BYL 27

chapter 27

“Why is everyone like this? Are you all so desperate to get fired?”

Every time that icy, cutting voice spoke, a chill ran down everyone’s spine. They all just trembled, unable to say a word. It was the first time anyone had been caught badmouthing the company so openly.

“Before you ruin the workplace atmosphere with pointless talk, act properly. I already warned you last time.”

With each sharp, clipped word from Taekyung, the atmosphere grew heavier. The team leaders tried desperately to change the mood, but it was useless. Taekyung’s irritation had already reached its limit.

“Is this how the sales team manages their employees?”

“N-no, it’s not like that.”

“Can you still say ‘no’ when you just heard it yourself?”

The team leader was rendered mute, as if he had swallowed honey. Though his mouth was shut, his glare at the team members was deadly. Under his gaze, everyone froze in place, holding their breath.

“We apologize, Executive Director!”

The team leaders shouted loudly, signaling their members to apologize as well. The team members, realizing the cue, scrambled to approach. But Taekyung firmly pointed to Dain with his hand.

“Isn’t there someone specific you should be apologizing to?”

“Ah…”

“If you keep ruining the workplace atmosphere with nonsense, HR will reorganize regardless of performance. Consider this a warning.”

“Ah, yes! Deputy Min, ahh…”

The team leaders quickly came to stand on either side of Dain, bowing their heads as they began to apologize. The rest of the team did the same. All of them, pressed down by Taekyung’s overwhelming presence, rubbed their palms together like flustered flies.

Dain stood there dazed, staring only at Taekyung, until everyone finished apologizing and scattered in a panic.

Finally, when the corridor was left with just the two of them, Dain subtly glanced at Taekyung. It was embarrassing—if it weren’t for her, the gossip wouldn’t have spiraled. Perhaps this situation happened because she had always swallowed her anger without speaking up.

“Executive Director, I’m really sorry…”

As she squeezed her eyes shut to apologize,

“If only Dain had given permission, it wouldn’t have been a lie. What a shame.”

Taekyung approached with a sly smile, taking long strides. His large frame cast a shadow over Dain in an instant.

“W-what do you mean!”

Startled, she looked up to see him smiling with satisfaction.

“Finally, you’re looking me in the eyes properly.”

“Ah…”

“You’ve been avoiding me all day. Right?”

It was an undeniable fact. Dain muttered that she wasn’t, but he didn’t believe her. As he slowly closed the distance, Dain took hesitant steps backward.

“Are you hiding something from me?”

“Huh?”

“Your behavior is completely different than usual—your actions, your gaze…”

Thud. Her back hit the wall. She couldn’t retreat any further.

“Even the slightest reactions are different.”

“E-Executive Director… please step back a little. After just being misunderstood like that, if you keep doing this… I won’t have anything left to say.”

Her voice trembled slightly, probably due to the proximity. Taekyung let out a low laugh, yet didn’t budge an inch.

“I don’t mind. And I already said you can call me by my name if you want.”

“Even though this is a private setting, this is a company gathering.”

“There’s no one around, so it doesn’t matter, does it?”

Dain wanted to argue, but looking at Taekyung’s smiling face, all her resistance melted. She blinked in disbelief.

“Tell me honestly, Dain.”

To want an honest answer, shouldn’t he at least give her a moment to prepare?!

Dain screamed internally, only managing to twitch her lips. Maybe it was his large frame getting closer, or the warmth of his hand on her shoulder, but her entire body stiffened.

“Why do you keep avoiding my eyes?”

Taekyung’s hand pressed firmly on her right shoulder. Just a bit more pressure and her shoulder might have broken. He smiled lazily, like a lion cornering its prey.

“Huh?”

“Th-that’s…”

“‘That’s’?”

Just as she thought there was no way out, her phone vibrated violently in her pocket.

“Ah!”

Dain flinched and quickly pulled out her phone. The screen showed the kindergarten’s number. She looked at him as if asking permission to answer, and Taekyung finally stepped back. Relieved, Dain pressed the accept button.

