Chapter 92
- We Wanted to Protect Gi-hoon 2022.03.16.
As always, Ji-heon's heart stirred at his mother's tears. But he firmly shut his heart off.
“I'll pretend I didn't hear that.”
Ji-heon suppressed his wavering emotions and handed Youngmi a tissue. Then, he urged her,
“Absolutely do not go looking for Yena or Jeong-o. Or Jeong-o's mother either. If you go to those three, I will never see you again.”
After sternly warning her, Ji-heon immediately opened his office door.
“It's also inconvenient for you to suddenly visit during work hours like this. I have my own schedule. If you have something to say, call me first.”
“Why… why have you become so heartless?”
At Youngmi's voice, the half-opened door closed again. Thud, thud. The sound of her son approaching felt somehow sharp. Youngmi's eyes widened at the eerie feeling that she was facing a stranger, not her son. This was another side of him that Youngmi didn't know. From a mother's perspective, it seemed as if her son had changed after meeting the wrong woman. Youngmi wanted to blame it all on Lee Jung-oh.
“You won't see your mother? You never used to be like this. Why are you like this! Why have you changed so much!”
“Changed? I'm doing this because I love you, Mother.”
Ji-heon replied in a chillingly cold voice. It felt like confirming the terrifying underside of the word "love."
“I'm telling you in advance because I love you. I want us to get along without friction.”
Only then did Youngmi realize that the confessions of love she had received from her son like gifts had been empty boxes all along.
\ After sending Youngmi away, Ji-heon went straight to Jeong-o. He was anxious that Youngmi might turn around and go to Jeong-o after leaving the company. He had to protect Jeong-o. Fortunately, Youngmi seemed to have left the company safely, and Jeong-o was alone in the conference room. Ji-heon approached Jeong-o, sat down next to her, and stared intently at her. Jeong-o asked,
“Why?”
“No. It's nothing.”
He was ashamed. He was too ashamed to speak. Your mother welcomed me so warmly, but I can't reciprocate that warmth. He felt sorry and ashamed.
“My mother might come looking for you.”
“I'd be okay with that.”
Jeong-o nodded calmly at his cautiously uttered words.
“If she harasses Yena, I won't stand for it. The same goes for my mom. But I'd be okay with it. Don't worry.”
Was that what he was worried about? Jeong-o was also concerned about him, seeing his heavy expression. Jeong-o thought hard, searching for a topic that could restore his energy, and came up with a good idea.
“It would be nice if Yena needed a dad and we could live together… but there's nothing we can do. That's the only way.”
“What way?”
“I hope Oppa is careful. So that Yena doesn't fall too deeply.”
“What?”
“We might live together, but we might not. You never know. So don't get Yena's hopes up too much.”
As expected, he reacted immediately to her cold-hearted remark. He frowned and glared fiercely at her.
“We've been doing well so far. Shouldn't we be careful so that everyone can go back to normal without getting hurt in the worst-case scenario? I can't tell Yena not to get attached to her dad. She's just a kid. So Oppa has to be careful.”
“So, I shouldn't give Yena any affection?”
“I'm just saying be careful. So that Yena doesn't call you 'Dad, Dad' too much.”
Ji-heon's eyes narrowed. He let out a short, mocking laugh, tilted his lips, and asked Jeong-o.
“Tell me honestly.”
“……”
“Honestly, you're feeling insecure right now, aren't you?”
“About what?”
“You're worried that I'll become closer to Yena than you are.”
“Ha. That's ridiculous. What are you talking about?”
“Are you jealous of me, or are you jealous of Yena? Which one is it? Or is it both?”
“That's absurd.”
“Look at you. Your expression looks really awkward right now, doesn't it?”
“It's because it's so absurd. So absurd.”
Jeong-o snorted mockingly, but couldn't maintain her act and ended up laughing. Only after seeing Jeong-o's laughter did Ji-heon realize it. His heart, which had been frozen like ice, had melted away. He came to protect you, but once again, he felt comforted. You remind him that he can face the world's countless worries with a smile. You show him where he needs to be. How had he lived without you until now? He can't go back to that time without you anymore. \ Eun-ju, who had something to say to Jeong-o, was wandering around when she discovered Ji-heon and Jeong-o sitting side by side in the conference room and turned away.
“You're back so soon?”
Gi-hoon spoke up. He was questioning her for saying she was going to find Jeong-o and then returning to her seat so quickly. Please understand, Eun-ju thought, and replied to Gi-hoon.
“Yeah. Director Jeong was in the conference room.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. Director Jeong and Assistant Manager Lee, just the two of them.”
“Just the two of them?”
However, Gi-hoon didn't understand Eun-ju's intention. For some reason, only Chief Park Young-gwang next to him seemed to flinch. Gi-hoon, with an innocent expression, suddenly picked up his laptop and stood up from his seat.
“Where are you going?”
“To the conference room. You said Assistant Manager Lee is there.”
He had to protect Assistant Manager Lee Jung-oh from Director Jeong Ji-heon. Gi-hoon's pure soul, burning with loyalty and chivalry, strode towards the conference room.
“No, no, no, Gi-hoon…”
Young-gwang hurriedly reached out to stop Gi-hoon, but it was no use. No one could stop a young man in love. Eun-ju smiled bitterly. Well, it's not bad if he figures it out now. It's none of my business if they fight over a woman. It might not be bad to see it through to the end. No matter how great Director Jeong is, he can't easily overcome the vigor of youth. Song Gi-hoon is a whole six years younger. If Song Gi-hoon attacks, Director Jeong will be a little nervous. If you're going to fight, win, Song Gi-hoon.
“Haa.”
