episode_0011

Barely recovering my senses and boarding the car, Kim Tae-hyun asked.

“No, isn’t that an affair? Wow… I only heard about it, but to actually see it….”

I flipped the label of being a mistress that was fascinating because of me, but just gaping and watching. It feels like blood vessels are rising in my head involuntarily.

“Mr. Kim Tae-hyun, are you finding this situation funny right now? I flipped the label of being a mistress because of you.”

“Oh, no. It’s not like that…”

“Enough. Don’t make excuses. At times like this, you just say sorry. Even if you feel unjustly treated, the order is to apologize to your superior on the spot, and then when your superior seems to have calmed down, you talk about the details. Got it?”

Kim Tae-hyun wilted at my scolding.

“Yes….”

His appearance seemed somewhat pitiful, but without comforting him, I drove home. As we entered the apartment complex, Kim Tae-hyun looked around as if he had recovered miraculously.

“Wow, you live in a nice place?”

This apartment, built when I was 35 years old, has only been around for four years. Nowadays, there are many incidents of poor construction or shoddy workmanship, but I haven’t even heard any complaints related to common noise issues, so it was a good place.

But it’s just an apartment after all. It’s not that expensive because it’s in a new city.

“Where do you live, Mr. Tae-hyun?”

Kim Tae-hyun smiled as if he had been waiting.

“I live in a one-room. It’s a bit far from here.”

Well, it’s normal to live in such a place when you’re 28.

“Rent?”

“No, monthly rent.”

“Hmm… How much is the monthly rent?”

“Including maintenance fees, it’s 450,000 won per month.”

Since our company’s starting salary is roughly over 2 million won after tax, almost a quarter goes towards rent.

“Ah, I see. Is it manageable?”

With the current rise in prices, it’s tough to make ends meet. The world has become a difficult place to live in. That’s why wages need to increase as well, but the country is asking for wage freezes. It’s a frustrating world.

“Yes, I manage. I use everything up and put 1 million won into savings each month.”

Oh, look at this? He looks like a parasite, enjoying life, but he seems more lively than expected.

“Wow, that’s impressive.”

“Hehe, not really.”

We entered the underground parking lot, unloaded the luggage from the trunk, and I quickly guided him inside with light steps.

After passing through the basement entrance and taking the elevator to my house, Kim Tae-hyun finally set down the luggage.

“Pant, pant. It’s heavy.”

“Ah, thank you. If it weren’t for you, it would have been a big problem.”

I quickly took out a drink from the box, poured it into a cup, got some ice from the water purifier, and handed it to him.

“Ahh, thank you.”

Kim Tae-hyun drank eagerly as if he was thirsty.

“Phew, I feel alive.”

As Kim Tae-hyun relaxed,

“Oh, it’s neat. You must be someone who likes cleanliness.”

I lost my composure for a moment at Kim Tae-hyun’s natural charm and laughter.

“What’s wrong with this guy?”

“Huh?”

I was flustered by the curse that came out unintentionally and quickly waved my hand, trying to cover it up.

“Oh, it’s nothing. Oh, right. It’s hot today.”

My face flushed for no reason, and I fidgeted with my clothes.

“Have you heard anything specific about me, Mr. Kim Tae-hyun?”

I asked because I didn’t think he would make such a mistake knowingly.

“When you were a man back then, I saw you for about a week…. Even when I asked Manager Kwon or other people who you were, they just brushed it off.”

Well, even I might take a break from work for a few months due to rumors of catching an incurable disease and wandering around like a crazy person after getting divorced.

The conclusion is that it’s not Kim Tae-hyun’s fault.

“Oh…. Yeah, what could Tae-hyun have done wrong? I’ll tell you once, so listen carefully. It’s not something to brag about; it’s embarrassing. I got divorced. Tae-hyun started working at the company around that time.”

Kim Tae-hyun’s smiling face upon hearing about my divorce turns contemplative. He immediately kneels down and bangs his head on the ground.

“I-I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to imply such a thing… Oh, how foolish of me…”

Thinking it might be too much, I quickly help him up.