“Sorry, I was busy and couldn’t check sooner…”

• Auntieee…

A trembling voice hit her ears. At first, she thought she misheard, but checking the number again confirmed it was the kindergarten. Dain’s voice dropped in panic.

“Summer? Is that you?”

• Auntie, what should I do…

Summer kept repeating “what should I do” before finally bursting into loud cries. Normally, she was not very tearful, so this was unusual.

Dain looked up, holding the phone with a deeply concerned expression. Summer’s cries were so loud even Taekyung across from her looked shocked.

“What’s wrong? What happened?”

• Hello, are you Summer’s guardian?

A teacher’s awkward voice came through. From the background, Summer’s cries continued, so the teacher had probably switched the phone to intervene.

“Yes, teacher. What’s the matter?”

• Could you come to the kindergarten? The kids got into a serious fight…

A fight? What was going on?

Dain was at a loss for words, staring blankly. Taekyung, listening too, had a similar expression. Before they could ask more, an unexpected voice called from behind.

“Executive Director!”

Taekyung turned to see Woo-hyun rushing over, holding a phone in his right hand.

“There was an urgent call from the kindergarten. It’s about Hanul.”

“Hanul? Why?”

“Well… apparently he hit another kid.”

Dain flinched at his words. She had a vague idea but wasn’t certain. Taekyung frowned and asked again.

“Hanul hit someone? A friend?”

“The call said it wasn’t a friend.”

Who could he have hit? Taekyung clicked his tongue, turning his gaze elsewhere. Dain looked up at him, bewildered.

Whatever happened, it was clear that two children were involved in an incident.

Rushing to the kindergarten, they learned the story.

A boy had asked Summer to play, but she refused, saying she had promised to play with Hanul. Upset, the boy teased Summer for not having her parents there.

“No, I do have them! Summer has a mom!”

“No, it’s your aunt!”

In panic, Summer lied, but coincidentally, the boy had seen Summer and Dain at a local market. He even saw her call Dain “aunt,” so he was bold, making it impossible to continue lying.

Summer eventually cried, and when Hanul came to play with her, he charged at the boy.

Fortunately, the other child’s parents were reasonable. They told the teacher to scold their child firmly, left their contact info, and apologized to Summer through the call, so no further action was needed.

“Summer!”

Summer, who had just stopped crying, began sniffing again when she saw Dain running into the playground. Her eyes and nose were red, looking pitiful.

“Auntie, I’m sorry. I know lying is bad…”

“No, it’s okay.”

Dain didn’t know what to say. Lying was wrong, but she understood why Summer did it. If she were a child, she would’ve done the same.

Yet seeing Dain’s helpless expression, Summer’s emotions escalated, and she started crying harder. Dain felt a cold sweat as she watched the child’s shoulders shake.

“What should I do? What can I do?”

Summer clung tightly to Dain’s knees, burying her face in the pale pink skirt, leaving tiny tear marks.

“Summer, it’s not your fault. It’s okay. Auntie isn’t mad.”

“Sniff… boohoo.”

Dain gently patted her shoulder and stroked her head, reassuring her. Yet whether Summer’s hurt heart could truly heal remained uncertain.

“Don’t cry. It’s not your fault.”

“Yeah!”

Suddenly, Hanul interjected from the right. Dain’s lips parted in surprise, noticing his disheveled clothes, evidence of the earlier fight.

“But she lied.”

“That’s a bright yellow lie, so it’s fine.”

Without waiting for Dain’s response, the children continued talking. Dain caught an unfamiliar phrase in their conversation.

“A bright yellow lie? What’s that?”

As Dain frowned, Summer also pointed out the phrase. Curiosity had stopped her tears. Hanul smiled and explained.

“There are different types of lies. Pure white, bright red… and bright yellow lies.”

‘You know that? Lies have types, Dain. Every lie is different.’

A voice rose faintly from a distant memory, surfacing in her mind.