Chapter 4 (Part 3)

“Ouch, it’s hot! My face is all flushed.”

Hae-jeong shuddered as she heard about last night’s commotion from In-ah.

“How can you face Lee Jinwon again after that embarrassment?”

“Just stop there. I’m warning you.”

“You’ve already fallen for him. Don’t you think it’s funny pretending you haven’t?”

Hae-jeong’s sharp remark made In-ah jump up as if she was wronged.

“Who said I’ve fallen for him?”

“Welcome.”

Hae-jeong quickly switched to work mode, greeting a customer who had just walked in.

The customer had come to the animal hospital where Hae-jeong worked as a nurse. 

In-ah, who had been glaring at Hae-jeong, also turned her attention to the customer who had just entered.

“I just found this little one on the street. Could you check its condition?”

Cradling a stray dog with a terrified expression was, surprisingly, Lee Seong-jun.

“Oh? Seo In-ah?”

In-ah stared intently at Seong-jun, who was watching the dog being treated. It was fascinating to see Seong-jun’s face wrinkle as if he felt the dog’s pain.

“What are you doing right now?”

Hae-jeong found In-ah’s expression intriguing.

“Your expression is really strange right now. Do you know that?”

“What do you mean?”

In-ah tried to avoid Hae-jeong’s sharp gaze, like someone who had been caught in the act.

“You look like someone welcoming an arrow that’s left the bow with open arms.”

“What? Bow? What arrow?”

“Cupid’s arrow, of course.”

“You’re talking nonsense.”

In-ah scoffed as if it was absurd. But Hae-jeong, with narrowed eyes, didn’t stop there.

“Make it clear. Is he your ex-boyfriend or a new crush?”

At that moment, Seong-jun, who was carefully carrying the dog out of the examination room, paused. Seeing his wide eyes and the way he was gauging In-ah’s reaction, it seemed he had heard Hae-jeong’s words.

***

While paying for the treatment with a card, Seong-jun glanced at In-ah. When their eyes met, In-ah began explaining unasked details.

“Oh, my friend works here. I came to visit her.”

“Ah.”

Seong-jun nodded briefly and spoke to Hae-jeong.

“Could this dog stay here and receive the necessary treatment? I’ll cover all the expenses.”

In-ah’s gaze fell on the stray dog nestled in Seong-jun’s arms. The dog, with its terrified expression, burrowed deeper into Seong-jun’s embrace under In-ah’s gaze.

In-ah looked up and watched Seong-jun as he made additional payments. She had thought he was just another entitled second-generation chaebol, but he had this unexpected side to him.

Moreover, it was the first time she saw Seong-jun in casual clothes instead of a suit. Somehow, he looked like a completely different person—a kind and gentle handsome guy, perhaps?

Of course, it wasn’t like she was struck by Cupid’s arrow, as Hae-jeong suggested. In-ah shot a belated glare at Hae-jeong.

After bidding farewell to Hae-jeong, who had to work late, In-ah left the animal hospital. Just then, she bumped into Seong-jun, who was coming out of the café next door.

“Oh?”

“Oh?”

Both of them wore surprised expressions, then quickly broke into awkward smiles at each other’s reactions.

“We’re seeing each other often, aren’t we?”

‘We?’

In-ah felt like something was stuck with Seong-jun’s choice of words. But she chose to respond with a smile.

“Well, I’ll be going now…”

In-ah turned to leave quickly.

“Seo In-ah!”

When Seong-jun called her, In-ah turned back, and he hesitated briefly before speaking.

“Are you heading to the subway station? Or the bus?”

“I take the bus.”

“I take the bus too. Can I join you? I’m not familiar with this area.”

With Seong-jun nodding, there was no way for In-ah to refuse. 

Sitting side by side with Seong-jun waiting for the bus felt indescribably awkward for In-ah. She wasn’t usually uncomfortable around her superiors, but something felt off this time. Seong-jun’s expression wasn’t much different from In-ah’s.

“Seo In-ah. I feel like I was rude to you before…”

In-ah widened her eyes in disbelief.

“…I think I owe you an apology.”

“What are you referring to?”

“When I asked if you were dating Team Leader Lee again…”

“Oh, yes.”

In-ah quickly interrupted Seong-jun. Then she turned to face him.

Seong-jun’s face showed sudden embarrassment. How could he not feel burdened when a woman was staring intently at him from such a close distance?

Seeing Seong-jun’s eyes darting left and right, In-ah urged him.

“Do it now. I’m ready to listen.”

“Huh?”

“Your apology.”

“Oh!”

