A Child Who Resembles Me [EN]: Chapter 169

169. [Extra] Working Dad (1)

The year-end nights were a dazzling spectacle of colorful lights, but office workers had no time to enjoy them.

Jeong-o and Ji-heon were also stuck working non-stop after their honeymoon. The only thing that energized them was the arrival of fresh-faced intern employees.

Max Planning’s internship program was popular among college students because it was designed to allow them to be hired as full-time employees after a two-month review by executives and working-level staff.

An intern also joined the perpetually hectic Production Team 2. She was a twenty-three-year-old female student hoping to become a copywriter.

“Actually, I wanted to bring in a male intern, but Director Jeong Ji-heon specially picked her himself.”

Team Leader Seong Mi-ran said to Jeong-o on the way to pick up the intern.

Of course, Director Jeong Ji-heon would.

He’s the same person who is always looking for a chance to send Employee Song Gi-hoon from our team to another team.

Jeong-o sighed deeply, looking weary.

Even after getting married and revealing to the company that they were a couple, Ji-heon’s attitude hadn’t changed.

He always lingered around Jeong-o for at least an hour a day, personally checking to see who was flirting with her or who was bothering her, and he also created excuses to be with her as much as possible.

So far, it hadn’t caused any major problems, but it was enough to make someone feel dissatisfied.

If Ji-heon or Jeong-o did anything that could be criticized, it could trigger and escalate the problem. So Jeong-o became more careful in everything she did.

“Hello! I’m Kim Bo-ram, an intern employee.”

While Jeong-o was lost in thought, Team Leader Seong Mi-ran brought the intern. The intern was a student with a youthful face that brought a smile.

“Ms. Kim Bo-ram, this is Deputy Manager Go Eun-ju, designer, Mr. Song Gi-hoon, and this is Deputy Manager Lee Jeong-o, copywriter.”

“Ah, you’re the copywriter! Hello! Please take good care of me.”

Bo-ram bowed politely to Jeong-o with a bright expression after hearing Mi-ran’s introduction. Jeong-o also welcomed Bo-ram.

“Nice to meet you too. Let’s get along well.”

“Since Ms. Kim Bo-ram wants to be a copywriter, it would be good for Deputy Manager Lee Jeong-o to take care of her.”

Mi-ran arranged the seating. Jeong-o also felt like she was getting good energy after a long time.

Bo-ram’s expression was consistently bright, and she did everything she was asked to do efficiently. Jeong-o’s face was filled with a smile as she showed Bo-ram around.

“Ms. Kim Bo-ram, you have such a great expression. Do you hear that a lot?”

“Not really. But the team atmosphere is so good right now, warm and friendly.”

“…….”

“And I think the director of our headquarters is so cool!”

Jeong-o’s eyes widened at the unexpected confession.

“Ah… Director Jeong Ji-heon?”

“Yes! I thought he was a model. Why is he so handsome?”

“…….”

“How old is the director? He looks like he’s only in his early 30s at most, but he must be really capable!”

You haven’t heard anything.

Jeong-o pursed her lips, listening to Bo-ram’s excited story.

“I talked to the director for a while, and he encouraged me, saying that Production Team 2 is a team that works really hard and does well, so there’s a lot to learn. I almost cried. He’s so sweet and gentle.”

Sweet and gentle?

I’ve never heard that from a colleague in the same company.

Is our director managing his image?

If he’s managing his image, there’s no need to tell her the truth early. Jeong-o decided to listen to her husband’s praise for a little longer. She was also pleasantly surprised by the unexpected story.

* * * * * *

A day passed, and Bo-ram’s feelings for the director grew even stronger.

Lunch time. Bo-ram put her tray down in front of Eun-ju, who had already taken a seat, and said in an excited voice.

“I overheard Director Jeong Ji-heon talking to the AE [Account Executive] earlier. He speaks so well and has amazing charisma!”

That praise would have worked well in front of Jeong-o, but Bo-ram chose the wrong person. Eun-ju looked at Bo-ram with a blank expression, but Bo-ram didn’t stop talking.

“He frowned like this while he was talking, but his voice was so good that he just looked like a celebrity. I don’t think I’d feel bad even if the director got angry.”

Deputy Manager Go Eun-ju’s face, who had been listening quietly, turned as if she had eaten something she couldn’t eat.

