episode_0134

In Seoul, there are three major business districts. YBD (Yeouido Business District), GBD (Gangnam Business District), and CBD (Central Business District) are the terms used to refer to these three districts, and today our destination is Gangnam-gu.

“Traffic seems to be less congested than I thought?”

“Yeah. I guess it’s because of the time.”

It’s around 8:30 now. Considering we left at 7, we arrived earlier than expected. Still, it’s Friday evening at 8:30, so it’s natural for such business-focused areas to be quiet.

Rumors were circulating that rent prices were skyrocketing and then hitting rock bottom again these days. During the peak times, business wasn’t going well, and they had to dip into their savings, but now it seemed like business was picking up again.

Following the navigation and relying on memory as our guide, we found ourselves parking in the underground parking lot without realizing it.

-Thunk!

“Ugh, it’s so long.”

As soon as I got out of the car, I stretched and yawned.

“Ugh, sir, please!”

Suddenly, Kim Tae-hyun called out to me in distress, his face turning as red as a beet and covering his eyes.

Well, I’ve gotten used to it by now, so I understand why he’s reacting like that.

Thinking that, I glanced down and noticed his chest puffed up arrogantly due to his spine being excessively straightened. It was only natural, but even for someone like me who had been carrying it around every day, it was still surprising.

A lifelong companion. Instead of the usual Johnson, Totomi, 2nd, Junior, and so on, this new addition to my body was somewhat familiar yet still unfamiliar. It’s understandable, it needs to grow a bit more.

“Ahem, sorry.”

Well, having someone like that by your side can be comforting and nice, but Kim Tae-hyun himself isn’t thick-skinned, and as a man, it’s quite embarrassing to walk around with an erection as soon as your libido kicks in.

Having experienced such issues for more than 10 years longer than Kim Tae-hyun, I understood him well and apologized.

“By the way, you’re not going to call me noona? Or was it nunna? Pfft.”

Thanks to Dayoung, I’ve learned quite a bit about internet memes and trendy slang these days. So, I knew that instead of the bland ‘noona,’ I should use the word ‘nunna.’

“Ugh, stop teasing me. And well, I guess calling me nunna might be a bit difficult. It’s… I’ll let you call me that if you feel like it later.”

Yeah, suddenly changing the way you address someone can be difficult. I replied and pressed the elevator button.

-Ding! This is the basement floor.

A while later, I took the elevator to the 6th floor where Cheolsu’s bar was located.

-Clang!

As I opened the door to the familiar shop, the sound of the doorbell rang pleasantly in my ears. Right in front of the entrance was a small front bar, about 5 pyeong in size. Along the front bar were about six chairs, and behind them, there were around 10 tables set up in the not-so-spacious bar. However, with its modern interior, cozy atmosphere for conversation, and stylish music selection, it was clear that there were many regular customers.

“Oh, you’re here?”

Cheolsu, who was shaking a shaker at the front bar when the doorbell rang, turned his head and greeted us as we entered.

What can I say? With his attitude and demeanor, he seems like the type to dress boldly, but strangely enough, he was dressed quite conventionally in the typical bartender outfit.

Setting down the shaker he had been shaking, he prepared the glass, poured the drink, then took out a lemon and a grater to sprinkle zest over the finished cocktail before offering it to the customer in front of him.

“It’s a California Surfer. Made with zest instead of lemon, just the way you like it.”

“Oh, thank you.”

A woman who appeared to be in her early forties, exuding an air of experience, casually accepted his glass and sipped on it.

“Mmm, not bad. As expected, the cocktails made by Mr. Cheolsoo are always the best.”

“Really? Oh, since the manager said so, I don’t know where to put my body. Hahaha!”

Manager, huh…

It’s not a typical title used in regular companies. It’s usually a position used in government agencies, banks, newspapers, broadcasting companies, media agencies, or the advertising industry.

But if it’s a government agency manager, they would be a high-ranking official around the second or third grade, so they wouldn’t be hanging out in a small bar like this.

Newspaper offices are concentrated in the CBD (Central Business District) in the city center, not in the GBD (Gangnam Business District) where this is located, so that possibility can be ruled out.

A broadcasting station manager? Broadcasting stations themselves are not located in Gangnam, so a broadcasting station manager would prefer a high-end restaurant where confidentiality is guaranteed rather than a bar.

Eliminating one possibility after another, the only thing left was the advertising industry.

Well, even if it’s a manager from that field, they’re still a high-ranking person equivalent to a department head in a regular company.

Anyway, lost in thought about the alien title of manager, the woman who was called a manager looked back at me.

And then.

“Wow, really?! Oh, you’re so pretty. Wow….”

She exclaimed as she suddenly got up from her seat and approached me.

“Oh….”

I couldn’t help but be surprised by her sudden approach. Of course, it could be the discomfort of a stranger approaching me as if they knew me, but what surprised me more was the reason behind it.

Yeah….

It was big.

“B-Big….”

“Huh? Hahaha! Yeah, I am big, right? Pfft. It’s a typical reaction. Yeah. Yeah.”

As she approached, she patted my shoulder with her big hands as big as her height.

“Ouch!”

It hurt. Her wide hands, like those of a volleyball player, were not something my body, trained with power exercises, could easily withstand.

“Oh, sorry sorry. I tend to react a bit strongly. I try to be careful every time, but it’s a habit ingrained in my body, and… I was so happy to see you, Mr. Doyeon, that I got a little carried away. Hahaha!”

She was truly a boisterous person. She seemed to fit the title of a lady boss perfectly. Moreover, being a manager. Our company’s General Manager, Ms. Gong Jiyoung, is a rare female executive, but she gives off an intellectual, elite career woman vibe, while this one gives off a more boisterous lady boss vibe, as if she’s suited to a position of leadership. Therefore, the title of manager suited her perfectly.

I cautiously asked Cheolsoo while looking at him.

-Nods

Cheolsoo nodded quietly, and I forced a smile, trying to hide the feeling of being about to cry, and smiled at her.

“Oh, hello…haha….”

“Pfft! What’s with that forced smile? Wasn’t Mr. Doyeon cuter than you expected?”

“Hahaha… Th-thank you.”

“Hahaha! I also like cute types like Mr. Doyeon.”

I feel a bit resistant to people who are so bright.

You know, when I first met Kim Taehyun. The reason why his brightness didn’t feel awkward to me was because I was his superior, and I had already seen him at work, so I was familiar with his face. Furthermore, his brightness was also intentional to adapt to others.

But this natural brightness…

Yeah, but I’m a social person! And I’ve been in the corporate world for 15 years! There’s a newbie behind me watching over me like a chick! I can do this!

I said as I met her gaze.

Am I like Director Kook? Bright types like that seem to have a lot of energy and are nice. Hehe.

“Indeed, bright types like Director Kook make me feel a bit overwhelmed. Hahaha.”

“Ah!”

A sighing voice burst out from behind.

-Thud!

“Oh~ that guy, he mixed up his thoughts and lines.”

I turned to the side in realization, and Chulsoo smacked his forehead loudly and shook his head from side to side.

When I looked back at her, she had frozen with the same expression on her face.

And then.

“Hahaha!”

She made such a big fuss that all the people in the bar turned their attention to her.

“Oh, hilarious! Wow, Doyeon, I thought you were just cute, but you’re really a fun character. Hoo, hahaha!”

Oh, this is unexpected. She must be into that recent trend.

The shining eyes of innocence!