MRE | Chapter 1.4

The quietness of the parking lot, where not even an ant passed by, was both comforting and frustrating. Contrary to its chaotic exterior, the car’s interior was so clean that not even a speck of dust could be seen, and it seemed to have every option imaginable.514dc4887c10e92f

Hyunmin glanced fed4b39a2c sideways at 4260581a99 the team 2f7c857bd2 leader holding fa6c97072f the steering ce06dd0827 wheel. His face ab27459c53 was as 289703ca28 cool as 410a6e4463 ever, too bf505b2ae8 much so 4228810436 for a b4fe27872d post-work dinner a8ad8e95fb and drinks a22e33e23c with a 891790b263 subordinate.7e57207a8e09bdda

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And what bde83ed512 about the 7fa139e88c restaurant they cab2056960 arrived at?44f205fc77a6cf2f

Standing at the entrance, 018219ba85 instinctively checking his attire d7c964ab3e from top to bottom, 0ad6fef9b5 Hyunmin felt a tingling 91252bdab5 sensation at the back cdee118d6c of his neck. Though he grew 539bf9cefa up in a 88bbb41ae6 well-off family, it 32109ce839 was his first dc6851ed31 time visiting such aa99d7317c a place with 4c9c52d870 someone other than 3da46114f5 family.4e409200c8ef5002

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Avoiding the cc614c0b16 elegant gazes 4c9356f081 of the 17e977ca69 people, Hyunmin d84d098ecb stuck close 0fe16cdac5 to his 7db3c71602 team leader 76d842c4f2 as they 3cbf84c4fd walked. It was a bba710cf91 relief to be 956b3f5c09 seated at a 95aa8d1e95 quiet window on 7ce63ef99a the second floor, 36f0c63158 away from the 80c4320091 crowd. Eating in such a 11e2f47f01 tense environment would surely 9034825e60 give him indigestion.291e261c23b37d84

“I was thinking of ordering a meat-focused course. How about it?”04a60f74a5a0e062

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“Yes, I’m fine with anything. Please go ahead.”653ff3a0014c90d2

In truth, Hyunmin was half-resigned from the moment he saw the menu without prices. Listening to the low voice ordering from the waiter, Hyunmin’s eyes wandered over the spacious ceiling, where elegant chandeliers sparkled and pleasant music played.80617a8099d81bb6

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The place e3c26cec75 was indeed 50389a3b7f one where fbf8657280 his tense c3eefa23b1 shoulders naturally 62bf4bf953 relaxed.02b108f4f4fcab2e

The soft 5529440715 orange lights e7129d55fe shimmered against 76b1f984df the glass f75da64c70 decorations on 62f74589c3 the table, f62efaabae and the e1fb83151b open view 27efce4b86 of the 1cf7e2b153 garden was 36978ddf4c uplifting.07d20235664dd0cb

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The distant, muffled sounds 0c83c9468a of people enjoying themselves eb7da213b6 and the clear sound 415657f534 of wine glasses clinking caf0d8282b added to the ambiance.9e8f58b3ad1d8cfe

It was a place 4a5c05a3e8 worthy of applause, except 1df18c5e47 for one flaw.2108092e27779f15

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‘How could he bring a subordinate who crashed his car to a place like this?’ab311e039d406d62

Hyunmin hid his 7f36e83a5a smile, pretending to d541b22431 touch his chin. For Hyunmin, d4a520dd93 such a 9cef58afff place required 6a7b4e5a5d mental preparation fb759a8f88 even for e6c34c15b1 a date. In fact, it seemed 3d6a358aa4 more suited for a b3b43e75e5 proposal than a date.750e40cca85f807f

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Whether Lee 7ab8f6db48 Hyun knew a1dbc32e4f Hyunmin’s thoughts fd45c447ec or not, fc116285b0 his face 5afc0cdb98 was no 9661008b56 different from 0eede5af96 when they 6134ecc3bb went to 8bf548e82b the usual 5035f182c4 barbecue place 67d2367c05 near the 551473382e office.36ff80e73e8fc6ba