Eun-ju cut off Bo-ram’s words and said seriously.

“Bo-ram, shouldn’t you feel bad if the other person is angry?”

“Ah… I was assuming that Director Jeong would be angry. Since Director Jeong is a director, I thought he would only get angry if I did something wrong…”

“Well. Do you think all directors have good judgment?”

Bo-ram closed her mouth tightly, looking at Eun-ju, who didn’t respond. Bo-ram, who had become sullen, couldn’t say anything throughout the meal. Only after leaving the cafeteria after finishing her meal did Bo-ram whisper to Jeong-o, who was the most comfortable.

“Deputy Manager Go Eun-ju seems a little scary.”

Did she hear something harsh from Eun-ju? Jeong-o wondered, then patted Bo-ram on the shoulder and replied.

“But she’s the most lovable person once you get to know her. She’s good at her job and she’s reliable. There’s really a lot to learn from her.”

Hmph. But I’m still scared.

Bo-ram muttered in a small voice and moved her feet.

Not long after finishing lunch and returning to the office, something happened.

“Deputy Manager! Deputy Manager Lee Jeong-o!”

Bo-ram called Jeong-o excitedly from the conference room.

“What’s wrong, Bo-ram?”

Jeong-o asked, passing by the conference room.

“Could you come this way? This, please.”

Bo-ram was holding up a baby crib with her hands.

This time, Jeong-o’s team started a presentation for a baby product brand competition. So, they brought various products sent by the brand company into the conference room.

The problem was the assembled baby crib. Two screws on the leg were loose, and it looked like it would fall over to the side if you weren’t careful.

Jeong-o was surprised and straightened the bed with Bo-ram. As soon as she straightened it, Bo-ram let go. As soon as she let go, the bed tilted again. Jeong-o couldn’t let go. If she let go, the other bed leg would break.

“The bed screws are loose, so it looks like it’s going to fall over. Could you just stay like this for a moment? I’ll go get something to tighten the screws quickly.”

“Uh… Bo-ram…”

Bo-ram left before Jeong-o could say anything else.

It’s an assembled bed, so there should be a wrench included in the package. She didn’t even have time to say that.

‘These young kids are so fast [unthinking].’

Jeong-o had no choice but to stand there holding the bed in an awkward position.

It was getting harder and harder to stay still in the same position because of the weight. Bo-ram, who she thought would be back soon, was nowhere to be seen.

About 10 minutes passed.

Thud.

Someone came up from behind and held up the bed that Jeong-o was holding instead.

It was none other than Ji-heon. The Jeong Ji-heon radar that finds Jeong-o had been activated.

“Why are you doing this here?”

Ji-heon’s expression was stern.

“Deputy Manager! I found it. Something to tighten the screws!”

Bo-ram, who was running happily and shaking the wrench, found Ji-heon and lowered her hands, gathering them neatly.

“Hello, Director.”

“What are you doing? Grab it.”

“Ah, yes, yes!”

At Ji-heon’s impatient voice, Bo-ram quickly ran over and grabbed the tilted bed.

Ji-heon took the wrench from Bo-ram and tightened the bed screws.

After checking the balance of the bed, he got up from his seat and asked the two of them.

“Who told Deputy Manager Lee Jeong-o to hold this?”

Bo-ram froze at his sharp voice.

Jeong-o answered instead, afraid that Bo-ram would be scolded.

“I said I would hold it.”

“Why?”

“Because I thought Kim Bo-ram would be faster to find the wrench.”

“So, did Kim Bo-ram find it quickly?”

“Yes. I found it quickly…”

“I haven’t been able to answer the phone for 10 minutes.”

At Ji-heon’s point, Jeong-o touched her cardigan pocket. Of course, she didn’t know that Ji-heon had called.

Bo-ram’s face turned pale when it was revealed that Jeong-o had been holding the bed for 10 minutes.

“Don’t you think about your own body?”

Ji-heon said a word to Jeong-o and turned his head to scold Bo-ram.

“Ms. Kim Bo-ram should have been considerate of the pregnant woman.”

Bo-ram’s eyes widened.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know…”

“Don’t let this happen again.”

Ji-heon, who made the temperature in the conference room as cold as ice, left with a snap. Still, it was fortunate that it ended like this.

After Ji-heon left, Bo-ram’s complexion quickly returned.

