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.2e9752d9f9756b80

Hyunmin glanced sideways at 549778e42e the team leader holding 931b097702 the steering wheel. His face 6f2ef9f8d7 was as 0d3ac212f6 cool as 550f8fb54d ever, too c595368f65 much so 185ac1b888 for a 152ea850bf post-work dinner bf91ca1d1e and drinks 9e4a1d2cac with a 5a55e41861 subordinate.0c9c2f76bba776bc

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And what about the 370d2dadb9 restaurant they arrived at?5b0ffb80bf7fd83a

Standing at the entrance, 3bf39a8a8e instinctively checking his attire da99590efa from top to bottom, e926782280 Hyunmin felt a tingling 9b3313c540 sensation at the back 34817ba298 of his neck. Though he grew 033f32f203 up in a affee27255 well-off family, it 17a4651577 was his first a5a3cd2114 time visiting such 3afac5360b a place with 5563225be2 someone other than b4fc2521f5 family.dbcd61a51cff4b93

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Avoiding the 0f3b019616 elegant gazes 7fa12abc4c of the 263fe7c522 people, Hyunmin 737693f95d stuck close 835f738845 to his 16069456d6 team leader af22d4c3ba as they 2248117bf0 walked. It was a relief 4aae50b767 to be seated at f16fbe7d3b a quiet window on f905a6a292 the second floor, away 10a53024f3 from the crowd. Eating in cf77ade782 such a fbdfb60aee tense environment 9c5728795f would surely 6831022cce give him e466362a17 indigestion.1c6d83017b5470c4

“I was thinking of ordering a meat-focused course. How about it?”fddef0de87a96763

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“Yes, I’m fine with anything. Please go ahead.”31a8f786ce6578af

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.0a786e661d04b790

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The place 4d81d9b324 was indeed f222afb06c one where 1c254001a9 his tense 6e3a23d96a shoulders naturally 7a00e6ca5b relaxed.1062fecbe268899c

The soft e84c47d863 orange lights 4189be4532 shimmered against 17474d56de the glass 7de2eaa86b decorations on 4beecba5f3 the table, 3c4e599c86 and the c517dee829 open view 2c1f920ca9 of the fb3ce197fb garden was f06ced2645 uplifting.6b29eef5904528b1

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The distant, muffled b941e6af2d sounds of people 31ca470b05 enjoying themselves and df92e5d492 the clear sound 1268739c1d of wine glasses f132a1ffb8 clinking added to b1df13bfbb the ambiance.fcc7aa71debb6c33

It was a place f701a3d736 worthy of applause, except 0fd403b135 for one flaw.7456c6b73a3bb306

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‘How could he bring a subordinate who crashed his car to a place like this?’b9db4ea8cd0eb97f

Hyunmin hid his 7648ea56a2 smile, pretending to 008beb7339 touch his chin. For Hyunmin, such e187c78ad6 a place required 3ce400d7d5 mental preparation even c728a97231 for a date. In fact, it 054022359f seemed more suited aa4e2d3c74 for a proposal 6c76b2bf9c than a date.372361ec5bb317d3

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Whether Lee 87f139d599 Hyun knew 7e55c6b143 Hyunmin’s thoughts 3d43365ab0 or not, 2cf4b8d4b0 his face 612f3ddb8a was no bfc003eb0d different from f708994fa5 when they ea6d044da9 went to 7d8c6e4955 the usual 710f05060e barbecue place 844d03af7a near the 1ae0a72705 office.3a530cfa8ba9c97e

In less than ten 9a5d998001 minutes, Hyunmin decided to 66a5e034df fully enjoy this fancy f9eacb40bc place, thinking that such 98017410af places might be just eb4506deb9 regular dining spots for 85dadb2950 someone like his team 759ea2c27b leader.286bec4a585dcb10

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In fact, Hyunmin’s guess was quite accurate.4a95bca822fb7baf

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.4b29c422456f970b

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Praising the elegant lighting 5dde88917e and joking about the 3718b50d31 menu without prices, the df4d16a8af usually stern-faced man at 5a1932f3e8 work responded quite leisurely. Lee Hyun was fundamentally 82d5172880 far from being authoritarian 8e7e46ad9f or arrogant.b5887fa251baa5c5

…Just a bit naturally intimidating and extremely stoic.130a7b86414815b2

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“Does it suit your taste?”24f1f621e0fe29e7

“Yes, absolutely!”f9f9272854a7c13b

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Indeed, it was 160562f120 truly delicious.fd8b7072c2026733

