Chapter 32
All day long, Haru pretended not to notice the way Haneul’s eyes followed her.
As soon as the door closed behind them, Haneul set the grocery bag on the floor and asked in a sly tone:
“How did you end up with that kind of boyfriend?”
Without answering, Haru sat at the table, poured herself a beer, and downed it in one go.
Haneul sat down across from her.
“His face is like an actor’s. And that car—no way it’s a lease. There are only a handful of those in Korea. So, how did you meet a guy like that, huh?”
He asked like he was dying of curiosity.
When was the last time this brat had ever been curious about her?
Probably not since he was a little kid, always following her around and copying everything she did.
These days, they were just like any other siblings—barely checking in, if at all.
“You don’t need to know.”
Haru cut the conversation short, drawing a line.
But Haneul wasn’t ready to let go of his curiosity.
“Come on, just tell me. I could even give you some advice as a guy, you know? Relationship tips, maybe?”
Haru’s face twisted like crumpled paper at that.
Relationship advice—from him? Not in a million years.
“I can handle it myself. Stay out of it.”
“Wow, so I don’t even count? For your information, I am kind of an expert at dating!”
Yeah, right. She’d seen him bawl his eyes out every time a girlfriend dumped him.
No matter how desperate she was, the last thing she’d ever do was take dating advice from Haneul.
Slamming her empty glass down, Haru warned him:
“Don’t you dare say anything to Mom and Dad.”
“Depends on how you behave.”
That was it—Haru raised a hand, about to smack him, then just sighed instead, tearing into a drumstick.
Watching her strip the meat off the chicken, Haneul felt a chill—like he was the one being devoured.
Still, he couldn’t shake his curiosity.
“So, how long have you two been seeing each other?”
“Not long.”
Haru’s curt answer made him take another swig of beer.
“Did I ruin your date today?”
“If you know that, just shut up and drink.”
“Wait—was he supposed to stay over tonight, and I barged in without realizing?”
“Stay over? No way! It’s nothing like that.”
Haru jumped up in outrage, making Haneul snicker.
Honestly, it was hard to picture his forever-single sister even holding hands with someone, let alone kissing.
Shaking his head, he popped a piece of pickled radish into his mouth.
Propping himself up with one hand, he leaned back and looked around the room.
Then his eyes landed on something.
“What’s this?”
“What?”
On the side table, he picked something up. His eyes went wide, then narrowed slyly.
“Well, well.”
When Haru saw what he was holding, she panicked and snatched it from him.
“Give me that!”
“You’re well-prepared, I see.”
Damn strawberry-scented condoms—always there to embarrass her.
Red with shame, she hurled the box into a corner.
“Why throw it?”
“I didn’t buy it, okay? It just ended up here somehow.”
“How does something like this just ‘end up’ here? At least make your lies sound believable.”
Grinding her teeth, Haru finally lost it and swung her hand.
“Get out of my house.”
“What? I told you, I’ve got a wedding to go to tomorrow. I’m staying over.”
“I said get out of my sight!”
“Geez, what’s with you? I’m still eating my chicken.”
“Out!”
“Wait, are you mad ‘cause I ruined your chance to use those condoms?”
“You little—!”
Only when her slipper smacked him did Haneul finally shut his mouth.
“Come in.”
At Lee Han’s word, Chief Kim entered the office.
Standing before the desk, he bowed and began his report.
“This is regarding the deletion of the subtitle translation file.”
Han nodded once in reply.
“There’s a record showing the project was deleted from the translator’s computer. But the translator insists she never did it.”
“Of course. Why would a newly hired contract translator delete her own work?”
Nodding in agreement, Chief Kim continued.
“It looks like it happened while the translator’s account was open but she stepped away briefly. Unfortunately, the CCTV above her desk wasn’t working at the time. But we did check the other cameras in the office.”
He pulled up a video on his tablet and showed it to Han.
The footage showed one employee leaving the Global Content Team office. At that moment, a man slipped quickly inside.
The man headed toward the desk of team leader Ahn Ki-seok.
At that point, two employees were still in the office.
The man waited, pretending to linger. Once the last of them left, he glanced around cautiously.
Then he walked toward a blind spot in the camera’s view.
“Is that where the translator’s desk is?”
“Yes, sir.”
“And the time matches the deletion?”
“Exactly.”
Han frowned, gesturing at the grainy figure.
“Zoom in on his face.”
Chief Kim enlarged the footage.
“Confirmed—he’s not an employee. He entered using a visitor’s pass.”
Han’s eyes narrowed. The man in the video was the same one who had introduced himself as Haru’s senior. The same man he’d run into at the bar and in the restroom.
“This is enough to raise suspicion, but not solid proof.”
“Correct.”
It wasn’t enough to prove he had deliberately deleted the file.
Han returned the tablet with Tae-in’s face enlarged.
“Coordinate with Legal. Investigate further until we can confirm his identity.”
“Yes, sir.”
“And replace that faulty CCTV immediately. Tell Security to tighten control over visitor access.”
“Understood.”
Chief Kim bowed again and left.
Today, Haru got off work earlier than usual.
Since it was date night, she considered waiting at a café, but changed her mind.
Wearing a beige frilled dress—the one he’d bought her at the department store—she stepped off the bus.
Tonight, they were supposed to have dinner at a hotel restaurant. She’d dressed up for the occasion.
Midas Entertainment.
The company run by Cha Seung-jae.
She was curious about his workplace, and she thought it’d be nice to meet him there and go together.
By her timing, he should be coming out just about now.
As she stood outside the building, she took out her phone and dialed.
At the same time, she glimpsed a beautiful actress climbing into a van.
“Wow, she’s gorgeous,” Haru murmured to herself.
The call connected. Lee Han’s voice came through.
—Yes, Haru?
“I’m in front of Cha Seung-jae’s company.”
Looking up at the Midas building, she explained:
“I got off work early, so I thought we could go together.”
For some reason, there was a pause on his end.
—Midas? You’re there now?
“Yes.”
—I’m not at the office.
“Oh.” Haru let out a small sigh.
“So you’re not there.”
—No. I had a meeting and was planning to head straight to our dinner.
She felt a little foolish for showing up unannounced.
Of course, at an entertainment company, it made sense he’d often be out.
What a pointless idea—to surprise him like this.
“Then let’s just meet at the restaurant.”
—Sorry you wasted the trip.
“It’s fine. I didn’t tell you I was coming, after all.”
—See you soon, then.
After hanging up, Haru turned to leave.
Just then, a woman’s voice called out behind her:
“President. President Cha!”
Haru froze, then turned to look.
