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His sharp glare paired with that faint smile was chilling.
A cold shiver ran down her spine.
Today, his strikingly handsome yet icy demeanor gave off an almost grim reaper-like vibe…
“Did I not just hear you say, ‘This is annoying’ right behind me? Was I mistaken?”
Min-hyuk’s emotionless question made Joo-eun flinch as if struck by an electric shock.
“Huh? Ah, well… it’s not exactly what you think… I didn’t mean it like that, so please don’t misunderstand…”
Even she didn’t understand what she was saying.
“It looked like you outright pressed the call rejection button.”
“Well… I did press something, but it wasn’t on purpose…”
None of this was supposed to happen. Absolutely none of it! If she wanted to survive this situation…
As Joo-eun shook her head desperately, tears threatening to spill, Jang Wook clicked his tongue and stepped closer.
“Tsk. You’re picking on her again the moment you meet. Didn’t I warn you about how your tactics have failed? And now you’re doing it without even being asked… Hmm, anyway, kind-hearted Song Joo-eun understands.”
Joo-eun’s wide eyes darted toward Jang Wook.
“And Vice President Byun… What brings you here…?”
“The esteemed Director Min-hyuk insisted on dragging me along for some good deeds. Never once has he included me in anything meaningful before.”
“I’ll make sure to include you more from now on. Stick around.”
“Hmm… Where should I put this box?”
“Give it to me. But how did you know about the things we have here…?”
When she whispered the question to Jang Wook, Min-hyuk answered instead.
“Your mother informed us.”
Ah. Mom…
“Oh, just tell me where to place it. I’ll handle it.”
“Then let’s split it half and half.”
Not wanting to be left alone with Min-hyuk, Joo-eun quickly grabbed three boxes and cradled them in her arms.
Left alone, Min-hyuk glared at her retreating figure before quietly following behind.
After the lively birthday party ended, the children’s main event—the gift-giving ceremony—began.
The luxurious scale of the gifts Min-hyuk brought elicited cheers from all corners.
As a woman standing beside Joo-eun watched contentedly, she poked her side lightly.
“That’s him, right?”
“Huh?”
Startled, Joo-eun whipped her head around.
“The person you were waiting for earlier. Isn’t it him?”
“Ah… No, no. Earlier, I was just waiting for a work call.”
“A work call on a weekend morning?”
“Hmm. Work doesn’t really distinguish between weekdays and weekends once you get into it.”
Was it true that the only things increasing with age were wrinkles and lies?
Joo-eun forced an awkward smile.
“So, are you two in that ‘something-something’ stage people talk about? How fresh. So pure. Hehe.”
If this bone-chilling tension counted as “something-something,” then she never wanted to experience it again.
“I’ll go play with the kids now… Is the mascot costume here today?”
As Joo-eun stood to leave, the woman stopped her in alarm.
“No, no, don’t do it today. There are plenty of gifts, and the kids have played enough.”
“But Yoon-ji kept asking about the bear. She wondered why it wasn’t coming today.”
The memory of Joo-eun playing with the kids in a bear costume during the last event lingered, and the children always requested the bear on special occasions.
Especially Yoon-ji, the youngest at the orphanage, couldn’t be refused when she asked for the bear.
Understanding this, the woman reluctantly nodded and let her go.
After quickly finishing the dining table cleanup, Joo-eun slipped out of the cafeteria.
Min-hyuk’s neck stretched slightly as he watched her leave.
Where could she be going? His curious gaze lingered on the door she exited through.
“Uncle! Can you open this for me?”
Poke, poke.
Tiny fingers jabbed at Min-hyuk’s thigh.
But his gaze remained fixed on the cafeteria entrance where Joo-eun had disappeared.
“…”
“Uncle!”
“Hey, Director Uncle. The little lady is calling you.”
From afar, Jang Wook, who had been tending to the kids, raised his voice.
Min-hyuk muttered under his breath while keeping his eyes glued to the cafeteria exit.
“She wouldn’t have called me.”
It was a firm declaration that he couldn’t possibly be an “uncle.”
With that, he abruptly walked away, leaving the child whose face turned red to burst into tears with a loud wail.
Startled, Jang Wook rushed over to comfort the crying child.
“There, there. Don’t cry, little one. It’s not your fault for calling an uncle an uncle. You did nothing wrong. Keep speaking your mind like that as you grow up.”
Jang Wook, secretly amused, chuckled as he consoled the child.
“I followed her out immediately, but where did she go?”
Min-hyuk glanced around when he spotted someone in a strange costume and fur coat emerging from the far end of the hallway.
So that bear thing… Did she put it on?
Sure enough, as the bear bounced cutely across the playground, Min-hyuk was certain it was Joo-eun inside.
He smirked faintly and trailed after the bear mascot.
The moment the bear stepped onto the playground, it became the undisputed star.
Children poured out of the rooms, abandoning their gifts to cling to the bear, creating chaos everywhere.
“Kids find everything fun at this age.”
Min-hyuk shook his head dismissively, as if he’d never experienced such innocence.
But when a boy grabbed and shook the bear’s tail, Min-hyuk’s hand clenched into a fist.
“How dare he touch my tail…”
Blue veins bulged on the back of his hand.
“That… that brat…!”
“Calm down. Unless you want to be remembered as the chaebol who beat up a kid during volunteer work.”
Jang Wook approached to soothe him.
