Ch.365365. A Day When Sweet Things Are Appealing

Four years later, in the still chilly month of February.

“Hey, bro. Tell me something. What comes first for you, money or honor?”

“Obviously, money.”

“Why?”

“Because with money, you can make honorable people do what you want.”

“But aren’t there people who can’t be moved by money?”

“Siwoo. There’s no one who can’t be moved by money. It’s not that you can’t move people with money; it’s that you don’t have enough money to move them.”

“Ah, I see.”

Sitting at my desk, mulling over this conversation from years ago, I chuckled to myself in deep agreement.

Really, my brother must be quite the genius… not a single thing he told me was wrong.

It really was true that money could do anything. Even change laws to this extent.

[The relaxation of the practically nominal Fair Trade Act is likely to take place from April, and many experts have been criticizing this move daily, suggesting it may be due to the influence of conglomerate groups…]

“Sigh…”

I turned off the television and quietly closed my eyes. Perhaps because it was well past quitting time, I felt like I might drift off to sleep just by keeping my eyelids closed for a moment.

-Knock knock.

“…Come in.”

Creak. The team leader’s office door opened. A man with a familiar face entered. He was carrying what looked like a bundle of documents, and after looking around as if accustomed to the place, he let out a deep sigh.

“Team Leader, were you dozing off with the lights off again?”

“And you’re calling me Team Leader again. I told you to just use my name when we’re alone…”

“Work and personal matters should be separate. We’re still in the office, how can I address my superior informally? I should use proper titles.”

For someone insisting on proper titles, his tone was quite impertinent. But since this wasn’t the first time, I let it slide.

The man—or rather, Lim Hansol—approached my desk and dropped the mountain of documents with a thud.

“Here you go, what you asked for, Team Leader. Since you didn’t specify a deadline, I did it as quickly as possible.”

“Yeah, thanks.”

Though I was confident in Lim Hansol’s work, I still carefully examined the top page just to be sure.

Hanwi Construction’s bidding history for the past ten years and elements that could potentially violate the Fair Trade Act. Everything was well-organized and summarized for easy reading.

As I was deeply focused on reading, click. The office lights turned on. I quickly looked up to see Lim Hansol staring at me.

“Why are you turning on the lights?”

“Why? Do you really need to ask? Reading documents with the lights off will ruin your eyesight.”

“Don’t you know our company prohibits overtime? Turn off the lights quickly. If someone catches me still in the office, there’ll be talk again.”

“I don’t think there’s anyone in our company who doesn’t know you always stay late, Team Leader. When people leave work and look up at the building, your office is always the only one with lights on.”

Ignoring Lim Hansol’s complaints, I focused on the documents before me.

Sorting out which projects could be caught for bid rigging and which couldn’t, and determining whether upcoming bids would be safe under the soon-to-be relaxed Fair Trade Act.

Figuring it would take at least another hour or two, I gestured toward Lim Hansol.

“Mr. Hansol, good work. You may leave now.”

“Using formal titles only when it suits you, isn’t that a bit cowardly?”

“Are you going to keep standing there?”

When I deliberately used formal speech to hint at him, he shook his head as if he couldn’t bear it anymore and opened the office door.

But just before leaving, he hesitated as if suddenly remembering something and added one more comment.

“Team Leader, just in case you forgot… you do know what day it is today, right?”

“Why, is it some special day?”

“Ah, so you don’t know. Then keep not knowing.”

“…What? What is it, what day is it? Hey, Lim Hansol! Where are you going!”

Though he must have clearly heard me calling, he pretended not to and quickly left the team leader’s office. Ignoring his superior when spoken to, this guy.

Tomorrow—no, tomorrow’s a holiday—so on Monday, I’ll have to assign him a massive workload. After making that resolution, I stretched out.

Ugh. As a strange sound escaped my mouth, my gaze shifted to the desk calendar below the monitor.

Time really flies. Tomorrow’s the weekend already. Today is Friday the 14th, so when I come to work on Monday the 17th, February will already be half over.

With such idle thoughts, I returned to the documents… when suddenly something flashed through my mind.

Wait, today is the 14th?

“…Huh?”

Then it’s February 14th. Isn’t February 14th Valentine’s Day?

Belatedly realizing this, my eyes shot open. That’s because I remembered what Hwa Nabi had asked me this morning before I left for work.

“Darling, can you come home early today?”

“Why, is something happening?”

“Nothing special… but it’s Valentine’s Day. Since it’s a special occasion, I wanted to spend time with you. Is that not okay?”

“Ah… yes, I’ll try to come back as soon as possible.”

“…This is bad.”

I checked my phone, which I had put on silent mode to avoid work distractions. Three missed calls and eleven unread messages. All of them from Hwa Nabi.

