2
# Chapter 2
“Happy Monday.”
“Oh, Assistant Manager Song. You're here early.”
“Yeah. Just happened that way.”
The truth was, I hadn't rested properly all weekend.
I barely slept last night, either.
Because of Yu Sia.
I'd tried to sort everything out through a proper conversation, but after she suddenly dropped the bombshell that she'd enjoyed it, my thoughts had been a complete mess.
'Well... I suppose she would have.'
Back in college, people used to call me the "Sinchon Fire Bat."
Thinking back on those days, it wasn't surprising that we'd both been satisfied.
'But seriously dating her? No matter how I think about it, that's not happening.'
I'd spent the entire weekend thinking it over.
The answer never changed.
'I want to meet a modest, hardworking woman. Build a happy family together and slowly save up our wealth.'
I wasn't dreaming of some extravagant life.
I didn't even need to live in Seoul.
A decent apartment in Gyeonggi Province.
A regular Korean sedan like everyone else drove.
That was enough.
My dream was simply to live an ordinary middle-class life.
And from that perspective...
'Yu Sia's out.'
If I married someone like her, we'd never even afford a home.
We'd probably spend the rest of our lives renting.
“Good morning!”
Just then, Yu Sia entered the office with her usual cheerful greeting.
The moment I saw her, I frowned.
'Look at that.'
There was another Starbucks tumbler in her hand.
An Americano on the way to work.
A latte after lunch.
'How much does she spend on coffee every single day?'
She could easily eat in the company cafeteria.
Instead, she always went out to expensive cafés and trendy restaurants that looked like they belonged on Instagram.
“Good morning, Assistant Manager Song.”
Completely unaware of what I was thinking, she leaned toward me with a bright smile.
“Oh... morning, Sia. You seem energetic today.”
“Yes!”
Still smiling, she walked to her desk.
At nine o'clock, the weekly meeting began as usual, followed by work.
By ten-thirty, everyone was focused on their own tasks.
Glance.
Peek.
I kept finding myself looking at Yu Sia.
Yet she was surprisingly focused on her work.
'Isn't she conscious of what happened?'
I'd been unable to stop thinking about it all weekend.
Even after coming to work, I couldn't stop being aware of her.
Of course.
We hadn't merely slept in the same room.
We'd spent the night together.
Her expressions.
Her voice.
Her breathing.
Even the look on her face.
Everything was still vivid in my mind.
How was I supposed to focus on work?
“Hm?”
Perhaps sensing my gaze, Yu Sia turned around.
“Assistant Manager Song? Is there something you need me to do?”
“Uh... no.”
“You look tired. Should I buy you some coffee?”
Before I could answer—
“Hey now. Why would you buy him coffee?”
Manager Oh immediately interrupted.
“Come on, Song. These days you'll get reported for harassment if you ask a junior to do something like that. Sia, don't do it.”
“No, it's okay. I offered first. Assistant Manager Song didn't ask me.”
“Really?”
Manager Oh shot me a suspicious look before returning to his monitor.
Yu Sia simply shrugged with a small laugh.
'Focus. Focus.'
At this rate I'd waste the entire morning staring into space.
I lightly slapped my cheeks and returned to typing.
Soon, lunchtime arrived.
“Alright, everyone. Let's eat first. We work to make a living, so we should at least eat on time.”
Department Head Ma clapped his hands as he stood up.
Everyone prepared to head for the company cafeteria together.
Except—
“Ah, I'll eat separately today.”
Yu Sia declined again.
“Today's menu is half a chicken soup.”
“Yeah. It's HR Media's signature dish. You haven't tried it yet, have you? You should.”
But she firmly shook her head.
“I'm dieting. I'm going to have a salad.”
Probably another one of those absurdly expensive twenty-thousand-won salads.
“Well then, enjoy your meal.”
“Can't help it.”
“See you later.”
By one o'clock, when lunch break ended, another fresh coffee had appeared in Yu Sia's hand.
'Sigh... How much does all that cost?'
She barely ate anything but vegetables, then bought coffee on top of it.
She was practically spending an entire day's wages on lunch.
'Ignore it. Don't even look.'
I repeated the words to myself while turning back to my monitor.
Then—
I suddenly felt someone watching the office from the hallway.
I casually looked over.
'What the...!'
Startled, I immediately pretended to type.
'That's Executive Director Yu Young-hwan.'
The eldest grandson of HR Group Chairman Yu Jin-gap.
Essentially the heir apparent after the current successor.
'What's he doing here?'
Our department wasn't even directly under headquarters.
Yet he carefully observed the office before continuing down the hall.
About fifteen minutes later...
Again.
'Executive Director Yu Jung-min?'
Another executive quietly appeared, looked through the office, and left.
It didn't stop there.
Executive Director Yu Kyung-hwan.
Division Director Yu Tae-min.
Office Director Yu Min-hwan.
Director Yu Jong-dae.
Executives who normally used their private elevators and never even showed their faces here kept walking past our department.
'There sure are a lot of executives walking around today.'
It felt strange.
'Did something happen?'
---
Saturday night.
The mansion in Naegok-dong.
“I've found someone I want to marry. I want to see where things go with him.”
After Yu Sia's shocking announcement...
A heavy silence fell.
Then all hell broke loose.
“Who is he?”
“What kind of bastard is he?”
“Sia, are you serious?”
“What's his name?”
“What does he do?”
“A prosecutor? A judge? A businessman? Don't tell me he's some thug.”
“Bring him here first so we can see him—”
Her brothers.
Her cousins.
Her uncles.
Her father.
Even her eldest uncle.