“Deputy Manager, you should have told me. You’re so slim that I didn’t know you were pregnant. So you’re married too? Amazing!”

I thought she would be depressed, but I’m glad she’s a positive child.

“Director Jeong Ji-heon is amazing too! I didn’t even know he would remember my name. And I’m so touched that he’s considerate of pregnant women.”

No, is it fortunate?

This time too, Jeong-o couldn’t tell the truth. It seemed like Bo-ram had completely fallen for him.

Bo-ram looked for an opportunity to meet Ji-heon again. As Ji-heon pointed out, she felt like she had made a big mistake.

She shouldn’t be caught doing something wrong to her superior during the screening period, but it seemed like she had been properly marked. Bo-ram decided to report the Production Team 2’s expense statement, which she had received from Gi-hoon, directly to Ji-heon.

Knock, knock, she knocked on the door of the office and entered Ji-heon’s office.

Ji-heon glanced at Bo-ram, who opened the door and entered, and then continued his work.

“Director, I made a mistake earlier. I will be careful in the future.”

Bo-ram greeted politely and handed over the approval documents.

“And this is the Production Team 2’s expense statement.”

“Yes.”

Ji-heon took it as it was and threw it aside.

Bo-ram’s cheeks were flushed red. Perhaps because she was disappointed that she had to go outside like this, her feet did not fall off. As she wondered what to do, she saw a photo frame.

An exotic restaurant. It was a photo of Ji-heon, who looked younger than he does now, and a woman sitting face to face looking at the camera. But the long-haired woman next to Ji-heon looked like Deputy Manager Lee Jeong-o.

An unintentional question came out.

“Is this a family photo, Director?”

It was a photo taken in Melbourne seven years ago. Ji-heon, with a blank expression, answered vaguely.

“Yes.”

“Your sister looks a lot like Deputy Manager Lee Jeong-o.”

“It’s the same person.”

“Uh…? Are you and Deputy Manager Lee Jeong-o siblings?”

Director Jeong Ji-heon’s last name is Jeong, and Deputy Manager Lee Jeong-o’s last name is Lee, so how did this happen?

Are they cousins instead of siblings?

Or… is there a secret to her birth?

Ji-heon said to Bo-ram, who was blinking her eyes.

“Not siblings, but a couple.”

“…….”

“Didn’t you hear about it from Deputy Manager Lee Jeong-o?”

Bo-ram froze at Ji-heon’s expression, as if he was despising her for being oblivious. Now even her ears turned bright red.

Bo-ram, who came out of Ji-heon’s office powerlessly, returned to her seat, lowered her head, and sat there blankly before approaching Jeong-o.

“Deputy Manager, I went to Director Jeong Ji-heon’s office.”

“Ah, did you?”

“…I’m sorry for not recognizing you…”

As Bo-ram bowed her head, Jeong-o, who understood the hidden meaning, sighed bitterly.

“Hoo. Did that person scold you for that again? For not knowing it until now?”

“No. No.”

“…….”

“He just told me the truth. But…”

Bo-ram answered, sobbing.

“I think the director’s impression has changed a bit. He was a little… scary today.”

“That’s the real thing, Bo-ram.”

“Yes…?”

“That’s who he really is.”

Jeong-o, who kindly told the truth, comforted Bo-ram a little more and went to find Ji-heon. She wanted to hear what had happened in the office that had killed Bo-ram’s spirit.

But Ji-heon questioned Jeong-o, who had come to find him, before she could even open her mouth.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“What are you talking about?”

“That I’m your husband.”

“Ah, that.”

Jeong-o scratched her nose awkwardly.

I felt good hearing good things about you. Even though the truth was like that.

“What’s the point of doing that?”

“What’s the point of doing that? Why are you saying that?”

“If I say that, it’ll only make the intern feel uncomfortable. And what’s the point since she’ll find out soon anyway? Bo-ram said she liked you because you’re handsome. Wouldn’t it be nice for you to get compliments on your appearance too?”

“Compliments on my appearance? Is that all I have?”

Jeong-o’s mind was filled with anguish at Ji-heon’s serious reply, which had no hint of laughter.

Kim Bo-ram, this is the reality of the man you temporarily admired. It’s extremely childish. It’s regrettable that I can’t tell you all of this with my own mouth.