# 18

    The underground parking lot of the building where Hwayoung’s office is located.

    Of course, since I didn’t know what kind of car Hwayoung drove, I followed her directions to where the car was.

    As befitting the scale of the magnificent building, the cars in the underground parking lot are all top-of-the-line.

    The lineup was so splendid that even countries that aren’t particularly interested in cars would naturally take notice.

    “Um, what car keys did I give you… .”

    Hwayoung mutters as she slowly looks at the parked cars.

    “Excuse me, isn’t that a car?“

    “Huh? All the cars in this line are mine?”

    Is this the wealth of a popular hero…?

    Last time I went to Yunseol’s house, the scale was like that, and I wonder how much money a popular hero would have to make.

    ‘That’s right. That’s why the manager gives you a day’s salary.’

    It was the moment when I understood Hwa-young’s behavior of nonchalantly changing the salary written in the contract.

    *

    After that, Hwayoung and I arrived at the company.

    Hwayoung is definitely…

    “… I’m going to brag. To the company.”

    He said that, but what was he trying to brag about?

    From the first time we met, I couldn’t get a feel for this person at all. This person named Hwayoung.

    “Follow me. Honey.”

    She motions for me to follow her into the company.

    “… Should I go too?”

    “Of course.”

    Hmm. I don’t want to go.

    .

    “Hey. Hwayoung?”

    Afterwards, I was led into the company by her hand, and the person who greeted me was a woman with a sharp look.

    “Oh, sir. Hello.”

    Listening to Hwayoung, it seems like he is the president of this company.

    He looks quite young to be the CEO of a company. There really are many great people in the world.

    “Oh. Okay. What’s going on so early in the morning?”

    “I came to see the princess, do you know where she is?”

    The CEO makes a slightly subtle expression at Hwayoung’s words.

    “… That’s what Seol is talking about. She just went out on patrol and will probably be back soon… By the way, who’s the person next to you?”

    “Daily manager. I think I mentioned it last time.”

    “Ah. That’s him… .”

    Soon, she looks at me with her eyes.

    … a hint of discomfort can be seen in his expression.

    “I’m sorry, but I know that scandals are a sensitive issue at the company level, so I’d like you to be careful.”

    “Yes, yes.”

    Hwayoung let the president’s words slip away. I could guess the relationship between the two.

    “Yeah. I’m sure Hwayoung will take care of it.”

    After saying that, the president quickly left.

    “What a pity. There’s no princess. I brought a prince.”

    “… .”

    I was wondering if it was something to brag about.

    It seems that Hwayoung’s goal was to bring me and Yunseol face to face.

    ‘Because that woman misunderstands that I have a special relationship with Yunseol.’

    I guess I wanted to show Yunseol that I was her manager and see her reaction.

    After thinking that far, I decided to first clear up Hwayoung’s misunderstanding.

    “Hey, Hwayoung.”

    “What? Just call me Hwayoung. Or you can call me Hwayoung.”

    “… Hwayoung, I have something to say. Could you move to a quiet place for a moment?”

    “What are you going to say? Okay, follow me.”

    After that, Hwayoung and I moved to a suitable place where no one passed by.

    “This is the hero lounge, but only a few people come here, so if you have something to say, say it here. Are you trying to tell a secret or something?”​

    ‘I’m sure no one will listen here.’

    After making sure there was no one around, I cautiously spoke to Hwayoung.

    “Hwayoung, I’m saying this because I think there’s still a misunderstanding. I have no relationship with Yoonseol. Really.”

    “Um… Lie. After giving such a warm hug.”

    When you say hug, are you talking about the time I delivered Yunseol to her house in a princess-like hugging position?

    … I expected it, but Hwayoung, who witnessed what happened that day, seems to have a hard time believing what I said.

    If I had just watched the situation closely, I wouldn’t have had this misunderstanding.

    That’s why tailing doesn’t work.

    ‘I can’t help it.’

    I have been holding back my words in order to preserve Yunseol’s social standing… but it seems that in order to clear up the misunderstanding, I have no choice but to talk about what happened that day.

    “How did that happen? ”

    I slowly began to tell Hwayoung about the day when Yunseol was very drunk.

    .

    Hwayoung, who had heard my story, said with a slightly timid expression.

    “Well, to summarize what I said… ”

    “Our princess happened to visit the cocktail bar he runs, and one day, he got so drunk that he couldn’t even go home, so he took her home himself out of fear that she would be harmed. You say?”

    Great summary. No frills explanation.

    “Then, will you hug the princess?”

    “That’s because Yoonseol couldn’t walk… There was no other way. It was raining quite a bit at that time.”

    ​”Hmm…”

    Hwayoung didn’t look very convinced, but she soon nodded.

    “Then, what is it? I was mistaken. Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

    Hold on, my right hand. The opponent is a woman. You shouldn’t hit her.

