The private lift dinged, and Doyun stepped out onto the executive floor.
He ignored the whispers of the staff and walked straight into his office, leaving a faint trail of red on the door handle.
A moment later, the door opened with a slow, creaking sound.
Min-joon walked in. He didn't look shocked; he looked exhausted.
He pulled out a chair and sat beside Doyun, staring at his friend's pale face and the blood-stained cuff of his suit.
"What were you doing the whole night that you couldn't even wake up?" Min-joon asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
He didn't wait for an answer; the smell of stale whisky clinging to Doyun told him everything.
"I've told you so many times to stop thinking about rubbish things and focus on your life. You're going to kill yourself at this rate."
Doyun stayed silent, staring at his desk.
"Anyway," Min-joon sighed, standing up. "The board meeting is postponed to 2:00 p.m. I'll see you there. Clean yourself up, Doyun.
You look like a mess."
As the door clicked shut, the silence returned, but Doyun didn't move. He just waited for the clock to strike two.
When the time finally came, Doyun walked into the boardroom.
The air was thick with the scent of expensive cologne and tension.
The board members watched him nervously as he took his seat at the head of the table.
The meeting was high-stakes. After hours of debate and reviewing contracts, the final decision was made: Doyun Group and a major partner were officially entering a joint venture to produce a massive film project
.The deal was officially sealed. The tension that had gripped N Group for months finally broke, replaced by a wave of relief. To celebrate, a joint after-party was announced for the employees of both companies.
Instead of a stiff, formal ballroom, they chose a lively, open-air barbecue joint—a choice Doyun surprisingly agreed to without a fight.
For the rest of the day, Doyun buried himself in paperwork.
He moved like a machine, his mind locked on contracts and figures, completely shutting out the "rubbish" thoughts of his personal life.
He worked until the sun dipped below the Kolkata skyline and the city lights took over.
At 9:50 p.m., a sharp knock echoed through his silent office.
"Come in," Doyun said, not looking up from his monitor.
The door opened, and Min-joon stepped inside.
Doyun finally looked up, a small, sarcastic glint in his eye.
So, you need my permission to enter now, do you?"
Min-joon sighed, leaning against the doorframe.
"Yeah, why not? I clearly need permission since my 'best friend' doesn't listen to a word I say.
I told you to focus on your life, but you've turned into a robot.
I'm starting to think I don't even qualify as your friend anymore."
Doyun looked away, shifting a stack of files. "Anyways..."
"No 'anyways,'" Min-joon interrupted. "You promised. You're coming to the party with the employees. No excuses."
The barbecue joint was roaring with life when they arrived. The scent of grilled meat and the sound of laughter filled the air. As Doyun walked in, his gaze involuntarily swept the crowd. It landed, just for a split second, on Chae-won.
She was there, looking vibrant under the fairy lights.
Doyun felt a sharp tug in his chest, but he immediately wrenched his eyes away, forcing himself to look at the far wall.
"Welcome, Sir!" the employees greeted in unison, half-surprised to see the big boss actually show up.
"Enjoy yourselves," Doyun replied, nodding to the group. It was a simple gesture, but as he walked past a group of junior staff, he overheard their hushed whispers.
"Is it just me, or does the Boss look... happy today? More than usual?
Doyun froze for a fraction of a second. Am I smiling? He instinctively raised his hand to cover his mouth, his heart skipping a beat. Was it because I saw her? No, that's impossible.
What am I thinking?
He shook the thought off and composed himself. He and Min-joon made their way toward the center table, where the Director of the partner group was already waiting for them.
"Doyun-ssi! Glad you could make it," the Director said, gesturing to a seat. "Let's talk about the future of White Bird."