A Child Who Resembles Me [EN]: Chapter 41

41. Can We Be Friends?

Jeong-o kept looking around after arriving at the office, hoping to escape if she spotted Ji-heon.

Fortunately, Ji-heon was nowhere to be seen.

‘He’s a busy man, so he probably wouldn’t be here guarding the place on the weekend. He’ll probably forget all about today by Monday.’

Jeong-o locked away her anxiety and headed to the conference room.

There were several cups of coffee from a brand-name coffee shop on the conference room table.

Park Young-gwang, the Deputy Manager, who had arrived earlier, said,

“Assistant Manager Lee, pick whatever you want to drink.”

“Are you buying, Deputy Manager?”

“No, the Director is.”

Jeong-o almost dropped the iced Americano she had confidently grabbed.

Young-gwang took a long sip of his coffee and said,

“I was a bit scared at first, but I think the Director really takes good care of the employees.”

“Really? I don’t really see it.”

“No, he even contacted me directly during the last tasting event and asked me to make sure Assistant Manager Lee wasn’t suffering from difficult clients. That’s why I’ve been sticking by your side.”

Ah.

Realizing this unexpected fact made her head throb as if she had crunched on ice.

Meeting her in front of her house back then, asking Park Young-gwang for that favor, handling her call and taking care of things today, and even today’s coffee. It felt like Ji-heon was constantly watching her from somewhere.

The feeling that she was trapped in the palm of his hand, no matter how hard she tried to escape, took over her thoughts. Jeong-o put down the Americano she was holding.

The team members arrived one by one, and the competitive PT [presentation training] preparation meeting began.

The competitive PT was already less than ten days away. Ko Eun-ju joined the team in place of Jo Si-nae, who had been kicked off the production team. Jeong-o felt reassured, feeling like she had gained an ally.

For some reason, Chae Eun-bi didn’t show up today, making the meeting easier.

Whenever she voiced her opinion in meetings with Eun-bi, she often received subtle disapproval. She knew Eun-bi would come after her again tomorrow and nitpick all her ideas, but at least today was comfortable.

“We’ve talked a lot today, so should we wrap it up? Everyone should enjoy their Saturday evening, and let’s meet again tomorrow.”

“Yes!”

The team members cheered at Mi-ran’s words. Jeong-o, who had worked hard to come up with ideas, also got up from her seat with a sense of accomplishment.

Just in time, the studio sent over the revised work. It would be perfect to check the work and go home to spend a cozy evening with her family.

As Jeong-o sat down, Gi-hoon spoke to her.

“Assistant Manager, aren’t you leaving? I brought my car today. I can give you a ride.”

“No, I have some work to check. You go ahead.”

“Okay. I’ll see you then.”

Others also said their goodbyes one by one, and soon Jeong-o was left alone.

Currently, Jeong-o’s team was the only one in the headquarters preparing for the competitive PT, so there was no one around. Sitting alone in the office gave her an eerie feeling.

‘I should hurry up and leave too.’

It was just a matter of comparing the script with the work, so it was only time-consuming, not difficult at all. After finishing the work check, Jeong-o also got up from her seat.

And then, she made eye contact with Ji-heon, who was standing still in the distance.

‘Ugh, I’m doomed.’

He was in the company.

Jeong-o became very nervous at the way Ji-heon was looking at her. It felt like she was being scolded with his eyes.

“Don’t you have anything to say?”

He approached her and asked in a low voice. What was coming had finally come.

Jeong-o was startled inside but didn’t show it. He continued teasingly.

“The password was unique. Especially the ‘kiyeok’ [ㄱ] and ‘siot’ [ㅅ].”

She was going to let it go in one ear and out the other…

It felt like everything she had eaten for breakfast and lunch was stuck in her throat. Her face was turning red, but he continued to nag her without any regard.

“And you were even going to share it with Song Gi-hoon.”

Jeong-o feigned ignorance and retorted playfully.

“‘Kiyeok’ and ‘siot’ mean ‘gratitude.’ You know that, right? I’m unconsciously grateful to the Director…”

“What are you grateful for?”

