How much would he need? The cash he had received over the past ten years or so for his hospitalized hyung’s hospital bills and living expenses amounted to several hundred million won. And considering the penalty fees, even selling the house might not be enough. He would have to sell the house, and if that wasn’t enough, he’d have no choice but to take out a credit loan. And if that still wasn’t enough…
‘What if I have to use loan sharks?’
He could only hope it wouldn’t come to that.
Anyway, once he became a penniless debtor like that, he planned to get a goshiwon near the company and become a slave to the company. The research institute wasn’t likely to go under easily, so if he worked diligently, couldn’t he pay it off within 10 years?
“Are you buying a house or something?”
Surim, who had been looking up loan information, jumped in surprise and flinched his shoulders. Lee Myeongho, holding a well-packaged document air cap envelope as if he had received it via quick delivery, had somehow approached and was standing behind his chair.
“Manager-nim, are you a ninja by any chance?”
“Moving around without a presence is my specialty.”
Lee Myeongho, who skillfully deflected the joking reproach, handed Surim a bottle of apple juice. Although it was annoying that he had sneaked up and peeked at the monitor, the fact that he was being considerate by remembering he was vegetarian wasn’t unpleasant, so his emotions were offset to some degree.
Surim sighed deeply and snatched the apple juice as if grabbing it.
“So, are you really trying to buy a house?”
“That’s not it.”
Surim shrugged and glossed over it. He wasn’t someone without sense, so he thought he would back off with this much, but Lee Myeongho, who had been lost in thought for a moment, bent down and spoke in a small voice.
“If you need a loan, look into the company loan.”
“…Company loan?”
“Yeah. It varies depending on years of service, but if you’re a full-time employee, you can probably get a loan of up to 100 million won interest-free?”
100 million won interest-free! Surim’s eyes sparkled.
“The meddling of a nosy coworker isn’t so bad either, right?”
“…Still, don’t move around so stealthily. I was startled.”
“I’ll think about that.”
Lee Myeongho giggled and moved away. Rationally thinking, he seemed like a good person who was kind to him, but when talking to him, he was strangely ambiguous.
…He also couldn’t be trusted work-wise.
Perhaps Lee Myeongho himself seemed to enjoy such a position. Thinking he was truly a strange person, Surim accessed the company intranet on his laptop and began looking into the company loan.
It really was interest-free up to 100 million won as long as you were a full-time employee. With the house price, a 100 million won loan, and even a credit loan, it seemed he could cover the penalty fees to some extent.
‘Good. I’ve prepared everything to this extent.’
Now he could only wait for Nasol to contact him. It would be more comfortable to wait if he at least told him when he’d contact him.
Still, having finished his homework, his mind was somewhat at ease. As soon as Surim had some leisure, he habitually glanced at Song Hanyeong’s seat.
Song Hanyeong was just receiving an air cap envelope that Lee Myeongho was holding out with both hands.
***
“…What is this?”
“Director-nim sent it.”
He reflexively frowned around his eyes. There had never been a good thing when he was contacted by Nasol in this manner.
However, since he couldn’t not open it, Song Hanyeong clicked his tongue and tore open the air cap envelope to take out the contents.
“…Ha.”
One corner of Song Hanyeong’s mouth twisted crookedly. Inside the envelope was only a single document. It was a document with “Contract Termination Request” written on it.
“What a cute idea he’s having.”
Lee Myeongho’s complexion turned pale as he sneakily peeked at the document wondering what was going on. He had received the contact from the quick delivery driver and brought the envelope, but who knew it would be something like that. Feeling like he shouldn’t have peeked, he turned his gaze away pretending not to have seen anything, but his body reflexively tensed up and stiffened. However, in the face of the ensuing silence, Lee Myeongho, who found it difficult to leave or continue standing there, finally opened his mouth.
“Master, if it really doesn’t work, there’s also the method of tying him up in the basement.”
“……”
“No, I’m just saying in the worst case…”
As soon as the cold gaze shifted to him, Lee Myeongho made excuses like a scream. Although his voice was small, it seemed to have been enough to draw out Jin Surim’s curiosity. Surim poked his eyes out over the partition.
“I’m sorry…”
Ignoring Lee Myeongho’s apology, Song Hanyeong tapped on the desk with his fingertips. Unlike his slow and leisurely hand movements, he was glaring at the document with fierce eyes without even blinking.
“Master, then not the basement but over there…”
“Stop.”
