Right, what do I have to warrant a welcome party? Sigh.
“This Friday, I can handle the client meeting alone.”
The Friday meeting was quite far away.
“Are you okay driving alone?”
Perhaps sensing her concern, Tae-hong chuckled.
“Who’s worried about whom?”
With that, he turned his body slightly towards Haegin while keeping his phone in hand. His gaze felt intense even while driving.
“It’s a long drive, and hard to get a cab.”
I worry for nothing, only to be pricked by sharp words.
“Who said I’m calling a cab?”
“Then what do you mean?”
“Haegin, you drive there for the welcome party, then come pick me up.”
Look at this, team leader. A company dinner without alcohol? How can you have a flower without blooming?
“Team leader, better to say no to such dinners.”
“Why? It’s Haegin’s welcome party.”
“How is me picking you up later a welcome party for me?”
Haegin wanted to argue but remained silent. Whatever she said, it seemed futile.
“It’s a joke.”
Some joke. Haegin glared at Tae-hong with laser intensity.
“Enjoy yourself. I’ll handle the schedule.”
“So, I don’t need to pick you up?”
“I’m not that narrow-minded.”
Right, a prince should have that much generosity. Relieved by his commitment to his words, Haegin relaxed.
Time flew inexorably. A routine naturally formed. Mornings with Tae-hong, lunchtime began Haegin’s gourmet tour.
Tae-hong was someone who didn’t discriminate against food and seemed to subtly enjoy these tours, judging by how he would casually ask about the next place.
At work, Haegin got along well with her team members. Since there were no projects yet to collaborate on, there were relatively fewer conflicts.
On the day of the welcome party, Tae-hong had left early due to a schedule, and Haegin was coordinating other plans until the rest of the team members finished.
“Deputy Jeong, let’s go,” Byungsoo approached her first. Over his shoulder, she could see other team members tidying up their desks.
“We’ve booked a place, so let’s go together,” he suggested.
Haegin quickly wrapped up her work and followed Byungsoo. The strategic planning team, having reserved a nearby location, couldn’t hide their anticipation, as it had been a long time since their last company dinner.
“Do you not have company dinners often?”
“Dinners? What’s that?”
Byungsoo shrugged. Other team members also chimed in, saying it had been too long since the last one.
“It’s because Deputy Jeong joined us. We don’t usually have them.”
“Really? I thought the strategic planning team, with its yearly achievements, would do it often.”
“You’ve looked into our team’s performance?”
Byungsoo’s gold-rimmed glasses twinkled.
“I thought maybe I could help the team leader a little.”
“People say you’re not just any parachute.”
Byungsoo looked at Haegin as if trying to gauge her, then tried to mask his expression with a smile.
“Come on, a parachute is still a parachute. What are you talking about?”
Haegin, embarrassed, tried to laugh it off.
“A parachute needs a lot of fuel to soar high. You know that, right?”
Yeongjeong’s icy voice doused the mood. The surrounding noise quietened, and even Haegin clamped her mouth shut.
“Let’s order the menu quickly,” Byungsoo tried to change the mood, spurring on the team. The ordered food and drinks arrived, and empty bottles began to accumulate.
“It would have been nice if the team leader joined us.”
Some team members expressed disappointment, and Haegin unwittingly nodded.
“He doesn’t like company dinners.”
“I’ve never seen him drink with the team.”
Everyone agreed, nodding in unison.
“But we thought he’d join this time, so we were looking forward to it.”
“Right.”
Others echoed. Haegin grew curious.
“Why doesn’t he like company dinners?”
“Do you know the reason?”
Haegin’s spontaneous question drew everyone’s attention.
“The reason? He never really said, but I think he doesn’t like drinking.”
“True, with his packed schedule, how could he? Imagine drinking all that alcohol, ugh.”
One team member grimaced as if he were the one drinking.
Indeed, there had been many drinking sessions while accompanying him. Although the meetings were formal, Tae-hong didn’t seem to indulge in alcohol.
But what does it matter? A team dinner without the direct supervisor was this enjoyable.
My Step-brother Is Obsessed With Me (Female-dominant)
A gentle female protagonist vs pitiful in the early stage, and a sick male protagonist in the later stage
Cheng Songer transmigrated into the body of a vicious cannon fodder female supporting character with the same name as her in a female-dominant novel.
In the original story, the cannon fodder female supporting character was inhumane, committing domestic violence, gambling excessively, being lustful, and even wanting to sell her stepbrother to a brothel for money.
As luck would have it, she just happened to transmigrate at this time.
Seeing Cheng Qingzhi biting his lip, enduring the tears in his eyes, looking pitiful, her heart softened.
She stuffed the money back into the Madam’s hand and reached out to him.
“Brother, come home with me.”
