* * *
“Wait, wait, Yeongdeok! You wouldn’t really call the cops, would you?”
“If you ask ‘who,’ I’ll say ‘me.’”
“Please don’t answer so confidently….”
“More importantly, give me my phone back. Taking someone else’s property without permission? You’re just giving me more reasons to call.”
Yeongdeok reached for his phone, but Wonjin held it behind his back, refusing to give it up.
This brat…?
A strange standoff began between the two over the phone.
As the tension built, the troublesome customer who had been lying on the floor awkwardly shifted his eyes, unsure whether to get up or stay down.
Meanwhile, the other customers started filming the spectacle between Yeongdeok and Wonjin.
Ultimately, Jihoon had to step in to settle the chaos.
“Excuse me, everyone, please don’t take photos or videos. No filming, please….”
Life really does get… exhausting when you’re around Cha Yeongdeok.
Surrounded by all this madness, Jihoon suddenly felt like the most normal person in the room.
“You two, stop it.”
Jihoon wedged himself between Yeongdeok and Wonjin, hands outstretched.
The sudden intervention caused the phone, which the two had been wrestling over, to slip from their grasp and fall to the ground – landing squarely on the troublesome customer’s face.
“Ow! My nose!”
At the sound of the pained shout, both Wonjin and Yeongdeok froze.
This is a mess… Jihoon rubbed his aching temples.
Yeongdeok, however, didn’t even glance at the man’s face, inspecting his phone screen for any damage instead.
He turned it over and over, checking both sides.
The screen was perfectly fine.
“Thank goodness.”
“Are you seriously worried about your phone? Even if he’s a nuisance, the guy’s still a person!”
Jihoon, who had been watching this all unfold, clicked his tongue in dismay and crouched down to check on the customer’s face.
“I’ll take you to the hospital.”
“Ugh….”
With a face twisted in pain, the troublesome customer rubbed his reddened nose.
Wonjin helped him to his feet and escorted him out of the shop.
Watching the store’s door sway shut, Yeongdeok thought, Good riddance.
Two nuisances gone at once.
But at 2 AM, just when the business day was over, Wonjin returned.
Acting as if he were still Yeongdeok’s secretary, he naturally began giving a report.
“Fortunately, there’s no damage to his nose, just some light bruising. I’ve handled everything on my end, so you don’t need to worry, Mr. Cha.”
“…….”
“…I mean, Yeongdeok.”
As he finished his report, Wonjin awkwardly lowered his gaze, noticing that Yeongdeok wasn’t responding.
Jihoon, having observed the two, filled two paper cups with cold water and handed them to them.
So he knows Cha Yeongdeok?
Must’ve been his secretary.
But why does Yeongdeok look at him like that?
His gaze toward Wonjin was icy, as if staring down an enemy.
“Can I clock out now?”
Jihoon handed the two men their water, then asked.
Wonjin thanked him and quickly downed his drink, tossing the cup into the trash, while Yeongdeok simply stared at his water bottle before nodding.
“Go ahead.”
“Call me if you need anything. I’ll come running, even if I’m asleep.”
“That won’t be necessary. You have the instincts of a slave….”
“Shut up. I’m really leaving now.”
Wonjin’s gaze lingered on Jihoon as he left, but eventually, his eyes landed back on Yeongdeok.
“So… have you been well?”
“Why don’t you take off the cap and mask? It’s a bit rude.”
“Oh, right. I’m sorry. I forgot I was still wearing them.”
Wonjin removed his mask and cap, holding them in one hand while using the other to smooth down his hair, flattened from being trapped under the cap.
As soon as Wonjin finished fixing his hair, the fluorescent light above where he and Yeongdeok were standing suddenly went out.
“Sorry. Force of habit….”
Jihoon, who had been on his way out, reflexively turned off the lights, then quickly apologized before finally leaving for real.
Watching him go, Yeongdeok muttered softly.
“Pathetic.”
“What’s your relationship with him? He doesn’t seem like an ordinary part-timer.”
What kind of part-timer would promise to rush over even if woken in the middle of the night?
Besides, Wonjin had seen it for himself every time he visited the store—Jihoon chatting casually with Yeongdeok.
The first time he witnessed it, it was so surprising that he couldn’t help but keep glancing their way.
“That’s none of your business. More importantly, I don’t know why you came to my shop in the first place.”
At Yeongdeok’s cold tone, Wonjin fidgeted with his fingers and then clenched his hands tightly together.