So much 52a29c16fe so that c493b225e6 Hyunmin momentarily 66095b368d forgot the c33348fedc person sitting 28fa1d496f across was 69f987ab61 his superior.cdc9eb2e5b82cb7b

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Hyunmin, who loved eating bce6287a8c more than anything, was 6983195103 so engrossed in the 74b6154320 food.cbfd3ed2bcc7aa87

He had a aad0a30abd high Engel coefficient, 0193979301 with most of 1f6b9351f8 his salary going deae6541e3 to food after 843ddef63c savings, living expenses, de79e8d6f8 and insurance.26275c626995f349

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Hyunmin, savoring 287433a3fc the fresh 4e7e85c3cc appetizers and aa21c283b9 the main 2540c09dcf dish that 77a88c365f melted in b5dd59f3de his mouth, 53b289ee2f thought it 68c990053f might be 4cdf75d172 good for 8fa7fb3939 his mental dcb1878781 health to cf69910113 dine at 08dc62e5d0 such a aebc991da6 place once 42f4fddd9c a month.c4dd2a1591446224

“Glad you like it.” The low voice seemed to carry a hint of laughter.3166efb492ade2bd

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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.906d99394d8ccc5b

Though his expression didn’t show it, the usual sharp aura felt oddly soft and gentle.260433096a751919

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“Um, team leader.”ca82655ec64c1953

“Yes.”507748c6b5de055a

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“May I ask why you haven’t said anything?”d94f8634700466cd

Hyunmin seized b8ea7784dc the relaxed 57c9dbd781 atmosphere.e2e62bcc3d46a2ea

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“I thought you’d ask about how I messed up your car… like, what happened?”c0e013e5ade4b0bf

“You scratched it while leaving the parking lot, didn’t you?”f9c595fbaae5897d

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“…Well, yes.”8fc4a2095c24c17d

The straightforward answer made f2da5e3580 Hyunmin awkwardly smile while dbd923d892 scratching his chin.b88cdea596be8d6a

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Then, amidst the chaos, 4c25d0f260 he recalled the call 461c82a365 from a real estate 57a2392e11 agent that distracted him, d7aefb4b74 leading to the accident. Feeling a 5bd449fc83 bit unjust, f974f9d5e0 Hyunmin thought 161a00b13c about how 701174f5cb he never 2fb0b95bd3 received another a4860bbcae call after 1f8e09430e that.2888ac5869a559c8

As Hyunmin mumbled, ef17fc64e0 the low voice 16d3063826 continued.eb28ac3c571e5659

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“As long as 0cdb5d130d you’re not hurt, c96be06744 that’s all that d433a687ed matters. I don’t intend a32f429260 to claim damages, 762dad9568 so don’t worry.”74d652a826ff0d1d

In truth, 1cca129e53 Hyunmin usually 661b8c80fe chose neat fd9a932fd5 and sophisticated 5a23a67240 places for 3d665caddf meetings, thinking 35382e38ae anything more c94cf9ece7 was excessive.908dcef733d6a673

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But now, he 2e6c7259a8 understood why such 6499d4f62f places were considered 371e32334b the standard. The soft lighting, open caeb02f055 view, and gentle whispers 4bb731c70f made the person across 07ede37b4e seem enhanced.7256136835bb3590

In other words, the 13e7621090 man who seemed like e3e01e028f a torture expert from 01900ab067 hell suddenly appeared as e4f236cfd6 a rather attractive man a33dbc8baf with cool eyes. Hyunmin tried to maintain 690e7a6a0e a calm expression, speaking a9c3cc3473 as politely as possible.67a755c1fbb70408

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“Well, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t worried about the money. But more than that…”a06117d248bb68d0

“……”2708bfb1455ec3c6

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“I thought you might have something to say to me since you kept driving it like that.”256dfb92daa41e55

How did 9c9a1acfec he take d4bda6a395 my words?d9402d21a87fd152

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Lee Hyun, now visibly 1729c7178d intrigued, tilted his head feaab94c4e leisurely. Only now did Hyunmin d0093885d2 notice the naturally styled 535fd2e427 pomade and the impeccably 8394b007ff neat attire, despite sitting be9b5d3843 at a desk all 62773f38bf day.d756414c934a96ec

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.7e44b0c2f2f32a0b

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“Oh. My apologies for the order. I should have started by sincerely apologizing for the car.”7a9deae327d02596

