At those words, Wonyoung’s distorted expression smoothly relaxed. He asked half-believing, half-doubting.
“…Really?”
“I won’t say it twice.”
Going back and forth, and then ‘pretending’ to be drunk. It would be normal to be angry, but strangely, Wonyoung wasn’t angry. Rather, it felt like his sulking heart had been relieved. What was Kyung Taerim to him?
“…Don’t say something different later.”
“Well. That depends on what Narae-ssi does from now on. For now, let’s put today’s matter on hold.”
‘What?!’
“You said you believed me! Believing and putting on hold are different…!”
Wonyoung shot back indignantly, but Taerim replied nonchalantly.
“Yes, they’re different. I’m saying I’ll do both.”
“How can that be!”
“It exists right here.”
“Ah… really.”
Wonyoung was about to burst with frustration, but having received 2 warnings, he couldn’t say anything more.
He was an idiot for almost being moved by Kyung Taerim even a little. Kyung Taerim, that stupid mutt.
Wonyoung internally spewed out words he couldn’t say aloud day and night while staring out the window until his eyes hurt. Taerim also didn’t bother to talk to the sulking Wonyoung.
Finally, they arrived at the alley in front of the house he had been eagerly waiting for. When the car stopped, Wonyoung turned around.
“Then I’ll be going…”
“I’ll see you off.”
“What?”
Wonyoung, who was about to get out of Taerim’s car, was flustered by Taerim’s hand holding him back.
“Cars can’t enter from here?”
“Exactly. Isn’t it late?”
“So…?”
“How can I send you alone? I’m already anxious as it is.”
“…”
Wonyoung was more curious about why he himself was being like this rather than why Taerim was acting this way. Why did something that wasn’t even a big deal make his sulking melt away like this? Heo Wonyoung, you’re worse than cotton candy.
“The alcohol might not have completely worn off yet. Stay still.”
Saying that, Taerim got out first, then held out his hand to Wonyoung.
“Get out. Carefully.”
Wonyoung awkwardly took Taerim’s hand and got out. He was perfectly fine. No… the fact that his face kept heating up meant he might not be completely fine.
How long had it been since he held someone’s hand? It felt like someone was tickling his chest with foxtail grass.
Walking alone together on a path that was only dark with almost no streetlights, Wonyoung spoke up.
“Director. Despite everything, you treat me well.”
Then he heard a laughing sound.
“Despite everything? Anyone can see I’m treating you well, can’t they?”
“…I suppose.”
“Has the alcohol still not worn off?”
“I don’t know. It seems like it might be.”
Taerim doesn’t look for the real Narae that doesn’t exist anywhere in him. Wonyoung felt somehow relieved by that fact. Because he doesn’t expect anything from him. No, rather because he suspects him.
“Director.”
“Why do you keep calling me?”
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
“Um…”
It was just as Wonyoung was about to answer.
“Rae hyung!”
Along with a familiar voice, something heavy approached and embraced Wonyoung tightly. Wonyoung, who was momentarily flustered, realized the identity of the person from the somewhat familiar feeling of their chest.
“Ki Siyeon?”
“Hyung, I was about to go back thinking you weren’t here. You can’t be out this late.”
Looking at him up close, it was indeed Ki Siyeon, still bright and pretty as ever. Wonyoung smiled happily.
“Why didn’t you call? I was late because of a company dinner.”
“I didn’t want to bother you, hyung.”
“Since when did you care about such things? More importantly, you’re not hurt anywhere today, right? Right?”
Wonyoung, who was checking Siyeon’s body here and there, belatedly realized Taerim’s presence and flinched.
“Ah, D-Director. I’m sorry. This is a younger brother I know. His name is Ki Siyeon.”
“He’s not just a younger brother. I’m hyung’s favorite.”
Wonyoung invisibly pinched Siyeon’s side while smiling.
“Siyeon-ah, this is Director Kyung Taerim, whom I serve.”
Then Siyeon looked Taerim up and down crookedly and bowed his head briefly, half-heartedly.
“Hello.”
“…”
“But if possible, could you send people home early? Hyung has weak stamina as it is. Is HS Holdings such a worthless company?”
At Siyeon’s harsh words, Wonyoung was shocked and patted his shoulder repeatedly.
“Hey, what do you mean I’m weak! I’m sorry, Director. He’s a really good kid…”
“A good kid, but seems to have no manners? Seeing how he treats his acquaintance’s superior this way.”
“What?!”
Why are these bastards acting like this as soon as they meet?!
As Wonyoung panicked, Taerim, while looking disapprovingly at Wonyoung still half-embraced in Siyeon’s arms, said.
“Narae-ssi. A piece of advice—don’t pick up useless things.”
“What?”
“People have grades too. You’re my secretary. Then you should at least try to match that grade similarly to mine.”
“…Director.”
Interpreting it by removing the filter of rudeness and offensiveness, it meant not to associate with Ki Siyeon. Was he jealous and sulking? Or did he really not like Ki Siyeon? As Wonyoung pondered, coincidentally choices appeared.
[Apologize to Siyeon! Is Siyeon that low-grade?]
[Siyeon-ah, apologize to the Director. He’s calling you low-grade.]
Fuck, are you kidding me? Want to try again after so long? Huh?
‘System!’
