Chapter 44: Unsettled

After sending Team Leader Kim from Haesong away, Hyunwoo returned to work.

From early morning, countless people came in and out of the director’s office.

While he was so busy he barely had time to breathe, a man with a laid-back smile strolled into the office.

“Wow, our Director is very busy today.”

“…Why are you here, Joo Hyunseok.”

“Why else? I came for coffee time.”

“Sigh….”

Hyunseok held cold coffee in both hands and smiled. Hyunwoo let out a sigh and set down his tablet.

“Give it here.”

“Not even a ‘thank you’?”

“You came because you have something to ask from me anyway.”

“…Tch.”

Hyunseok pouted, but handed him the coffee. Hyunwoo took it with a faint smirk.

“…Ugh.”

He had forgotten that he drank too much the night before. He had already struggled through the morning with a bowl of porridge for his hangover. The moment he drank the coffee, his stomach burned and he frowned.

“What’s wrong?”

“No, my stomach’s… today…”

“So the coffee addict’s stomach finally gave out, huh?”

“Shut up.”

Hyunwoo set down the coffee and immediately drank the water Jung-hoon offered. The cool water helped. He took a short breath and glared at Hyunseok who was snickering.

“You really should drink less coffee. You basically pour it down your throat whenever you’re stressed.”

“And who buys it for me to drink?”

“It’s because I worry about your health, Director.”

“Don’t make me laugh.”

“You’re so prickly, as always.”

Hyunseok clicked his tongue and drank his coffee in big gulps. Hyunwoo looked at him with faint envy before speaking again.

“So? What are you here for?”

“Well… actually I just got to work. Just cover for me.”

“…Ha.”

“If my dad catches me skipping again I might actually die this time.”

“You’re unbelievable.”

Hyunwoo shook his head. At this hour? He was the HR team leader, no less.

He wanted to throw him out immediately, but his stomach still ached and he didn’t have the energy to argue.

So Hyunwoo just nodded, as if to say fine, and tried to send him out. But then, while sipping his coffee, Hyunseok suddenly spoke.

“Oh, by the way—remember that kid?”

“Who?”

At first Hyunwoo didn’t know who he meant. But when Hyunseok clarified, Hyunwoo’s eyes widened.

“Lee Seunghyuk, the intern coming in soon.”

“……!”

Hyunwoo flinched, then frowned slightly.

“What about him?”

“I saw him today while passing by. And…”

Hyunseok paused before continuing, voice lowered and serious.

“He was with Director Cha Kwon-oh.”

“……!”

“No matter how pre-selected he is, he’s still supposed to go through the formal interview process first. I interviewed him myself. Only saw him once, but his face stood out, so I didn’t forget. So when I passed by him today, I recognized him immediately.”

Now that Hyunwoo was listening closely, Hyunseok continued rambling.

“Where did you see him?”

“Well… just while passing by.”

“…….”

So you were skipping work when you saw him.

Hyunwoo frowned.

“You know you need to become at least an executive someday. Stop fooling around.”

“Haha… Hey, I need to live off my talented cousin’s shine.”

“Sigh….”

It was a miracle that former Vice Chairman Joo Chan-hyuk hadn’t thrown him out of the house yet. Hyunwoo shook his head and fell into thought.

He had expected Cha Kwon-oh wouldn’t give up on Seunghyuk easily. But seeing they met again today… he was more persistent than expected.

“Is it okay if he comes in as an intern? It feels… off.”

“What’s off?”

“No, you know how filthy Cha Kwon-oh’s reputation is. What if Seunghyuk ends up siding with him… and leaks information while he’s interning?”

“What?”

Hyunseok whispered intensely. Hyunwoo stared at him with a displeased look.

“That’s a huge leap.”

“I don’t want to think that either, but Cha Kwon-oh is notorious. Even in a backwater department like mine, I hear the rumors.”

“Hmm….”

He wasn’t wrong. But they couldn’t reject the internship based on speculation alone.

“We can’t kick him out. If we do, Cha Kwon-oh will twist the story and drag us down with it.”

“Then what will you do?”

“Don’t worry. I already knew Cha Kwon-oh was approaching Seunghyuk.”

“…Really?”

“Yeah.”

When Hyunwoo nodded, Hyunseok looked relieved. His tense expression melted into a grin.

“Well… you’ll handle it.”

“…….”

“Let me know if I can help.”

“Sure.”

Hyunseok waved and left the office. Hyunwoo watched him go before turning his gaze away.

Buzz—

“……?”

His phone vibrated. Hyunwoo picked it up and looked at the screen.

Lee Seunghyuk:
Did you eat breakfast porridge?
Are you feeling better?

“…….”

Hyunwoo stared at the messages. He knew he should answer, but his fingers didn’t move.

Why was Seunghyuk meeting Cha Kwon-oh again today? He told Hyunseok not to worry, yet he was the one uneasy.

“Sigh….”

He turned off the phone. A moment later, it buzzed again, repeatedly.

Lee Seunghyuk:
Why are you ignoring me?
Are you busy?
Is something wrong?

“This kid…”

He had been calmer before exams… but now he was back to message bombing. Hyunwoo pressed his fingers against his brow.

Lee Seunghyuk:
You’re mean.
I worked hard making that porridge…
So mean.

“…….”

He accidentally tapped the pop-up and opened the chat. Now he couldn’t even pretend he hadn’t seen it. Hyunwoo let out a silent sigh and typed:

I’m busy right now.
I’ll text later.

The read mark disappeared instantly. Seunghyuk was clearly watching the chat in real time.

Lee Seunghyuk:
I’ll come pick you up later.

“No—”

That was unnecessary.

He was already trying to avoid commuting with him. He had even asked Jung-hoon to help him avoid it. If they left together again, all of that effort would be pointless.

While Hyunwoo hesitated on how to reply, someone walked into the office. He quickly shut his screen.

And just like that, he forgot about Seunghyuk’s messages entirely.

Later —

“Hyung!”

“…….”

Exhausted, Hyunwoo slowly turned his head. Seunghyuk hurried over, practically wagging his invisible tail. Hyunwoo couldn’t help but let out a faint smile.

“Why are you here?”

“I said I’d come when you get off work.”

“You always send messages like—”

“Give me the keys.”

“…….”

Did he deposit them with him?

Hyunwoo wanted to complain, but he was too tired. And Jung-hoon had left early today, which made things more inconvenient. So he simply handed over the keys.

“How’s your stomach?”

“…Better now.”

“Did you eat the porridge this morning?”

“…….”

With his hands on the wheel, Seunghyuk spoke everything he couldn’t say through text. Hyunwoo pretended to look out the window, then finally muttered:

“It was good. Thanks.”

“No big deal.”

“…….”

Seunghyuk had no idea how complicated Hyunwoo felt. For Seunghyuk, it was just a small kindness. But before his regression… Hyunwoo had never received even that.

He wanted to stay in this exact moment forever. But desire and fear both grew inside him.

If he clung too hard, the ending could be even worse than before.

Hyunwoo forced himself to settle his emotions. He would maintain this comfortable, friendly distance. And he would keep an eye on Seunghyuk… so he wouldn’t fall for Cha Kwon-oh’s tricks.

And most importantly, he needed to make sure Seunghyuk and Hyunjin started dating properly again. Their arranged meeting had stalled things, but now… it was time to guide them back together.

“Hyung, what are you thinking about?”

“…Nothing.”

“Really?”

“…….”

Why did the kid have to be so perceptive? Hyunwoo kept staring out the window stubbornly.

He really wasn’t thinking anything strange… and yet he still felt strangely guilty.

Hyunwoo let out a quiet breath.