83

“Ah, what is this! There really is someone!”

Ju-yeon’s voice rose uncontrollably. Yu-young tried to deny it a moment too late, but with his face turning red as if about to burst, his words seemed entirely unconvincing to them. Ju-yeon’s face turned bright red with excitement, while Yoon-seok’s face had somehow become a little darker.

“Who is it? Who exactly? Hmm? Is it someone from our company?”

Before Yu-young could even make a move to stop her, Ju-yeon quickly poured out words, her eyes sparkling as she pointed at him.

“Oh, no. Calm down, please.”

“No way! I thought something was off recently! Someone who used to leave right after work every day, now staying at the office and dragging their feet! My goodness. Wow!”

“Assistant Manager, is it true? Did you really… meet someone?”

Looking back and forth between the flustered Ju-yeon and the somewhat subdued Yoon-seok, Yu-young waved his hands frantically.

Of course, he had no intention of revealing his relationship with Do-won. First, Do-won had expressed that they should keep it a secret at work through the contract, and Yu-young had agreed. After all, once the contract period ended, they would have to part ways, and it would be particularly troublesome if their relationship was exposed at the office.

“Oh, what are you talking about! I’m not seeing anyone.”

“Then why did you make that suspicious face earlier?”

“Ah, I was just thinking about a celebrity I like. Is that okay?”

At Yu-young’s shameless response, Ju-yeon visibly made a face of disappointment.

“Hmm, that’s not it. You really had a look like you just fell in love…”

“A celebrity? What type do you like, Assistant Manager?”

Unlike Ju-yeon, who looked somewhat disappointed, Yoon-seok seemed to regain some energy as he asked with sparkling eyes. Yu-young absentmindedly replied, giving the first answer that came to mind.

“Well… I guess someone who is sharp, does their job well, tall, fit, handsome, polite to elders…”

“Oh, Yu-young, you’ve got high standards! Is there really someone like that in this world?”

For a split second, Yu-young almost said, ‘Why, there’s Choi Do-won.’ But he quickly shut his mouth. He didn’t know when he had become so shameless.

As they continued their conversation, suddenly his phone rang with a chime. Reflexively checking the screen under the table, Yu-young’s eyes widened. The screen displayed: [Choi Do-won, Team Leader].

‘Ugh… he should really change the name.’

It wasn’t typical to receive a call from a team leader at this hour. Unless it was a major accident or mistake about to unfold, which didn’t seem likely. Yu-young quickly grabbed his phone and stood up, knowing for sure that Ju-yeon would be shocked if she saw it.

“I need to take this call.”

“Okay, go ahead.”

“Then I’ll go to the restroom.”

Waving her hand, Ju-yeon moved to the side as Yu-young and Yoon-seok stood up in unison. Yoon-seok headed toward the restroom, while Yu-young walked toward the door with his phone in hand. After confirming there was no one around, he answered the call in a low voice.

“…Hello?”

-Where are you?

The sudden question about his location made Yu-young frown. It was a question that reflected the bulldozer-like personality he exhibited at work.

Tch, he left this morning because he didn’t want to see me, and now he’s suddenly interested in my whereabouts? While inwardly complaining and pouting, Yu-young answered obediently.

“The place… it’s that pub I’ve gone to with the company people a few times.”

-That one between the BBQ joints?

“Yes, that’s right.”

-Okay.

With a click, the call ended abruptly. Looking at the phone’s blank screen, Yu-young wore a genuinely bewildered expression.

‘Am I his personal AI now? He solves his curiosity and then hangs up.’

Come to think of it, Yu-young still didn’t know if Do-won was at the office or home. If he was at the office, maybe he could ask him to come over… But then again, he’d have to call a chauffeur.

As Yu-young thought this through, he chuckled softly. He had rushed out this morning, avoiding being with him, and now if he asked him to come, it would be awkward. Plus, Do-won had been working overtime, and he was just the subordinate goofing around.

