"It really has been ages."

Chung-seop Jo, Representative of Silla Future Asset, came rushing out to meet him, seized Seong-ho's hand, and shook it up and down.

"Why haven't you come by more often all this time? Did I do something to offend you, perhaps?"

"Representative Jo."

Seong-ho let out a laugh at the sight of him and gently slipped his hand free.

At the sight of the hand withdrawing, Chung-seop shot him a look full of worry, and Seong-ho spoke to him quietly.

"An outsider watching would think we hadn't seen each other in years. We met last month, didn't we? It hasn't even been a full month."

"That's a whole month, though. And it's true you haven't come to the company, isn't it?"

Chung-seop led Seong-ho inside the building wearing the face of a man reunited after a long absence.

Seong-ho smiled faintly at Chung-seop still approaching him with such warmth, and looked around the office.

"Nothing inconvenient, I hope?"

Watching desks and chairs go out through the same door he'd come in — the signs of an expansion under way — Seong-ho said,

"I always expected Silla Future Asset would come to occupy the whole building eventually, but it's arrived a little sooner than I thought."

"This is all thanks to you."

A wistful expression crossed Chung-seop's face as he spoke.

"You're the one who raised me from a man doing nothing but branch sales all the way up to here. I've never once forgotten your kindness. Truly, thank you, and thank you again."

Chung-seop bowed deeply toward Seong-ho, heedless of his own staff standing nearby.

Because his gratitude toward Seong-ho outweighed any embarrassment or awkwardness.

"Come now, why are you doing this? Your staff are watching."

Seong-ho raised him upright and said,

"What will your staff think, seeing you like this? Please, don't."

"Let them think what they like. What I feel toward you is sincere."

Unable to resist Seong-ho's hand, Chung-seop let himself be drawn upright, but his eyes never left him.

Seong-ho gave his back a light pat and said,

"I understand your feeling…