Chapter 2: A Sudden Return

This year marked the ninth since graduating high school and venturing into the online shopping mall business.

The venture, which Jung-hyun had started with Chae Song-hwa with the resolve to simply ‘give it a try, come what may,’ had now firmly established itself. It even employed three full-time staff and several part-timers.

Since last week, the volume of orders had noticeably surged, thanks to a special exhibition being featured on one of the major open markets. However, as the saying goes, there’s no such thing as a free lunch.

Significant expenses for advertising and commissions meant that despite the increased sales, the company wasn’t in a position to hire additional personnel.

While temporary part-timers were an option, Jung-hyun preferred to keep that as a last resort.

Too often, problems had arisen with temporary staff, from careless inspections to incorrectly attached invoices, leading to complete reworks—as if they were determined to cut corners.

Consequently, even the current employees, who would immediately benefit from extra help, were less than enthusiastic about new hires.

“Should we try hiring just one temporary part-timer?”

“I’m against it.”

Chae Song-hwa, who had overheard him without missing a beat, immediately cast her dissenting vote. Choi Seon-ho also agreed, and even the usually quiet Jo Min-kyung subtly shook her head in refusal when their eyes met.

It was then that Chae Song-hwa approached and settled into an empty chair. Skillfully unwrapping her sandwich, she added a few more words.

“It’s not like we’re busy every day; it’s just for a short while. Let’s endure a few more days, and then after the event period ends, we’ll have a lavish company dinner.”

“Of course, we will. I’ll treat everyone to beef.”

“Ah, truly the boss. You’re the best.”

As if he hadn’t just been complaining, Choi Seon-ho clapped his hands like a seal, cheering. Jung-hyun, who had loosely filled his stomach, picked up his half-empty coffee cup and headed back to his desk.

His desk was located in the innermost part of the office, in a prime spot by the sun-drenched window.

It was cluttered with various odds and ends, including empty drink cans and stationery, appearing messy even from a distance, yet Jung-hyun paid it no mind.

Habitually, he first turned on his computer, then checked the desk calendar. For once, there were no external appointments; it seemed he only needed to do new product photography in the afternoon.

While variables occasionally arose, a typical workday generally unfolded in a similar fashion. After quickly finishing his computer tasks, Jung-hyun rose again and headed towards the entrance.

A mountain of inventory that had arrived yesterday afternoon was piled high.

‘That’s a lot,’ he thought.

A slightly weary expression crossed his face, but it was fleeting. ‘No, I can’t think like this. This is all money.’

Steeling himself, he began pulling down items from the top.

He ripped open one large polybag after another, each the size of a sack, and as he removed their contents, the long inspection table, resembling a train, quickly became covered with clothes.

The employees approached instinctively, each taking their place and beginning the product inspection. While chatting with their colleagues, their hands moved rapidly and without pause.

Once the inspection was complete, they immediately folded the products and placed them into polybags.

Jung-hyun, whose hands were comparatively slower, finished his inspection last and sat down in his chair.

As he picked up a garment placed before him, Chae Song-hwa, who was folding clothes at an almost supernatural speed beside him, spoke up.

“Is there something good happening?”

“Huh?”

“You look happy.”

He lightly touched the corner of his mouth, wondering if he really did, when a thought suddenly struck him. ‘Something good, huh? Well, yes, it is something good. It’s more about the interpretation than the dream itself.’

“I had a good dream.”

“A good dream? Did a pig appear?”

“Something even better than that.”

Noticing the slight excitement in his voice, Chae Song-hwa playfully teased.

“I bet a handsome Alpha was dancing stark naked.”

“If that were the case, I’d have gone to buy a lottery ticket right away.”

Jung-hyun laughed and bantered, then, since it had come up, he checked his phone one more time. However, there was still no reply from Yoon Tae-yeol.

‘That kid, is he really that busy?’

One of Jung-hyun’s strengths was his ability to accept situations as they were, without distorting or reinterpreting them. However, not everyone viewed this positively.

There were always people who would comment that he was too thoughtless or not sensitive enough.

Yet, he had no desire to change himself because of others’ perceptions or opinions.

There was no need. Besides, in an already complicated and harsh world, living a bit more simply suited Jung-hyun far better than being burdened with complex thoughts.

[Busy?]

He casually sent another text, then resumed the packaging work he had briefly paused. He had to finish the task by 2 PM at the latest, so he concentrated, moving his hands diligently.

As the afternoon wore on, the busyness persisted. While the employees sorted the first-packaged items, Jung-hyun sat back at his desk.

He went through various online shopping malls and social commerce sites where their products were listed, checking reviews and replying to product inquiries.

Although he had distributed tasks so that work could continue even without him, and occasionally he would slack off, that too depended on the situation.

