* * *
The anonymous forum post went up today at lunchtime.
Clearly, the timing was deliberate—right when everyone had finished eating and was casually browsing the internet during their break.
The names were written as initials to avoid specifying anyone directly, and there were no attached photos.
However, for those who knew the individuals involved, the post contained enough hints to make an educated guess.
A newly appointed Alpha team leader.
Stunningly handsome, a physique that draws attention, and jaw-dropping credentials.
The other person?
A Beta assistant manager from the same team.
“A team leader and a subordinate in the newly established team—talking to each other, getting into the same car on the street. Doesn’t it give off serious dating vibes? The moment I saw it, I immediately thought of Director Choi and Assistant Manager Gil. What do you think, huh?”
That wasn’t so much a question as it was a statement of certainty.
Wookyung read the post with a calm expression.
“We just ran into each other. On the way home.”
“Whoa, so you did meet up.”
“He insisted on giving me a ride, that’s all.”
He deliberately spoke in an indifferent tone, but Assistant Manager Kim’s curiosity didn’t wane.
“Director Choi isn’t exactly the type to go out of his way for someone, though. At least from what I know.”
What does he know? He’s never even interacted with him closely.
“Come on, just tell me. There’s really nothing going on between you two?”
Wookyung recalled his expression when he stood in front of Saheon’s car.
There shouldn’t have been anything suspicious.
He was, as always, expressionless. Saheon was inside the car.
Whoever wrote that post probably wasn’t entirely sure either.
That’s why they had phrased it in such a probing way.
“And here I was, being so careful.”
Less than a month had passed, and already there was a post like this.
Office romances really were risky.
He needed to discuss with Saheon what to do moving forward.
As he mentally laid out the conversation he would have with him, Wookyung responded bluntly.
“There’s nothing going on.”
“Then why does it seem like there is? You two even went on that Shanghai business trip together, didn’t you? And Hojun said Director Choi’s gaze was different whenever he looked at you.”
“What…?”
Just what kind of rumors had been spreading while he wasn’t paying attention?
And what kind of misunderstandings were going around?
Aside from that one time he arrived at work early, he hadn’t even run into Hojun before.
“It wasn’t just the two of us on that Shanghai trip. The design team came later.”
“Come on, you can be honest with me. Isn’t it that? You know, that thing?”
“That thing?”
Could it be that he had somehow caught on about his relationship with Saheon?
Wookyung maintained a composed front while subtly studying Kim’s expression.
“You’re trying to get close to Director Choi so that when this TF project ends, you can follow him to the U.S., right? That’s it, isn’t it?”
What a ridiculous guess.
Classic Assistant Manager Kim.
He had clearly thought this through in his own way, trying to connect the dots, but as usual, he was way off the mark.
“If you’re so interested, why didn’t you apply for the TF project yourself?”
“Hey, you know I wanted to. But as you’re well aware, I’ve got a lot on my plate.”
More than that, Wookyung knew that Kim hadn’t even made it past the document screening stage.
Of course, he wasn’t about to say that out loud.
“Anyway, be careful. I know what kind of person you are, so I won’t misunderstand, but others don’t.”
“You don’t care that I’m a Beta?”
“Well, people will just assume Director Choi doesn’t care about secondary genders. Some Alphas are into Betas too, you know.”
So it had finally come to this.
The very thing he had been concerned about had become a reality.
A sigh escaped him.
“If it really bothers you, just leave a comment or something. Surprisingly, that kind of thing dies down quickly.”
Kim offered his completely unhelpful advice.
“Forget it.”
Adding a comment might just blow things up even more.
It would be better to talk to someone with the authority to delete the post.
Wookyung handed Kim back his phone.
But at the time, neither of them had any idea what consequences this would bring.
Even with their busy schedules, they still found time to meet up.
Of course, they stuck to their golden rule—never letting anyone at work see them together.
“How about a drive-in movie?”
Perhaps sensing Wookyung’s concerns, Saheon brought up an unexpected suggestion as they discussed weekend plans after dinner at a scenic traditional teahouse.
“A drive-in?”
