#27

When I opened my eyes, it was already 7 AM.

Rubbing my dry eyes from the lack of proper sleep, I finished getting ready for work and stepped out of my room, only to see Secretary Sung Yoojun and Manager Ahn Siwon entering the foyer with large suitcases in hand.

“Secretary Sung? Manager Ahn?”

“Good morning, sir. Did you sleep well?”

Ahn Siwon greeted me cheerfully as usual, and I nodded absentmindedly, still staring at the suitcases they were holding in both hands.

“What’s all that?”

“It’s the kids’ stuff from Lee Yong Entertainment.”

The kids’ stuff? Why would they be bringing that from Lee Yong Entertainment? My confused expression must have been obvious, as Ahn Siwon, who had just set the suitcases down by the foyer, started glancing at me nervously.

“Well, since their house was in the basement, there were always problems with…… mold and things like that, so apparently, the company managed their clothes for them.”

“They had their clothes managed by the company?”

“Yes. I think they left a few casual outfits at their manager’s place, but for their schedules, their previous manager would just bring clothes from the company. When the kids were hospitalized, I offered to go pick up their things, but they strongly refused. Then suddenly, this morning, their previous manager called me, telling me the luggage was in front of your house and to come pick it up. No manners at all.”

Wait, what? Who keeps their clothes at the company and gets them brought over like that? Does this even make sense? I clutched my head, unable to wrap my mind around the situation.

Right. It’s a game. It’s just a game. Because it’s a game, things that don’t make sense in reality can happen. That’s just how it is. It’s a game…… But still, even for a game, isn’t this a bit much?

Wasn’t this game supposed to continue from the hidden ending of Idol Misery Simulation 1? I’d really like to meet the writer who came up with that hidden ending. If I could have a private three-way meeting with that writer and President Lee Yongjun in some quiet, secluded place, I think I’d be truly happy.

I barely managed to suppress my rising frustration and spoke.

“Oh. I see.”

“Sir, please don’t pack all your emotions into a single sentence like that…… I really don’t want to have to cling to your waist and hold you back anymore……”

Ahn Siwon sounded genuinely exhausted. With a soft sigh, I shook my head.

“I’m not going. So you don’t have to worry.”

“Really? Really, really, really?”

“Yes. Really, really, really. For now, at least, I won’t go.”

Ahn Siwon hesitated at my use of ‘for now’ and ‘at least’, but he must have decided this was good enough because he picked up the suitcases again.

“Secretary Sung, just leave those there. I’ll move them. You need to have breakfast with the president and head to work soon.”

“I can manage this much.”

“No, no, I insist. Just leave them.”

As Secretary Sung Yoojun and Manager Ahn Siwon bickered over who would move the suitcases, I watched them fondly. But then, I heard movement from the staircase.

Who could be up this early? Curious, I turned my head and saw Nam Yisol rushing down the stairs, his eyes swollen.

“P-President……!”

As soon as Nam Yisol spotted me standing in the living room, he quickened his already hurried steps. The house had high ceilings, meaning the staircase was quite long, but he reached me in an instant. Judging by his urgency, I could easily guess why he had come down.

“Sir, um, I…… I’m really sorry about earlier……!”

I reached out and lightly pinched the bridge of his nose. Nam Yisol, caught off guard, widened his eyes in surprise and looked at me.

“Sir……?”

Because I had pinched his nose, his voice came out nasally. Hearing that, I put on a stern expression and spoke.

“Yisol-ssi.”

“Y-yes?”

“Don’t do that again. Understood?”

“Y-yes…… I’m really sorry.”

I gently wiggled Nam Yisol’s nose, making sure not to hurt him as he apologized with a face full of guilt. Then, after letting go, I playfully tapped the tip of his nose twice with my index finger. My teasing gesture, mixed with a slight hint of affection, made Nam Yisol blush as he covered his nose in embarrassment.

“But why are you up so early? Did you have trouble sleeping?”

