SRSYT C7

Chapter 7

“Wow… so you’re married?”

Manager Kim kept throwing questions. He still had not noticed Yoon Haegang standing in the doorway.

“Then the spouse is a beta too? How old is the kid?”

He had always talked a lot, and new information about Seojin only made him chatter more.

“Uh… no. I’m not married.”

“You’re not? Aha, then you’re living together?”

“No. Just the child…”

Why was this man saying things like that! Seojin was about to protest when—

“Move. How long do you plan to block the door?”

Haegang cut into the conversation. The tone was still soft, but Seojin’s shoulders shrank on their own.

“Huh? Ah, President, you’re here!”

Only then did Manager Kim acknowledge him. Seojin hurriedly stepped aside too, but for some reason Haegang stayed planted in the doorway.

What’s with him now.

The stare would not leave him. Seojin could neither advance nor retreat and only rolled his eyes for no reason.

“Where are you two going?”

“Ah, well. Manager Kim said we should leave early today, so we were on our way out.”

Frozen like he was playing freeze tag, Seojin rushed to answer.

“That’s right. There wasn’t any important request, so I suggested we go. I forwarded the calls to me too.”

Manager Kim backed him up. Haegang said nothing and only looked at Seojin.

The gaze dragged slowly from the crown of his head to the nape of his neck and stuck there, sharp. Only after a long moment did Haegang turn, unhurried.

What was that just now…

Seojin stared blankly at his back as he went inside without a word.

“President, I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Manager Kim left only a greeting and hurried out of the office. He flapped a hand at Seojin to come along.

Seojin edged sideways, watching Haegang. By then the man had sat on the sofa, relaxed as a full predator, tapping at his phone.

The daycare had already been called. This was no time to linger. Holding even his breath down, Seojin sidestepped out at once.

“How old is the kid?”

“Five.”

Even going down the stairs, Manager Kim kept talking.

“Aigoo, that’s the cutest age. Daughter or son?”

“A daughter.”

“Oh… do you have a photo?”

His eyes even sparkled. Seojin turned, surprised by the interest.

“Do you like children?”

“Is there anyone who doesn’t?”

Seojin’s gaze went up the stairs toward the office without him meaning to. Manager Kim caught it and burst out laughing.

“Our president might like them too.”

“…Really?”

“He looks like that, but he donates to childcare places every month. Visits twice a year too.”

“…Really?”

The first time he asked it with narrowed eyes. The second time his voice rose in surprise on its own. Yoon Haegang, who suited “secondary yandere top” better than “secondary top,” doing something that kind.

It would not match no matter how he tried.

“The president should see that face!”

Manager Kim snickered with a look that would have had kkk attached if it were a chat. There was nothing Seojin could do about it. Watching the man clutch his stomach like it hurt, Seojin pouted.

Where was the connection between Yoon Haegang and donations.

“Please stop laughing…”

“Well, our president does look a bit like a chaebol son. A bit proud too. Right?”

Seojin nodded without argument. Even in just a navy shirt and ivory slacks, he looked like an urban man to anyone.

If he walked down the street claiming to be a model or an actor, people would believe it.

Looking at that, maybe real connections really are separate.

Honestly, in looks alone Haegang did not fall behind the main top.

Both were dominant alphas, and their wealth was almost the same.

Of course a fourth-generation chaebol main top and a former gangster who had opened an information company stood in slightly different positions.

In ability they’re similar, aren’t they?

They just used it in different directions.

“Yes. From the outside, that’s how it looks.”

“Haha… this is why I like you, Seojin-ssi. You talk without holding back!”

Manager Kim’s questions did not stop after that, but strangely the smile would not leave Seojin’s mouth. His steps home felt lighter than before.

“Euni, should we eat out today?”

It was a rare easy evening. He wanted to spend the time eating outside, but unexpectedly Euni shook her head.

“No.”

“No?”

“Ung.”

“Why?”

“Teacher said eating at home is healthy!”

Seojin barely held back a laugh. Euni nodded with shining eyes, as if she were saying something very important.

“…Is that so? Teacher said that?”

“Yes! Teacher said if you eat the food your parents make well, you grow tall and get strong!”

Watching her lift her chin as if to say see, I’m right, a laugh finally slipped through Seojin’s lips. He gently stroked the cheek of Euni, who grinned along with him.

“Alright. Then Appa will make something extra tasty today. What does Euni want to eat?”

“Mm…”

Where had she learned that pose. Euni put a finger under her chin and thought hard.

“Sausage and vegetable stir-fry!”

If they were eating healthy, something other than sausage would have been better. But she had admirably asked to put vegetables in too, so there was no reason to refuse. Seojin accepted his daughter’s request readily.

“Good. We’ll use Euni’s favorite sausage. Should we stop by the mart?”

“Yes!”

Holding the hand of Euni, who answered stoutly, he headed for the nearby hypermarket. The moment they stepped through the entrance, Euni shouted, excited.

“Euni will push!”

The store carts had a child-size one. That was what she meant.

“Shall we?”

They were not buying much today anyway, so he did not refuse this time either. Excited Euni quickly appeared pulling a kids’ cart.

“Shall we look around?”

“Yes!”

When Seojin smiled as he said it, Euni’s face opened wide too. She had no trouble finding the processed food aisle.

“Appa, that!”

She was still too short to take the product down herself. Euni jabbed a finger at the sausage she wanted.

“This one?”

“No, the one next to it.”

“This?”

“Nooo. Next to it! The pink one!”

After several misses, her heels bounced. Of course Seojin did not really not know.

“It’s confusing. Euni, tell me the name. Appa taught you before.”

Catching his intent, she pouted.

“Soft sausage!”

Even the sulky answer earned an admiring look. Only then did he pick up the product she wanted and hold it out.

“Here. Euni’s favorite soft sausage.”

“Thank you.”

Once she had what she wanted, her face brightened at once. Even the way she put it in the tiny cart looked excited. Then she glanced sideways again.

Not the long sausage they had just picked, but a small, round kind. She seemed to want that too, and to be wondering if she could ask for another after already choosing one.

“Appa…”

She looked up at him, hesitant. He asked as if he did not know, though he did.

“Yes. What is it?”

“You said today Euni can have everything she wants.”

Instead of pointing out the sly way she slipped her wish in, he waited for her to say more.

Sure enough, taking that as a yes, Euni quickly pointed at the other sausage. Seojin finally burst out laughing and picked what she wanted.

As if she had done her part, Euni gripped the little cart handle with both hands. She pushed ahead stoutly, looking only forward, and almost hit a display corner. Seojin quickly turned it from the side.

“Go slowly.”

“Euni is doing well.”

“Yes. You are. But you have to look ahead and to the sides too.”

Euni nodded with a serious face for a moment, then moved one careful step at a time. When she met the eyes of a passing stranger, she even bowed. The stranger smiled as if she were cute, and Seojin felt his own shoulders lift for no reason.

He swallowed a laugh and lightly patted her head. Even this small talk filled a corner of his heart with warmth.