* * *
[Manager Shin Jaehyun: Assistant Manager Gil, do you have a moment?]
While Assistant Manager Kim was still babbling on, uncertain whether his tone was envious or supportive, he finally got a message from Manager Shin.
Glancing up, he saw that Shin Jaehyun wasn’t gesturing toward the conference room but outside.
It seemed like he had something to say in private.
“I don’t like the sound of this…”
The fact that he had waited until after the TF team announcement to call him out weighed on his mind.
Still, he couldn’t ignore it either, so he hesitantly got up from his seat.
“Assistant Manager Gil, where are you going?”
Assistant Manager Kim, who had been on the phone, asked immediately.
Normally, he wouldn’t be so curious.
He was probably still itching to know more about the TF team.
“Bathroom.”
No way he’d follow me there, right?
Wookyung shot him a warning glance, brushing off his persistent nosiness.
If he was that interested, he should just join the damn team himself instead of pestering me.
“Wait. That’s actually not a bad idea.”
A thought suddenly struck him, and he stared at Assistant Manager Kim.
“Huh? What? Do you have something to say?”
Here was someone so eager…
‘Did I really have to insist on joining the TF team when I absolutely didn’t want to? Since I was meeting with Manager Shin anyway, maybe I could bring this up with him…’
“Let’s discuss things further at a later time.”
Why did that ominous sentence suddenly come to mind?
A chill ran down his spine, and his shoulders trembled.
This was all foreshadowing, wasn’t it?
“I should’ve just said no back then!”
Of course, it wasn’t like a regular office worker could outright refuse in that situation.
“What’s wrong? Are you cold? Should I turn on the heater?”
“Forget it.”
Wookyung coldly rejected Assistant Manager Kim’s fake concern and turned away.
First, he had to at least try bringing this up when he met with Manager Shin.
With that decision made, he left the office—only to realize too late that they hadn’t agreed on a meeting location.
He figured he’d take the elevator and call when he got there, but just as he approached, he felt someone behind him.
“Shall we go to the rooftop?”
Manager Shin had appeared beside him before he even noticed.
“No. Let’s just go to the café on the first floor.”
Wookyung immediately suggested an alternative.
He had no intention of going to the rooftop anytime soon.
After overhearing that unsettling conversation and the talk he had with the Planning Team 3 manager, he’d rather avoid that place.
“Hmm… Alright, then.”
Manager Shin nodded without hesitation and pressed the button for the first floor.
“How was the interview?”
‘Now he asks?’
What was his angle?
It had been three days since the interview—why was he suddenly acting curious now?
“I mean, I expected you to pass, but…”
“But what?”
Why did he always trail off like that, leaving people hanging?
Wookyung shot him a pointed look, urging him to continue, but the conversation was cut short.
Unfortunately, at that moment, the elevator stopped on the next floor, and others got in.
Sensing the shift in atmosphere, Manager Shin remained silent, and they both stayed quiet until they reached the lobby.
“Let’s go to the café outside.”
“Why do you keep dragging me to secluded places? What exactly do you want to talk about?”
The café outside was a small shop tucked between alleyways—known for its terrible coffee but an assortment of sweet desserts that Senior Associate Park and Associate Lee frequently bought for snacks.
In other words, it was a place that was likely empty at this time of day.
“Secluded, huh?”
Manager Shin chuckled, as if he found the comment amusing.
“Did the CEO give you an earful again because of Manager Min?”
Knowing the CEO, it wouldn’t be surprising.
He had once publicly scolded Manager Shin at the company before.
“Now that I think about it, it’s been quiet this time. Did Kyowon handle it on his own?”
“And Manager Min? Did you hear from him?”
“What’s there to hear? I can already guess the situation. His mother probably sent him over to where Kyowon was working out again. It’s not like this is the first time.”
Manager Shin responded casually.
There was a time when Wookyung had wondered if he really disliked him that much. But now…
“Environment really does shape a person…”
No. Wookyung shouldn’t care about them.
