Chapter 30
30. Moon Jar
2023.05.30.
So-eun was in a situation where she had to have breakfast with the director who had carried her around the night before. Moreover, it was at the director's house, receiving a meal prepared by the director himself.
Could there be a more uncomfortable breakfast in the world?
Besides, the director in front of her was clearly eating with her, but no sound came from him. It was so quiet that it seemed like he was only pretending to take spoonfuls of rice, so So-eun raised her deeply bowed head and glanced at his soup bowl. The rice had definitely decreased, but was there a hole in the bowl?
Am I having a meal with a goblin right now?
So-eun also ate her rice in silence.
Taking each spoonful was like a pilgrimage, but surprisingly, the seolleongtang was delicious. Maybe it was because she had slept soundly on an empty stomach.
Come to think of it, Tae-joon had never given her anything that wasn't delicious. She hated to admit it, but... someone who gives you delicious things is a good person.
As she slowly and carefully chewed the rice, trying not to make any noise, he asked in a leisurely voice.
"Did you sleep well?"
"Yes."
"I didn't."
"..."
"Han Assistant Manager took over my bed, so I couldn't sleep."
Director, I feel like crying.
"I told her to feel sorry."
"I'm sorry."
So-eun swallowed the rice and apologized hastily.
"Director. From now on, I'll never again..."
"We'll be adding to the TF Team. I think it would be good to have about two more people. I'd prefer if their specialty was cell phones. Han Assistant Manager can recommend someone, or if you don't have anyone to recommend, I'll put it together myself. And from now on, let's work from six to seven, just one hour a day. Is that okay?"
She was about to promise and pledge that she would never cause trouble again, but Tae-joon pushed aside So-eun's words and went on about work.
"…Yes."
"Eat. Quickly."
Tae-joon gestured towards So-eun's rice bowl with his chin. So-eun, who had briefly put down her spoon to apologize, glanced at him and picked it up again.
Tae-joon rested his chin on his hand and leisurely watched So-eun.
Of course, he hadn't slept, and he felt a little dazed from carrying a woman around all day yesterday. Even so, he felt more pleasure than fatigue.
He liked watching this woman eat. It wasn't like she was eating with particular relish.
The way something was disappearing neatly into that small mouth, the expression that seemed to be trying to eat everything deliciously, kept making him feel good.
But, you eat so well, so why are you so skinny? Do you not eat normally?
Had she bowed her head too much while being mindful? Her hair, which she hadn't tied up, slid down. Tae-joon's hand moved naturally towards So-eun, but stopped in mid-air.
So-eun arranged her hair first. She was a woman who had the skill to tie her hair without a hair tie.
Tae-joon withdrew his outstretched hand.
She's a woman who doesn't need much help, but he keeps wanting to touch her.
"Aren't you eating, Director?"
Had he been too lost in thought for a moment? So-eun, who had glanced up, asked.
"I don't really eat breakfast."
"I don't really eat it either, actually."
"Then what's this?"
"I'm eating it because you told me to."
...That was cute just now. A little too much.
Tae-joon clenched his teeth and clenched his empty fist once before releasing it.
Tae-joon sighed quietly and picked up his cell phone, which was next to him.
"From now on, all-nighters are prohibited."
"Yes."
At the same time as So-eun's answer, her cell phone vibrated.
"That's my phone number, so contact me if anything happens."
"Yes."
So-eun, who had been staring blankly at the cell phone with the unfamiliar phone number on it, immediately saved Tae-joon's phone number.
"I don't think it's common to collapse and fall asleep like that, so get a proper checkup at the hospital."
Tae-joon's nagging made So-eun's hand, which had been pressing hard on the contact information, stop.
She really had fallen into a deep sleep the night before, as if she had lost consciousness.
Was it a problem with the surgery? Her liver would have returned to almost its original size by now, but it would still be different from ordinary people. Had she overworked her body too suddenly, making her liver too tired?
Still, So-eun thought it was fortunate. Thanks to sleeping so deeply, she seemed to have recovered to a normal state now.
I shouldn't push my body too hard anymore. I have to take my vitamins regularly.
"I know my body well, Director. You don't have to worry about that."
"Is that what someone who knows does?"
He seemed a little worried, so when she spoke as if drawing a line, he retorted. So-eun pursed her lips at his gruff voice, and he urged her to eat again.
"Eat, quickly."
"Yes."
"Eat slowly."
Is he telling me to eat quickly, or to eat slowly?
So-eun grumbled inwardly and quietly continued her meal.
For a moment, his eyes seemed to be smiling.
The nicest man in the world with no manners.
It was true that he was kind. She could admit it now. His personality was unpredictable and he was stubborn, but the more she knew him, the more good qualities she found in him.
A quiet and peaceful meal without any small talk. Only her heart was quietly running in place.
After the quiet meal, So-eun packed her bag. Tae-joon said he would give her a ride on his way to the company, so she was in a position to get another ride.
She hadn't brought her saline solution, so she couldn't put in her lenses, but she wasn't too worried since Tae-joon said he would take her home.
Had she become comfortable with the director without realizing it? She shouldn't get too comfortable.
So-eun left the bedroom with a heavy heart.
Tae-joon, who had been waiting in the living room, got up from the sofa and held out his hand.
