A Child Who Resembles Me [EN]: Chapter 23

23. You Look Good In It

Dreams fuel desires.

But Jiheon couldn’t move.

The woman, who seemed quite energetic yesterday, looked listless today.

Jeong-o, having regained her balance, moved away from Jiheon.

Her reaction to avoid him was slow, so Jiheon asked,

“Are you sick?”

“I’m fine.”

“Do you have a hangover?”

“It’s a cold.”

Jeong-o retorted to his question and went into the office first.

Hmph.

Giving me poison and then medicine?

Yesterday, he lectured me so rudely, and today he’s asking how I am.

I felt strange, as if he had been waiting for me in the lobby.

It was an unavoidable situation, but being held by him was also embarrassing.

The sound of his heart, conveyed in that brief moment of closeness, was also disconcerting.

Thump, thump, thump, thump, thump, thump.

His chest is like iron armor, but what’s with all that noise?

I thought a train was passing by.

“Assistant Manager, you’re here.”

I had no time to reflect on the past as I greeted Gihoon.

“Yes. Hello, Gihoon.”

Gihoon got up from his seat and handed Jeong-o her bag and umbrella. Gihoon had kept them from the bar at Jeong-o’s request yesterday.

“You really suffered yesterday. You must have been so tired to abandon your bag.”

“Hoo. Thank you so much.”

The events of last night came back to mind, and I sighed before even saying hello.

The workday began.

Jeong-o’s body showed no signs of recovery.

The cool air conditioning was even hard to bear. I regretted not bringing a coat on a day like this.

Perhaps feeling sorry for her, Gihoon placed a hangover relief drink he had on Jeong-o’s desk. Gihoon thought Jeong-o was struggling because of a hangover.

“Thank you, Gihoon.”

Jeong-o smiled weakly.

But she couldn’t drink it. Even the lukewarm temperature of the drink felt cold. Jeong-o hunched over and continued her work.

Drrrrr.

In the midst of it all, her phone vibrated. Jeong-o struggled to move her hand and picked up her phone.

– Let’s meet in my office for a moment.

Director Jeong Jiheon.

The name she had saved yesterday tormented her eyes.

Why send a text message when you could just call? It makes me feel strange.

Jeong-o stared silently at her phone.

‘Why is he calling me to his office again?’

I already feel heavy.

Come to think of it, he’s been acting a bit strange since this morning.

Before that, I did mess up quite a bit last night.

‘Is he going to apologize?’

I started to have a little hope.

Well, if he apologizes for what happened last night, I’ll accept it.

Jeong-o slowly got up and went to his office.

Knock knock.

“Yes.”

Jiheon’s voice came from inside the office. Before she could grab the doorknob, the door opened from the inside.

Jiheon opened the door wide and led Jeong-o inside.

Although I was sick, I didn’t want to show any signs of weakness. Jeong-o reacted as coldly as possible.

“You called me.”

“Did you get home okay yesterday?”

“Yes.”

“Take the medicine.”

“Pardon?”

The gaze that had looked up at Jiheon with a bewildered expression moved downward.

A pile of medicine was placed on the table he was pointing to.

Did he become a medicine peddler? Why is there so much medicine?

But Jeong-o refused. Because this wasn’t what Jeong-o wanted.

“I’m fine.”

“Take it. I bought it specifically for Assistant Manager Lee Jeong-o.”

“Why?”

“…….”

“Why go to such trouble?”

She glared at him, her eyes struggling to focus due to fatigue.

Jiheon took a few steps, picked up the bundle of medicine on the table, and approached her.

“Take your medicine and don’t get sick.”

I came expecting an apology, but instead, I got a carrot.

“Get well and do your job properly.”

It was a carrot like a whip that the manager gives to the managed.

Giving me poison and then medicine.

I hated this man’s fickleness, who teased me so much yesterday and now gives me a bundle of medicine.

Nevertheless, I resented my own lack of energy for not being able to argue.

If only I had more strength, I would kick him! And smack his jaw!

I glared at him, grinding my teeth inwardly, but he, too, seemed dissatisfied with something, squinted his eyes, and went back to his seat, returning with something dark.

“A sick person should dress warmly.”

His cardigan was draped over her shoulders.

She was flustered and tried to shake it off, but he quickly buttoned one of the front buttons of the cardigan.

Wearing the oversized cardigan felt like being wrapped in a blanket.

“……I’m fine.”

“I know. It looks good.”

His calm voice was as gentle as reading a fairy tale.

He seemed to be playing tricks on her. She felt awkward and, at the same time, overwhelmed.

Seven years ago came to mind.

Our last day.

The day I checked the pregnancy test and went to meet you. The day you took off your coat and put it on me.

You probably don’t even remember that day, which I’ve revisited countless times.

“……I have my own style, you know.”

“You look good in it.”

He smiled slightly, as if satisfied with her appearance in his clothes. Just like that day seven years ago.

Seeing Jeong-o’s uncomfortable expression, Jiheon added,

“I’ve never worn this, so don’t say I gave it to you, just wear it.”

“I’d rather you let me leave work early.”

“Then do that.”

“…….”

“Shall I take you home?”

I made an unreasonable demand, but Jeong-o was even more embarrassed when he readily agreed and even offered to take her home.

He doesn’t say a word about yesterday, doesn’t apologize, but takes care of irrelevant things so well.

“……No. I’ll work.”

“…….”

“I’ll just take one medicine.”

