nodded.
"Distant?"
He nodded again.
"Stronger?"
His silence was answer enough.
She gave a faint smile.
"People change. Especially when they've been pushed off a cliff."
He flinched.
Yerin trembled, eyes shiny with guilt she didn't deserve.
Do-yoon watched Yeon-hwa with an intensity that made the air tighten.
Min-joon spoke again, voice softening:
"I just… don't want you to think Yerin and I meant anything against you before. We were just friends—"
"And you still are," she replied. "That has nothing to do with me."
"But—"
She finally looked him in the eyes.
"You owe me nothing now."
Min-joon froze completely.
She turned away first.
Conversation over.
---
The System Chimes
Just loud enough for her to hear.
[Face-Slap Bonus II — Activated]
[Reputation +5]
[Business Presence +3]
[Emotional Stability +4]
[Min-joon Regret Flag — +10%]
[Do-yoon Affection — +7]
She gathered the documents and gave both of them a polite bow.
"I have work to do. If you have further business, please schedule an appointment."
Yerin nodded quickly, flustered.
"M-my apologies again…"
Min-joon didn't move.
Do-yoon stepped forward slightly, placing himself beside her — subtly, but clearly.
A line drawn.
A statement made.
"We're done here," he said.
Yerin left first.
Min-joon followed after a long, conflicted silence.
The door closed behind him.
---
After They Leave
The boardroom fell quiet again.
Yeon-hwa arranged her papers, breathing calmly.
"You handled that with excessive grace," Do-yoon said quietly.
"Should I have shouted?"
"No."
He stepped closer.
"But you destroyed both of them quietly."
She didn't acknowledge the praise.
Do-yoon's gaze lowered to her hands — steady, elegant.
Then lifted to her eyes.
"You're not the woman I remember."
She answered softly.
"That's the point."
A beat of silence.
He exhaled slowly.
"Good."
She looked at him, surprised.
He held her gaze.
"Very good."