Inside Kang's Cabin
(The scene shifts back to Kang's executive cabin immediately after the cafeteria showdown. Kang walks inside, his posture completely rigid. He walks over and sits heavily on the large leather sofa. Mr. Park enters right behind him, looking utterly bewildered as he watches him.)
Park: By the way, Ha-joon... how on earth did you convince Mr. Chairman to let you manage this project? How did he give you his permission for this?
Kang:(With a mysterious smile) Well, that...
(Kang's smile deepens, and the scene dissolves directly into a memory from a short while ago—a flashback...)🏞️
FLASHBACK: Mr. Chairman's Office –
(Kang enters his father, Mr. Chairman's corporate office without knocking. The Chairman is reviewing files at his desk and narrows his eyes, frowning at the sight of Kang bursting in.)
Chairman:(In a stern, authoritative tone)What kind of behaviour is this, Ha-joon? You should have knocked before coming inside
.Kang: Sorry, Dad.
ChiArman: It's fine, be careful next time. Now, why have you come here so suddenly?
Kang: It's... about Eun. You need to remove her from the leadership of this project. I do not think she is capable of this role.
Chairman:(Flatly refusing) What nonsense are you talking about? I cannot remove her. She is a highly capable girl. You don't know her properly yet. Haven't you seen that it's solely because of her presentations and designs that we secured this massive deal? I absolutely will not do this. You may leave now.
Kang:(Playing his counter-move smoothly) Fine... then I will personally join this project as well. You cannot stop me from getting involved. And if I am not allowed to join, then you will have to remove Eun from her position.
Chairman:(Pausing to think, weighing his options under the condition) Fine... you can join the project too.
(The scene dissolves back to the present day inside Kang's cabin. Kang is still sitting on the leather sofa, a victorious, calculating smirk playing on his lips. Mr. Park stands in front of him, processing the flashback .)
Park:(Shaking his head, a mix of disbelief and realization on his face) Oh! So you deliberately asked Dad to fire her... just to force his hand?
Kang:(His smile completely vanishes, replaced by a cold intensity) I absolutely despise the idea of her working alongside Lee.
Park:(Stepping closer, his eyes narrowing as he studies Kang's face) Why does it matter so much if Eun works with Lee? Ha-joon... you've actually started catching feelings for her, haven't you?
Kang:(Defensively turning his face away, trying to hide his internal turmoil) No! I just don't trust Lee. If he deliberately messes up the execution of this project later, it will drag down the Team Leader's name too.
Park: Then why are you worrying so much about her reputation?
(Kang remains completely silent, unable to find a logical excuse. He stands up from the sofa, walks over to the window, and stares out onto the office floor toward Eun's empty desk.)
Kang:(To himself, his chest tightening in deep, restless confusion)Am I? Am I actually falling for her? Ugh... what on earth is happening to me?(Turning back to Park, abruptly changing the subject) Forget it. Let's just head down to the conference hall.
Park:(Sighing, knowing better than to push him further) Alright, let's go.
(Park gathers a stack of official project files from the executive desk. Both of them step out of the cabin and walk briskly across the main office floor to head toward the boardroom [14.5]. As they pass by the partition, Eun's eyes instantly track Kang's movement. Her gaze locks onto his tightly clenched fists, noting the raw, unbandaged red bruises on his skin.)
Eun:(To herself, watching his hands with a heavy heart)Why hasn't he applied any medicine to those wounds yet? Why does he feel the constant need to inflict pain upon himself?
: Outside the Corporate Tower – Evening
(The scene shifts to the exterior of the towering corporate building. The workday has officially concluded, and employees are streaming out into the evening traffic. Outside the main gates, Mr. Lee's car purrs to life. Eun and Won slide into the seats, and Lee smoothly pulls out into the lane.)
(A second later, Kang's sleek, black luxury vehicle exits the underground parking lot. For a brief, cinematic moment, both cars drive side by side down the boulevard. Through the tinted glass, Eun looks out the window, her eyes mirroring the taillights of Kang's car as it accelerates, turning down a different highway.)
(The two vehicles split paths, moving in entirely opposite directions into the darkening city night.)
Inside Lee's Car –
(The scene cuts to the interior of Lee's car. Rain drops gently against the windshield as the evening traffic crawls outside. Lee is driving, his hands tightly gripping the steering wheel. Won is in the passenger seat, scrolling through her phone, while Eun sits in the back, staring blankly out the window. Her mind is completely occupied by the image of Kang's clenched, bleeding fists.)
