บท 250: The sourness of vinegar

Despite the nervousness and awkwardness Yeon-Ah was feeling, something akin to hope and yearning flashed in her eyes. The powerful surge of emotions caused her to squeeze the man's shoulders, trapping the fabric of his jacket between her trembling fingers. 

All of a sudden, a deep, rich voice sounded close to her ears, starting Yeon-Ah awake from her state of stupefaction.

"Miss Lee, are you alright?" Seo-Jun asked, keeping his voice low so only she could hear.

As the haze was gradually lifting from her mind, Yeon-Ah quickly pushed everything she was feeling at the back of her mind. She moved away slowly, pushing herself against Seo-Jun's shoulders for support.

"Thank you, Deputy Director Kim, I'm alright." 

She tried to smile, but her lips gave a slight tremble, unable to curve into the proper shape. Thus, Yeon-Ah ended up looking more like she was in pain than being grateful. Even her voice carried a small tremor as she continued to speak.