NLFSD Chapter 2

Episode 2

The morning routine of the “Error Couple” starts once again with a vigorous wake-up. To be exact, only Seo Taecheon bolts out of bed, takes a cold shower, and heads out for a run, while Lee Jiwoon battles it out with a series of alarms set five minutes apart before barely getting up.

Beep beep. Beep beep.

When Lee Jiwoon opened his eyes to the sound of the alarm, Seo Taecheon was already gone. It was even thirty minutes past the critical time he needed to get up.

“Argh! I’m late!”

In a panic, Lee Jiwoon washed up and threw on clothes haphazardly before dashing out the door like a bullet.

Having ended up being twenty minutes late and receiving a scolding from his team leader, Lee Jiwoon opened his phone and sent a text to BBG.

You have no heart.

You could’ve woken me up just this once.

BBG

I’m not idle enough to wake up someone who’s asleep.

“Hah, seriously. He always talks like this.”

Shaking his head, Lee Jiwoon turned on his work PC. He was busy the entire morning. Calls came flooding in about developing promotional products for the newly opened local resort and coordinating home shopping sales, and new emails piled up every time he refreshed his inbox.

“Ha… it’s overwhelming.”

“Jiwoon, time for lunch!”

“It’s already noon?”

He’d worked so frantically he hadn’t noticed the time pass. As he stood up in a rush, Assistant Manager Min Hyekyung scolded him.

“Don’t tell me you forgot today’s team lunch with the department head?”

Ah, alas, my wretched memory. Lee Jiwoon slapped his forehead.

“Let’s go eat.”

Right on cue, Seo Taecheon walked out of the department head’s office. Seemingly unaffected by the midsummer heat, he exuded a cool and elegant aura that made the female staff and Omega employees blush. But to Lee Jiwoon, he was just the guy who unfairly went to work alone.

The lunch spot for today’s gathering was a high-end Korean restaurant right in front of the office. Lee Jiwoon, trying to sit discreetly in a corner, was pulled to the center by Manager Park.

“Ha ha. Jiwoon, sit next to the department head.”

“Me?”

“If someone like us in management sits there, we’ll just end up talking about work. The department head probably wants to sit next to someone younger.”

“But… I’m fine,”

Before he could even object, Lee Jiwoon was forced onto the seat cushion. Seo Taecheon, seated right beside him, had an indifferent expression.

Then, Assistant Manager Min clapped her hands dramatically from a diagonal seat.

“Oh my. You two look so good together. What’s going on here?”

Manager Park, Team Leader Choi, and other mid-level staff chimed in with enthusiastic agreement.

“Now that you mention it, both of you are single Alphas and Omegas. You really suit each other.”

“Exactly. Anyone would think you’re a couple.”

Couple, huh? We’re married, actually. What a damn world.

With a bitter smile, Lee Jiwoon drank his cold water.

“A couple? That’s absurd.”

“Do you not like Alphas like the department head, Jiwoon?”

“Ah… it’s just… I’m not interested in dating or marriage. Being single is the best!”

When Lee Jiwoon said this with a bright smile, Seo Taecheon, who had been silent, finally spoke.

“I also don’t believe marriage has any place in my life.”

“Oh, really? So the department head is a bachelor by choice.”

Assistant Manager Min looked surprised. People started nosily speculating why he wouldn’t get married, and how Alphas and Omegas tend to marry earlier than Betas.

“Being single is the best! So much easier.”

As Lee Jiwoon, maintaining a business smile, reached for a side dish half-heartedly, Seo Taecheon suddenly reached over and snatched the dish away.

Wait, what? He took my side dish?

Lee Jiwoon furrowed his brow and glared at Seo Taecheon.

What he had removed was soy-marinated shrimp. Lee Jiwoon’s number one allergic crustacean—shrimp.

“Um… did you move the shrimp because of me?”

For a moment, Lee Jiwoon was surprised, wondering if this man knew about his allergy.

“No. I took it because I wanted to eat shrimp.”

Of course. What was I expecting from this cold-hearted man? Lee Jiwoon let out a hollow laugh.

“Right. Of course. Enjoy and live a long life.”

“If you’re hungry, eat this.”

Seo Taecheon placed a dish of grilled short rib patties in front of Lee Jiwoon.

“Oh? Looks good. This is my favorite.”

Sitting across from them, Assistant Manager Min didn’t miss the way the two whispered to each other.

What’s going on with those two? Did he remove the food because of Jiwoon’s allergy?

While she watched suspiciously, the meal ended. Lee Jiwoon quickly stood and followed his fellow entry-level colleagues.

“Let’s get a drink later.”

“Sounds good.”

Watching him walk off without a backward glance, Min thought maybe he and the department head really weren’t anything… but they’d looked awfully close just now.

Her eyes behind her glasses gleamed sharply.

On the way back, sipping on iced coffee, they found Assistant Manager Ki Hyunjin standing in front of the Team 1 office. The moment Lee Jiwoon saw him, he hurried over.

“Oh! Assistant Manager Ki! What brings you here?”

He had once been Jiwoon’s mentor, and although they were in different teams now, they still kept in close contact. Seeing the kind, good-natured senior, Jiwoon smiled brightly.

