“At the Managing Director’s house?”

“It may be surprising, but I hope you can consider it positively for now.”

Ji Soo’s eyes wavered endlessly. It was as if she knew Joo Hyuk’s intentions too well. If Jae Ho hadn’t tipped her off in advance, she would have been completely fooled. Rubbing her dry lips, Ji Soo slowly opened her mouth.

“Managing Director… I have a boyfriend. We’ve been dating for 3 years.”

Joo Hyuk’s eyes widened slightly, wondering what on earth she was suddenly talking about.

“I see, congratulations.”

“Also… I want to earn money as a fair compensation for my labor. I want to work hard, sweat, feel proud… and become confident in myself.”

“I’m not sure what Han Ji Soo’s standard is for sweating and feeling proud about labor. Even if the nature of this job is different from office work, you can still say that you sweat and feel proud while working.”

Despite Joo Hyuk’s explanation, Ji Soo’s stiff face didn’t easily relax.

No matter what, this isn’t a proposal to make to a new employee who just started working here. How can she wisely overcome this burdensome and embarrassing situation? Ji Soo’s worries deepened.

As naturally as possible, without offending the Managing Director, let’s beat around the bush.

Ji Soo, who had made up her mind, gave a low cough.

“Managing Director, thank you for the offer, but I just want to focus on my secretary work, and also… um… so,”

Buzz.

Joo Hyuk’s cell phone placed on the table vibrated. Joo Hyuk slightly raised his right hand towards Ji Soo. With that, Ji Soo’s lips closed.

“Yes, Madam.”

−I didn’t want to contact you unless necessary. But I can’t handle Seo Hoo. He’s so strong that I can’t win against him.

Sun Young sniffled slightly. A deep sigh flowed out between Joo Hyuk’s lips as he placed his hand on his forehead.

“How many more hours can you not endure?”

−Oh my, I would normally endure it. But it’s hard. I got bruises all over my body because Seo Hoo was throwing his fists around.

“I’ll be there soon. Just wait a little longer.”

After hanging up, Joo Hyuk slowly rubbed his forehead. Then, as if making a decision, he met Ji Soo’s eyes. It was a sharp and keen gaze.

“Just this once, help me out, Han Ji Soo.”

“You want me to help you, Managing Director?”

By the way, why is this Min Joo Hyuk person so persistent? Ji Soo clicked her tongue at the dark ulterior motive of her boss whom she was meeting for the first time. The group’s next leader making a secret proposal in his office.

“For now, let’s go to my house together. I can’t do it alone.”

“Wait, Managing Director! Just a moment. Work hours aren’t even over yet, and above all.”

Ji Soo flinched at Joo Hyuk’s gaze.

“Managing Director, I can’t. Don’t do this to me.”

Shaking her head side to side, she dropped her gaze to the floor. If I do this, he’ll abandon me out of pity… she thought.

“I’m begging you, Han Ji Soo. Seo Hoo is looking for you so desperately.”

A big question mark formed in Ji Soo’s head.

Seo Hoo? Who’s Seo Hoo and why is he looking for me so desperately? Why is he looking for me?

“Let’s talk about the details on the way. Chief Hwang will be going with us, so you don’t have to be too nervous.”

“Chief is… going together too?”

It’s even weirder that the Chief is going together.

Joo Hyuk, who nodded his head, got up from his seat first. Ji Soo trudged after him.

***

Whatever it was, it wasn’t the situation Ji Soo had imagined. As Joo Hyuk said, Jae Ho was also with them, heading to Joo Hyuk’s house.

“There is a boy at our house. But the sitters are quitting or running away within a month. Last week, the sitter suddenly quit, so the lady who does housework has been taking care of Seo Hoo… but she can’t handle him.”

How terrible must this child be…

Sweat soaked into her hands placed side by side on her thighs.

I don’t know who Seo Hoo is, but he’s a child related to Joo Hyuk and he’s looking for me. So I’m going to help. Is Seo Hoo the Managing Director’s son? Ji Soo recalled what Jae Ho had said a few days ago. If Joo Hyuk had a serious reputation with women, it wouldn’t be strange even if he had a son before marriage.

But no matter how much she thought about it, she couldn’t figure out what connection she had with a child named Seo Hoo. Is he mistaking me for someone else?

There were several questions, but even if she wanted to ask, she couldn’t. Joo Hyuk’s expression was too stiff.

How many sighs had Joo Hyuk let out while riding in the car? The moment Joo Hyuk’s sighs exceeded 10, she gave up counting.

“I… don’t have a knack for taking care of children. Especially Min Seo Hoo. Do you know what ‘sanggeuk’ means, Han Ji Soo?”

“Yes, of course.”

“That kid and I are incompatible. Even if we’re alone together for just an hour, it gives me a headache.”

Still, it felt somewhat sad to hear that it’s hard to endure even an hour with his own son.

“…How old is the child?”

“He recently had a birthday, so he’s 5 years old.”

