Marriage Mate: 15

Even in the midst of this dreadful situation, time somehow continued to pass. Yu-young, having been dragged into the team leader’s office and instructed to make corrections, wrote down all the necessary modifications on post-it notes, creating a checklist. Using that as a reference, he began revising the report. His mind was a mess, so it was better to focus on work.

The previously quiet “Just Us” chatroom began to liven up again as lunchtime approached.

[What should we have for lunch?]

[Do you guys want to go to the cafeteria today? They’re serving samgyetang.]

[Oh, really? Then let’s go to the cafeteria!]

Since there were plenty of good restaurants around the company, they often ate out, but Yu-young’s team members also frequently used the in-house cafeteria. Judging by the conversation, it seemed like they had decided to eat inside today.

[We should probably check with the team leader first, right?]

[When is he going to come out…]

At some point, the decision-maker had naturally shifted from the deputy manager to the team leader. It wasn’t exactly a pleasant change for Yu-young, but considering how much Deputy Manager Kim loved dragging them to the same restaurants over and over for kimchi stew and soft tofu stew, this was probably the lesser evil.

Just then, the team leader’s office door opened.

“Let’s eat first.”

He looked like the type of person who would prioritize work over meals, yet the moment it hit noon, he came out and said something like that—it didn’t suit him at all. The team members must have felt the same, as they blinked in surprise before promptly responding with a cheerful, “Yes!” and standing up.

—Except for Yu-young, who remained seated. The team members turned to him with wide eyes.

“Huh? You’re not coming?”

“Oh, no. I just don’t have much of an appetite. I’ll just have a sandwich.”

Yu-young gave them a vague smile and nodded slightly. He had planned to eat something simple at his desk and focus on his report. It wasn’t that he wasn’t hungry at all, but his anxiety about the report was gnawing at him. He quickly greeted them and was about to turn his attention back to the monitor when—

“Does Assistant Manager Han usually not eat lunch with the team?”

Do-won’s firm voice cut through the air. His displeasure was evident.

“Ah… No, I usually do. Just for today—”

“Then come along. It looks like you’re protesting because I assigned you work.”

“What? No, that’s not—!”

Before he could finish his sentence, Do-won had already turned away. Glaring daggers at his arrogant back, Yu-young ground his teeth. He wanted nothing more than to let out a string of curses.

Who did he think he was? Did he think Yu-young actually wanted to eat a cold sandwich instead of warm chicken soup? And after making a fuss about how the team dinner depended on him finishing the report, how was anyone supposed to sit down and enjoy a relaxed meal?

On top of that, he absolutely did not want to share a table with that bastard. Of course, given how long they’d be working together, he couldn’t avoid him forever, but at the very least, he wanted to do so today. Yet even that small wish of his was about to be crushed.

Clenching his teeth, Yu-young forced out a polite voice and directed it at Do-won’s retreating figure.

“Team Leader. I’m not protesting because you assigned me work. I really just don’t feel like eating much right now.”

“Is that so?”

Do-won glanced back at him briefly. He clearly didn’t believe a word. Yu-young, filled with irritation, glared back at him. Getting scolded over the report was one thing, but being forced to eat lunch was another matter entirely—he absolutely couldn’t tolerate it.

As the team members nervously watched the tension between them, Deputy Manager Kim spoke up teasingly.

“ Assistant Manager Han, no matter what, it’s our team leader’s first day. Shouldn’t you at least join us for lunch—”

“That’s enough. If he doesn’t want to eat, I won’t force him. Let’s go.”

Do-won cut him off coldly and turned away. Kim, who had been abruptly silenced, looked awkward, while the rest of the team struggled to hold back their laughter. Normally, this would have been a moment for Yu-young to enjoy, but with someone he had always disliked and someone he was starting to dislike both ganging up on him, he was too mentally exhausted to even feel amused.

One by one, the team members filed out, leaving only Yu-young behind in the now-empty office. A deep silence settled over the space.

With a long sigh, Yu-young muttered to himself.

“…This is just depressing.”

Even though no one had yelled at him to skip a meal, Yu-young simply couldn’t stomach eating while watching the team leader and deputy manager sitting together.

He tried to convince himself that was the only reason, but his mood still sank. Honestly, he really didn’t want to eat with those guys, but if it weren’t for this report… would things have turned out this way?

Why was he taking all the blame and responsibility for something that wasn’t even his job? Meanwhile, the actual person in charge, that damn deputy manager, was off enjoying a warm bowl of samgyetang.

It had been satisfying to see the team leader call out the deputy manager in front of everyone earlier, but if that was the case, shouldn’t he have just handed the report back to him? Why scold the deputy and then still make Yu-young finish the report?

