Translator: Nox

Chapter 92

92. Buy Me a Gift

2023.07.31.

The next day.

Kim Tae-joon finished his morning workout and went straight to work. He arrived even earlier than Chief Song Mun-gyeong, who was known for her diligence in coming to work relatively early. Mun-gyeong, who went into the executive director's office to tidy up in the morning, was a little surprised to see Tae-joon arrive much earlier than usual.

"Director, good morning."

"Yes. Good morning."

Tae-joon, who had been busily organizing documents, stood up from his seat. Chief Song Mun-gyeong was now quite heavy with child. He didn't want to ask Mun-gyeong to do any physical work. He was already receiving great help from her just by managing his schedule and handling communications.

"You're here early, Director."

"Yes. Someone told me to work hard."

"...Ah. Chief Han."

"She's a very diligent friend, isn't she?"

Mun-gyeong couldn't help but laugh at the sudden, out-of-the-blue boasting about his girlfriend.

"Director, now that I acknowledge it, you're bragging to your heart's content."

"Is it hard to listen to?"

"No, not at all. It's really nice to see. Han So-eun is a gem the more you get to know her. Yesterday, she even gave me a baby shower gift in advance to commemorate the TF Team's disbandment..."

"A gift?"

"Yes. She bought a very pretty baby onesie."

"Ah. A gift."

"..."

"A gift."

Tae-joon muttered quietly as he followed Mun-gyeong, tidying up. The subtle smile that had been on his face had disappeared. He was clearly jealous.

Kim Tae-joon, Director. Please don't be like that.

If you keep acting like that, I'll get caught even if I stay still.

However, Mun-gyeong didn't give him a separate warning. She found the human side of her boss in love very endearing.

\

Early afternoon.

Tae-joon, who had lunch with Chairman Kim Jae-pil and went up to the chairman's office, showed him the prepared materials.

Chairman Kim Jae-pil, after reviewing the materials, was lost in thought. The materials were impeccable. Except for the fact that the name 'Han So-eun' was on the list of researchers at the end of the report, it was very satisfactory.

His only grandson had a brilliant mind that was approaching the truth of the suspicious matter.

The issue that Tae-joon raised was something that Chairman Kim Jae-pil had also suspected for a long time. However, he had been tacitly approving of it because President Kim Sang-deok was very meticulous and had good business acumen. But if Tae-joon showed this level of competence, he seemed capable of replacing Kim Sang-deok.

"You've grown up so well."

"Am I useful?"

"Very good."

Tae-joon also smiled at Jaepil's praise.

"I should also track the flow of funds from the Philippine corporation. Prepare well and let's sort it out at the board meeting next month."

"...Is it okay to drop this at the board meeting?"

Tae-joon also wanted that method, but suddenly dropping it would affect the company.

"Isn't that the most accurate way? We can't exactly call outside people and hold a press conference."

"..."

"It's not like I liked that Kim Sang-deok guy. I only did it because there was no talent. It's time for that guy to step down."

If this matter was brought up at the board meeting, Kim Sang-deok could be dismissed on the spot. His grandfather was prepared for that much.

"It's okay now that you're here. You've grown up very well."

His grandfather's words were burdensome, but he felt good that he seemed to be supporting him.

"You're going to be very busy. Make a few more allies. You have to come over here now."

"I'll stay here for another year. I'll go when I'm thirty-one, as promised."

"It can be a little earlier. It's okay."

Jaepil seemed to have already made a place for him next to him and was urging his grandson.

\

5 p.m. Reception work was over. Now, if she fixed a few more of the received devices, her work for the day would be over.

There was only one more day left to come to work.

She used to find the routine of coming to the same place and doing the same thing every day boring, but now that it was time to leave, every moment felt precious.

I was happy to fix people's precious devices. It seemed like I was always fixing the same thing, but everyone was different. Different stories, different symptoms, different repair methods.

How happy I was when I solved things that seemed like really serious problems. How proud I was when customers thanked me.

For someone who wasn't good at talking and only knew how to work diligently, being a service engineer was the best job. The fact that she had to give up this job and find a new life was daunting, but if it weren't for this, she would have passed by her daily life without knowing it was precious.

When she finished repairing the phones she was in charge of, So-eun's phone rang. It was a text message from Tae-joon.

• Come up for a moment.

And she had an office romance.

She was nervous about getting caught and sad that she couldn't tell anyone, but it was really nice.

Everything was precious.

So-eun quickly tidied up her desk and went up to the 7th floor. Chief Song Mun-gyeong greeted So-eun.

"Chief Han, thank you for the gift yesterday. It was very pretty. My husband told me to thank you too."

"I'm glad you liked it."

"Go on in."

Mun-gyeong smiled contentedly and opened the door for her. When So-eun entered the office, Tae-joon stood up from his seat and approached her.

"I met with my grandfather."

At Tae-joon's report, So-eun's feet stopped in their tracks. So-eun was afraid that he would hear her heartbeat.

"I showed him the report, and my grandfather said it was okay."

Ah.

That's what it was. So-eun let out a deep sigh without realizing it. Tae-joon, who interpreted the sigh as simply the result of the report, suggested,

"I'm going to present this next month, and I'd like you to help me prepare. There might be parts I don't know."

"Ah..."

It was another difficult situation. I won't be here next week.

"...I'll talk to Chief Jang Eun-pyo too."

"I only need Han So-eun."

"Chief Jang Eun-pyo is more knowledgeable and skilled than I am. We need to prepare properly."

