Chapter 29
“Four months, they said.”
A few days after the fire, Seung-eon came back from a meeting with the experts and told Secretary Chu.
Chu’s eyes grew much wider than she expected.
“That long?”
“It’s driving me crazy.”
Her head throbbed.
“It’s the top floor, after all. We have to check the sprinkler pipes, see if the elevator still works, and do a full inspection to make sure there’s no damage to the rooftop facilities. If you add the repair work, it could take up to six months. But don’t worry — I’ll work with a restoration company I know so we can get you back home as quickly as possible.”
The interior company CEO she knew well had pounded his chest with confidence, telling her to leave it all to him.
“Then I’ll count on you,” she’d said with a wry smile, entrusting him with full authority before turning away. Now, facing Secretary Chu — who was wearing the same troubled expression as herself — she handed him a box.
“This is…”
“I’m not sure if it can be salvaged, but I’d like you to try. Cost doesn’t matter — just do whatever you can. Oh, and did you find any emails?”
She had gone through the charred remains of the house to collect whatever might still be usable — mainly photos of herself and Woo-jin, and memory chips or film containing pictures of the late Chairwoman Lee Joo-ok and their parents.
You can always buy new things…
But not memories.
Even if those people no longer existed in the world, their presence meant something special to both her and Woo-jin.
Taking the box from Seung-eon, Chu said,
“Fortunately, the emails you sent five years ago still exist, but I’m not sure if they can be downloaded. If possible, I’m even thinking of requesting them directly from the company.”
“I see.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll keep looking.”
Clearly, they were on the same wavelength.
Seeing Chu’s unusual determination, Seung-eon gave him a faint smile.
“So, are you planning to keep staying there?”
“At Team Leader Seo’s house?”
“Yes.”
“No, I can’t do that forever.”
She let out a wry laugh.
“Woo-jin’s the only one enjoying himself. He video-calls his friend in the States every day, bragging that he’s staying at an old friend’s uncle’s house. Still… I’ll have to move soon. I’m sure Team Leader Seo’s uncomfortable, too.”
“I’ll look into it.”
“Sorry — I know you said a temporary place wasn’t necessary.”
“It’s fine.”
“Actually, while you’re at it, could you also prepare a contract for me?”
“A contract?”
Seung-eon nodded.
“Even if it’s temporary, I’m staying in someone else’s home. I can’t live there for free.”
Chu nodded in understanding.
“What… is this?”
A few hours later, after coming home from work, Seung-eon sat Seo I-su down on the living-room sofa and handed him a sheet of paper.
At the very top, centered in bold, were the words “Cohabitation Contract”, and at the bottom were their names, dates of birth, and phone numbers. But the main body — the actual terms of the contract — was completely blank.
Watching his puzzled expression, Seung-eon finally spoke.
“I have a reason for needing to live in this apartment.”
She let out a long sigh.
“This is a place I spent years choosing carefully. Ever since Woo-jin started kindergarten, I’ve insisted on living here because it’s perfect for my commute and for his trips to and from school.”
After a short breath, she went on.
“Plus, Woo-jin’s situation is a bit special — so this apartment is the only one that works. That’s why I accepted your offer in the first place, thinking I’d be able to move back quickly… but things have gotten complicated.”
Glancing sideways at him, she looked back down at the blank sheet in front of him.
“It seems I’ll have to stay here longer than I thought, and I’d feel uncomfortable living here for free.”
Even if Seo’s house had more than enough empty rooms, there had to be boundaries. They were, at best, employer and employee.
“I’m looking for a temporary place as quickly as I can, but in the meantime, if there are any rules you want me or Woo-jin to follow while we’re here, feel free to write them down. I’ll cover all expenses while we’re staying, and I’ll make sure to repay your hospitality, so you don’t have to worry about that.”
Seo’s shaggy hair didn’t move as he stared fixedly at the blank sheet.
“All expenses… you’ll be covering them yourself, President?”
After all that thinking, that was all he said?
Seung-eon let out a short laugh.
“Of course. It’d be shameless otherwise.”
He stayed silent for a moment, studying her, then finally said, Alright, and nodded.
“By the way, before that — is this your phone number?”
When she was filling out the draft, she’d noticed that the number written for Seo on the contract was different from the one saved in her phone.
“Hey, Yeong-eun. Isn’t Team Leader Seo’s number different? It’s not 9037, it’s 8826, right?”
“That can’t be. I’ve checked several times.”
“But in my contacts it’s 8826.”
“…It’s probably his old number. The one on the contract is what HR has on file.”
“I see.”
“If you really doubt it, you can ask him directly.”
Now, at her question, Seo’s dark eyes moved slowly down to the paper. The way he silently looked at the number felt… strange.
“So it is wrong—”
“It’s correct.”
It is?
“Then can I call it?”
“What?”
“Well, if it’s correct, I should check. We can’t have the contract with the wrong number, so I’ll call it myself.”
“…”
“That’s fine, right?”
His suspicious reaction made her raise her phone and start dialing the number written on the paper.
It’s odd that the number in my phone and the one HR has are different.
Unlikely, sure. But—
The man in front of her was one of the three people she suspected could be her secret boyfriend.
If Seo really was her boyfriend, he might be using a second phone to avoid being found out by Secretary Chu — just as she had done.
And if he was her boyfriend, wouldn’t her contact name in his phone be different, too?
Embarrassing as it was, maybe it would be something like My Honey or My Princess.
I mean… I’m Kang Seung-eon.
If she had a boyfriend, there’s no way she’d allow him to save her number under a boring, plain name.
So—
Bzzz. Bzzz.
Seo’s phone buzzed violently in his hand.
“You’re getting a call.”
She started to nod, then said,
“Show me the screen.”
“What?”
Why was he so startled?
“The display. Can you show me?”
He hesitated, looking uncomfortable at her bold demand.
But she hadn’t expected an answer anyway. Smiling, she reached out.
“Then I’ll just take a quick look—!”
Grabbing his wrist, she looked down at the screen.
Bzzz. Bzzz.
The excitement in her eyes quickly faded into disappointment.
[Kang Seung-eon LOOKIN President 010-XXXX-6616]
…What the hell.
Just… ordinary.
