Celebration Dinner and a New Beginning
Had my answer come off as arrogant?
Manager Ahn Ilseung’s face flushed red.
But it didn’t last long.
Deputy General Manager Jeon Yonggi stepped between us with a terrifying expression.
“Manager Ahn, something you want to say?”
“Ah, no, sir. Deputy General Manager Jeon.”
Flustered, Ahn Ilseung waved his hands quickly.
“Don’t worry about us. Just focus on your own work.”
“Yes, sir. Understood. Good work.”
Manager Ahn Ilseung immediately tucked his tail and fled as if running away.
That lazy bastard.
Then, as if nothing had happened, Deputy General Manager Jeon Yonggi broke into a broad smile and slung an arm around my shoulder.
“Don’t mind him. You’ve been getting a lot of attention lately, so he’s just jealous. Anyway, good work today. As expected, Manager Noh Hoojin—you’ve got a way with words! That emotional touch? Perfect. Hahaha!”
He laughed heartily and made a gesture of downing a shot of soju.
“Performance bonuses should be rolling in today. How about a drink?”
“Yes, well. Let’s do that.”
“Let’s go!”
We returned to the office, finished the remaining overtime, and held a gathering to celebrate both the bonuses and the start of the new project.
It wasn’t a seat I could skip. And I was in a good mood myself.
After work.
A meat restaurant tucked into an alley near headquarters.
In a private room with soft lighting, Marketing Team 3’s dinner was in full swing.
Beef sizzled golden-brown over the charcoal, glasses clinked, and the mood began to lift.
“Manager Noh! Word about today’s meeting has already spread everywhere. That emotional point! You’ve got real romance in you. I’m really looking forward to this project! I’ll learn a lot!”
Junior Associate Kim Seungho stood up with a flushed face, raising his glass high.
Respect filled his voice; passion burned in his eyes.
“Kim, tone it down and sit. You’re making a scene.”
Manager Park Heegon, sitting beside him, pulled the hyped-up Kim Seungho back into his seat. Then he casually lifted his own glass and added,
“You’ll handle it fine, but don’t worry about the stares or the rumors…”
He must have heard about it from Deputy General Manager Jeon.
Lately, Manager Park Heegon kept showing these unexpected sides.
Assistant Manager Jo Cheoljeong said nothing, quietly refilling my glass.
He didn’t speak, yet a strangely solid sense of support came through.
But this guy… keeps overfilling the glass?
“Alright, alright! Everyone, don’t get too serious~ Tonight we celebrate! Bonuses came in! A jackpot project fell into our laps whole! Cheers!”
Deputy General Manager Jeon Yonggi laughed boisterously as he clinked glasses.
Amid the lively atmosphere, I quietly brought the drink to my lips.
It was a genuinely warm dinner.
A moment I never could have imagined in the past.
As the dinner wound down, I stepped outside first to clear my head. The midwinter night air was cold yet cleared my mind.
Then I heard footsteps behind me.
“Manager Noh.”
I turned to find Associate Kang Bitna.
She had been quiet throughout the dinner. She approached hesitantly, then after a long pause opened her mouth.
“Um… this might be rude, but I was just curious about something.”
“Yes. Go ahead.”
I answered without much thought.
“Do you… have a girlfriend?”
“Excuse me?”
Out of nowhere?
I looked at her with mild surprise.
She averted her gaze and continued quietly.
“It’s just… I’ve never heard you talk about dating at all… Someone like Assistant Manager Noh Hoojin should be able to meet plenty of good women.”
“Ah… is that so?”
I answered indifferently and looked ahead again.
My lukewarm reaction seemed to frustrate Associate Kang Bitna; she made a sulky face. Then she suddenly leaned her face right in front of mine and said,
“What about me?”
“Pardon?”
Our eyes met.
Kang Bitna’s face flushed crimson, her pupils trembling slightly.
“No, I don’t mean date me or anything. I was just curious about your type. Haha!”
She quickly turned her head and laughed it off casually.
In that instant, the vivid image of Joo Eunhye—who had betrayed me long ago—flashed through my mind. Damn it. Having a better memory isn’t all good.
“I’m not interested in dating.”
A cold tone slipped out before I could stop it.
“Ah, yes. Understood. Looks like I asked something unnecessary.”
At my knife-sharp reply she offered a somewhat sorrowful smile, then hurried back inside.
What was that? Did I do something wrong?
In my entire life I’d only ever dated one woman, so my information was severely lacking.
I’d never watched romance dramas or movies either. And reading books about dating… why bother?
A short while later, the enjoyable dinner finally ended.
A few days later.
I took the afternoon off and headed to Samgyeong University Hospital.
It was the day Junseok was being discharged, and I was going to pick him up.
He insisted he could leave alone and come back by himself, but how could I not worry about a shut-in who’d been cooped up at home for seven years?
Sure enough, Junseok started zoning out from the discharge paperwork and couldn’t even find the reception desk properly.
In crowded places his movements slowed dramatically, and unable to bear the countless stares, he simply crumpled where he stood.
We had no choice but to take a taxi.
“What am I going to do with you, Junseok? Shouldn’t you get checked for panic disorder or something?”
“I’m fine… It’s just because I suddenly came out after being in the hospital.”
When I put my arm around his shoulders and asked, he answered in a voice that barely escaped his throat.
“Still, our neighborhood should be okay. Not that many people around. Don’t just stay home anymore—get outside a bit. And eat properly.”
“Sorry. Causing you trouble for nothing.”
“Forget it. And don’t feel awkward about freeloading at my place. I’ll make sure you earn your keep.”
“You live with your little brother, right? Won’t he feel uncomfortable?”
Junseok glanced at me cautiously as he asked.
