In Search of Our Destiny - Chapter 212

To continue in the same lively manner, Seo-Jun directed a playful wink at Yeon-Ah, before turning back to Su-Jin.

“Miss Lee can handle that task in Jung Seok’s place. Not only that, but you guys still have me around as well. So, I will be helping Miss Lee with the most complicated aspects of the analysis. Together we will produce the best reports this company has ever seen.”

All of a sudden, Seo-Jun paused and shot Ji-Won a side glance.

“What you should focus on is checking out the location and making a more detailed plan regarding the activities.”

Ji-Won nodded in agreement.

“That’s true. We’ll need to see the place first, before we can decide on the number, as well as the nature of the activities we can include.”

While speaking, Ji-Won reached out and pinched one corner of a document. He pulled it closer towards him and frowned.

“Apart from all that, there are other details we’ll need to take into consideration, such as accessibility, affordability and so on. We need to have a better understanding of the environment before we can advance with the other practical aspects.”

Pushing the paper across the table with two fingers, Ji-Won raised his eyes to look at Su-Jin.

His gaze was sharp and focused causing Su-Jin to instinctively straighten up. Next, she saw him getting up and walking towards his desk.

“Miss Park, go and get ready. We’ll be leaving in 20 minutes.” Ji-Won announced in all seriousness.

“Ah, yes!”

Su-Jin quickly got up and bowed. She then picked up the scattered documents and left the office to get the rest of her things in order.

Twenty minutes later she was sitting in the passenger’s seat inside Ji-Won’s car.

“Is there any place you want to visit first?” Ji-Won asked as he started the engine.

“Oh, yes!” Su-Jin cried out in excitement. “As a matter of fact, there is this one guesthouse that I would like to check out first.”

Holding back a chuckle, Ji-Won drove the car out of the parking lot. He appeared calm and at ease.

This curious relaxation that had taken hold of him could have been due to the good news he received that morning.

After all, never in his wildest dreams could Ji-Won have imagined that his father would approve of an extension of their deadline. Up until now, submitting the end of the month presentation had always been a serious matter for the company. Not to mention now, that he and the Chairman were having an agreement over the results.

However, somewhere deep down, Ji-Won suspected that his good spirits had more to do with what he was currently doing, rather than office work. Not only did Su-Jin give him a new and better idea for their project, she also provided him with a means to satisfy a selfish desire.

Being able to stay close to her while visiting touristic locations together, almost made him feel like they were out on a date.

As he drove the car towards the main street, Ji-Won continued to make casual conversation.

“What is this place that’s gotten you so excited?” he asked.

A small smile still lingered at the corner of his lips when Su-Jin finally gave her answer.

“It’s actually a guesthouse called ‘Summer Triangle Villa’. To be honest, many years ago I…”

But Su-Jin didn’t get to finish her sentence.

The moment Ji-Won heard the name of the inn, his body flinched violently. His brain was taken over by sock so, in an instinctive attempt to prevent an accident, his foot pressed on the brakes.

The car stopped abruptly, not even several meters after it left the parking lot. Luckily, the street was empty at that time, so they didn’t cause any trouble in traffic.

With his heart jumping widely in his chest, Ji-Won took a moment to breathe in deeply. Then, he let it all out in a long sigh.

All this while his mind worked furiously to wrap around the current events.

‘That place… It’s been so long since I’ve heard the name of that place. That time was one of the last family trips we’ve taken… Mother, father and I were together then. ‘Summer Triangle Villa’ is also where that picture was taken.’

As soon as his thoughts turned towards the missing photograph, Ji-Won felt a painful jab in his chest.

Without realizing what he was doing, he leaned over the wheel, clenching a hand around the area where his heart was.

After being startled by the abrupt stop, Su-Jin just happened to catch that small gesture.

Taking into account what she knew about Ji-Won’s condition, the sight of him curled up over the wheel in pain sent a jolt of panic through her body. She immediately moved closer to him, wanting to touch him but hesitating. In the end, her hand hovered above his shoulder for a moment longer, before finally pulling away.

“Director Kang, is everything alright? Why did we stop so suddenly?” she blinked at him with uneasiness.

“Uhm.. uh… a cat…” Ji-Won stumbled over his words.

“A cat?” Su-Jin tilted her head to one side, looking both anxious and confused.

“Y-yes… ahem.”

Ji-Won coughed in order to clear his throat, then quickly straightened up his body.

“Just now, I thought I saw a cat jumping in front of the car.”

“Really?” Su-Jin glanced outside, muttering to herself. “Curious, I didn’t see anything.”

“Of course, it might have been my mistake. I apologize for the scare, Miss Park.” Ji-Won said in a rather sheepish voice.

“Oh, no, it’s alright.” Su-Jin hurried to wave her hands.

After the fright finally subsided, her chest gradually relaxed and she began to chuckle.

“What I mean to say is that, having no cats standing in front of your car this time, is probably a very good thing. We wouldn’t want another experience like that.”

Her words managed to trigger a certain memory. Thus, his mind immediately began replaying his first encounter with Su-Jin.

How very different they were interacting now, compared to that time. Instead of shouting at each other, they could now talk casually. Instead of glaring and frowning, they could now smile at each other. Just like Su-Jin was currently doing.

At that moment, Su-Jin’s lips were pulled into a smile, her eyes crinkling at the corners. She looked both cheerful and relaxed, very unlike that young woman who threw snarky remarks to his face.

But what right did he have to complain? That time, wasn’t the person who set the cold tone of the conversation actually himself? So, if there was anyone to blame for their bumpy beginning, then that would be him and his instinct to reject people.