# Chapter 200
## 17. What Makes Me Walk
So, after that, what happened was… nothing at all.
The morning after sleeping soundly in Sano’s embrace had a rather plain atmosphere. Both Sano and Iyeon acted as if nothing had happened. Eating meals, going to work, sitting side by side on the sofa doing their own things—everything was so completely normal that it was honestly a bit confusing.
Was their agreement to date just a dream from yesterday? They had definitely kissed passionately… While reading documents, Iyeon was thinking about this as he habitually stole glances at Sano, and at that moment, their eyes met.
He had been staring at Iyeon.
Something seemed to be stirring in that gaze, though Iyeon didn’t know how long it had been there. As if hypnotized, Iyeon couldn’t tear his eyes away from those green pupils. Soon, Sano’s upper body leaned forward, and the two bodies drew closer…
Knock knock.
“Excuse me. There are people here.”
“Ah! Hyegang.”
When Iyeon came to his senses, he found himself half-pinned beneath Sano’s body. Wait, what is this position? Startled, Iyeon tried to get up, but Sano above him remained motionless like a stone statue. As a result, awkwardly trapped in Sano’s arms, Iyeon’s eyes met with Hyegang who was standing at the doorway.
“Hyung, do we really need to put ‘no lewd acts in the office’ in our internal regulations for you to understand?”
“W-what do you mean by ‘lewd acts’…”
Honestly, their lips hadn’t even touched yet. Before Iyeon could protest against this injustice, Hyegang’s words came first.
“Or is it because Sano hyung is no longer our part-timer that you’re going wild?”
“You fired me?”
Sano’s gaze instantly turned cold. Cold sweat seeped down Iyeon’s back.
“No, not fired, but I thought you wouldn’t come anymore…”
“Because you chased me away, right?”
“…Th-that. Ah, yes, part-time job. We skipped it last time, but should we write a service contract this time?”
Iyeon hurriedly changed the subject. Sano snorted with a look of disdain.
“Not necessary.”
“Hey, what if we get sued by Jonghee-ssi and Jongchan-ssi for something like this happening again? They say all these things are punishable. Like not having a written contract and wrongful dismissal.”
“Planning to create another situation like this?”
This time, the sharp gaze glared at Iyeon. Overwhelmed by the intensity, Iyeon mumbled.
“No, it’s not that, but just in case…”
“If that ‘just in case’ happens, you’d better worry about your own safety before the company’s.”
“…”
Looking at those fiercely glowing eyes, he seemed quite serious. Threat… isn’t this a threat? Iyeon grumbled inwardly. Watching the scene quietly, Hyegang intervened to rescue Iyeon.
“Um, shouldn’t you two fix your position first?”
“Ah, sorry. Hey, move aside a bit.”
When Iyeon pushed hard on Sano’s shoulders, which were still holding firm, Sano frowned and glared at Hyegang. At that look, as if regarding an intruder, Hyegang snorted.
“How dare a part-timer glare at the heaven-like CEO?”
“You talk a lot for someone being exploited for free.”
Sparks flew between their eyes. That’s why I said to write a contract and get paid… Iyeon muttered timidly in between, but it didn’t reach either of them.
The brief eye battle ended with Hyegang taking a step back. Turning around, Hyegang walked toward his desk and casually threw out:
“Labor contract violations are punishable by fines. But since it’s a first offense, and we’re still a sound business, it won’t be much. We can just pay that much. It’s cheap compared to Sano hyung’s car.”
It was like something an exploitative boss would say. W-what do you mean by car… As Iyeon was mumbling evasively, Hyegang clicked his tongue and continued.
“And about wrongful dismissal… there’s no such thing for businesses with fewer than five employees. This was obviously a joke, but hyung, did you really not know?”
“…”
“Wouldn’t Chageum collapse without me?”
“…I sincerely hope for your long-term service.”
Iyeon truly had no confidence in running the company alone if Hyegang were to leave. Hyegang, do you want a raise? Suddenly? We just gave you one this year. That’s the maximum our company budget allows. …Really? I’ll handle it, so hyung just do whatever you want. Hmm… While they were having this humble conversation, Sano had already gotten up and returned to his usual arrogant posture as if nothing had happened. Glancing sideways at Sano, who was ignoring both him and Iyeon, Hyegang muttered loud enough to be heard.
“It’s good that you two made up, but let’s respect public decency from now on.”
“What do you mean ‘made up’… We didn’t even fight.”
