#Ch3 The Problem With Lee Hyunwoo

Kang Jisung liked routine.

Routine meant control.

Control meant efficiency.

Efficiency meant people stopped disappointing him.

Every morning followed the exact same schedule.

6:00 AM — wake up.

6:30 — gym.

7:20 — coffee.

8:30 — office.

No delays.

No surprises.

No unnecessary emotions.

Which was exactly why Lee Hyunwoo was becoming a problem.

Because somehow—

In less than two weeks—

Jisung’s routine kept changing around him.

“Good morning!”

There it was again.

That stupidly bright voice.

Jisung looked up from his documents as Hyunwoo walked into the office carrying coffee and a paper bag.

“You’re three minutes early today,” Jisung noted.

Hyunwoo gasped dramatically. “Was that praise?”

“It was an observation.”

“Close enough.”

Jisung clicked his tongue softly.

Annoying.

Everything about this secretary was annoying.

The way he smiled constantly.

The way employees visibly relaxed around him.

The way conversations became louder whenever he entered a room.

Even now, the executive floor sounded different than it used to.

Less tense.

Less robotic.

And somehow—

Jisung hated noticing that.

“What’s that?” he asked coldly, eyeing the paper bag.

“Breakfast.”

“I didn’t ask for breakfast.”

“I know. That one’s mine.”

“…Then why bring it into my office?”

“Because you called me in here.”

Fair point.

Jisung disliked how quickly Hyunwoo answered him sometimes.

Like he never hesitated.

Never overthought every word.

Meanwhile everyone else treated speaking to Kang Jisung like walking through a minefield.

Hyunwoo sat at the small desk beside the office window before opening the paper bag.

The smell immediately filled the room.

Fresh bread.

Egg sandwiches.

Coffee.

Jisung frowned slightly.

“You’re eating again.”

“You told me to.”

“I told you not to skip meals.”

“Exactly.”

Hyunwoo smiled before taking a bite.

Jisung looked back at his laptop.

Then back at the sandwich.

Then immediately back at the laptop again.

Ridiculous.

Why was he even noticing what another person was eating?

The silence stretched comfortably.

Well—

Comfortably for Hyunwoo.

Jisung still wasn’t used to another person existing peacefully in his office.

Usually people felt tense around him.

Nervous.

Too careful.

But Hyunwoo acted like this was normal.

Like sitting beside the terrifying CEO of JS Group while eating breakfast happened every day.

Which…

Actually, now it did.

“We have the investor meeting at eleven,” Hyunwoo said between bites. “Director Kim also requested—”

Crumbs fell onto the desk.

Jisung stared immediately.

Hyunwoo froze.

“…I can explain.”

“You got crumbs on my desk.”

“They escaped.”

Jisung looked genuinely offended.

Hyunwoo quickly grabbed tissues. “I’ll clean it.”

“You should.”

“Right.”

Silence again.

Then unexpectedly—

“…You’re not scared of me.”

Hyunwoo looked up.

The question sounded almost accusing.

He thought carefully for a second.

“I was at first.”

“At first?”

“You’re less scary after talking to you.”

Jisung narrowed his eyes slightly.

Nobody had ever said that before.

Most people became more intimidated after speaking to him.

Not less.

“You still think I’m scary though,” Jisung stated.

“Oh absolutely.”

“…Then what changed?”

Hyunwoo smiled lightly.

“You care more than people think.”

The room became quiet.

Not awkward quiet.

Still quiet.

Jisung’s expression hardened slightly.

“You’re making assumptions.”

“Maybe.”

“I don’t care about unnecessary things.”

Hyunwoo looked unconvinced.

That irritated Jisung immediately.

“You disagree again?”

“Well…”

Hyunwoo hesitated this time.

Interesting.

“You can say it.”

“You really want me to?”

“No.”

“…You still asked.”

Jisung sighed quietly.

Exhausting.

Absolutely exhausting.

Yet somehow—

Not unpleasant.

“I just think,” Hyunwoo continued carefully, “people misunderstand you sometimes.”

“They don’t.”

“You notice small things.”

“That’s part of my job.”

“You remember everyone’s mistakes.”

“Because mistakes matter.”

“You also remember if your employees eat lunch.”

Silence.

Jisung looked back at his screen.

“…That affects work performance.”

“Sure.”

The smile in Hyunwoo’s voice made Jisung’s jaw tighten slightly.

Why did it feel like this secretary could see through him sometimes?

—

By lunchtime, the entire office was buzzing again.

Mostly because Kang Jisung had done something shocking.

He had defended an employee.

Briefly.

But still.

“He told Director Choi not to blame the intern too harshly.”

“No way.”

“I heard it too.”

“The world is ending.”

Minji leaned toward Hyunwoo dramatically. “What did you do to him?”

Hyunwoo looked confused. “What?”

“He’s slightly less terrifying lately.”

“That’s not true.”

“It absolutely is.”

Jaeho nodded seriously. “Before you came here, nobody spoke during lunch.”

Hyunwoo blinked.

“…You guys were that scared?”

“We still are,” Minji admitted. “But now he’s weirdly less angry.”

That didn’t sound right.

Jisung still looked permanently annoyed at humanity.

Then again—

Hyunwoo had noticed small things changing too.

Like how the CEO stopped criticizing every tiny mistake he made.

Or how he no longer looked irritated whenever Hyunwoo entered the office.

Sometimes—

Very rarely—

Jisung even listened quietly when Hyunwoo rambled.

Which honestly felt more shocking than if he smiled.

“Secretary Lee.”

The sudden voice made everyone straighten instantly.

Kang Jisung stood nearby holding documents.

The cafeteria atmosphere died immediately.

Even breathing became quieter.

“Yes, sir?”

“Come with me.”

Hyunwoo stood quickly.

As they walked out together, he noticed employees staring at him with sympathy again.

Like he was being led to execution.

—

Inside the elevator, silence settled between them.

Hyunwoo glanced sideways carefully.

Jisung looked tired today.

Not physically.

More like mentally exhausted.

His eyes looked sharper than usual.

Colder too.

“Did I do something wrong?” Hyunwoo asked eventually.

“No.”

“Then why does this feel scary?”

“Everything feels scary to you.”

“That’s because you walk around like a final boss.”

Jisung slowly turned his head.

“…A what?”

Oops.

“You know,” Hyunwoo continued awkwardly, “like in games.”

“I don’t play games.”

“Right. Of course you don’t.”

Silence again.

Then unexpectedly—

“…Which boss?”

Hyunwoo blinked.

“Sorry?”

“In the game analogy.”

The elevator suddenly felt surreal.

Was Kang Jisung seriously asking this?

“You’d probably be the impossible hidden boss people complain about online.”

“…Explain.”

“You know. Unfair difficulty level. Emotionally damaging. Beautiful design.”

Silence.

Complete silence.

Hyunwoo realized what he just said exactly three seconds too late.

Wait.

Beautiful design?

BEAUTIFUL DESIGN?

His soul nearly left his body.

“I meant— professionally beautiful— no, not beautiful beautiful—”

The elevator doors opened.

Jisung walked out calmly.

But Hyunwoo noticed it.

Just briefly.

The smallest pause in his steps.

And for the first time since meeting him—

The CEO’s ears looked slightly red.

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