Chapter 190: Isn't Director Kang Acting Strange?
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Sensing the dismissal in the man's voice, Su-Jin swallowed everything else she had planned to say.
Witnessing the young woman's frame about to wilt under his sharp gaze, Ji-Won's heart was pricked with guilt. Furthermore, seeing her lovely hazel eyes dimming due to disappointment only added to his remorse.
Thus, suddenly realizing that he must have sounded too harsh just now, Ji-Won quickly took a step back from his hostile attitude. Not only his voice, but even his gaze mellowed down considerably.
Had Seo-Jun been witness to this scene, he might have suspected Ji-Won of having a severe case of split personality. And for good reason. As he turned to address the young woman, Ji-Won practically looked like a completely different person from just a few moments ago.
"Miss Park, I understand you want to help more, but you're doing a good enough job right now. Please don't worry too much and continue to work hard. Can you do that for me?"
Su-Jin stared at the man unblinkingly for a couple of seconds, before nodding slowly.
"Mn, I can do that." she replied in an undertone.
Despite the fact that Ji-Won sounded more like a parent trying to comfort a student, by telling them that their exam results were good enough, the man's words still managed to somewhat ease Su-Jin's anxious mind.
On top of that, though, seeing Ji-Won's softened gaze brought Su-Jin a different kind of nervousness. It was the kind that caused her limbs to tingle and her stomach to do flip-flops.
~~~
Once they were back inside the car and on their way to the company, both Su-Jin and Ji-Won remained silent. Each was deeply engrossed in their own thoughts, completely oblivious to the other person.
This situation lasted through most of the drive.
As soon as they reached a certain intersection, though, Ji-Won unexpectedly turned the car in a different direction.
"Director Kang?" Su-Jin called out in surprise.
"I don't know about you, Miss Park, but I suddenly feel very hungry. It's also very late and we've been walking around for the most part of the day. Considering all this, would you care to have dinner with me?"
Su-Jin froze. Her eyes went wide and she stared at him in shock and disbelief.
'Did Director Kang just invite me to have dinner with him? And in this unorthodox manner no less?'
Swallowing hard, Su-Jin finally managed to speak.
"Uhm, shouldn't we go back first?"
To her astonishment, Ji-Won shook his head and gave a curt reply.
"We're already quite far from the company. Besides," Ji-Won coughed lightly to clear his throat. "There's a very good restaurant not far from here. At this hour they're usually swamped, but I know the owner, so we'll definitely be able to get a table."
'Is... Is Director Kang bragging right now?' Su-Jin wondered in silence. The idea of Kang Ji-Won proudly gushing about his choice in dinner location left her puzzled.
A second later, though, she instantly smacked herself mentally in order to get her mind on the right track.
'No, bragging or not, that's not what I should be worrying about right now. More like, what is going on with this person? One moment he is cold and dismissive, then the next he is all calm and comforting. And now he is even inviting me to dinner! Does he have multiple personalities or something?!'
Not knowing that he ultimately ended up being considered a mental case by the very person he was interested in, Kang Ji-Won continued to drive as if nothing was wrong. He even felt rather pleased with his own approach. After all, it hadn't been easy to overcome his fear of being rejected.
Given his desire to spend more time with Su-Jin, her acceptance to a mere dinner invitation would represent a huge achievement.
Luckily, Su-Jin was a rational enough woman. After going through all the possibilities inside her head, she eventually decided to put aside the man's quirks for the time being.
Consequently, she continued to speak calmly, as though nothing was the matter.
"What about the others? I'm sure they're waiting for us back at the company."
"Don't worry. I'll give Seo-Jun a call and let him know we're not returning."
While Ji-Won was talking, the car continued to move towards their new destination. At the same time, Su-Jin felt her brain buzzing. Her boss's weird attitude, once again, left her doubting reality.
'Is... Is he purposefully brushing me off now? No, I mean, has his character always been this... Willful? But I can't seem to remember director Kang being this kind of person.'
Su-Jin tilted her head, giving Ji-Won a side glance.
As though he sensed her eyes on him, Ji-Won turned his head as well.
The two pairs of eyes met and maintained contact for just a second, until Ji-Won quickly turned his attention back to driving.
