Chapter 51……………………………..

“Ah, you really don’t have to do that.”

Chaeyeon waved her hand.

“It’s okay. Just because it’s my birthday, it’s not like… anything special.”

“Come on, still.”

Gihoon waved his hand dismissively.

“It’s been a while since all four of you got together. That’s nice.”

At the words “all four of you,” Chaeyeon’s expression subtly shifted. Herself, Aera, and Gihoon—and then Hana. Was that what a “family” was?

“Is Hana coming too?”

“Of course. Tell her on your way—tell her to keep her schedule open tomorrow.”

“…Yes, understood.”

Chaeyeon answered briefly. Then she bowed her head politely and left the chairman’s office.

As the door closed and the hallway fell silent, she slowly exhaled. The tension lingering at her fingertips hadn’t faded.

‘A family of four….’

Gihoon’s words circled in her head. Why did that word—family—feel so unfamiliar and heavy?

Shaking her head lightly, Chaeyeon walked down the wide, quiet corridor, the sound of her heels echoing sharply.

Inside the elevator, she took a moment to steady her breathing and pressed the button. As it descended, her reflection appeared in the glass door—her expression stiff.

“I can’t even manage my expression anymore….”

She murmured to herself, forcing the corners of her lips upward, but they quickly fell again.

The executive director’s office wasn’t far from the managing director’s office. As she passed by, Miju glanced at her.

After a brief nod of greeting, Chaeyeon stopped in front of the executive director’s office and knocked.

Knock, knock, knock—

“Yes.”

Hana’s voice answered. When Chaeyeon entered, Hana, who had been organizing documents on her desk, looked up, slightly surprised.

“What is it?”

“The chairman wants us all to have dinner together tomorrow evening.”

“Tomorrow?”

“Yeah. It’s my birthday tomorrow. He said we should all gather for that.”

Hana stared at her blankly for a moment.

“Your birthday…?”

“Yeah.”

“I didn’t know. Happy birthday.”

“Thanks.”

Chaeyeon sat on the edge of a chair, smiling casually.

“But isn’t it kind of funny? Suddenly setting something like this up.”

“Why?”

“Just… the idea of the four of us sitting down together to eat—it feels awkward.”

She let out a scoff.

“What kind of family are we? We’re just people brought together for our own reasons.”

Hana looked at her silently. Chaeyeon’s words were blunt, but not something she could deny.

Hana’s gaze dropped briefly.

“Don’t you think?”

“…I don’t know.”

Hana answered vaguely. Even that felt cautious.

Chaeyeon watched her for a moment, then ended the conversation herself.

“Anyway, clear your schedule for tomorrow evening. I’ll text you the location later.”

“Okay.”

As Chaeyeon stood up, she glanced over the documents once.

“I’m heading out. Got a mountain of work.”

“Alright. Bye.”

Just as Chaeyeon grabbed the doorknob, Hana’s voice called out again.

“Chaeyeon.”

“Yeah?”

“Happy birthday. I mean it.”

A brief silence passed. Chaeyeon slowly turned back to look at her. There was no pretense in Hana’s expression—only sincerity in her eyes.

The corners of Chaeyeon’s lips lifted slightly.

“There’s still a day left, you know?”

“Huh?”

“Say it properly tomorrow.”

Chaeyeon smiled playfully and waved. As the door closed, silence settled over the office again.

Hana looked at the calendar. There was no mark on tomorrow’s date.

“Chaeyeon’s birthday….”

She muttered softly. Then suddenly, Gihoon’s face came to mind.

He was arranging a dinner for Chaeyeon’s birthday—would he even remember hers?

Hana let out a faint, bitter laugh.

‘Of course it’s different.’

With a sigh, she lowered her head slightly.

Back in her office, Chaeyeon immediately turned on her laptop. The screen displayed a Vietnam business trip schedule.

She needed to prepare, but her fingers hovered over the keyboard.

‘Dinner tomorrow….’

Her mind was already tangled.

Gihoon, Aera, and Hana. She pictured sitting at the same table with the three of them.

Aera would smile beside Gihoon, and he would look at her with satisfaction. Hana would probably sit quietly, watching the mood.

“What kind of family is that?”

Chaeyeon let out a short, bitter laugh.

At that moment, her phone vibrated. Aera’s name appeared on the screen.

[What do you want to eat tomorrow? I’ll make a reservation.]

After hesitating for a moment, Chaeyeon replied briefly:

[Anything. Don’t worry about it.]

A reply came immediately:

[But it’s your birthday! You should eat something you like.]

Chaeyeon exhaled and typed:

[I’m really fine. Just pick somewhere convenient for you.]

After hitting send, she flipped her phone face down. The desk light reflected faintly off the screen.

‘Maybe I should just go on the business trip instead.’

She muttered inwardly. Sitting at a table, smiling under the name of “family,” felt more uncomfortable than being alone in an unfamiliar hotel room.

With a faint, bitter smile, she began typing again. The schedule on the monitor filled in one by one, but she couldn’t focus.

Soft morning sunlight stretched into the office through the window, gently coloring her desk and the wall.

Chaeyeon slowly lifted her head and looked outside.

In the city, people were beginning their day. Somewhere, someone might be laughing, like any ordinary morning.

But to Chaeyeon, that sound felt distant and unfamiliar.

6:00 PM.

Hana packed her bag and left the office. After rolling her stiff shoulders from staring at a computer all day, she stepped into the open elevator.

As the doors closed, Chaeyeon’s words from the morning crossed her mind.

“It’s my birthday tomorrow.”

Hana’s hand paused over the button.

A birthday. Should she prepare a gift? Or just offer a simple greeting?

Chaeyeon’s face came to mind—her calm gaze when she smiled, and that faint, unreadable expression.

But that was all.

She barely knew anything about her—her tastes, favorite foods, interests.

When the elevator doors opened into the lobby, a familiar car caught her eye.

It was Geonwoo.

She naturally opened the door and got in. He smiled from the driver’s seat.

“I was just about to call you.”

“You came early.”

Hana said, fastening her seatbelt.

“If you have time… could we stop by a department store?”

Geonwoo raised an eyebrow, puzzled.

“A department store? All of a sudden?”

Hana hesitated briefly before speaking.

“I need to buy a gift.”

“A gift?”

“Yeah. It’s Chaeyeon’s birthday tomorrow. There’s a dinner too.”

“Ah, I see.”

Geonwoo nodded.

“Do you have time?”

“Yeah. Let’s go.”

He started the engine, and the car moved smoothly. City lights passed by outside the window.

Resting her head against the glass, Hana fell into thought.

What kind of gift would be good?

Something not too burdensome, but still thoughtful.

But nothing came to mind.

About 30 minutes later, they arrived at the department store parking lot. The two walked side by side, browsing through stores.

“What are you thinking of buying?”

Geonwoo asked.

“I’m not sure. Honestly… we’re not that close yet.”

“Hmm, then something safe would be better.”

They naturally headed toward a cosmetics store. Perfume bottles sparkled under the lights in the glass display.

“How about perfume?”

Geonwoo suggested.

“It’s safe and still nice.”

“It is, but… perfume can be pretty personal.”

“Still better than overthinking it, right? Everyone likes something that smells good.”

Hana smiled slightly and nodded.

“Then… shall we take a look?