“It’s fine.”4fbee5579130aed3

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“I should have arranged this meeting sooner. It was my first accident, and I was shocked and flustered.”4b37a5d028b37169

It was definitely the venue’s fault for feeling so overwhelmed.0899d71e736f17c1

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The usually 7fb52ee1da reserved superior, 0d37e8bb76 speaking kindly f00f74ef60 and wearing 215eb08d85 an unfamiliar 3595d0ed14 expression, might 83f25d0591 have influenced 559a1dd4c5 him a 30fd347b89 bit.c250d059f7c690c6

Hyunmin knew 7f05d0bc71 very little af5014ff3f about Lee bcd0951f21 Hyun. The second 0ccf4c01e4 son of f5e0639dd5 former CEO ca1e7e230c Lee Jeongho. A third-generation ef6205de97 member of 67d37a1705 Shinwha Group. Team leader fb478fb301 of Development d52ebe6d3a Team 1. And perhaps—a Beta 617da0b493 with an Omega 12e373b92e lover.0185a78cb6c316bc

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The ‘perhaps’ was 0586915e68 because, after hearing 74545332a7 once that he 83fdf204f3 had an Omega 37d34a47fe lover, there had bdf3576503 been no signs 7868599c52 or rumors of 24be37ecb2 him seeing anyone a69a62473f for over a aa7fe11068 year. Besides, he was always 30e93f405c the last to leave d1694e85d5 work, so the information 80b1c5a3ce quickly faded away.974d1104f93e3751

But today, 42686b6465 looking at 0c7b8d8212 him without 0423145c10 personal feelings, 8913e1a010 Lee Hyun d36959ac2c was quite 3af85b7d44 an impressive e74af6bf78 Beta. Honestly, he lacked 88f7a43d14 nothing except pheromones. If anything, 8cffcb9ccb he had 607e8fa15c too much.37c5ea19ef8d4c39

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For most 1ba7912d38 Omegas, standing 73ce2999c1 beside a 3da80e7a24 Beta who 608984ca1c was loyal 071b428453 only to 18943801ea them would fb174ea1f5 be more e38d32b785 satisfying than 88236e1848 being with d7218b9b26 a mediocre a279368b0e Alpha.f740d1d2bb020cf8

Besides, even c6c8880e96 if he 60471fd13a felt out 725d6e9e36 of place, f2242fb494 he was 98eb2b1060 still part 04e6be7ff9 of Shinwha 144990e285 Group.e19525a70e88752b

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But that’s that, and I can’t just let it go.3ae765d71cd251dd

“Honestly, if a stranger told me not to worry about compensation, I’d just say ‘thank you.’ But we see each other every day.”0373bde89919983f

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“So?”ea805d9f03e959fe

“I think I’d feel less indebted if I could pay half or something…”8f96b8a8f05d12bd

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“As I said, I have no intention of taking money from you.”48e2f77c2dc7f973

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.939cca2852fb153a

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“Then what if it’s not money?”64c90036dc36f081

Of course, a9843a2738 he regained a860431885 his senses 9b0a917371 immediately after e47bbad460 saying that. Trying to sound as 33e6fe0528 natural as possible, Hyunmin 2765e7a4de continued.8b16d9d4eadda3b8

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“-I mean, is there anything else I can help with? I can work late if needed…”33ee0fc8d92a149d

Lee Hyun f061929dfd chuckled softly.e245af9e45b3aa27

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Twenty-eight. Having completed military 04f9a79bdb service and studied 2943235033 abroad. Despite the cost, he 688472aec0 had tried various things e5a0dc01ba without rest and took dbec7f7577 pride in being an a7a83ac819 Alpha who never felt 0792af4d29 inferior.41ceffc967758e86

But at this 5119d11059 moment, Hyunmin felt e8f99163a3 oddly inexperienced.f4293411a3dad060

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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.0ef1ed8f4d105e6c

“It sounds like you’re offering to grant a wish.”58d99c4dc61ce582

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“…Well, within my capabilities.”a5ce901e680e965c

…There really is something about a voice.92559fc6f0590d35

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Realizing that the team leader was now fondly regarding his subordinate, Hyunmin timidly added, “Maybe on a smaller scale.”f125463f1262ff9d

“Then how many?”f10aea279f774f81

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“T-ten?”b824113025f3bfe1

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?”d2f926987c8c8133

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He felt a 939c1a194b rush of heat 4bc1945322 to his ears 709427d288 and neck.b14ffc1c0e7716e0

