APOS 05

Chapter 05

Dojun stared at Kanghyun for a long while with confused eyes.

Since when had it been?

Seobin had been desperately saving money.

She had probably started doing it even more after she began working at the company. Was all of that because she intended to propose to Cha Kanghyun?

He had known that his younger sister had a crush on Kanghyun during her teenage years, but he had never imagined that, after becoming an adult, she would save up money for marriage because she had made one mistake with him.

What a crazy girl……

Dojun took a rough gulp of alcohol before continuing.

“I just looked five years into the future.”

“Are you a shaman?”

“Listen. Our princess is going to have to get married someday anyway. She’ll probably date before then, too, right? So rather than have some other shady bastard as her partner, I think you’d be better, Kanghyun.”

“What?”

“Do you like our Seobin?”

Kanghyun answered a beat later in response to Dojun’s one-sided way of talking.

“I don’t dislike her.”

“Good. Well, if a man and woman keep bumping into each other, feelings can develop.”

“You heard that my sister proposed to me, yet you’re surprisingly not saying much.”

“Yeah. But I have one favor to ask.”

“What is it?”

“Let’s keep it a secret from Seobin that you’re being transferred to Shinsung Electronics next week.”

Kanghyun wondered what Dojun was talking about, but then Seobin came to mind. She believed that he had absolutely nothing to do with Shinsung.

“If she finds out you’re coming as her boss, she might beat me to death first and quit her job.”

Kanghyun narrowed his eyes, muttering quietly,

“No way……”

“It’s true. That girl secretly spent four years preparing for marriage because she believed you became impotent because of her. That means she takes even small things extremely seriously. Now think about it the other way around.”

Kanghyun thought about it.

If what Dojun said was true, Seobin might think she had been deceived for four years and never see Dojun again for the rest of her life. No, there was a high chance she would avoid Kanghyun as well.

“Then what about after I take the position? She’ll find out eventually.”

Dojun frowned deeply before scratching his head roughly.

“After that, it’s up to you.”

What was he talking about now?

“If Seobin quits before you take the position, that’s her choice.”

“……”

“But if she quits after you take the position, wouldn’t that be your fault?”

“You bastard.”

At Kanghyun’s sincere curse, Dojun raised both hands in surrender.

In the end, it meant that after taking the position, Kanghyun would have to make a fool of himself in front of Seobin to keep her from quitting, and it would also be his responsibility to use his power to keep her at the company.

But did he really need to do that?

Wouldn’t it be better to tell her the truth?

“……”

Lost in thought, Kanghyun slowly shook his head.

He did not want Seobin to learn his identity, become frightened, and run away before anything even happened.

“Grandpa’s grandson is impotent.”

Perhaps he might need her someday to escape from his unreasonable grandfather.

On the subway during her commute to work, Seobin’s forehead creased deeply as she was squeezed in among the crowd.

Even though it was difficult to keep her balance, she stared intently at her phone.

She had lost contact with Kanghyun ever since she met him last week.

Both Cha Kanghyun and Lee Dojun.

Especially Lee Dojun.

He was not answering her texts or calls.

“Haa.”

A sigh escaped her from sheer frustration.

Kanghyun must have told his friend Dojun that she had proposed to him.

That was why she wanted to ask Dojun what Kanghyun thought, but……

“What should I do?”

Her worry only grew.

What if Kanghyun had decided not to marry her because he felt sorry about marrying her in his impotent state?

The Kanghyun she knew hated causing trouble for others, and even when he came over to her house for just a short visit, he never came empty-handed.

Moreover, even when she had made a mistake with him during one of his visits, he had been considerate enough to pretend he had not noticed and let it slide.

I really like that kind of oppa so much. I’m okay with taking care of him……. I really don’t care even if he’s impotent……

“Hoo……”

After worrying and agonizing over it with a head full of concerns, she had already arrived at Shinsung Electronics headquarters.

She had just entered through the main entrance when someone poked her hard in the side with a finger.

Startled, Seobin arched her back like a bow and jumped far to the side.

