Chapter 05
Lee Han mulled over why her face looked familiar.
With the thick makeup on, it was definitely someone he didn’t know, but once she wiped it off, she somehow looked like someone he had seen before.
As he tried to dig through his memory to figure out why, the woman who had come out of the restroom walked away quickly.
His gaze followed her, and Lee Han’s footsteps drew a small arc as he turned.
He trailed her from a distance.
The elevator doors opened, and the woman stepped inside.
After the doors closed behind her, Lee Han fixed his eyes on the floor indicator.
When it stopped on the 19th floor, he took the executive-only elevator and headed to the same floor.
What on earth was he doing?
A breathless laugh escaped him.
Before he knew it, he had unconsciously followed her all the way here.
That floor housed the OTT division.
“Oh, you’re here?”
“I wasn’t too late, was I?”
“I already put in a good word for you, so don’t worry. The interview will be over there.”
“Yes.”
“It’s a great opportunity, so don’t be nervous. Do well.”
The woman who had gone on the blind date instead of Bae Da-in disappeared into a meeting room with a man.
Lee Han kept his eyes fixed on the spot where she vanished.
Just then, an employee passing by noticed him and bowed in surprise.
“Hello, sir.”
The employee looked extremely tense, as if startled by Lee Han’s sudden appearance.
Lee Han gave a brief nod in reply, then asked,
“Is there an interview today?”
“Yes, sir. We’re conducting contract interviews for video translators.”
Video translators, huh.
As unexpected as those bride lessons she was taking.
But come to think of it, it actually suited her.
“Is there something you’d like me to do…?”
The employee cautiously asked, reading the mood.
“Bring the video translator applicants’ résumés to my office.”
“…Pardon? Ah, yes, sir.”
The employee looked puzzled, as if surprised that the CEO would personally review résumés for contract positions.
After a moment’s fluster, the employee bowed again, saying he would comply.
The CEO’s office mirrored its cold, unyielding master.
A space of modern, spotless interior, where Lee Han sat at his desk, recalling the face he had just seen.
Another dry chuckle slipped out of him.
At that moment, Da-in appeared after a knock.
“These are the résumés for the video translator applicants, sent from the OTT division.”
She placed a file of résumés onto his desk.
Lee Han looked up at her, fixing a piercing gaze on Da-in.
So the real Bae Da-in was this one.
The daughter of Home& Entertainment’s chairman, currently in bridal lessons.
Recalling her profile, his brows twitched slightly.
Startled by his probing look, Da-in stiffened just a little. Then, Lee Han spoke.
“Good work, Secretary Bae Da-in.”
Only after she left and the door closed did Lee Han open the file.
Of course, he could’ve asked the real blind date partner, Bae Da-in, directly. But he chose not to.
After all, Da-in didn’t know she had been replaced on that blind date.
Revealing everything would only stir up unnecessary trouble.
It was better to confirm with his own eyes.
He began flipping through the résumés swiftly—until his hand froze.
He had finally found the face he’d seen earlier.
“Dan Ha-ru.”
He murmured the real name of the woman who had pretended to be Bae Da-in.
His gaze dropped from the name to the ID photo.
The thick eyeliner and dark shadow had hidden those round, clear eyes, the petite nose, the small, plump lips.
Staring at her pretty features, a soft sigh left him.
“So that’s why she looked familiar.”
Now he remembered why her face had felt so known.
It was from quite a long time ago, but the memory was still vivid in his mind. Unforgettable.
Dan Ha-ru looked the same then as she did now.
The circumstances were different, but she had left just as strong a first impression in his memory.
As he savored the recollection, a slow grin tugged at his lips.
Like a predator discovering interesting prey.
For the first time in a long while, his otherwise impassive face stirred with change.
He immediately pulled out his phone, entered the number written on her résumé, and saved it—changing the contact name from “Bae Da-in” to “Dan Ha-ru.”
Then he opened a message window and typed without hesitation.
“Thanks for rushing over on such short notice.”
“It’s nothing, sunbae. Thanks to you, I even got to interview. I really appreciate the opportunity.”
Her college senior, Tae-in, lightly ruffled Ha-ru’s hair as she smiled.
She flinched slightly at the sudden touch, then smiled again.
“When they asked me if I knew anyone, out of all my juniors, you were the first to come to mind.”
“Really?”
She blinked in surprise, and he nodded.
“I wish we could grab a coffee, but I’ve got another appointment coming up. Shame.”
“Oh, next time it’s on me—dinner, even.”
“Alright. See you soon. Go on in.”
After parting ways with Tae-in, Ha-ru finally let out a breath, releasing the tension that had been weighing on her.
She felt good—she’d done well on the sample test, maybe even well enough to hope for a passing result.
While waiting for the elevator, she checked her missed messages.
Her eyes widened at one.
It’s me, Cha Seung-jae. Did you get home alright the other day?
What? They had parted ways like they’d never see each other again—so why was he suddenly texting her?
She studied the message carefully.
No matter how much she thought about it, she couldn’t figure out his intention.
She decided not to reply.
No need. He didn’t seem like the type to chase after a woman anyway. The fact that he messaged her was surprising enough.
It was probably just a courtesy. Nothing more.
But then—
“What? Why is he calling now?”
The same number was ringing her phone.
Unable to answer or hang up, Ha-ru just waited for the call to stop.
When the vibration finally ended, the elevator dinged and its doors opened.
She hurried inside.
As though being chased, she pressed the first floor and then the close button.
“Hold on, please.”
A man’s voice made her hand freeze.
A polished black shoe wedged itself into the narrowing gap.
The sensors triggered, and the doors opened again.
And when she saw the man’s face, her eyes flew wide open.
Her heart plummeted, like an elevator in freefall.
‘What the—why are YOU here!’
The man before her was Cha Seung-jae, the blind date from a few days ago.
The very same man who had just been calling her.
Why, why of all places, here?
Panicked, Ha-ru swallowed hard, but he only gave a slight nod of apology before stepping back a little.
He didn’t even glance at her; instead, he fixed his gaze on his phone.
As the doors closed, her heart pounded furiously.
‘Maybe he didn’t recognize me like this.’
It was possible.
On that blind date, she’d worn a leather two-piece, heavy makeup, and an overdone hairstyle. She hadn’t looked like herself at all.
Even her parents might not have recognized her. She herself had barely recognized that version in the mirror.
So, as her true self now, it made sense if he couldn’t connect the two. Thank goodness.
Ha-ru took a small breath and looked away.
The descent felt endless.
Even if he hadn’t recognized her, she still felt like a guilty thief.
Then her phone buzzed with a short vibration.
She ignored it, but the vibrations came again and again until she finally checked it.
The notifications flashed with a new message.
You left without returning my card key.
Did you happen to need it?
Her whole body stiffened. Cold sweat prickled her skin.
It was from Cha Seung-jae.
Completely unaware that she was standing right beside him.
