"There's no need for that."
Winter looked up at Hugo's face blankly, forgetting what he was about to say.
He silently stared at Winter and then continued.
"You're doing well enough as it is."
Before fully understanding the meaning of those words, Winter was once again dazed by an unfamiliar sight.
Hugo was smiling at Winter.
The coldness that always pooled in his dark, deep eyes had disappeared somewhere, and a faint warmth was filling its place instead.
No way, is this man actually smiling...?
As Winter tilted his head in disbelief, the elevator arrived at the 35th floor.
Just before stepping out through the wide-open doors, Hugo met Winter's eyes and said in an indifferent voice.
"Welcome back."
And before Winter could respond, he walked out of the elevator with steady steps.
Winter could only stare at Hugo's retreating figure with a dazed look.
Leaving Winter standing there, Hugo walked away without looking back even once.
Welcome back, he said.
