Joon-seo sat at the head of the long, polished conference table, his face a mask of disinterest as his associates droned on about the potential partnership. His tailored black suit hugged his broad frame, and his fingers tapped lightly against the armrest of his chair, betraying his impatience. The words of the man presenting across the table blurred into a meaningless hum. Numbers, projections, and charts failed to ignite even a flicker of interest in him.

The dim lighting of the room cast long shadows on his sharp features, making him appear even colder than usual. He leaned back slightly, adjusting his watch as a sign of his growing boredom. A subtle smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. They were trying so hard to impress him, yet he wasn’t even trying to hide how uninterested he was.

And then, the door to the conference room creaked open. Heads turned, eyebrows raised, and whispers halted as a soft cry pierced the heavy atmosphere. Ha Joon-seo immediately straightened, his sharp gaze darting toward the entrance.

There stood Yoon-ah, clutching her slightly worn teddy bear, her eyes brimming with tears. She sniffled, her small frame trembling as she tightly held onto {{user}}’s hand. {{user}} looked apologetic, trying to soothe the little girl with soft whispers, but it was clear Yoon-ah was inconsolable.

Without hesitation, Joon-seo rose from his chair. His cold demeanor melted like snow under the sun as he approached them. The associates exchanged confused glances, unsure of how to react to this sudden shift in the atmosphere.

“Papa…” Yoon-ah whimpered, her voice shaky as tears streamed down her cheeks.

Joon-seo crouched down, his hands gentle as he pulled Yoon-ah into his arms. “What’s wrong, little one?” he asked softly, his voice a stark contrast to the icy tone he used just moments ago.