LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 208
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“Really really?”
“Yes.”
“Really really really?”
“Yes yes.”
“Really truly really?”
“Yes yes yes.”
“Oh, come on!”
As I flatly refused to the end, the Branch Chief looked at me with irritation.
“Do you really dislike working with me that much?”
“Yes.”
“…”
This time, the Branch Chief made a genuinely hurt expression.
“Wait, what’s wrong with me…?”
“There’s nothing wrong with you as the Branch Chief.”
Honestly, just looking at his appearance and abilities, he’s an impressive person.
After all, he’s someone strong by nature.
However—
“I mean, you’re going to put me through a ton of hard work, right?”
“What? Put you through hard work?”
The Branch Chief coughed, avoiding my gaze.
“It’s not hard work, but more like an extension of responsibilities for a more outstanding career path…”
“In other words, the workload is going to increase.”
Typically, when someone says that, it means they won’t be paying you more, but will be giving you lots more work.
“…”
The Branch Chief closed his mouth only to open it again.
“B-but, you know?”
“Yes.”
“There’s a long line of people wanting to work under me!”
“Congratulations. It looks like I can do without you.”
The Branch Chief stared at me with narrowed eyes.
“I’ve got quite a few people who like me, you know.”
“Is that so? Why don’t you catch one of them and start dating?”
“It’s not that easy to just make friends!”
The Branch Chief looked at me wide-eyed.
“You really haven’t made any friends?”
“I was busy!”
“Understood.”
Well, considering how he goes around like that…
It was as if my train of thought was interrupted when the Branch Chief started grumbling, looking aggrieved.
“I’ve been told I’m somewhat of a thoughtful person. And I know all the latest happenings.”
“Is it about events from two hundred years ago? No, you have to be over sixty by then.”
“…”
Boom!
As the Branch Chief swung his fist next to my face, a snapping sound echoed, and the air seemed to explode.
“I misspoke.”
“Good choice.”
I quickly apologized, and the Branch Chief simply replied, pulling his fist back.
“Do you really have no consideration?”
“None. And if I do leave, will the others come too?”
“The others?”
“I mean, the Team Leader, and maybe Ye Eun, and Da On, Chae Yeon, A-Rin, and so on.”
Upon my words, the Branch Chief paused for a moment.
“Then there won’t be anyone left to do HR work, you know?”
“Exactly.”
I shook my head while looking at the Branch Chief.
“First of all, thank you sincerely for your offer.”
“…”
“But, you see. I’ve now got colleagues that I work with, and although it’s workplace relationships, I consider them close.”
The Branch Chief looked here and there, visibly taken aback.
“…Alright. Let’s forget about my proposal.”
“Thank you.”
“But.”
The Branch Chief looked at me.
With her eyes wide open, she stared at me.
“This is advice I’m giving you as a senior in life… no, as a senior from the Management Agency.”
“Yes.”
“Like people. But, don’t hang everything on one person.”
With a serious expression, she continued to look at me.
“If you end up liking someone too much, then at that moment, you’ll create an indelible weakness and an irremovable scar.”
“Is that… a personal experience?”
The Branch Chief gazed at me intently before breaking into a light laugh.
“In that case, I’d have died before I became a Branch Chief.”
She nodded at me.
“Love everyone. But don’t love everyone too much.”
“…”
“That’s the best way to protect your heart while doing this job.”
Suddenly, she called me Jae Heon, not Kim Jae Heon. Taken aback, I didn’t know what to say, but I decided to nod slowly.
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Good.”
The Branch Chief smiled slightly.
“I think Aileen is finishing up her notes, so she should be out soon.”
“Is that so?”
I remembered Aileen, who insisted she had serious work to do and refused to leave earlier.
What could be so important?
“Alright, shall we go?”
“Yes.”
At my words, the Branch Chief smiled and started walking.
“Still, I envy you, Jae Heon.”
“Yes?”
The Branch Chief looked at me.
“To be able to be with people you believe in, and who believe in you.”
Then, before I could say anything, she walked off briskly.
“Wait, Branch Chief!”
Even as I called out to her, she walked like the wind, disappearing from my sight at a pace I couldn’t catch up to.
“…”
People are such complicated yet simple creatures.
Lost in profound thoughts on existence, they find consolation in simply knowing there are others like themselves.
How did we appear in the Branch Chief’s eyes?
Having shared a long time of empathy and lived similar experiences with the chance of dying in likeness, didn’t she envy us?
Rustle!
At that moment, the manual I had tucked away automatically unfolded before me.
[Manual for Office Staff]
[OY – When communicating with others who are fundamentally different]
1. When working at the Management Agency, there are many instances where you’ll interact with people who are fundamentally different from you.
2. In this case, while it’s good to understand them, there will be times you simply cannot.
3. In such instances, just think of accepting it. There’s no need to strive to understand the differences.
4. Furthermore, I must inform you beforehand that the manual shares a very similar ideology and personality to its owner, but it is not to the extent of having kin hatred.
