Seol Ah had never directly interacted with or met Seung Heon before. She naturally knew of him as Seung Jun’s family member, but only to the extent of recognizing his face and name.

Seung Heon was not Seung Jun’s biological younger brother but his cousin, and during the time Seol Ah was Seung Jun’s secretary, it was not when Seung Heon was working at the head office, so there was no occasion for her to see him.

However, she was well aware of his reputation.

Unlike Seung Jun, he was known to have a gentle and mild personality, and was popular among the employees.

She knew him to be someone with a soft charisma, different from Seung Jun.

And upon meeting Seung Heon in person, he indeed lived up to such rumors. He was gentle, but by no means a weak person. He said what needed to be said, all while smiling.

“Employees should be evaluated based on their abilities, not their appearances. If you were thinking of putting a pretty employee forward to impress me, you’ve misjudged me.”

Faced with Seung Heon, who clearly stated his thoughts without dropping his smile, Moon Sa Jang and Executive Kang could only break out in a cold sweat.

*

“I can’t eat it.”

When the meal of white rice porridge was brought out, Yu Min refused it.

Yu Min’s condition, which had briefly improved in the morning, rapidly deteriorated in the afternoon. Although Yu Min did not say he was sick, he repeatedly fell asleep and woke up with a listless appearance.

“Still, you need to eat at least a little.”

Jin Cheol looked at Yu Min with worried eyes.

“Since I’m getting an IV drip, I won’t die even if I don’t eat.”

Seung Jun pointed with his eyes to the IV bags hanging from Yu Min’s arm as he spoke. Yu Min glared in Seung Jun’s direction, but as if he had no energy to say anything, he closed his eyes tightly.

Jin Cheol glanced back and forth between the two and muttered to himself.

“But still, you’ll get better faster if you eat.”

“If he doesn’t eat, he’ll be hospitalized for three days instead of a month. If that’s what he prefers, he can keep not eating.”

At Seung Jun’s words, Yu Min let out a low sigh and lifted his body.

His stomach felt terrible. It was clearly empty, but he had no appetite at all and instead felt nauseous. He had caught enteritis several times before, but this was the first time it had been this severe.

“Ah, I’ll eat, I’ll eat.”

As if annoyed, Yu Min tried to pick up the spoon but put his hand back down. He didn’t even have the energy to lift the spoon.

Jin Cheol quickly picked up the spoon.

As Jin Cheol attentively fed the porridge to Yu Min, Seung Jun turned his head in the other direction.

It felt like his place had been taken. But if he stepped forward, Yu Min would likely make a fuss again, so he had no choice but to stay one step behind.

Over there, the coffee Seung Jun had bought was placed. It was an iced Americano, but the ice had all melted, so now it was almost like plain water.

Because he was so occupied with catering to Yu Min’s demanding needs, Jin Cheol hadn’t even had time to drink a single cup of coffee.

“That’s it, good job.”

As Yu Min accepted the porridge, Jin Cheol praised him and diligently continued spooning it. That’s when it happened.

A cell phone suddenly rang in the hospital room.

At first, Seung Jun thought it was his phone ringing and quickly checked it. The fact that he had taken a vacation was weighing on his mind. An emergency situation could arise at any time.

However, nothing was displayed on Seung Jun’s cell phone.

“Ah, Yu Min, sorry. Just a moment.”

Jin Cheol hurriedly checked his bag and picked up his cell phone.

“Ah, yes. This is Baek Jin Cheol. JK Foods? Yes.”

Jin Cheol spoke hastily as he stepped out of the hospital room.

At the mention of JK Foods, Seung Jun’s face stiffened. Wondering what was going on, Seung Jun quietly opened the door and followed Jin Cheol.

“I apologize. I knew today was the interview date, but due to circumstances, I don’t think I’ll be able to make it.”

What are you saying now?

Seung Jun’s face crumpled mercilessly.

“Yes, I apologize. I should have informed you earlier, but because of me, things have become complicated for you. Yes.”

In this situation, who’s worrying about whom?

Seung Jun felt like he was going to burst.

He gave up the interview to take care of Yu Min. Is he in his right mind? JK Foods was known for treating its employees well in the same industry.

“You’re giving up the JK Foods interview?”

“Shh.”

Startled by Seung Jun’s words, Jin Cheol quickly ended the call and brought his index finger close to his lips.

Following Jin Cheol out in a hurry, Seung Jun left the door slightly ajar.

“It can be heard inside.”

As if in response to those words, a loud voice came from inside.

“Uncle!”

Jin Cheol was surprised and quickly entered the hospital room. Yu Min looked at Jin Cheol with a flushed face.

“What do you mean you’re giving up the interview!”

As Jin Cheol had worried, Seung Jun’s voice had carried inside.

Jin Cheol awkwardly scratched the back of his head.

“Uncle, go even now. I’m fine, so go!”

Yu Min shouted again, but Jin Cheol shook his head.

“I’m okay. I still have Yura Foods, and I’ve submitted my resume to a few more places.”

Yura Foods was known for paying half the salary of JK Foods while making employees work more.

“If you don’t go to the interview now, Yu Min might be plagued by guilt. He’ll blame himself, thinking that because of him, his uncle couldn’t attend a good company’s interview and ended up working hard at another food company.”

Seung Jun spoke in a low voice with his arms crossed.

“Still, if you don’t want to go, then don’t. Guilt is the burden of those around you. It’s also a choice to add a heavy heart on top of already making the kid catch enteritis. If you call them back and explain the circumstances, the situation might change.”

