A Dog's Determination

Then, I'll take my leave.

Suho shot to his feet at Hwigyeom's casual remark and, like a gentleman, reached out to guide Yeong-a to the adjacent seat, the vast gulf between the royal family and ordinary employees as plain as day.

Sure. Please sit down.

Hwigyeom slid Yeong-a, who was perched on the middle of the sofa, away with his hip and took the seat beside her.

Why make people feel so burdened?

Yeong-a whispered, but Hwigyeom offered no reply.

The table afterward was wrapped in silence. Fortunately, the food arrived quickly.

Please eat.

Hwigyeom flashed a polite smile and lifted his chopsticks first. The remaining three began eating as well.

Last time at the company outing, he hadn't even taken a sip of water, yet here he was, devouring every last piece of sushi at a place far inferior to that one, as if it were his own personal feast.

Suho did the same, and Chaemi left more than half her plate empty, but Yeong-a could barely manage a bite. And of all things, it was the set menu—nothing but boiled eel sushi and cooked shrimp.

Yeong-a, do you have no appetite?

Suho asked when he noticed.

Yeah. A little. Want to eat some more, Oppa?

Sure. Then go ahead.

The moment Yeong-a slid her wooden cutting board toward Suho, Hwigyeom snatched it away in the blink of an eye.

Have you been exerting too much emotional energy? You look starved today.

Sigh. Why eat what Yeong-a was eating? I'll order you another one.

Chaemi picked up the menu, but Hwigyeom calmly plucked a single piece of sushi from Yeong-a's board.

No need. I usually just eat one bowl of rice.

One bowl? Haha. You two must be pretty close.

Chaemi asked with an awkward lift of her lips. Hwigyeom, having cleaned his plate without a sound, answered.

So are you two.

This time Yeong-a jumped in.

See? What do Oppa and Chaemi even have in common? People keep talking about it.

Yeong-a had been curious for ages, really for a very long time.

Eh?

Suho flushed and slapped Chaemi's arm. She straightened up at once.

It's not like that at all. I told you before, too. Sigh. Team Leader, don't misunderstand.

Instead of answering, Hwigyeom merely raised one eyebrow. Then he took the last piece of sushi Yeong-a had left and brought it to his mouth.

Naturally, everyone's eyes stayed fixed on Hwigyeom. Yet he ate with perfect posture, no unnecessary movements at all.

He made no sound with his utensils, not even when setting down his water glass. Even when eating his lunchbox in the office, he did the same. So Yeong-a always felt that wherever he sat was like dining at a high-end restaurant.

After the meal, Hwigyeom quietly set his chopsticks aside and rose. He turned to Suho.

Thank you for the delicious food. Shall we go?

Despite seeing how downcast Yeong-a still was.

Yeong-a employee, you need to stand too.

Yeong-a stood beside Suho, who was handling the bill. After thanking him for the meal, Hwigyeom left first, and Chaemi followed right behind.

Oppa, the lunch was great. The gift was really thoughtful.

Not at all. But I noticed your team leader takes really good care of you.

Yeah. Usually like that.

Thinking back, even in difficult situations he always showed up exactly when needed.

How does he use that embarrassing title so smoothly?

What title?

Hyung. Sigh, just imagining it makes me shudder.

Suho scratched his arm and trembled. He had used it before too, hadn't he? The thought hit him like a splash of cold water. Suho smiled bitterly.

Anyway, I was worried because you two are from different worlds, but seeing you two get along so well is a relief.

Is it jealousy now? The smile twisted oddly. Suho had said it, so Yeong-a asked again.

Oppa seems really close to Chaemi too.

It's not like that at all. Anyway, Oppa and I never talk much, right? Let's celebrate together in the neighborhood soon.

Okay.

Originally they had planned to eat lunch and head to a cafe nearby, but Yeong-a suggested they part ways here.

Team Leader and I have somewhere to go. Let's eat lunch together again next time. Thanks for everything today.

Hwigyeom would definitely catch up again, and Yeong-a couldn't stand the thought of making him eat something he didn't like twice.

After walking some distance, Hwigyeom spoke to Yeong-a.

You know this is all thanks to me, right?