What did I even say to you?
*
The journey back was quite far.
Had I really come this far?
Was the Branch Chief somehow teleporting me to some distant place without my knowledge? As I returned, I was stopped by—
“Why are you so late?”
“What did the Branch Chief say?”
“Did she say something weird again?”
Yu Da On, Jang Chae Yeon, and Song Ah Rin looked at me as if they were ready to devour me.
“I got scouted.”
“You got scouted?”
“Well, that explains why she pulled me away.”
“Getting old is practically the same as being a snake. Just like a snake.”
As I spoke, Yu Da On’s eyes widened, Jang Chae Yeon muttered seriously, and finally, Song Ah Rin attacked me without a shred of hesitation.
“So, what did you say to her?”
Song Ah Rin glared at me intently, and I shrugged at her question.
“I said I can’t do it. The work will be difficult, and I’m already part of the HR team.”
“…Phew.”
Jang Chae Yeon and Song Ah Rin let out sighs of relief.
“We were worried you’d be forced into a transfer or fall for the Branch Chief’s temptations.”
“More like lured into it.”
That’s another way to think about it—
“I didn’t do anything though?”
As Song Ah Rin and Jang Chae Yeon spoke, Yu Da On stared at them both with disbelief.
“Did you both actually think that? That Jae Heon would leave us?”
“…”
“…”
As Jang Chae Yeon and Song Ah Rin fell silent, Yu Da On looked at them with an expression that asked what nonsense they were spouting.
“Of course he wouldn’t, right?”
Then, she looked at me and smiled.
“…Yes. Of course not.”
“Exactly. I always believed in Jae Heon!”
Yu Da On beamed with joy.
“…”
Not knowing what to say, I decided to just smile back at her.
“Anyway, we’ve finished a tough situation.”
At my words, the three nodded their heads.
“Let’s take a break for now.”
A rare chance to rest.
Especially since it was time on the moon, it made it even more special.
“Let’s all go to our favorite places and take a break before coming back.”
“Yes!”
“Okay.”
“Sounds good.”
The three nodded, and I turned back, satisfied to walk away.
It would be nice to take a moment to gather my thoughts while looking at the moon at night.
During the stroll, I heard—
Pitter patter… pitter patter…
There were footsteps behind me.
I turned around to see the three of them chasing after me.
“I told you to go to your favorite places and rest, didn’t I?”
Their reactions were varied.
“Ah, that’s…”
Yu Da On trailed off, diverting her gaze.
“Hey, you’re the one going where I want to go, you know?”
Song Ah Rin said in annoyance.
“The road you’re taking is the road I want to take.”
And Jang Chae Yeon threw another curveball at me.
“…Alright. Then follow me.”
In the end, the four of us continued to look at the moon together until the Branch Chief called us again.
*
After gazing at the moon for a while, we still had about half a day left before it was time to return to the ground.
After having the dry rations that the Branch Chief brought, I made preparations to sleep by laying out my sleeping bag.
I was closest to the door, with the Branch Chief opposite me. Next to her was Song Ah Rin, then Jang Chae Yeon, and finally Yu Da On, each with their sleeping bags prepared.
I wondered where they managed to get sleeping bags like these.
Ultimately, Aileen ended up sleeping on the bed.
I strongly advocated for the Branch Chief to sleep on the bed out of respect for her age, but her firm will to remove my tongue if I said any more couldn’t be easily overcome.
As I got ready for bed and laid out my sleeping bag, the Branch Chief caught the curtain.
“So, how was everyone’s trip today?”
“It was awful.”
“I don’t want to do it a second time.”
“I hate it…”
“I’m tired…”
“…”
There were no positive responses to be heard.
Of course, I didn’t give a positive reply either.
“So glad to see everyone so vibrant!”
Ignoring our moans completely, the Branch Chief cheerfully held the curtain.
“Alright, I’ll turn off the lights!”
With a swift motion, she pulled the curtain shut, and darkness settled in.
Fatigue hit me immediately, and I slipped into slumber.
“…”
At least, that’s what I thought.
I opened my eyes.
The warm dust of the moon brushed against my face.
“I have something to say.”
A familiar voice reached my ears.
Looking up, I saw a girl with a familiar face watching me.
“Can you give me a break?”
“Ah, um, sorry. But it’s… not a serious issue. Just a little chat.”
Upon my grumbling, she looked surprised, her eyes widening before she quickly waved her hands.
“Are you, are you mad?”
Then, she hurriedly approached me, as if gauging my reaction.
“I’m not mad.”
Right, if she called me, there must be a reason.
“Really?”
“I’m not mad, I said.”
Sitting up to feel the warm sand, I gazed at the girl.
“What’s up?”
“Alright, then… ahem.”
She cleared her throat and continued.
“I’ll tell you about the moon and the wedge.”
Behind her was the bright moon I had seen earlier.