Chapter 99: Whispers Behind the Meeting Room

“……”

Even Assistant Manager Oh, who had been glaring at the employee, lost her words and shut her mouth.

Without realizing it, she widened her eyes at Seunghyuk.

How old did he say he was?

He was graduating soon… twenty-four?

Or twenty-five?

Oh couldn’t even remember when she herself had graduated anymore.

But back then and even now, she had never once thought about marriage.

Yet he already had someone he would marry.

But no lover?

Getting married without dating?

Was it one of those arranged marriages she had only heard about?

Other employees seemed to be thinking the same thing.

Surprise was written across their faces.

They exchanged looks with mouths slightly open.

“Ahem, ahem!”

“……!”

Someone suddenly cleared their throat loudly.

The employees who had been staring at Seunghyuk in shock quickly turned their heads.

“That’s not a topic appropriate for a meeting room.”

“Haha….”

Hyunwoo spoke quietly.

The employee who asked about Seunghyuk’s relationship status let out an awkward laugh.

Hyunwoo’s eyes shifted to Seunghyuk.

“Anyway, welcome.

Let’s work well together for the month you’ll be with the planning team.”

“Yes, thank you.”

“…….”

Talking to Seunghyuk like he was a stranger felt strange.

But unless it was his secretary Junghoon, Hyunwoo couldn’t show any sign of familiarity in front of others.

And what was with what he said earlier.

Hyunwoo frowned slightly.

It seemed like Seunghyuk had said that to cut off everyone’s interest in him.

But using him as the excuse felt unpleasant.

Of course, no one must ever find out about how Hyunwoo had once proposed before returning in time.

He would need to talk to Seunghyuk about this soon.

Hyunwoo made up his mind as he turned his head.

“Let’s end the meeting here.

Good work, everyone.”

“Yes, Director.”

The meeting ended, and Hyunwoo quickly returned to his office.

Some employees stayed behind in the meeting room, approaching Seunghyuk.

But Hyunwoo didn’t want to get caught up in that.

“Should I tell them to save the chatting for later?”

“No, leave them.

It’ll be lunchtime soon anyway.”

With an intern arriving on the first day, the office felt more lively than usual.

Sometimes this kind of energy wasn’t so bad.

Thinking that, Hyunwoo ignored the chattering employees.

“What about the welcome dinner today?”

“Ah….”

“The team dinner is coming up soon, so… should we make today optional attendance?”

“Yes, do that.”

Coincidentally, the regular team dinner was approaching.

Forcing everyone to gather again for an intern welcome dinner would be too much.

Hyunwoo nodded at Junghoon’s suggestion.

Then he returned to finishing his remaining work.

Seunghyuk scanned the employees who approached him.

Quite a few people, regardless of gender or trait, had gathered.

He offered them a polite, controlled smile.

“Seunghyuk, you’re from Korea University, right?”

“Yes.”

“We’ll have another alumnus soon, then.”

“Oh… are you from there as well, sunbae?”

“Yeah, though a different department.”

A Korea University alumnus greeted him first.

Seunghyuk widened his eyes as if surprised.

“What, he’s still an intern.

Why’re you talking like he’s already a full-timer?”

“…….”

Hearing the complaint, Seunghyuk turned toward the voice.

Messy hair.

Thick black-rimmed glasses.

He looked like Seunghyuk himself before Hyunwoo had helped fix his styling.

Seunghyuk felt a strange sense of familiarity.

But the man’s gaze toward him was openly unfriendly.

Unlike the others, it was obvious he didn’t like him much.

Seunghyuk hadn’t done anything to him.

He was likely just annoyed at the attention Seunghyuk was receiving.

Seunghyuk had no intention of wasting energy dealing with such people.

“With specs like yours, you’ll definitely join next year.”

“Right.

And didn’t you win some competition?”

“Didn’t the L&S director offer to push your internship through?”

“Haha….”

Someone’s snide comment was quickly drowned out as more questions poured in.

Seunghyuk smiled awkwardly.

Even though the planning team was the core department, he didn’t expect this many details about him to be known by lower-level employees.

Did HR deliberately leak the information?

Or were they all just this fast?

For mere intern curiosity, this felt excessive.

