CH 19

“Are you okay, Jun-kyung Ho? You hit your head earlier. Use a cold pack before it’s swollen.”

“Oh, no, that’s fine. I didn’t hit that hard.”

“That’s a relief then.”

The car was headed in a completely different direction from where the headquarters was located. Soon, they arrived at a luxury hotel on a low hill in the middle of the city.

Is there sparring at the hotel gym? In the midst of thinking, Junkyung listened to the chef’s cooking explanation in the private room at a top-notch restaurant.

What’s going on? The head, who misunderstood the ice pack as a toothache, recommended soft foods, and Executive Director Min nodded his head and chose a suitable option.

“How about you, Jun-kyung?”

“Yes? Oh, yeah. I am fine with anything.”

“Then please do the same.”

After the first-class hotel chef left, a staff member came in and placed a hot towel on the plate with tongs. If you want to become a VIP bodyguard, you must not panic at such a position. In preparation for this, various liberal arts courses were prepared in advance. Jun-Kyung felt fortunate to think about it now.

Soft soup and porridge were served in small bowls. It was so delicious that he could swallow the whole bowl on the spot.

However, Jun-Kyung pretended to eat in moderation. If he fills his stomach full in front of Executive Director Min, he is bound to get indigestion.

It’s been a while since he had lunch or dinner with Executive Director Min, but the habit of indigestion hasn’t changed at all. Director Min, who brought Jun-kyung, was also eating food halfheartedly. There’s no way to have an appetite.

It was time for the appetizer bowl to go out and the next dish to come in.

“I’m sorry for dragging you all of a sudden.”

Executive Director Min abruptly apologized. Jun-kyung, who was just moistening his throat with water, almost spewed water out of his nose. “No. I am rather grateful to be able to eat such good food thanks to the managing director.”

“There was a lot of food left for that.”

It wasn’t even the nuance of killing him if he didn’t eat it, but somehow Jun-Kyung felt pressure to eat it all right away. Picking a western-style spoon, he took a huge spoon, scooped out plenty of crumbly dishes and shoved them into his mouth.

“I ate bibimbap at the temple earlier, so I’m sorry.”

Somehow, he keeps making excuses in front of Executive Director Min.

There was carbonated water provided just in time, so he drank it.Then, his eyes met with Executive Director Min. Shockingly, Director Min had a faint smile on his face.

Cough. Cough.

He coughed softly inside. If anyone finds a smile from a minimum sociopath and maximum psychopath serial-killer aura favorable, they must be a saint.

Of course, Jun-Kyung did not even reach the mark of an adult. The cough that was blocked by the instinct to live quickly developed into hiccups.

Hic. Hic.

Rather than letting the sound out, he shut his mouth and forced his inner convulsions in. He felt like the esophagus and stomach openings were about to burst. He drank the remaining carbonated water. Still, the hiccups did not seem to subside easily.

“You don’t have to eat when you’re full.”

Executive Director Min poured his share of carbonated water into Junkyung’s empty glass.

“Thank you… Hic!”

Without realizing it, he fired a huge hiccup. Then, Director Min’s laughter sounds even louder. It was not enough to embarrass Jun-Kyung by laughing lowly, but he even showed kindness by getting up and patting the back.

Every time a large hand tapped his back, his heart started racing in surprise. His diaphragm was quickly crushed by the roar of his heart asking what kind of crazy situation this is, and the lightning of his brain asking if he wanted to keep going like this.

“Thank you.”

As soon as the hiccups stopped, Junkyung looked up at Executive Director Min standing next to him and nodded. He hoped that his face wouldn’t be so red, but it was practically impossible.

“I’ve been bothering Jun-kyung too much since this morning. I even brought you here without asking whether you had a meal or not.”

“Oh, no, no bother at all. Thanks to you, I was able to eat delicious food.”

“Mr. Jun-kyung Ho is really kind.”

What kind of nonsense is this? Unknowingly, Jun-kyung looked at Executive Director Min.

Unless you are a person who drinks alcohol and fires nonsense out of excitement, is this something he could say?

No, in the first place, Executive Director Min wasn’t the type to have small chat and gossip. Jun-Kyung was embarrassed by his wayward thoughts because he misunderstood Hyun-Seung Min’s compliment.

“I am?”

“It is my personal opinion.”

Executive Director Min accurately cleared out the point that Jun-kyung was puzzled by. The opponent, who wasn’t interested in food as Jun-kyung, continued talking while lightly touching his left cheek which has now sunk a lot.

“Jun-Kyung makes people comfortable. I don’t know if it’s just me.”