“There’s so much to be grateful for. I’m always grateful. I’m so grateful for your help today too.”

Ji-heon chuckled at Jeong-o’s absurdities.

‘She’s always so amusing.’

Ji-heon had been working in his office, waiting for time to pass.

After Lee Jeong-o pointed out that his presence lowered the employees’ efficiency, he became cautious about attending meetings. He decided not to attend the meetings and only receive reports on the ending time.

He came right after the meeting ended. Everyone else was leaving the company, but Jeong-o seemed to have some work to do and sat back down.

Watching her intently for about ten minutes. Just looking at her engrossed in her work somehow made him feel good. To Ji-heon, who had always found work bothersome and thought it was enough to just pretend to do it properly, it was a subtly stimulating sight.

He didn’t know why he kept feeling this way about a woman who didn’t do anything for him.

Ji-heon asked with a smile.

“If you’re so grateful, shouldn’t you at least buy me a meal?”

“Yes. Please eat whatever you like and let me know. I’ll go to pay.”

“Who said anything about paying?”

She was unpredictable, didn’t move according to his will, and even seemed to be playing him, but it was fun to watch her.

“Stop joking around.”

“……”

“Let’s go. I’ll buy you something delicious.”

He wanted to see her enjoying a meal again.

After the brief notice, he moved first.

Jeong-o stood there blankly, staring at Ji-heon.

He was supposed to scold her, but instead, he was suggesting dinner.

Was he planning to take revenge with food? Was he plotting to feed her something inedible?

She couldn’t understand his reaction. Jeong-o quickly followed him and said,

“I’m supposed to have dinner with my mom, so I was planning to go home early. I’m sorry.”

“Then I’ll give you a ride home.”

Home? He was going to take her home?

To the house where her mom and Yena were?

It would be a disaster if he ran into Yena, who might be coming back from the neighborhood playground.

‘But since he’s offering a ride, let’s take it. I can get off a little ways from home.’

It was awkward, but Jeong-o immediately pulled herself together, remembering her mission.

Maintaining a proper distance from him and learning about him was no easy task.

But that didn’t mean she could afford to be down.

‘I know you.’

‘I only know the fragmented you from seven years ago, the you before you changed, the you when you met me, but that might be a hint.’

‘I need to carefully calculate how this person will react to my actions and then move.’

It felt like stepping onto an icy path where she couldn’t tell if the ground underneath was water or ice, but Jeong-o decided to accept her fate.

* * * * * * *

“Do you live with your mother?”

Ji-heon asked in the car as they drove down the road.

Jeong-o fidgeted with her hands before slowly answering.

“Yes.”

Her heart inevitably raced when she lied.

“Isn’t it uncomfortable living with your mother?”

“No. My mom and I are soulmates.”

His eyes, unreadable, glanced at her briefly before focusing back on the road.

“What about you, Director?”

“What about what?”

“Aren’t you close with your mother?”

This time, she threw the question. Jeong-o’s lips felt parched as she waited for an answer.

“It’s been quite a while since we lived apart.”

“So, are you uncomfortable with your mother?”

“I’m just more comfortable being alone.”

“It’s not that you dislike her?”

She was serious, but he let out a deflated laugh. Did he think the question was absurd?

Jeong-o quickly changed the subject.

“Still, you like her a lot, right?”

“I respect her. In many ways.”

Jeong-o nodded slowly.

She wondered if even bringing up questions about familial bonds was pointless. The very idea of trying to wedge herself into any potential gap between him and his mother felt wrong.

But if not, how could she ever reach the truth?

Could she ever approach this man again?

A man who had changed so much that, if not for his appearance, she might have thought he was someone else.

Could she ever re-enter this man’s heart?

While she was lost in thought, Ji-heon’s car arrived in her neighborhood.

“Which way from here?”

Ji-heon asked as he turned into the alley in front of the convenience store.

“Ah, please drop me off here!”

Jeong-o exclaimed hastily.

As Ji-heon stopped the car, Jeong-o quickly got out.

