Chapter 23
23. It Suits You2021.07.17.
Dreams fuel desire. But Ji-heon couldn't move. Yesterday, she was a woman full of energy, but today she seemed drained. Jeong-o, who had regained her balance, moved away from Ji-heon. Even her reaction to avoid him was slow, so Ji-heon asked.
“Are you sick?”
“I’m fine.”
“Hangover?”
“It’s a cold.”
Jeong-o, irritated by his question, tossed the answer and went into the office first. Humph. Is he giving me medicine after making me sick? Yesterday, he lectured me so rudely, and today he's asking if I'm okay. It felt strange that he seemed to have been waiting for her in the lobby. It was an unavoidable situation, but being held by him was also awkward. The sound of his heartbeat, conveyed in that brief moment of closeness, was also disconcerting. Thump, thump, thump, thump, thump, thump. His chest is like armor, but what's with that sound...? I thought a train was passing by.
“Assistant Manager Lee is here.”
Before she could even reflect on what had happened, she had to greet Gi-hoon.
“Yeah. Hi, Gi-hoon.”
Gi-hoon got up from his seat and handed Jeong-o her bag and umbrella. Gi-hoon had taken care of them at the bar at Jeong-o's request yesterday.
“You really went through a lot yesterday. You must have been so exhausted to just abandon your bag like that.”
“Hoo. Thank you so much.”
The events of last night came back to her, and she sighed before even saying hello. The workday began. Jeong-o's body showed no signs of recovery. Even the cool air conditioning was hard to bear. She regretted not bringing a jacket on a day like this. Seeing her like that, Gi-hoon, feeling sorry for her, placed a hangover relief drink he had on Jeong-o's desk. Gi-hoon thought Jeong-o was struggling because of a hangover.
“Thank you, Gi-hoon.”
Jeong-o managed a weak smile. But she couldn't drink the beverage. Even the lukewarm temperature of the drink felt cold. Jeong-o hunched over and continued her work. Drrr. In the midst of all this, her phone vibrated. Jeong-o laboriously moved her hand and picked up her phone.
- Let's meet in my office for a moment.
Director Jeong Ji-heon. The name she had saved yesterday tormented her eyes. Why send a text message when he could just call? It makes me feel strange. Jeong-o stared silently at her phone.
‘Why is he calling me to his office again?’
Especially when my body feels so heavy. Come to think of it, he has been acting a bit strange since this morning. Before that, I did make quite a mistake last night.
‘Is he going to apologize?’
She began to have a small expectation. Well, if he apologizes for what happened last night, I might accept it. Jeong-o slowly got up and went to his office. Knock, knock.
“Yes.”
Ji-heon's voice came from inside the office. Before she could grab the doorknob, the door opened from the inside. Ji-heon opened the door wide and ushered Jeong-o inside. Although she was sick, she didn't want to show any heat. Jeong-o reacted as coldly as possible.
“You called me.”
“Did you get home okay yesterday?”
“Yes.”
“Take the medicine.”
“Pardon?”
“You said you have a cold.”
Her gaze, which had been looking up at Ji-heon with a bewildered expression, moved downward. A pile of medicine was placed on the table he was pointing to. Did he become a medicine peddler? Why is there so much medicine? But Jeong-o refused. Because this was not what Jeong-o wanted.
“I’m fine.”
“Take it. I bought it specifically for Assistant Manager Lee Jung-o to take.”
“Why?”
“……”
“Why go to such trouble?”
She glared at him, her eyes, heavy with fatigue, struggling to focus. Ji-heon, who had moved a few steps and picked up the bundle of medicine on the table, approached her.
“Take the medicine and don’t be sick.”
She came expecting an apology, but instead, she got a carrot.
“Get well and do your job properly.”
It was a carrot like a whip that the ruler feeds to the ruled. Is he giving me medicine after making me sick? She hated this man's fickleness, who had teased her so much yesterday and was now handing her a bundle of medicine. Nevertheless, she resented her own powerlessness, her inability to argue. If only I had more strength, I would kick him! And punch his jaw! She glared at him, grinding her teeth inwardly, but he, too, seemed dissatisfied with something, squinted his eyes, and went back to his seat, returning with something dark.
“A sick person should dress warmly.”
His cardigan was draped over her shoulders. She was flustered and tried to shake it off, but he quickly buttoned one of the front buttons of the cardigan. Wearing the oversized cardigan felt like being wrapped in a blanket.
“……I’m fine.”
“I see. It suits you.”
His quiet voice was as gentle as reading a fairy tale. He seemed to be playing games with her. She felt embarrassed, and at the same time, choked up. Seven years ago came to mind. Our last day. The day I checked the pregnancy test and went to see you. The day you took off your coat and put it on me. You probably don't even remember that day, which I have revisited so many times.
“……I have my own style, you know.”
“It suits you well.”
He smiled slightly, as if satisfied with the way she looked in his clothes. Just like that day seven years ago. Seeing Jeong-o's expression, which seemed uncomfortable, Ji-heon added a word.
“It’s a cardigan I’ve never worn, so don’t say I gave it to you, just wear it.”
“You might as well let me leave work early.”
“Then do that.”
“…….”
“Shall I take you home?”
Jeong-o was even more perplexed when he readily agreed to her unreasonable request and even offered to take her home. He doesn't say a word about yesterday, doesn't apologize, but takes care of these irrelevant things so well.
“……No, thank you. I’ll work.”
“…….”
“I’ll just take one of the medicines.”
