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Chapter 17
Jiseo stopped speaking, unsure of what might come out of Baek Dohyeok’s mouth if their conversation continued. She didn’t want to know how much lower this man could stoop, or what rumors might spread among the espers with overly sharp hearing who had overheard their dialogue.
“Anyway, you’re saying you won’t charge for the car repair?”
“Yes.”
“Thank you. I’ll think of it as a ‘noblesse oblige’ kind of thing.”
“Don’t think of it as noblesse oblige. Think of it as a courtship.”
Pffft—
Jiseo, acting on impulse, sprayed her grapefruit aid all over Dohyeok’s face. Startled, she quickly handed him a napkin, but Dohyeok, seemingly unfazed, instead asked if she was alright.
“Hey, you can’t just scare someone like that.”
“Sorry, I didn’t know how to phrase the fair request.”
“You could’ve just said ‘fair request!’”
“Oh.”
Dohyeok nodded at Jiseo, who had yelled uncharacteristically. Jiseo was appalled as he calmly wiped his face with an almost expressionless look. Ah, this isn’t going to work. Nothing ever goes right when this man is involved.
“Anyway, thank you, Guide Baek Dohyeok. Vice President?”
“Call me whatever’s convenient. Dohyeok works fine too.”
“Then, Vice President. Since I don’t have to worry about repair costs anymore, I’ll head off first. Thank you.”
Jiseo bowed quickly and stood up abruptly. She couldn’t sit there any longer after spraying her drink on an S-rank guide’s face.
Since half her drink was left, she asked to transfer it into a takeaway cup. As she was leaving, Dohyeok followed her without any hesitation, having taken a sip of the iced coffee she’d poured.
“…Vice President, aren’t you going somewhere?”
“Not today. I only go to the company twice a week because of guide training.”
Jiseo, no longer surprised by the tone of someone clearly from a silver spoon background, just nodded lightly and waved.
“Then go ahead. I have training with my colleagues, so I’ll get going.”
“Then I’ll go too.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re my esper, Jiseo.”
Jiseo froze. Wait, she had agreed to receive guiding, not to pair up! Dohyeok was the only one who didn’t realize the weight of calling someone ‘my esper.’
Perhaps that was why Dohyeok’s expression was calm, unlike hers.
‘At least pretend to be embarrassed.’
Whenever Jiseo was with him, she felt like she wasn’t entirely herself. Her composure had only survived among people who understood common sense and communication—ordinary people with moderately priced cars.
“I only provide radiation guiding to espers who have completed the gate mission; the direct guiding is only for you, Jiseo. And you’ve agreed to receive guiding only from me. So even if we’re not technically a pair yet, doesn’t that make us a semi-pair, the stage before a pair?”
Scratch that—I take back saying I won’t wear out. Patience is running thin. This man keeps crossing the line for no reason, clinging to Jiseo, and she could no longer tolerate it.
“Do as you like.”
After all, she had to show what an esper could do, what kind of being they were. Once she did, he might even lose interest.
Jiseo started walking again, sucking her aid and deliberately picking up her pace. Dohyeok followed without effort, glancing at her hair fluttering as she walked briskly, almost like marching.
As expected, none of her team members were shaken by the sight of Jiseo bringing the famed S-rank guide.
Though officially an office, the Blue Team 2’s space—where espers spent their non-training, non-mission time—was a complete mess as usual.
Hayeon was decorating her diary with scattered stickers and colored pens, humming along with headphones on. Minhyuk had a fancam of his favorite female idol playing, subtly mimicking the dance moves. For reference, Choi Minhyuk was 190 cm and 100 kg.
Their team leader, Kim Junho, had piled several chairs together and was soundly asleep, snoring loudly.
“Is your schedule today nap time, dancing, or coloring?”
The espers, oblivious to the office door being wide open, sprawled freely. Dohyeok glanced at the chaotic scene and finally spoke to Jiseo. Her face flushed as she hurried over to slap Junho awake and turn off Minhyuk’s tablet.
“Ah, why—Im Ji… I’m almost remembering it… waah, wa, waah!”
Minhyuk screamed in surprise upon realizing Dohyeok was in the room, having been casually exploring with his hands in his pockets. Dohyeok scanned Junho and Minhyuk with sharp eyes, standing motionless, prompting Junho to quickly straighten himself and extend a hand.