Wonyoung quickly called the System. He felt like he needed to hit it at least once. Naturally, the System didn’t appear.
‘System! Come out, I said come out! System!’
But that was the moment.
[※Hidden Mission Achieved※]
[Summon the System 100 times 100/100]
[A hidden choice is given as a reward for mission achievement.]
‘What? Hidden choice?’
Soon light leaked between the two choices, and another choice popped up.
[Apologize to Siyeon! Is Siyeon that low-grade?]
[Both of you stop! ＼(>o<)ノ]
[Siyeon-ah, apologize to the Director. He’s calling you low-grade.]
‘This damn game…’
I was crazy to have expectations. Wonyoung grumbled like that, but unfortunately, there was nothing else to choose besides the hidden choice. Wonyoung felt the utmost misery at that fact and pressed the second choice with his middle finger, pressing it hard, very haaaaard.
“Both of you stop!”
Wonyoung squeezed his eyes shut and shouted with both arms raised. He swore he didn’t want to make this cute gesture. He wondered what the ‘＼(>o<)ノ’ emoticon attached to the choice text was—it turned out to be a gesture. So Wonyoung was forced to take on a terrible pose.
The problem was that from here on, Wonyoung had to speak on his own.
Just give me forced correction instead…
“B-both of you don’t fight… Get along nicely.”
Fortunately, thanks to the special training with Semi, a fairly plausible abangsu statement came out. Of course, the humiliation Wonyoung felt was a bonus.
“Hyung, why should I get along with this kind of bastard?”
Siyeon clung to him with a hurt face, acting spoiled. He was cute. He was cute, but right now Wonyoung wanted to hit him. Did he eat his tact with rice? The chaebol man before his eyes was a terrifying existence who could do anything with money.
“Ha.”
Taerim let out a scoff as if dumbfounded. That was the end of it. Wonyoung wanted to hit him too. This gangster-like man beside him was truly a gangster. Look at those biceps. No one could match him in terms of being terrifying.
“Now, now, okay. I was wrong to think that. You all can’t become close.”
Wonyoung eventually surrendered instantly.
“Anyway, Director, please go back now… I’ll apologize on behalf of Siyeon’s manner of speaking. But he’s a good kid once you get to know him, so please don’t see him only negatively.”
“I have no intention of getting to know such a brat.”
Of course. Wonyoung obediently accepted Taerim’s crooked answer.
“Yes, I understand.”
And then soon looked up at Taerim with moist eyes.
“Then at least for my sake… okay?”
It was the ultimate technique Semi taught him, ‘looking up from below with puppy eyes.’ He didn’t want to use even this. But since today’s pride had already been slammed to the ground, there was no choice.
Naturally, the effect was outstanding. Taerim clicked his tongue briefly, then lightly pinched Wonyoung’s cheek.
“How fearless.”
“What? What do you mean by that…”
Cutting off Wonyoung, who was pretending not to know, Taerim said.
“I’ll be going now. Rest well and see you tomorrow.”
“Ah, yes!”
At the words that Troublemaker 1 was finally leaving, Wonyoung brightened, but that Troublemaker 1 gave a reminder before leaving.
“From the next company dinner, alcohol is prohibited. Don’t drink anywhere unless it’s in front of me.”
“…Yees.”
When Wonyoung replied lukewarmly, Taerim looked displeased and added.
“And outside of work hours, it’s Taerim-ssi.”
“What?”
“The way you address me.”
“Uh… what?”
Wonyoung asked back in confusion, but Taerim had already turned around. As he watched the back moving away without hesitation, Siyeon suddenly started sniffing.
“What are you doing?”
When Wonyoung asked, Siyeon narrowed his eyes and asked.
“Hyung, did you drink?”
“Ah, just two glasses. I’m fine.”
Wonyoung replied nonchalantly. The alcohol had worn off anyway because of the hangover remedy, and he had only made a fool of himself in front of Taerim, so there was no need to be awkward in front of Siyeon.
But Siyeon spoke in a serious tone.
“I don’t know about other things, but that prohibition on alcohol that bastard mentioned seems right. Don’t drink.”
“Why are you doing this too? I’m fine like this.”
“Because I feel like something big will happen if hyung gets drunk. Don’t drink in front of that bastard either… and don’t drink in front of me either.”
At those words, Wonyoung frowned.
“Nothing big will happen. I’m a man who knows how to control himself.”
But at that moment, Siyeon looked straight into Wonyoung’s eyes and whispered lowly.
“I’ll cause something big. I’m not confident I won’t do strange things.”
“…”
“You’ll definitely be cute. And pretty.”
Siyeon was amazingly always striking like this. The young one was extremely cheeky. Wonyoung naturally separated from Siyeon while soothing his heart that was preparing to pound.
“Let’s go in. At least eat before you go.”
Then Siyeon immediately followed Wonyoung’s tail and responded.
“I’m going to sleep over?”
“It won’t work because it’s small.”
“You let me sleep over last time. You said you trust me.”
When he turned around to say something, he saw Siyeon’s face smiling innocently. Wonyoung quickly turned his head and grumbled unnecessarily.
“…You should stop talking, really. Come in quickly, you’ll get bitten by mosquitoes.”
“Yees.”
Siyeon chuckled and followed behind Wonyoung. Soon the lights came on in the small semi-basement house.