What do you mean?

That guy must have been jealous.

Ah...

He really was. The feeling from earlier was correct. But somehow she wasn't happy about it. Maybe because of the gift in her hand.

We work in the same office anyway. Why bother with the company?

Yeong-a asked as she walked. Hwigyeom clicked his tongue at once.

Where did you hear such disrespectful words?

And right after a short pause, he continued.

Business trip.

Chaemi called her mom while marching forward with a huff. When Suho suggested coffee, she rejected him coldly and headed for the nearby park instead.

Mom! What happened with what I asked you to look into?

Oh ho ho ho. When did our daughter suddenly want to get married?

Chaemi had always planned to enjoy single life as long as possible, but after meeting Hwigyeom her heart had changed. So she had asked her mom to hire a matchmaker who only dealt with chaebols and noble families and search for Hwigyeom.

Ah, hurry up and answer! He said Sa Hwigyeom had some big scandal recently and got dumped, so he's basically worthless now.

I was just telling you that. But that family... so anyway, first look at a few other people.

Chaemi immediately let out a loud yell.

Ah, I don't want anyone but Sa Hwigyeom! His grandfather and our grandfather are friends!

Chaemi's maternal side had made a fortune through land speculation, but her paternal side was different. Her grandfather had been a high-ranking official and still belonged to the official circles.

Anyway, girl. Mom's good at choosing men because she's like me.

Just catch him already. After that I'll take care of the rest.

Right now Hwigyeom ignores me, but once he knows my worth he'll change. He's famous for being bright, isn't he? Surely he won't prefer some wooden-headed girl who knows nothing to a woman who can speak well and move well.

Okay. Behave yourself until then, Princess.

Chaemi hung up without another word. Of course she would. That was also the reason she had kept Suho close.

Though her body wasn't particularly impressive, Suho did his absolute best to serve Chaemi. Plus, after testing him multiple times during university, he proved to be very restrained. The perfect way to calm his restless body.

His only flaw was having too grand a dream, but that could be fixed later by dumping Yeong-a appropriately. Suho seemed to think the same.

Chaemi, feeling relieved, smiled brightly and called Suho back.

Oppa, where are you? Wasn't I upset with you earlier? We agreed not to talk until we're sure.

Suho's retreating figure was visible in the distance. His lackey certainly couldn't run far.

Oppa!

Chaemi dashed toward her own Suho.

A while later, Yeong-a was running energetically toward Hwigyeom as well, with Bokdol at her side.

The dog trainer who had come from hell was glaring with eyes like hatchets and measuring the finish line at close range.

Again twenty seconds! Can he really win like this?

The moment Hwigyeom crossed the finish line he had drawn, Yeong-a collapsed onto the grass. Bokdol flopped down on his little body too.

Who prepares dog kindergarten sports day like this? I can't do it anymore. Team Leader, you jump with us.

Yeong-a panted as she spoke, but Hwigyeom's expression didn't change.

Didn't you say you would do everything asked of you when you accepted the couple necklace?

That was two hours ago.

After leaving the company, Yeong-a and Hwigyeom got into the car.

Want to do anything?

I want to go shopping. I want to buy a necklace. Do you know any good places, Team Leader? I don't mind if it's expensive. There are lots of pretty ones.

What if I can't get it? I can just buy it myself. And since it's my first time buying an accessory, I want something nice.

Hwigyeom immediately called someone.

When they arrived at the address he gave, a dazzling building appeared. Employees even ran out the moment they parked and offered valet parking.

Only then did Yeong-a realize she had made a mistake.

Asking Sa Hwigyeom for a recommendation!

Being so close with him, Yeong-a had started forgetting the distance between them.

Team Leader, this place is too expensive, isn't it? I won't go in.

It's a great value spot. A necklace costs around ten thousand dollars, right?

She was a bit doubtful, but since they were already at the entrance, Yeong-a followed him into the store.

There was no one shopping, and the goods had no price tags. Moreover, every accessory was surrounded by diamonds scattered everywhere, with nothing that looked cheap.

The moment Yeong-a glared at Hwigyeom with resentful eyes.

He shrugged casually.

All of it is fake.