UR | Chapter 12

After spending such a night, Yujin was at a loss about how to face Jihoon at work.

But Jihoon kindly provided the answer.

“Assistant Manager Kim Yujin, please organize the meeting materials and send them to me by email.”

Jihoon treated Yujin as if nothing had happened.

“Understood.”

Every time she faced Jihoon’s unchanged demeanor, she felt an inexplicable sense of disappointment.

Yujin also tried not to dwell on that night, just as he had said.

However, every time she saw his face, her cheeks would unexpectedly flush, causing her to struggle internally.

Apart from that, she developed a habit of frequently checking her phone.

Jihoon had clearly said it would be for a year. He had emphasized that all she had to do was meet him whenever he wanted during that year.

Yet, after returning from Macau, there had been no personal contact from Jihoon.

Seeing Jihoon remain silent despite spending such a large sum of money made Yujin anxious.

She felt like she had suddenly become a debtor.

He had said she didn’t need to repay it, that he had simply paid the price.

But Yujin couldn’t help but wonder if he didn’t regret spending a billion won, and she let out a small laugh at her own thoughts.

She was amazed at what she was thinking.

Even when they went on business trips or worked outside the office alone, Jihoon treated Yujin no differently than before.

He wasn’t any more affectionate or colder than before.

Even when they were alone, he never mentioned what happened in Macau, treating her just like any other employee.

For Yujin, that unforgettable night, the night that kept her awake as she replayed it over and over, seemed to mean nothing to Jihoon.

“President, would you like some coffee?”

Even when their hands brushed slightly as she handed him coffee, Yujin’s face would heat up, but Jihoon would only offer a dry thank you.

The more he acted like that, the more Yujin’s heart dried up.

Six months passed like that. Yoosung had successfully enrolled, and Yujin received her first-half bonus, which covered the deficit caused by Yoosung’s tuition.

And looking at the balance showing a billion won, she made a decision.

‘I need to repay the money.’

She felt that only by doing so could she erase that night, just like Jihoon seemed to have done.

While Jihoon could easily find out an employee’s account number, Yujin couldn’t. She hovered around Jihoon, looking for an opportunity to ask for his account number.

Then, when she happened to be alone with him in the research lab, she mustered the courage to speak.

“President.”

But on that very day, Jihoon said something unexpected.

“Are you free this evening?”

Yujin couldn’t say the words she had prepared and just stared at him blankly.

Is this man watching me?

It was as if he could see right through her, finding her on the day she decided to cleanly settle everything.

There was a billion won in her account, so she could just repay it and refuse him. It wasn’t like they had made a legally binding agreement, so what did it matter if she ended this one-sidedly anxious relationship?

But the reason she couldn’t say anything was because of Jihoon’s eyes.

“……”

Even though they had worked together on experiments, she hadn’t noticed it before, but there was an indescribable darkness in his eyes.

Just like the moment they shared their bodies in Macau.

The vivid memory of Jihoon’s frowning face, as if denying something, froze Yujin in place.

“Let’s meet at my house after work. I’ll text you the address.”

With that, Jihoon left without waiting for Yujin’s response.

Staring blankly at the closed door, Yujin thought she should go to Jihoon’s house and talk to him.

But as soon as she arrived at Jihoon’s house, she had to accept Jihoon as he overwhelmed her, and she missed the chance to speak.

After that day, Jihoon, who hadn’t contacted her even once in six months, started seeking Yujin frequently. Each time, Yujin never refused and went to his house. And she embraced him passionately, as if there was no tomorrow.

Whenever she left Jihoon’s house, the thought of the billion won in her account lingered in her mind, but she never mentioned it to him.

She vaguely knew the reason why, but even knowing it, she didn’t want to admit it.

It was too humiliating.

“Assistant Manager Kim Yujin, drink this.”

During a brief break in the meeting room after dinner, Section Chief Hwang Wonjun placed a coffee in front of Yujin.

And before Yujin could even thank him, he said,

“It’s decaf, so don’t worry.”

After mentioning that she liked coffee but was sensitive to caffeine and had to be careful in the afternoon, Wonjun always made sure to get Yujin’s coffee separately.

As the other employees, who had gathered in the meeting room due to the busy workload and confirmed overtime, made various comments about Wonjun’s kindness.

