#64

“Is that so?”

“Yes. You seem about ten times more affectionate than usual.”

I frowned slightly at the precise figure that came out of Nam Yisol’s mouth and laughed.

“I guess it’s because I really like my sibling.”

“Is it a younger brother? Or a younger sister?”

“A younger sister.”

“Oh, a younger sister…… How much younger? Usually, when siblings are close, there’s quite an age gap.”

At the curious question, I slowly shook my head.

“No. We’re the same age. My sister and I are twins.”

“Really? Then you and your sister must look a lot alike!”

“Hmm…… Quite a bit. You could say she has slightly finer features and longer hair than me. Especially our eyes—they’re nearly identical. People who met us for the first time often found both me and Cheon intimidating.”

“Huh? Why?”

Seeing Nam Yisol’s puzzled expression, I pointed at my own face with my index finger and spoke in a playful tone.

“My eyes are sharp, and my expression tends to look cold. Especially when I’m not smiling and just keeping a neutral face. So, back in school, it took me quite a while to make friends. Cheon was at least more outgoing, so people got used to her faster, but since I was the quiet type, it took me even longer.”

Come to think of it, that was already more than ten years ago. I was just realizing how much time had passed when I noticed Nam Yisol looking at me with eyes shining with excitement.

“That’s really fascinating.”

“What is?”

“Hearing you talk about how it took you a long time to make friends and things like that. You just seem like someone who would be good at everything. So hearing you say something was difficult is really surprising.”

I’ve been thinking this for a while now, but just how highly does this kid think of me? Feeling a bit at a loss, I looked at Nam Yisol with a slightly troubled expression.

“Didn’t I tell you before that I can’t cook? And besides that, there are quite a few other things I’m not good at……”

I was grateful that Nam Yisol thought so highly of me, but if I left things as they were, my image in his mind might become overwhelmingly burdensome. So, I carefully tried to correct it, and Nam Yisol scratched his cheek awkwardly with a small smile.

“I do remember you saying that…… but somehow, hmm…… it just doesn’t feel real? Maybe it’s because I haven’t actually seen it myself?”

“Then should I try cooking at home sometime? Though I can’t guarantee it’ll be edible.”

“……Is it that bad?”

“I’m not joking. It really is that bad.”

At my suddenly serious tone, the smile on Nam Yisol’s face faded, and he took on a serious expression as well.

“Hearing you say that makes me really curious, but at the same time, I feel like maybe I shouldn’t see it…… It’s kind of complicated.”

“If you ever get curious, just let me know anytime. I’m always ready to waste ingredients.”

I placed my right hand over my left chest as if making a solemn vow, and Nam Yisol burst into laughter.

“Hahaha! What even is that?!”

“What do you mean? It’s just a simple statement of fact.”

At my confident reply, spoken with a completely serious face, Nam Yisol laughed so hard he nearly gasped for air. I looked at him fondly as his eyes welled up with tears from too much laughter.

“I really want to see you cook now. Will you show me someday?”

After laughing for a while, Nam Yisol finally managed to calm down and wiped the tears from his eyes before asking. I nodded without hesitation. If he wanted it, I was more than willing to oblige. Of course, the chances of the food being edible were slim to none.

“Of course. I should probably install a food delivery app in preparation for that day.”

“Instead of practicing your cooking?”

“I’m the type who doesn’t like to waste effort on things that are hopeless. Some things in life are just easier to give up on.”

I spoke in a playful tone, quietly lifting the corners of my mouth into a smile. At that, Nam Yisol burst into laughter once again. Watching him struggling to catch his breath but still unable to stop laughing, I stood up and walked toward the refrigerator in one corner of the president’s office. I intended to grab a bottle of cold water.

Taking out a small bottle of water from the fridge, I twisted off the cap and handed it to the still-laughing Nam Yisol. He immediately grabbed it and began drinking in hurried gulps. Nearly finishing the bottle in one go, he finally seemed to settle down, taking deep breaths to steady himself.

“I almost passed out from laughing……”

“Shall I get you another bottle?”

“No, no. This is enough.”

