Chapter 40
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: Friendship Hug
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"Huu... It's about time..."
The inside of the hub was as chilly as a refrigerator.
Exhaling the hot breath from my lungs, I stepped slightly away from the conveyor belt.
The onslaught of work always stopped twenty minutes before lunch.
The workers needed to eat, after all.
Only after confirming the machines had halted did I toss aside the gloves on my hands.
"Then I'll be off."
"See you~ Don't forget that pack of Marlboros you promised~"
"Of course."
I handed off the cleanup to a fellow worker in exchange for a pack of cigarettes.
It cost 4,500 won, but whatever.
I was making good money these days.
And there was no helping it if I wanted to clock out twenty minutes early.
I couldn't exactly go meet Yoo Eui-seul covered head to toe in dust, could I?
'The showers should be... empty.'
No one showered during lunch hour.
I trudged toward the shower room tucked in the corner of the logistics center.
Thankfully, it was empty inside.
I stripped off my clothes and washed myself meticulously from head to toe.
'Bringing a change of clothes and all. Is meeting a woman always this much hassle?'
I hadn't gone to these lengths when Eun Ha-min came to see me before.
Though back then, it was basically like I'd been dragged there against my will.
After washing up, I pulled out the fresh clothes and underwear I'd packed in my bag.
I swapped the work vest and baggy tracksuit for a simple shirt and pants.
Then I stood in front of the mirror.
The Logistics Center Area Manager Kim Min-jae was gone, replaced by a fairly presentable young man, Kim Min-jae.
"Hm. This should do."
I roughly toweled off my damp hair, hopped on Abangi, and rode out of the logistics center.
As I drove, I replayed last night's events once more.
Right as I was about to end the stream, Yoo Eui-seul started firing off superchats worth 500,000 won one after another.
What she wanted from me was simple: for me to make time during lunch.
'A master who pays in cash versus one who pays in superchats.'
Just like with Eun Ha-min, anyone could see Yoo Eui-seul's summons was a date invite.
No matter how much of a solo stan I was, I wasn't oblivious to that.
It was just... a lawyer proposing a date via superchat was kind of hilarious.
"Oh. Pretty sure it's around here."
Before I knew it, Abangi had slipped into a forest of towering buildings.
Seocho-dong, where more lawyers congregated than anywhere else in Korea.
I scanned the high-rises for a familiar sign.
[Yoo Eui-seul Law Office]
I parked Abangi in the underground lot, entered the building, and stepped into the elevator.
I gave my outfit one final check in the mirror.
Not much to straighten with just a shirt and pants.
Ding~♪
The elevator doors opened, revealing the office entrance.
I pushed through the glass door, and the receptionists' eyes locked onto me in unison.
Their gazes started polite enough, but widened the moment they recognized my face.
"Whoa! It's Min-jae-ssi!"
"Welcome!"
The staff beamed and rushed over.
Their reaction was a bit much.
They hadn't spared a glance at the suit-wearing middle-aged guy who'd gotten off the elevator with me.
But for me, they were flashing smiles so bright it was almost overwhelming.
"Haha... Hello."
"How have you been?"
"Your face looks even better! What's brings you here today?"
I returned the greetings, only for another barrage of questions.
I smiled awkwardly as I replied.
"I'm here to see Eui-seul-ssi. Is she in?"
"Ah, the president? She's in a consultation right now, but it'll wrap up soon. Please wait in the parlor!"
One of the staff hurried out to guide me to the waiting room.
The moment my butt hit the plush leather sofa, the others swarmed in to set drinks and snacks on the table.
"Have these while you wait! Our office snacks are famous."
"They're all from the mart, though!"
"Coffee? Or cool juice? We have soda too!"
"Uh, juice is fine. Thank you."
I took the cup of orange juice.
Even after handing over the drink, the staff showed no sign of leaving.
They poked each other and exchanged glances, giggling.
It was like running into middle or high school girls on the street.
The most bubbly one, with bobbed hair, spoke up with sparkling eyes.
"Excuse me, Min-jae-ssi. If it's not rude, could I ask your age?"
"Twenty-eight."
"No way, don't lie! You look younger than us!"
They were shocked when I answered seriously.
They must've thought I was joking.
"For real?"
"Wow... This isn't a prank?"
"Wait, isn't this actually a good thing?"
They clapped and whispered among themselves again.
Then one spoke up once more.
"So, are you married by any chance?"
"No, not yet. Haven't been in the situation for it."
"Aw, why not? Someone like you must be super popular!"
"Too busy scraping by to even date. Orphan, so I worked nonstop before the army, and kept at it after discharge."
They looked a bit sympathetic at first, then brightened up.
Not pity, more like they'd spotted some hope.
