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.52f834a81cafdd9c

Hyunmin glanced sideways at 18ddecb77a the team leader holding 7af55eaf37 the steering wheel. His face 8a85a22ef9 was as 65592dcc61 cool as b87d4997ad ever, too fc509bb176 much so f4ea1c34c3 for a 8e9bb01eec post-work dinner a96855e628 and drinks dc141066e8 with a 5110d0f09f subordinate.fee2a2c28a72d020

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And what d286fd7c34 about the b82a8c8cc1 restaurant they f278a62f39 arrived at?00cd710330de66ee

Standing at c20e7cdfe4 the entrance, 8fc669de77 instinctively checking 52ccd4cb12 his attire 4e6ee59223 from top f14c7f96a6 to bottom, 78adf7bd0f Hyunmin felt 6f8fe86408 a tingling bc61d62c76 sensation at 634f1dd1e5 the back 18f1348761 of his f5ebd532a3 neck. Though he 1edbfbaa15 grew up 030a581d4f in a cc4c0da423 well-off family, 590b539d4f it was 80db8b6ee7 his first e5fe862c9f time visiting 5ee6b13ea7 such a 4e7257eaf4 place with 32146f2d1b someone other 90a89e8e87 than family.4a0ad2a0cfdf310c

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Avoiding the 709ebcefcc elegant gazes fd34de8095 of the 8461ff7f72 people, Hyunmin 76826f59ca stuck close 332829d2de to his d6d45da636 team leader d177832841 as they 686f55a0cd walked. It was 539c742c51 a relief a2d644232d to be 0865d99ceb seated at d19b247929 a quiet 2da4bb9e58 window on 806978d749 the second 15380a538a floor, away 1a309b0ca1 from the 5410875c84 crowd. Eating in such a f3f30376c5 tense environment would surely ffc388f8d4 give him indigestion.92ef68b8b991a01d

“I was thinking of ordering a meat-focused course. How about it?”afdbffacbdcf520d

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“Yes, I’m fine with anything. Please go ahead.”a78330fe471faad2

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.fcebd46549d91f34

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The place was indeed b4e1b8883d one where his tense 374d7118cb shoulders naturally relaxed.2ff2107ab7d0caa5

The soft orange bba674f750 lights shimmered against d498fe9ecc the glass decorations 0be5f4def9 on the table, 9b6b5bd2dc and the open 925b0a92ef view of the 28de9f2da9 garden was uplifting.3305df5d4bb97a98

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The distant, 0c4ed945e1 muffled sounds 3a85498ae4 of people e0f987d047 enjoying themselves 6a79835b53 and the bda4b8eef1 clear sound a054d1f26c of wine 4ca632f89e glasses clinking bc749dee90 added to 25dd8ad382 the ambiance.bcc61b9ba720a6e1

It was e0942286ff a place 463c72caaa worthy of 288530b531 applause, except 02dad2e33c for one e096387434 flaw.5f0af120944870ac

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‘How could he bring a subordinate who crashed his car to a place like this?’d1f5a313ac205bd2

Hyunmin hid his smile, f04317ee08 pretending to touch his 7fa97d72d9 chin. For Hyunmin, such 143d59c9ed a place required 19ff637c6d mental preparation even 8186ebbc3c for a date. In fact, it seemed 59fd85295e more suited for a 7ba0670814 proposal than a date.86391d8637283801

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Whether Lee Hyun knew bca6b4da25 Hyunmin’s thoughts or not, b93341f8d7 his face was no 693e7e5f22 different from when they 604f1bf890 went to the usual 13ab47b81b barbecue place near the 0ab730c659 office.724ff260cf8d2b1e

In less than ten 6a91882616 minutes, Hyunmin decided to 416b8e2c00 fully enjoy this fancy 2e0bce3458 place, thinking that such 9cafda55fc places might be just c34cdf50eb regular dining spots for e1b1ec3591 someone like his team bb3b6cb7b8 leader.6183d379d0b0baf5

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In fact, Hyunmin’s guess was quite accurate.ee41175b57650efc

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.0522afcf1a0e1e2f

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Praising the elegant lighting a2d6753bda and joking about the 29d617460b menu without prices, the 067983ec4a usually stern-faced man at 38b058d537 work responded quite leisurely. Lee Hyun ab1a9c0fef was fundamentally 13ce960537 far from d38ba09058 being authoritarian 3bc79ec08f or arrogant.b628dfae03eff300