“Yeah. We wouldn’t have to step outside, so no one would see us. And if it’s really a concern, we can take a different car.”
“You have another car?”
“I can rent one.”
“Oh….”
Wookyung felt slightly embarrassed.
Why had he automatically assumed Saheon would have a spare car?
Well, given that he was a chaebol, it wasn’t exactly a crazy assumption.
“One car is enough for me. But if you want, I’ll make it happen.”
Saheon had definitely picked up on that thought.
That’s why he was teasing him like this.
“Forget it. Save your money.”
“Sure, for our future.”
That smirk.
Wookyung shot him a glare and emptied the rest of his tea.
The light, fragrant taste lingered pleasantly.
“This tea is nice.”
“You like this place?”
“Yeah.”
“Then let’s come often.”
Saheon had chosen this teahouse knowing that Wookyung preferred traditional tea over coffee.
He must have searched for it on purpose.
“So, about the drive-in… Are you seriously considering renting a car?”
“We could just cover the license plate.”
Would that really be enough to hide such an expensive car?
Still, if they went somewhere far enough, it might be fine.
As long as they didn’t step out of the car, no one would know he was inside.
Once again, Wookyung decided to go along with Saheon’s plan.
“Alright, let’s do it.”
And so, they met at 10 a.m. for a countryside drive.
They had lunch at a riverside restaurant, spent a leisurely afternoon at a nearby nature reserve, and arrived at the drive-in theater just as the sun was setting.
“There are more cars than I expected.”
It was his first time at a place like this, and Wookyung curiously took in the scene.
The entrance was crowded with cars waiting to get in.
It wasn’t just cars.
Lining both sides were food trucks selling snacks, designed so people could order without stepping out of their vehicles.
With lively music playing, the whole scene felt more like a festival than a movie night.
“Yeah.”
“Have you been here before?”
“A few times. But it’s never been this busy.”
“Hmmm….”
Wookyung considered asking who he had come with but decided against it.
Instead, he pointed to a food truck selling popcorn and nachos.
“Should we grab some?”
“Sounds good.”
As Saheon parked near the food trucks and placed their order, Wookyung found himself watching him, oddly captivated by the sight.
“I used to come here with Woohyun hyung sometimes. Or just by myself.”
Receiving the food, Saheon casually added that, glancing at Wookyung.
He merely shrugged in response.
He hadn’t been particularly curious, but he wondered if Saheon had picked up on that.
While Saheon adjusted the radio frequency, Wookyung set up their snacks.
“What’s that?”
Seeing the small table he had placed between them, Saheon raised an eyebrow.
“I looked it up online. It’s a car tray—apparently useful for eating in the car.”
“Oh….”
Wookyung looked at Saheon with a sense of satisfaction.
It was something he had impulsively bought from an online store that promised same-day delivery while lounging in bed the night before.
“This is nice. I don’t have to balance it precariously on the console or keep it on my lap anymore.”
On top of that, seeing that Saheon liked it too made him feel even better.
“This really feels like…”
Like a date, doesn’t it?
Saheon was just about to say it, half-jokingly, when an upbeat melody rang out from inside the car.
It wasn’t the radio—they had set it to a station playing crisp and clear TV commercials for some product.
“Oh, hold on a second.”
It took Wookyung a moment to realize it was his phone ringing.
Since he usually kept it on vibrate, he sometimes forgot it even had a ringtone.
He hurriedly pulled it out of his pocket and checked the screen.
It was an unregistered number.
An ad? A spam call? Or just a misdial?
While he hesitated, the call ended.
He was about to dismiss it when another notification popped up.
This time, it was a text from the same number.
[Hello, Assistant Manager Gil Wookyung. This is Chief Secretary Ahn Hyokyung, the executive secretary to CEO Choi Heejung. I will call again, so please pick up.]
As if they had already guessed why he hadn’t answered.
But what bothered him more than that was—
‘Why would the CEO’s secretary contact me?’
Before he knew it, Wookyung’s gaze drifted toward Saheon, who was sitting in the driver’s seat.
* * *
Oh dear. I can understand why Wookyung is worried.