“Nice to meet you, Guide Baek Dohyeok.”
Dohyeok merely nodded slightly, hands still in his pockets. Despite being an S-rank guide, he ignored the handshake. Junho smiled broadly regardless.
“Oh, you might still be sensitive to contact.”
“Yes. I touched an esper as soon as I manifested, and it wasn’t a pleasant experience.”
Dohyeok’s intensity was striking. Jiseo wondered why someone who had been smiling gently moments ago had suddenly changed, perhaps shocked by the espers’ lack of discipline.
Given his elite background, it wasn’t surprising he found the office scene pitiful. Even Jiseo often felt the same.
“Wow! Guide Baek Dohyeok!”
Hayeon realized who the visitor was after removing her headphones and leapt across her desk. Junho held her back slightly, fearing she might recklessly reach out, but Hayeon, ever polite, only waved.
“Hello! It’s an honor to meet you up close!”
“Yes, it’s my pleasure.”
Dohyeok exchanged a gentle smile with Hayeon. That was the moment Hayeon fell in love. Jiseo, noticing the distinct warmth in his gaze compared to when he looked at Minhyuk or Junho, gave a wry smile. Hayeon was cute, but wasn’t it too obvious? And she was so young.
“I asked Jiseo if I could observe your training with your colleagues.”
“Wow, welcome, Guide! Jiseo, why didn’t you tell me you’re close with Dohyeok Guide?”
Hayeon hugged Jiseo’s waist. Jiseo simply passed Hayeon’s head back and said casually,
“We’re not close. The director just asked me to give a tour of the building.”
From the moment Hayeon hugged Jiseo, Dohyeok’s eyes darkened, unnoticed by anyone. Despite being an S-rank guide and the son of LS, he wasn’t the type to be left alone with a single esper like a new student guide—but Minhyuk and Hayeon nodded innocently. Only Junho nudged Jiseo, whispering:
“Hey, what’s this?”
“I’ll explain later.”
The scene of Blue Team 2 and Dohyeok heading to the annex for group training resembled retrievers surrounding a single cat. Hayeon, excited to meet a celebrity in person, and Minhyuk, curious despite pretending not to care, asked Dohyeok questions, which he answered politely but minimally.
Jiseo kept a distance, quietly observing. Before meeting her colleagues, Dohyeok’s smile had been effortless; now, he became the taciturn vice president. Jiseo couldn’t help but feel displeased, knowing how shameless he could be. Even if Dohyeok smiled brightly, nothing would change.
As Jiseo kept pace with 190 cm Minhyuk, Dohyeok glanced back and caught her eye. His face, usually indifferent like a bored cat, lit up into a blooming, flower-like smile. Jiseo quickly looked away, feeling she’d seen too much.
The three “dogs” surrounding Dohyeok immediately turned their backs on him when the real master appeared.
“Jung Yoon unnie!”
“Jung Yoon nuna!”
“Ha… Guide Jung Yoon, today there’s a real wall… perfect wall.”
The Blue Team 2 espers, excluding Jiseo, orbited around Jung Yoon like planets around the sun. Dohyeok observed with interest.
“Is Blue Team 2 always like this?”
“Yes, usually when a team guide is around, this is average. Our team leader is a bit extreme, though.”
Dohyeok watched as the espers moved in groups like tropical fish, following Jung Yoon everywhere. He was likely nervous thinking he might face the same. Jiseo quietly enjoyed the spectacle.
‘Guides often burn out when personal space and alone time are important.’
Seeing Dohyeok’s stiffened expression, Jiseo felt she needed to explain a bit.
“Don’t worry too much. These attachments only develop through consistent guiding. Each esper expresses differently, as you’ve seen, our team members are… well, just like that.”
Jiseo felt her explanation was getting long-winded, but she wanted to ease Dohyeok’s anxiety. He seemed like a difficult person, yet surrounded by protective and affectionate espers, it was hard to imagine him being overwhelmed. She still hoped he would reconsider the pair proposal, but she didn’t want him to quit guiding.
Dohyeok was far too valuable an S-rank guide for her to allow such a national loss.