…Just a bit naturally intimidating and extremely stoic.0e797731999a15ca

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“Does it suit your taste?”c9d4338f06628359

“Yes, absolutely!”792ed04fa0c49730

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Indeed, it was fb005bac4f truly delicious.f2a707ac6f2a43d0

So much 06f7c03e8f so that a77152abb1 Hyunmin momentarily 37879d240b forgot the a1dbc2536a person sitting 67ce42b95f across was 3637314f84 his superior.dcee66676ed918ca

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Hyunmin, who loved 01263eb4e8 eating more than 168100c2e9 anything, was so 85e169d610 engrossed in the 56787f96b5 food.c039ac00cc194624

He had a 1b7f408432 high Engel coefficient, 9b9319db5e with most of ba681e97fd his salary going 80275e4c81 to food after aa802e7377 savings, living expenses, b2613d913e and insurance.a2dcd64b60a08cdb

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Hyunmin, savoring the fresh 63b91736f8 appetizers and the main 09a70e7e05 dish that melted in 6847d89e14 his mouth, thought it 66b300d81e might be good for ec27707d7b his mental health to d05d086fdd dine at such a 6e7fc1c829 place once a month.8f779acb31cc8b79

“Glad you like it.” The low voice seemed to carry a hint of laughter.185b1f197f25bd20

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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.62ec381162049b37

Though his expression didn’t show it, the usual sharp aura felt oddly soft and gentle.89b6ef7a14a4c9b6

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“Um, team leader.”c37e7a3228b90417

“Yes.”74801c77593ee11b

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“May I ask why you haven’t said anything?”03f855e6bcc010bd

Hyunmin seized the relaxed 09881368cd atmosphere.9fe7b96c2e230320

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“I thought you’d ask about how I messed up your car… like, what happened?”babfc9dd7bb72db8

“You scratched it while leaving the parking lot, didn’t you?”3596367a9918b333

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“…Well, yes.”c1c47c691c3f34bb

The straightforward answer made dcdf196974 Hyunmin awkwardly smile while 4d93aa8e3e scratching his chin.88728870037327ea

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Then, amidst the chaos, 4b0659a959 he recalled the call 116a883c0f from a real estate c8840cadff agent that distracted him, f54d88a5e0 leading to the accident. Feeling a bit unjust, 606dbb7564 Hyunmin thought about how dba1284999 he never received another 86d35b37ca call after that.4462e22f8c34acf8

As Hyunmin mumbled, the e82c874110 low voice continued.40219accd4969e40

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“As long cb6c7e04a8 as you’re 0a9683a06c not hurt, 90c8d15b47 that’s all a972a828b1 that matters. I don’t 3169bf836c intend to c216f5e9fd claim damages, 1402adef99 so don’t cc3d5100f0 worry.”10c387e043931d41

In truth, Hyunmin usually 786655f82a chose neat and sophisticated 2a75d5637f places for meetings, thinking ac081ee4fe anything more was excessive.327334382d9bc8f6

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But now, f843defda5 he understood 4875b413d0 why such 9737f704b7 places were 42c237b629 considered the 0b7181b936 standard. The soft lighting, open ca9a88335a view, and gentle whispers 10bf0887f2 made the person across 04a05753ec seem enhanced.29d62188cfc8f6e8

In other words, 1b9d249914 the man who 40ed96032f seemed like a 9e4e9c8fd5 torture expert from e67441a2e7 hell suddenly appeared 05ca775e99 as a rather c36ae0914c attractive man with 57189b5789 cool eyes. Hyunmin tried to cd768e052b maintain a calm fe01242d7b expression, speaking as 86613db342 politely as possible.c31a037cad74ae3f

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“Well, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t worried about the money. But more than that…”42291d45e3699c3e

“……”206f3bf929b208f4

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“I thought you might have something to say to me since you kept driving it like that.”8fbe9baccfc64de9

How did he take 6b649413ed my words?be5b9c86f7615595

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Lee Hyun, now visibly 5b9946946c intrigued, tilted his head 587ee03ee8 leisurely. Only now did 4398559910 Hyunmin notice the e62befd5f3 naturally styled pomade 83a95d872a and the impeccably b0c7f3c19e neat attire, despite 46106f8ea9 sitting at a 21f5f7ae24 desk all day.f68c9cb96bf78ef4

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.4eeebaf5f0ed2396

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“Oh. My apologies for the order. I should have started by sincerely apologizing for the car.”ae1e77481c2e7599

