Chapter 104

At an extremely proper time, with very proper motives, sitting down face to face to eat breakfast, they argued over an indecent topic while getting ready for work. In such simplicity that, if someone incidentally heard, they could read the mood even by selectively closing their ears to the vulgar words.

“No, you are not.”

“How would you know?”

“It shows on your face, Mr. President. Right now…”

“Should I really show you?”

Na-Yool was startled by the sound of the belt unfastening and stepped back. Of course, Si-Jin stopped his hands, holding onto the belt.

“What are you trying to show me…!”

“The proof of my excitement.”

“You really would rather show me such a weird thing right from morning than back down? This is crazy, truly crazy…” There was no one else to listen but Na-Yool spontaneously whispered, like a sense of urgency to not let anyone hear how rogue this man was.

Although, she would not even be able to say a word if there indeed was someone.

“With you, it doesn’t take long to stand up,” Si-Jin grumbled in a placid tone as he refastened his belt with a disappointed look.

“I did not hear anything.”

“It was already half-erected while I was eating.”

“I. didn’t. hear anything.”

“Even if you keep your skirt and only give me a peek of your chest, then it will—”

“I can’t hear, I can’t hear a thing.”

Na-Yool covered her ears like an elementary school student, swiftly turned around, and darted back to the dressing room. With brisk steps, as if Si-Jin ‒ who did not even follow suit ‒ was chasing straight after her.

By the time Na-Yool finished drying her hair, dressed up fully, and left the house, it was already 7:20 am. It took only 10 more minutes, and it certainly was not a late time by Na-Yool’s standards, but it was definitely too late for Si-Jin.

In the elevator heading to the parking lot, Na-Yool glanced at him and asked:

“When did you wake up?”

“I woke up a little late today.”

“So did I.”

I’ve seen it in person, so shouldn’t I know? Si-Jin’s eyes looked at her with a humorous glint. He nonetheless nodded his head to give Na-Yool some face for admitting herself being late.

“I think you need to improve your lifestyle a little more.”

She was already starting to feel sleepier because she woke up a little earlier than usual, and hearing those words left her dumbfounded. Na-Yool spontaneously leaned against the wall of the elevator and helplessly asked again.

“When did you wake up, exactly?”

“Around 6.20 am.”

“……”

If this was considered late, then she had nothing to say! Na-Yool glanced at Si-Jin with a baffled look, then turned her head away, staring forwards.

“Then usually at 6…”

“At the latest, yes.”

“So even 6 is late uh? You really are a machine…”

On many days, his office’s lights would still be on until 1 am ‒ and there were even days he would not go back home at all. Such lifestyle standards could not come about with normal thinking or stamina.

“…What the hell do you do when you wake up so early?”

“Check emails about overseas transactions, newspapers, and other stuff, and plan the day.”

The voice was fluid and dull like a robot had answered rather than a human being. As a matter of course, being lazy is a boss’ best virtue. In that sense, that voice was enough to tell that Si-Jin lacked such virtue.

“…Have you ever thought that you are living too flamboyantly?”

“Rather, I think a lot about how I could improve further.”

“You still want more? Gosh, your greed has no limit.”

“And so, you don’t like it?” Si-Jin abruptly asked as Na-Yool got off the elevator while mumbling.

She subconsciously looked back at him. His eyes staring at her had not a single hint of teasing. They were not overly severe either, but there was a vague seriousness, as if…

… Probing? Investigating?

“Should I live a bit more idly?”

“Why are you asking me that?”

“I want you to like me even a little.”

“……”

The unexpected, flat comeback struck Na-Yool dumb. What’s going on? As if someone had blocked her mouth, she could not utter a word and stupidly stared as Si-Jin swiftly past by her.

Even a little?

To say so, did he possibly think she did not have some affection ‒ no, that she did not like him at all?

“What do you mean?”

“It means what it means. No hidden meaning.”

“Wait, hang on.”

“Do you like me?”

“What?”

Na-Yool’s ‘what?’ went five notes higher than usual.

“I asked if you like me,” Si-Jin repeated while opening the car door.

“……”

“You don’t, do you.”

The critical hit delivered without warning reached its own conclusion in an instant.

Despite landing himself the attack, Si-Jin casually sat in the car and slammed the door close as if he had nothing more to add.

Na-Yool could not even think straight, let alone answer.

Suddenly left on her own outside the car, she kept blinking blankly.

“—Not getting in?”

She looked in confusion through the lowered window. Si-Jin was facing her with a neutral expression, as though the conversation from the second before had nothing to do with him.

“…Getting in, I’m getting in.”

Na-Yool circled the front of his car and got into the passenger seat. Si-Jin had already started the engine and was touching his cell phone as if he had remembered something.

It gave Na-Yool a break to stare forward for a while and get out of the stupor and perplexity she was stuck in. But before she could snap out of it, Si-Jin held out something to her.

“You pick.”

Na-Yool gave an inquisitive look at his cellphone suddenly shoved under her nose. Her brain understood in one look that she was looking at a movie reservation window open on the screen, but it could not process the info.

“…What is it?”

“Movie.”

“I can see that.”

“Reservation.”

“I can see that too.”

“It’s as you see.”

“And so, what is this exactly?”

“Let’s watch a movie.”

“…OMG.”

Na-Yool looked at him in shock. It was a surprise to her that Si-Jin would even mention doing any of all the common dating gimmicks that people do. Like how right now gave her a “Heavens! Did he just invite me to watch a movie together at the theater…?!” astonishment.

“You know that we are dating, right?”

“……”

“You do remember, right?”

“Ah, indeed.”

Right, they were even dating. Na-Yool reminded herself of that bigger shock and studiously swiped through the movie selection window after mumbling embarrassingly. She herself felt ridiculous.

“You pick. One after 10 pm.”

“What genre do you like? If I know your tastes, then…”

“I leave it to you.”

“That won’t do. For the both of us to enjoy it together, we…”

“Whatever we watch, it’s a waste of time to me anyway. You can choose whatever.”

His tone was so plain that Na-Yool almost misunderstood for a moment.

“You say it’s a waste of time, and you expect me to pick after hearing that?” she asked, stunned.

“You hear worse things every day at the office.”

“It’s understandable because it is about my work. Not about wasting someone else’s time. Mr. President, if you do not like movies, we don’t have to watch one together. There is no need either to force yourself to indulge me.”

“But you like movies.”

“How do you know?”

Si-Jin said nothing for a moment. Five seconds of silence.

“…I meant that it makes no difference whatever you choose.”

“But will you not hate it anyway? That’s what bothers me. I don’t know how you know that I like movies, but I won’t die if I do not go to the theater. Else I would not even work at Ethical Communications.” [T/N: Na-Yool is implying that because of work she isn’t that free either to go watch movies whenever she wants.]

“I’m okay with wasting my time on you.”

“……”

“I’ve been fine with it since Friday already.”

“……”

“In fact, even before that.”

With nothing to reply, Na-Yool was stunned. She zoned out, repeatedly staring forwards, then at Si-Jin, and then at the phone in her hand. Then at Si-Jin again, forwards, the phone…

The scene repeated, and it took about a minute or so for the pale face which seemed to have lost its soul to recover some color.