“Section Chief Hwang, aren’t you being too obvious?”

“I also mentioned that I can’t sleep at night if I drink coffee, so why is my coffee just a mix?”

Wonjun laughed off the teasing remarks and sat right next to Yujin.

“Is there anyone here who works as well as Assistant Manager Kim Yujin? I only give special treatment to those who work well.”

With a friendly smile, Section Chief Hwang responded, but the employees chuckled as if they didn’t believe it. However, they held back from joking further, thinking it might make Yujin uncomfortable.

Still, everyone looked at Yujin and Hwang Wonjun with meaningful eyes.

Except for one person, Han Jihoon, who seemed completely uninterested in what people were saying and was reviewing the meeting materials in advance.

“Shall we start the meeting?”

As Jihoon spoke, confirming that dinner time was over, everyone straightened up.

Yujin also focused seriously on the screen set up in front.

After a non-stop two-hour meeting, everyone stretched as it ended.

“President, it’s late, but how about treating us to a beer? It’s Saturday tomorrow, so there’s no pressure.”

When one brave employee suggested it, everyone looked at Jihoon, curious about his reaction.

Even though Jihoon rarely showed emotions and kept his distance from employees, he occasionally appeared at drinking gatherings. Although having the president at a company dinner wasn’t particularly enjoyable, employees often suggested it to Jihoon because he showed a slightly more relaxed side when drinking.

Yujin had only heard rumors, but shortly after the company was founded, an employee had once drunkenly expressed intense dissatisfaction with the company. Despite others trying to stop him, the employee didn’t hesitate to use strong language and was terrified when he came to work the next day.

Having cursed in front of the president with words not even used with close friends, he worried about his future livelihood.

As expected, when Jihoon called the employee to the president’s office the next morning, everyone anticipated something would happen and was scared.

But then, a twist occurred.

“I thought about what you said last night. I agree that there’s a need to revise the overtime pay and meal allowance. I’d like to discuss what was said yesterday.”

Everyone was quite surprised to see the arrogant Han Jihoon listening without prejudice. And after that day, many people began to view Han Jihoon positively.

Perhaps that’s why, even if not frequently, there were employees who would suddenly suggest going for drinks with him.

But as it was already past 9 PM, just when they thought it might not be appropriate today, Jihoon gave an unexpected answer.

“Sure. Where would be a good place?”

Despite the late hour, the employees seemed quite pleased with the sudden dinner plan.

“How about the chicken place nearby? I’ll call them right away.”

“Let’s do that.”

Yujin checked the time again.

Today was the day her dad was supposed to come home for the first time in a while. She had planned to have dinner with Yoosung and her dad, but due to the sudden overtime, she couldn’t keep the promise.

Even so, if she went home now, she could at least have a brief conversation with her dad.

Austin was originally a place that didn’t force attendance at company dinners, so Yujin was about to express her intention not to attend.

“I’d like everyone to attend without exception today.”

Jihoon, who had unilaterally made the decision, left the meeting room first.

With the president saying that, it became a situation where one couldn’t skip the dinner unless they were out of their mind.

“Sigh…”

Not wanting to cause trouble, Yujin had no choice but to call Yoosung.

The reason Yujin ended up sitting next to Jihoon was because she was the last to enter the chicken place. She had only stopped by the restroom, but the employees, uncomfortable with sitting right next to the president, had deliberately left the seat next to Jihoon empty.

The small neighborhood chicken place, favored by employees for its proximity to the company, had tables so small that they had to sit close enough for their arms to touch.

Yujin tried to shrink her shoulders as much as possible.

“Assistant Manager Kim Yujin, aren’t you overworking yourself with the tests lately? You look even smaller outside the company.”

When an employee commented, Yujin shook her head.

“No, it’s probably because of the lighting here.”

While there were downsides to having 90% of the research lab staff being male, there were also clear advantages.

Even without Yujin asking, the male employees would move heavy equipment for her and subtly showed consideration.

She couldn’t say she was struggling in front of such people.

Yet, the employees looked at Yujin intently, concerned for her.

“You were the first to arrive at work today too. What time do you even wake up?”

Feeling burdened by the attention focused on her, Yujin awkwardly drank her beer.

But she couldn’t even take a full sip before she was startled and set the glass down.

Someone had reached under the table and grasped her left hand.