"Then, Min-jae-ssi, why don't you take our president off our hands?"
"...Pardon? Suddenly?"
I nearly spat out my juice at the abrupt proposal.
As I stared wide-eyed, the staff chimed in together.
"Our president's amazing, right? Talented, pretty, rakes in the cash! And her personality's super tidy too!"
"Exactly! But she's got one little flaw."
"Well, is it really a flaw? From a guy's perspective, it might even be a plus."
"What's that?"
"No men!!"
Ah, that.
Definitely a plus for me, honestly.
The law office staff launched into full disclosure mode at my question.
I knew Yoo Eui-seul was busy, but this level?
"The president's a total workaholic. Never seen a boyfriend shadow in all this time."
"No way. Someone that capable."
"For real! Her family threw a fit about an arranged meeting once, but she bailed because of work. Didn't even show."
Whoa, that's harsh.
Most people at least show up for courtesy's sake, no?
"Her mom came storming in and chewed her out so bad... We nearly died watching from the sidelines."
"I was a little scared."
No need to confess that to me.
Anyway, they shook their heads and clicked their tongues.
Hard to believe for the head of a Seocho-dong law office, but their faces were dead serious.
Just like how my age lent them credibility.
"But get this."
The bob-cut staff leaned in, lowering her voice.
"There's one guy our president actually reacts to."
"Wh-who is it?"
"Who else? You, Min-jae-ssi!"
They laughed and patted my shoulders.
"She's an ice queen with all other male clients. Won't even glance their way. But with you? Totally different reaction."
"Right! Our instincts are spot on. This is 100%."
"So, think of it as saving her and give it a shot. Please? Just consider it once!"
What were we even talking about again?
Right, they wanted me to take their boss.
Too awkward to reply, so I just gave a wry smile.
That was when the parlor door flew open and Yoo Eui-seul strode in.
"Hey, you lot. Worry about yourselves instead of me."
"P-president?"
"Hehe... We were just worried about you..."
"Then excuse us!"
The three staff bowed their heads and bolted out.
Yoo Eui-seul closed the door and let out a deep sigh.
"Sorry I'm late. You must've waited a while."
She tucked the eyedrops in her hand into her bag.
Her job staring at tiny-print documents and monitors all day meant her eyes couldn't stay fresh.
"No, I just got here."
"Sigh... My eyes are so dry. Ah, Min-jae-ssi, what time do you need to be back?"
"By 2 p.m."
"More leeway than I thought? Good."
Yoo Eui-seul smiled in relief.
Her tension finally easing, she set her heavy briefcase of documents on the table.
She unbuttoned the top two buttons of her tight collar with a pop-pop.
Her pale neckline and collarbone peeked out.
"Haa... Feels like I can breathe now."
She flopped onto the sofa with a light sigh.
A far cry from her usual cool lawyer image—completely unguarded.
"Time's awkward, so no going out. Order in? I'm craving a burger. Anything specific you want, Min-jae-ssi?"
"I love burgers too. Haven't had one in ages; it'd hit the spot."
Yoo Eui-seul pulled up the delivery app on her phone and browsed the menu.
But she suddenly froze.
As if something had occurred to her, she blinked, her face flushing slightly.
I didn't know why, but she was definitely embarrassed.
"What's up?"
"Oh, it's... Do you remember? The condition I set for the case."
I thought back briefly.
Ah, that.
"Treating me to a meal?"
"Yes... That. Just in case..."
"Nah. Not counting this as it, so no worries."
I could guess her concern.
I'm not that unscrupulous, after all.
"Save it for some fancy, impressive place later. Burgers are on me today."
"Th-then, I'll gratefully accept."
Yoo Eui-seul smiled, a mix of relief and gratitude.
We ordered burger sets through the app.
While waiting for delivery, our chat naturally drifted to yesterday's stream.
"Yesterday's broadcast was so fun. I had no idea game streams could be that exciting."
"Glad you enjoyed. Honestly, I just bought potions and did dailies yesterday."
"No way. Your explanations were fun, and watching the chat reactions was great too. Makes me want to try that game a bit."
Yoo Eui-seul's eyes sparkled with genuine curiosity.
"Don't lawyers lack time for games? You're swamped."
"Eh, I have some time after work. I watch backlog dramas at home too. We're all just people."
"Aha..."
Right.
Doctors visit hospitals, chaebols do beer and chicken.
Lawyers binge dramas!
"Yeah. So... Is there hunting you can do while watching dramas? Like auto-hunt."
"Chrono Rea? No, not yet."
Chrono Rea didn't tolerate that playstyle.
That's not why it declined in this era.
"From low levels, you tense up even for one monster. Watch patterns, dodge, strike. Try it during a drama, and your character's toast."
