CHAPTER 309: I’M JUST DOING MY JOB SO NO NEED TO THANK ME

"... Even if I did have an opportunity in the past, before I met my masters," my expression suddenly went soft with melancholy. "I don’t think I had the privilege of enjoying such scenery."

Seo-Jun stared at the softness on my face and how it looked like I was feeling sad and regretful about how I lived my life in the past.

He looked away, unable to say words of comfort. He knew the words to say, but he just didn’t know if they were the right ones.

He didn’t want to sound harsh or like an asshole when he should be comforting me.

Not like I was asking for it, anyway.

"Well, that’s that," I said, smiling brightly. "Then, shall we leave?"

I hoped that my reaction afterwards would dismiss the worry he felt, whatever it was, but he had something else in mind.

He didn’t just want to leave me be.

While he did help me settle the grievance of the past, the one who caused all that, he didn’t know if that was enough.

"Sit here for a moment." He said, placing me down on the couch and I nodded. "I’ll go get you your snack."

"Wait, you’re going yourself?" I asked but he simply smiled and walked out.

I sat there, confused and with pursing lips.

He... He didn’t have to leave me with his secretary.

I was holding my breath, sweat rolling down my neck, and my eyes were as blank as a cat’s while thinking back to how loud I had been when the secretary, Min-Jae, was just outside the door.

He definitely heard everything, I thought.

And just the mere thought of that prevented me from looking him in the eye.

I was so embarrassed and shy, and...

"Here." He said and I turned my head to find him stretching a white shirt packaged neatly towards me. "The president said you could change into this. I will be outside. Call me if you need anything." He simply said and I accepted the pack.

He didn’t look uncomfortable or hint that he knew what we were doing. Maybe it was just none of his business. Or maybe he was professional enough not to let what he’s thinking or feeling show on his face.

He had that stone-cold look, like a boulder that couldn’t be moved.

Figures.

He had to be at least that level for him to handle a whimsical boss like Seo-Jun.

I watched him leave and just before he walked out, I said,

"Thank you." It was my own appreciation.

Even if it was his job to listen to his boss’s order and not expect anything in return since he was getting paid for it, it was still the effort of a human.

Sometimes, some people just need some sort of recognition to be able to keep doing what they do best with a light heart.

And while a simple ’thank you’ didn’t amount to much, I hoped he’d feel my sincerity and how much I was rooting for him since this wasn’t an easy job.

For someone like him, it wouldn’t be a surprise if he suddenly said something like,

’I’m just doing my job so no need to thank me.’ I was prepared for that. And it looked like he was indeed going to say it, but as he opened his mouth to speak, he paused, looked at me, and then turned away.

"You’re welcome." He said before walking out.

Wow, that blew my mind.

He didn’t just say you’re welcome, he also smiled. Though he probably thought I didn’t see his smile since he turned away, I could tell from how the corner of his face tilted up a bit.

See, a little recognition was all it took to light a person’s heart, even the stone-cold ones.

"Hah," I rested my back on the comfortable couch and then looked at the packet.

I was currently wearing a polo that Seo-Jun threw on me after we were done. Since my shirt was soaked, I couldn’t wear that if I wanted to sleep comfortably.

The room was a mess but they were able to clean it up so well that not even a single smell from the season remained.

Wait, Secretary Min-Jae wasn’t the one behind the cleaning, I hope. If he were, I’d be embarrassed times twenty. I guess it’s best to stay oblivious about it then.

I took off my polo and wore the white shirt. Buttoned it up and relieved the moments where I actually dressed myself in the past.

I had become no different from a doll, getting bathed, dressed, and served the finest dish.

Hm, an extravagant life that I’m no longer complaining about, haha.

My waistcoat was in the red room, I assumed. I couldn’t get in myself so I’d wait for Seo-Jun to get back and open it.

In the meantime...

I picked up my phone from the table and went to check the aftermath of the message I dropped in the group chat. The group chat with my masters, mind you.

I don’t mind some company rant when I already know that I’m the center of the gossip.

"It’s already so late?" I wondered out loud as I saw that the time was 8 pm already.

Would my master’s have had dinner by now? Does that mean I won’t be able to eat with them?

Then what was the need of going home to have dinner?

I’ll just ask.

They’re very busy so maybe they’re still at work as well.

Then, I checked the group and saw a lot of unread messages. I tittered and scrolled to the beginning of the chaos.

And do you know what I wrote?

I wrote,

["I’m having a lot of fun, masters. A bunch of employees wanted to gang up on me, but I trash-talked them, and they couldn’t even retaliate cause the bodyguard Seo-Jun gave me was protecting me the whole time."]

And I didn’t stop there, I added,

["I didn’t know I could feel so great from talking down a bunch of bullies. I’ve never felt so satisfied before, haha."]

Yes, with those few words, I created an atmosphere that was both filled with praise and worry.

(Note, things like ["hey"] are mostly used for text in this context)