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Chapter 10
Cafe Sweet Dream
“Somang unnie, who is that? You know them, right? You’ve been staring over there the whole time.”
“Huh?”
Somang turned her head at part-timer Jihee’s words, and her eyes immediately met someone sitting by the window.
She quickly averted her gaze to the POS system and whispered,
“A friend of my brother.”
And now… a watcher.
<Where are you going?>
<…….>
Just as Somang was about to leave the house, Hangyeol stopped her.
She couldn’t bring herself to say she was heading to the cafe because it would be awkward for him; pride wouldn’t allow it.
Meanwhile, Hangyeol, displeased with Somang’s silence, slowly ran his index finger over his eyebrow.
<Baek Somang. No blind dates.>
The curiosity he showed in checking whether it was truly a blind date made her heart flutter. The strange excitement she felt for the first time made her want to push back slightly.
<It’s my heart, you know?>
<Ha.>
Hangyeol let out a half-laugh as if exasperated.
After finally getting a response from Somang as she left the house, Hangyeol arrived a few hours later at the cafe where she worked. He claimed the seat with the best view of the counter and sat there just like that.
“Doesn’t it look like only that spot has a different image quality?”
Jihee pointed at the spot where Hangyeol was sitting, her cheeks flushed with excitement.
She wasn’t the only one who noticed; passersby would glance at Hangyeol through the window, whisper to each other, and often enter the cafe.
Thanks to him, today’s sales were skyrocketing.
Somang, glancing at the now full cafe, shot a sidelong look at Hangyeol.
He wore a black V-neck shirt with matching black pants. The outfit was simple, but on him, it was as dazzling as a peacock.
Every time he lifted his coffee under short sleeves, his sculpted body became visible, and his long legs could easily invade the neighboring seat.
Once again, she realized just how amazing the person she had a crush on was.
Thinking that made her feel sad.
Why did she have to fall for her first love, who was basically the final boss in real life?
Sigh… She felt it rising from deep within.
“It’s ultra-high definition with a million lights turned on—so sparkling.”
Jihee bounced around next to her like an audience, and Somang felt drained again from her high energy.
“Yeah… we could even turn off the cafe lights.”
Annoyed for no reason, she pressed the POS buttons harder.
“Ugh… finally safe!”
Yewon, coming out from the bakery behind the counter, collapsed onto Somang’s shoulder.
“You can handle the takeout with Jihee. Somang, you get ready to leave. Thank you so much.”
“Already? I can help a bit more.”
“No need. Have lunch at home comfortably. Soon, I’ll treat you properly with some alcohol.”
Expressing her gratitude, Yewon pushed Somang out from behind the counter and took off her apron.
“I’ll handle the takeout, okay?”
“Why is she like this? Did you really fight with Siwon oppa? What’s it about this time?”
While struggling with Yewon over the bag, Jihee pushed her hair behind her ear, fussing.
“Unnie! Boss! He’s coming. He’s coming!”
“Who’s coming? Wait… isn’t that exactly like Yuhan Hangyeol sunbae? Somang…?”
“What is going on? Is he a goblin?” Yewon rubbed her eyes in disbelief.
Before she knew it, Hangyeol stepped right up in front of them.
“Long time no see, Yewon.”
“…Yes. Really, really long time, sunbae.”
“You’re off work, right? Give it here. I’ll carry it.”
Hangyeol took Somang’s bag and gently placed his arm around her shoulder.
Every eye in the cafe immediately focused on them, and Somang felt her whole body tense.
“Let go, let go…!”
“I’ll let go if you hold my hand.”
Crazy! Really. Why is he like this? Her face, red to the ears, was about to explode.
Somang left the cafe in a hurry, not even properly saying goodbye to Yewon.
Meanwhile, every movement of Hangyeol heading toward the car was seamless, like a perfectly scripted scene.
At Home
Thump, thump.
Somang, sitting on the sofa watching a variety show, subtly turned her head toward the kitchen.