“Just a moment. I’ll be right back.”

She hurried into the convenience store and grabbed a few items.

Barley tea and gum, which she had once left in his car seven years ago. And candy, which she had once put in his pocket.

Jeong-o quickly paid and came out of the convenience store.

Ji-heon, who had already gotten out of the car, was standing blankly in the direction she had gone. He approached her when he spotted her.

Jeong-o handed him the things she had bought from the convenience store.

“I prepared water for when you’re thirsty, and gum and candy for when you’re sleepy. Thank you for the ride.”

*Remember me.*

*And please go back now.*

Ji-heon frowned slightly at the gifts, which carried both meanings. The expression seemed like an effort to recall a memory, making Jeong-o’s heart flutter.

She needed to get closer to him. She needed to become more than just a superior and subordinate.

But she couldn’t be too obvious.

Could she find out about him without revealing too much about herself?

Without anyone finding out? Without even revealing Yena’s existence?

*Could they become friends?*

She needed to slowly build trust, and someday tell the truth.

She needed to gain enough power to stand against his mother.

She needed to reveal all the facts: that she had met his mother, that she had spoken to someone pretending to be him seven years ago, and make him believe her.

Could she do it? Did she have that kind of power?

She felt afraid thinking about the future. But she still had to take a step forward.

“Director, I’m actually good at giving advice.”

She carefully took a step towards him.

“I can listen if you have any difficulties. For example, when you have conflicts with someone, when work is tough, or when you just feel like talking to someone.”

“……”

“I can be your friend.”

*Without seeming too obvious….*

She approached him with a desperate wish, as if casting a spell, but his gaze was sharp, as if seeing right through her. Jeong-o flinched, thinking he might be displeased, and added.

“I’m younger than you and your subordinate, so the word ‘friend’ might be a little uncomfortable, but it’s good to have a young friend. You’ll definitely feel younger too.”

“……”

“Not like a romantic friend, but someone who can give you blunt, harsh advice. I can be that kind of friend.”

The silence between words felt precarious.

After a long pause, he opened his mouth.

“Harsh words.”

“……”

“Sounds good.”

He said, twisting the corner of his lips.

“Friend.”

“……”

“Let’s do it. Sure. Friends.”

There was nothing unhealthy in the words he spat out, but somehow his pronunciation sounded obscene.

Jeong-o deliberately ignored the sense of incongruity and nodded boldly.

“Yes. Friends.”

Perhaps she was now entering a tiger’s den.

If she was going into a tiger’s den, she should go fully armed and catch the tiger.

“Let’s keep being friends a secret for now. I’m too worried about Eun-bi misunderstanding.”

Would this man keep this promise? She would test him, starting there.

Jeong-o held out her hand for a handshake.

Ji-heon found her determined expression amusing.

He could laugh at her boldness in drawing a line as friends when he was trying to approach her so openly.

He found it amazing that the woman who had always seemed angry and frozen in front of him, the woman who had been so nervous that she had even shown tears, had somehow come this close.

It felt like she was putting someone twice his size on her palm and pressing down on him.

Ji-heon firmly grasped her hand that was extended towards him.

With an expression that said he was willing to walk into it, even if it was a trap.

His hot body temperature was transmitted through her palm.

She had only meant to shake hands.

She was going to catch the tiger, but why did she already feel like she was being caught?

Jeong-o’s eyes widened as he suddenly lifted her hand instead of shaking it.

Like a stamp on a new relationship, his lips were imprinted on the back of her hand.

*Smack.*

“Heok!” [A gasp]

Her face quickly turned red. Jeong-o quickly pulled her hand away and scolded him.

“This isn’t something friends do! Don’t you know that? Don’t you have any friends?”

“Ah. I don’t have any, so I didn’t know.”

Ji-heon replied nonchalantly, hiding his sinister intentions.

“I don’t care, whatever.”

He was satisfied.

The pretext didn’t matter.

Friend or whatever. As long as he could occupy her side.

Ji-heon was the kind of person who had always lived that way.