Chapter 18
No, Father!
Do Myung-jin wanted to learn just a little bit more about Hana.
He ended up trailing after the young woman like some lovestruck follower, but what of it?
Right now, what Si-wan needed most was food, and Hana was someone who could provide it.
That was all that mattered.
Of course, Si-wan couldn’t know they had met—this had to stay secret.
Running into her at a coffee shop like this felt like a heaven-sent opportunity.
Do Myung-jin quickly followed behind her.
It wasn’t unusual for him to step up and pay for the coffee of an employee standing in front of him—it was the kind of “event” he sometimes pulled—so no one would think it strange.
While Hana was placing her order, he quietly stood behind her.
The quick-witted cashier recognized him but pretended not to notice for the sake of the “event’s” success.
Hana tilted her round eyes upward to study the menu board.
She was tired enough to want a caffeine boost, but worried that would just mean more trips to the bathroom. Better to save that time and get home early.
“One hot five-grain latte, please, and a slice of chocolate cake.”
“For here?”
“Yes.”
If it had been just the latte, she would have taken it to go and worked while drinking it—that would save time.
But chocolate cake was a problem.
If someone asked for “just one bite,” could she really give them any?
Look at that tiny piece of cake—it was smaller than her palm. One bite might not sound like much, but proportionally it was huge. And she didn’t have the kind of personality to flatly say No! So she chose to eat here instead.
She pulled her card from her wallet, but then a rich, dignified voice spoke from behind her.
“Would it be all right if I paid for that?”
Hana heard the words, but assumed they weren’t meant for her. Without looking toward the voice, she handed her card to the cashier.
“Please add the points to my account too. My employee number is…”
“…”
But the cashier didn’t take her card—he just stood there.
Something about his expression seemed odd.
“Um… is something wrong? Does this card not work here?”
The cashier smiled awkwardly.
“The gentleman behind you says he’d like to pay for you. How would you like to proceed?”
Puzzled, Hana turned—and froze on the spot.
“…!”
A middle-aged man with neatly combed, graying hair was smiling at her.
A strong, square jaw, thick eyebrows like caterpillars, and keen eyes—Hana could never mistake the owner of her company.
“P-President! Hello!”
She bowed in a hurry, the ponytail of her tied-up hair swaying like a tail.
Do Myung-jin stepped up beside her, pretending not to know who she was.
“You’re an employee of DK Foods, correct?”
“Yes…! I’m Joo Hana, Assistant Manager in the Food Planning Team.”
She hadn’t been in the military, but her posture was perfectly straight and her voice crisp, like a soldier answering an officer.
Wearing a loose hoodie but standing at attention, Hana looked up at him.
Do Myung-jin gave her a gentle smile.
(Round and cute, like a cartoon character. She looks sweet and good-natured, but her eyes are sharp.)
He trusted his judgment of people—DK Foods wouldn’t be where it was without it.
And this might just be the person who could help cure Si-wan’s eating disorder.
He knew nothing about her personal life, but that didn’t matter. Even if she were a villainess or a witch—if she could make something Si-wan would eat, that was enough.
Fortunately, this puppy-like young woman looked kind and decent at heart.
The only thing was, people like her didn’t do things because they were told—they had to want to.
(Looks like I’ll have to put in some effort.)
In a soft, polite tone, he asked:
“Would it be all right if I paid for your drink, Assistant Manager Joo?”
Flustered, Hana waved her hands.
“Oh, no, it’s fine—I ordered cake too.”
“Hahaha. I’ll buy you the cake as well. I am the company president—you think I can’t afford to buy my employee a slice of cake?”
He handed his card to the cashier, glancing at the display case.
“I’ll have an Americano—extra shot. And give me a slice of the same cake she ordered.”
He turned to Hana, who was standing there awkwardly.
“Do you mind if I have the points credited under my name?”
The question was so obvious Hana nodded immediately.
“Of course, sir—they should go to you.”
“I just say that so people don’t think it’s odd for the president to collect points. Hahaha.”
To Hana, it wasn’t odd at all. It would be stranger if someone answered No to that.
Just to be sure the cashier hadn’t forgotten, Do Myung-jin added:
“Make sure you add this lady’s order to mine as well.”
“Yes, sir.”
The cashier looked quite young—mid-twenties at most.
Men of Do Myung-jin’s age and status often spoke curtly to staff like this, but he was unfailingly polite.
Another of his personal rules was: Always be kind and respectful to people who handle your food.
After all, you didn’t want them to dip their finger in your drink out of spite.
The cashier asked Hana:
“For here or to go?”
Her mind went blank.
She had planned to eat here—but with the company president standing right behind her, what employee would say “For here” during work hours?
Sullenly, she answered:
“To go.”
In her mind, she could clearly picture Goo Dong-geun begging for a bite of her cake, and then Team Leader Oh Ah-young scolding him while asking for a bite herself.
Taking her latte and cake, Hana thought it would be rude to just run off after being treated, so she waited until his order was ready.
Normally, Do Myung-jin would tell someone, You must be busy, go on ahead. But he was curious what she would do, and besides—when would he get another chance to see her?
Soon, his Americano was ready. Like Hana, he held his coffee in one hand and cake in the other.
The two of them left the coffee shop together.
Hana bowed politely.
“Thank you for the treat, President.”
“I hope I didn’t make you uncomfortable, Assistant Manager Joo.”
“Not at all, sir. Well, I have work to get back to, so I’ll go ahead.”
She gave a perfect ninety-degree bow and hurried off.
Watching her go, Do Myung-jin smiled with satisfaction.
“Not bad. Not bad at all. That brat Si-wan… he’d better not have lied about the kimchi fried rice.”
As he muttered to himself, a familiar voice came from behind.
“President, what are you doing here?”
He turned to see Si-wan, face blank.
Si-wan had just returned from lunch with factory managers. His naturally sharp eyes made it look like he was picking a fight, but in truth, he was happy to see his father—they lived together, but were often too busy to cross paths.
Do Myung-jin was equally glad. But conversations between father and son—especially men—had a different flavor from those between women.
“What do you think I’m doing? Can’t you see?”
He lifted his hands slightly.
It might sound like a scolding, but it was his own way of expressing affection. As long as they understood each other, who cared what others thought?
Si-wan eyed the cake in his father’s hand.
“Who’s the chocolate cake for?”
“Me.”
“You don’t even like chocolate cake.”
“Didn’t—until today. Felt like having some.”
“Mm, I see. But…”
Si-wan followed the direction of his father’s gaze and turned his head.
“Who are you looking at?”
“L-looking? At nothing—what are you talking about?”
“Huh?”
Something was off. Following his father’s line of sight, he spotted a familiar face.
Assistant Manager Joo Hana—standing at the elevator, also holding a cup in one hand and cake in the other, just like his father.
Narrowing his eyes, Si-wan looked back at him.
“Father, no.”
“No what?”
“I respect you deeply. But this… this isn’t right. Don’t you feel guilty toward Mother?”
Do Myung-jin frowned at him.
What the hell kind of nonsense was that?