“No! Not at all! It was super comfortable. I just woke up early because I wanted to see you before you left for work…… to properly apologize again……”

“Apologize? What did Yisol do to the president?”

His stammering words, which had been flowing continuously, suddenly came to an abrupt halt at Ahn Siwon’s cheerful voice. Nam Yisol instantly paled and lowered his head. Noticing his uneasy reaction, Ahn Siwon studied both me and Nam Yisol with a cautious expression.

“It’s already settled. I received a proper apology and a promise that it won’t happen again.”

“So it’s all taken care of?”

“Yes. It’s all resolved.”

I spoke calmly, then reached out to pat Nam Yisol’s lowered head. He flinched at first when my hand touched his hair but soon relaxed, his expression softening as he accepted the gesture.

“I don’t know what happened, but I’m glad everything worked out. Oh, right—Yisol, this is your luggage.”

“Huh? Our luggage?”

Nam Yisol blinked in confusion as he took the two large suitcases Ahn Siwon handed him.

“We have luggage?”

“Of course. Who doesn’t have luggage? These are your clothes from your old agency. Take them upstairs and check if everything’s there.”

With that, Ahn Siwon handed over both suitcases to Nam Yisol before swiftly snatching the one that Sung Yoojun had been holding.

“There, all set. We’ll move the rest with Yisol’s help, so President and Secretary Sung, you two go ahead and have breakfast before heading to work. Don’t worry about the remaining bags; we’ll take care of them.”

Sung Yoojun, now empty-handed, flexed his fingers a couple of times as if testing the sudden absence of weight.

“Understood. If that’s what Manager Ahn insists. Let’s head to breakfast, sir.”

“Huh? Oh, right. Okay.”

Nam Yisol stared blankly at the suitcases in his hands as if struggling to process the situation. Watching him for a brief moment, I finally let my gaze move away at Sung Yoojun’s prompting and headed toward the dining room.

On the table, a neatly prepared Korean breakfast for two was set. As I stared at the setting, Sung Yoojun seemed to catch my thoughts and explained.

“Tartarus’s move into this house was decided too late at night, so we couldn’t request any meal arrangements in advance. I informed the housekeeper this morning, so she’ll prepare something for them by the time they wake up.”

“I see. I’ll have to thank her and apologize.”

Relieved by his words, I took my seat. The meal consisted of a spicy bean sprout soup and grilled beef patties. I picked up my spoon and took a sip of the soup to check the seasoning when Sung Yoojun suddenly called me from across the table.

“Sir.”

“Yes?”

“Aren’t you being too lenient?”

His voice was cold.

I set down my spoon and looked at him. There was only one possible reason why Sung Yoojun would bring this up now.

“You knew?”

“It was too loud for anyone but Manager Ahn, who sleeps like a log, to sleep through.”

Hmm…… Yeah, it was noisy. I silently acknowledged his words as I recalled the events from a few hours ago.

“I received an apology, I forgave him, and I made him promise it wouldn’t happen again. That’s enough for me.”

“If it were me, I wouldn’t have forgiven so easily.”

His tone was sharp, almost like a blade. I pressed my lips into a thin line, finding his unwavering stance difficult to deal with.

“I believe you should have been firmer, sir. This wasn’t something to be brushed aside.”

I glanced around, making sure there was no one nearby. Fortunately, the area was empty. Only then did I carefully open my mouth.

“Yes, it was a serious issue. It was absolutely wrong. But I don’t believe in pushing someone to the edge when they already recognize their mistake, reflect on it, and apologize.”

“Sir.”

“Secretary Sung.”

I cut him off before he could say more, frowning deeply.

“What could that kid possibly do to me?”

My voice was soft, my words calm and deliberate. At my statement, Sung Yoojun closed his mouth. Seeing his silence, I let out a bitter chuckle. He knew it too. He knew that Nam Yisol was never a real threat to me.

What Nam Yisol did last night was undoubtedly wrong. But I wasn’t particularly angry about it.

Why? Because I’m kind? Because I’m an understanding person?

No. That’s not it.