* * *

Click-clack.

Junhee typed away at his keyboard, documenting the outcomes of the morning meeting.

The office was unusually quiet. Unlike the chatter-filled vibe of his previous team, Couple Team 4, this team’s subdued energy felt alien to him.

It wasn’t just lunchtime; the lack of constant phone calls contributed significantly.

In his old team, everyone, himself included, spent much of the day coordinating with clients and colleagues over the phone.

Adjusting to this new, quieter environment felt strange and uncomfortable.

‘…Maybe I overreacted.’

Thinking back to lunch, regret began to creep in.

No one had meant to criticize or insult him.

He could have let it slide. Instead, he’d overreacted because of Cha Junwoo’s presence.

The more he thought about it, the more unsettled he felt.

His day had started on the wrong foot.

Just as he considered stepping out for a coffee break, a takeout cup appeared in front of him.

“Here.”

Looking up, Junhee saw Cha Junwoo standing over the partition.

“Drink this while you work.”

“…Thank you.”

“And try not to skip lunch.”

Cha Junwoo placed a rustling brown paper bag beside the cup.

‘Again with the Einspänner.’

Junhee eyed the coffee with its familiar layer of white cream.

It tasted good, sure, but it carried unpleasant memories—using Ki Taeryu’s card without knowing, Siwon’s unexpected confession…

Every time he drank it, something awkward or difficult followed.

It had become a sort of jinx.

Setting the coffee aside, he cautiously opened the paper bag to find a few golden-brown cookies inside.

“Wow! Thank you, Team Leader Cha!”

“Thanks for the coffee!”

It seemed the cookies were a special treat for him alone.

Feeling obliged to accept the gesture, he started nibbling on one.

That’s when someone tapped him lightly on the shoulder.

“Assistant Yoo, can we talk in the meeting room for a moment?”

“Yes, Team Leader Cha.”

Placing the half-eaten cookie down, Junhee noticed Cha Junwoo signaling for him to bring the coffee and cookies along.

Sighing, he followed.

---

“The team feels bad about earlier, so don’t let it bother you too much.”

Junhee thought they’d be discussing work, but instead, Cha Junwoo brought up lunch.

“It’s fine. I might have overreacted a little myself.”

“Good. We’ll all be working together for a while, so it’s best to keep things amicable.”

Was this a subtle reprimand or an attempt to lower his guard? Either way, Junhee didn’t like it.

“What time works for dinner?”

“…Dinner?”

“A dinner appointment.”

This guy…

Junhee looked at his smiling face and realized something: even a smiling face could invite disdain.

‘Alphas and I just don’t mix.’

It wasn’t prejudice anymore—it was a well-supported conclusion.

“I’ve already told you I don’t do personal outings with superiors. Besides, I have plans.”

“With Yoon Geonju?”

“…”

“Oh, I misspoke. With Ki Taeryu, then?”

Cha Junwoo’s crescent-shaped eyes gleamed mischievously, like a cunning fox plotting something.

For some reason, he seemed fixated on Ki Taeryu’s whereabouts—or maybe he just enjoyed rattling Junhee.

“It’s a farewell gathering, actually.”

The team had planned a get-together for after work since their schedules hadn’t aligned the day before.

“What about combining it with a welcome party?”

“If Team Leader Cha insists on a welcome party, I’ll suggest it to the team.”

“You really don’t budge, do you…”

Cha Junwoo clicked his tongue and retreated, feigning disappointment. His face wore a pitiful expression, but Junhee wasn’t about to fall for it.

“I thought you didn’t lie, at least.”

“When have I ever lied to you, Team Leader?”

“Looks like you really don’t remember.”

Junhee’s mind, once shrouded in darkness, gradually brightened.

Then, he recalled his final exchange with Cha Junwoo.

‘…If you ever come to headquarters, I’ll make sure to treat you to a meal.’
‘Alright, then.’

With that, Junwoo had nodded to a promise that might take years to fulfill—if it ever happened at all—and walked away.

Perhaps sensing the subtle shift in Junhee’s expression, Cha Junwoo pressed further.

“Did you remember something?”

“So… I said I’d treat you to a meal.”

“It’s so hard to get a meal with Assistant Yoo Junhee. It was back then, and it’s still the same now. I guess the one who wants it has to beg, huh?”

This was the price of speaking carelessly.

Reluctantly, Junhee promised, “Once I finish my current assignments, I’ll definitely treat you to a meal.”

“What current assignments?”

“Well, I still have some work with the four couples team…”

In truth, aside from VVIP members Ki Taeryu and Moon Doyoung, everything had already been handed off to other team members.

It was only two people, but their presence was so overwhelming that it felt like double that of any other member.

