# Side Story 1
First-year employee at Ian Group and the team’s youngest, Joo Yeomin. A new junior has been assigned under him.
It was common for interns to be hired through unofficial routes. It’s just that they weren’t usually assigned to Yeomin’s team.
The Management Planning Team was chronically overworked. As the team’s maknae, this personnel decision should have been something Yeomin welcomed with open arms.
Nevertheless… Yeomin wasn’t happy at all.
“I was so nervous yesterday I couldn’t sleep.”
“To think you were looking forward to it that much, we should give you an even warmer… no, an enthusiastic! Welcome!”
It was just an intern starting work, yet even section chiefs and department heads had paused their work to come out and warmly welcome him.
That’s because it was an open secret that the new intern, Seol Jiho, was the firstborn son of President Ahn Hyungshin.
‘He probably even knows about the 800-million-won sculpture in the Ian Group headquarters lobby.’
Although he was the owner’s son, since Jiho hadn’t shown his face at company or official events since childhood…
There were rumors around the office that they were finally establishing a succession structure.
But Yeomin thought that was nonsense.
A succession structure? If that had been the noble intention, he wouldn’t feel so uncomfortable.
“For work matters, our capable Senior Joo will guide you well~ Tell us if there’s anything uncomfortable! Yeomin-ssi will help you in every way. Ah! Come to think of it, you and Jiho were university seniors and juniors, right?”
“Yes…”
“That’s great~”
Yeomin answered gloomily. Jiho, appearing bored with the lengthening conversation, summarized the department head’s speech.
“I’ll hear the rest from Senior Yeomin. Where’s my desk?”
“…Follow me.”
Yeomin led the way with an icy expression. They had already had a confrontation yesterday when Yeomin asked him to postpone his first day.
As usual, their fight had ended in bed, but…
That’s why Yeomin was currently in a very low mood. Jiho followed closely behind the leading Yeomin.
Aware of the team members’ attention, Yeomin maintained a constant distance from Jiho and spoke through ventriloquism.
“…Stay away.”
“Is it here? Hmm, I want to sit next to hyung.”
“Use proper titles. Leave your bag here and go wait in the meeting room.”
“A private rendezvous right after arrival? I didn’t expect such a welcome.”
I told you to just go in without saying anything. Yeomin, speaking without opening his mouth, pushed Jiho’s back. Jiho, who entered the small meeting room first, was dressed neatly in a formal suit as befitted his first day.
The company had conservative dress code regulations, so it was natural. But Yeomin wouldn’t have been surprised if Jiho had shown up in jeans and a hoodie.
“Sigh…”
Yeomin recalled his private meeting with President Ahn just two days ago.
‘A guy who never even set foot in the company lobby suddenly asks to start work, and I couldn’t say no… I’m sorry. I know it’ll be uncomfortable for you, Yeomin-ssi.’
‘…It can’t be helped. It’s not my company anyway.’
‘Haha. Thanks for understanding.’
‘Not at all.’
‘In exchange, if that Seol Jiho decides to quit on his own, I won’t interfere, so feel free to teach him in a Spartan way, Yeomin-ssi.’
‘Really… is that okay?’
‘Of course. Except for workplace harassment, anything goes.’
Although Jiho was of Ian Group’s owner family bloodline, this was Yeomin’s workplace where he had adapted over the past two years.
Jiho might have come with a picnic-like attitude… but Yeomin had no intention of letting him play as he pleased.
‘Until the words “I quit” come out of your mouth first, I’m going to make your life miserable.’
Having made up his mind, Yeomin gathered training materials and entered the meeting room.
Jiho was sitting in a conference chair in an arrogant posture, looking at his phone. What’s more, his phone background was a selfie with Yeomin.
“Are you crazy?”
Yeomin rushed over and snatched the phone from his hand. He immediately went into settings and changed the background.
Having Jiho as an intern was one thing, but having their relationship exposed at work was an entirely different matter.
Yeomin had never understood office romances, always considering them a nuisance.
He wanted to explore the brain structure of this guy who came to the company just to have an office romance!
“Hyung, with that outfit and that frown, you look incredibly stimulating.”
“Use proper titles. Intern Seol Jiho.”
Yeomin sat at the far end of the large conference table, ensuring Jiho couldn’t get too close.
The ends of the table were more than 3 meters apart. Jiho propped his chin with his hand.
“Why go so far away? I can barely hear you.”
“This is the appropriate distance between you and me. Maintain this gap at the company.”
“I’m scared, senior.”
Hmph, he’s being sarcastic. Yeomin didn’t even snort.
Jiho becoming an intern had proceeded without any consultation with him. So he would just treat him as an intern, nothing more.
“From now on, I’ll call you Intern Seol. The materials have information about Ian Group and our department, so read them carefully when you have time. The intern duties and our team’s weekly schedule are in the clear file.”
