Surim stopped in place, turned around, and looked up at the location where the 3rd floor, Research Lab Zero would be. He couldn’t see inside the coated glass at all, but he felt like Song Hanyeong would be somewhere in there.
He felt chilled somehow. Why? Because of what? For what reason?
Surim, who had endured the creeping questions for a moment, soon shook his head vigorously.
“Song Hanyeong wouldn’t do that.”
Although he had a somewhat cold-looking impression on the outside, Song Hanyeong was a good person. Hadn’t he saved him in the past, even jumping into a pond, and also followed him to the bathroom at the company dinner just because he was worried about him? Since proceeding with the new contract, he had prepared dinner lunchboxes that he didn’t even need to care about, and had even tried to prepare breakfast.
Even now, that lunchbox was inside Surim’s bag.
It was the first blood draw. So he must have just mistakenly thought some preparation would be needed. Even if he realized later that there was nothing special to prepare, it would have been difficult to say.
Only then did the trembling of his nape, cold from the chilling feeling, subside.
“Yeah, that can’t be.”
Surim, who muttered once more, turned around and hurried on his way home. Not knowing that his hurrying steps might be due to fear of wanting to get away from this place right now.
* * *
Surim, who had been lazing around all weekend without stepping out of the house except for running, received a call from Ji Seongchan on Sunday evening. It was the story that all the flowerpots he’d ordered were ready. When asked if it was okay that they said they’d deliver on Monday, Surim happily answered that it was fine.
Thanks to that, Surim’s commute time today was a bit early.
“Surim-ssi!”
As he reached the research institute entrance, Ji Seongchan was waving his hand while standing in front of about ten flowerpots. The vendor, who had his cap pulled down low, saw Surim and took out a card terminal.
“Hello.”
“You’re busy, so just pay.”
It was an incredibly rude response, but since the other person’s complexion was pale and even had serious dark circles, Surim held out his card without unnecessary words. The amount was as previously discussed. As soon as the payment was finished, the vendor, who handed the receipt and card back to Surim, got into the truck without any greeting and disappeared.
Vroom, after the car left, Ji Seongchan apologized awkwardly.
“Sorry. He said he’s been busy lately.”
“No, it’s okay.”
I’ll just think the kindness fee was subtracted since they’re doing it this cheaply. Even when about to feel bad, seeing the numbers on the receipt made him feel better again.
“But the flowerpots are bigger than I thought. They won’t be easy to move.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll help you. I already took out a cart too.”
“Ah, no. Just help me load the flowerpots onto the cart. Please just watch the flowerpots while I go back and forth.”
“What? It’ll be hard by yourself…”
“It’s okay.”
It wasn’t okay, but he had to do it that way. Because Research Lab Zero was a bundle of secrets and that vicinity was a restricted area for outsiders.
“Then I’ll ask you for a favor.”
Surim waved his hand while pushing the cart loaded with flowerpots. It was when he’d put down the flowerpots in front of the iron door on the 3rd floor and gone back down to bring more, repeating this four times.
“Surim-ssi, you’re starting to look tired.”
“It’s a bit hard but I’m okay.”
“Hmm…”
Ji Seongchan looked at Surim with an expression that said he didn’t trust him.
“I said it’s okay. The people in my assigned research lab are shy with strangers. You know it’ll be troublesome if a complaint goes to Assistant Manager Seong-nim, right?”
“Got it.”
When persuaded well, Ji Seongchan didn’t add more words. But because he still had an expression that said he wanted to help, Surim deliberately pushed the cart while pretending it wasn’t hard at all. It was when he’d gone up and down alone like that five times and only three flowerpots remained.
“Just a bit more back and forth and I’ll be done.”
Surim, who spoke deliberately energetically, pushed the cart with one large flowerpot loaded on it. Excited at the thought that it would really be over soon, Surim didn’t notice Ji Seongchan looking at him with a worried expression from behind before sending his gaze toward the delivery storage room.
Surim, who took the elevator to the 3rd floor and pushed the cart in, discovered a familiar silhouette the moment he turned the corner.
“Manager-nim!”
Surim urgently pushed the cart and ran to stop in front of Song Hanyeong. Song Hanyeong, who had been looking at the flowerpots, turned his body toward Surim.
“Did you come to work?”
“Yes, I came to work.”
“How are the flowerpots? If we bring them inside the research lab, it’ll be cheerful. I’ll diligently water them too.”
“You shouldn’t water them diligently.”
“What?”
Surim, who asked back in surprise, noticed from Song Hanyeong’s expression that he was joking. Somehow his chest tickled. He thought, ‘He’s such a good person, but why is his expression always cold,’ but it seemed he was very shy with strangers.