“5 years old…”

So he’s the Managing Director’s son born in his 20s. Ji Soo slowly nodded her head. But who is the child’s mother? Has the Managing Director been raising the child alone from the beginning? Various questions flooded in, but she had no intention of asking him.

But it should be okay to ask this question.

“By the way, Managing Director, how does Seo Hoo know me?”

“He said he met you not long ago.”

“Where?”

“He said he met you at the company.”

“Well, I don’t remember meeting a child at the company,”

Ah…? Ah…?

At that moment, a scene flashed through Ji Soo’s mind. That boy she had met in the employee lounge. The child who had left her with back pain and resentment.

It can’t be… If it’s that child, there’s no way he would look for me again. We didn’t exactly end on good terms, so it doesn’t make sense for him to look for me again.

“The child has a rather unique personality. No wonder he’s from the Min family.”

“…Yes.”

Ji Soo, who suddenly became sad, answered soullessly in a half-dazed state.

“He said he really liked you.”

I wonder what this is all about.

Ji Soo, who had lost her fighting spirit, dropped her head with a thud. No matter how she thought about it, things seemed to be flowing in a strange direction.

“We’ve arrived. Let’s get out.”

Looking out the car window, a luxury villa complex came into view. Biting her lips and exhaling through her nose, Ji Soo’s eyes shone gravely.

***

What… on earth… is this scene?

As soon as she took off her shoes, Ji Soo froze at the miserable sight. The interior of the house, which was originally spotless, was in disarray as if it had been hit by a bomb. Jae Ho, who had entered the house, was busy cleaning up, constantly bending his back.

‘Han Ji Soo! Do it discreetly!’

It was as if Jae Ho’s eyes were saying that when their eyes met. Following behind Jae Ho and picking up towels, books, and snack bags scattered on the floor, she bumped her head into something.

It was Joo Hyuk’s upper back.

“I didn’t bring you here to clean, Han Ji Soo, so just leave it.”

“Yes…”

Ji Soo answered softly at Joo Hyuk’s words.

By the way, where is the child? The house is a mess but it’s quiet. Before Ji Soo could ask herself, the sound of thumping came from the second floor. Soon, the face of the child she had encountered in the employee lounge a few days ago appeared.

“It seems Seo Hoo really enjoyed his first meeting with you. He kept calling your name even after coming home.”

There’s no way that’s true…

Soon, Sun Young, the live-in employee of this house, appeared. Sun Young, who looked exhausted as if all her energy had been drained, seemed very tired.

“Managing Director, may I go in now?”

Sun Young asked in a weak voice.

“Yes, you worked hard.”

Sun Young gave Ji Soo, who had come to take the baton from her, a look that said ‘stay strong’, and then left.

“I’d like you to take care of Seo Hoo alone, Ji Soo.”

“Right now, you mean?”

You’re joking, right? Managing Director… Don’t do this.

“Chief Hwang and I have a dinner appointment right now. It would be nice if we could cancel, but it’s an appointment we can’t cancel.”

“Managing Director…”

“Please, Han Ji Soo. I’ll make sure to compensate you sufficiently.”

Her eyes met Jae Ho’s, who was picking up trash near Joo Hyuk. He frowned deeply and motioned with his chin. It meant to answer quickly.

“I can’t leave the child alone or take him with me. I know it’s a sudden request, but I’d appreciate it if you could accommodate it, Ji Soo.”

“Yes, yes, I’ll do my best to take care of Seo Hoo.”

With the three men staring at her intensely, she couldn’t refuse. In the end, Ji Soo answered that she would look after Seo Hoo.

In the spacious house where the two had left, only Ji Soo and Seo Hoo remained. There was a strange tension in the confrontational situation. Ji Soo coughed several times to get his attention, but Seo Hoo didn’t even glance in her direction.

They couldn’t spend two or three hours like this.

Even if she didn’t come here willingly, the Managing Director seemed to be in an urgent situation, so as a subordinate, she had to do her part. Above all, she was much more mature than that little kid, so she had to approach him first.

“Your name is Seo Hoo, right?”

“…”

Seo Hoo, with a small round face, slowly turned his head at Ji Soo’s voice. But he doesn’t answer.

“Seo Hoo, why were you looking for me?”

That day, we didn’t exactly end on good terms, you know? Ji Soo waited for Seo Hoo’s answer, but this time too, Seo Hoo kept his lips tightly closed.

“Well, whatever, why does the reason matter? Anyway, my name is Han Ji Soo. I’ll play with you for about two or three hours today. I hope we can forget about last time and get along well before parting ways.”

“…”

Hey, you keep saying you wanted to see me. Isn’t he blatantly ignoring me? I didn’t want to come here either, you know?

“What do you like to do for fun? Since you’re a boy, do you like playing with robots?”

“…”

“Then, since the house is big, should we play hide-and-seek?”

The house is so big that it might take 500 years to find each other. But if time passes well like that, even better.

“Seo Hoo? Who is your sister talking to right now?”

“…”

Pouting his lower lip, Seo Hoo finally slowly turned his body towards Ji Soo.