“Yes~”
While answering diligently, Jiho wasn’t even looking at the file, just staring at Yeomin’s face.
“There’s nothing written on my face, so look at the paper.”
“Yeees…”
After that, Yeomin continued to recite the training content in an extremely businesslike tone.
The content was so dry even Yeomin found it boring, but Jiho looked as if he was listening to a sweet song.
‘This crazy guy…’
Yeomin had thought things would get better after dating for a few years. But Jiho’s eccentricity was growing more severe by the day.
After explaining what not to do in the company, Yeomin finally asked:
“Any questions?”
“Yes.”
“Go ahead.”
“Is office romance allowed?”
Yeomin’s brow furrowed at the deliberate question. But soon he composed himself with a deep breath.
“I asked if office romance is allowed, senior!”
“Go ahead. We don’t interfere with such things. As long as it doesn’t affect your work.”
“Wow, really?”
“However, you are solely responsible for any consequences. As a working adult, you should be able to understand that much.”
He nodded firmly at those words. He always answers well. Did he really understand? Yeomin had no expectations.
“For your information, I absolutely hate office romance.”
So don’t try anything at work, be satisfied with what we do at home. Yeomin was threatening him with his eyes.
But Jiho seemed unaffected and even probed further.
“Even if an extremely handsome junior tries to seduce you?”
“Yes. Even if the president’s son tries to seduce me.”
That president’s son and extremely handsome current boyfriend was sitting right in front of him.
After Yeomin’s firm answer, silence fell in the small meeting room, and Jiho grinned.
“I’ll keep that in mind. Senior.”
That face seemed to be saying, ‘Yet you’ll still be wrapped around me tonight.’
* * *
After having lunch with the team members, Jiho went to get coffee. Although team members hinted that Yeomin should go with him, Yeomin firmly stayed in the office, using work as an excuse.
While everyone was anxious about sending the president’s son on a coffee errand, only Yeomin was calmly typing on his keyboard.
Colleagues gathered around his desk.
“Senior Joo~ What do you think?”
“About work? There’s a lot, even today.”
“No~ How do you find Intern Seol?”
Manager Kim was someone who was interested in others’ business and loose-lipped. What you told Manager Kim at lunch would spread to the General Affairs team by the end of the day.
Yeomin deliberately responded more indifferently.
“What do you mean, how? An intern is an intern.”
“How can Intern Seol be just any intern? He’s the chairman’s grandson and the president’s son! I heard even Executive Ahn was intimidated by him since he was young.”
“You might be comfortable with him since you’ve known him since university~”
“Not comfortable. Very uncomfortable.”
Yeomin drew a line.
‘I’m already dying with work, and these people have time to chat about this? Is everyone playing except me? Huh?’
Yeomin moved his mouse more vigorously, implying they should leave because he was busy.
‘I wish everyone would get away from my desk…’
But a comedy show had erupted at his desk among themselves.
“The president instructed not to give any special treatment.”
“Still. Who knows if he’ll return as a division head in a few years?”
The only time he could be free from Jiho was while at work…
Now he had to see Jiho at work too, and even when Jiho wasn’t around, he had to hear about him.
Seol Jiho, why are you occupying my life?
Yeomin slammed his fist on the keyboard. Startled, his seniors all looked at him.
“Coffee’s here~”
Just then, Jiho returned to the office. The seniors’ attention shifted to him. They acted as if the coffee Jiho was carrying weighed a ton, saying “That must be heavy. So sorry~” as they took their respective coffees.
Only Yeomin remained firmly seated.
‘I’ve carried twenty coffees alone. Why are they being like this?’
As he stared at the monitor, he felt a presence behind him. Jiho, carrying drinks, personally placed one on Yeomin’s desk.
He whispered just loud enough for only them to hear:
“Specially for senior, an iced chocolate.”
“I ordered an iced americano though?”
“You looked very irritated, so I thought your blood sugar might be low.”
Yeomin was dumbfounded but soon acquiesced and took a sip of the iced chocolate.
‘…He knows my condition very well.’
Well. Regardless of what others say, Jiho was his boyfriend and live-in partner. Perhaps the person who knows Joo Yeomin best in this world. Even better than Yeomin himself.
“…”
Yeomin silently took a sip of the iced chocolate topped with whipped cream.
The sweetness involuntarily softened his expression.
Seeing this, Jiho didn’t return to his seat but continued to stand nearby with sparkling eyes, as if expecting praise.
“…Good job, Intern Seol.”
Yeomin, who had welcomed his current live-in partner and boyfriend as an intern, now held two things in his hand: a carrot and a stick.
He planned to use them appropriately in the future.
‘If I can make him a good, obedient junior at work… wouldn’t he become a good, obedient Seol Jiho at home too?’
It was the beginning of the Seol Jiho Rehabilitation Project.