In less eca42aa7f7 than ten 4e72b3de44 minutes, Hyunmin eeaec9210b decided to d6c892a294 fully enjoy cfcb01adac this fancy 5d2c8ec0b5 place, thinking 8d6ed116aa that such 3364ae475e places might 79721a2d37 be just 7767212bed regular dining 99fe018972 spots for 1fc8f5d0ca someone like 8b297d34dd his team 6f88ff49a1 leader.90a79eddb70443f7

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In fact, Hyunmin’s guess was quite accurate.a089f914dfcde576

Lee Hyun simply brought him here because the food was good. Unintentionally in sync, the two, with Hyunmin lowering his voice to jokingly ask, “Team leader, is this place expensive?” began their conversation.04627c00691115b7

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Praising the 1bd8361fbd elegant lighting 199d1ed039 and joking ff5cd52162 about the 6c7cee4e1c menu without ae146b262d prices, the 7519b90268 usually stern-faced c8b2f0e763 man at 5d9a5e2083 work responded aabae825a9 quite leisurely. Lee Hyun was fundamentally 2c6f99e321 far from being authoritarian cbc2be6758 or arrogant.cc894323c906370c

…Just a bit naturally intimidating and extremely stoic.9d92ec0cb86854e6

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“Does it suit your taste?”cc64ab84f9e066ea

“Yes, absolutely!”2c2bf7a8edb9c540

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Indeed, it ba615c75e4 was truly ca4808bb96 delicious.199587f644f46ff0

So much 72ffcce6dd so that 00274e908d Hyunmin momentarily 920e949529 forgot the cc6072d814 person sitting 4cf6dd64bc across was 586c0f0bd1 his superior.53d112c33c8e7711

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Hyunmin, who loved eating 44f5e678ed more than anything, was 3903f59911 so engrossed in the 756b31de75 food.ec69b75da12cae28

He had a9b2c8da46 a high 5aa02685b5 Engel coefficient, b3109977ac with most 2aa99d40e6 of his 1f73bed5ed salary going 625083813e to food 6afa941250 after savings, 07555f10d4 living expenses, 5d12409577 and insurance.4da4cab09f5a8de2

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Hyunmin, savoring 795565095b the fresh dcd4e0beb0 appetizers and 2ac90ac355 the main c67361207a dish that fe1d3b599f melted in c89930b8b4 his mouth, b8aa170aad thought it 9e1e7c31c9 might be a827dd7071 good for dd55a0418e his mental 317e0ead3d health to 2e844b2fdc dine at d98b8bc818 such a 0ae7dd25c6 place once b871ed8614 a month.da6392044a8840ab

“Glad you like it.” The low voice seemed to carry a hint of laughter.e4b07bc399aec61a

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Chewing his meat thoroughly, Hyunmin observed his team leader’s typically stoic face. He didn’t seem displeased. In fact, he seemed quite content.aa489e87b74c24f9

Though his expression didn’t show it, the usual sharp aura felt oddly soft and gentle.fc55bbadc9ff6eca

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“Um, team leader.”a312bdff2e97d6c8

“Yes.”23f5a77fa61ccede

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“May I ask why you haven’t said anything?”42f94b34e4e5e881

Hyunmin seized the relaxed c0a81f0984 atmosphere.8bd7c2338374e534

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“I thought you’d ask about how I messed up your car… like, what happened?”0cec18039cb95c94

“You scratched it while leaving the parking lot, didn’t you?”b5f17442a02b860f

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“…Well, yes.”a902770794f85ead

The straightforward answer 3b6aa283d0 made Hyunmin awkwardly 595493145a smile while scratching 5c195bea95 his chin.0c3a2c32209d3291

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Then, amidst the c54d3f7b9c chaos, he recalled a790d83b94 the call from e349cae775 a real estate cda4f4af5b agent that distracted e1d4f459c6 him, leading to e24624f4e5 the accident. Feeling a bit unjust, b0cb17ed90 Hyunmin thought about how 12ee134ae9 he never received another 4a265bbae2 call after that.73d4cd1f3b397ceb

