NLFSD Chapter 90

 

Chapter 90

Jiwoon nearly choked on his fruit, coughing until Taecheon handed him water.

“Th‑that is…”

Officially, Jiwoon and Madam Choi Yeong‑hee had been strangers. But since Taecheon had gone straight to rifling wardrobes in his mother’s home yesterday, Jiwoon realized he had to clarify their history.

“I actually met your mother once before.”

He recounted the story — editing out the embarrassing money envelope incident, and instead mentioning only how she’d invited him for mango shaved ice one day, after which they occasionally exchanged messages.

“She wanted to see me, so we met at the hotel café. Since then we’ve kept light contact.”

“…I see.”

Taecheon nodded, though inwardly he guessed more. His mother had always been preoccupied with his marriage — guilt over her divorce, endless blind dates arranged. No doubt, she had originally approached Jiwoon with intent to drive him away. But if Taecheon himself had gotten his tastes from anywhere, it was from her. With near certainty, she must have warmed to Jiwoon instead — hence her sheltering him in such an improbable runaway drama.

But Taecheon did not show this deductions on his face.

“Anyway, you came back safe. Rest first.”

“Ah, but… the company.”

“The company?”

“You know I quit, right? I submitted my resignation… what do I do?”

Dark clouds shadowed Jiwoon’s face.

“I stormed out as if I’d never return… This is mortifying. How do I face everyone?”

Seeing his expression droop, Taecheon inclined his head. On that subject, he had already planned.

When he first heard Jiwoon had resigned and fled, Taecheon had simultaneously set out to track him and ordered his secretarial office to investigate. The report that returned was infuriating:

Bullying and sexual harassment by Team Leader Song.

The very words made Taecheon’s fist itch. Anonymous testimonies alleged Song had repeatedly called Jiwoon aside, pressed unwanted advances, and even tried something at the amusement park before being humiliatingly rejected. Afterward, he buried Jiwoon in work and dumped his own responsibilities on him.

Coldly seething, Taecheon had preserved all evidence, though first priority had been finding Jiwoon. Now that Jiwoon was safe, Song would be his very next order of business.

“I know you’re ambitious. If you wish, you may return to work — as long as you don’t strain yourself. I’ll handle it so you can work in peace.”

“…I can go back?”

“Of course. Your resignation hasn’t been processed. I blocked it.”

“Ah! Thank God… My husband really is a blessing.”

Jiwoon leaned on his shoulder, sighing relieved.

“But… are you sure it’s okay, you skipping work just because of me? It makes me anxious.”

“I’ll handle company matters later. For now — you focus on yourself, on me, and on Mango.”

“…Do you think that’s okay?”

“Yes. I’d like to see Mango too, in fact.”

“Ah, I was going to bring it up — let’s go to the hospital together.”

Jiwoon smiled, abashed.

That afternoon, the two visited a genetic medical clinic. After triage, consultation, and new checks, the pregnancy was confirmed again.

In the exam room, Taecheon betrayed nervousness — unsurprising, his first experience. Jiwoon lay calmer, a veteran now of his second ultrasound. The physician guided the probe across his belly.

“Here, that’s the gestational sac. See?”

On the grainy black‑and‑white, a speck of life. Barely identifiable without magnification, so small was Mango.

“…That’s… our baby?”

“Yes. The child of you two.”

For a man whose expression rarely changed, Seo Taecheon’s trembling eyebrow and reddened eyes spoke volumes.

“You Alphas can be tenderhearted,” the doctor chuckled.

Jiwoon, still on the bed, squeezed Taecheon’s hand.

“Don’t cry.”

“I wasn’t going to… but it’s too miraculous. How did this little one come to us?”

“I feel the same. It’s amazing.”

The doctor beamed at the couple. “Don’t forget to take your ultrasound print.” Both nodded, eyes shimmering, but smiling wide.

Now, inextricably, they were family — the two of them bound, with Mango binding them further into three.

Morning came. Jiwoon, after long fretting through the night, decided firmly to go back to work.

“You could rest more,” Taecheon offered.

“No… if I don’t go now, my courage will collapse. I think it’s better to face it early, before embarrassment festers.”

So his determination: pretend it was a “spur‑of‑the‑moment quitting.” ‘I lost my temper for a second, forgive me!’ If he played the fool and begged, maybe his coworkers’ frustration would soften. He practiced lines in the car, laughing awkwardly, grimacing, rehearsing. Watching his contorted expressions, Taecheon had to stifle a smile.

“We’ve arrived. I’ll go first,” Jiwoon said, planning to stagger their entry. As always, protocol demanded they avoid arriving together.

“Let’s just ride up together today.”

“…Really?”

“It’s normal enough to share an elevator.”

“…True. What’re the odds of suspicion?”

So they entered together. Perhaps it even gave Jiwoon courage, feeling Taecheon’s quiet presence beside him.

Morning hour, no one else shared the lift. Taecheon reached out, clasped his hand. The firm grip loosened Jiwoon’s tension. He smiled faintly.

Soon their floor arrived. Taecheon stepped out first as always; staff rose to bow.

“Good morning, Director.”

“Good morning.”

Jiwoon tried to slip behind him unnoticed — but Deputy Min spotted him from afar.

“Wait — isn’t that Assistant Lee Jiwoon?!”

“…I thought he quit!”

“Assistant Lee?”

Startled, Jiwoon blurted loud, “Ah, yes! It’s me!” Attention pivoted toward him at once, cheeks flushing, shoulders heavy with embarrassment.

But humiliation lasts a moment; a career lasts decades. Better to endure. He scratched his head with a goofy grin.

“Ha…ha…”

Then, suddenly, Taecheon blocked his path. Jiwoon froze — why? Then realized: Taecheon had turned, eyes locked on Team Leader Song.

“Team Leader Song Ho‑jong.”

The low, resonant call stopped the room cold. Not many saw the Director address a team leader directly, so curt, so heavy with pressure.

“…Yes, sir?” Song’s smile fluttered nervously.

“Come with me.”

A summons from the Director, immediately upon arrival, was highly unusual. Staff exchanged glances. Something was happening.

“M‑me, sir?”

“…Don’t make me repeat myself.”

Icy, cutting words. Without break, Taecheon pivoted toward his office. His disappearance left an electric hush. Murmurs spread. What happened? What’s going on?

Song stood dumb, his gut knotting. With so many sins, every call from above felt like judgment. The sight of Jiwoon — back from “resignation” — only worsened his dread. But he had no time to worry now. Seo Taecheon, heir apparent, was summoning him — and maybe cutting his career to pieces.

“I’ll… I’ll be back.”

Snatching his notebook, Song hurried to the Director’s suite, eyes prickling with every coworker’s stare following after him.