Chapter 14: Chapter 14

Woo Ilhwa, oblivious to Suin’s internal turmoil, waved cheerfully as she left the lobby.

Left to watch her leave helplessly, Suin decided against returning to the auditorium and instead headed for the relaxation garden adjacent to the lobby.

The last thing she wanted right now was to see Seo Jaehee.

She needed some peace—a moment to mentally chew him up and spit him out, even if just in her imagination.

“Chief Lee, where’s the Senior Executive?”

[He’s still finishing the handshakes. Five more to go,] Hyun Jiye replied through the phone.

“His next scheduled event isn’t until the 2 PM meeting with the department heads, right? Once he’s done, please escort him to the Executive Office.”

[Understood. What about his lunch? It’s already 12:10 PM.]

“Already?”

[Yes.]

Suin had planned to organize his afternoon schedule, but she hadn’t realized it was already lunchtime. Her thoughts had been too consumed with Jaehee, her mental balance tipped like a precariously tilting seesaw.

Pathetic.

Glancing at her smartwatch, which now read 12:12 PM, Suin sighed in self-reproach as she idly watched employees filtering out into the garden after their lunch.

[Some executives invited him to join them, but the Senior Executive deferred.]

“He must’ve found it uncomfortable. Does he have other plans?”

[Doesn’t seem like it.]

“In that case, escort him to the staff cafeteria. It’s a good chance to make an impression on the employees and showcase the high quality of our cafeteria meals.”

[Will you be joining us, Chief?]

“It’ll take me a while.”

And I’d rather not go. Especially since going now would mean eating with that man.

[Got it. I’ll take care of him.]

Hyun Jiye’s enthusiastic tone was practically glowing with excitement.

Of course. For a twenty-seven-year-old woman, an impossibly handsome Senior Executive might as well be a living idol.

“Enjoy your lunch.”

With a smile for her cheerful colleague, Suin ended the call and leaned back on the bench.

“I’ll take this rare opportunity to relax.”

For the first time, she contemplated the forbidden idea of shirking responsibilities.@@novelbin@@

It wasn’t dereliction of duty, after all—it was lunch hour. And with a plan in place to keep Seo Jaehee occupied, everything seemed in order.

“Perfect.”

Just as she settled into her fleeting bliss, gazing up at the drifting clouds with a rare sense of calm, her phone vibrated on the bench beside her.

Bzzzzz—

A quick glance at the screen revealed an unfamiliar number. Suin answered, barely looking.

“Yes, this is Lee Suin.”

[It’s me.]

A soft, low voice cut sharply through the line, sending a shiver down her spine.

“…Who’s this?”

She asked, feigning ignorance, though she knew perfectly well who it was.

[Who else could it be?]

That confident, nonchalant tone could only belong to Seo Jaehee.

[You’re my secretary, but you haven’t even saved my number?]

“I must’ve overlooked that detail. My apologies, sir.”

Saving his number should’ve been her first task, yet she’d completely forgotten—probably as a subconscious defense mechanism.

[No need to apologize. Just save it now.]

“I’ll do so immediately.”

[Lee Suin.]

Hearing her name spoken so distinctly and firmly, she felt an odd weight in his voice, as if imbued with determination.

Surely Hyun Jiye isn’t next to him as he says my name like this… right?

Before she could even voice her concern, he continued.

[I’ve been wandering the building like a husband searching for a runaway wife, but I can’t find you anywhere.]

What?!

“Sir! Please be mindful of your words… Is there anyone around you?”

Flustered, Suin stammered as she shot up from the bench.

[There are people walking by.]

And yet he says something like “runaway wife”?

Leaving him to his own devices had clearly been a mistake.

“Where are you? I’ll come to you.”

[No, you tell me where you are.]

“Let’s not—”

Suin swallowed back her frustration, stifling the urge to beg him to stay put, and began heading toward the back gate of the relaxation garden.

[Found you.]

“Ah!”

Startled, Suin turned to find him standing right there, phone still in hand, wearing a victorious smirk.

At the sound of Seo Jaehee’s voice, a startled shout erupted from above.

