Chapter 80

“Did you not go home yet?”

“Huh? Ah, I was about to.”

“Then, would you mind waiting? I also finished a lot sooner than I thought, so let’s go out and have dinner together.”

“Ah… I…”

The words “I’ve got plans” got stuck in just before they passed her throat. She remembered that barely 30 minutes earlier she had gloated “I’m leaving work early and have nothing to do today, so all I’ve left to do is go home and watch TV for the first time in a while!”.

Why could she never come up with a believable lie in such a situation?!?

“It’s my treat. That time, Ms. Na-Yool covered once again for me, so I should. I always say that I would buy you a meal, but we kept having lunch at different times…”

“Why would you treat me again? It’s ok, there’s no need to.”

“I know you like sushi.”

She really did like sushi. Temptation inadvertently appeared on her face, but she immediately came back to her senses.

“Hey, forget it. It was not worth it for you to treat me.”

“A few days ago, a friend introduced me to a delicious sushi restaurant. I thought you would definitely like it… And since we could not go to the dinner party last time, too.”

“Okay then, let’s go there together next time.”

“Are you tired?”

Seung-Jae asked tactfully, but she could not answer that. Because, only an hour ago, she had verbally rejoiced about how especially spirited and full of energy she felt today!

“Then let’s just have a light dinner and go home.”

She had herself boasted about being not tired, having no appointment, ending work with nothing to do at home except watching TV. Her hands were tied.

However, she could not either openly say, “No thanks, because you are less important to me than lying on the floor and watching TV”. Naturally, in her head, TV was far more superior than anything else. But people did not need to know that.

When she snapped out of it, she and Seung-Jae were sitting in a small kaiten-zushi restaurant about a 10-minute walk away from the company.

“Seung-Jae, that one.”

“This one?”

“Am I crazy? Would I come here to eat a simple sushi with egg on top?”

“Aah, this one then.”

Although Seung-Jae was pointing all along at the tuna sushi, what he ended up kindly placing in front of Na-Yool was the squid one. Did he really not get it, or was that inherent thrift? Whatever the case, it was nice too, so she let it slide and ate the piece of sushi in one mouthful. The cold and chewy texture filled her mouth.

He said it was a good restaurant, but it was in fact so delicious that Na-Yool completely forgot the uneasiness she felt about ditching Si-Jin and their going-back-from-work-together agreement.

It was not that late, anyway. From what she heard just as she left work, the Video Team had been arguing with Si-Jin in the conference room since 7pm. So at least, they would not be done until 9pm. She finally had the chance to leave work early. Even setting aside Seung-Jae’s non-rejectable invitation, it would be a shame just to waste that time waiting for Si-Jin.

As long as she safely came back home in the meantime, all was good…

But who knows how the heck he realized that she was having such complacent thoughts!

Na-Yool nonchalantly took out her vibrating cellphone, only to turn it over as if she had seen a ghost at the four words [President Kwon Si-Jin] that appeared on the screen. And simultaneously, pressed the power button on the side of the phone to silence it.

He probably didn’t see it… right?

His mind most likely focused on the shrimp sushi as it happens, Seung-Jae put the sushi in his mouth and asked with an oblivious face:

“Are you not picking up?”

“It’s a voice phishing call.”

“How do you know?”

“Aren’t all unknown call numbers like that?”

“Oh, it was an unknown number. It’s really a problem, I tell you. Real banks and credit card companies have been complaining that making a single phone call with customers is very difficult because of fake ones spreading unchecked.”

Seung-Jae lamented over social issues as he chewed his shrimp sushi, unlike himself. Na-Yool perfunctoryly nodded.

“Hm, right.”

At that moment, a short vibration rang from the phone, laying face down to indicate that a message had arrived. Na-Yool only glanced at the phone with no intention to check, when Seung-jae pointed his chin towards it.

“Ms. Na-Yool, you received a message.”

“It must be a promotional message from a shopping mall or something.”

“What kind of promotional message would come at this hour?”

“Don’t belittle how things are done nowadays.”

“At any rate, I have never seen you check things like this in a timely manner.”

“It’s not even working hours, so there’s nothing really important going on anyway.”

Na-Yool quietly picked up the phone while filling the conversation with no substance.

[President Kwon Si-Jin]

[Where are you] 8:09 PM

That man, he indeed had a knack for sniffing things out! Na-Yool answered with a swift and concise reply.

[Eating] 8:09 PM

As soon as she placed it on the table, the phone vibrated again.

“Ms. Na-Yool, another‒”

She grabbed her phone, and her thumbs swooshed on the screen before Seung-Jae could finish speaking.

[And so, where] 8:10 PM

[Near the company. Seung-Jae said he was treating me] 8:10 PM

[Who did what?] 8:10 PM

[Seung-Jae, as thanks for covering for him on Monday] 8:10 PM

[Really trying it all, isn’t he] 8:11 PM

[Trying what all?] 8:11 PM

Si-Jin’s incoherent message, which was most likely sent during a brief break in the middle of his meeting, cut off there. Na-Yool faintly wrinkled her eyebrows but soon rejoiced after seeing the new gold plate that Seung-Jae had placed in front of her. (T/N: Sushi plates in such restaurants come in various colors depending on the price of the sushi. A gold one is an expensive one, therefore Na-Yool’s remark below!)

“Can you really afford to spend money like this?”

“It is not like you eat that much anyway.”

“I’m a big eater, no kidding you. Don’t underestimate me, your bank account balance is in my mouth!”

“Then feel free to empty my pockets and take responsibility.”

“What responsibility, you said you would treat me, right? As a thank-you?”

“I believe in your sense of responsibility.”

“Don’t, there’s no such a thing.”

“You would at least give me some living expenses. And if I am broke, you can take me in for a while.”

“You must have lost it! Why would I live with you? You’re neither a dog nor cute enough.”

“If I am cute as a dog, would you take me in?”

Although ‘as a dog’ sounded like a cuss, his tone was undoubtedly cheery. Feeling somewhat burdened by his gleaming face, Na-Yool pushed him by the shoulder in a repulsed manner and muttered:

“So what, are you telling me to eat my fill or not…”

“I trust your conscience too.”

“That’s a “don’t eat” then.”

“I am joking. You can eat up to 30 plates.”

“Is your respect for your senior only worth 30 plates?”

As she berated Seung-Jae, her flipped-down phone rang again. She picked it up in a flash and checked the message.

[Call me after you’re done eating] 8:16 PM

“Who is it?”

“Hm?”

“Just curious, since you seem bothered by it since earlier.”

“Ah… just a friend. From back in college.”

Na-Yool sent a short [ok] reply to the suddenly college-classmate-turned Si-Jin and observed Seung-Jae with attention.

Did he maybe… notice something?

She felt that she was uncontrollably nervous but hid it quite naturally. As for Seung-Jae, he still had the face of an obedient junior. He nodded his head and went on.

“By the way, about Kim PD. Last week, when he went to Gwangju with Park PD…”

The topic soon shifted. Na-Yool subconsciously tightened her lips to conceal a relieved expression.  But she did not realize that Seung-Jae’s face vaguely clouded upon seeing it.