The Young Boss (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 16

I was completely drained from the commotion this morning. Even though I’d just hastily applied some lipstick without properly doing my makeup, Si Hyeon still ended up being late for work.

[I absolutely can’t let this go.]

Woo Jin, who had seen Si Hyeon leaving Tae Ha’s house, exploded in anger and muttered something under his breath before storming off. Just thinking about having to meet Woo Jin again later and explain everything already made her head ache.

All I ever wanted was to get married like any ordinary person and build a happy family. Was even that wish too greedy for me…?

The moment she arrived at work, Si Hyeon headed straight to Tae Ha’s office.

“I’m here to see the department head.”

After telling his secretary, she received an “okay” signal from inside shortly afterward.

“Please go in.”

The instant she stepped into the office, she caught that familiar scent again—the unique, perfectly balanced blend of bitterness and freshness that was unmistakably Yoon Tae Ha’s.

The man who had seemed ready to grab Woo Jin by the collar and fight him just this morning now looked at Si Hyeon with calm, cool eyes, as if nothing had happened.

“Have you already decided on the deletion plan? I thought I gave you a week.”

His tone was so detached and professional that Si Hyeon momentarily forgot what she had originally come to say.

Quickly switching back into work mode, Si Hyeon replied firmly.

“After careful consideration, there isn’t a single unnecessary feature in our app. We thoroughly conducted both internal and external research and thoughtfully selected each feature.”

“Do you really think research is everything? Then why do people say Apple doesn’t rely solely on research?”

“Well…”

Tae Ha crossed his arms and shot back swiftly.

“You, Associate Manager Kang Si Hyeon, surely understand that users don’t always know or accurately express their own needs. Yet you kept adding features simply because respondents said they wanted them. And during internal research, didn’t each business division use different survey questions? Do you really think any division would voluntarily suggest removing features from their own app?”

Si Hyeon stared at Tae Ha with her mouth agape in surprise. It was the first time she’d ever heard Yoon Tae Ha speak at such length.

Wait, you can talk this much?

Only a beat later did she realize each of his words was a pointed criticism directed squarely at her, and her expression hardened.

“I’ve been working as a UX planner for eight years already. I didn’t just throw this together carelessly.”

She had given her absolute best because this was such an important project. Although it was still only a prototype, she had a certain level of confidence in her work.

“Have you reviewed the existing apps’ user journey maps?”

Did he think she hadn’t even looked at those? Si Hyeon lifted her chin confidently.

“Of course I have.”

But Tae Ha pressed further.

“I’m not talking about the hypothetical journey maps you drew during the planning phase. I mean, did you actually dig through user logs and examine real usage data yourself?”

“I haven’t gotten to that yet…”

Tae Ha looked at Si Hyeon as if he’d expected exactly that.

“Go through the user logs of each app, conduct funnel analysis, and redraw the actual user journey maps. Bring them to me in two days.”

Si Hyeon could hardly believe her ears. The current OneApp project involved merging seven separate apps into one.

“So you’re seriously asking me to comb through the logs of seven different apps within two days?”

When she asked for confirmation, Tae Ha snapped back.

“And the journey maps too. Do I need to say it three times?”

“…No.”

Her pride wouldn’t let her admit she couldn’t do it.

This was going to take more than two sleepless nights. Fighting off the darkness closing in before her eyes, Si Hyeon turned to leave. Just before stepping out of the office, she finally remembered her original purpose for coming.

“Also, Department Head.”

Tae Ha looked up sharply, as if to say, “What now?”

“I’m sorry, but I think it’s best if we stop visiting each other’s homes from now on. My fiancé seems uncomfortable about it.”

It was a decision she’d made on her way to work that morning.

Of course, Tae Ha was precious to her—but not someone she was going to marry. No matter how innocent their relationship was, Si Hyeon believed it was only right to keep some distance if her fiancé felt uneasy.