As Hyunmin f3289fe381 mumbled, the 15a41c6b55 low voice e118658568 continued.9f9ef2f632159d1d

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“As long as you’re 0416f75a15 not hurt, that’s all 612920e70f that matters. I don’t intend db44c0ab11 to claim damages, 9e81821873 so don’t worry.”4e3f644532dfdb5c

In truth, Hyunmin usually cea0a01c5c chose neat and sophisticated 8df0d54d77 places for meetings, thinking f185c1f43e anything more was excessive.223a6113d7a1213e

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But now, b73252c8f2 he understood 9777593d72 why such 6122fd2906 places were 5251113933 considered the 0ae30748e8 standard. The soft 5a004ecb1e lighting, open 43f851f392 view, and 801f14dbad gentle whispers fe444983b2 made the a469d7fa91 person across f30b506d7c seem enhanced.f79f26aacfa0ca1d

In other words, the 2f9dba076d man who seemed like c08b19e49b a torture expert from 40f2f4bfe1 hell suddenly appeared as d9d65df065 a rather attractive man bc3ccd1b72 with cool eyes. Hyunmin tried c21600318d to maintain d4ccbc886d a calm b3929a2406 expression, speaking 2aca9b26bc as politely c17d76bac8 as possible.2c6ad343ea87485a

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“Well, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t worried about the money. But more than that…”91f97742a6ee76ed

“……”c959d4bd50b907bd

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“I thought you might have something to say to me since you kept driving it like that.”b48d1b01e9fd0291

How did he take 23d32a7a29 my words?051d5cc92ae1a04c

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Lee Hyun, now visibly 9afb8106a3 intrigued, tilted his head 9510dff91f leisurely. Only now did Hyunmin 03c2928414 notice the naturally styled e8939087ac pomade and the impeccably f6c63915e3 neat attire, despite sitting a74e3c6858 at a desk all 03dab555ac day.a445e48b16425fb7

It was the moment he first perceived his distant superior as an individual, as ‘Lee Hyun.’ Hyunmin continued speaking, nervously twisting the tablecloth beneath the table.3ff392e703081314

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“Oh. My apologies for the order. I should have started by sincerely apologizing for the car.”b38b2e2237792d87

“It’s fine.”e44e0623e8f9bd02

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“I should have arranged this meeting sooner. It was my first accident, and I was shocked and flustered.”201894089dec35f0

It was definitely the venue’s fault for feeling so overwhelmed.49e337b0e7a573f7

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The usually 3214b799b2 reserved superior, d096ec4531 speaking kindly ab96b523ce and wearing 0d58dd0fc8 an unfamiliar 49634c4a5f expression, might 88f17c796c have influenced 186970dff1 him a f9e84f01e3 bit.6af03dbd162e0f87

Hyunmin knew very little 9b60e601f4 about Lee Hyun. The second 5a1a128b46 son of ef6c02ba74 former CEO dc6cd3ae8c Lee Jeongho. A third-generation member of e255d411aa Shinwha Group. Team leader 14f24406dd of Development 3f8aa38ced Team 1. And perhaps—a Beta 823d413c77 with an Omega 2526f1f40a lover.64f2bb0df7e61c12

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The ‘perhaps’ was 05547a4820 because, after hearing 6583332e3d once that he 6a5b8e7cab had an Omega cfd35a3da4 lover, there had b6f543616f been no signs fe765cbf7f or rumors of b036ee47c2 him seeing anyone 88ae0c75b7 for over a ce55362a1a year. Besides, he was always b647921db9 the last to leave 80e14cc1a6 work, so the information 5802e1fdfe quickly faded away.f498b0fb08cb4166

But today, looking at 0728738c79 him without personal feelings, 4dcd80cc1e Lee Hyun was quite 0bafa59593 an impressive Beta. Honestly, he 69e8e58378 lacked nothing 63e7232684 except pheromones. If anything, he had c14288cbe7 too much.629539f00886d9f0