“Hmm.”
Min-hyuk unclenched his fist with effort and plopped down on a bench.
Jang Wook sat as far away from him as possible.
“Isn’t she exhausted…?”
“How can you ask that? Look at how much she’s running around.”
Watching Joo-eun in the oversized bear costume playing with the kids left Min-hyuk feeling conflicted.
He had thought of mascots as mere characters seen at amusement parks, never imagining someone precious to him could be inside one.
It was an idea he had never entertained before.
Perhaps character costumes should be legally banned from part-time jobs, he mused idly.
“Earlier, I saw her working so hard. Even wearing that bear costume… I hope Song Joo-eun doesn’t collapse.”
“Then why don’t you step in?”
Min-hyuk’s nonchalant remark caused Jang Wook to choke on his drink, spitting it out with a loud “Puh!”
“Cough…! Oh no, it’s all over me. That… that was a joke, right?”
“Did it sound like one?”
A brief silence hung in the air.
“I… I have claustrophobia, you know. This heartless director…”
“All sides are open. How is that claustrophobic?”
“Look, if anyone should help Song Joo-eun, it’s you, the man who claims to have fallen in love at first sight. Why should I…? I gave up my weekend to follow you, and now you’re being so merciless…”
Jang Wook’s voice trailed off, overwhelmed by despair.
He knew any final plea before those dagger-like eyes would be meaningless.
In the end, he dragged his feet toward Joo-eun, shoulders slumped.
Though he approached with a pitiful expression, he somehow managed a cheerful smile when he reached her.
“This guy’s finally useful for once.”
Min-hyuk crossed his arms smugly from the shade.
Joo-eun waved her hands repeatedly, signaling Jang Wook that she was fine. Even the bear’s waving hands were unbearably cute.
Now that he had done enough, she hoped he’d take off that costume soon and show her his face.
Eventually, unable to resist Jang Wook’s persistence, Joo-eun seized a moment when the kids weren’t looking and removed the costume.
Her sweat-soaked hair clung to her face, pitiful yet endearing. Her radiant smile was more beautiful than anything in the world.
“What a selfish woman… She doesn’t need to look prettier than this.”
Min-hyuk murmured softly, gazing at her as time seemed to slow.
If only he could press a pause button and keep watching her like this forever.
Even after returning indoors, Joo-eun continued to play joyfully with the children.
Laughter bloomed everywhere.
Watching the delighted kids, she felt so happy she couldn’t tell whether she had come to volunteer or to heal herself.
Before long, the children gathered around her, forming a circle.
“And so, the prince and princess lived happily ever after.”
“Read another one!”
As soon as one book ended, they thrust their own fairy tales at her.
Even torn and worn-out books seemed to come alive in her hands, so the children always lined up with their books whenever they saw her.
“Alright, bring them all. Today, I’ll read whatever you want.”
True to her word, a line of fairy tale books formed, and she read tirelessly until her throat ached.
Though she feared losing her voice tomorrow, she couldn’t skimp on the performance when the kids rolled around laughing at her roar of “Grrr!”
While Joo-eun was deeply immersed in playing the tiger, a passing teacher asked in surprise:
“Oh my, Joo-eun! Were you here? Then who’s the bear outside?”
“The bear…?”
For a moment, Joo-eun’s eyes widened impossibly.
“Oh no…! Kids, wait a moment. Sorry!”
She set down the youngest child she had been holding and dashed outside.
What to do… Over an hour had passed, and he was still playing with the kids.
“I’m so sorry, Secretary!”
She rushed over, unsure of what to do, but he casually waved her off.
Knowing better than anyone how stifling it must have been inside that costume, she hesitated no longer.
“Kids, there’s ice cream in the fridge. Did you see it?”
“No!”
“Hurry and go eat. There are thirty-one flavors, so everyone can have their pick.”
Excited, the kids bolted inside at lightning speed.
“Please sit here for a bit, Secretary. Have some water.”
She poured water from the cooler and handed it to him.
The bear slumped onto the bench, legs splayed apart, clearly exhausted.
Though its posture was slightly embarrassing for a supposedly cute mascot, she couldn’t blame him given how hard he must have worked.
“I know how precious weekends are for working adults. Thank you so much for spending your valuable time here. Normally, it’s not this hectic, but today was a bit special. I feel terrible for making you work so hard.”
No response came to indicate whether he was tired.
“Has the director… already left?”
The bear shrugged indifferently.
“He probably found it tough since it’s his first time at a place like this. Still, he bought so many gifts for the kids. Please tell him I’m very grateful.”
The cheerful laughter of children drifted through the open window.
“I never imagined the director would play so well with the kids. It’s quite unexpected…”
Joo-eun murmured, almost to herself, hoping her gratitude would reach him somehow.
“The more I see him, the more I realize how prejudiced I’ve been. He’s such a good person… I almost feel guilty wishing for too much. I truly hope the director meets someone wonderful. Sincerely.”
“Joo-eun!”
A teacher called her name from afar.
“I should go. Please stop wearing the costume, okay?”
After emphasizing her point, she hurriedly left.
Enjoying the brief silence, the bear slowly removed its headpiece.
“Phew… I almost cursed from the heat.”
Min-hyuk shook his head vigorously, flinging off sweat-drenched strands of hair, and muttered softly.
“Wearing it was worth it.”
The lips drinking the water she had left curved into a faint smile.
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