In order to hide the awkwardness he was feeling, Ji-Won raised a hand to rub at the side of his neck. He rubbed and pinched that area until he left the skin all red and chafed.
"Uhm, you don't have to worry, Miss Park." He said in a low voice. "I'll make sure Seo-Jun takes the rest of them out for a proper dinner. After all, I'm sure he wouldn't mind having a chance to pester Miss Lee."
Before Su-Jin could react to the beginning of Ji-Won's discourse, she was instantly hit by that last sentence. As her focus fell on this new train of thought, she swiftly forgot everything she had been pondering over just a moment ago.
"What do you mean by that?" she blinked at him.
Ji-Won's eyes widened slightly.
"It can't be that you haven't noticed just how much attention Seo-Jun pays to Miss Lee."
"No." Su-Jin shook her head slowly. "I can't say I have."
To her surprise, Ji-Won's face broke into a smile. The look in his eyes grew warm and filled with fondness.
"Maybe it's because you haven't known him for as long as I have. When you get right down to it, he's got quite a peculiar character. He rarely shows his true self to anyone, always joking around and pushing people into a corner with his teasing. It took me years before I began to understand him. That's why I know that, for someone like him, his current attitude is almost akin to having a crush."
Hearing the last part, Su-Jin's jaw almost dropped to the floor in shock.
What was he talking about? Deputy Director Kim having a crush on Lee Yeon-Ah? This couldn't be right, could it?
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Sensing the dismissal in the man's voice, Su-Jin swallowed everything else she had planned to say.
Witnessing the young woman's frame about to wilt under his sharp gaze, Ji-Won's heart was pricked with guilt. Furthermore, seeing her lovely hazel eyes dimming due to disappointment only added to his remorse.
Thus, suddenly realizing that he must have sounded too harsh just now, Ji-Won quickly took a step back from his hostile attitude. Not only his voice, but even his gaze mellowed down considerably.
Had Seo-Jun been witness to this scene, he might have suspected Ji-Won of having a severe case of split personality. And for good reason. As he turned to address the young woman, Ji-Won practically looked like a completely different person from just a few moments ago.
"Miss Park, I understand you want to help more, but you're doing a good enough job right now. Please don't worry too much and continue to work hard. Can you do that for me?"
Su-Jin stared at the man unblinkingly for a couple of seconds, before nodding slowly.
"Mn, I can do that." she replied in an undertone.
Despite the fact that Ji-Won sounded more like a parent trying to comfort a student, by telling them that their exam results were good enough, the man's words still managed to somewhat ease Su-Jin's anxious mind.
On top of that, though, seeing Ji-Won's softened gaze brought Su-Jin a different kind of nervousness. It was the kind that caused her limbs to tingle and her stomach to do flip-flops.
~~~
Once they were back inside the car and on their way to the company, both Su-Jin and Ji-Won remained silent. Each was deeply engrossed in their own thoughts, completely oblivious to the other person.
This situation lasted through most of the drive.
As soon as they reached a certain intersection, though, Ji-Won unexpectedly turned the car in a different direction.
"Director Kang?" Su-Jin called out in surprise.
"I don't know about you, Miss Park, but I suddenly feel very hungry. It's also very late and we've been walking around for the most part of the day. Considering all this, would you care to have dinner with me?"
Su-Jin froze. Her eyes went wide and she stared at him in shock and disbelief.
'Did Director Kang just invite me to have dinner with him? And in this unorthodox manner no less?'
Swallowing hard, Su-Jin finally managed to speak.
"Uhm, shouldn't we go back first?"
To her astonishment, Ji-Won shook his head and gave a curt reply.
"We're already quite far from the company. Besides," Ji-Won coughed lightly to clear his throat. "There's a very good restaurant not far from here. At this hour they're usually swamped, but I know the owner, so we'll definitely be able to get a table."
'Is... Is Director Kang bragging right now?' Su-Jin wondered in silence. The idea of Kang Ji-Won proudly gushing about his choice in dinner location left her puzzled.
A second later, though, she instantly smacked herself mentally in order to get her mind on the right track.