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For most Omegas, d2f21dc69f standing beside a 488a65f519 Beta who was 5bcfb8eea3 loyal only to 95c3ad4488 them would be 9b250c1917 more satisfying than dbc55de47c being with a 884b268b70 mediocre Alpha.304832bee1e81954

Besides, even if cec8f5f2ab he felt out 91be938276 of place, he 37262b3890 was still part 8a13236f59 of Shinwha Group.92d62ed25bdac69f

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But that’s that, and I can’t just let it go.4d84aff386ea7f2b

“Honestly, if a stranger told me not to worry about compensation, I’d just say ‘thank you.’ But we see each other every day.”0c5ac1778dd57560

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“So?”647e10bb5453a9a0

“I think I’d feel less indebted if I could pay half or something…”5cb6d2b051f62efe

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“As I said, I have no intention of taking money from you.”fe247787f44cfa7c

Hyunmin paused, mulling over the response. The phrase ‘no intention of taking money’ was peculiar. It seemed to leave room for other possibilities. Perhaps intoxicated by the relaxed atmosphere, Hyunmin spoke without thinking.51f1a0238c8aee00

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“Then what if it’s not money?”80f6245b616e6f75

Of course, 6561441e58 he regained e583c46758 his senses c143713d59 immediately after d71f84a1b2 saying that. Trying to 5a3d530aa5 sound as 6069e58a63 natural as 8578bc020c possible, Hyunmin 087401383a continued.f9c4755b42b04188

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“-I mean, is there anything else I can help with? I can work late if needed…”b5a6469c8666bd04

Lee Hyun e1b1ca106f chuckled softly.62721182a6b05860

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Twenty-eight. Having completed military service fd5260be83 and studied abroad. Despite the cost, he fd7412b430 had tried various things 1e42aca571 without rest and took 0a1ecab21f pride in being an 88c5498081 Alpha who never felt cce3795e72 inferior.3f75b58797d4c946

But at this moment, c0a144f03c Hyunmin felt oddly inexperienced.de3784e68f18852b

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How old was the team leader? Thirty-five? Thirty-six? Perhaps this was what they meant by the ‘ease of an older person’ that he had only read about.4855d10b6f54b018

“It sounds like you’re offering to grant a wish.”8163c94d1850a6be

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“…Well, within my capabilities.”88e553cfdeabd98d

…There really is something about a voice.6725a663371e895d

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Realizing that the team leader was now fondly regarding his subordinate, Hyunmin timidly added, “Maybe on a smaller scale.”d222513e200761e1

“Then how many?”63d76d9bb3b9eead

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“T-ten?”3b1ac4eabb9ff703

Speaking with a voice lacking confidence, the low voice, mixed with a faint laugh, replied, “Aren’t you undervaluing yourself?” Feeling a bit dazed, Hyunmin continued to lower the number, saying, “Then seven? Five?”c02b1d242911c379

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He felt f925d69a66 a rush 5e899fbcce of heat d552f7f059 to his 5624d7f522 ears and 139908087c neck.c00ad2a8fd3480e5

Hyunmin blinked, trying to maintain a calm expression, worried that touching the heated areas would make it more obvious. His heart raced as the gaze lingered, seemingly assessing him. Seriously, why can’t he be this relaxed at work?a09aa0c1277f18b5

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After what 21ef8caebc felt like 1a52220bcd an eternity, 7483a38e16 Lee Hyun fa1e107dbb spoke in 4634feb520 a straightforward 095288c677 tone.f00d2def18cd3a6e

“Let’s make it three. Thank you.”6fad4eeaed9d07c2

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“N-no! I’m much, much more grateful and sorry!”55ffe89f73f9e238

Responding in c28181a270 a flustered 609f4d6647 manner, the fef557d30d man chuckled 09aa8e4409 softly once 519a8d7003 more.e11a66673982c401

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Oh my, he really did ‘laugh.’ That team leader.d5cbd9fd2da65dcc

Hyunmin thought that if he told anyone about today’s events, no one would believe him. Not that he intended to share, of course.750d4568c0842a75