<Let’s eat at home quickly.>
She assumed “eat” meant takeout food.
However, in front of the house, there were groceries delivered from the market, and Hangyeol carried them straight into the kitchen without hesitation.
His familiar knife skills looked strange.
Did he cook by himself in America?
The Hangyeol Somang knew didn’t usually take care of his meals. He often survived on sandwiches, and proper meals were only eaten when they were together.
Wouldn’t he hurt his hands? Worried, Somang got up and peeked at the dining table.
Company documents were neatly stacked on one side. Lifting one with her hand, she saw that besides the TF team work, there were materials from various other departments.
Suddenly, she remembered what Manager Song had said.
<I’m not the type to follow the line, but I wanted to follow the team leader’s line.>
<Why? Did something happen?>
Manager Song praised Hangyeol endlessly, saying he handled things differently from ordinary employees.
<TF team leaders are always under scrutiny by executives. But he’d talk about last quarter’s tasks, then say, ‘Based on that project, we set the TF team’s direction.’ So even if executives were displeased, they couldn’t oppose him. It’s like spitting on their own results.>
Finally, Song said, smiling, that it felt like he sat above the executives, pulling strings effortlessly.
Hearing it, Somang thought, “That’s so like Hangyeol oppa.”
Even in school, just like Siwon, he had a flexible personality and never got scolded by teachers even if he skipped night study.
Lost in the sudden memories, Somang set the documents down.
Soon, the chopping sounds were replaced by sizzling from the kitchen.
Hangyeol, skillfully handling the pan, turned his head halfway.
“You still like omelet rice, right?”
Under his short sleeves, his bulging veins and reddish muscles stood out.
She watched mesmerized as his muscles rippled every time he lifted the pan. Her answer dragged out.
“Ah… yes.”
“More than me?”
“Yes… yes? Ah, really… oppa!”
Frowning, Somang quickly looked up. Hangyeol’s lips curled elegantly.
“I think you like me more.”
“No, I don’t!”
“Your gaze was so intense, the eggs are fully cooked.”
Hangyeol placed the beautifully prepared omelet rice on the table with a satisfied smile.
“Eat plenty.”
He drew a heart on the yellow omelet with red ketchup, smiling charmingly.
“Not me, the omelet rice.”
“Ha! I said I’m fine.”
She put down her spoon roughly, pretending not to eat, but her protest didn’t last.
Her stomach was demanding food.
“Since you made it, I’ll at least taste it.”
Her anticipation was met; the omelet rice was surprisingly delicious, and she couldn’t stop eating.
After finishing, she rolled up her sleeves at the sink.
“Hmm, not that tasty, but since I ate it, I’ll do the dishes.”
However, the rubber gloves were missing from the sink.
“Weren’t the gloves here?”
“I put them up there. Wait a sec.”
Hangyeol stretched his arm upward. Her gaze fell on his muscular arm close to her face.
At the same time, the warmth from his back made her nervous.
“Actually, it’s fine. I’ll do it myself.”
“No, I’ll do it. Just put the water in the fridge.”
His arm slid down to rest on her shoulder.
Startled, Somang jumped, turning instinctively.
Chup.
Their lips touched.
She swore to the heavens it wasn’t intentional.
“Th-This… I mean!”
Covering her lips with both hands, Somang felt like a crushed, red tomato falling weakly to the floor.
“Too indecent.”
“I said I’d do it…”
Her words of excuse were crushed under his palm, and the lips brushing hers throbbed intensely.
Monday Morning at the Office
The office was chaotic from the start of Monday.
Somang’s mind, still preoccupied with Hangyeol, couldn’t keep up.
[Title] A CEO’s illegitimate child joined the company. Does anyone know who it is?
└There’s an illegitimate child?
└If there is, does that mean the real son got cut because the company couldn’t recover from the low sales?
└└Yeah. Looks like it from the circumstances.
The dopamine-fueled post on the company’s anonymous board was set to private within 30 minutes, and just like that, the existence of the illegitimate child became accepted as fact.