Even if it made Tae Ha feel hurt, there was nothing she could do about it.

“I’ll take my leave now, then.”

Still, she couldn’t bring herself to look directly at Tae Ha’s face, so she bowed her head and walked out.

The office was dark and empty, everyone having already left for the day. Only one desk still had its light on.

Naturally, it was Si Hyeon’s.

It was already 10 p.m. Having skipped dinner and settled for a triangle kimbap snack, Si Hyeon was locked in a staring contest with her monitor, eyes burning from exhaustion.

“Associate Manager Kang!”

At the cheerful voice, Si Hyeon finally stretched and swiveled her chair around.

“Want to grab a late-night snack before continuing?”

Bo Ra grinned widely while shaking a paper bag.

“How did you know I was pulling an all-nighter?”

“I was working late too. When I was about to head out, I saw only your desk light on, so I went and bought sandwiches and coffee.”

Oh dear, not only was her face pretty, but her kindness was even lovelier. Si Hyeon pinched Bo Ra’s soft cheek affectionately.

“But what are you working on so late?”

“The new department head ordered me to comb through all the existing app logs and redraw the journey maps from scratch.”

Si Hyeon gritted her teeth as she replied.

“Wow, that’s harsh.”

Bo Ra immediately understood and widened her lovely eyes in shock.

Since they were close friends, Bo Ra knew Si Hyeon’s tastes perfectly—even down to exactly which bread, vegetables, and sauce she liked in her sandwiches. True to form, the sandwich Bo Ra had brought was perfectly matched to Si Hyeon’s preferences.

“You probably haven’t had a proper dinner then.”

“I just choked down a kimbap. Thanks to you, Bo Ra, I’m surviving.”

As Si Hyeon happily stuffed the sandwich into her mouth, Bo Ra quickly inserted a straw into a coffee cup and handed it over. Even the touch of syrup added to the iced Americano was precisely to Si Hyeon’s taste.

“How are you so perfect, Bo Ra?”

Si Hyeon looked at Bo Ra with renewed admiration.

Bo Ra was beautiful, had a great figure, excellent education, came from a good family—and on top of all that, had a wonderful personality. Though she was called a goddess at the office, Bo Ra was always the first to roll up her sleeves and tackle tough tasks.

[That’s something for new hires to handle!]

She was always smiling, worked hard no matter what she was asked to do, and was kind to everyone—especially to her mentor Si Hyeon, whom she treated like the tongue in her own mouth.

How could anyone not adore her?

“But isn’t there someone even more perfect?”

But Bo Ra said something unexpected.

“I mean the new department head. With that talent and those looks—isn’t he basically a cheat character?”

In the past, Si Hyeon would have proudly chimed in with an enthusiastic “Right?” But now, she truly didn’t want to hear anything about Tae Ha, so she waved her hand dismissively.

“Don’t even say his title. Just hearing it makes me exhausted.”

It wasn’t merely because he’d assigned her tough work—it was something deeper.

Before Bo Ra joined, Si Hyeon had been the sole UX designer at Mirae Bank. Most of the apps launched so far, big or small, had passed through her hands. Naturally, she took great pride in her work and career.

Yet Tae Ha was now effectively dismissing everything she’d accomplished—as if she’d been stubbornly clinging to useless features!

Unaware of Si Hyeon’s inner turmoil, Bo Ra kept bringing up Tae Ha.

“He’s so handsome I can’t even look him in the eye properly. My face turns red, I get all nervous… Don’t you feel that way too, Manager?”

If she’d heard this question just one day earlier, Si Hyeon would have laughed in disbelief. I’ve known Yoon Tae Ha since he was nine years old—what’s there to blush or get nervous about?

But for some reason, she couldn’t bring herself to laugh now.

[Then look straight at me… and see if I’m really a man or not.]

After all, her own face had turned red last night.

Si Hyeon thought again that she’d done the right thing by asking to keep their distance. Even without Woo Jin’s reaction, she strongly felt it was necessary.

