NFS 3.17

Park Hyo-joon froze with his mouth hanging open like a cartoon character. Such shocking words were a first since confirming he wasn’t his father’s biological child in high school. No, he’d had some suspicions about that, so honestly, this was more surprising.

“Shit, maybe I’m not sober yet.”

Park Hyo-joon shook his head and asked again.

“The princess doesn’t like you?”

“Not yet.”

Park Hyo-joon recalled Joo Seung-ha from the gathering. He’d thought he just had a nice face, but this was something else.

“If it’s not yet, why are you in such a good mood?”

“None of your business.”

Seo Ahn-jae answered with another bright smile. Park Hyo-joon’s mouth fell open again. Is just thinking about it making you that happy? Did you spend some amazing night with the other person or something? He wanted to ask more but knowing Seo Ahn-jae would lose it if he pushed further after the warning, he deliberately changed the subject.

“You really didn’t know anything secretly about Chairman Lee’s information?”

“No.”

“Then how were you so sure?”

Seo Ahn-jae shrugged his shoulders as if it was nothing.

“His attitude bothered me.”

“What attitude? Remember how desperately he acted when asking us to withdraw our money? Information like that couldn’t be false, right?”

“That’s exactly it. What wouldn’t a desperate bastard lie about?”

Park Hyo-joon felt like he’d been hit hard on the back of his head. It was such a simple fact. Why hadn’t he thought of this then? As soon as he realized it, his anger from the past couple of days dissolved like foam. In its place, only emptiness was left behind.

“Ha, shit.”

Park Hyo-joon rubbed his head hard, berating himself. You idiot. Oh, you fucking idiot. After pulling at his hair for a while, he took a deep breath and looked up. Seo Ahn-jae asked as if he’d been waiting all along.

“Done with the self-loathing?”

“More or less.”

“Then we need to settle the remaining debt.”

Debt? Seo Ahn-jae expressionlessly brought up their past bet.

“About getting on your knees.”

Park Hyo-joon’s face instantly contorted as he remembered.

“If I win, you get on your knees too. But not to me.”

“Then to who?”

And then a name came out of Seo Ahn-jae’s mouth. A truly incredible name. But now he actually had to do it? Park Hyo-joon asked with his eyes tightly shut, as if it was absurd.

“Hey, seriously, you’re really telling me to kneel before your sister?”

At Seo Ahn-jae’s casual “yeah,” Park Hyo-joon took a deep breath and asked, “Just…why?”

“Because I’m supposed to kneel but I don’t want to.”

What a crazy bastard. Park Hyo-joon asked again in frustration, “Fine, say I do it. But would your sister really grant the request just because I kneel before her?”

“Yeah. She never said it had to be me kneeling. And Seo Jihae’s business connections include your family’s parent company. So it’ll be effective if you do it. Make sure to do it at the office. Better yet, in front of the law firm’s representative. So Jihae absolutely can’t refuse your request.”

Park Hyo-joon squeezed his eyes shut again. Ah, should I just die?

***

These days, even though appearing on TV wasn’t special anymore with the increase in personal broadcasts and channels, it was still big news around the office that the company’s CEO would appear on a talk show hosted by the country’s top MC. The company bulletin board was full of posts asking about the broadcast date, and the anonymous board had joking predictions about how the CEO’s appearance would boost the company’s value.

Secretary Choi thought Seo Ahn-jae, the person in question, seemed the least interested in this matter. On the day of the studio recording, Seo Ahn-jae went about his morning schedule as usual, showing not even a gram of nervousness about the broadcast appearance.

Secretary Choi even suspected he might have forgotten about today’s filming. He seemed to only remember, “Ah, there’s filming today,” when the PR team staff brought his clothes. The problem was that deciding what to wear was delayed because he had to ask someone else again.

“We need to leave now.”

While checking delayed reports on his tablet, Seo Ahn-jae answered half-heartedly.

“We should.”

Surely he’s not delaying because he’s waiting for someone’s reply? Secretary Choi asked himself this carefully with a suspicious look.

“Are you waiting for a message?”

“Yes.”

Seo Ahn-jae answered casually again while quickly scrolling through the screen. Since becoming CEO, perhaps because he couldn’t check all the details of reported agenda items, he tried to at least skim through them whenever he had a chance. With Seo Ahn-jae focused on the tablet, Secretary Choi couldn’t ask more, but time really was running short.

He’d look good in anything, but the PR team had specific preferences. One bright, cheerful colored top. The other was a neutral, understated achromatic outfit. The PR team had prepared two contrasting styles for variety, but if Seo Ahn-jae left the choice to someone else like last time, he’d likely end up in the achromatic one.