“It’s fine.”153167d2714824a8

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“I should have arranged this meeting sooner. It was my first accident, and I was shocked and flustered.”ff3d1fccd1c60cc0

It was definitely the venue’s fault for feeling so overwhelmed.5c8db029961d71bc

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The usually a344cb6d3d reserved superior, 7de698d860 speaking kindly e886e1edf1 and wearing 907cac0de5 an unfamiliar 0591b7831a expression, might 8768ea4bda have influenced dfdc11e8b7 him a 6f49269bc8 bit.1210b366059ae4d0

Hyunmin knew very little f333e9cb31 about Lee Hyun. The second son of 7033049a44 former CEO Lee Jeongho. A third-generation bfede85688 member of 8e7525fa93 Shinwha Group. Team leader of 9804a5eb53 Development Team 1. And perhaps—a 03e508b555 Beta with 9016ffe499 an Omega aa5eecb2a6 lover.6605b00ef4fc4553

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The ‘perhaps’ was because, beeed2dad1 after hearing once that edd57f317a he had an Omega c36b4f1c9d lover, there had been e4d882a87f no signs or rumors d9826039b4 of him seeing anyone 20413feb8c for over a year. Besides, he was 41413e2325 always the last 4cc509be30 to leave work, 1306e55427 so the information efa84929b8 quickly faded away.27f598e3f3d915f7

But today, 292104e351 looking at 6218824377 him without bbcd4d1f93 personal feelings, c7e546228c Lee Hyun a6771764cf was quite a4621813c6 an impressive 3f5d76eeab Beta. Honestly, he 2ef0e420bc lacked nothing 3561ddd894 except pheromones. If anything, 27f153a207 he had c00186459d too much.e2fe84b9be199a8a

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For most c96c591030 Omegas, standing 49ab7e0ca1 beside a 9457c0a298 Beta who 90f39dbed8 was loyal fa6a34657d only to 53fccf20e2 them would 4967eb17b1 be more 9ad2b3cff3 satisfying than c046a8c505 being with d571149001 a mediocre 27c0b5161c Alpha.c9aec3c26b6b30b6

Besides, even b818667718 if he ab790c1fd4 felt out 3017d46adc of place, 77593a9619 he was 827e27693f still part 9cbb92aeb5 of Shinwha 9bf5ae9d3c Group.8b9aae830db6a71c

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But that’s that, and I can’t just let it go.44862a49fe657513

“Honestly, if a stranger told me not to worry about compensation, I’d just say ‘thank you.’ But we see each other every day.”bdf1ed484a29470e

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“So?”df999718754d5034

“I think I’d feel less indebted if I could pay half or something…”dfe42503233b5724

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“As I said, I have no intention of taking money from you.”bc02e8818ed2c077

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.ffc436107035c7d8

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“Then what if it’s not money?”c1736614eec7723d

Of course, he regained ca8715e42c his senses immediately after 0eddd1df98 saying that. Trying to sound 2b52b00b0a as natural as edcddff94d possible, Hyunmin continued.9e18fe271ec8bda3

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“-I mean, is there anything else I can help with? I can work late if needed…”4b8e81bc478dcc55

Lee Hyun chuckled softly.696aa93bafed1a35

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Twenty-eight. Having completed military service cf343e63c8 and studied abroad. Despite the cost, he ba9e4d40f6 had tried various things 3dcb8fe4b1 without rest and took 03b518f868 pride in being an b0353e93e3 Alpha who never felt 057cbd4ca4 inferior.f5baf6bd766820e7

But at this ee1946e065 moment, Hyunmin felt de50c3e2d4 oddly inexperienced.4da161b5a8aad6cd

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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.7eaebf15ec8da7a0

“It sounds like you’re offering to grant a wish.”8e4fda44d0ab7281

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“…Well, within my capabilities.”d9bf68beabade927

…There really is something about a voice.48324d8c2dd41787

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Realizing that the team leader was now fondly regarding his subordinate, Hyunmin timidly added, “Maybe on a smaller scale.”8ff174815626d2f1

“Then how many?”36aa42ef59b0acf1

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“T-ten?”2b7879173d3814e9

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?”937472ffc11ddec3

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He felt a 4dae12a308 rush of heat 427faa7fa4 to his ears a85019346d and neck.75ad6273201df140

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?435f2dc5a3dbd496

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After what felt f354c88939 like an eternity, ad34eabbb5 Lee Hyun spoke ab022c5836 in a straightforward 46944fd5de tone.8187c023dd0b0f2a