“W-What are you doing, Manager Choi?”

It was Manager Choi Dong-gu of Development Team 2, whom she had been working with since the TF team was formed eight months ago.

“Did you go on a date with your boyfriend over the weekend? Your face looks even brighter.”

Seobin barely managed to move her stiff lips into a smile.

The TF team had almost been disbanded when the executive who had been leading it suddenly passed away, but about a month ago, the project resumed following an order from above.

It had been good news for the team members, so they had gone out for drinks that very day.

And that was when Manager Choi’s obsession had begun.

They had been at a barbecue restaurant, and when Seobin asked the neighboring table to lend her a pair of scissors, the person sitting there happened to be Manager Choi.

Their hands had touched while he was handing her the scissors, and ever since that day, whenever he saw Seobin, he would brush the back of her hand or touch her shoulder with unpleasant physical contact.

For now, there was still little chance of running into him because the new division head had not yet taken office, but after the managing director’s inauguration ceremony next week, she would have to see his face every day.

“Since you’re not answering, I guess you do have a boyfriend?”

Swallowing her irritation, Seobin gave him a brief nod before quickly walking away.

Just then, she saw people getting into the elevator in the distance.

“Oh! The elevator’s here! Seobin, let’s run!”

At Manager Choi’s words, Seobin, who was slightly ahead of him, hurried toward the speed gate.

Before passing through it, however, she deliberately slowed down.

One second. Two seconds. Just a little longer.

“What are you doing?”

Manager Choi, right behind her, shouted at her for not moving.

“I’m going!”

Seobin scanned her employee ID and dashed forward at full speed.

Just before the elevator doors closed, someone kind enough to hear her shout, “Wait!” pressed the open button.

“Huh? Assistant Manager Lee! I’m getting on too! Wait! Hold on!”

She heard Manager Choi’s urgent voice from behind, but Seobin hurried into the elevator and repeatedly pressed the close button.

Fortunately, because she had deliberately stalled at the speed gate, she avoided the disaster of having to ride the elevator with Manager Choi.

“Phew.”

Why do I have to run because of that man first thing in the morning?

The word resignation floated around her chaotic mind, but soon Kanghyun came to mind as well.

That’s right. For oppa’s sake, I can’t quit because of someone like him. Absolutely not.

She clenched her fists as she vowed not to entertain negative thoughts at work and to think only positive thoughts.

However, her resolve did not even last half a day.

Since the beginning of the month, two interns had joined Seobin’s team as part of their probationary period.

After successfully completing a PPT presentation under Seobin’s direction, they were given some time to go to the company café and receive some encouragement.

One of the interns, Gyeongsik, was about to step into the elevator when he suddenly stopped.

“Oh, Assistant Manager. I didn’t set my messenger status to Away. Just a moment.”

“It’s okay. The deputy manager told me to take you and Sujin out for coffee, so no one will give you any work while we’re gone.”

Reassured by Seobin, Gyeongsik stepped fully into the elevator and exchanged a small “Oh yeah!” gesture with the other intern, Sujin.

Seobin smiled warmly as she watched them.

They were not much younger than her, but they were still young enough to remind her of when she had first joined the company.

And thanks to them, she also got to have a little break, which she appreciated.

When they arrived on the first floor and entered the company café to order coffee, Seobin suddenly made eye contact with Manager Choi, who was turning around after picking up his coffee from the pickup counter several meters away.

“Huh?”

Ah…… Seriously.

Seobin immediately looked away and pretended she had not seen him before ordering her coffee.

“Two iced lattes and one Americano, please.”

“Thank you, Assistant Manager.”

“We’ll enjoy it.”

The oblivious interns happily went off to find a table.

Seobin also tried to hurry away, but Manager Choi, holding his coffee, quickly followed her and lightly tapped her with his elbow.

“Team 1 must be pretty free?”

Seobin ground her teeth inwardly and answered casually.

“We’re not free. It’s just a time to encourage the interns.”

“Heh heh. Looks like you can live pretty comfortably on an assistant manager’s salary. You’re even buying coffee for the interns.”