Jeong-o put down the bundle of medicine Jiheon had given her and took only one familiar-looking medicine box.

She bowed.

Jiheon frowned as he watched Jeong-o nod her head in greeting and run away.

I bought all the medicine that can be purchased without a prescription at the pharmacy, and even the pharmacist gave me a look. She should have taken one more.

Still, I should be glad she wore the cardigan, right?

It was the first time I was so concerned about someone’s cold.

.*. *. *. *. *. *.

It was lunchtime.

After taking the medicine Jiheon gave her, Jeong-o gradually regained her energy. She couldn’t run around energetically, but her fever seemed to have subsided to some extent.

I should rest during lunchtime.

I shouldn’t go out of the office and just lie down and sleep a little.

Jeong-o massaged her tired fingers on the keyboard and sighed. At that moment, Team Leader Seong Miran approached and called Jeong-o.

“Assistant Manager Lee, can you eat?”

“Team Leader, I’ll stay in the office today.”

“You don’t feel well, do you? Can you eat porridge?”

“I think I can…….”

“I ordered porridge for myself too. Let’s eat together.”

“I’m okay.”

“I ordered two, including yours. Come to the conference room.”

My body still didn’t move well, but I couldn’t refuse since Miran was so considerate.

Yes. I’ll feel better if I eat porridge.

Jeong-o followed Miran.

Miran’s chosen menu was ‘Special Abalone Porridge’. It was a menu with three times the amount of abalone as regular abalone porridge.

A precious food that should not be left over.

Jeong-o gratefully picked up her spoon. It was easy to swallow and tasted savory, so she diligently moved her mouth.

It was fortunate that my appetite didn’t decrease even though my body was heavy. Maybe it’s because I took medicine and regained some energy. I became a little grateful to Jiheon.

“How is it working close to home?”

“It’s much easier because it’s closer than my previous company.”

“I’m really sorry about yesterday. I was so out of it that I heard late that you had a hard time drinking.”

“It’s okay. I’m glad I was helpful.”

“You worked hard. You don’t need to leave work early?”

“Yes. I’m fine.”

“Okay. Let’s go home early today.”

I don’t like the headquarters or the head of the headquarters, but I met the team members very well. In particular, Team Leader Seong Miran was a great support. I was also grateful that she supported Jeong-o’s opinions every time.

However, Miran’s expression was a bit heavy today. It seemed like she had something to say to Jeong-o.

Sure enough, just as Jeong-o was about to finish her bowl, Miran carefully called Jeong-o’s name.

“But Assistant Manager Lee.”

“Yes, Team Leader.”

“I don’t know if I should ask you this…… I’m worried…….”

“Yes. Please tell me.”

“Um, Assistant Manager Lee…….”

“…….”

“What’s your relationship with Director Jeong Jiheon?”

Jeong-o’s lips hardened, having resolved to answer any question Miran asked to the best of her ability.

I felt a chill down my spine.

“Did you two know each other from the beginning?”

“…….”

“Or perhaps 7 years ago? Did you meet him when the director lost his memory?”

Miran seemed to know more than I thought.

–

Yesterday, Team 1 also drank a lot, so today’s lunch menu was hangover soup.

Team 1, having had a hearty hangover cure, met Jiheon in the first-floor lobby.

Team Leader Ahn Chanseop of Production Team 1 was the first to greet him.

“Director, have you had lunch?”

“Yes.”

Sinae nudged Eunbi, as if urging her to acknowledge him. Jeong Jiheon’s seat is naturally Chae Eunbi’s, so she should stand next to him.

Eunbi shrugged her shoulders slightly and approached him.

But for some reason, Jiheon’s expression was cold. A little more than usual.

Jiheon spoke to Chanseop.

“About yesterday’s matter.”

“Yes? What…….”

“Did Team 1 pass on the reception [handling client relations] to a Team 2 employee?”

At Jiheon’s question, the members of Team 1 all looked at each other and blinked. Only Assistant Manager Jo Sinae’s face turned bright red.

Eunbi couldn’t bring herself to get any closer to Jiheon.

“Our Assistant Manager Jo Sinae was too busy, so she seems to have entrusted it to Assistant Manager Lee Jeong-o of Team 2. Of course, only for a moment until the other team members finished their work…….”

“You entrusted the reception of a regular advertiser to an employee who has been with the company for only a week?”

“…….”

“Did the team leader instruct you to do so?”

It was a polite question, but somehow it was chilling.

It felt like he was asking even though he knew everything.

Sinae felt her whole body tremble as if Jiheon was staring at her.

The entire first-floor lobby became silent as if cold water had been poured over it.

“No, I…….”

As Chanseop hesitated, Sinae quickly stepped forward.

“Director, I asked her. The team leader found out late. But I was so busy that I really couldn’t help it. It seemed like only Lee Jeong-o was doing nothing.”

“Yes. I understand. Because you were busy. It’s okay as long as that doesn’t happen again.”

“Yes. I’ll be careful.”

It was fortunate that Jiheon quickly understood.

Sinae breathed a sigh of relief inwardly.

But.

“Then shall we see the results of yesterday?”

Sinae slowly raised her pale face and looked at Jiheon.

The work from yesterday was rejected this morning…….

“……Yes?”

“The result of why you had no choice but to be so busy. Let’s check together what Assistant Manager Jo Sinae worked on yesterday.”

That handsome face, which was the object of envy for all employees, looked terrifyingly frightening.