OYSB 8

“Welco—”

Eunchae began greeting whoever had entered as she got up from her seat, but stopped midway when she saw who it was.

The person who had walked into the convenience store wasn’t a customer. It was her friend.

“You’re here? Did you get some sleep?”

“Yeah. Thanks so much. If it weren’t for you, I would’ve been up for two nights straight.”

He was not only her friend but also the owner of the convenience store.

Apparently, after the part-timer had suddenly disappeared without a word, he had been forced to cover the shifts himself and had stayed at the store for thirty hours without getting a wink of sleep.

“CEO Seon, your dark circles are practically reaching your feet.”

“I never imagined the road to becoming a CEO would be this difficult.”

Seon Seo was the fraternal twin brother of Eunchae’s best friend, Seon Suji.

Having dreamed of starting his own business from an early age, Seo had worked part-time jobs relentlessly since high school to save up money for his business.

With a little financial help from his parents, he finally opened his own convenience store as soon as he turned twenty-two.

His friends had started jokingly calling him CEO, or simply C-EO, to congratulate him on becoming a convenience store owner. The nickname had stuck ever since.

“I’ll help you out until you find a new part-timer.”

“Why don’t you just keep working here?”

“What? Can’t you find another part-timer as hardworking and competent as me?”

Seo reluctantly nodded, as though he had no choice but to admit it.

Eunchae chuckled, took off her uniform, and stepped out from behind the counter.

“I need to go back to university. I can’t keep living off part-time jobs forever.”

Eunchae had enrolled in the ceramics department because her dream was to become a ceramic artist.

However, just a year and a half after starting university, she had been forced to take a leave of absence because she could no longer afford her student loans, living expenses, and studio apartment rent.

Recently, she had discovered that Doheon had paid off all her debts. And since he had told her to pursue whatever she wanted, she had been considering returning to university.

“That’s right. It’s about time you went back. Look at you, working so hard and saving up enough money for tuition already!”

Seo, who was putting on his uniform, smiled proudly at Eunchae.

“Then, to celebrate your return to university and thank you for helping me out today, it’s on me! Pick exactly one thing you want to eat from this store.”

“Only one? Seriously, CEO Seon? Your generosity is about as big as a tiny sardine’s mind!”

“Hey! I’ve got rent, part-timer wages, electricity bills, and a whole bunch of other expenses to pay every month…”

“Fine, fine! I get it!”

Waving her hand to cut him off, Eunchae opened the freezer and took out a chocolate-flavored ice pop.

“You can have something more expensive, you know.”

“Forget it.”

Seo belatedly added that after feeling a little awkward, but Eunchae had already snapped off the end of the ice pop with a sharp crack and was heading toward the door.

“At least take some of the food that’s about to expire!”

Seo hurriedly tore open a bag and stuffed it with lunch boxes, triangle-shaped kimbap, and various other items.

By the time he had finished, Eunchae had already stepped outside. Seo chased after her and placed the bag in her hand.

“I’m sorry. This is all your big brother can give you.”

“Oh! I’ve actually been eyeing this lunch box for a while. Thanks!”

Eunchae beamed brightly. Just as she was about to turn around and head toward the bus stop, she spotted a familiar sedan parked nearby with its hazard lights on.

She had been asked what time her part-time shift ended. So he must have come to pick her up.

Eunchae was about to run toward Doheon, wagging her imaginary tail like a dog that had finally found its owner, but suddenly stopped.

“CEO Seon, have this.”

She snapped off the little end of her ice pop and stuck it into Seo’s mouth.

“Mmph? What are you doing?”

With the end of the ice pop in his mouth, Seo frowned in confusion.

He pulled it out with his hand and asked,

“You’re giving me the end of your ice pop? That’s practically the same as giving me your heart. What’s gotten into you? You’re scaring me.”

“What’s so scary about it? Our CEO Seon has worked so hard, so he should eat well. Come on, hurry up and take a bite.”

Eunchae even patted Seo’s cheek while smiling sweetly with her eyes.

The more she did that, the more his face crumpled up like a wrinkled silkworm pupa.

“Seriously, what’s wrong with you? Have you gone crazy?”

“Smile. I said smile!”

Clenching his teeth and forcing the corners of his mouth upward, Eunchae burst into laughter and lightly tapped Seo’s shoulder.

“What’s so funny? What on earth are you laughing about? You’re seriously freaking me out right now!”

Eunchae was currently putting her jealousy plan into action.

She believed that no husband could remain indifferent after seeing his wife being all affectionate with another man.

“Ha ha ha!”

Even though nothing was particularly funny, Eunchae kept giggling and playfully tapping Seo.

“Did you put something in this ice pop? Why are you acting like this?!”

