“Team Leader, if you’re too busy because of a business trip, we can do it another time…”
“It’ll only take a moment. I have some work to do, but I’ll get to it in a bit.”
“Oh, then I’ll help you.”
“Rest well today. Don’t let your guard down; if an illness surfaces, it won’t be good.”
Suddenly, Jaein felt the warm and gentle side of Dohyuk, which had been unfamiliar until now.
‘Then, just for a while…?’
As Jaein was about to pretend to sit back down, the familiar ringtone echoed from her phone.
Looking at the caller ID, Jaein spoke with a bewildered expression.
“Team Leader, I need to check on this.”
“Who is it?”
Instead of answering, Jaein just nodded her head and hurriedly entered her room.
Dohyuk, who was staring at her in embarrassment, couldn’t shake off the ominous feeling.
A little while ago, Jaein’s demeanor, as if she were hiding something, deeply troubled him.
‘Could it be… Namwoo?’
Returning to her room, Jaein caught her breath before happily answering the phone.
“Director, hello!”
The person calling was Kim Seonghee, the director of Star Love Orphanage, where Jaein stayed until she was adopted.
A gentle voice flowed from the receiver.
“Jaein, how have you been? I hope I’m not interrupting your break.”
“It’s okay. Director, are you doing well? And how are the kids?”
“We’re all doing well. The kids are going crazy saying they miss you.”
“Oh, really? I miss them too.”
Even after being adopted, Jaein continued to volunteer at the orphanage with her adoptive parents.
Starting from middle school, she took care of the children, helped them with their studies, and built strong bonds.
“Your parents sent cakes and bread for this Christmas Eve. I don’t know how grateful I am for their constant thoughtfulness.”
“Really? The kids will love it!”
A vision of happy children flashed before Jaein’s eyes, who was now a kind-hearted person.
At that moment, Director Kim cautiously broached the subject.
“Jaein, by any chance, can you come this Christmas as well? The kids are asking, and it’s become a tradition.”
“Ah…!”
Come to think of it, Christmas was just around the corner.
Although Jaein couldn’t visit the orphanage frequently since coming to Seoul, she never forgot to go down and participate in events, spending a night with the children on Christmas Eve.
But this time, the words to willingly go down didn’t come out easily.
Suddenly, she thought of someone.
‘What if Team Leader suggests being together?’
Until now, when friends talked excitedly about spending Christmas with their partners, Jaein didn’t have any particular thoughts.
However, a pink expectation was growing in her heart all of a sudden.
But with only a few days left until Christmas, Dohyuk still hadn’t said anything.
Maybe he’s preparing an event?
But they’re not even officially dating yet.
Perhaps Team Leader isn’t thinking about anything, and she’s just being overly anxious.
Lost in her thoughts, Jaein momentarily forgot to respond. In the meantime, Director Kim spoke again with a surprised tone.
“Oh, sorry. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable… Jaein, you also have a personal life, and I asked something unnecessary. Have a good Christmas, and drop by some other time. The kids are waiting.”
Those words brought Jaein back to her senses.
Subsequently, she remembered the happy moments of running out and hugging the children waiting outside whenever she came to visit.
Also, the disappointed faces of the kids when she said she couldn’t come.
“No, Director. I can go!”
“Really? The kids will be so happy! Thank you, Jaein.”
“No problem. I’m going to see the kids because I miss them.”
“Alright then, see you at that time. I’ll be waiting.”
“Yes, see you then.”
After ending the call, Jaein let out a deep sigh.
The decision to visit the kids was the right one, no matter how many times she thought about it.
However, thinking about Dohyuk made her heart heavy.
What if Dohyuk suggests spending Christmas together later on? What should she say?
She didn’t feel embarrassed or want to hide the fact that she grew up in an orphanage.
It’s just that she couldn’t figure out how much of her life she should reveal.
“Alright, let’s end today’s meeting here. Please convey the discussed matters to the team members.”
With these words from the manager, the team leader-level meeting came to an end.
Already fatigued on this dreary Monday morning, everyone was in a state of exhaustion after a meeting that lasted for more than two hours without a break.
Among them, there was only one person who remained lively, and that was Workaholic Cha Dohyuk.
Approaching Dohyuk as he exited the meeting room, Minwoo greeted him amiably.
“Team Leader Cha, your stamina is impressive. I feel drained.”
“Not really.”
Dohyuk still had a lingering uncomfortable feeling from yesterday, so he increased his guard against Minwoo.
‘The person who called Jaein yesterday, was it Namwoo? He seems like that type… He kept calling late into the weekend under the pretext of being close senior and junior. I didn’t like it.’
“Christmas is coming soon. Time flies. Team Leader Cha, do you have any special plans?”
“Ah, well…”
Dohyuk couldn’t continue his words.
He still had memories of being dragged to year-end parties at other companies by his grandfather on Christmas because he had to.
But this time, it would be different for sure.
Because he would be with Jaein.
At that moment, Kim Jung-ho, the marketing team leader, interjected.
“Team Leader Cha, no matter how much you love your work, you’re not working on Christmas, right?”
“No.”
There were rumors that Dohyuk had fallen for both work and love. When an unexpected response came from Dohyuk, Team Leader Kim flashed a mischievous look and asked again.
“Oh, maybe a date?”
A Christmas date with Jaein.
Dohyuk forced down the rising corners of his mouth and vaguely replied, “Well, something like that.”
“Oh, is that so? What about you, Team Leader Na?”
“Of course, I also have a date to attend to.”
Minwoo, perhaps feeling embarrassed, raised his glasses and laughed stylishly.
‘A date? There’s no way he’s thinking of Jaein, right?’
Dohyuk frowned as he looked at Minwoo.
Turns Out He’s Been Secretly in Love with Me
One-line summary: He acts like he doesn’t like her but is actually playing hard to get.
Synopsis:
Xu Muzhou like her. He has liked her for a very long time, and through repeated schemes, he finally closed the distance with her.
But this is still far from enough.
He wants to be the one who stands out among her many suitors, to fight for her attention, and to make her take the initiative to pursue him.
_____
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