Yu-young was starting to feel like it was time to call it a night. It had been at least three hours since they arrived. They had talked enough, and it was time to head home, shower, and rest. Just as he was about to re-enter the pub, someone approached from the direction of the restroom. It was Yoon-seok.

“Hey, Yoon-seok.”

“…Assistant Manager. I… need to tell you something.”

For some reason, Yoon-seok’s face was serious. Seeing his unusually tense expression, Yu-young blinked in surprise.

“Huh? …What’s going on?”

“Well… Assistant Manager.”

He clenched his fist tightly. The slight trembling in his hand almost looked pitiful. Just as Yu-young moved closer, trying to ask what was going on, Yoon-seok looked up, and the trembling had already stopped.

“Assistant Manager… the person… you’re seeing… you really don’t have anyone, do you?”

“…Huh?”

What came out of Yoon-seok’s mouth was completely unexpected. Seeing his resolute expression, Yu-young was momentarily speechless, blinking.

“What… why… what do you mean? There’s no one, though.”

“…No… well…”

Yoon-seok’s mouth closed again and didn’t seem to want to open. His expression was filled with tension.

At this point, even Yu-young, who wasn’t usually good at reading these things, started to feel that something was off. Just as he was about to ask again with a serious expression, a sharp voice came from behind.

“You two! What are you doing over there?”

“Ah. Ju-yeon.”

“What are you doing, leaving me all alone? I’m bored.”

“Ah, sorry. Let’s… go in together.”

Yu-young shot a glance at Yoon-seok, who had been interrupted mid-sentence, but with his face burning bright red, Yoon-seok lowered his head and avoided Yu-young’s gaze.

Given that state, it seemed difficult for the two of them to continue their conversation. With Ju-yeon present, Yu-young decided he would talk to Yoon-seok again later and returned to the table with the others.

“By the way, should we wrap it up? Want to have the last drink?”

“Sure.”

Since there was only a sip of beer left in their glasses, the three of them clinked their glasses together and drank it all. They hurriedly gathered their bags and coats as they stood up from their seats.

“Wow, I had so much fun. Yu-young, I ate really well.”

“…I ate well, Assistant Manager.”

“Yeah, yeah. I had a great time too.”

After paying at the counter, the three of them walked together to the front of the pub. The wind that cut through their faces felt cold. It really seemed like winter was right around the corner.

“How are you all getting home? I’ll take the bus since I left my car.”

At Ju-yeon’s question, Yu-young and Yoon-seok briefly exchanged looks before awkwardly looking away.

“Uh… I’ll go back to the office and take care of some things.”

“I’m taking the subway…”

“Oh, right. Hey! There’s a bus coming! Such good timing!”

At that moment, a blue bus approached the bus stop right in front of the store. Ju-yeon quickly waved her hand and turned toward the stopped bus.

“Well, see you tomorrow!”

“Good night, Assistant Manager!”

“See you tomorrow, Ju-yeon!”

Once Ju-yeon left, only two people remained in front of the store. There was a sense of awkwardness between Yu-young and Yoon-seok that he had never felt when they were together before.

What should they do now? Should they have the conversation they didn’t finish earlier? Or would it be better to just send him off? Yu-young hesitated for a moment before looking directly at Yoon-seok. He was willing to listen if Yoon-seok wanted to talk, but if not, he would just send him home. After all, it was Yoon-seok who had something to say, not him.

“Yoon-seok.”

“…Yes, Assistant Manager.”

“You seemed like you had something to say earlier. What was it?”

Even with Yu-young prompting him, Yoon-seok’s lips still wouldn’t open, and he only fidgeted nervously. Just then, a sudden scent of lime wafted over, and Yu-young furrowed his brows.

This was clearly Yoon-seok’s pheromones. Even though he had only recently manifested and was still inexperienced with controlling his pheromones, Yu-young couldn’t understand why the intensity of the scent would suddenly spike at this moment.

“…Well…”

“……”

“Well… I, Assistant Manager… Actually, for a very long time…”

“Assistant Manager Han.”

At that moment, a familiar voice rang out from behind them.