"Tch... Too bad. Still, I'll give your game a shot."
"You're a lawyer. You'd excel at butt-battles like in Chrono Rea."
"B-butt...?"
"Don't misunderstand. Studying's a butt battle, right?"
"Oh, that meaning..."
Hearing her mutter gave me a strange feeling.
What was it?
Yoo Eui-seul wasn't dragging me into her hobbies—she was trying to step into my world.
To shift the mood, I brought up what the staff had said.
"By the way, the staff mentioned earlier..."
"Huh? What weird stuff did they say this time?"
"That you're so buried in work you canceled every blind date, let alone have a boyfriend."
"Cough!"
Yoo Eui-seul choked on her drink like it'd gone down wrong.
I quickly grabbed some tissues and offered them.
She dabbed at her mouth diligently.
Even that, covering her mouth with her hand—pure bred etiquette.
"Wh-where'd you hear that?"
"Chatted with them while waiting."
"You said you hadn't waited long!"
"About ten minutes."
"Ugh..."
Yoo Eui-seul fidgeted, avoiding my gaze.
Stammering too—it looked like the staff were spot on.
"Why spill useless stuff like that... Gonna make 'em regret it later..."
She vowed revenge while daintily wiping her mouth again with the tissue.
No charisma left—just a shy girl.
"And they asked me to take you off their hands."
"...Pardon?"
Yoo Eui-seul's eyes widened.
Normally, you'd complain or get mad at your staff.
But her reaction was a touch different.
Face even redder, studiously dodging my eyes.
"S-so...? What'd you say, Min-jae-ssi?"
"Didn't really answer."
"..."
Her mood dipped a bit.
She sneaked a glance at me, then asked cautiously.
"Do you... have a girlfriend or anything, Min-jae-ssi?"
Hm.
I pondered briefly.
Girlfriend?
None.
Officially.
But there were women in this weird in-between—not just friends, not lovers.
Kissed, groped...
That close, but girlfriend? Hard to call it.
"No."
Short answer.
Not a lie.
Her face lit up noticeably at my reply.
"I see... That's a relief."
"Pardon?"
"N-no! Just talking to myself."
She waved her hands frantically.
Then, with curious eyes, she asked again.
"So, what's your type, Min-jae-ssi? Older or younger, if you had to pick."
Older vs. younger.
Tough call.
Oddly, everyone around me was older—or acted it.
And I was drawn to them, fact.
Lee Soo-yeon, one year younger but with that mature aura.
Eun Ha-min at twenty, calling me puppy and playing older sis.
Team Leader, one year older.
And Yoo Eui-seul here, age unknown but seeming 2-3 years up.
Maybe that's why.
I answered without thinking.
"If I had to pick... older."
"I-is that so. Good thing being born early might help someday."
Ahem. Sounded like she had me squarely in mind.
Perfect timing—the delivery app pinged.
Contactless drop-off arrived.
"I'll grab it."
I stood and fetched the burgers.
We unwrapped and resumed chatting amid bites.
Even while eating, Yoo Eui-seul's gaze lingered on me now and then.
Pretty blatant, so ignoring it took some effort.
Soon finished, trash sorted.
Glanced at time: past 1:40 already.
Time to head back.
"Guess I should go."
"Ah... Already?"
As I rose, she looked up at me wistfully.
She stood too.
"Min-jae-ssi."
She stopped me.
Her eyes wavered.
"What's wrong?"
"Um... Could we meet more often from now on? Not as client and lawyer... Just friends. Grab meals sometimes, chat."
She asked carefully, but earnestly.
I chuckled and nodded.
"Not hard. If you make the time, Lawyer."
"I can anytime! Call me, I'll come running."
Instant reply.
Hard to believe from the workaholic lawyer.
"Then let's keep in casual touch from now on. Like friends."
I offered my hand first.
For a handshake.
She stared at it a moment, then shyly smiled and took it.
Her hand was smaller and softer than expected.
But then.
"Huh?"
She tugged my hand.
Pulled by her strength, my body pitched forward.
And the next instant, a soft sensation pressed against my chest.
Yoo Eui-seul hugged me tight.
A faint shampoo scent wafted from her hair, her warm body heat seeping through my shirt.
"E-Eui-seul-ssi...?"
I froze in surprise, but she squeezed harder.
"If you hate it... you can push me away now."
Meaning this much skinship was fine, right?
Honestly.
Would anyone hate a beauty like Yoo Eui-seul hugging them first?
I cautiously wrapped my arms around her waist.
"No chance."
At my words, I felt her pull my waist tighter.
We savored that not-quite-friendship hug for a good while.
(For the record, I forgot the cigarette bribe and ended up late getting back too.)