Meet Haru

After finishing the last bit of his sweets, Haeun stood up from the table and left the café, stepping out into the crisp evening air. He glanced at his watch—it was only 4:30 p.m. He still had plenty of time before the dinner at 7 p.m., and the thought of going back to the office felt suffocating. He didn't want to deal with another board meeting, at least for now, he had a few hours to himself.

Instead of calling for the car to take him back, Haeun decided to take a walk. There was a park a few blocks away, a quiet little escape from the busy city, and he often found himself wandering there whenever he needed to clear his head.

Haeun found a quiet bench by the pond and sat down, allowing himself to sink into the moment. The soft rustling of leaves and the occasional chirping from the birds filled the air, offering him a rare moment of peace. He tilted his head back, closing his eyes for a brief second, letting the calmness wash over him.

Suddenly, he felt a soft nudge against his leg. When he looked down, a excited little puppy circling around his feet, wagging its tail excitedly. The puppy, a fluffy Shiba Inu with golden fur, kept hopping around him, its enthusiasm was contagious. Haeun couldn't help but smile as the puppy looked up at him its big, bright eyes, clearly seeking attention.

"Hey there," Haeun said softly, reaching down to stroke the dog's head. Its fur was warm and soft beneath Haeun's fingers, and the simple action brought a sense of ease that he hadn't felt in hours. The puppy leaned into his hand, clearly enjoying the affection.

"Sorry about that!" A voice called out from a short distance away. "He always gets a bit too excited when he sees someone sitting alone."

Haeun looked up to see a man jogging over, slightly out of breath but wearing a warm smile. The man, probably in his early 30s, had a leash in hand but seemed far more amused than worried about his puppy's mischief.

"No problem," Haeun replied, still petting the puppy. "He's friendly."

"That's one way to put it," the man said with a chuckle, reaching down to scratch behind the dog's ears. "He just loves attention. I'm Jun, by the way. And this little troublemaker is Haru."

Haeun gave a nod and a small smile. "Nice to meet you, Jun. I'm Haeun."

Jun gave a brief look of recognition at the name but didn't say anything, instead focusing on Haru. "Looks like you made a new friend, huh?" He grinned, watching as Haru eagerly leaned into Haeun's hand, clearly content.

Haeun chuckled softly. "I guess so. He's a sweet little guy."

"Yeah, Haru's the type that thinks everyone is his best friend," Jun said, shaking his head with affection. "I usually take him out here when work gets stressful. He has a way of making everything feel lighter, you know?"

"I can see that," Haeun replied, his fingers still lazily running through Haru's fur. For the first time all day, he felt a genuine sense of relaxation. "It's nice to have a distraction."

Jun glanced at Haeun, noting the weight behind his words. "Rough day?"

"You could say that," Haeun admitted, leaning back on the bench, his hand resting on Haru's back. "Just… family stuff."

Jun smiled knowingly. "Yeah, family can be a handful sometimes. You should get yourself a dog. They're way less complicated."

Haeun let out a small laugh. "I'll keep that in mind."

Jun gave a friendly nod and clicked his tongue, calling Haru back to his side. "Well, I better get going. Come on, Haru. Let's give this guy some peace."

As the dog bounded back to Jun's side, Haeun felt a strange sense of gratitude for the brief encounter. "Thanks for the company, Haru," he called after the dog, giving him a final wave. Haru barked once in response, as if saying goodbye.

Jun waved as he began to walk away, glancing back at Haeun with a smile. "Take care, Haeun. Hope the rest of your day goes smoother."

Haeun returned the smile. "You too."

As Haeun was about to leave the park, his phone buzzed with a new message. He pulled it out and saw it was from Eunja.

Eunja: Just a heads up—some unexpected guests have arrived at the office. Might need to handle it before heading to the dinner. Sorry for the short notice.

Haeun glanced at his watch, noting the time. He had hoped for a bit more downtime before the evening's commitment, but it seemed duty called earlier than expected. He sighed and started making his way back to the office, leaving the park behind.

He arrived at the office within 15 minutes, greeted by Eunja, who met him at the lobby with a concerned expression.

"Sorry about this, boss," she said as he approached. "We weren't expecting these guests, but it seems like it's something urgent."

Haeun nodded, trying to shift his mindset from relaxation to business mode. "What's going on?"

"They're from a potential investor's firm," Eunja explained, leading him to the conference room. "They showed up unannounced and are asking to discuss an urgent matter. I told them you'd be with them shortly."

"Got it," Haeun said, adjusting his jacket. "Let's see what they need."

He entered the conference room, where two sharply dressed individuals were waiting. They stood up as he walked in, offering polite but professional smiles. Haeun took his seat and prepared himself for the discussion.

"Good evening," Haeun began. "I understand you have an urgent matter to discuss?"

One of the investors, a tall man with a serious demeanor, nodded. "Yes, Mr. Yoon. We apologize for the short notice, but we've encountered some issues with our current investments and need to discuss potential collaboration with your company."

Haeun nodded, signaling for them to proceed. "I see. What kind of collaboration are you proposing?"

The second investor, a woman with a sharp gaze, took over. "We're looking at a strategic partnership to expand into new markets. Your company's recent developments are impressive, and we believe there's significant potential for mutual benefit."