Every one of them exploded.
“Sia... will you tell us who he is?”
Even her grandfather stared at her with frightening intensity.
“Everyone, calm down.”
As if she'd expected this reaction all along, Yu Sia calmly raised both hands.
Although the men were still fuming, she answered casually.
“It's a secret.”
They grew even more desperate.
“Why?”
“Sia...”
“We have to know.”
“The first man is important.”
“Exactly. He could hurt you.”
“Our precious niece. Men understand other men. Just let us meet him once—”
“No.”
Yu Sia firmly shook her head.
“Just look at all of you.”
She wasn't wrong.
If the man were standing there right now, they looked ready to tear him apart.
“At least relax those murderous expressions before asking.”
Her uncles awkwardly cleared their throats.
But none of them intended to give up.
Instead, they exchanged subtle glances.
They were already planning to investigate him tomorrow.
Even if Yu Sia refused to tell them, they could uncover his identity within twenty-four hours.
But Yu Sia, who had been protected by these men for twenty-four years, knew exactly what they were thinking.
“Just so we're clear.”
She spoke in a warning tone.
“Don't even think about investigating me or following me.”
Then she clenched her fist.
“If I find out anyone's digging into this...”
She declared confidently,
“I'll get pregnant before marriage.”
“!!”
“What?!”
“I'm not joking. Try me if you don't believe me.”
Everyone froze.
The only granddaughter of HR Group.
Pregnant before marriage?
That absolutely could not happen.
With that single sentence, every uncle and cousin immediately abandoned the idea of investigating.
In fact, if Chairman Yu Jin-gap discovered they had provoked such a situation...
He might literally beat them to death.
Not socially.
Physically.
“Sia.”
Her grandfather spoke as gently as he could.
“At least tell us what kind of man he is. That much would ease my mind.”
“Hm...”
Understanding his concern, Yu Sia nodded.
“He's a good person.”
Everyone leaned forward.
“He works at our company.”
“...!”
“Our HR Group?”
“Yes. That's all I'll say. Please don't ask anything else.”
Knowing he was close by somehow made everyone even more restless.
“If things go well, I'll tell you.”
She smiled.
“We're not officially dating yet.”
Only then did her uncles exchange relieved glances.
At least they weren't in a relationship...
Yet.
Still, the fear of her earlier threat lingered.
Even so—
'I want to know so badly...!'
Neither her uncles nor her brothers could calm their curiosity.
---
“Song.”
Tap.
Assistant Manager Choi lightly patted my shoulder and gestured with an imaginary cigarette.
I quietly pushed back my chair and followed him to the rooftop.
“Phew...”
He lit his cigarette and sighed deeply.
“Song, don't you think an unusual number of executives have been walking past our office today?”
“I know. I think I've seen at least eight of them.”
“Do they have some kind of meeting nearby... Or maybe they're giving us dirty looks because we spent too much on the company card during the dinner?”
“Come on. We did spend a lot, but considering the size of that contract, it was justified. Besides, the executive director told us to spend freely.”
“True... Still... I can't concentrate with everyone acting like this.”
He pulled out his phone and opened a game.
“This is when I usually run my dungeon, but I didn't even dare take my phone out.”
“Hahaha. Then play a round now.”
“Yeah. Guess I should.”
He deliberately lit another cigarette.
“I'll stay here a little longer. You head back first.”
“Alright. Take your time.”
Leaving him behind, I headed back toward the office.
Still, with all the executives wandering around today, I couldn't relax either.
'I should grab a cup of coffee.'
Unlike someone else, I couldn't afford Starbucks every day.
Most of my paycheck already went into savings.
For someone trying to live responsibly...
The company's free instant coffee was more than enough.
I walked into the break room.
“Oh...!”
The person sitting on the sofa immediately stood up and bowed slightly.
'...Sigh.'
She was the one person I'd hoped not to run into.
“Sia. You're here alone?”
“Ah... yes.”
The atmosphere instantly became awkward.
Honestly, I wanted to turn around and leave.
But that would only make things even stranger.
'Just make the coffee and get out.'
I grabbed a paper cup and filled it with hot water.
Then—
“Assistant Manager.”
Without me noticing, Yu Sia had already walked up beside me.
“...Yeah?”
I quietly moved my hand away from the water dispenser.
“What is it?”
“I wanted to ask you something.”
She looked straight into my eyes.
“Do you have plans tonight?”
“Tonight?”
“After work.”
“No, nothing in particular. Why?”
“Then have dinner with me.”
“...Just the two of us?”
She nodded.
“There are too many people around the office. Let's meet somewhere else.”
She smiled brightly.
“Let's meet at 7:30. Exit 3 of Sinsa Station.”
With a playful smile in her eyes, she walked away.
'This is driving me crazy.'
I'd been hoping to stall things until they naturally faded away.
But unlike me, Yu Sia seemed determined to settle everything.
'...Should I run away?'
But I already knew that wasn't the answer.
Unless I quit my job, we'd continue seeing each other.
'Damn...'
With my thoughts becoming even more tangled, I returned to my desk.
Normally, time crawled no matter how hard I worked.
Yet today...
The hours flew by as if someone had fast-forwarded the clock.
Finally, six o'clock arrived.
“Alright, everyone. Time to head home.”
“Good work today!”
“See you tomorrow!”
Employees packed their bags and stood up.
I did the same.
Tap.
Making sure nobody else noticed, Yu Sia lightly brushed my arm.
Silently mouthing, "See you later,"
she then cheerfully called out,
“See everyone tomorrow!”
And walked out of the office.
Damn it.
There was no escaping now.