DMSD | Chapter 8

Without even looking at Myeongeun, he sent a message to someone and spoke.

“Is it just you here?”

“Yes. Everyone else has left for the day.”

The man finished sending his message and put his phone into the pocket of his jacket.

“I don’t think so.”

He spoke, taking off the hood of his jacket.

“Being alone, I mean.”

Myeongeun blinked. He glanced around the office and then back at the man. He was definitely alone. Thinking this over, Myeongeun glanced down at the man’s feet. The man was still standing outside the doorway, not actually inside the office.

“Since you haven’t come in yet, I guess that does make me alone.”

Ah, that was clever.

Satisfied with his own answer, Myeongeun smiled.

However, no reaction came from the man, no matter how long he waited. That awkward moment when you realize the other person is serious, but you’re the only one joking around. Myeongeun felt his face starting to turn red.

Then, suddenly, the man lifted his baseball cap slightly before putting it back on. For a brief moment, Myeongeun thought he saw a hint of light brown hair, and then the man chuckled quietly. Though his lips were hidden behind a mask, he could tell the man was smiling just from the sound. Even if it was a delayed reaction, at least his joke had landed—thank goodness.

“Guess you really can’t see anymore.”

“Sorry?”

Suddenly, the man lifted his hand and lowered his mask to his chin. A high nose bridge, fair skin, and vibrant red lips appeared. The corners of those lips lifted ever so slightly, and Myeongeun stared in a daze.

Was he staring for too long?

Abruptly, the man’s lips returned to their original position. Pausing for a moment with tightly shut lips, he then took off his mask completely, revealing a masculine jawline.

After a beat, the man adjusted his cap, lifting it higher. His eyes were slightly narrow, a bit feline, with a faint triple-lidded gaze that added a lazy yet wild look.

As he revealed each feature one by one, his brows subtly twitched, and now, with his full face exposed, he looked clearly irritated. Only then did Myeongeun, who had been captivated by his face, realize it and gasped.

“Oh… uh, maybe…”

The man’s expression grew confident again. And with a face like that, confidence was only natural. He was the most handsome man Myeongeun had ever seen.

But what shocked Myeongeun wasn’t just his good looks. There had to be a reason for his confident attitude, and it wasn’t just because of his appearance.

“I apologize. Please wait a moment.”

Pretending to stay calm, Myeongeun asked for his understanding and rushed to the break room. Preparing coffee would take too long, so he quickly dropped a roasted barley tea bag into hot water and returned.

“I’m sorry. I should have asked more thoroughly.”

He held out a mug.

“Warm your hands first.”

“….”

The man merely looked down at the mug without taking it. He was tall and had a strong build, and just standing there silently, he exuded an intimidating presence. His cold expression and icy gaze added to it, making Myeongeun feel like the mug in his hand was a worthless, embarrassing thing that he never should’ve brought out. And it was the most expensive mug in the office.

“Do you dislike barley tea?”

After careful thought, he ventured the question, but the man’s face immediately turned serious, as if he held some kind of grudge against barley tea.

“…Shall I switch it to coffee?”

“Excuse me.”

Now, the man’s expression darkened even more. Alarms went off in Myeongeun’s head. What did he do wrong?

“Do you not know who I am?”

“Sorry?”

“I asked if you don’t know who I am.”

Was it wrong not to recognize him from the start? But with the mask and cap… Myeongeun shrank, staring at him with wide eyes.

It looked like the man was waiting for an answer.

Would it be alright to say it straight out? Myeongeun hesitated for a moment, but since the man was waiting for a response, he figured it should be fine.

“President….”

Myeongeun stammered, then replied in a small voice.

“Are you President Kwon Jinho’s son?”

The man looked at Myeongeun as if he’d lost his words. He seemed downright stunned, as if he’d been hit in the back of the head.

This was bad.

A cold fear washed over Myeongeun.

Should he not have said it directly? Or was he actually unrelated to the Kwon family?

But he looked so much like the Kwon brothers. Not only were his features similar, but his aura also felt like a blend of Kwon Jinhyeok’s intensity and Kwon Jinhyeon’s cool demeanor. Even if they’d met on the street, Myeongeun would have suspected. And they were at the Gaon Group’s headquarters, no less. With that face here, it was hard not to be certain.