With trembling hands, I checked the unread messages. Short and long KakaoTalk messages filled the chat screen.

Nabi♡♡ [Are you on your way, darling? hehehe♥♥♥♥♥]

Nabi♡♡ [Just left Woohee and Woocheon with their mom. Now we just need you to arrive!!! (emoticon of a cat with sparkling eyes)]

Nabi♡♡ [Darling, are you busy? Reply quickly when you see this!!!!!!♥♥♥♥]

Nabi♡♡ [Can’t you answer the phone?? I just called, why aren’t you answering?? (emoticon of a cat tilting its head)]

Nabi♡♡ [You must be driving and can’t answer. Sorry, I’ll wait kkk♥♥♥]

Nabi♡♡ [Is traffic bad, darling?? (emoticon of a cat glaring with arms crossed)]

Nabi♡♡ [Ah, tomorrow’s the weekend so traffic might be heavy. I’ll be preparing, so take your time kkk♥♥]

Nabi♡♡ [Seeing no reply, traffic must be terrible. There wasn’t an accident nearby, was there? You don’t need to hurry, just drive safely!♥]

Nabi♡♡ [Darling, why aren’t you coming? And why aren’t you answering calls?? Even in traffic, you can answer calls, can’t you???]

Nabi♡♡ [You’re not going to be late, are you? If not, are you secretly meeting someone else behind my back?]

Nabi♡♡ […Darling, answer me.]

“…”

Judging by how the number of hearts gradually decreased until they disappeared… she seems quite upset.

Instinctively sensing danger, I jumped up from my seat. This was no time to be looking at these documents. Fair Trade Act and bid rigging be damned, I’m in big trouble!

I hastily gathered the documents, grabbed my coat from the hanger, and left the office.

Me [Sorry, Nabi. I was busy working and didn’t see your messages. I’m on my way now, just wait a little longer!]

*

Despite rush hour being over, traffic was still terrible. Seoul is great except for this problem. The population density is so high that roads are always congested, and even going somewhere close takes at least an hour by car.

Grumbling, I parked in the underground garage. Then I took the elevator up and rushed to the front door. I entered the door lock password and opened the door, only to find…

All the lights were off, making the house dark.

“…Nabi, are you here?”

What’s going on? Did she get tired of waiting and go out? That was my first thought, but I soon realized that wasn’t the case. The evidence was the washing machine humming away.

Hwa Nabi is quite meticulous about housework, and when she starts the washing machine, she always makes sure to take the laundry out on time and dry it. Someone like her wouldn’t leave with the washing machine running.

Anyway, this means she must be somewhere in the house. But where did she go? I couldn’t see anything in the darkness.

I needed to see her face to apologize or beg for forgiveness, but I couldn’t find her. So I first felt along the wall to turn on the living room lights.

-Click.

As the world suddenly brightened… I opened my eyes wide in surprise.

In the middle of the living room, where there should have been nothing, was a huge box.

Judging by its size, it looked like an appliance or furniture. But why weren’t there any brand logos or product images on the box? Usually, companies put those prominently for advertising.

Feeling puzzled, I approached it. The opening of the box was slightly ajar, and I could see something inside.

I opened it wider to get a better look, and at that moment.

“…Whoa!”

Something pink burst out from inside the box. At first, I thought it was some kind of bomb and was terrified, but soon I recognized what it was and sighed in relief.

What jumped out of the box was none other than Hwa Nabi.

“Ah, you scared me… What’s all this, Nabi?”

“What do you think? It’s a surprise! Were you surprised?”

“Yes, I almost had a heart attack…”

Clutching my rapidly beating heart from the shock, I slowly examined Hwa Nabi’s outfit.

She had been crouching inside the box waiting, and for some reason, she was dressed as a bunny girl. Complete with brown stockings and a revealing top that exposed her upper chest.

Perhaps because of the sudden sight of such a provocative outfit, my heart started racing for a different reason. Unconsciously licking my lips, I asked Hwa Nabi:

“But why are you dressed like this…?”

“Wait a moment. Before that, don’t you have something to say to me?”

“Something to say? Ah… I’m sorry for being late. Something came up suddenly at work, and I couldn’t contact you beforehand. Will you forgive me?”

“Hmph, alright. I’m cool about it.”

Yes, well, her outfit is so cool it looks almost cold… but I still don’t understand why she’s dressed like this.

As if reading my thoughts from my expression, Hwa Nabi laughed softly and tapped her chest.

“Darling. You know today is Valentine’s Day, right?”

“Yes, I know.”

“And that Valentine’s Day is when women give something sweet to men?”

“Something sweet…?”

I was about to say it’s chocolate, not something sweet, but I closed my mouth at Hwa Nabi’s next words.

“So I prepared something sweet for you to enjoy—a bunny girl outfit that I thought you might like… what do you think?”