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?3f0a1d4af8d9f73b

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After what felt like c4ee31cf97 an eternity, Lee Hyun 8f008b54bd spoke in a straightforward 98857dc9a5 tone.0875597353f91083

“Let’s make it three. Thank you.”36431485f80bf4fd

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“N-no! I’m much, much more grateful and sorry!”f23cdf7583b987d0

Responding in a flustered 56ba1307b9 manner, the man chuckled 9f8ff4ad21 softly once more.5c197ec172839411

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Oh my, he really did ‘laugh.’ That team leader.63d7f679c6a1712a

Hyunmin thought that if he told anyone about today’s events, no one would believe him. Not that he intended to share, of course.6e4c303408167f43

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Lee Hyun even chose cb333f9e83 a dessert for Hyunmin, 73c61f5be8 who had cleaned his 9a294b9817 plate.04793dcee8c178b5

Thanks to 6b6b98fab7 that, the d4ea4c19f6 big eater ab00932b0e Hyunmin could 0e870c6a99 thoroughly enjoy 6e9ca2675c a full-course 7f21873364 meal. It had been 5d7c21868b a while since 6f30985685 he had such ff648aa770 a well-prepared dinner.3e10957203ed4d27

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Feeling content with 294cfb2d3d a full stomach, 21d151ce72 Hyunmin sighed softly.3b55721e1aac79e7

Only one step remained.eed4c35d419378fd

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The moment 89831988c9 of payment, 57d6efb4c5 which had 3630afc9f2 been nagging 657d91182d at him 63daa42ee7 like a 6df791ec82 thorn under 3deebc47db his nail 924f148d1b while he ad093fad28 ate. Fiddling with his 900f781d59 jacket buttons, Hyunmin’s 1b2f87aacc eyes darted around. But the restaurant, without 5f05d3f1d5 prices on the menu, 65096db107 didn’t seem to bring 43c20bf391 a bill either.451b5ad0aab0eb44

Was there 91aa0ff0a7 a counter 41ba163f04 near the 88b0cdb99f entrance? He hadn’t noticed when b114e6d823 they came in, and 5b3737c386 now he couldn’t recall fd6e02019b seeing a cashier.c3712d949d117116

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Perhaps it wasn’t 0aab9d161e a mistake, as 14fbbc0de4 Lee Hyun, still 3ec974ce8c seated, took out 5a8793825f his wallet from bb659acaf6 his coat and 31c1632987 quietly spoke to 02bbbc9003 the waiter who f5d4a442b4 approached without a 3f03bb7a04 sound.96c6dfe2aa488d89

“Team leader!”4d5121e659785339

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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.0b18569b84b4313e

“Yes.”8abd80c7db33b4f4

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“I-I’ll pay for the meal.”0e30e523024a56a1

The waiter’s eyes momentarily a4c7658521 widened, surely not a 7f19da7ebb figment of his imagination.bf6027d4cd474737

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But it was nothing f2237f8788 compared to Lee Hyun’s a8b7666ba2 reaction. He froze 9c3654d681 for a 0184bfc836 few seconds, c6eae08645 card in a358cb064f hand, before a71c5b3c61 letting out 9b9b5d148a a chuckle 210a9f5dc3 that was 09675d8948 entirely different 5d87573690 from the f89c3a8615 smile he a6107a2df1 had shown 55e4d8cb1c earlier.b67096cbfc8514d8

Today was truly 1421027f98 a day of fc5e90aa6a seeing unfamiliar sides 4a784557ae of the team e823b71285 leader.712e683959c223a8

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Hyunmin, who had 2499b40779 never been told 773d095c15 he lacked awareness, 9bdfa1d630 even reconsidered the ea1a6b6d59 situation to see 1011bb88cf if he had 32b4da21b2 said something wrong.40d8c8ab1d2fc4ce

But no matter how 11931af289 he thought about it, 37ee51fc43 this was fine. In fact, since 3ff23f4a4a he was the 961b6c924b one who caused ba05952e63 the accident, it 19a4de0f33 was better to 945733b10b confidently offer to 49cd2ddf72 pay for the 2d21b3c3e6 meal.97a41515443804e1

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Though it e8d0d6e637 was a 945a7deb02 boast without f28c5f8dd7 knowing the 04b5e839fd price, would dea3edb978 he really 49ccb270fc go bankrupt ab693e63fd over one 016fde4904 meal?7a98a12379eb965e