“Who was it that covered your shift today when your part-timer suddenly disappeared? Who’s the first person you’ll think of whenever you need help in the future? Who’s the most hardworking and outstanding part-timer? Huh?”

“Just ask me for money instead! Don’t scare me like this!”

“Let’s cooperate while I’m asking nicely. Put your hand on my shoulder.”

Only then did Seo realize that Eunchae kept sneaking glances behind him.

He wondered what was back there and tried to turn around, but Eunchae stopped him with her hand.

“Don’t turn around. Just act natural.”

“I must be out of my mind. No matter how desperate I was, I shouldn’t have called you.”

Even so, Seo owed Eunchae for helping him out that day. He forced a smile and draped his arm over her shoulder.

“Is this enough?”

“Act a little more affectionate.”

“I’m never asking you to cover a shift again! The price is way too cruel!”

Seo pulled his hand back from her shoulder and let out an awkward laugh.

Having known Eunchae as his twin sister Suji’s friend since childhood, he considered her practically family, like a blood-related sister.

This kind of physical contact was extremely uncomfortable for him, but the more uncomfortable he became, the more satisfied Eunchae looked.

After continuing their little performance for a while, Eunchae finally stepped away and waved her hand.

“Good work today. I’m off, then.”

“Yeah! Hurry up and go. Just go already!”

After shouting those words, Seo immediately turned around and hurried back into the convenience store as though fleeing for his life.

As Eunchae walked away, she deliberately pretended not to notice the sedan, determined to make her performance as convincing as possible.

When she passed the car, Paeseok got out of the driver’s seat and called out to her.

“Madam.”

Only then did Eunchae turn her head, pretending to have just noticed him.

“Oh my! When did you get here?”

She gave it her all right up to the very end.

“The CEO is waiting for you. Please get in.”

“Ah, okay.”

Paeseok opened the rear passenger door for her, and Eunchae climbed into the car.

Doheon was sitting beside her. He merely greeted her with a brief glance and said nothing more.

Did he not see it? Or is he pretending he didn’t? Or did he see everything but simply feel nothing at all?

Just as these thoughts were running through her mind, Doheon finally spoke.

“Didn’t you quit your part-time job?”

“Ah, my friend suddenly had something come up and asked me to help him.”

“Your friend?”

His question gave her a little hope. Could it be that he was bothered by it?

“Yes. My friend owns a convenience store.”

Only then did Doheon nod as though he understood.

And that was the end of it.

So even the jealousy plan doesn’t work on him.

Paeseok got into the driver’s seat after helping Eunchae into the car and placed his hands on the steering wheel.

“I’ll get going now.”

Doheon gave a slight nod and kept his eyes fixed straight ahead.

Feeling dejected, Eunchae secretly stole glances at his handsome profile, a sight she could never grow tired of.

His deep-set eyes beneath thick eyebrows, his sharply defined nose bridge with a slope so steep that even a fly would slip off, and his red lips that made her want to press her own against them…

That endlessly captivating face was…

Like a delicious treat behind glass.

A delicious treat she could look at but never touch.

Today was Doheon’s birthday.

Even though they had reunited after five years apart, she had never forgotten his birthday.

When they were young, Doheon’s birthday had been as important to Eunchae as a national holiday.

Even after he had left for the United States, she had thought of him every year around this time. And this year, she finally had the chance to celebrate it with him herself.

She had considered preparing an elaborate birthday feast, but after her painful failure last time, she decided not to be too ambitious about cooking.

After all, she couldn’t make him eat ramen even on his birthday.

After thinking about what to prepare, Eunchae decided to buy him a cake.

Doheon already had so many things that she doubted an expensive present bought with her own money would make much of a difference to him.

Instead, she had made up her mind to splurge on a cake from a famous hotel bakery and had placed an order in advance.

“I’m here to pick up the cake I reserved.”

The employee brought out the custom-made cake.

Eunchae checked the chocolate lettering, which bore Doheon’s name along with a birthday greeting, and smiled.

It was the most expensive cake she had ever bought in her life, but she didn’t regret spending the money.

Just thinking about how much he would like it made a smile keep spreading across her face.

“Your cake is all packaged and ready.”

After receiving the box containing the cake, Eunchae thanked the employee and left the bakery.

She was walking across the hotel lobby when she spotted a familiar face in the distance.

“Huh?”

Her steps, which had gradually slowed, suddenly came to a complete stop.

The person who had entered her field of vision was undoubtedly Doheon.

“Why is Oppa here…?”

He was heading toward the elevator with someone.

Eunchae’s eyes naturally shifted to the woman standing beside him.

The woman smiling brightly next to Doheon was someone Eunchae knew very well.