“Let’s make it three. Thank you.”116b543af0da2e38

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“N-no! I’m much, much more grateful and sorry!”e010ebfad8756285

Responding in 220d46c4d5 a flustered b0c1887a71 manner, the c9797932b1 man chuckled a69d934709 softly once 35e9c055b7 more.cc877567a56c27eb

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Oh my, he really did ‘laugh.’ That team leader.acb03b6c1bdc4d9c

Hyunmin thought that if he told anyone about today’s events, no one would believe him. Not that he intended to share, of course.c7cfc0b109ebff99

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Lee Hyun even a7a34b75f1 chose a dessert ca6ea6d376 for Hyunmin, who 2159cef0da had cleaned his d6628da51b plate.ee386eab1486d4c7

Thanks to that, the bf5d1d55fd big eater Hyunmin could 3ece4d0658 thoroughly enjoy a full-course a2ae08fedf meal. It had 0b49d5b20d been a fa2c543c8b while since 837e4b473d he had 20136256be such a e298835b4e well-prepared dinner.ee967c810a40990d

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Feeling content with a 3c5f791d50 full stomach, Hyunmin sighed f485ae122e softly.637030ed7d5cfea7

Only one step remained.1931591c465b13a5

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The moment of 3d5e5109e8 payment, which had 8726d9a312 been nagging at 239ee4f4bc him like a 2d097fbe75 thorn under his 3797e3230f nail while he 8a25ee2491 ate. Fiddling with 2ec9560250 his jacket d2b80c0be1 buttons, Hyunmin’s 551c007cd7 eyes darted a261f0ace0 around. But the restaurant, 157bc54a6c without prices on 8388dc8013 the menu, didn’t cf1d3231ec seem to bring 068fadcdf4 a bill either.62c4393c90f42c80

Was there a 9e3e85f9ac counter near the ba1f2e8804 entrance? He hadn’t 55bf21c04c noticed when 571f058804 they came d367ec1afc in, and 87ed63763d now he c993dfc994 couldn’t recall 54f39b7b79 seeing a 36da6d7f67 cashier.9b5945d4d066df54

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Perhaps it b449df39ee wasn’t a a74acb776f mistake, as fb1aa5d670 Lee Hyun, 775d413171 still seated, b9e09d34a7 took out dbfa5f2973 his wallet c855260311 from his beea67b6bf coat and d92d52dec8 quietly spoke c3d2bcdab0 to the c0101cdfc8 waiter who 40682affff approached without 9052f1477a a sound.f43fbf59d8c755dc

“Team leader!”0497e01496339a9c

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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.15bf66421cba5b5b

“Yes.”41e1282a6d373a3b

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“I-I’ll pay for the meal.”1b038fc171b1e40f

The waiter’s eyes momentarily d66e633a2c widened, surely not a 708e3ec5fa figment of his imagination.248d2baaf4342a88

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But it was 0070be1ab1 nothing compared to 2847fc92a4 Lee Hyun’s reaction. He froze e04f6e6b5f for a 8d7357ca9d few seconds, 5af287ebc9 card in b3fb6e7c4e hand, before 81fd9408ac letting out bba85cf53b a chuckle b692e49233 that was a6ca86f33c entirely different bb8cf4b9b0 from the 155d32738c smile he 58036f8933 had shown 88a918a400 earlier.4ea035dc01d3e662

Today was truly a 255b124f67 day of seeing unfamiliar 1c83bc445e sides of the team db81d112a5 leader.4945751863f2a188

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Hyunmin, who ac195a624f had never 942efbcf43 been told 7ab9dca278 he lacked a4d8b5034d awareness, even de306a1b35 reconsidered the f0cf41fee8 situation to bb560dbda5 see if 33f72247cc he had c0825d455c said something 6157eef5da wrong.8618b5142415c10d

But no matter 8af4b59831 how he thought 6adb0110d8 about it, this dba3cd6720 was fine. In fact, e47e90a54d since he e47727e935 was the b0fab7def5 one who 3fdc71dfaa caused the 9418f84c5f accident, it 013d786c1e was better f34b0f9d9e to confidently 8c6f41cf5c offer to 9d69046668 pay for a83c37349f the meal.c10d2a81e8fc4abe

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Though it d368ebda55 was a bfcda4dcff boast without 11c5d3c6b1 knowing the 3ab446cf48 price, would 7c27573903 he really 88d0db8556 go bankrupt 12d2bd973b over one bb22a1f622 meal?8ecac8d534de18ee