Translator Note

Hi hi!! You may have noticed that we have a new cover!!! (and if you haven’t go take a look!!!), Our beloved author commissioned some emotes from an artist and used one as the new cover!! Isn’t Lulu so cute!!

Chapter 127: Off to the CEO’s House!

Re​a​d on K​atRe​a​din​g​C​afe

The morning before Lunar New Year.

I woke up at the crack of dawn and packed my things in a hurry. I didn’t have much to bring, but just in case.

“Welcome. What can I get for you?”

“Um… could I get one of your best gift sets, please?”

“Wow, you’ve got great taste. Are you going to visit family for the holidays?”

“Hehe… yeah.”

Before the CEO came to pick me up, I went to a nearby butcher shop and bought a premium Korean Beef gift set.

Since I’ve never spent the holidays with family or relatives, I’m not an expert on holiday etiquette. But I do know that it’s polite to bring a small gift when visiting someone during the holidays.

♬~

Oh, it’s the CEO calling. Is she already downstairs?

“Yes, CEO.”

“Yep, come down if you’re ready.”

“Okay.”

After a brief conversation, I quickly grabbed my bag and the gift set and left the house. For some reason, the gift set felt heavier than my bag.

“CEO!”

When I reached the first-floor entrance, I saw a familiar car. Excited, I waved and ran over, and the CEO got out of the car with a wry smile.

“You’re going to trip if you keep running like that. Slow down.”

“Hehe, I couldn’t help it. I’m just happy to see you.”

“You’re impossible to win against with words… Huh? What’s this?”

The CEO, who was about to take my luggage and put it in the trunk, noticed the elegantly wrapped gift set and widened her eyes in surprise.

Feeling a bit awkward, I scratched my head and mumbled a response.

“Uh, it’s nothing. I just thought it’d be rude to show up empty-handed… heh…”

“Geez, why did you go and buy something like this? This must’ve cost a pretty penny.”

Listening to her, I felt a bit strange. After all, the CEO had already given the members some money for Lunar New Year. Compared to that, the cost of the beef wasn’t that much.

“The money you gave us was much more, CEO.”

“Well, as the CEO, it’s my job to take care of my employees. You guys just need to be grateful for what you receive.”

“Ugh, that’s not fair. I want to take care of you too…”

“Oh, I don’t need you to do that. But I appreciate the sentiment.”

She patted my head as she closed the trunk with a thud. It felt like a mom watching her child say, “I’ll treat you to something nice later!”

“Anyway, I’ll enjoy it. My mom will be really happy when I tell her you bought this.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, my mom really wants to see you. She keeps saying she’ll make you something delicious if I bring you over.”

“Wow.”

So the CEO’s mom has been saying that. That’s really kind of her. Whether she feels sympathy after hearing about my situation from the CEO or just wants to take care of the group’s youngest, I’m grateful either way.

“Did you forget anything? Let’s get going.”

“Okay!”

After buckling up, we finally set off for the CEO’s house.

＊＊＊＊＊

The CEO’s house was in a very clean-looking apartment building. Even without going inside, just looking at the entrance and surroundings, you could tell it was an expensive place.

Wow. The CEO really lives in a nice house.

If Ra-hee unnie’s house had the vibe of a chaebol family’s home, this place felt more like where a successful career woman would live. I’m not sure what the difference is, but that’s how it felt.

“Give me your bag, and you can carry the gift set up yourself to give to my mom.”

“Huh? M-me? Directly?”

“Of course. It’s your gift, so it’d be weird if I handed it over.”

The CEO pressed the elevator button firmly, as if it were obvious. Well, she’s not wrong, but…

For some reason, I felt a bit embarrassed handing it over myself. Not embarrassed, exactly, but shy. It felt like I was showing off, saying, “Look, I bought this gift!” But the CEO was right, so I decided to muster up the courage and hand it over myself. I watched the elevator numbers climb steadily.

Finally, we reached the 17th floor, and with a ding, the doors opened to reveal a spacious hallway.

Beep-

“Mom, we’re here. Can you open the door?”

By the way, why didn’t the CEO just enter the passcode? Instead, she rang the doorbell and asked her mom to open it.

Clunk-

As I tried to calm my nerves, the lock clicked, and the door opened to reveal a woman in her early to mid-50s.

“Do you not have hands or feet? Just open the door and come in instead of bothering me with the doorbell… Huh?”

“Ah, hello…”

The CEO’s mom scolded her for ringing the doorbell, then noticed me standing awkwardly behind her and widened her eyes.