Iyeon replied sheepishly, but Hyegang’s expression showed he didn’t believe it.
“Say that while looking at your face. It’s brightened up so much. When did you two start dating anyway? Did Sano hyung beg you to go out with him?”
It was clearly a comment aimed at someone. Sano’s eyebrow twitched upward.
“I received a confession.”
At the childish answer, Iyeon’s face heated up instead. It made him remember his own childish confession.
“Really? But you once said you’d never confess and would wait until the dopamine and adrenaline stopped being secreted. Didn’t you say liking someone isn’t an eternal emotion?”
“T-that’s…”
Past statements carelessly made were now returning like a boomerang. As Iyeon trailed off while glancing anxiously at Sano, Sano responded indifferently. Surprisingly, he didn’t seem too angry.
“How long does it take to stop liking someone?”
Hyegang shrugged.
“I don’t know, maybe about three years is a long time?”
At those words, Sano pulled up the corner of his mouth askew.
“Not in my experience.”
“What?”
“It’s the same even after ten years.”
Hyegang, who momentarily closed his mouth, looked at Sano and Iyeon alternately with eyes full of complex emotions. Though there were so many emotions mixed in that it was hard to tell exactly what they meant, the “you’ve got to be kidding me” sentiment was clearly conveyed. But that’s not even what I said… Before Iyeon could sputter out any words, Hyegang changed the subject with a look of disgust.
“Anyway, that’s good. They say you don’t know the value of what you have until it’s gone—the office did seem a bit bigger when Sano hyung was gone for a few days.”
“If this single room feels big to you, there’s a problem with your spatial perception.”
Sano spat out his usual unpleasant response, but Hyegang showed no sign of being offended and simply shrugged. He was about to go to his desk when he exclaimed “Ah!” and approached Iyeon.
“Right, a document came from the Superpower Management Office.”
“Huh?”
Opening the mail that Hyegang handed over, Iyeon found a few sheets of paper inside. As Iyeon unfolded the document, both Hyegang and Sano’s gazes converged on it. The content of the document was concise. Iyeon read the title aloud.
“Extension of Application Period for Superhuman Combat Ability Evaluation Test?”
The extended period was only about two weeks, but still, an extension was an extension.
“Ah, so it happened after all?”
Hyegang nodded as if he had expected it. Sano also didn’t seem particularly surprised. Iyeon asked in amazement.
“Did everyone already know?”
“That’s the hottest rumor these days. The word is spreading among hunters that there’s some internal issue with the Cho Jeonryeok proceedings. Haven’t you heard anything?”
“No, I did hear Hyeseong-ssi saying something similar…”
He had mentioned something about Cho Jeonryeok possibly being postponed, but Iyeon hadn’t thought it would actually be true. After all, since the implementation of the Cho Jeonryeok system, there had never been a single instance of the event being postponed.
I’m sure they’ve taken everything into account, but postponing a major event like Cho Jeonryeok will have no small consequences. Young-ssi also said she needed to receive a tier promotion evaluation through this Cho Jeonryeok… While Iyeon was lost in these thoughts:
Ding-a-ling.
The bell sound drew the attention of all three. The office door opened to reveal a familiar visitor. Neat suit, cleanly combed hair. A stern impression.
It was Jin Heesu.
“Oh, Director-nim.”
What brings Director Jin all the way here? This was Heesu’s first visit to the office since the fire fox investigation request. He was such a busy person that Iyeon had to visit Heesu’s office at the Superpower Management Office directly to report progress throughout the request. As Iyeon bowed his head without hiding his curiosity, Heesu lightly acknowledged the greeting and immediately turned to Sano.
“Je Sano.”
Sano stood up from his seat. The air between the two was quite rigid. It wasn’t the atmosphere to ask about the document they had just received, even jokingly.
No, that wasn’t the issue… Iyeon frowned slightly with a strange sense of dissonance.
“I’m sorry, Jung Iyeon-ssi. I’d like to have a cup of tea, but time doesn’t allow.”
“No, I understand you’re busy.”
Coming to Chageum’s office was the most accurate way to meet Sano, whose residence was not publicly known. Although Sano was absent yesterday due to some conflict, Heesu wouldn’t have known that… So Heesu’s visit to Chageum was not to meet Iyeon, but Sano.
That much was understandable.
“Eat lunch.”
“Uh…”
Sano left only those words and immediately left the office with Heesu. With the sound of the door closing, the bell rang once more.
In the now quiet space, Iyeon suddenly muttered.
“That’s suspicious.”