Hiding her true feelings, Si Hyeon scolded Bo Ra gently.

“Do you even know how old the department head is? He’s the same age as you—seven years younger than me.”

“What’s so bad about a seven-year age gap? Nowadays, you see couples on TV where the woman is over ten years older!”

“That’s celebrities!”

But Bo Ra persisted stubbornly, staring fixedly into Si Hyeon’s eyes as if making a vow.

“So you’re saying you have absolutely no interest in the department head, right?”

At this point, Si Hyeon wondered if Bo Ra knew something. Looking at her with slightly stunned eyes, Si Hyeon saw Bo Ra quickly stick out her tongue and giggle.

“Well, you’re getting married soon anyway. I was just joking because he’s so incredibly handsome, hehe.”

“Even as a joke, don’t go making up stories like that.”

Si Hyeon gave her a light glare, then suddenly noticed the necklace Bo Ra was wearing.

“Bo Ra, that’s a lovely necklace!”

It was from the very same brand that had once made Si Hyeon gulp down a whole bowl of imaginary kimchi soup when she mistakenly thought someone had proposed to her. The small pink clover-shaped pendant looked perfect against Bo Ra’s fair, slender neck.

“Oh, this?”

Bo Ra touched the necklace playfully and smiled.

“It’s spring, so I splurged and bought it for myself—as a gift. What do you think?”

“It suits you perfectly. Makes me wonder what I’ve been doing all this time—I haven’t even bought myself one nice thing.”

Now, Si Hyeon felt a twinge of regret. I should’ve treated myself to something special once in a while instead of foolishly scrimping and saving since my prettiest, youngest days, all for a wedding fund.

She felt both envious and impressed by Bo Ra, who knew how to give herself luxurious gifts.

“But Manager,”

Bo Ra abruptly changed the subject.

“Is the OneApp team short on staff?”

“Why do you ask?”

“Because I want to join. Work isn’t fun at all when you’re not around…”

Si Hyeon turned serious and waved her hand.

“Don’t be silly. Can’t you see I’m pulling all-nighters? Even if they invited you, you’d want to run away.”

“But I still want to work with you.”

Bo Ra pouted like she was begging.

“If you’re short on people, please call me, okay?

7:30 a.m.

Tae Ha, who always arrived first, froze mid-step when he saw Si Hyeon asleep, slumped over her desk. Apparently, her overnight work session hadn’t been enough—she’d stayed the whole night.

‘Maybe I should’ve given her a few more days.’

He felt a pang of regret. Cutting the timeline from at least a week down to just two days had, in truth, been petty.

[My dear, in my eyes.]

Si Hyeon’s resolute voice kept echoing in his ears, and that’s what had made him angry.

[No matter how old you get, to me you’re still just a nine-year-old kid.]

Especially after she’d bluntly declared yesterday morning that they should stop visiting each other’s homes—all because of that perfect fiancé of hers.

Tae Ha crept closer silently, muffling his footsteps.

Beside Si Hyeon’s monitor, sticky notes were densely plastered—schedules, requests from various teams—and among them, one slightly older note stood out.

– You must understand the user’s heart!

It seemed to be her constant personal motto as a UX designer.

Looking at her sleeping form, Tae Ha gave a small, wry smile and muttered inwardly,

…You can’t even understand the heart of someone right in front of you. What makes you think you can understand users?

“Hmm…”

Shivering slightly in her sleep from the cold, Si Hyeon hunched her shoulders and trembled a little.

Tae Ha picked up the blanket lying on the floor and gently draped it over her shoulders.

“…”

A silent sigh settled into the empty office.

“My goodness, Yoon Tae Ha.”

Bo Ra murmured in disbelief as she watched Tae Ha carefully place a blanket over Si Hyeon’s shoulders.

“You’ve been holding onto a crush from high school all this time?”