“Haaah…”

He let out another long sigh and finally started working on the report that had been glaring at him for a while.

After some time, a message popped up from Kim Ju-yeon.

[Assistant Manger Han, make sure to eat something. ㅜㅜ Don’t rush too much! From the looks of it, the company dinner will probably be tomorrow, so don’t stress over it too much and take your time!]

[Thanks for your concern. Enjoy your meal.]

Yu-young smiled slightly as he replied, but the moment he turned back to the monitor, his expression fell again. Even if the team dinner wasn’t happening today, the team leader had made it clear that he had to finish the report before leaving. If he couldn’t get it done after being told that, his pride would take a serious hit. So, with tired eyes, he kept typing away.

Then, he started feeling chills again. Now that he thought about it, he still needed to go to the hospital…! When he snapped back to his senses, twenty minutes had already passed. It was cutting it too close to make a hospital visit now.

Oh, crap. My car…!

One thing after another. The car he had abandoned on the road that morning suddenly came to mind, making his vision blur. He had been so distracted by the report and the team leader that he had completely forgotten.

Quickly, he called the insurance company and had a service worker dispatched. When the worker arrived, Yu-young grabbed his car keys and phone and hurried outside.

After opening the car’s hood and inspecting it, the worker clicked his tongue.

“The alternator’s dead. The battery, too. You’ll need to take it to a repair shop.”

“Oh, really? Haaah…”

“There’s a shop right next door. I can tow it there for you.”

The process was more complicated than he expected, and Yu-young sighed. Why was everything going wrong today? Was this some kind of bad luck year for him?

Even though he was pressed for time, he couldn’t just leave his car abandoned on the street. With no other choice, he got into the passenger seat of the worker’s car as it towed his own to the repair shop.

After finishing the paperwork and rushing back to the office, it was already 12:50. He hadn’t even had a sip of water, let alone that sandwich.

‘Damn it. This is just depressing…’

He trudged toward the elevator, and just as he was about to close the doors, they slid open again.

A group of colleagues entered, each holding a cup of coffee.

“Oh, Assistant Manager Han! Why are you on the first floor? Did you get to eat something?”

“Oh, my car broke down, so I had to take care of that. But I’m fine…”

As he sighed and answered absentmindedly, his eyes met Do-won’s, who was the last to step in.

For some reason, admitting that he hadn’t eaten in front of him felt embarrassing, so Yu-young clamped his mouth shut.

But Kim Ju-yeon eyes widened as she grabbed his arm.

“You haven’t eaten anything?! Because of your car?”

“Oh, I’m fine.”

“No way, you can’t go hungry like this!”

“Really, it’s okay.”

Yu-young smiled, lifting his hands in surrender.

At that moment, he heard a familiar sound pierce his ears. If he wasn’t mistaken, it was that infuriating ‘tsk’ sound again.

His eyes narrowed as he shot a sideways glare. As expected, Do-won was looking at him with an utterly exasperated expression.

‘Just ignore him… just ignore him…’

He almost missed the days when he could snap back at him without restraint. How beautiful the world had been when this guy wasn’t his boss… Yu-young cursed him silently and turned his head away.

He thought he heard a faint scoff, but he decided to let it slide.

Back in the office, his colleagues quickly went to freshen up in the restroom and prepare for the afternoon.

Sitting at his desk, Yu-young clutched his stomach as it growled loudly. He had only had a quick bowl of cereal that morning, so his energy was completely drained.

“All right, let’s get back to work.”

“Yes.”

With the deputy manager’s words, everyone turned to their monitors and resumed typing.

But no matter how much he stared at the screen, Yu-young couldn’t focus. His vision swam, and his fingers trembled slightly as he typed.

This wasn’t going to work. He needed to step out and get a smoothie or something—fast.

Just as he sighed and was about to stand up, his office messenger flashed with a new message.

This time, it was a private message.

Seeing the sender’s name, Yu-young’s eyes widened.

It read: ‘Team Leader Choi Do-won.’

What now? What did I do wrong this time? Was he going to complain about me talking behind his back earlier?

Before even opening the message, his mind was already racing with worst-case scenarios.

Swallowing the uneasy feeling, he clicked on it.

[Come to the break room.]

That was it.

A short and curt command.

Frowning at the message, Yu-young got up from his seat.

He wasn’t about to grab him by the collar and fight, was he?

A bit nervous but determined, he pushed open the break room door.

Inside, Do-won was standing there.

Expressionless, he looked down at Yu-young.

Swallowing hard, Yu-young hesitated.

He had no idea why this guy had called him out separately.