“Still cute as always.”

“Even if it’s just flattery, I’m honored to hear it, sir.”

It was absolutely not flattery. Jiwoon’s sparkling brown eyes, combined with the slightly droopy outer corners, gave a youthful charm, and his apricot-colored cheeks and lips radiated loveliness when he smiled.

“It’s not flattery.”

“I’ve got an average face. You’re the handsome one.”

Does this kid even own a mirror? Ki Hyunjin thought, but he had a reason for his visit and quickly got to the point.

“You know we have the workshop planning meeting today. I’ve talked to the people from Teams 3, 4, and 5. Since this meeting room is the biggest, I thought we could hold it here together. Is that okay?”

“Oh, right. It’s tomorrow, so we should do a final check.”

Jiwoon pulled a pinned document from the partition.

<Sehwa Hotel & Resort Group Summer Workshop Plan – Marketing Strategy Division>

“Let’s get started now.”

Soon, the team representatives gathered in the meeting room. Employees from Teams 1 to 5 sat around the table, checking the schedule for the next day.

The plan was to leave early in the morning, arrive at the company-owned resort in Gapyeong, compete in team games, and enjoy a barbecue dinner before heading back.

“First, let’s double-check room assignments. The department head gets the suite, and everyone else has single rooms, right?”

Ki Hyunjin handed Jiwoon a sheet of paper. Though he was on the same floor as Seo Taecheon, having separate rooms put his mind at ease.

“Yes, accommodations seem fine. Next is the charter bus. How about assigning seats randomly as a way to match people up?”

“Oh, totally random?”

Jiwoon asked curiously, and Ki Hyunjin kindly gave an example.

“We’ve got 60 attendees this time. From junior staff to assistant managers, section chiefs, and even department heads and the division head. Having a random person next to you could break down barriers of rank and generation.”

All the reps, including Jiwoon, agreed. It was a fresh idea and likely to be praised by upper management. Not knowing who would sit next to you was a bit of a trap, but from a work perspective, it made sense.

“Then it’s settled. See you all tomorrow.”

“Yes!”

While a company workshop didn’t exactly scream “fun MT,” Jiwoon still appreciated the chance to get out and about. Was this the curse of married life…? Loving being anywhere but home, feeling thrilled to sleep away from home.

As soon as he got home, he opened the wardrobe and pulled out several outfits. As he tried on tracksuits and hoodies, Seo Taecheon casually commented.

“Trying to impress someone?”

“Excuse me? What are you talking about?”

“You just seemed very into coordinating your outfit, that’s all.”

“I told you—I’m a firm believer in staying single. I hate the idea of dating or marriage, so why would I want to impress anyone?”

Snapping back, Jiwoon continued packing. Seo Taecheon shrugged and turned off the tablet he was watching.

“I wonder who I’ll get as a seatmate. I hope it’s someone I can talk to. I really don’t want it to be an executive.”

Jiwoon mumbled while filling his suitcase. Seo Taecheon quietly looked at him before pulling out his phone and sending a message to someone.

The chartered buses prepared for the workshop rolled into the company yard. Unlike their usual formal suits, employees were dressed in casual clothes and gathered in small groups, chatting. Ki Hyunjin, the general supervisor, held a Bluetooth microphone.

“Everyone. We’re handing out bus tickets now. We randomly assigned the seats to encourage bonding. You’ll find out your seatmate once you get on.”

“Wow, sounds fun.”

“What if I get stuck with a boomer? I’d hate that.”

As reactions varied, people took their tickets and boarded the buses one by one. Jiwoon received a ticket for Bus 1 and climbed aboard. The seat next to him was still empty.

Who will it be? Someone from my team, or a different one? Hopefully someone my age… it’ll be tragic if it’s a department head. Just imagining it is awful.

With each person who got on, Jiwoon watched expectantly, only to be let down again and again. With only five minutes to departure and still no seatmate, he began to feel something was wrong.

There are 60 people, an even number. How come I’m the only one without a seatmate? Weird.

Just then, Seo Taecheon stepped onto the bus, dressed in a shirt and slacks.

“Department Head! Hello!”

“Hello.”

Greetings mixed with flattery surrounded him. Seo Taecheon responded curtly, then walked straight toward Jiwoon.

Wait, what? No way. Don’t tell me he’s my seatmate?!

Please no. Please, no.

Jiwoon clasped his hands and closed his eyes tightly. Seo Taecheon sat down beside him as if it were the most natural thing, and poked Jiwoon’s furrowed brow.

“What are you praying for?”

“Ah… ugh…”

“What? Are you unhappy I got on?”

“When did I say I didn’t like it? I’m just amazed at how coincidental this all is.”

First, the district office messes up their marriage registration, and now this. Getting matched as bus seatmates. Ugh, I’m so sick of it.

“The bus is departing. Please fasten your seatbelts!”

The bus driver announced the departure. Jiwoon folded his arms and slouched in his seat, gazing out the window.

Ugh, I want to get there and rest already. I could use a snack too. The cookie I packed last night in my suitcase sounds really good right now. Nothing beats sugar for stress relief.

What he didn’t realize yet was that, in order to make room for the cookie, he had taken something out of his suitcase… and forgotten to put it back in.