Sure enough, when his phone buzzed with a message notification, Seo Ahn-jae curved his lips up and picked up the achromatic outfit. Secretary Choi grew really curious watching him. The clothing choice was as expected, but what could the other person have said to make him smile so happily? To Secretary Choi’s eyes, that curved lip looked like a bright smile of pure joy.

***

Ah, really. Joo Seung-ha was internally annoyed at yet another text demanding him to choose between two outfit photos. He’d been ignoring it, thinking there was no need to choose, when another message came as if reading his mind.

“Want to hear your name mentioned on broadcast?”

It was ridiculous—the hidden threat that he’d say Joo Seung-ha’s name if he didn’t choose. Wouldn’t that be disadvantageous for him? While Joo Seung-ha was just an unremarkable salesperson, Seo Ahn-jae would become celebrity-level famous after the broadcast. But that was exactly why the threat worked. Regardless of how he mentioned Joo Seung-ha’s name, there was a risk of getting caught up in that celebrity-level attention. Just thinking about it made him dizzy.

“The right one.”

After sending that single message, his annoyance at the threat made him add, “Sunbae should just go naked. Strip and say my name.”

There was no immediate reply. Somehow feeling like the other was too busy laughing to respond made him even more irritated.

“Am I too late?”

Hearing the voice in front of him, Joo Seung-ha quickly put away his smartphone and got up to his feet. The person who approached was Hong Chanwoo, who he’d arranged to meet today. His face was slightly flushed as if he’d been running. Though their meeting place was the building housing N Company’s broadcast studio, he appeared to have come from outside. Joo Seung-ha looked out the glass window, thinking of today’s particularly hot weather. Even without going outside to check, he could gauge how scorching the sunlight must be.

“I had a quick errand outside.”

Hong Chanwoo noticed Joo Seung-ha’s glance and smiled as if to say it was fine.

“Was the building hard to find? People don’t usually know there’s a filming studio back here, hidden behind the logistics center.”

“I’m good at finding my way around.”

“That’s good. And you didn’t have trouble getting in? Security is quite strict here.”

How thoughtful of him to ask. Is this his natural personality? Joo Seung-ha wondered, shaking his head. While they checked more thoroughly than other places, there hadn’t been any difficulties thanks to Hong Chanwoo’s advance instructions. Joo Seung-ha said “No” and added playfully, “It’d be nice if it could help get rid of stalkers.”

“Do you have stalkers?”

Hong Chanwoo’s face suddenly turned serious, making Joo Seung-ha shake his head again.

“No…I don’t.”

His voice trailed off as he remembered the people Seo Ahn-jae had assigned to follow him. Though he didn’t think they were still around now. He can’t be that obsessed with me. Joo Seung-ha was lost in thoughts about Seo Ahn-jae before asking the still seriously staring person before him, “Would you like something to drink?”

As Joo Seung-ha offered and started to get up to order, Hong Chanwoo stopped him seriously.

“Please stay seated. I’ll get it. What would you like?”

“I already have one.”

Only then did he notice the iced americano in front of Joo Seung-ha and looked embarrassed.

“I usually have good eyesight.”

“You’re blessed then.”

Joo Seung-ha had said it without thinking, but Hong Chanwoo smiled shyly as if receiving a great compliment.

“Haha, I’m glad I have good eyes.”

Then, avoiding eye contact, he quickly disappeared saying he’d get his own drink. Why does he seem somewhat scatterminded, unlike my first impression? Joo Seung-ha wondered slightly as he sat down. Then he finally checked Seo Ahn-jae’s delayed response.

“Your naked body is the best.”

Just reading the content, it seemed like some sleazy old man hitting on him. People would be surprised to know this came from Seo Ahn-jae, who was usually the epitome of cool. Joo Seung-ha clenched his fist, trying to resist the urge to respond out of defiance. Don’t reply. Ignore it. Chanting this mantra, he looked for somewhere else to focus and watched Hong Chanwoo ordering at the counter.

Though he’d only looked because he needed something to focus on, when Hong Chanwoo turned around with his drink and their eyes met, he noticeably flinched. A suspicion arose in Joo Seung-ha’s mind. Did he hear everything from his girlfriend? That I’m the one who made Assistant Manager Shim cry?

“I’m so late. I’m sorry.”

Hong Chanwoo quickly approached and apologized again while sitting down. As Joo Seung-ha had felt at their first meeting, he seemed very polite. Joo Seung-ha quickly shook his head.

“Not at all. I haven’t been here long either.”

“You came all the way to my workplace, but something suddenly came up. I’m usually on time to all my appointments.”

As he spoke with genuine remorse, Joo Seung-ha also nodded seriously with a “Yes.”

“Today’s meeting is for me to brief you on the general direction, and the detailed sales conditions and price negotiations will be discussed between the working-level staff on both sides. I heard your company also has a separate department handling the practical matters.”

Joo Seung-ha nodded and first handed over his business card.