“No, what are you doing? If you didn’t know, it’s understandable. Anyway, whether bright or proactive, or extreme, it’s hard to grasp who Tae-hyun is.”

“Oh, no. I’m really sorry. I was out of line. Um… even if this is true, there’s nothing to say. You can hit me if you want.”

Bowing his head, he offers the back of his head to me.

“W-what are you saying! I would never do that?! How could you see someone like that.”

“Oh… If you were like Manager Kwon Dae-ri, your hand would have already flown to the back of my head and beyond.”

Oh, in this day and age, even Manager Kwon Dae-ri is quite… But then again, Kim Tae-hyun just takes the hits without retaliating.

“Phew… I’ll talk to you separately about Manager Kwon’s bad habit of hitting people later. Just lift your head.”

“Oh, no, I’m very sorry. I want to apologize somehow…”

He seems to feel responsible for strange things.

As I look around to gather my thoughts, I suddenly realize it’s already noon.

“Tae-hyun, how about lunch?”

“Oh, well, since I was in the middle of work, I’ll go back to the mart and have lunch with Manager Kwon.”

Well, since it’s come to this, let’s find a suitable compromise.

“Then, as a gesture of apology, could you evaluate the food I made? I run a cooking blog, and I have a new recipe that needs feedback. Tae-hyun, you majored in hotel culinary arts, right?”

Moreover, having worked in the food industry and hotel buffets, he joined the food development department, so he should be qualified.

“Oh, yes. But wouldn’t that be more of a reward? I already have a good lunch allowance, and the manager is working hard cooking…”

“Um… Is that so? Then maybe you could help with preparing the meal.”

“Yes, that’s perfectly fine!”

“Oh, by the way, I’ll call Manager Kwon separately.”

“If you could do that, I’d appreciate it. Hehe.”

Now that I think about it, rather than being rude or overly familiar, he just seems naturally cheerful. It gives off a vibe of being somewhat clueless. Certainly not the typical serious corporate atmosphere. He doesn’t seem like a bad person.

“Well, before we start cooking, shall we organize the groceries I bought?”

After sorting items for the fridge and room temperature, we organized the groceries I had bought.

“It’s definitely much faster with someone helping.”

Once the organization was done, I gave a brief explanation of the recipe, and Kim Tae-hyun quickly started assisting. With his experience in the field, he was swift.

-Tap tap tap tap!

Kim Tae-hyun skillfully chops onions, holding the knife in a near-perfect manner. It feels like his basic skills are very solid.

“Wow, you’re good at this. Your chopping seems better than mine?”

“Hehe, it’s just a simple skill, really. I heard that our manager has developed several hit products for our company. Isn’t that a more impressive ability? Haha.”

His words trigger a few memories of those darn hit products in my mind.

-Shiver.

“Uh, I’m grateful that things are going well now, but the hardships during the development stage. Sigh. The convenience store products being developed now? It’s just gum, plain and simple. How tight the deadlines were back then, and how sales figures were scrutinized. Just thinking about those times still startles me awake even when I’m sleeping.”

Like a passing comet, Kim Taehyun, a new employee, just opened his mouth wide and occasionally added comments as I enthusiastically rambled on about the development anecdotes of that product.

“Oh, was I being too old-fashioned? ‘Back in my day’ kept slipping out.”

Blabbering away like a child, getting all excited and talking nonsense, what a sight. Really.

“Oh, no. I found it interesting. What. Haha. Hearing about the company’s history is fascinating, and understanding what my department has been working on is helpful. Above all…”

Pausing his storytelling and glancing at me, Kim Taehyun continued.

“It’s more enjoyable to listen to stories from a manager who looks so charming rather than a middle-aged man tomorrow.”

Indeed, image restoration is canceled. This guy fits the bill for a pushover.

What? Referring to your direct superior as a middle-aged man? Moreover, complimenting someone who has changed unfairly like this… Charming? Well, he does look charming, but who compliments their boss with “You look lovely!”

It’s not me being old-fashioned; it’s Kim Taehyun being weird.