During times like these, when every hand was crucial, Jung-hyun came to the office every day and stayed late.

Tap, tap, tap. As he diligently typed out replies to various inquiries, his phone vibrated loudly beside him. He glanced at the screen, seeing only numbers, no caller ID.

“Hello?”

Despite the unfamiliar number, Jung-hyun answered without hesitation. Sometimes, clients or vendors whose numbers weren’t saved would call. However, the voice that met his ear was entirely unexpected.

“It’s me, Senior.”

Jung-hyun’s eyes snapped open at once. The caller hadn’t even stated their name, and it was only two short words, yet he knew instantly who it was.

“…Yoon Tae-yeol?”

“Yes. I’m in Seoul now.”

An even more preposterous statement followed the sudden call. Yet, his surprise lasted only a moment, and Jung-hyun chuckled, playing along with what he assumed was a joke.

“Is ‘Seoul’ the name of a restaurant? A Korean restaurant, perhaps?”

“No, I’m actually in Seoul.”

“Really? Then come see me later, hyung. I’ll buy you something delicious.”

“I’d love to. But isn’t it work time right now?”

“Why wouldn’t it be? I’m working so hard my butt is sweating.”

“Then I guess I should come to the office. Give me the address.”

The frantic movements slowly ceased. It was then that Jung-hyun finally sensed something was amiss.

‘Wait a minute.’

‘Could it really be true?’

Listening to his continued serious tone, Jung-hyun couldn’t help but wonder, even though he knew it couldn’t be. After exchanging a few more words, Jung-hyun finally reopened his mouth cautiously, still half in doubt.

“Hey.”

“Yes.”

“You didn’t really come, did you?”

“I did.”

“…”

“You don’t believe me. Hold on for a second.”

Click. The call ended abruptly. He stared down at his phone with a bewildered expression when a video call immediately came through.

It was the same number as before. Still dazed, Jung-hyun moved his hand as if possessed. The call connected, and an familiar face appeared in the upper right corner.

Then the screen changed, revealing a tree-lined road and tightly packed buildings.

“Do you see it?”

What appeared next finally made Jung-hyun slowly drop his jaw. The Korean place names, etched in white on a blue sign, were incredibly familiar.

‘What… Did he really come back to Korea?’

Amidst his bewilderment, this thought suddenly occurred to him: ‘Wow, I really need to buy a lottery ticket today.’

***

As the usual quitting time approached, traffic began to form. Jung-hyun, driving at a safe speed, partly by choice and partly by necessity, pressed the brake pedal at the sight of a red light ahead.

He had left early, anticipating this, so there was no worry of being late. Just then, a familiar song came on, and Jung-hyun tapped his fingers to the rhythm, singing along.

A barely concealed smile played on his face as he gazed straight ahead. And why wouldn’t it? Jung-hyun was currently on his way to pick up Yoon Tae-yeol from the hotel where he was staying.

‘He really came back? Truly?’

Even after asking repeatedly, double-checking, and making dinner plans, he remained somewhat dazed for a while.

It was only natural, given that the guy who had landed a job and acted as if he would live there forever had suddenly returned to Korea after eight years.

Fearing something might have happened, Jung-hyun urgently asked for a reason, but Yoon Tae-yeol, oblivious to his concern, simply replied that they should talk when they met.

Jung-hyun insisted on picking him up, preventing him from coming over, and he was now on his way to meet him as promised.

As he drew closer to his destination, other emotions, beyond mere gladness, gradually surfaced.

A pleasant flutter of excitement, born from the meeting itself, which he had long forgotten amidst the struggles of life, bloomed like a spring haze.

Driving on with an eager heart, he finally saw the hotel appear. Almost simultaneously, a bright smile spread across Jung-hyun’s face.

Without even needing to search, a striking figure became visible through the front glass, impossible to miss.

Jung-hyun pulled his car directly in front, rolled down the passenger window, and called out, “Yeol!”

His voice, calling the old nickname, was brimming with warmth and welcome. Yoon Tae-yeol smiled faintly, reached out, opened the car door, and climbed into the passenger seat.

“Wow, it’s really been a long time. Have you been well?”

“Yes, Senior. And you?”

“I’ve been well too.”

Heartfelt greetings were followed by genuine admiration.

“You’ve barely changed at all.”

Yoon Tae-yeol, a rare dominant Alpha with exceptional basketball skills, had been incredibly popular throughout his school days, and that appearance remained unchanged even after several years.

In fact, his features had become a little more defined, coupled with a handsome styling that made him utterly captivating.

His distinctive physique also remained. Even in a car with a relatively wide body, he felt like he filled the space, and the headroom above his head felt precariously close, as if it might hit if they went over a speed bump too quickly.