A week had passed.
As tough as work life was, my romantic life had only gotten more satisfying.
‘Assistant Manager Son, isn’t office dating more thrilling than you expected?’
Ms. Yoo hadn’t said that lightly.
Word had it that the Yoo family knew about our relationship. Yet, Managing Director Yoo, Executive Director Yoo, Department Chief Yoo, and the rest had hardly summoned me at all. Even when I was called in, they only shot me icy glances—no intrusive questions or unsolicited “concerns” like before.
Most importantly, no one in our department suspected Ms. Yoo and me were seeing each other. Thanks to that, commuting to work felt like sneaking off on a secret date with her—it made the packed subway rides bearable.
Work itself became quite the thrill. If no one was looking, we’d brush arms or let shoulders graze—light, clandestine touches. Then, when our eyes met, we’d exchange shy smiles.
[Ms. Yoo: Assistant Manager Son, meet me at the emergency stairs!]
Seeing her message, I dashed over and found her waiting.
“I missed you,” she giggled, wrapping her arms around me.
“Ah, we shouldn’t be doing this during work hours…” I complained, but I was cuddling her just as tightly.
A grin refused to leave my face. Every day felt blissful.
How to describe it? ‘It’s like the ground firmed up after the rain.’
In the early days of dating, we almost fell apart—keeping secrets about our families—but once we opened up everything, the walls between us crumbled.
Facing down her brothers and uncles who tried to drive me away only drew us closer. We’d weathered that storm together, and come through stronger.
Truth be told, outside of work and sleep, we were inseparable.
Of course, we still had close calls.
One afternoon in Planning Team 2’s break room, I went to grab supplies and spotted Ms. Yoo copying documents alone.
“Sia.” I crept up and disrupted her by hugging her from behind.
“A-Assistant Manager Son! Someone might see us—heyyyy—”
“It’s fine. No one’s here.”
“Really…”
Enjoying our secret tryst, we didn’t notice…
Bang!
“Hey, I said—”
Department Head Ma and Senior Staff Park Hyung-wook burst through the door.
Startled, we both jumped back.
“Sia, can’t you copy properly?!” Manager Ma snapped, feigning anger to cover our clandestine behavior. “You’ve been here nearly four months, and you can’t even handle the copier? You’re on the company payroll and not doing your job!”
“I-I’m sorry, Manager Ma…” she stammered.
Manager Ma clapped a hand on my shoulder. “Easy, Assistant Manager Son. Everyone makes mistakes.”
“It’s just frustrating,” he muttered. “You’d catch me pulling my hair out, but at least you’re interns—you teach her one step at a time.”
“Assistant Manager Son, you’ve been awfully hard on Ms. Yoo lately. Take it easy,” Park Hyung-wook advised.
“When it comes to work, I can’t help getting mad,” Manager Ma sighed and stalked out, waving us off.
Fortunately, we’d been spared exposure.
“Sia, I’m sorry for blowing up earlier.”
“It’s fine. You did the right thing—you may have saved us from being found out.”
“I’m glad…”
Holding hands, we giggled like schoolchildren.
“What should we have for dinner? Anything you’re craving?”
“I’m okay with anything.”
“Pasta? Or there’s a ramen place nearby that’s really good.”
“You pick, Assistant Manager Son. I think my stomach’s still sensitive today.”
“Really? Then I’ll skip—”
“No way. You need to eat.”
“How about the cafeteria? We can get a meal and coffee there.”
“Great! I’ve been craving something zesty since breakfast.”
“Like what?”
“Sour lemon juice?”
“You never liked sour before.”
“I know, but today it sounds perfect. I feel like my tastes changed after meeting you.”
“Ha! My influence is strong.”
“Hey, I’m not that high-maintenance.”
“Just kidding. Let’s go. Dinner’s on me.”
“Okay!”
“Grandfather, we’ve arrived.”
“Oh, good.”
Yoo Jin-gap’s eleventh grandson, Yoo Seong-min, came by the Naegok-dong mansion with his wife. In the arms of the daughter-in-law lay the newborn—Yoo Jin-gap’s great-grandson, born last month.
“What did you name him?”
“Yoo Hyun-seok,” Seong-min answered. They’d used the generational ‘Hyun’ character.
This family’s tradition was maddening. ‘Why does every great-grandchild have to be another boy?!’ Chairman Yoo stifled a sigh. Even among the thirteen grandsons’ children, every single one was male.
Twenty boys. As of today, twenty great-grandsons.
“Grandfather, would you like to hold him?”
The daughter-in-law offered the baby, but Yoo Jin-gap shook his head.
“No need. I’ve seen his face.”
“O-okay.”
He turned from the infant back to his grandson.
“By the way, Seong-min.”
“Yes, Grandfather?”
“I heard Jae-min’s wife is pregnant too.”
“Oh, yes.”
Seong-min nodded.
“She should be around four months now—time to find out the gender, yes?”
“Well… Grandfather…”
He hesitated.
Chairman Yoo frowned. “Another boy?”
“I’m sorry…”
“No need to apologize. What’s wrong with another son?”
“Right… Grandfather.”
“But,” Yoo Jin-gap said sternly, “no need to delay your overseas posting any longer.”
“…Yes?”
“The Middle East office needs you badly. Be ready to leave next month.”
“Yes, Grandfather.”
The chairman leaned back. “You must be tired caring for a newborn. Go rest. And take care of Hyun-seok too.”
“Thank you, Grandfather.”
They left, baby in arms.
As soon as the study door closed…
Haaa…
Chairman Yoo exhaled heavily. “Is there something wrong with our genes?”
Medical tests said no hereditary disease, but he’d heard some clans have especially strong Y-chromosomes.
In Joseon times, endless male heirs would have been cause for celebration—but Chairman Yoo was sick of all these little boys.
‘Is there anyone I can lean on to give me a precious great-granddaughter like Sia…?’
He sighed again.
“Before I die, I want to hold just one great-granddaughter like Sia… Just one,” he murmured, thinking that if that wish were granted, he could leave the company in peace.