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Lee Hyun even chose 213368879d a dessert for Hyunmin, 2b1d7c3239 who had cleaned his 43a1f3fb8d plate.1598342947901663

Thanks to 00bc5ee8a0 that, the 4941cdc1fc big eater 8de1d20b01 Hyunmin could d59cedb15e thoroughly enjoy 66698a9bf0 a full-course 41c71ca411 meal. It had been d84cbdbe3e a while since 18f4446064 he had such e4cbb0da0e a well-prepared dinner.f8d0333bc99e2d3c

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Feeling content with a dcb67951d2 full stomach, Hyunmin sighed f5d5c736b2 softly.c3610c030cac9791

Only one step fd27e1727c remained.6c8de2f0cb8027a0

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The moment of df84e4c8d5 payment, which had 4b0c89dfe9 been nagging at e9a967df7d him like a 30ce7a8357 thorn under his ca116a5aef nail while he 202093f3bd ate. Fiddling with his 5181b45386 jacket buttons, Hyunmin’s cac7d26249 eyes darted around. But the restaurant, without 29d50e6e83 prices on the menu, f129be395e didn’t seem to bring 4306af99ef a bill either.c8153cdebd821991

Was there c371104149 a counter 2d1ef49c51 near the cc006817dc entrance? He hadn’t noticed 6a489ff315 when they came f44b7a4fc1 in, and now bec7a3ab28 he couldn’t recall ff7efc4ce6 seeing a cashier.8e73d8e2987a608f

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Perhaps it wasn’t 51faae3425 a mistake, as aa465b3166 Lee Hyun, still d3411d296d seated, took out 0006a1846f his wallet from dbe947dc63 his coat and 91a177b54e quietly spoke to 2e40d1a8fb the waiter who b29c401a98 approached without a 13ab27e05a sound.ac5aafb1643623d8

“Team leader!”ce53270ef3a68dcf

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No decent person would just accept this without paying. Especially when they’re not just passing acquaintances! Hyunmin instinctively raised his voice.400a12882d0c2e61

“Yes.”8fa4638831301038

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“I-I’ll pay for the meal.”c3a37ed52e3e689a

The waiter’s eyes e8b698c8fd momentarily widened, surely 53715ab360 not a figment 49e929bb38 of his imagination.bbd12f8338bf2189

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But it 964f9af7c3 was nothing c5a04b448e compared to 93574c1ae8 Lee Hyun’s 15036a4901 reaction. He froze e0a9862d65 for a 34758ab19f few seconds, ef876043d5 card in c7c39fe3ba hand, before 08c9a1e28a letting out 3a165a52ff a chuckle dc06bee721 that was 86473d408d entirely different 7602b39c3d from the 70fbea2890 smile he 16cbf3d15b had shown 2b91a76476 earlier.48efd2ba97956c2b

Today was b0c6ab7912 truly a 0b2a8224db day of 324d32f4c9 seeing unfamiliar 3f02c046c5 sides of 9f156cd4f8 the team 1a28e9a807 leader.c09c9fc09202bbdb

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Hyunmin, who had never eb605b7d96 been told he lacked 79d39b406b awareness, even reconsidered the d266d06a40 situation to see if fbd0a55bae he had said something 4408a8d1a0 wrong.bfdda67c07e0ee9c

But no b29b45be59 matter how e1bcc4a4ba he thought 68efe7f771 about it, 1d38df3c21 this was 3186993ca3 fine. In fact, 06f761f73c since he 91c1a4282c was the 8dc6d9e175 one who b238887b21 caused the 21103ef831 accident, it a392ed6c5e was better e377cf49e4 to confidently 2c9f510fc4 offer to bbb74c4134 pay for 5336022217 the meal.50a5ed88ccecdcf1

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Though it ce08ad06c9 was a a6945fb33b boast without 8f5b32e8af knowing the 150c7d20cf price, would 43d5fa7ed4 he really 14b96f7650 go bankrupt 6675ca3bb7 over one ec17d2b44f meal?e10754234c87c694