Lee: (Glancing at the rearview mirror, breaking the heavy silence) Eun? You've been staring out that window since we left the parking lot. Are you still thinking about what happened in the cafeteria?Eun: (Startled, snapping out of her thoughts) Huh? No, it's not that... I was just wondering about Mr. Kang.
Lee: (His face instantly stiffens, his fingers tightening on the steering wheel) What about him?
Eun: His hands... they were bleeding from how hard he was clenching his fists. I was just thinking... why does that grumpy kangaroo constantly hurt himself like that? It's bizarre. He didn't even put a bandage on it.
Lee: (A wave of pure panic and jealousy surges inside him. He forces a bitter, cynical chuckle to dismiss her concern) Why do you care, Eun? The guy is an unhinged, arrogant psycho. He probably does it for attention. Trust me, you need to completely ignore him. People like Kang are toxic—the further you stay from him, the safer you are. Just block him out and focus strictly on our project.
(Won stops scrolling her phone. Her sharp eyes catch the extreme panic in Lee's voice through the rearview mirror. She narrows her eyes, staying quiet but taking mental notes of Lee's overly aggressive reaction.)
Lee: (Trying to soften his voice, pulling up to their apartment complex) Anyway, we're here. Don't let him ruin your night, okay? Get some rest, both of you.
Eun: (Nodding quietly) Thanks for the ride, Lee. See you tomorrow.
(Eun and Won step out of the car. Lee watches them walk into the building, his face turning completely dark and calculating as he drives away.)
Eun's Apartment – Night Time
(The scene cuts to Eun and Won's cozy, neatly lit apartment. Won walks out of the bathroom into the living area, drying her hair with a towel, completely refreshed. Eun is sitting cross-legged on the sofa, blankly staring at the television screen, completely lost in her thoughts.)
Won: (Leaning in, teasingly) Are you still thinking about Mr. Kang's hand injury?
Eun: (Startled, snapping out of her trance and frantically gesturing with her hands) No! Absolutely not! Why on earth would I waste my time thinking about that grumpy kangaroo? I was just... wondering why he keeps hurting himself. Like I already mentioned in the car on our way back, it just felt bizarre
.Won: (To herself, watching Eun's defensive reaction with a knowing look) Eun... you are definitely developing a soft corner for Mr. Kang, and you don't even realize it yet. (To Eun, aloud) Okay, fine. But honestly... don't you want to know what exactly happened in Kang's life to make him this way?
Eun: (Sighing gently, looking down at her lap) To be completely honest... yes, I am curious. But what Lee said in the car makes sense too. We should just keep our distance and ignore it.
Won: Yeah, but what's the harm in just knowing the truth? Mr. Park was sent to Paris with him, so he definitely knows every single detail about what happened to Kang. Besides... don't you find Mr. Lee's behavior a little strange lately?Eun: (Frowning in confusion) What? Strange how? I haven't noticed anything unusual about him
.Won: Because you didn't look closely enough! Think about it, Eun. Lee suddenly joining Kang's company out of nowhere, his desperate constant need to stay right next to you all the time, and the volatile way he snaps whenever Kang is around... it all feels off.
Eun: (Shaking her head, defending him effortlessly) Lee joining this firm is strictly for business profit. And as for his behavior, he's our friend, Won. He was my best friend long before I met you. He has always been protective and attentive toward me. There's absolutely nothing wrong or malicious about it.Won: (Throwing her hands up in defeat, rolling her eyes) Fine, fine! Let's drop that for a second. Just do one tiny thing for me, please? Ask Mr. Park about Kang's childhood accident.Eun: Why can't you just ask him yourself, Won?
Won: (Scoffing) Oh, please! He won't just casually spill the biggest secret of the CEO's life to me. But you? Kang treats you differently, and Park knows it. If you ask him, he will tell you the absolute truth directly without hesitating. Just tell me, will you ask him or not?
Eun: (Pausing for a moment, then nodding reluctantly) Fine, I will ask him. But not right now. Right now, our entire focus needs to be strictly on this project. After this, we have to head out for the model's photoshoot as well. Speaking of which, the current layout designs finalized are really good, but I want to make a few minor adjustments. I'm going to work on them right now, and you are coming with me
.(Eun shuts off the television, grabs Won by the arm, and playfully drags her toward the bedroom to get to work. Won groans dramatically but follows her inside, leaving the living room in peaceful silence.)