'No, bragging or not, that's not what I should be worrying about right now. More like, what is going on with this person? One moment he is cold and dismissive, then the next he is all calm and comforting. And now he is even inviting me to dinner! Does he have multiple personalities or something?!'
Not knowing that he ultimately ended up being considered a mental case by the very person he was interested in, Kang Ji-Won continued to drive as if nothing was wrong. He even felt rather pleased with his own approach. After all, it hadn't been easy to overcome his fear of being rejected.
Given his desire to spend more time with Su-Jin, her acceptance to a mere dinner invitation would represent a huge achievement.
Luckily, Su-Jin was a rational enough woman. After going through all the possibilities inside her head, she eventually decided to put aside the man's quirks for the time being.
Consequently, she continued to speak calmly, as though nothing was the matter.
"What about the others? I'm sure they're waiting for us back at the company."
"Don't worry. I'll give Seo-Jun a call and let him know we're not returning."
While Ji-Won was talking, the car continued to move towards their new destination. At the same time, Su-Jin felt her brain buzzing. Her boss's weird attitude, once again, left her doubting reality.
'Is... Is he purposefully brushing me off now? No, I mean, has his character always been this... Willful? But I can't seem to remember director Kang being this kind of person.'
Su-Jin tilted her head, giving Ji-Won a side glance.
As though he sensed her eyes on him, Ji-Won turned his head as well.
The two pairs of eyes met and maintained contact for just a second, until Ji-Won quickly turned his attention back to driving.
In order to hide the awkwardness he was feeling, Ji-Won raised a hand to rub at the side of his neck. He rubbed and pinched that area until he left the skin all red and chafed.
"Uhm, you don't have to worry, Miss Park." He said in a low voice. "I'll make sure Seo-Jun takes the rest of them out for a proper dinner. After all, I'm sure he wouldn't mind having a chance to pester Miss Lee."
Before Su-Jin could react to the beginning of Ji-Won's discourse, she was instantly hit by that last sentence. As her focus fell on this new train of thought, she swiftly forgot everything she had been pondering over just a moment ago.
"What do you mean by that?" she blinked at him.
Ji-Won's eyes widened slightly.
"It can't be that you haven't noticed just how much attention Seo-Jun pays to Miss Lee."
"No." Su-Jin shook her head slowly. "I can't say I have."
To her surprise, Ji-Won's face broke into a smile. The look in his eyes grew warm and filled with fondness.
"Maybe it's because you haven't known him for as long as I have. When you get right down to it, he's got quite a peculiar character. He rarely shows his true self to anyone, always joking around and pushing people into a corner with his teasing. It took me years before I began to understand him. That's why I know that, for someone like him, his current attitude is almost akin to having a crush."
Hearing the last part, Su-Jin's jaw almost dropped to the floor in shock.
What was he talking about? Deputy Director Kim having a crush on Lee Yeon-Ah? This couldn't be right, could it?
Sensing the dismissal in the man's voice, Su-Jin swallowed everything else she had planned to say.Witnessing the young woman's frame about to wilt under his sharp gaze, Ji-Won's heart was pricked with guilt. Furthermore, seeing her lovely hazel eyes dimming due to disappointment only added to his remorse.Thus, suddenly realizing that he must have sounded too harsh just now, Ji-Won quickly took a step back from his hostile attitude. Not only his voice, but even his gaze mellowed down considerably. Had Seo-Jun been witness to this scene, he might have suspected Ji-Won of having a severe case of split personality. And for good reason. As he turned to address the young woman, Ji-Won practically looked like a completely different person from just a few moments ago."Miss Park, I understand you want to help more, but you're doing a good enough job right now. Please don't worry too much and continue to work hard. Can you do that for me?"Su-Jin stared at the man unblinkingly for a couple of seconds, before nodding slowly."Mn, I can do that." she replied in an undertone. Despite the fact that Ji-Won sounded more like a parent trying to comfort a student, by telling them that their exam results were good enough, the man's words still managed to somewhat ease Su-Jin's anxious mind. On top of that, though, seeing Ji-Won's softened gaze brought Su-Jin a different kind of nervousness. It was the kind that caused her limbs to tingle and her stomach to do flip-flops.