Rubbing her eyes, DaJeong unlocked her phone. The screen, which had been completely blank before she fell asleep, was now filled with various messages and alarms.
DaJeong first checked the message from CheolJung.
“Busy these days? Contact me when you see this.”
“……”
DaJeong’s expression hardened as she read the short line of text. Was it because of her shoulder pain again? Or had a problem arisen because of redevelopment?
The worry had taken the lead and my thoughts kept drifting in a negative direction. Da Jeong immediately sat in her spot and called Cheol Joong.
At the end of the long dial tone, a welcome voice reached her ears.
“Ah, Da Jeong.”
“Dad, is something going on at the orphanage?”
“Kid, what’s this about something happening as soon as you call?”
“Huh? Oh, that is……”
The crisis of the orphanage being evacuated was a secret known only to the director, my dad, and a few teachers.
I played the part of not knowing, but in my haste, I unwittingly let out my true feelings. Da Jeong quickly found a natural excuse.
“Lately, there’s a lot of work because we lack teachers. Your shoulder isn’t doing well either, dad.”
“Don’t worry. I can handle it alone.”
“You say you’re sufficient. Have you forgotten that you’re old enough to be called a grandpa now?”
“Well, that’s true.”
A light laugh as if agreeing came over the phone.
Even after that, Da Jeong threw in a few casual inquiries mixed with jokes. Each time, Cheol Joong lightly answered with a chuckle, but for some reason, the gaps in his words gradually grew longer.
Eventually, he continued in a deep, settled voice.
“Da Jeong.”
“Yes……”
“You’ve been keeping in touch with the exwards, right?”
“Huh? ……Yes. I thought it would be nice to see their faces after a long time.”
“You don’t have to lie. You’ve heard about the orphanage being dismantled, right?”
“…….”
Even though it was supposed to be a secret and I strongly advised to keep it that way, who did you hear it from? Da Jeong, picturing the faces of her friends in her mind, inwardly hurled words of resentment.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t say anything because I thought you’d worry.”
“I should be the one apologizing. I knew you would do this and yet I stayed silent. I’m sorry.”
“Dad…….”
“You don’t need to worry about the orphanage anymore. That’s why I told you to call. A while ago…….”
“Dad! How can I not worry? Everyone’s on the verge of ending up on the streets. There’s a welfare foundation saying they’ll contact us soon, and we’ve also set up an online fundraising café, so if you wait a bit…….”
“Oh dear, what’s with you today? You’re so rushed.”
“Huh?”
“A while ago, the city decided to buy our land. So you don’t have to worry anymore.”
“Really? Oh, how did that happen?”
“The welfare department stepped in when the landlord didn’t change his mind till the end. Luckily, they gave up their rights at a reasonable price.”
“Ah…… what a relief. I’ve been so worried…….”
Da Jeong stroked her chest with her palm and let out a long sigh.
The past few days had been tough, unable to swallow even a sip of water due to worries about the director, my dad, and the orphanage. There were no places offering help and it felt hopeless, there wasn’t any good news like this.
“That’s right. So you don’t have to worry anymore.”
“I understand…….”
“Then, believe that and let your mind rest. Understand? Dad’s hanging up.”
“Yes, I will. But, Dad!”
“Hmm, what?”
“Are you sure your shoulder is really okay?”
“Ah…”
Starting with a long sigh, he nagged for a while. Despite hearing it every time, Da Jeong didn’t seem tired of it, laughing weakly and providing witty replies.
Da Jeong ended the call saying she would go down soon.
‘I should order something delicious today.’
With the heavy weight on her chest gone, her appetite returned. Da Jeong got up briskly from the bed, humming a tune. She was so excited that she opened the delivery app, but her phone vibrated in her hand.
The source of the brief vibration was a new email from work. She opened her mailbox without a second thought, but the words that filled the screen seemed unusual.
Shortly after, a look of horror crossed Da Jeong’s face.
“Di, disciplinary committee? Are these people insane?”
The content of the email was that a complaint had been lodged due to her unprofessional work attitude, and she was required to attend a disciplinary committee meeting.
The date of the incident, flight name, and the issues raised were all detailed. A report with further information was attached, but there was no need to open it.
It was obvious who lodged the complaint without even looking at it.
“Sigh.”
A sigh of astonishment popped out and she was so aggrieved that her hands were shaking. The man who lodged the baseless complaint, and the company that was setting up a disciplinary committee for such a ridiculous reason, were all utterly absurd.
In reality, the disciplinary committee was just a formality. A mere facade to give ‘the accused’ a chance to defend themselves.
And once that short time ended, all kinds of disadvantages followed. Personnel evaluations would drop, pay cuts, or even demotions. None of these punishments could be easily overlooked.
Da Jeong suppressed her rising anger and picked up her phone. The disciplinary committee was at noon the day after tomorrow. Time was tight if she wanted to ask for help.
Da Jeong strained her eyes and flipped through her contact list.
In front of a large window where the dark night sky was reflected.
Chairman Cha was gazing out with a thoughtful look.
The tea on the reception table was still hot, and the atmosphere in the room was infinitely relaxed.
Secretary Kim stared at the rising steam. Each time the white air swirled, her anxious heart seemed to melt a little.
“I called you very late.”
Chairman Cha suddenly spoke. He was still looking outside.
“No, sir.”
The stiff voice echoed sharply in the spacious office. Chairman Cha moved towards the sofa with a light laugh. A bright smile was plastered on his face.
Secretary Kim’s heart was complicated by the unusually friendly smile she saw.
The reason he would call her separately was usually one of two things.
Either it was about Tae Sang’s engagement or about Tae Sang’s marriage.
lu lu lo la ▪️ net (lululola.net)
Male lead is a Love-Obsessed Merman
When he discovers she has gone, he risks everything to pursue her on land, enduring agonizing pain to transform his tail into human legs…
One-line summary: Male lead chases female lead. The male lead’s love is a bit sick, an invincible love brain.
Synopsis
During a voyage at sea, Jiang Yang accidentally captures a merman.
Servant: I heard that mermen are fierce and brutal.
Jiang Yang looks at the merman obediently rubbing her palm like a puppy: “You call this fierce and brutal?”
Servant: I heard that mermen have no human nature.
Jiang Yang looks at the merman with wet puppy eyes, obsessively calling her ‘A Yang’ like a childish infant: “You call this having no human nature?”
With great difficulty, she releases the merman back into the sea and returns to shore.
Who would have thought that in less than half a month, the merman, who should have been freely wandering in the South China Sea, would shed his scales, endure the pain of losing his tail, transform into human legs, and come ashore to find her?
He kneels at her feet, rubbing her palm, with merman tears rolling down: “A Yang, don’t abandon me.”
_____
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