🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 26
“Seriously annoying.”
As the saying goes, speak of the tiger and it appears.
Taewook, who had come up to the lobby first via the elevator connected to the parking garage, frowned the moment he saw the man standing in front of him.
“Haha, you really didn’t have to. But thank you, I’ll enjoy it.”
“Oh, no! I’m really a huge fan of yours! But what brings you here? Are you signing with our agency this time?”
“No, it’s nothing like that.”
“Oh… really?”
At the disappointment in the woman’s voice, the man lifted the corners of his lips into an easy smile.
His eyes curved as he smiled, and the woman’s cheeks flushed red in embarrassment.
Perhaps aware of how favorably she viewed him, the man continued in a warm voice.
“Though honestly, I’d love to sign with JT. But CEO Joo never contacted me.”
“Oh my, why not? I assumed someone of Actor Choi’s caliber would’ve been contacted first!”
“Haha, hearing you say that makes me a little shy. Ah, and thank you for the coffee.”
“N-not at all! Ah, um… if it’s okay, could I maybe get a handshake?”
“A handshake? Of course.”
At her request, the man casually tucked the coffee under the arm carrying his luggage and held out his hand.
The woman looked so touched by his attitude that she seemed on the verge of tears.
“It’s truly an honor to meet you today.”
The man smiled brightly at her, and she kept turning back to look at him several times before finally getting into the elevator.
Watching him wave at the woman’s retreating figure, Taewook rubbed at his brows irritably.
Maybe I should just go home today.
He was seriously considering the ridiculous idea when his eyes narrowed at the sudden change in the man’s demeanor.
Just moments ago, the man had gratefully lifted the coffee, saying he’d enjoy it. But now he tossed it straight into the trash can in the corner of the lobby.
Then he glanced at the right hand he had used to shake the woman’s hand and wiped his palm against his pants as if disgusted.
…What the hell is that supposed to be?
Taewook silently stared at him, only for the man to suddenly notice him and beam brightly.
“Ah, CEO Joo!”
Taewook found the sight of the man walking toward him with a radiant smile utterly unwelcome.
Even now, he seriously considered pretending not to see him and walking away. But then his gaze landed on the items in Jihoon’s hands.
A bouquet… and a beautifully wrapped gift bag…
For some reason, Taewook felt like he already knew who the gifts were for, and the back of his neck stiffened.
“…Didn’t expect to see you here this early in the morning.”
“I was actually wondering if I’d come too early myself. But after what happened yesterday… Ah, Gyeowool!”
Though Jihoon’s words sounded not the least bit apologetic, that irritation vanished the moment he smiled even brighter than before and waved enthusiastically.
“Jihoon oppa…? Jihoon?”
Gyeowool’s eyes widened in surprise at his sudden appearance.
Seeing the joy and delight mixed in her expression, Taewook ran a hand through his hair irritably.
“I was worried because I couldn’t get in touch with you.”
Jihoon wrapped his arms around Gyeowool and hugged her tightly, sounding close to tears.
Watching him, Taewook let out a disbelieving laugh.
As expected, he and this guy would never get along.
“Reporter Yoo! What’s this?”
Jaijin had just entered the office when he spotted Youngho fiddling with a camera while sitting at his desk.
Youngho was snickering as he looked through the photos inside. Jaijin rushed over and snatched the camera away, quickly hiding it behind his back.
But despite how quickly he took it, Youngho had apparently already seen everything.
“Those are Kim Ah-rin and Joo Taewook, right?”
Jaijin’s expression twisted.
He had only stepped away to use the restroom, yet this happened in the meantime.
Forcing the corners of his lips upward, Jaijin shrugged.
“No. It’s not them.”
“Oh, come on. It’s obviously them! I know the parking garage at CEO Joo’s apartment too.”
“Sunbae.”
“Wow, what kind of combo is this? If this gets released, won’t it be huge? Hahaha!”
Youngho laughed loudly as though he himself had taken the photos.
Jaijin’s expression kept hardening.
“Show me the pictures one more time. The editor-in-chief is going to lose his mind over this. When did you take them?”
“Sunbae.”
“Wow, Reporter Yoo. Acting all innocent, but I guess you really did go to CEO Joo’s place?”
“….”
“Scary, seriously. The people who know you best are always the scariest. Wahahaha!”
“That’s not it.”
At Jaijin’s sharply lowered voice, Youngho finally looked at him.
The cold expression on Jaijin’s face made Youngho frown.
“What’s with you? Why are you getting serious?”
“I’m telling you, it’s really not.”
“Hey, it’s not like I’m trying to steal your scoop.”
“Sunbae.”
Youngho, lounging in Jaijin’s chair, twisted around irritably.
Standing up and brushing off his clothes, he smacked Jaijin on the shoulder.
“I complimented you too much and now you’re getting cocky lately.”
“….”
“Why are you so on edge lately?”
“What’s going on here? Why’s the atmosphere so tense?”
The person who interrupted the dangerously escalating mood was none other than Editor-in-Chief Choi Daeho, who had just entered.