“Well….”
“Did you come to try and convince me to attend your grandfather’s party?”
“No! Absolutely not! I had no intention of pressuring you. I respect your decision, which is why I just quietly left the invitation.”
Wonjin quickly waved his hands, startled by the suggestion. Yeongdeok didn’t believe a word he said.
According to what Seo Jihoon had told him, this man had come by the shop multiple times.
What other reason could there be for him to frequent the place so often?
With that innocent face, he’s always so insincere.
Yeongdeok took a sip from the bottle of water Jihoon had left behind.
“At first, I was curious about how you were doing, so I just came by to see. But the chicken was so good that I kept coming back.”
When Wonjin said he had no intention of making him uncomfortable, Yeongdeok’s face turned cold.
His expression said, “Give me a better excuse.” Flustered, Wonjin hurriedly waved his hands again.
“I mean it! It was really delicious. Once I started, I couldn’t stop coming.”
“And you expect me to believe that?”
“I know it’s hard to trust me, but… I’m being sincere.”
With his droopy eyes, Wonjin looked even more pitiful.
He glanced up at Yeongdeok with his rabbit-like eyes, but that expression didn’t faze him at all.
Realizing there was nothing more to hear, Yeongdeok stood up, tossed the paper cup he was holding into the trash, and grabbed his coat, which was draped over a chair.
Wonjin quickly followed behind him.
Chairman Cha Heesuk’s birthday was January 18th.
Yeongdeok still hadn’t thrown away the invitation Wonjin had secretly left behind.
He’d been debating whether or not to attend, but now his decision was clear.
“I’ll go to the party. So, you don’t need to keep coming here like this.”
“As I said earlier, that’s not why I came….”
“Hard to believe.”
Yeongdeok had decided to attend Cha Heesuk’s party just to cause a scene.
If he managed to alienate himself properly, then Ha Wonjin wouldn’t bother him anymore.
As he turned off the lights one by one, Wonjin grabbed his forearm.
Yeongdeok tried to shake him off, but oddly enough, his arm lacked strength.
Wonjin, still standing firm, took a deep breath and looked directly into his eyes with those dark, coal-like pupils.
“I know seeing my face makes you uncomfortable. That’s why I’ve been watching from afar. But now that I’ve been caught, I have to say this.”
What nonsense is he going to spew next?
Yeongdeok waited for Wonjin’s next words. Was he going to confess he liked Eungyeol?
Or maybe reveal some secret about his birth?
Either way, it had nothing to do with Yeongdeok.
“You’re not thinking something strange, are you, Yeongdeok?”
“Strange?”
If planning to ruin someone’s birthday party counts as strange, then yes, that’s exactly what he was doing.
Wonjin released his arm and continued.
“They say when someone suddenly changes, it means they’re close to dying. But you’re acting strangely, like someone who’s already lived their life….”
“…….”
“No, forget it. I’ve said too much. And, um….”
It seemed like he had more to say, but by that point, Yeongdeok had heard enough.
He turned off the last light and walked out of the shop.
Already lived my life, huh?
What a rude thing to say.
We’ve known each other long enough, and he’s not an idiot, so how could his thoughts be so twisted?
“Yeongdeok.”
Realizing his mistake, Wonjin hurried after him, stammering, but Yeongdeok didn’t look back.
In the end, Wonjin had no choice but to call out to his retreating back.
“I’m sorry…. If you’re going to the party, I’ll see you on the 18th.”
Yeongdeok was already planning how to ruin Chairman Cha’s party.
Maybe he could get his revenge on PetitRolang too.
Two birds with one stone—wasn’t there a saying like that in games?
Translator: One day late because of the backend upgrade of the website.
* * *
*Summary page is only available for login users. Non-users can view the chapters on the chapter list.*
15 new chapters! Thank you for the update!
way to screew up
Thank you
Thanks
Things are about to get way more chaotic😂
Thank you for the chapter !
huh so interesting
GUHHH YEAHH this is what i was looking for… more regretful secretary moments.. GRAHHH yes
That grandpa gonna die of a heart attack omg i wonder how he will make a scene this time lol
Thanks for the chapter 😌
Grampa dies before knowing he’s not blood related bet
is he gonna announce to everyone that he’s not related to grandpa? lol
Thanks for the chapter!
maybe wonjin miss yeongdeok, so he keep visit him
oof, a little angst