“Sorry for the late introduction. I’m Team Leader Joo Seung-ha.”

The card requested to be addressed by title, but Hong Chanwoo kept staring at it after receiving it. Is there something strange about my card? While Joo Seung-ha was wondering, Hong Chanwoo blurted out, “It’s pretty.”

The card? But to Joo Seung-ha’s eyes, it looked completely ordinary. Though as a pet food company, it might have had some common animal illustrations, it was just a straightforward card with just the company logo.

“That’s the first time I’ve heard that.”

“Really? I thought you’d hear it often. Your name is really pretty.”

Ah, he was talking about my name. Joo Seung-ha shifted what he was evaluating, but still didn’t understand.

“No, that’s also a first.”

At those words, Hong Chanwoo suddenly laughed silently. When Joo Seung-ha looked puzzled at his seemingly pleased laugh, he brushed back his long bangs that had fallen into his eyes.

“I’m honored to be the first one to say it.”

If it were the usual Joo Seung-ha, he would have reacted sensitively and put up walls just in case, but there was a firm premise that prevented him from building walls with the person before him. He’s Assistant Manager Shim’s boyfriend. An office romance. But knowing that the other man was bisexual, he wasn’t completely caught off guard. While he surely wouldn’t try to cheat on his girlfriend, some caution was necessary.

“There’s no need to consider something like this an honor.”

When his voice came out cold, Hong Chanwoo faced him seriously as if coming to his senses.

“I said something that might have made you uncomfortable. I’ll be more careful moving forward.”

The polite apology made Joo Seung-ha embarrassed. Did I overreact just now? While he was worrying internally, Hong Chanwoo took out his tablet. And began explaining various project ideas. Though it was an Internet shopping broadcast, he had been worried if he could do it, but Hong Chanwoo’s ideas were interesting and seemed fun just from hearing the explanation, so his worries quickly disappeared.

Later, Joo Seung-ha started offering opinions too. He meant it as “use me more,” but Hong Chanwoo absolutely refused to give Joo Seung-ha any unreasonable tasks. Aren’t they the client and I’m the supplier? Finding it curious, Joo Seung-ha joked, “I know a surer way to get views.”

“What is it?”

“I could strip everything off.”

This was all because of texting with Seo Ahn-jae earlier. Joo Seung-ha really meant it as a light joke, but there was no reaction. Was it not funny? When Joo Seung-ha looked up, he saw Hong Chanwoo with his head turned to the side. His ears were red like they had been at the bar.

***

“Wow, the CEO must be a natural at broadcasting.”

At the PR staff’s admiration, Secretary Choi held back from objecting. It wasn’t that he was suited for broadcasting, but rather that he was someone who could be shameless anywhere. Of course, he couldn’t speak the truth this time either. But even though he had expected Seo Ahn-jae to do well, he exceeded expectations so much that Secretary Choi felt somewhat impressed.

His complete lack of nervousness and normal behavior might have seemed arrogant, but he covered it with occasional smiles. The PR staff was pleased that the CEO could make proper broadcast-worthy smiles, but Secretary Choi knew those were genuine smiles. He definitely had something making him really happy.

He’d been like that since texting about the clothes issue at the company and receiving a reply. Did the other person suggest he should strip completely for the broadcast? Later, TV viewers would think Seo Ahn-jae was as soft as tofu seeing his smile. When in reality, he was hard as marble.

“Oh? We agreed not to ask such personal questions…”

Hearing the PR staff’s worried mumble beside him, Secretary Choi looked at the recording set surrounded by numerous cameras. Seo Ahn-jae, seated between two MCs, slightly lowered his head as if listening to the questioning MC’s question, then curved his lips in a slight smile. Having missed the question while lost in thought, Secretary Choi whispered to the PR staff, “What was the question?”

The PR staff covered their mouth and whispered back, and soon Secretary Choi’s eyebrows furrowed. What?

After the broadcast recording, there was no contact from Joo Seung-ha, but other news awaited Seo Ahn-jae. It was Park Hyo-joon’s messages flooding the SNS chat with curses. Seo Ahn-jae ignored the cursing and scrolled down until he confirmed the content he wanted at the end.

“Seo Jihae says she’ll accept my sincerity of kneeling and give you Cookie or Yoki or whatever. Happy now, you fucking bastard?!”

“Yeah.”

Seo Ahn-jae threw back a one-letter response and opened another chat. There was a message from his sister.

“Hey.”

That was it. Though it was a threatening form of address like the calm before a storm, Seo Ahn-jae knew his sister would keep her word even with her difficult personality, so he wasn’t too worried. He didn’t feel the need to reply to his sister and just closed the window. Now he just needed to go pick up that dog. Ah, he could go with Joo Seung-ha. Seo Ahn-jae was unconsciously smirking as he tried to check other messages when he noticed Secretary Choi hovering nearby.