Of course, this is only you. When Junkyung was in the same room with Executive Director Min, he was very nervous. Most other people do, though.

“It must have been because Executive Director Min is considerate of others. Thank you for looking after me.” Jun-Kyung also returned the compliment and thanked the other person.

Executive Director Min smiled softly and asked, “Is that so?”

“I know you get indigestion after eating with me, but when I eat with Jun-Kyung, I feel comfortable. I’m sorry for being selfish.”

“Apology is not needed. It was madam’s instructions in the first place, and thanks to Executive Director Min, I can eat delicious food that madam made herself.”

“I see.”

Strangely, Executive Director Min kept apologizing, and Jun-kyung continued to make excuses. What kind of uncomfortable conversation is this?

And it was embarrassing that Director Min knew he had an upset stomach after eating. He had to make a reasonable excuse that it wasn’t because he was uncomfortable, but he wasn’t confident in his ability to lie fluently.

“Mr. Junkyung.”

“Yes?”

“If it’s okay, can we meet more often like this in the future? A place other than a company?”

“Of course. Anytime as long as madam doesn’t have any tasks for me to do.”

Because Director Min is the son of his employer and a successor of the company, Jun-Kyung reflexively answered flatteringly. As soon as he finished speaking, he felt regret but it was too late to retract his words.

“Thank you for your willingness to accept me.” A man with the impression of knowing that Jun-Kyung has accepted the request unwillingly expressed his gratitude.

Jun-Kyung repeated ‘I’m ruined’ inwardly. Executive Director Min, whether he knew his thoughts or not, gave a polite, cool smile.

It was a turbulent day in many ways since morning.

After meeting at the hermitage, Jun-Kyung quickly became close with Hyun-woo Min. He had never given out his phone number, but the other person called or sent messages from time to time and asked to hang out.

Hyun-Woo often makes appointments unilaterally by finding interesting restaurants they’ve never heard of or seen before and send links.

Jun-Kyung had just stopped by a nearby franchise cafe after driving madam to the hotel. A message alert popped up from Hyun-Woo no doubt with the link to the famous restaurant.

[They say this place is good. Let’s go to dinner later.]

After sipping the freshly made iced Americano, Jun-Kyung responded quickly.

[I am out with madam.]

[Then, can I ask mom to play with hyung?]

“This bastard calls his mom every now and then.” Jun-Kyung laughed while swearing. It was not unusual for the son to contact his mother especially if it’s a son whose mom tells him to call more often.

Every time he left work early because of Hyun-Woo, he felt apologetic. It was hard not to pay attention because he gets calls twice a week even if it’s just once in a while.

[Hey, what will I become if you keep doing this? I don’t want to be fired.]

[You won’t be. You’re so diligent.]

[Still.]

[Okay then.]

Jun-Kyung takes another sip of cool coffee. Bzzt. Bzzt. A vibration sounded. It was his mom.

“You punk!”

A sigh came out. Jun-Kyung couldn’t not answer, so he pushed the receive button while covering the area around the microphone with his other hand.

“Yes, madam.”

―The secretary is going to pick me up later. Jun-kyung can leave work early.

The secretary was the head office secretary. Madam intentionally hired Jun-Kyung as a personal assistant saying ‘I don’t want to be a bother to the company.’

Such a person contacted the secretary?Jun-Kyung raised his voice without realizing it due to his regret, “I can come pick you up.”

―It’s okay. Go eat something delicious with Hyun-Woo and tell me how he is these days. It’s frustrating because he doesn’t say anything to me.

“Ah…all right.”

Jun-Kyung was ready to follow madam’s instructions to find out what her son was doing. It’s more likely that Hyun-Woo will just blurt out.

Still, madam seemed to be relieved that her son who usually disappeared without contact now is acquainted with her personal assistant.

“I will see madam tomorrow.”

Now that he got madam’s permission, he went straight to the hotel cafe and left the car keys with the staff there. Madam, who was chatting with other people, smiled when she saw Jun-Kyung. Jun-Kyung nodded his head without a word and turned around.

[Hyung, where are you? I’m on my way to pick you up.]

Jun-Kyung sent a link to the hotel address and waited at the entrance.

While watching when a domestic SUV with dirty mud would come in, Italian sport-car came in with a loud engine noise.

The passenger window of the car was tinted so heavily that Jun-Kyung wondered if it was legal. The window rolled down.

“Junkyung hyung.”

“Uh?” Jun-Kyung was surprised.

“There’s a car waiting behind me, so get on quickly.” The hotel valet staff opened the car door on behalf of Jun-Kyung. The car even had wings that opened upwards.