The corners of Jin Cheol’s eyes twitched. He glanced at Yu Min and then tightly closed his eyes. Yu Min was glaring at Jin Cheol, panting.

Looking at them, Seung Jun said,

“Follow me.”

Jin Cheol blankly watched Seung Jun leave first. Yu Min shouted at him.

“Hurry up and go out!”

Jin Cheol let out a soft sigh. Seung Jun’s words were not wrong at all. Kind-hearted Yu Min would definitely carry the burden in his heart that his uncle gave up the interview because of him.

So why did he leave the door open so the sound would carry inside?

Jin Cheol staggered out of the hospital room. Seung Jun was already on the phone with someone, as if he had planned everything.

“Yes, please contact the department store right now. Prepare a suit with the sizes I just mentioned and bring it to Korea University Hospital.”

Seung Jun hung up the phone, looked at Jin Cheol standing in front of him, and nodded.

“Everything is ready, so go out and check the license plate I tell you, then get in the black sedan. Change clothes inside. Don’t forget to make a call to JK Foods beforehand.”

“Hyung-nim, what is this all of a sudden—”

“There’s no time to talk. If you want Yu Min to get better quickly, go and come back. Don’t worry about the rest.”

Jin Cheol just blinked his eyes blankly. How did this happen?

Who was this person that he could make all these arrangements with a single phone call? He had noticed from the beginning that he wasn’t an ordinary person, but he seemed to be beyond Jin Cheol’s imagination.

“Hurry up and go. If you don’t go now, you’ll be late.”

After sending off Jin Cheol, Seung Jun called the HR team leader in charge of JK Foods interviews. It was not often that the vice president made a direct call to the HR team leader.

[Yes, Vice President.]

A surprised voice rang in Seung Jun’s ear.

Hearing the respectful voice, Seung Jun finally felt at ease as if he had returned home. He had been so miserable until just now, being treated like a “weird ahjussi who doesn’t go home” by that little devil.

“Yes. Are the interviews going well?”

[Yes, we were just about to start.]

“I see. No unusual circumstances then.”

[There are applicants who are unable to attend the interview due to personal reasons. Other than that, there are no special issues.]

Seung Jun paused for a moment before opening his mouth.

“The reasons they couldn’t attend? Did you check?”

The other person seemed a bit flustered.

[We didn’t go that far…]

“I see. If they have personal circumstances, it can’t be helped, but since they passed the document screening, contact them one more time to confirm. That way there won’t be any rumors later.”

[Yes, I understand.]

Seung Jun hung up the phone.

The HR team leader would probably think Seung Jun was just double-checking the applicants. He was a vice president who handled work meticulously and was sensitive about hiring people.

Entering the hospital room, Seung Jun raised his head with a puzzled look.

Jin Cheol, whom he thought had left, was next to Yu Min.

Yu Min spoke with an uncomfortable face as if Jin Cheol being there bothered him.

“Go, hurry.”

“How can I go?”

Jin Cheol had a hesitant look.

“Uncle says he’s not going. Even though I said I’m fine.”

When Yu Min spoke while looking at Seung Jun, Jin Cheol scratched the back of his head and said,

“No. How can I leave you alone?”

“I’m fine being alone.”

Something was unpleasant.

Seung Jun looked at the two men facing each other.

Why, they agree on one thing. Being alone? Am I not even considered a person?

“Can’t you see the person here?”

The two looked at Seung Jun with a startled expression.

At that moment, Seung Jun felt like sharp thorns were poking at him.

“Ah, Hyung-nim was here. Yu Min, you’re not alone. You can stay with Hyung-nim.”

Yu Min’s face silently crumpled, and Seung Jun turned his eyes away from Yu Min and sighed.

*

“Thank you for your hard work today.”

Seung Heon looked around at the employees with an unfatigued face.

It was the employees who were exhausted. Seung Heon had meticulously examined every single thing. He even inspected the trash cans, causing the entire company to be in an uproar as if there was a fire.

The person who ran around the most was Seol Ah and Yoon Jin. Yoon Jin mainly played a supporting role, while Seol Ah promptly responded to Seung Heon’s needs.

It was also Seol Ah who answered all of Seung Heon’s questions without hesitation. Executive Kang just said,

“Ah, our Manager Yu knows that well.”

“Then I will contact you later. Well then.”

Seung Heon said goodbye and left the company with the food department employees who had come with him. As Seol Ah was about to say goodbye, someone pushed her back.

“You should go out and give a proper farewell.”

It seemed he had already forgotten about being reprimanded in the morning. Executive Kang looked at Seol Ah, wrinkling his greasy face.

Seung Heon glanced at him and furrowed his brow.

“Yes, I understand.”

Seol Ah responded and moved to follow Seung Heon, who was walking ahead.

Even though they were cousins, they were brothers, so was that why? Their faces didn’t resemble each other, but they had a similar aura. That made Seol Ah even more nervous for some reason.

‘Don’t get ahead of yourself. Just escort him out appropriately, that’s all you need to do.’

“Ms. Yu Seol Ah?”

Seung Heon, who had stopped walking towards the parking lot, opened his mouth.

“Yes. Executive Director. You must be very tired today. I hope you have a comfortable journey back.”

Seol Ah rattled off the words as if she had memorized them. Seung Heon, who had been watching her intently, took a big step towards her.

A strong musk scent emanated from him. Seol Ah inhaled. Seung Heon said in a low voice,

“Can we talk for a moment? Just the two of us.”