“Yep.”
Perhaps he had already had a premonition that this might happen. Jin Surim was a human who cherished his family, and since his only family had passed away, it was perhaps natural. However, now that he actually had the document proving his intentions before his eyes, his stomach just twisted.
When Song Hanyeong turned his gaze toward a desk in one corner, Jin Surim, who had been secretly peeking this way with his head slightly poking out, quickly hid.
[Jin Surim] Manager-nim, I’ll go to the break room for a moment.
[Song Hanyeong] Okay.
The corner of Song Hanyeong’s mouth twitched slightly as he responded to the incomprehensible report that had been going on since this morning.
Looking at that cute behavior, he thought it still wasn’t time to let him see the basement yet.
***
[Song Hanyeong] Surim-ssi, could you spare some time after work?
[Jin Surim] Yes, Manager Song.
Surim, who answered politely, quietly caught his breath. It was an answer he had written after excitedly typing “Of course!” and then calmly pressing backspace and rewriting it.
He didn’t know what it was about, but he could do anything for Song Hanyeong. Even if it meant working overtime every single day, if Song Hanyeong was in the same office, that wouldn’t be so bad either.
Surim waited for a reply with both nervousness and anticipation.
However, even after quitting time passed, Song Hanyeong didn’t say a single word.
“I’m leaving work first.”
Lee Myeongho was the first to leave the research lab, and even while other researchers left their seats one by one after that. Normally, one or two people would work overtime, but strangely, today everyone left work on time.
Now there were only Surim and Song Hanyeong in the research lab. Surim, who had been rolling his eyes with anxious thoughts, suddenly covered his mouth with his hand.
“Am I being fired…?”
That’s when it happened.
“Surim-ssi.”
“Yes!”
“This way.”
Song Hanyeong, standing inside the research lab, called him. The atmosphere was unusual. Song Hanyeong originally had few expressions, but still, the atmosphere hadn’t been this cold before.
Was he caught looking up loans during work hours today? Did Lee Myeongho tell on him? But isn’t it too much to fire someone for just that once? Full-time employees can’t be fired carelessly, right…?
All sorts of thoughts tangled up in Surim’s head until they overflowed. It couldn’t be helped. So much of Surim’s life was riding on this job right now. If he was fired, first of all, he wouldn’t be able to fulfill hyung’s wish, secondly, he would no longer be able to see Song Hanyeong, and thirdly, the path to paying the contract termination penalty would become distant.
Surim followed behind Song Hanyeong’s back while trembling.
“Manager Song? The conference room is over here though…?”
“We’re not going to the conference room.”
Surim, who had stopped in front of the conference room, moved his feet again without understanding at Song Hanyeong’s words. Further inside here, there was only the laboratory that Lee Myeongho had warned him never to enter. There was no reason to take him, who was just a General Affairs Team employee, to such a place…
“Here.”
Song Hanyeong, who pushed open the glass door, remained standing and gestured with his chin to Surim. As if telling him to go inside. But to go inside, he would have to pass under Song Hanyeong’s arm.
Is this right? Surim, though flustered, hesitantly entered the laboratory. The inside felt as cold as a refrigerator. The air had a fishy smell, and all around were unfamiliar equipment. One entire wall was shelves, and on them, bottles filled with red liquid were packed into every space.
‘We’re researching artificial blood.’
The moment Lee Myeongho’s explanation reflexively came to mind, BANG! The door closed behind him. Surim, startled by the rough sound, turned around, and Song Hanyeong smiled slightly.
“Excuse me.”
Surim thought that smile was somehow a bit scary. However, it didn’t last long. It must have been clear that he felt the chill as creepy thanks to the cold air. Because Song Hanyeong was a kind and warm person.
Song Hanyeong, who passed by Surim’s side and went inside, pulled out a chair and looked at him. What that gaze meant was obvious. Surim quickly went and sat down.
Then Song Hanyeong perched his buttocks on the table beside him and stood.
The distance was too close.
“Um… what can I help you with…?”
“Ah. Did I say I wanted help?”
“You asked me to spare some time, so I thought there was something I could help with… is that not it?”
“…No. I do need help.”
Song Hanyeong, who smirked with a somewhat irritable and dry-looking face, asked Surim.
“How much do you know about our research lab?”
“That you’re researching… artificial blood.”
“Anything else?”
Surim shook his head. He now knew that it didn’t seem to be about being fired. But beyond that, he had no idea at all.