So-eun recommended Eun-pyo, but Tae-joon looked disappointed. He was sad that they wouldn't have time alone.

"We won't be able to see each other much in the future, will we?"

"Are you busy?"

"I have to meet a lot of people. I need to raise my profile more before the presentation."

"..."

"Hoo. I don't know why my old man is making things so difficult for me."

Tae-joon, who sighed, leaned on So-eun as if he were being spoiled and hugged her. He must be really serious about exercising, because his shoulders and chest seemed to have become more sturdy and solid. It was like being hugged by a grown lion who didn't know how big he had become and was just cutely hugging his zookeeper.

"But don't worry. We can spend this weekend together."

Of course. That schedule was a work thoroughly designed by your grandfather.

She fully understood the pain of losing his son, but sometimes she was chilled by his thoroughness.

But I don't have the right to hate your grandfather.

Tae-joon's voice spread languidly in So-eun's ear, who had wandered off to think about something else.

"I heard you gave Chief Song a gift."

"...A baby onesie. I heard it's good to give baby shower gifts in advance."

"What about me?"

"Do you need a baby onesie?"

Tae-joon, who had released the hug, tilted his head and looked at her with eyes that said, "What would I use that for?" Then he chuckled as if he was happy.

"We'll need it someday, too."

We too.

Tae-joon couldn't yet read the tears in her eyes at that answer. He was just a cheerful prince indulging in happy fantasies, complaining out of petty jealousy.

"Instead, buy me a gift too. Anything is fine."

Tae-joon had once told her that he wouldn't accept anything from her, even though she had always wanted to give him something.

But he wanted to receive a small gift.

"You don't have to buy anything expensive."

He was just curious about what she would choose while thinking of him.

He was also curious about what he would be like when he received it.

Tae-joon was simply in love with her bunny eyes, which were wide with surprise as if she thought his request was unexpected.

*

Another day passed, and it was Friday.

When she was young, when just enduring was the best she could do, time never seemed to pass, but the last week flew by in the blink of an eye.

After finishing her last task, So-eun handed Bobae, who was humming and packing her bag because it was Friday, a prepared gift.

"Bobae. This is a gift."

"Huh? Why suddenly? Is today a special day?"

"It's just hand cream. You liked this scent, Bobae. I bought one while I was shopping."

"Oh my gosh! I'm so touched, Chief."

Bobae, who had a lot of emotional expression, was overjoyed and had a happy expression on her face. So-eun was also proud.

"Thank you. I'll use it well."

"Yeah. Bobae, you worked hard for a week."

"You too, Chief. Have a good weekend."

After Bobae, who had received the gift, waved her hand cheerfully and left, So-eun chased after Eun-pyo, who was leaving work.

"Chief Jang, you worked hard."

"Yes. You too, Chief Han."

She felt indebted to Eun-pyo. It was because she had entrusted the work she had to do to Eun-pyo. The role of assisting Tae-joon with his presentation at the board meeting with relevant expertise. She had told Eun-pyo to prepare together, but she would be gone next week, so Eun-pyo would be doing it alone.

"Chief Jang. Please take good care of Director."

"Weren't you going to do it together, Chief Han?"

"Anyway. Chief Jang is more knowledgeable."

Eun-pyo scratched his head awkwardly at So-eun's compliment.

"And this. It's a Vanilla Latte gift certificate."

Actually, she wanted to give gifts to everyone in the Mobile Service Team, but that would be too obvious.

When So-eun handed over the gift, Eun-pyo waved his hand.

"No, you don't have to give me something like this."

"Still. I thought you'd like it. Drink it with your friends."

It's not that I like Vanilla Lattes. It's that I liked you.

Eun-pyo carefully accepted the gift to avoid embarrassing So-eun, who was still holding onto it.

"Thank you. I'll enjoy it."

To Eun-pyo, who didn't know So-eun's fate, the gift seemed like a bribe. A bribe to take good care of Director Kim Tae-joon, her boyfriend. Eun-pyo felt sorry for So-eun, who was only sincere and kind, and ended up saying something he shouldn't have.

"I know about your relationship with Director Kim Tae-joon, Chief."

Her surprised expression was also pretty. Eun-pyo felt pathetic that he still couldn't let go of his feelings even after saying these words.

"...No one else knows that I know."

"I'm sorry."

"It's okay."

She hadn't done anything wrong, so what was she apologizing for? When she bowed her head, Eun-pyo also bowed his head.

The situation suddenly became awkward. Eun-pyo, who was heavily burdened by the silence that followed, asked cautiously.

"Are you okay?"

"About what?"

"It seems like a difficult path."

"No. It's not hard."

"..."

"There's no one who's loved as much as I am."

So-eun, who had resigned herself to the fact that her relationship had been discovered, smiled prettily again. She was prettier this way than when she was surprised. Eun-pyo hid his mouth inside, unable to say that he was too envious of Director Kim Tae-joon.

"Actually, I want to brag about it so much. It's a shame that I can't. Everyone in the world should know how cool our director is."

"Ah, stop."

"Yes?"

"It's a little uncomfortable."

"Ah... I'm sorry."

"No. It can happen."

"..."

"You look good, Chief."

I don't necessarily want to hear her praise Kim Tae-joon, but I like her pretty appearance, so I want to support her.

"Actually, the director looks much better than you, but."

"Yes. I hope so."

She continues to be pretty. She was someone who would continue to be pretty.