“I already told him everything. You just need to enjoy the meals he cooks. That’ll be fine.”
“Huh? Meals?”
For a moment Junseok’s pupils trembled finely—like a cow being led to slaughter. Was the word “eat” that terrifying?
“Yeah. Meals.”
We talked quite a bit during the taxi ride.
Junseok mostly asked questions about our house, while I asked about future coin market trends.
Completely different topics, yet the conversation flowed so naturally we barely noticed when we arrived home.
“Whoa… nice place.”
The moment Junseok got out of the taxi he let out a gasp of admiration.
“It’s nothing special… Come on in.”
I gave his shoulder a light pat for no real reason and led the way through the gate. The instant I opened the front door, a delicious smell wafted out strongly.
A rich, oily savoriness mixed with the deep aroma of herbal tea tickled my nose.
Baeksuk?
Looks like my brother prepared a special meal for Junseok.
“We’re home. Smells great—is that baeksuk?”
“Oh, hyung. You’re back?”
When I headed toward the kitchen and spoke, my brother poked his head out to check on us. Spotting Junseok, he quickly set down the ladle, washed his hands, and came out.
“Introduce yourselves. This is my college friend Ryu Junseok. This is my younger brother Noh Beomjin.”
“Hello, Junseok hyung. I’m Beomjin! I’ve heard a lot about you!”
“Nice to meet you… I’m Ryu Junseok.”
The two shook hands in greeting.
“Just call me Beomjin comfortably.”
“Ah… formal speech is easier for me… Later, later I’ll try.”
Junseok looked so awkward he didn’t know where to put his eyes. What a social misfit. Then again, I used to be pretty similar.
I quickly herded both of them toward the dining table with a push on their backs.
“Yeah, yeah. No need to rush. Let’s eat first. I’m starving. Is it ready?”
“Yeah. I’ve been simmering it on low heat until you got here. We can eat now.”
“Okay!”
As Junseok and I sat at the table, Beomjin quickly set the meal.
He portioned out simple kimchi and namul side dishes, then transferred the whole boiled chicken to the center of the table.
Finally he brought each of us a bowl of chicken porridge.
“Wow, you went all out because Junseok’s here?”
“Eat slowly. It’s hot.”
My brother tore the chicken into easy-to-eat pieces and arranged them neatly in front of Junseok. Then he smiled gently and continued,
“Enjoy your meal, Junseok hyung.”
“Ah… thank you. I’ll eat well.”
Junseok carefully picked up his chopsticks.
We deliberately avoided looking at him so he wouldn’t feel pressured.
This table and this shared meal would be unfamiliar to him. He’d always been used to being alone.
But the moment he put a piece of chicken in his mouth, Junseok’s expression shifted subtly.
At first he looked flustered, then surprised.
He carefully scooped some chicken porridge onto his spoon, ate it, then quietly lowered his head.
“What’s wrong? Is it bad? Don’t like it?”
When I asked carefully, he mumbled with his head still down.
“A meal like this… it’s been so long.”
His voice trembled at the end.
He looked ready to burst into tears any second.
Beomjin seemed momentarily flustered, yet without a word he poured water into a glass and carefully handed over a tissue.
“Take your time.”
“Thank you. Really.”
So we focused quietly on eating, giving him space.
The baeksuk was truly tender and delicious. Junseok kept repeating how good it was and never put down his chopsticks. Beomjin ate happily with a contented expression.
Though Junseok couldn’t eat a huge amount, he cleaned his chicken porridge bowl completely.
A little later.
“Since we’ve finished eating, shall we head upstairs?”
After the meal I took Junseok up to the second floor. My brother said he’d clean the kitchen and told us to go up together.
Standing in front of the room door, I turned and said,
“Alright, this is now your room and workspace. Ready?”
At my words Junseok nodded.
“Let’s go in.”
I smiled and swung the door wide open.
A neatly arranged room appeared.
On the desk sat dual monitors with a high-end PC tower installed, and on the wall two more large monitors were mounted.
On the opposite side was a double bed, and next to it a system clothes rack.
The unusual part was the blackout curtains installed around the bed—to block computer noise and light when sleeping.
Whether he’d actually sleep with the blackout curtains drawn was another question.
“Whoa…”
Junseok carefully stepped inside and sat in the chair.
It was a chair incorporating the latest ergonomic design. In other words, expensive.
“When did you prepare all this?”
“This much is nothing. Didn’t take long.”
I said that, but I’d actually put in quite a bit of effort.
After work every day I’d scoured information on PC workspaces, and I’d specially ordered the desk and chair. For the computer I’d paid close attention to the CPU, RAM, and graphics card for trading and data analysis.
Of course I’d transferred the hard drive from Junseok’s old computer as-is.
Finally I’d even installed a separate internet line.
Since all of this was essentially an investment in myself, I never felt it was a hassle.
“Turn it on.”
I pointed at the PC tower with my chin.
Junseok powered it on without hesitation.
Whirr—
The sound of the machine coming to life—alien yet welcome.
The monitors lit up, and the interface I’d set so the coin trading platform and chart analysis tools would launch automatically ran smoothly.
“Holy—!”
Junseok sucked in a breath.
“This is insane? This is… this is the exact environment real professionals use!”
His hand moved unconsciously to the mouse.
He moved charts, pulled up prices, brought out indicators, and reconstructed past flows.
As expected of someone who’d done this a lot—he controlled it completely naturally.
My prediction wasn’t wrong after all.
“Get used to it. Work starts tonight.”
“……”
He was already so focused he didn’t answer.
I smirked and quietly closed the door.
Welcome, Junseok. Looking forward to working with you. I’ll feed you, house you, take care of everything—so you just focus on flipping coins.