Episode 11
Several days had passed since she became his temporary secretary, but nothing had changed much.
Lee Hon still did her usual work as a section chief, and he gave her no special instructions. Even during company briefings, he asked no questions and showed no emotion.
It was enough to make her wonder if Myung Jae-hyun had lost his memory and didn’t recognize her anymore. He was completely different from the man she remembered. He called her formally and politely, never once asked anything personal.
But the most shocking part—
“Section Chief Jeong.”
—was that after the first day, he never called her by her name again.
“Yes, Director.”
“I heard from Executive Director Yoon Mi-ryeong that there’s a storage room where the company samples are kept. Do you know where it is?”
“If you need anything, I can bring it to you.”
“These are samples of our new products, and I’m curious. Please show me in person.”
“Understood.”
Another strange thing was how unusually passionate he was about company matters. In the past, he’d never shown this much interest. Now, she was witnessing a completely different side of him in real time.
As she walked ahead, she glanced back slightly. She worried he might not be following, but he strolled casually while gazing out the window with a disinterested look.
They arrived at the supply room, and she scanned her employee ID to unlock the door. With a loud clang, the door opened, and when she flipped the switch on the wall, the large storage room lit up brightly.
She stood still for a moment, and he raised an eyebrow at her from behind his glasses.
“Aren’t you going in?”
“Ah, yes.”
He strode confidently into the storage room first.
After watching him for a moment, she followed him inside.
“Where are the new samples? I don’t see them.”
“Oh, they’re further in.”
She stepped deeper into the room, walking past the labeled sections of shelves with practiced ease.
Only the sound of their footsteps echoed in the quiet storage space. To lighten the mood, she began explaining the layout.
“This place is divided into sections A to G, and each row has numbered shelves. Normally, new products are kept in the front, but this time, the renewal products were stored in the back.”
Only her voice echoed through the warehouse. Myung Jae-hyun remained silent, just following behind her. Eventually, she stopped in front of section 56, where the box he was looking for was stored. She rose on her toes and stretched out her hand.
Just as her fingers touched the box—
Bang!
The door slammed shut with a deafening noise, and her ankle twisted in surprise.
“Oh my gosh!”
Jae-hyun reached out just in time to catch a falling box above her head.
“Be careful.”
“Ah… th-thank you.”
She swallowed nervously. As she turned around, something gold peeked out from between his jacket—something she instantly recognized.
That glimmering chain—she knew exactly what it was.
It was the pocket watch she had once gifted him.
Even after all this time, he still carried it around.
While she quietly stared at it, he also glanced down and, flustered, quickly tucked it back in.
As his hand moved, the box she had been reaching for suddenly came tumbling down toward her head.
“Section Chief Jeong!”
With a shout, he yanked her roughly toward him. The heavy box crashed down just inches from where she had been standing.
Thud! It all happened in a blink.
Her startled eyes trembled.
Before she realized it, she was held in his arms. She quickly pushed against his chest, trying to break free, but Jae-hyun didn’t budge. Then his low voice, deep and soft, touched her ears—and her slender fingers flinched.
“…Have you been doing well?”
Her heart pounded wildly. His voice had changed—as if it was saying he had missed her.
Then came the next whisper, low and heartbreakingly sincere.
“I haven’t been well… Jeong Lee Hon.”
He wrapped his arms tightly around her waist, his head resting against her narrow shoulder.
“I missed you so much.”
Her hands, which had tried to push him away, hesitated.
No matter how much she tried to forget him, no matter how many times she pushed, he remained unchanged.
He was still Myung Jae-hyun.
The man who had been cold and arrogant to others had returned to her like a loyal giant dog wagging its tail.
Lee Hon let out a shaky breath.
Get a grip, Jeong Lee Hon. You’re at work!
“…Director Myung Jae-hyun.”
His head, buried in her shoulder, slowly lifted at her sharp voice.
“Please let go.”
At her words, his grip around her waist loosened. She bit her lower lip and gently pushed him away.
He staggered back slightly. She looked at him with a cold gaze.
“This is inappropriate. Please refrain from such behavior in the future, Director.”