Seeing Daeho, Youngho immediately started rambling excitedly.
“Chief! It’s just that I definitely saw in this punk’s camera—!”
“Sunbae!”
Jaijin suddenly shouted loudly, cutting him off.
Youngho looked at him in disbelief and swept a hand through his hair.
“Did you see that? Seriously, this brat junior thinks he can just—!”
“….”
“And now that I think about it, you’re the bastard who threw that paper cup onto my desk too, right?”
“….”
“Yeah, I knew it. I kept thinking no way, no way… but the more I thought about it, the only possible person was you. Seriously, you little—!”
“Jung Youngho!”
Youngho had grabbed Jaijin by the collar when Daeho’s icy voice rang out.
Biting down hard on his lip, Youngho reluctantly shoved Jaijin away.
Daeho extended his hand toward Jaijin, who had been silently biting his lip the whole time.
“Hand it over.”
“Chief…”
“The camera. Now.”
At Daeho’s sharp tone, Jaijin squeezed his eyes shut before slowly placing the hidden camera into his hand.
Youngho immediately started chattering excitedly again.
“They’re definitely Joo Taewook and Kim Ah-rin! You can tell from the photos—even with the masks on! Kim Ah-rin’s grabbing Joo Taewook’s wrist!”
“….”
“If we publish this, it’ll hit number one in views for sure. While people are saying his wife went insane after her younger sibling died, he’s out having an affair with an actress! Hahaha! Isn’t this guy completely insane?”
Youngho rambled on excitedly as if he had personally uncovered the story.
Daeho kept his mouth shut and looked at the silent Jaijin before lifting the camera slightly.
“Reporter Jung, sit down and write your article. Reporter Yoo, come with me for a moment.”
Daeho turned first and left the newsroom.
Jaijin quietly followed after him.
Watching Jaijin’s retreating back, Youngho lifted his middle finger.
Thanks to that annoying junior, the irritation boiling inside him disappeared instantly.
When I first ran into Jihoon in the company lobby, I actually thought the heavens really did help those who helped themselves.
When he hugged me tightly and nearly cried, I even felt emotions welling up because he reminded me of my sister.
If Taewook hadn’t been standing beside us making sarcastic comments, I might’ve grabbed onto Jihoon and cried too.
“I think that’s enough.”
At Taewook’s mocking voice, I glanced at him.
His face twisted irritably before he roughly grabbed Jihoon’s shoulder and pulled him away from me.
“I know you’ve been friends for over twenty years, but she’s my wife now.”
“…Ah.”
“I’d appreciate your understanding.”
“No, you’re right. I’m sorry, CEO Joo. I think I got too emotional.”
Jihoon smiled awkwardly as he apologized.
Watching Taewook openly show how much he disliked Jihoon, I almost scolded him right then and there. But instead, I turned back to Jihoon as if nothing had happened.
“But what brings you all the way here? Did you come to see me?”
“Yeah. I should’ve contacted you first, but I think your number changed, and I had no other way to reach you.”
“Ah…”
“I was worried, but I didn’t know your number, and even your agency wasn’t answering. So I just came here without thinking. Sorry.”
“No, it’s okay. I should’ve contacted you first. Things have just been hectic lately, and it slipped my mind. Sorry.”
“I saw the news too. I knew it’d be rude to show up this early without an appointment, but I was too worried not to.”
Jihoon made an apologetic face before bowing his head toward Taewook.
“So with that said, let me apologize again. I’m sorry, sir.”
Of course, Taewook completely ignored the apology.
Seriously, how could the CEO of a company make it this obvious that he disliked someone?
I should really tell him later to manage his expressions better when we’re alone.
Thinking that, I looked back at Jihoon.
“I actually wanted to contact you too. There’s something I wanted to ask you. So thank you for coming first.”
At my smiling words, Jihoon’s face reddened slightly, and he brushed his cheek with the back of his hand.
The shy little smile on his face reminded me so much of how he used to look at my sister when we were younger that my feelings turned strangely complicated.
Unable to say anything, I simply stood there until Jihoon suddenly seemed to remember something and held out the bouquet he had been carrying.
“Ah, this… I felt awkward coming empty-handed, and since it’s your birth—”
“Thank you.”
The one who accepted the bouquet wasn’t me.
It was Taewook.
I had already reached out to take the flowers, and my eyes widened in confusion.
Jihoon looked equally stunned, his mouth opening and closing wordlessly.
Seeing both our expressions, Taewook merely smiled calmly.
“Well, now that we’ve accepted such a nice bouquet, it’d feel rude to just send you away.”
“No, that bouquet was for Gyeowool—”
“Why don’t you come up to the office with us? Since we accepted flowers as an apology for showing up unannounced, the least I can do is offer you a cup of tea in return.”
“…Excuse me?”
Jihoon looked utterly bewildered.
But Taewook didn’t seem to care at all. Before Jihoon could respond, he grabbed my hand.
As I stared at Taewook’s back while he led me away by the hand, I found myself speechless in disbelief.
I’d never thought this before, but it really seemed like Joo Taewook had finally gone completely insane.
