I didn’t expect my sister to be this happy.
Could it be that this was something she had never experienced before that struck a chord in her heart?
She was incredibly joyful.
So much so that it made me happy just watching her.
‘If this is the case, then maybe…’
It might not be bad to hang around places like this for a while…
The reason I started thinking that way was all due to her reaction.
It might be a common-sense statement, but I couldn’t keep that thought for long.
After all, the workload piling on was no joke.
What the Secretary said earlier wasn’t an exaggeration: the documents that came up were merely the morning’s worth.
One document gets dealt with, and two new ones pop up; after handling those, more are added on with requests…
‘I’m feeling dizzy, seriously…’
Thanks to all this, I couldn’t help but grumble.
On the very first day, and it was like this.
What kind of battles had Chae-rim been fighting until now?
The workload was so overwhelming that it was impossible not to think that way, and eventually, even the Secretary had to join in on sorting documents.
Despite her stepping back, it took us past six o’clock to finally wrap up the work.
“You really worked hard today.”
“It seems like it was you who worked hard, though.”
“Well, I mean… as the Deputy Chairman…”
Maybe she wanted to say that this level of workload was only natural?
She might have been right about that, but I had a different opinion.
I acknowledge that Chae-rim’s position should be exemplary, but this amount of work seemed somewhat abnormal.
‘It’s not like she’s the only person we can call the person in charge…’
With the Association Chairman sitting right above her, why would she have to toil away like this?
‘Or maybe…’
Could it be that she’s deliberately slacking off?
No matter how I looked at it, it was hard to imagine someone once revered as a hero being that petty, but life can be unpredictable.
Especially when ‘power’ is involved.
That’s how power works, right?
Even what seems like a trivial little authority can strangely corrupt the person holding it, and the Association Chairman is gripping onto a virtually irreplaceable power.
So, it wouldn’t be surprising if she was enchanted by it.
And if the Association Chairman became captivated by power, then in her eyes, Chae-rim wouldn’t look like a junior who could follow in her footsteps, but a usurper coveting her position.
If that’s the case, then behaving so petty could be entirely understandable.
After all, sometimes petty methods can be more effective.
Especially when related to work, the ambiguity makes it tough to object.
If the other side sits in the Deputy Chairman’s seat, isn’t it natural to handle that amount of workload?
In that sense, when Chae-rim does step up to the Association Chairman position later on, I seriously worry she might end up just like the current Chairman…
But I think it’ll be okay.
Unlike the current Chairman, who lacks someone to play the brake role, Chae-rim has plenty of people around her who can do that.
There’s no need to look far; I’m one of them.
And by then, seniors and Yoonseo will have garnered enough experience, so even if it’s not me, they could definitely fulfill the brake role if needed.
It was at this moment I was lost in such thoughts.
A hand brushed against my head, and before I knew it, Chae-rim’s hand was firmly gripping the hem of my clothes.
“Wait a second.”
Then she started coming closer to me.
With each blink, her face drew nearer.
“Um, sister… Ah, we’re still in the Association…”
“I know.”
Even though we were inside the underground parking lot, the fact that it was still part of the Association’s building hadn’t changed.
That meant, at any moment, someone could appear as a witness out of nowhere.
Yet, such bold physical contact…
Maybe it was a reward for how well I worked today.
If that were the case, I wouldn’t have any reason to refuse, but… still, doing it here is a bit…
As I quietly inhaled, the distinct smell of the underground parking lot mixed with Chae-rim’s scent enveloped me, leaving me unable to move, lost in thought.
Just as her face was practically right in front of mine, I squeezed my eyes shut, thinking “Whatever—”
“Oh, that’s enough.”
With a hint of laughter, the fragrance that had lingered near me suddenly receded.
‘…Huh?’
When I opened my eyes, I saw Chae-rim’s face, struggling to hold back laughter as if she was about to burst.
I realized then.
Her earlier actions had purely been to tease me.
Of course.
As someone who typically keeps a clear line between professional and personal matters, there was no way Chae-rim would act that way inside the Association.
Despite that realization, the embarrassing feelings came rushing in, and no matter how much I tried, I couldn’t escape it—
“I was just trying to get the hair off you… Were you that surprised?”
“Then just say it, would you…”
Unable to help it, I grumbled back.
Seeing my reaction made Chae-rim finally burst into laughter, and it was right after that she said—
“Did you enjoy it that much?”
“…Can we just go home now? I’m tired.”
“Huh? Did you enjoy it?”
Why does she become so childish at times like this, despite being so mature usually?
Could it be she learned it from watching me tease Yoonseo?
She used to say children shouldn’t even drink water carelessly in front of others, and it felt like my current situation was similar.
“Did you really want to kiss your sister so much~?”
Not just lightly teasing, but circling around me jeering like this.
It was completely like how I would tease Yoonseo.
Thanks to that, I realized once more how Yoonseo must have felt when I teased her.
‘So that’s why she got so mad…’
It was a moment when I was starting to grasp the true meaning of empathy.
Peck—♡
As I heard that sound, something soft and moist brushed against my cheek.
In an instant mess, I opened my eyes wide, and Chae-rim’s soothing voice began to play in my ears.
“Well, even if we’re reluctant, let’s just settle for this for now—”
However, her voice didn’t finish.
Right before she could wrap up her words, an incredibly out-of-place sound interjected between us.
Click—!
Unlike the flash that had stolen the spotlight this morning, this sound was definitely the sound of a camera winding up.
Right at this moment, a camera click?
Could there have been a reporter lurking around the Association, refusing to give up?
If that’s the case, I could honestly predict what the reporter had captured.
They must have snapped the moment Chae-rim kissed me.
And it was obvious how they would use that picture.
“…What do we do?”
Despite everything, I asked Chae-rim because I couldn’t quite figure out what to think.
So… if an article about my scandal with Chae-rim breaks, I wasn’t sure how that would play out in this situation.
It was something I had to ask, but wasn’t it also difficult for Chae-rim to determine?
“Hmm…”
With a furrowed brow as she pondered for a moment, Chae-rim finally made a decision.
“Let’s just leave it be.”