Chapter 30
Unconsciously… had she been hoping for it?
[Kang Seung-eon LOOKIN President 010-XXXX-6616]
Not just her name.
“It even has the company name… and my title.”
It was such a Seo I-su way to save a contact.
“Satisfied now?”
His low, deep voice pulled her out of the swamp of suspicion she’d been drowning in. Only then did Seung-eon release his hand.
“Sorry. You told me already, but I still doubted you.”
“…”
“Anyway, I’ll take that as agreement to the temporary contract. If I can leave sooner, I will.”
“…Understood.”
Was “yes” or “understood” all he knew how to say?
She looked up at him, wondering if he’d ever initiated a conversation in his life, then moved away first.
“Team Leader Seo… I’m sure.”
Absolutely not.
Candidate #3: Seo I-su
Likelihood of being the boyfriend = -500%
The probability, which had crept up slightly not long ago, now plummeted straight through the floor.
“Minus five hundred? After just a few days living together, you sound certain,” Secretary Chu remarked, glancing at the memo where Seung-eon had circled -500% several times.
“Team Leader Seo is miles away from anything romantic.”
“…”
“Still, just in case, I watched him closely the past few days like you suggested.”
“And?”
Seung-eon pouted.
“There’s not a one-percent chance of us being involved. Zero. No—minus. In fact—”
“I-su hyung! I can’t get through to Ji-won!”
“…Can’t get through?”
“Yeah! What should I do? She got cut off while talking!”
“I’ll fix it for you. Move aside for a sec.”
“Okay!”
“I-su hyung! How do you make this robot move?”
“You want me to explain how it works?”
“Yeah!”
“Well, the mechanism is simple. If you look here at this part—”
“I-su hyung! I-su hyyyung!”
“Yeah, you called?”
“Hyung!”
When she’d first moved into Seo I-su’s place while looking for a temporary home, Seung-eon had been worried about whether Woo-jin could handle it.
He was as sensitive about sleeping arrangements as she was—maybe more—so she was certain he’d find it uncomfortable to live in someone else’s home.
But Woo-jin roamed freely through every corner of Seo’s house as if it were his own, clinging to him so much he could’ve been called Seo’s shadow.
Thinking back over the past few days, Seung-eon let out a deep sigh.
“Those two are closer than I am with him.”
“Woo-jin and Team Leader Seo?”
“Yeah. These days, Woo-jin barely even talks to me.”
She grumbled.
“He’s so excited. It’s nothing but ‘I-su hyung’ this, ‘I-su hyung’ that. I’m hurt. Really hurt!”
“…”
“Look at this, Secretary Chu. How could Woo-jin do this to me? I should come first, shouldn’t I? We should be closer! That’s how it’s supposed to be!”
The more she thought about it, the louder her voice got.
Seeing Chu hesitate for a moment made her click her tongue. “He’s even making me childish,” she muttered.
“If there’s truly no chance Team Leader Seo is the one, aren’t we just wasting time?”
“That’s what I’m saying.”
“…Understood. I’ll start looking for a place right away.”
“You weren’t already?!”
Seung-eon’s eyes went wide.
Chu just shrugged, and she felt an urge to scream.
She was sure Chu had rated Seo the most likely candidate among the three suspects. Not that she hadn’t been suspicious herself after seeing his odd reactions.
But really—the odds are practically zero.
“Find someplace we can move into as early as next week,” she instructed curtly, shifting her gaze away when Chu nodded.
“Shall I aim for the end of the year?”
Next week would be September.
From then until the end of the year—her grandmother’s will deadline—there were only about 18 weeks left.
That wasn’t much time to locate her mystery boyfriend, convince him, arrange introductions to family and acquaintances, and have serious talks about children.
And yet—
“Director Jung? Didn’t you know? He’s on a business trip in Finland right now.”
“Team Leader Yoo’s away on a domestic trip for G-STAR.”
The gears of LOOKIN, which had halted when she was out of commission, were now whirring non-stop thanks to her return.
Naturally, Jung Hee-do and Yoo Hyun-joon were swamped, spearheading the work in her stead.
Even the timing isn’t on my side.
Her head throbbed again.
As LOOKIN’s president, she was relieved the company was back on track—but as someone who could lose her HG shares, she was anxious.
Still, they said they’ll be back next week… Maybe it won’t be too late to deal with them then.
“Noona.”
“…”
“Noona!”
Before she knew it, the weekend had arrived.
Time used to crawl—so why did it feel like it was racing by now? As she fretted about running out of time, Woo-jin appeared in front of her.
“I have a favor to ask you!”
The same Woo-jin who’d been glued to Seo I-su’s side for days, barely sparing her a glance, now smiled up at her. She snorted.
“You only come to me when you want something?”
“Huh?”
Forget it—why was she jealous of a kid?
“What is it?”
When puzzlement crossed his face, she spread her arms and motioned for him to come in for a hug.
At ten years old, Woo-jin was almost as tall as she was, but he settled into her arms without hesitation, plopping down onto her lap.
Cute little brat.
Now he even knows how to act sweet.
Grinning, she wiggled her eyebrows. “Well? Just say it.”
His cherry-red lips parted.
“Noona, are you good at cooking?”
“Huh?”
“Can you pack a lunchbox? Make inari sushi? Kimbap? Rice balls?”
…What was he on about?
Blinking in confusion, she listened as Woo-jin went on.
“My friends keep bringing their moms’ lunches to show off, even though we get school meals. At first, it was great getting to try theirs, but now it’s my turn.”
“…!”
“I could ask Auntie Jang-san, but… I want to eat food you made!”
Ah.
“I told my friends my noona can do anything. That you can make anything, so… uh…”
“…”
“You can make rice balls… right? Right?”
Expectation sparkled in his eyes—then wavered with doubt.
Before that bright gaze could fill with disappointment, she opened her mouth.
“Kang Woo-jin.”
“…Yeah?”
She flicked his forehead with her fingers.
“What’s my name?”
His eyes went wide at the random question.
“I’m Kang Seung-eon.”
Did he really think this noona couldn’t make a measly rice ball?
“Just trust me!”
She was doomed.
I’ve lost my mind.
Completely lost it.
The old Seung-eon would have answered Woo-jin’s request for a lunchbox with—
“Woo-jin, I’m busy. You know I don’t have time for that.”
Or—
“Do I look like I can cook? Just ask Auntie Jang-san.”
Or—
“Woo-jin, I’m working. Shut the door on your way out.”
Back then, she really was too busy.
Woo-jin was important, but protecting LOOKIN—his future—was more important. She had no problem brushing off his small requests, because prioritizing the company felt like the best choice.
But when she woke up to find Woo-jin no longer eight, but ten years old—and crying in her arms—
She’d decided she would grant her only family anything he wanted.
She used to think of him first, but if it was something she couldn’t do, she’d draw a firm line. Not anymore.
“Woo-jin, do you trust me?”
“I do! Totally! I trust you the most!”
The way he beamed and kissed her cheek afterwards was just a bonus.
I’m doomed.
Really doomed.
Big mouth.
No matter how much she wanted to grant his wishes—
I shouldn’t have tried to act tough.
She should’ve just said no if she couldn’t do it.
Sighing, she turned her head—
And found a large figure beside her, shaggy hair tucked under a cap, thick black-rimmed glasses on his face, pushing a shopping cart.
“I’ll come along.”
Seo I-su, who had been watching her and Woo-jin talk, had followed her to the supermarket.
What’s his angle?
Was it because he’d seen the inevitable disaster her bold promise would lead to?
Feeling uneasy, she stepped away from him and started walking ahead.
“Honey!”