In truth, what Seong-jun had said earlier was the entirety of his apology. But it seemed In-ah was intent on receiving a proper apology.

Trying to hide his flustered expression, Seong-jun opened his mouth to speak, though he couldn’t meet her eyes.

“I’m sorry. It wasn’t my place to interfere. I was out of line.”

In response, In-ah turned back to face forward and said,

“I’ll accept your apology. Even criminals get lighter sentences when they turn themselves in.”

Seong-jun’s eyebrows twitched at In-ah’s unexpected words.

Then, as if she had almost forgotten, In-ah added with wide eyes,

“You know there’s no leniency for repeat offenders, right? I’m sure you know, but just in case.”

In-ah winked at Seong-jun. 

Failing to hide his flustered expression, Seong-jun froze, looking as if he’d seen a creature from another planet.

“Seo In-ah, you don’t find me intimidating at all, do you?”

“What?”

“Usually people find it hard to approach their company’s director. Ordinary employees, I mean.”

After speaking, Seong-jun checked In-ah’s reaction, worried he might have misspoken again.

“Oh, maybe it’s because I’m not a typical employee. Unlike others, my whole world is furniture, not the furniture company ‘Lysian’.”

The director of the furniture company ‘Lysian,’ who was listening, couldn’t help but let out a chuckle.

It was because of ‘Seo In-ah,’ who was so bright and confident.

***

In-ah’s new project finished its revisions and moved to the next stage.

A meeting was convened with the relevant stakeholders before the launch. 

VMDs (visual merchandisers), the marketing team, and the photography team gathered in the meeting room. Jinwon’s design team, including In-ah, was also present.

Marketing team member Sang-wook was excited as soon as he entered the meeting room. In contrast, the VMDs had stiff expressions.

As expected, once the meeting began, VMD Team Leader Goo raised objections. He was sitting with his chair tilted back.

“Since this is a risky task, we’re being cautious, and it’s quite bothersome.”

“What do you mean?”

Jinwon, with a blank expression, immediately questioned.

“Well, the marketing team has to come up with a strategy, and we have to plan the exhibition. With furniture that’s already stamped as a ‘failure,’ how can we be enthusiastic about strategies or planning?”

Throughout his speech, Team Leader Goo tapped his fingers on the table. Then, adding his final words, he poked In-ah’s arm with his finger.

“Don’t you think so?”

It all happened so quickly that it was hard to react. In-ah just frowned slightly. However, Jinwon’s brow furrowed deeply.

“Team Leader Goo, do you work based on enthusiasm?”

At Jinwon’s direct question, Team Leader Goo’s fingers, which had been tapping the table, paused.

“Wow, that’s a strange way to put it. It’s quite offensive when you hear it.”

“This isn’t a place to speak to make people feel good or bad. Please refrain from unnecessary remarks.”

Jinwon’s voice grew louder. His furrowed brow indicated how sharp he had become.

The only person in the meeting room who hadn’t noticed this was Team Leader Goo.

Team Leader Goo, once again, tapped In-ah’s hand on the table with his finger and said,

“Your new team leader is quite strict, isn’t he?”

In the blink of an eye, Jinwon approached Team Leader Goo and grabbed his finger.

“Ah! Ouch!”

Team Leader Goo stood up, seemingly pulled by his captured finger, letting out a series of cries as if he were in pain. In contrast, Jinwon’s expression remained calm.

“Team Leader Lee!”

Startled, Kang Cheol rushed over and finally separated Team Leader Goo from Jinwon.

Having regained his finger, Team Leader Goo shouted, still clutching his hand in pain.

“What is the meaning of this?”

The sudden situation left all the employees bewildered.

Team Leader Goo’s anger didn’t subside easily.

“Grabbing someone out of the blue during a meeting… This is clearly assault, assault!”

“It seemed more like Team Leader Lee was saving you, not assaulting you.”

In-ah spoke up in the tense atmosphere where no one else dared to step in. As the employees’ attention focused on her, Team Leader Goo’s anger flared up.

“What kind of nonsense is that?”

“You keep poking with your fingers everywhere, touching my hand. Did you know you poked my side too?”

Team Leader Goo’s face turned ashen.

“That was just a natural gesture among close colleagues…”

“Of course, I understood and let it go. But it seems our team leader couldn’t stand such ‘behavior.'”

Team Leader Goo’s face changed colors rapidly. Now it looked like a burning sweet potato, full of anger.

“What? Behavior?”

“The sight of you being sued for s*xual harassment. So, calm down. You meant well, after all.”

In-ah smiled sweetly at Team Leader Goo.