Our eyes met, and I quickly bowed in greeting.

After about three seconds of silence…

“Oh my, Da-jeong is here! I can’t believe I forgot you were coming with her!”

The woman who had just been scolding the CEO with a gruff tone suddenly switched to a warm, welcoming voice. It was hard to believe this was our first meeting.

“Ah, hello. I’m Jeong Da-jeong. I’m sorry for imposing on you today…”

“Oh, don’t be so formal. Come on in. Make yourself at home, okay?”

“Ah, yes… thank you.”

Without needing any introduction, the CEO’s mom led me inside, brushing aside any formalities.

“As you get older… huh?!”

Meanwhile, the CEO, who had been left behind, grumbled as she closed the door and followed us in. Suddenly, she let out a yelp of pain.

I saw it. The CEO’s mom moved at the speed of light and kicked the CEO’s butt. It was like a real-life version of a scene from a cartoon

“Ah, um… ma’am. This is… a small Lunar New Year gift.”

Having just witnessed that, my words got stuck in my throat, but I managed to extend the gift and speak.

“A gift? Oh my, you didn’t have to. But thank you. My daughter never gives me anything for the holidays, but you’re so much better.”

“Well, it’s not like I don’t give you anything. You’re the one who manages the money… Ouch!”

This time, instead of a kick, it was a stomp, and the CEO let out another pained yelp.

Ouch, that must’ve hurt…

So, the CEO’s mom manages the money in their household. That explains why the CEO doesn’t have much say in her allowance. I guess the CEO has her reasons to feel wronged.

“B-but the CEO takes really good care of us. She even gave us some spending money for Lunar New Year…”

Feeling like the CEO was being painted in a bad light, I cautiously spoke up to defend her.

“Ha-neul did that?”

“Yes…”

“Well, at least she takes care of her employees. That’s something, right?”

“I told you, I take care of them…”

The CEO muttered, sounding wronged, and then naturally hugged me from behind.

“But still, only our Da-jeong would defend me like that. Look at her, standing up for me when I’m getting scolded.”

“You should be nicer to me then.”

Grateful for my defense, the CEO rubbed her face against mine. Meanwhile, the CEO’s mom kept teasing her, which was kind of funny.

“By the way, where’s Dad?”

“He went out to buy snacks for Da-jeong.”

“Really? That’s good. Our youngest loves snacks, right, Da-jeong?”

“Y-yes…”

Ugh…

Well, it’s true that I love snacks. I’m usually the one who finishes half the snacks in the company pantry. But being treated like a kid is a bit embarrassing. Still, I can’t lie—I do love snacks. Salty, sweet, whatever—snacks are the best.

“When Dad gets back, we’ll have lunch. That should be just about the right time.”

“Okay, but what are we having? Should we go out?”

“Since it’s a special occasion, why don’t we grill the meat Da-jeong brought? It looks really good.”

“Of course. Our youngest picked it out, after all.”

I’m not sure if the quality of the meat has anything to do with me. It’s probably just the butcher’s skill. But for some reason, hearing them praise me made me happy, so I just smiled without saying anything.

“By the way, Da-jeong, how are you so cute? You look so adorable snuggled up like that. You’re like a little squirrel.”

The CEO’s mom came over and pinched my cheeks while I was still in the CEO’s arms. Her hands felt a bit rough, probably from years of housework, but it was comforting. It felt like a real mom’s touch.

“Th-thank you. You’re very beautiful too.”

“Oh my, you’re so sweet. My daughter has never once told me I’m pretty. She doesn’t even know who she got her looks from.”

“Hey, I got my looks from Dad, not you… Ouch! Stop hitting me in front of the kid!”

Hmm, this might be rude to say, but the CEO’s personality definitely takes after her mom. The way she acts at the office is exactly the same.

“With a daughter like that, why don’t you be my daughter instead, Da-jeong?”

“I’d love that. I’d be so happy if you were my mom.”

“Oh my, how do you always say the sweetest things?”

The CEO’s mom, who had been pinching my cheeks, now gently patted my head with her rough hands. It felt different from the CEO’s or the members’ gentle touches, but it was warm in a comforting way.

“Hehe…”

Without realizing it, I let out a silly laugh and enjoyed the CEO’s mom’s affectionate patting while still in the CEO’s arms.

Beep- beep- beep- clunk-

“…Huh? What are you three doing hugging like that?”

The CEO’s dad, who had just returned home, blinked in confusion at the scene.

Oops.

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