"Give me your bag."
The bag was heavy because it contained the clothes she had changed into after staying up all night at the company the day before. However, it wasn't particularly heavy, so So-eun stepped back and shook her head.
"No, it's okay."
But he snatched the bag away.
He was such a jerk when he was giving work orders, but now that she had collapsed once, he was treating her like royalty.
What kind of man is so extreme? Why is there no middle ground?
'If you're nice to me, I'll be even more burdened!'
I don't want you to carry anything of mine anymore!
So-eun followed Tae-joon, trotting along and reaching out her hand.
"I'll carry it, Director."
"Take care of your own body and come out."
"My body is fine, please give me back the bag..."
Tae-joon deliberately walked around, enjoying So-eun chasing after him. So-eun, who was flustered but desperately chased after him, finally grabbed the bag again. It took strength to snatch the bag away because Tae-joon's grip was strong.
"Han Assistant Manager...!"
Gasp.
As a result, So-eun's arm, which was full of strength, accidentally knocked over the Moon Jar that was on the display case at the end of the living room. It didn't take long for the Moon Jar, which was tilted as it was shaped, to lose its balance and fall.
Tap!
Tae-joon hurriedly reached out his arm. However, it was after the Moon Jar had already touched the floor.
On Tae-joon's hand, the Moon Jar revealed its smooth interior.
Gasp!
So-eun's face was horrified. Tae-joon's movements also froze for a moment.
"It's okay."
Tae-joon, who had paused for a moment, put the broken Moon Jar on the floor and said a short word to So-eun. He scratched his head a little as if thinking about how to handle it, and immediately picked up his cell phone.
"Manager Song, hello. I'm sorry to bother you in the morning. I have something to ask you."
It seemed like he had called Song Mun-gyeong, the manager.
"Do you remember the Moon Jar that my aunt gave me a while ago? Yes. How much did you say it was worth?"
In So-eun's chest, the sound of the moon rabbit pounding rice cakes in the moon was echoing.
"Ah, 50 million won..."
Tae-joon grabbed So-eun's arm, which was staggering from dizziness.
"No, this is, the full moon has become a half-moon. Will my aunt be very upset? Is it possible to get another one that's exactly the same? Yes. Then I'll ask you for that favor."
Tae-joon, who had hung up the phone, said in a calm voice.
"It's okay, it's only worth 50 million won. You don't have to worry about it."
There was no change in his expression, but So-eun was so sorry that she couldn't even breathe.
*
I don't know what state of mind I was in when I got in the car.
So-eun, whose head had frozen after breaking the Moon Jar, couldn't say anything until she arrived home. Tae-joon didn't say much either, making it an even scarier time.
He said it was okay, but who knows when he'll say something again. This man is the type to change his mind.
So-eun, who was quietly trembling, barely managed to make a sound after getting out of the car in front of her house.
"Director, I'm really sorry. I couldn't put in my lenses, so I couldn't see anything."
"It happened because I took your bag, so you don't need to apologize."
"..."
"I'm the one who's sorry for startling you."
He should be blaming her, but he was apologizing instead, making So-eun even more burdened.
"Can you go up alone? You won't be able to see anything."
He asked.
She had clearly committed a sin, but he was punishing this mistake with a reward instead of a punishment.
Her heart was pounding again without any sense of propriety.
Director, why are you doing this?
Why are you being so nice to me?
She wanted to ask, but she couldn't open her mouth.
Are you being nice to me because you feel sorry for making me work so hard, or because you were so shocked that I collapsed yesterday?
She wanted to say that he didn't have to do that.
I knew enough to push myself, and you don't need to worry about what happened because of my carelessness. Even in this guilty situation, your excessive concern somehow makes me feel excited, so I keep feeling guilty.
But she couldn't say so many words.
"I'm okay."
"Let's go up. I'll go with you."
The question had become an order in the meantime. He had quickly changed his mind.
"No. I'm alone..."
"I said go up."
More pressure was put on the order. So-eun couldn't insist and turned around. She opened the entrance door on the first floor and started climbing the stairs, and Tae-joon followed about six steps below.
Tap tap, So-eun's small footsteps and thump thump, his heavy footsteps mixed together like music. The footsteps that maintained the same distance as her speed were reassuring, but also a little scary. No, the feeling of nervousness was much greater. It wasn't that she was afraid of him. This strange silence of climbing the same place, this strange send-off, was amplifying her heartbeat.
Her nervous foot missed a step on the stairs.
Gasp, Tae-joon strode up and grabbed her as her foot slipped.
Thud.
So-eun's upper body, which had lost its balance, fell onto Tae-joon's shoulder. Tae-joon wrapped his strong arms around her armpits to cushion the impact.
"I knew this would happen."
As if it was nothing, as if she was in the palm of his hand, Tae-joon chuckled and straightened So-eun up.
So-eun felt wronged and couldn't even say thank you.
If it hadn't been for him, she might have fallen backwards, but if it hadn't been for him, she wouldn't have been so nervous.
"I'll carry you on my back if you can't walk."
"No, thank you."
So-eun's face flushed as Tae-joon teased her.
So-eun, who had been released from him, climbed the stairs at a faster pace.