~~~Once they were back inside the car and on their way to the company, both Su-Jin and Ji-Won remained silent. Each was deeply engrossed in their own thoughts, completely oblivious to the other person. This situation lasted through most of the drive. As soon as they reached a certain intersection, though, Ji-Won unexpectedly turned the car in a different direction."Director Kang?" Su-Jin called out in surprise."I don't know about you, Miss Park, but I suddenly feel very hungry. It's also very late and we've been walking around for the most part of the day. Considering all this, would you care to have dinner with me?"Su-Jin froze. Her eyes went wide and she stared at him in shock and disbelief.'Did Director Kang just invite me to have dinner with him? And in this unorthodox manner no less?'Swallowing hard, Su-Jin finally managed to speak."Uhm, shouldn't we go back first?"To her astonishment, Ji-Won shook his head and gave a curt reply."We're already quite far from the company. Besides," Ji-Won coughed lightly to clear his throat. "There's a very good restaurant not far from here. At this hour they're usually swamped, but I know the owner, so we'll definitely be able to get a table."'Is... Is Director Kang bragging right now?' Su-Jin wondered in silence. The idea of Kang Ji-Won proudly gushing about his choice in dinner location left her puzzled.A second later, though, she instantly smacked herself mentally in order to get her mind on the right track. 'No, bragging or not, that's not what I should be worrying about right now. More like, what is going on with this person? One moment he is cold and dismissive, then the next he is all calm and comforting. And now he is even inviting me to dinner! Does he have multiple personalities or something?!'Not knowing that he ultimately ended up being considered a mental case by the very person he was interested in, Kang Ji-Won continued to drive as if nothing was wrong. He even felt rather pleased with his own approach. After all, it hadn't been easy to overcome his fear of being rejected. Given his desire to spend more time with Su-Jin, her acceptance to a mere dinner invitation would represent a huge achievement. Luckily, Su-Jin was a rational enough woman. After going through all the possibilities inside her head, she eventually decided to put aside the man's quirks for the time being.Consequently, she continued to speak calmly, as though nothing was the matter."What about the others? I'm sure they're waiting for us back at the company.""Don't worry. I'll give Seo-Jun a call and let him know we're not returning."While Ji-Won was talking, the car continued to move towards their new destination. At the same time, Su-Jin felt her brain buzzing. Her boss's weird attitude, once again, left her doubting reality.'Is... Is he purposefully brushing me off now? No, I mean, has his character always been this... Willful? But I can't seem to remember director Kang being this kind of person.'Su-Jin tilted her head, giving Ji-Won a side glance. As though he sensed her eyes on him, Ji-Won turned his head as well. The two pairs of eyes met and maintained contact for just a second, until Ji-Won quickly turned his attention back to driving.In order to hide the awkwardness he was feeling, Ji-Won raised a hand to rub at the side of his neck. He rubbed and pinched that area until he left the skin all red and chafed."Uhm, you don't have to worry, Miss Park." He said in a low voice. "I'll make sure Seo-Jun takes the rest of them out for a proper dinner. After all, I'm sure he wouldn't mind having a chance to pester Miss Lee."Before Su-Jin could react to the beginning of Ji-Won's discourse, she was instantly hit by that last sentence. As her focus fell on this new train of thought, she swiftly forgot everything she had been pondering over just a moment ago."What do you mean by that?" she blinked at him.Ji-Won's eyes widened slightly."It can't be that you haven't noticed just how much attention Seo-Jun pays to Miss Lee.""No." Su-Jin shook her head slowly. "I can't say I have."To her surprise, Ji-Won's face broke into a smile. The look in his eyes grew warm and filled with fondness."Maybe it's because you haven't known him for as long as I have. When you get right down to it, he's got quite a peculiar character. He rarely shows his true self to anyone, always joking around and pushing people into a corner with his teasing. It took me years before I began to understand him. That's why I know that, for someone like him, his current attitude is almost akin to having a crush."Hearing the last part, Su-Jin's jaw almost dropped to the floor in shock. What was he talking about? Deputy Director Kim having a crush on Lee Yeon-Ah? This couldn't be right, could it?