    I gritted my teeth and answered her.

    “I don’t know, I don’t know… . Phew. Yunseol and I are not related at all.”

    “… Not fun.”

    There was still some doubt in Hwayoung’s eyes as she spoke… but for now, she seemed to understand.

    ‘That’s fortunate.’

    At that moment, I was relieved that the misunderstanding had been resolved.

    Squeak

    The door to the break room where Hwayoung and I were opened and someone came inside.

    “… .”

    Long blond hair that falls to her waist, and vivid blue eyes.

    ‘I almost didn’t recognize you because you weren’t wearing your usual hoodie… .’

    It was Yun Seol.

    “What? You said you were out on patrol. You’re coming home early? Princess.”

    Hwayoung waves her hand happily upon seeing her.

    To Hwayoung, Yunseol responded with a cold expression that I had never seen before.

    “… I left something behind. By the way, why are you… Huh?”

    Then, her gaze fell on me…

    “Boss? Why are you here…?”

    Yunseol’s cold face was suddenly covered with surprise.

    “Oh, hello.”

    As I awkwardly greeted her, Yunseol returned to her usual face that I knew.

    “… Hello. By the way, what brings you here, sir?”

    “Um. Somehow, I ended up being Hwayoung’s daily manager.”

    “Manager?”

    Yunseol looked at me and Hwayoung alternately as if he was somewhat puzzled.

    “… .”

    After that, she suddenly became silent, as if lost in thought.

    “Hmm.”

    Hwayoung, who was watching the scene from the side, suddenly approached me and said,

    “Eight.”

    “Hwa, Hwayoung?!”

    Eight, he said, and hugged my right arm.

    At the same time, I felt a soft sensation on my arm.

    Like two water balloons… no. This is not the time to be thinking like that.

    “What are you doing now?”

    “Just because I think our manager is really dependable.”

    Hwayoung gives me answers to my questions in a way that I don’t understand.

    Startled by the sudden contact, I tried to pull her arm away… but it didn’t move at all.

    ‘That’s right, this guy. He was a hero…!’

    At the moment when I was frustrated by the overwhelming difference in power.

    Squeak

    “… .”

    Yunseol watched Hwayoung and I arguing without saying anything, then quietly left the break room.

    “Hoohoo.”

    And only then does Hwayoung let go of my arm. She smiles as if she is so happy about something.

    “Why did you suddenly do that?”

    “No. I was just trying to show our princess how close we are.”

    “… We’re not that close. ”

    Did this person think that Yunseol might be jealous?

    ‘That can’t be true.’

    Just a moment ago, didn’t you just go outside without any expression on your face when you saw Hwayoung suddenly hugging you?

    “And didn’t I just say that? Yoonseol and I have no relationship.”

    “Hmm… Well?”

    Hwayoung stares at me quietly, trailing off.

    ‘… It’s pretty.’

    If only the personality was a little better, it would have been perfect.

    “Okay. It’s almost time, so let’s go to work. Oh, right, take care of your manager work today.”

    “Please take care of me… .”

    I haven’t even started my managerial work yet, but I already feel like I want to leave work.

    ‘I wonder if I can do well today… .’

    *

    ‘Ah. I didn’t bring my cell phone… .’

    The reason I came back to the company while on patrol was to retrieve my cell phone that I had left behind.

    “Just because I think our manager is really dependable.”

    … Thanks to that, I ended up seeing something I shouldn’t have seen.

    For some reason, I thought something was strange when Hwayoung brought up the cocktail bar story to me yesterday.

    I never thought that the person who came as a manager would be the president.

    I don’t know the exact details of how it happened, but I know one thing for sure.

    ‘You approached the boss on purpose to provoke me.’

    I’m guessing that you’re misunderstanding that the boss and I have some kind of special relationship.

    So, all of a sudden, he provoked me by linking arms with the CEO in front of me.

    “Sigh.”

    As soon as I thought about it, a sigh naturally escaped my lips.

    “… Why on earth are you doing that?”

    Did I do something to make that person hate me?

    ‘I don’t have any specific guesses.’

    Rather, when Hwayoung first joined our company, I even admired her a little.

    I was amazed at how she was so active in front of the media and how thoroughly she managed her image.

    “Sigh. Let’s not worry about it.”

    I waited in the bathroom for a while, then returned to the break room when I thought the two people had left.

    “… .”

    Fortunately, it seems like those two have already left.

    ‘Ah. Here you are.’

    As I was picking up my cell phone that I had left behind, a thought suddenly crossed my mind.

    ‘I don’t think the two of you are dating.’

    Ah. No, that’s not true.

    When that guy crossed his arms, the boss was shocked. Hmm. Right.

    ‘… Well, it doesn’t really matter if the two of them are dating.’

    By the way, my chest has been feeling stuffy lately.

    I think I should go to the hospital.

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