At my gentle question, Nam Yisol waved his hands in refusal before tilting his head back to finish the last bit of water. At that moment, a polite knock sounded from the office door. There weren’t many people who knocked with such formality. I was certain the person standing outside was my secretary, Sung Yoojun, as I called out.

“Come in.”

At my brief invitation, the door opened, and just as I expected, Secretary Sung Yoojun stepped inside. He parted his lips as if to say something but clamped his mouth shut again upon noticing Nam Yisol sitting on the couch.

“I should get going. Please talk comfortably.”

Noticing that Secretary Sung Yoojun had something to say but was holding back because of his presence, Nam Yisol quickly stood up. He gave a polite nod to both of us before stepping out of the office. After seeing him off, I turned to look at Sung Yoojun, who was standing near the door.

“What’s the matter?”

“I heard from Secretary Jung about Rep. Oh Hahyun.”

“Ah, that. Did she set the time and place for the meeting?”

“Yes. It’s today at 7 PM, at a Korean fine-dining restaurant in Gangnam.”

A fine-dining restaurant? At his words, I pursed my lips slightly, forming a peculiar expression. Noticing my reaction, Secretary Sung Yoojun frowned slightly and asked with a puzzled look.

“Sir? Is something wrong?”

“……No, it’s just that I assumed the meeting place would be a Japanese restaurant, so I’m a little surprised that it’s a Korean fine-dining restaurant instead.”

“A Japanese restaurant? Why did you think that……?”

“Well, in movies, politicians always seem to meet in places like that……?”

I rolled my eyes slightly and spoke in an unsure voice. At that, Secretary Sung Yoojun stared at me blankly for a moment before quickly turning his head to the side, covering his mouth with his hand.

Judging by his trembling shoulders, he was desperately holding back laughter.

“……If you find it funny, you can just laugh, you know.”

“No, I— ahem. No, of course not. I wouldn’t dare.”

I shot him a cold, unimpressed look. For someone claiming they ‘wouldn’t dare’, his voice was brimming with suppressed amusement.

“Sir, I think the idea that politicians always hold meetings in Japanese restaurants is a bit of a stereotype.”

“Mm…… I suppose you’re right?”

At his words, I scratched the back of my neck in embarrassment.

“Since I’ve never had any involvement with that kind of world, I guess I just assume things based on what I see in movies and dramas.”

“You’ve never been involved in that kind of world before?”

“Not at all.”

I nodded firmly as I answered, and Secretary Sung Yoojun stared at me intently. He seemed to hesitate as if debating something internally, before slowly speaking again.

“……President.”

“Yes?”

“Would it be alright if I asked what kind of work you did before this?”

At his question, I blinked blankly and tilted my head to the side. Given how serious his expression was before he spoke, I had expected something much heavier. The fact that it turned out to be a simple question made me feel slightly let down.

“Of course. Naturally. I was a writer. A fantasy novel author.”

“A fantasy novel author?”

At my casual answer, Secretary Sung Yoojun widened his eyes in surprise. It was the same reaction most people had when they heard about my previous profession.

“Does it not match my usual image?”

“No, that’s not it at all.”

Secretary Sung Yoojun quickly shook his hands in denial at my question. Seeing that, I gently lifted the corners of my lips into a smile.

“It’s fine. A lot of people say that when they hear I wrote novels. That it doesn’t suit me.”

“……Is that so?”

“Yeah. Though I don’t really know why.”

“Well…… if we’re talking purely about image, I suppose you do seem more suited to business rather than the arts. Since I’ve only ever seen you managing the company, that impression is probably even stronger for me……”

Worried that I might take offense, Secretary Sung Yoojun carefully added to his explanation.

“But regardless of appearances, I think it’s both unfair and rude to judge whether a profession suits someone based purely on their image.”

At his considerate words, I smiled quietly.

“Thank you for saying that.”

“Not at all. I only said what is natural.”

That may be true, but there are plenty of people in this world who don’t take such natural things for granted. Considering that, it made Secretary Sung Yoojun all the more admirable for thinking this way.

“What kind of stories did you write?”