Jeong-o put down the bundle of medicine that Ji-heon had given her and took only one familiar-looking medicine box. She bowed slightly. Ji-heon watched disapprovingly as Jeong-o nodded her head in greeting and fled as if running away. He even had to be mindful of the pharmacist because he bought all the medicine that could be purchased without a prescription at the pharmacy. She could have taken one more. Still, should he be relieved that she quietly put on the cardigan? It was the first time he had been so concerned about someone's cold. * It was lunchtime. After taking the medicine Ji-heon gave her, Jeong-o gradually regained her energy. She couldn't run around energetically, but her fever seemed to have subsided to some extent. I should rest during lunchtime. I shouldn't go outside the office and just lie down and sleep a little. Jeong-o massaged her tired fingers on the keyboard and sighed. At that moment, Team Leader Seong Mi-ran approached and called out to Jeong-o.
“Assistant Manager Lee Jung-o, can you eat?”
“Team Leader, I’ll stay in the office today.”
“You don’t feel well, do you? Can you eat porridge?”
“I think I can eat it……”
“I ordered some porridge for myself. Let’s eat together.”
“I’m okay.”
“I ordered two, including one for you. Come to the conference room.”
Her body still didn't move well, but she couldn't refuse Mi-ran, who was so considerate. Right. Eating porridge will give me more energy. Jeong-o followed Mi-ran. The menu Mi-ran chose was 'Extra Special Abalone Porridge'. It was a menu with three times the amount of abalone as regular abalone porridge. A precious food that should not be left uneaten. Jeong-o gratefully picked up her spoon. It was easy to swallow and tasted savory, so she diligently moved her mouth. It was fortunate that her appetite didn't decrease even though her body was heavy. Maybe it's because she took the medicine and regained some energy. She became a little grateful to Ji-heon.
“How is it working close to home?”
“It’s much more convenient because it’s closer than my previous company.”
“I’m really sorry about yesterday. I was so out of it that I heard late that Assistant Manager Lee had such a hard time drinking.”
“It’s okay. I’m glad I was able to help.”
“You worked hard. You don’t need to leave work early?”
“No. I’m fine.”
“Okay. Let’s go home early today.”
She didn't like the headquarters or the head of the headquarters, but she was very fortunate to have met her team members. In particular, Team Leader Seong Mi-ran was a great support. She was also grateful for her constant support of Jeong-o's opinions. However, Mi-ran's expression was a bit heavy today. It seemed like she had something to say to Jeong-o. Sure enough, just as Jeong-o was about to empty her bowl, Mi-ran cautiously called out Jeong-o's name.
“But Assistant Manager Lee Jung-o.”
“Yes, Team Leader.”
“I don’t know if I should be asking you this… I’m worried……”
“Yes. Please speak.”
“Um, Assistant Manager Lee……”
“……”
“What’s your relationship with Director Jeong Ji-heon?”
Jeong-o’s lips, who had resolved to answer Mi-ran’s questions as sincerely as possible, stiffened. She felt a chill run down her spine.
“Did you two know each other from the start?”
“……”
“Or perhaps 7 years ago? Did you meet him back then when the director lost his memory?”
Mi-ran seemed to know more than she thought.
*
Yesterday, Production Team 1 had all been drinking, so the lunch menu today was hangover soup. Production Team 1, having heartily cured their hangovers, met Ji-heon in the first-floor lobby. An Chan-seop, the team leader of Production Team 1, was the first to greet him.
“Director, have you had lunch?”
“Yes.”
Jo Si-nae nudged Chae Eun-bi, as if urging her to acknowledge him. Jeong Ji-heon’s spot was naturally Chae Eun-bi’s, so she had to stand next to him. Eun-bi slightly shrank her shoulders and approached him. But for some reason, Ji-heon’s expression was icy. Even more so than usual. Ji-heon spoke to Chan-seop.
“About yesterday’s matter.”
“Yes? What……”
“Did Team 1 pass off the client entertainment to a Team 2 employee?”
At Ji-heon’s question, the members of Team 1 all looked at each other and blinked. Only Assistant Manager Jo Si-nae’s face turned bright red. Eun-bi couldn’t even think about getting closer to Ji-heon.
“Our Assistant Manager Jo Si-nae was too busy, so it seems she entrusted it to Assistant Manager Lee Jung-oh from Team 2. Of course, only until the other team members finished their work……”
“You entrusted the entertainment of a regular advertiser to an employee who had been with the company for barely a week?”
“……”
“Did the team leader instruct you to do so?”
It was a polite question, but somehow it felt chilling. It felt like he was asking even though he knew everything. Si-nae felt like Ji-heon was staring at her, and her whole body trembled. The entire first-floor lobby became silent, as if cold water had been poured over it.
“No, I……”
As Chan-seop hesitated, Si-nae quickly stepped forward.
“Director, I asked him to. The team leader found out late. But I was so busy, I really had no choice. Assistant Manager Lee Jung-oh was just idling around.”
“Yes. I understand. Because you were busy. It just shouldn’t happen again, right?”
“Yes. I’ll be careful.”
It was fortunate that Ji-heon understood so quickly. Si-nae breathed a sigh of relief inwardly. But.
“Then shall we look at the results from yesterday?”
Si-nae slowly raised her pale face and looked at Ji-heon. The work from yesterday had been rejected this morning…
“Yes?”
“The results of why you had no choice but to be so busy. Let’s review what Assistant Manager Jo Si-nae worked on yesterday together.”
That handsome face, which had been the object of envy for all employees, looked chillingly terrifying.