“And the person you mentioned earlier—the one you’re going to marry—who is it?

A fiancé?

A fiancée?”

“Is your family a chaebol or something?

Wow, didn’t expect that.”

Naturally, the topic from the meeting room resurfaced.

Employees leaned in with sharp eyes.

Seunghyuk only smiled.

“Alright, it’s still working hours, so let’s stop here.”

Unable to watch any longer, Assistant Manager Oh intervened.

Employees nodded, though their faces clearly showed disappointment.

“You’ll all come to the welcome dinner, right?”

“Ah, that… it’ll probably be optional because of the upcoming team dinner?”

“Even so, I think most people will attend.”

“I have plans today….”

Employees chatted as they left the meeting room.

Seunghyuk followed Oh while listening to them.

A welcome dinner, huh.

He didn’t like big events.

But his brother would probably come.

“…….”

On the way back to his seat, Seunghyuk glanced at the director’s office.

The blinds were lowered, hiding the inside from view.

He licked his lips without thinking.

“Seunghyuk, let’s connect you to the company messenger and shared drive first.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Seunghyuk nodded and sat down.

He listened to Assistant Manager Oh’s instructions carefully, but his attention kept drifting elsewhere.

“Today’s welcome dinner is optional, so feel free to decide.”

“Oh….”

A strange atmosphere spread at Junghoon’s announcement.

The hottest topic in the company today was the new intern.

Hearing the welcome dinner was optional made it seem like a silent competition had already begun.

“Didn’t you say you had plans today?”

“Did I?”

The employee smiled awkwardly and glanced at Seunghyuk, who remained focused on his screen.

In any normal department, an intern wouldn’t matter.

But an intern who entered the planning team of headquarters was different.

It often meant someone high-ranking was watching them.

Smart employees had probably already realized that.

It wasn’t just because he was a dominant Alpha or because he was handsome.

Thus, for a simple intern welcome dinner, an unprecedented number of employees decided to attend.

After work, a thick crowd formed around Seunghyuk.

He forced a polite smile.

“I checked the venue… it’s beef again.”

“Ugh, always beef.”

“Better than last time though.”

“Yeah.

The tuna place last time was too divisive.”

Employees chatted as they headed to the restaurant.

They all seemed familiar with the place, probably one they often used.

“But will the director come today?”

“The director?

He usually doesn’t attend dinners, does he?”

“He didn’t seem very interested in the intern… Seunghyuk, I mean.”

“…….”

At the mention of Hyunwoo, Seunghyuk’s expression stiffened.

Then he smiled slightly.

“The director doesn’t attend dinners often?”

“Ah… yes, that’s right.”

“Sometimes he pays out of his own pocket, but even then he only shows his face and leaves quickly.”

“A total wall….”

One employee accidentally muttered “wall” and quickly shut up.

Among themselves it was normal casual talk, but not in front of the intern.

As expected, Seunghyuk’s eyebrow lifted with interest.

“A wall?”

“Ah… haha, well… it’s one of the director’s nicknames…”

Flustered, the employee explained the origin of the nickname.

As Seunghyuk listened, the stiffness in his face gradually eased.

“So that’s why he’s called a wall.”

“Yeah, it’s just a joke between us.”

“I see.”

“……?”

Seunghyuk nodded, looking oddly pleased.

The employee tilted his head at the unexpectedly bright expression.

“Anyway, don’t worry about whether he comes or not.

It’s not like he dislikes you.”

“Yes, I understand.”

He would see Hyunwoo at home anyway.

Meeting him at the dinner didn’t matter.

But thinking Hyunwoo might be avoiding him stung a little.

And he was getting tired of being surrounded by unfamiliar people, forcing himself to smile.

“Looks like the director isn’t coming.”

“Should we order first?”

“Yeah.”

For a welcome dinner, the turnout was huge.

Employees murmured among themselves, noting Hyunwoo’s absence.

One employee turned to Seunghyuk.

“Can you drink?”

“I’m a bit weak, but…”

“Ah come on, it’s your welcome dinner.

You should drink a little.”

“…Okay.”

Seunghyuk answered stiffly.

The employees grew anxious at the reaction.

They often pressured others to drink, but this time they seemed unsure.

And then—

Someone walked into the restaurant.