Under his dark hair, he quietly lowered his head.
Her eyes trembled.
If she stayed like this, she might revert back to the old Jeong Lee Hon again.
Still—why did he have to lower his head like that?
Why did he look so sad? It made her want to speak.
But she swallowed her tears.
“…I have something urgent to take care of. I’ll leave now.”
Click, clack.
The sharp sound of her high heels echoed through the storage room. She hurriedly grabbed the doorknob.
Different—this is different.
Wait, what?
Why… isn’t it opening?
Her eyes wavered slightly. She heard footsteps approaching behind her and quickly called out.
“Wait—Jeong Lee Hon…”
He looked surprised to see her still standing by the door.
“Why didn’t you leave?”
As she fumbled with the door that wouldn’t budge, Jae-hyun quickly walked over. He tried to open it too—but it was locked from the outside.
“What’s going on?”
Lee Hon pressed her forehead.
She had been trying to make a cool exit… but the door was locked.
She had forgotten.
At Myeongga & Food, it was tradition to lock new executives in the storage room as an unofficial initiation.
Outside the storage room…
On Seo Min-jung’s finger, the key spun playfully as she hummed.
“You’re enjoying this.”
“Of course I am. I’ve been waiting for this day forever.”
“Are you sure this is okay?”
“Executive Director Yoon told me to do it, so it’s fine. We’re innocent.”
Min-jung giggled while Kang Ki-seop nodded along.
She quickly packed up her bag as people began leaving for the day.
“What about Section Chief Jeong?”
“She’s probably working overtime again. Let’s head out first.”
They left, laughing—unaware that Lee Hon was also locked inside.
Inside the locked room, Lee Hon searched her pockets.
“…Ah. My phone.”
Jae-hyun also muttered quietly, realizing he didn’t have his phone either.
No way…
Does this mean she had to spend the night with Myung Jae-hyun?
Her eyes trembled violently.
“No. No, I’m getting out of here. Someone, help! We’re locked in!”
Even though she knew no one would answer, she banged on the door anyway.
Still, the situation felt absurd. She could only think of negative outcomes.
This initiation was infamous—even online. Every new hire went through it.
Even the security guards would just laugh and walk away.
What now…
Lee Hon slumped to the ground, overwhelmed. Jae-hyun crouched beside her.
“…Why are you crying?”
“We can’t… get out tonight, Director.”
“…What?”
“This is Myeongga & Food’s ‘welcome ritual.’ For new executives. They trap them in the warehouse overnight. It’s ridiculous and should have been abolished.”
She never imagined she’d be caught again. Probably the first in the company’s history to be trapped twice.
If she had been alone, it would’ve been manageable—but being stuck with Myung Jae-hyun all night…
Her face turned pale. Letting out a long sigh, she buried her face in her knees.
Why, of all people… did it have to be Myung Jae-hyun?
“…Section Chief Jeong, are you crying because you hate being here with me?”
His voice was soft, but she didn’t answer.
“…If I get you out of here, would that help?”
“What are you talking about?”
She raised her head.
“I told you—we’re stuck. No one’s going to open the door. Even the guards won’t…”
“Then I’ll just jump out.”
“…What?”
His long legs carried him swiftly toward the one window in the storage room.
He opened it wide. A strong gust of wind blew in, ruffling his black hair. Lee Hon panicked.
“What are you doing? This is the tenth floor, Director!”
“Well, since you’d rather die than stay here with me… I’ll jump alone.”
What is he saying now?!
“So relax. Either I break my legs or smash my head—or maybe I’ll die. The drop’s high enough.”
He gave a small smile as he casually threatened her.
Lee Hon gaped at the man who had clearly lost it.
He was back to being the wild, unpredictable Myung Jae-hyun she used to know.
“Are you crazy?!”
“Live well, Jeong Lee Hon.”
With one leg already perched on the window ledge, he raised the other—only to be yanked backward by Lee Hon, who wrapped her arms tightly around his waist. Her clasped hands squeezed with all their strength.
Had he lost his mind?
“Where do you think you’re going?! Are you insane?!”
Her desperate shout echoed through the storage room.
