Night Chat Ends
After the last message—
You always do.
Ji-Ah stared at the screen for a second longer.
Then locked her phone.
No more replies.
No goodnight.
No explanation.
Just silence.
But this silence felt different.
Not empty.
Lingering.
She placed the phone aside and pulled the pending project files closer.
The city outside slept.
She didn't.
Because work had a way of saving her from thoughts she didn't want to name.
And tonight—
she needed that.
Office Pressure Montage
The next few weeks blurred into movement.
Ji-Ah's company became a storm of deadlines.
Printers running.
Teams moving between conference rooms.
Site visits.
Late-night calls.
Coffee cups abandoned beside blueprints.
At the center of it all—
Ji-Ah.
Sharp.
Focused.
Untouchable.
Hye-Rin updates
Hye-Rin followed her everywhere with files and updates.
"Director, the school redesign is entering final approval."
"The waterfront retail zone is 80% complete."
"The interior team needs your decision on the lighting model."
Ji-Ah signed one file after another.
"Move the final inspection to Friday."
"Tell the team no delays."
Her voice remained calm.
Even when exhaustion lingered behind her eyes.
Time Jump — One Month Later
One month later—
the impossible happened.
Most of the pending projects were completed ahead of schedule.
The office felt lighter.
Not relaxed.
But under control.
Hye-Rin entered with a tablet in hand.
"Director… this means your schedule opens earlier than expected."
Ji-Ah looked up.
A beat of silence.
Then
"Lee Group."
Hye-Rin nodded.
"And Ho Group."
That name changed the room.
Subtly.
Ji-Ah's fingers paused on the file.
Mr. Ho.
The masked man.
The voice she still hadn't forgotten.
"Arrange the follow-up," she said calmly.