Surim smiled broadly, finding it somehow funny that the excuse he’d roughly given to Ji Seongchan earlier had become plausible.
“If you diligently water plants, they die.”
“Ah, I saw it on YouTube while studying plants. That it’s rather better to be moderately indifferent.”
“You studied too?”
“Yes, since I was the one who suggested bringing them in, they shouldn’t die right away.”
Surim, who answered reliably, exclaimed “Ah.”
“I have to go back down. There are more flowerpots left on the 1st floor. Manager-nim, please go in first.”
“No, that won’t be necessary.”
“What? What do you mean…”
“It seems the flowerpots came directly.”
Song Hanyeong looked behind Surim and raised the corner of his mouth crookedly. Surim, who reflexively turned around, discovered Ji Seongchan standing awkwardly and widened his eyes. Ji Seongchan was frozen in the posture of pushing a cart loaded with the two remaining flowerpots. Surim, who was familiar with the cart’s appearance, could deduce that Ji Seongchan had borrowed the cart from the delivery storage room to try to bring the remaining flowerpots.
It was unnecessary consideration. He’d earnestly asked him to stay on the 1st floor and watch the flowerpots…
“Uh, that, that… Why did Seongchan-ssi come all the way here…”
“Well, unlike Surim-ssi, wouldn’t it be because he didn’t know this side was a restricted area for outsiders?”
Song Hanyeong’s voice as he said that was cold.
“It’s my fault. I’m sorry…”
The words that he’d told him not to come up wouldn’t be an excuse. Anyway, since Ji Seongchan coming here was his fault, he should be the one to take responsibility. Surim bowed with a pale, drained face.
It was the moment when Ji Seongchan, who had been standing blankly while gauging the situation, belatedly sensed the atmosphere and was about to come closer to the iron door to apologize. Song Hanyeong stopped him with a sharp gaze. Then he glanced and swept the floor with his eyes. Ji Seongchan, who looked at the floor following that gaze, stepped back hesitantly. Following the command given by the look in his eyes, stepping back a few steps, he reached the place where the floor color was different.
He could tell that something changed from that point.
“Um…”
Ji Seongchan, who was about to try to say some excuse, was cowed by Song Hanyeong’s sharp face jerking his chin toward the elevator direction and lowered his eyes. After hesitating for a moment, Ji Seongchan eventually left the cart and stepped back hesitantly.
After Ji Seongchan completely disappeared, when Song Hanyeong turned his head toward him, Surim instinctively knew it was his turn now.
“…Jin Surim-ssi.”
“Yes. I’m sorry, Manager-nim.”
“Make sure this doesn’t happen again.”
“Yes.”
When he answered obediently, Song Hanyeong pressed his employee ID card to the security panel. The iron door split open on both sides, and Song Hanyeong took about three or four steps inside, then turned his body back toward Surim, who was standing still.
“What are you doing?”
“What?”
“I asked what you’re doing.”
“Uh… I have to finish moving the flowerpots…”
“…Ha.”
After a sigh mixed with ridicule, the iron door closed with a click. Surim felt dejected, as if he’d disappointed Song Hanyeong. He’d wanted to do his work well and gain favor, but instead it seemed he’d only gained distrust.
He shouldn’t have bought flowerpots or anything.
It was when he barely held back tears that seemed about to come and placed his hand on the cart handle. Suddenly the iron door slid open smoothly.
“Manager Lee-nim…”
It was Lee Myeongho. No, not just Lee Myeongho but other researchers were also swarming out. It was early, but it seemed they’d all already come to work.
Lee Myeongho, who snatched the cart Surim was holding, grinned.
“Surim-ssi, you go in.”
“What? But…”
“I said go in. Manager Song-nim is calling you.”
But the flowerpots… Surim, who was hesitating, didn’t know what to do when he saw the scene of several researchers running to get the cart standing forlornly far away. The researchers even snatched the cart Surim had been pushing with only one flowerpot on it and started loading the flowerpots placed on the floor like Tetris. They were all people who only lived stuck in the laboratory, but they were incredibly strong.
When he sneaked a glance at Lee Myeongho, he nodded. Surim thought gloomily as he entered inside the iron door.
‘I guess I haven’t been scolded enough yet…’
In this situation, there was only one reason Song Hanyeong would call him aside. Well, it made sense that it wouldn’t end with just a word or two since he’d violated security rules in a research institute where everything was confidential. Surim obediently approached Song Hanyeong’s seat hesitantly.
Before Surim could open his mouth, Song Hanyeong asked.