They’ll manage just fine on their own.
Shoo, shoo.
Get lost, unnecessary meddling.
From now on, he would only observe them as a complete outsider.
“How about the two of you just go ahead and do it already?”
He was determined to stay out of it, so why was his mouth running off on its own?
“What?”
As expected, Manager Shin looked utterly baffled.
“If you say there’s a baby on the way, what could he possibly do? That’s what CEO Choi wants the most, isn’t it? Creating outstanding offspring with superior genes.”
“Hey, what kind of nonsense are you spouting…?”
Watching Manager Shin’s wavering gaze, Wookyung thought to himself—he was already in his mid-thirties, and he was still this innocent? At this rate, when would that couple ever settle down?
Was that why he was still here?
This wasn’t the first time that thought crossed his mind.
The two of them confirmed their love and became a couple ten years ago. Naturally, Wookyung assumed their story would wrap up, and everyone would return to reality.
But then a day passed, three days, a week, a month, a year…
No matter how much time went by, nothing changed.
“Just do it already! How long are you two going to keep dating?”
Not every life story ended with “And they lived happily ever after.” Even novels didn’t just conclude at “The End”—there was always “Epilogue 1,” “Epilogue 2,” “Epilogue…”
Wasn’t that how these things usually went?
But that was their business.
What about him, though? Why did he get dragged into this mess?
If only he hadn’t joined this company, he wouldn’t have had to witness any of it.
What did they even think a workplace was? This wasn’t some drama set, and the rest of them weren’t extras in their love story. So why was he being forcibly dragged into their romantic war?
Rather than this, wouldn’t it be better if they just got it over with?
No one expected a story that ended at the turning point between a youthful romance and an office love affair to drag on like this. Everything needed a clear conclusion.
If only they had dealt with Director Choi back when he first showed signs of becoming a villain, none of this would be happening now.
No, wait. Was this the reason he ended up here?
As Wookyung spiraled into self-reflection like a stuck record, Manager Shin let out a sigh, staring at him.
“Well, I guess it must feel frustrating from your perspective. You’ve been the one caught between me and Kyowon all this time.”
“Glad you realize it.”
“You’re way too blunt.”
Manager Shin chuckled and tapped his chest lightly with his delicate hands.
Wookyung subtly stepped back.
No. Maintaining a safe distance from him was crucial. If Kyowon, the embodiment of jealousy, ever found out they were standing too close together, he might just glare at Wookyung with eyes burning like the flames of hell.
“Anyway, that kind of thing is out of the question.”
Why not? It was totally possible.
Don’t tell him they were still at that immature stage of only holding hands and sleeping next to each other.
Just blame it on pheromones and go wild like animals!
They were both adults and in a relationship. Whether it was a rut cycle or a heat cycle, they could just sync up with one another and head straight to bed.
Pheromones were useless to Wookyung, but for them, what better excuse could there be?
At that thought, he instinctively raised his arm and took a sniff at the cuff of his sleeve.
“Huh? What are you doing, Wookyung?”
Now that they were alone, Manager Shin casually dropped the formality.
“Nothing.”
Still, he couldn’t smell anything. He never could. It didn’t really matter, though, since he didn’t need it.
“Right. So, about that—Assistant Manager Gil.”
Manager Shin had just called him “Wookyung” so familiarly, and now he was back to using his job title. That meant this was about work.
“Yes?”
“Choi Siwon will be joining the TF team. Take good care of him.”
“Why him?”
Wookyung asked, thinking he must have misheard, but Manager Shin avoided his gaze. That, in itself, was enough of an answer.
Ugh, damn it. Family ties, again?
The moment he cursed internally, he suddenly recalled the two men he had seen at the rooftop garden. One of them was Assistant Manager Choi. And the other… unless he was mistaken…
“Executive Director Choi personally requested it, but Director Choi isn’t happy about it.”
“Seriously! That damn nepotism!”
He finally blurted out the words he had only been thinking.
* * *