Suin’s gaze snapped upward toward the source of the noise.

On the third floor, she spotted workers cleaning the building’s windows—and a large water container tumbling down toward her.

“Watch out!”

“Lee Suin!”

In that split second, everything happened at once.

Jaehee, like a spring unleashed, bolted from the garden exit and shoved Suin aside, her body frozen in shock. In the blink of an eye, a cascade of filthy water poured down, drenching Jaehee from head to toe.

Whoosh!

Thud!

The water container followed immediately after, striking his broad shoulder with a loud crash before hitting the ground.

“Ah…”

Suin was so stunned she could only gasp, her voice caught in her throat.

Standing before her, Seo Jaehee brushed his dripping wet hair back with his hand, turning to her as if nothing had happened.

“You okay?”

He smiled brightly, as though none of it was a big deal.

Looking at the man who was soaked through, smiling as if he hadn’t just risked himself for her, Suin felt an odd mix of emotions—gratitude, guilt, and an overwhelming urge to reprimand him.

Why did you jump in?! she wanted to yell.

“…Yes, thanks to you, I’m fine,” she replied, her voice steady despite her inner turmoil.

“That’s good to hear.”

Jaehee let out a soft chuckle, shaking water from his hair with his fingers.

Even soaking wet, he shone.

The sunlight reflecting off his damp hair framed him in a radiant halo. Yet it wasn’t just the light; something about him seemed to exude brilliance, as if he were glowing from within.

“The container hit your shoulder. Are you sure you’re okay?”

“This is nothing.”

Jaehee shrugged casually, giving her a reassuring smile. His soaked suit clung to him, emphasizing the lines of his athletic build, and his lips, deepened in color by the water, seemed almost unfairly captivating.

“Are you worried about me?”

“It’s possible you have abrasions. Let’s visit the infirmary.”

Avoiding his gaze, Suin gestured toward the exit.

At that moment, a worker in overalls came running toward them, bowing deeply.

“I’m so sorry! The strap holding the container must’ve come loose—”

The man’s face was pale, as if he were the one who had been injured.

It was clear his mind was racing with fears of compensation, dismissal, and the many repercussions that might follow.

“Are you seriously hurt? I can take you to the hospital—”

“I…”

Suin hesitated, unsure how Jaehee would react. Knowing his past temperament, she half-expected an outburst.

But to her surprise, Jaehee spoke calmly.

“It’s fine.”

“Pardon?”

“I just got a little wet.”

He rolled his shoulder lightly, brushing off the incident, and gestured politely to the man.

“Go back to your work, and make sure everything is secured properly this time.”

“But your suit—it's expensive. At least let me cover the cleaning—”

“I have a change of clothes. Don’t worry about it.”

Reassuring the frantic worker, Jaehee placed a gentle hand on Suin’s back, signaling her to move along.

“Thank you! Thank you so much!”

The worker bowed repeatedly in gratitude as Suin followed Jaehee toward the exit.

Her thoughts were muddled.

His calm response to what could’ve been an infuriating situation and the way he had leapt to protect her without hesitation left her unsettled.

After all… he saved me.

She glanced up at him, her gaze lingering on his wet hair.

The way his slicked-back hair now fell messily across his forehead reminded her of the Seo Jaehee she had known in her teens—a fresh-faced boy, full of raw emotion and energy.

Should I thank him?

While she wrestled with her thoughts, they entered the lobby together.

All eyes turned toward Jaehee.

With his drenched suit and glistening hair, his mere presence was enough to stop people in their tracks.

Ignoring the stares, Jaehee walked confidently toward the elevator, his focus solely on Suin.

“What about lunch?”

It was only then that Suin realized he hadn’t joined Hyun Jiye for lunch as planned.

Which meant he was still running on an empty stomach.

“Sir, you should eat something.”

“Not me. You.”

“…Sorry?”

“Did you eat?”

His gaze was unwavering. There was no concern for himself, no regard for anything else around him—just her.

It was as if his entire world revolved solely around Lee Suin.

It was, in every way, so quintessentially Seo Jaehee.