Eun-ju cleared her mind with relief and resumed her work, but she kept hearing intermittent sighs from next to her. Eun-ju pushed her chair back and asked Young-gwang.
“Chief, what's wrong?”
“Huh? It's nothing.”
“……”
“Assistant Manager Go, I don't have two lives, and I'm not brave. I just want to live a long and peaceful life. Doing this job for a long, long time.”
Young-gwang, who had answered that it was nothing, immediately added.
“To do that, there are times when you have to pretend you didn't see something, pretend it's not there. It's a little difficult to be in that position.”
“……”
“I hope our Gi-hoon figures that out soon too.”
Ah, ah, ah. Chief also knew. About the relationship between Director Jeong and Assistant Manager Lee. Well, Director Jeong Ji-heon makes it so obvious, and they even went on an overseas business trip together, so he couldn't not know. She had been cheering for Gi-hoon a moment ago, but belatedly, she felt a little sorry for him. Eun-ju, who was about to resume her work, paused.
‘Wait, what if Song Gi-hoon and Jeong Ji-heon go all the way?’
I'm cheering for Song Gi-hoon, but right now, Assistant Manager Lee Jung-oh is a set with Jeong Ji-heon! What if Song Gi-hoon quits the company? All this work will be mine! Heua. I really didn't want to do this! Eun-ju quickly pushed her chair back and stood up from her seat. * Conference room. Gi-hoon opened the door and peeked his face in.
“Assistant Manager.”
“Oh, Gi-hoon.”
Jeong-o smiled, and Ji-heon's smiling expression immediately hardened.
“Ah, Director was here too. Hello.”
Whether he didn't know anything or was pretending not to know, Gi-hoon greeted them smoothly and sat down in the conference room.
“Were you two talking?”
Ji-heon answered Gi-hoon's question relatively kindly.
“We were talking about the Tawon Liquor shoot. About how Song Gi-hoon worked so hard.”
Personally, he wanted to snap at him, asking what business it was of his to interfere, but he acted benevolently as the head of the division.
“It's nothing. Assistant Manager always told me interesting stories whenever I got sleepy.”
“Still, it must have been hard to drive back and forth.”
“It's nothing. Ah, I even took a nap in the middle. Where did we sleep, Assistant Manager?”
Ji-heon's eyes flashed at Gi-hoon's provocation. In fact, Gi-hoon didn't intend to provoke him. It was a truly innocent answer.
“Gi-hoon took a five-minute nap at the rest stop, and I got some fresh air and drank coffee.”
Feeling like he needed to explain, Jeong-o quickly added some unnecessary details. Nevertheless, Ji-heon's expression didn't soften. Ji-heon suddenly asked an irrelevant question in a subtly sharp voice.
“Song Gi-hun, do you keep secrets well? Are you good at keeping your mouth shut?”
“Yes, I am.”
While puzzled by Ji-heon's question, Gi-hoon answered easily without showing any other reaction. He didn't dwell on the question for long. Gi-hoon's job was to protect Jeong-o, so he bravely spoke to Jeong-o.
“Team Leader, I have something to ask you. Should I wait outside?”
“No. We're done talking. Right, Director?”
Ji-heon looked at the two of them and gestured with his hand, telling them to talk. Jeong-o was a little concerned because Ji-heon seemed sulky. But she couldn't ignore Gi-hoon, who said he had something to ask. Jeong-o said to Gi-hoon.
“Go ahead.”
“It's about the hair loss prevention shampoo commercial. I don't understand what the client wants. Helping existing hair grow well is different from sprouting hair where there isn't any.”
“What did the client say?”
“Would you like to check the email the AE sent? But the wording is a bit harsh. You should keep that in mind when you read it.”
“It's okay, it's okay.”
While Gi-hoon was showing Jeong-o the laptop screen and talking about this and that, Ji-heon sat motionless in his seat, watching them quietly. Even though he was glaring at them, the two of them didn't care and continued their conversation as if they were in their own world. Ji-heon's fists clenched tightly. Is that bastard trying to keep me in check, or is he just clueless? He began to feel suspicious. It feels like he's challenging me. Ji-heon tapped his fingers and timed them. The two continued to talk.
“By the way, the rumor that your hair grows faster if you have a lot of dirty thoughts is a lie. If that were true, I would have been Rapunzel.”
“Pfft.”
“It sounds like a joke, right? But it's true.”
“Gi-hoon, you're such an innocent young man.”
“Well, I try to manage my image in front of the Team Leader.”
I can't listen to this anymore! Just as Ji-heon clenched his fist in anger, Jeong-o's phone vibrated.
“Hold on, it's the Planning Team Manager. Yes, Manager.”
Jeong-o answered the phone. The Planning Team Manager's voice from Jeong-o's phone could be heard in the quiet conference room.
[Lee Jung-oh, can you tell me one thing about grammar?]
“Yes, go ahead.”
Gi-hoon chuckled at the manager's voice. Ji-heon, who had reached his limit, couldn't even stand to watch that, so he spoke up.
“Song Gi-hun. Be a little more careful.”
“……Yes?”
“Stop acting like a fox.”
“…….”
“Stop hitting on Lee Jung-oh, Team Leader.”
“Director!”
Jeong-o, who had hung up the phone, was shocked and quickly called out to Ji-heon. At the same time, the door burst open and Go Eun-ju entered. But the damage had already been done. Jeong-o, Gi-hoon, and Eun-ju's complexions were as red as tomatoes from the same farm, but the person who had spilled the water had a face as calm as a lake. Jeong-o was dumbfounded by Ji-heon's brazen expression. Jeong Ji-heon, you must be crazy.
