RBSW 13🌻

Episode 13

“I’m jealous. We’ve got… ugh, so much work and annoying people.”

Yun-ji let out a deep sigh.

“Right? We already have enough work, and now we’ll have more because of us. If this presentation gets approved, the work will transfer over to your side, right?”
“Ah. The smart electrical system, was it?”
“Yeah.”

It was the smart system proposed to improve the ESG score. The goal was to increase the environmental score by controlling electricity usage through the system.

Most proposals had been scrapped due to opposition from other departments, and this smart lighting system was almost the only one deemed feasible.

“I don’t know. It’ll work out somehow.”
“But are there no issues with the process?”
“What kind of issues?”
“I was wondering if it conflicts with the existing system. Our side is treating it as a main project too, so if it falls through, we’re in big trouble.”
“No, well…”

Yun-ji’s expression was troubled.

“Then again, if there’s a problem with that, the Infrastructure Team will take all the blame, so they couldn’t have just done a sloppy review, right?”

Min-seon subtly emphasized the words ‘take all the blame’.

After marrying Su-han, she remembered him mentioning that the smart lighting system had conflicted with the central computer controls, causing a temporary server crash. He said the company was in an uproar, but Su-han had just shrugged.

‘How is that my responsibility? The Infrastructure Team should have reviewed it properly. I just proposed a good project.’

Hearing that, Min-seon had recalled Yun-ji’s haggard face at the time.

“Well, actually, that part did make me a bit uneasy, but as a junior employee, it’s hard for me to say anything…”
“Hey, if there’s something like that, you absolutely have to speak up. If you let it slide, it’ll come back as a work bomb later.”
“That’s true.”

Yun-ji fell deep into thought.

That’s enough. This is good.

Min-seon picked up her coffee cup and drained the remaining coffee in one go.

“It’s evening. I should get going.”
“Already? We just met up after so long.”
“We can see each other again next time. Hurry up and go back. You said you have a lot to do.”
“Oh, right…”

Yun-ji waved sullenly and trudged back up to the office. Min-seon watched her pitiful retreating figure for a while.

You’re right, Mr. Su-han. The Infrastructure Team should have reviewed it properly, whose fault is it?

So, I helped them review it well. I did well, didn’t I?

After parting with Yun-ji, Min-seon stopped by the office briefly.

The smart lighting system would soon be scrapped. So what could Su-han do? The presentation date was approaching, and since his previously proposed items had already been rejected, he couldn’t bring them up again.

On the presentation day, he’ll have nothing to present.

Leaving it at that would be entertaining enough.

But she wanted to go further.

She wanted to make Su-han fall into his own trap, trip over his own feet.

Then, something flashed through Min-seon’s mind. The sound of typing echoed in the office where only Min-seon remained.

Before she knew it, it was dark outside. It seemed the sun had set early for the time of day; looking closer, the sky was full of dark clouds.

“I don’t have an umbrella…”

Pondering whether to take a taxi, she pressed the elevator button. Standing still, hunger washed over her.

8 PM. Way past dinner time.

Oh right, my reward.

The reward was definitely ‘A Fancy Dinner’. Was it okay to eat this late? More importantly, what exactly constitutes a ‘fancy dinner’?

As she stepped towards the open elevator, she stopped abruptly.

Jae-heon stood in front of the door, looking down at her. It was a meeting so similar to the last time it felt like déjà vu. Did he come to work on a weekend?

“Hello.”

Jae-heon gave a slight nod of his chin. Min-seon bowed her head in greeting and slightly sidestepped him to enter the elevator. She awkwardly stood there, stealing glances at the back of Jae-heon’s head.

“Where are you headed?”
“Pardon?”
“Your outfit is different.”

Jae-heon turned his head slightly. His sculpted profile came into view.

Min-seon looked down at her clothes. Fortunately, it was a neat and tidy look, but it still felt different from what she wore to work.

To notice such a small change in an instant… He’s quite sharp, as I felt last time.

“I had an appointment this morning. Now I’m heading home. I guess you’re here for work too, Department Head?”
“Have you eaten?”
“No.”
“Then come with me.”

Jae-heon glanced back at her.

The question, ‘Why should I?’ rose to her throat, but Min-seon held it back.

“Alright.”

A fancy dinner. Maybe it meant having dinner with Kang Jae-heon. After all, if that weren’t the case, why would he invite her to dinner?

He opened the door of his jet-black car, dark as the night sky during the rainy season. Feeling flustered by the unfamiliar escort, Min-seon got in. By the time the car pulled out, raindrops had begun to fall sporadically.

They hadn’t discussed where or what they would eat, but Jae-heon drove as if he had a predetermined destination.

They drove for quite a while. Or perhaps it felt longer because sitting in silence with Jae-heon in the quiet car was suffocating.

“It’s been raining so much lately.”
“It’s the rainy season.”
“Ah, I guess so.”

Min-seon ran out of things to say and glanced at Jae-heon. Her gaze was drawn to his prominent brow bone and the bridge of his nose.

After Jae-heon’s scouting attempt, rumors about him that she hadn’t paid attention to before came flooding in.

‘Department Head Kang Jae-heon? Isn’t he a bit scary?’
‘Why? If you do your job well, he doesn’t get annoyed.’
‘It’s because the standard for “well” is ridiculously high. And his face is scary even when he’s just sitting still.’
‘Which is better? A handsome, scary boss, or an ugly, nice boss?’
‘Ah, that’s tough.’

She could understand why people said those things about Jae-heon. The exotic feeling she got when she first saw him, combined with his expressionless face, somehow seemed intimidating.

“Can I ask why you suggested having dinner together?”
“A prior engagement was canceled.”
“Ah, I see. You must not like eating alone.”
“Do I look like that?”
“No, judging by your appearance alone, you look like someone who eats alone every day.”
“You’re right. I dislike eating with anyone.”
“Then why with me…”
“I just saw you there.”

Jae-heon shrugged.

Was it because of the mission after all? Maybe he was compelled to ask me to dinner without knowing the reason himself.

Listening to the sound of the pouring rain, Min-seon turned her gaze outside the window.

Plip, plop. The sound of rain made her ears feel stuffy.

“I actually like rainy days.”

She muttered it almost like a soliloquy. Thinking he hadn’t heard, she was surprised when Jae-heon asked for the reason.

“Why do you like them?”
“It feels like it’ll wash away all the bad things. So refreshingly.”
“I dislike them.”
“Why?”
“What reason is there to like it? It’s humid, carrying an umbrella is bothersome, raindrops splatter on your clothes, your hair gets damp and limp.”
“But you have someone to hold an umbrella for you, don’t you?”

Jae-heon shot her a sidelong glance.

“I saw you last time in front of the company. Your personal driver, right? You don’t even use public transportation, so what are you talking about?”
“Do you need to use public transportation to complain about inconveniences?”
“Well, no.”
“And most of all, when it rains, there are people who cry.”

The light changed, and the car sped off quickly.

Someone he likes? She had a feeling it might be. If even this cold-blooded-looking man can feel such emotions.

“Still, it’s better than not being able to cry at all. You can use the rain as an excuse to cry.”
“You shouldn’t have a reason to cry in the first place.”

His gaze and tone were firm.