“Excuse me.”

Myeongeun swallowed hard.

“Are you not? You resemble the Deputy Team Leader in Legal and the Deputy Head Manager in the Management Support Department so much, I thought….”

Myeongeun was practically shrinking into the floor.

The man stared at him in silence.

“Hah.”

The man suddenly let out a small, exasperated laugh. He covered his face with one hand and began to chuckle quietly, his shoulders shaking.

Myeongeun’s face drained of color. Even though President Kwon and his two sons were famous for their good nature and gentlemanly manners, there was no guarantee their other relatives were the same. Especially this man in front of him, who might just be the rumored third son of the president. From the start, he’d been rude to Myeongeun and seemed angry about something even now.

Is this the end of my career with Gaon Group?

Gripping the mug tightly, a sudden wave of heat stung his eyes.

It had only been six months since he paid off his student loans, credit card debt, and his mother’s debts. If he lost his job now, he’d probably have to break his measly savings before even finding another job. 

Just the other day, his landlord had sent him a message “by accident,” with an article titled Seoul Rent Crisis Alarm, followed by a message, “I meant to talk to you about this~ your lease is expiring soon, right? I think we should discuss it since the area’s prices have gone up~ ^^,” making his stomach twist.

What if I can’t find a place to live?

As he bit his lip, worrying about the possibility of ending up on the streets, a voice suddenly broke in.

“Give it here.”

Startled, he looked up. The man had stopped laughing and was now reaching out his hand expressionlessly.

“Sorry?”

“I said, just give it to me.”

The man barely waited and snatched the mug from him.

With the mug now gone and his hands empty, Myeongeun felt oddly chilled.

Is he really okay with barley tea?

“It’s better than coffee.”

Surprised, Myeongeun covered his mouth. Had he said that out loud? Before he could ask, a distant elevator sound made him turn his head. The man, still sipping his barley tea with indifference, paid no attention.

Expecting the stationer’s delivery guy, Myeongeun instead heard the sound of formal shoes, not the wheels of a loaded cart.

” Hwan-ah .”

Kwon Jinhyeon entered with a bright smile, followed by Kwon Jinhyeok, who noticed the man and called out, “Why are you not wearing your mask, Kwon Jinhwan?” Then he spotted Myeongeun and widened his eyes.

“Assistant Manager Go, you haven’t left yet?”

When Myeongeun explained the situation, Kwon Jinhyeon frowned. “That supplier is usually punctual; that’s strange. Try calling them again.”

Hurrying back to his desk, Myeongeun picked up the office phone. The delivery guy, who’d promised to arrive by 9:30, was still missing as 10:00 approached, meaning there was a problem.

As the phone rang, he glanced at the door. With the three “door-sized” men standing there, the room felt both overwhelming and refreshingly open.

He recalled the conversation he’d overheard in the storage room between the Kwon brothers earlier. So, that guy was Hwan. If he hadn’t misheard, Kwon Jinhyeok had called him Kwon Jinhwan. Same name, hence the same nickname. Nothing unusual there.

He chuckled. The mental image he’d had of “Hwan” was so different from the real man. The “Hwan” he knew was five years old with cheeks as round as rice cakes. He was curious how he’d turned out, though he’d probably never meet him.

After a long ringing, an automated message played. He redialed, unease creeping over him. If an accident had occurred, he’d feel terrible for the driver. And of course, the PR office couldn’t avoid responsibility.

Kim Junyoung, you idiot. He fumed inwardly.

“Myeongeun.”

Looking up, he saw Kwon Jinhyeon approaching.

“Looks like there’s been an accident.”

Shocked, he almost dropped the receiver.

“Did the Deputy Head Manager contact you?”

Instead of answering, Jinhyeon gave the name of a nearby four-lane road.

“A minor collision happened there, and it seems the delivery guy might’ve been caught up in it. He’s not injured, so he’ll contact us once things are settled.”

“How did you know?”

“I didn’t. He found out.”

Kwon Jinhyeon pointed at the man, now leaning against the desk, amused as the oldest brother tousled the youngest’s cap. Hwan swatted away his hand with an annoyed look.

How did he know that?