It wasn’t a complete lie.

“Are you saying you’re also handling manager duties, Assistant Yoo?”

“Yes.”

“With so much work here to focus on, how can you be taking on double responsibilities? I’ll speak to the CEO about reassigning—”

“No, Team Leader. I’ve already discussed this with CEO Lee. I took on the responsibility, so I’ll see it through. I’ll make sure it doesn’t interfere with my development work.”

At Junhee’s firm tone, Cha Junwoo hesitated.

Then, he fixed his gaze on Junhee’s slightly parted lips.

“Who is it?”

“…What?”

“To leave marks on your lips like that… it must’ve been intense.”

Startled, Junhee quickly covered his lips.

He’d noticed some swelling in the mirror after his morning shower, but a bruise?

He hadn’t expected that.

“You’re misunderstanding.”

“Misunderstanding what?”

The playful curve of Junwoo’s lips felt like mockery, and it ignited a wave of irritation in Junhee.

Ki Taeryu’s habit of leaving marks like this was annoying enough, but Cha Junwoo, with his distinctly different but equally infuriating demeanor, was worse.

“Whatever you’re thinking, Team Leader—”

Bzzz.

The vibration from Junhee’s pocket interrupted him.

“Excuse me for a moment.”

Taking the opportunity, he quickly excused himself and stepped out of the meeting room.

The buzzing continued as he walked out of the office into the corridor.

[Ki Taeryu, Director]

Junhee sighed at the sight of the name on his phone screen.

Both of them were exhausting in their own ways, but just for today, he decided to cut Ki Taeryu some slack.

“Yes, this is Yoo Junhee.”

• Are you busy?

“I’m working.”

• Your voice sounds off. What’s wrong? Who’s bothering you?

For a brief moment, Junhee considered tattling, but the impulse quickly faded.

The last thing he wanted was for Ki Taeryu and Cha Junwoo to cross paths again.

Even from a single chance encounter, Junhee had an instinctive sense that it would lead to disaster.

Caught between these two titans, Junhee felt like a krill stuck in a fight between whales. He never wanted to experience that again.

Besides, the day Junwoo called him by his original name, Ki Taeryu had been unusually downcast.

Recalling how Taeryu had repeatedly downed drinks that night sent a shiver down Junhee’s spine.

In any case, one thing was clear: Ki Taeryu wasn’t fond of Cha Junwoo, who knew about his past.

‘Well, if it were me, I wouldn’t be happy either.’

Even seeing Baek Seunggyo again had nearly made Junhee faint.

Of course, if Cha Junwoo had ever done something as terrible to Ki Taeryu as Baek had done to Junhee, Junwoo’s body would’ve been shattered into pieces by now.

Still, Junhee understood how painful it could be to confront someone who dredged up the past.

“No, nothing’s wrong. Why did you call?”

• Why else? Because I missed you.

“If you keep talking nonsense, I’ll hang up.”

A soft chuckle came through the receiver.

• You’ve learned how to threaten me now.

“Thanks to you.”

It wasn’t just that. Junhee had become more irritable and quick to anger.

He used to endure everything like a fool, but now he knew how to blame others.

What once festered inside now erupted like a short-fused explosive.

He knew exactly who was to blame for the change, but he wasn’t sure whether it was a good thing or not.

• Is that a compliment?

“Think whatever you want.”

• Finish up and let’s meet. I’ll pick you up.

“No, I’m sorry, but I have plans tonight. It’s a team dinner.”

Knowing he’d pester him with questions about who he was meeting and where, Junhee added a clarification.

• You hate those kinds of gatherings.

Ki Taeryu understood Junhee better than expected.

“Yes, but socializing isn’t something you can always avoid. Sometimes, it’s okay. These are good people who take care of me.”

Junhee instinctively avoided mentioning his transfer or that it was a farewell party.

That might bring up Cha Junwoo, and he wanted to avoid that conversation.

• Better than me?

“…What?”

• Do they take better care of you than I do?

“I’m hanging up.”

Junhee had warned him. Once, he could tolerate it. Twice? Never.

Ki Taeryu was the one who made him this way, so Junhee didn’t even feel guilty about it.

Objectively, his temper had worsened, but compared to someone, he was still within a reasonable range.

The phone buzzed again immediately after he hung up.

He was about to ignore it, thinking it was another call, but it turned out to be a message.

[Chief Director Ki Taeryu: That’s too much.]

Unconsciously, a small smile crept onto Junhee’s lips.

As he raised his head with the faint trace of a smile still lingering, his gaze locked with someone leaning against the doorframe of the office.

…It was Cha Junwoo.

* * *