Jong In didn’t look pleased as he sat in the armchair with his legs and arms crossed, his gaze boring holes through Se Ryeong if possible. Se Ryeong didn’t seem to mind, matching his intense gaze with a stare of her own. Sighing, Sulli sat at the empty spot beside Se Ryeong. “Can’t you guys just get along? With Se Ryeong unnie, and with Baekhyun oppa too. Since you’re all working in the same company, wouldn’t it be great to be able to rely on each other?”
“I’ll try to maintain a cordial relationship with Se Ryeong,” Jong In cleared his throat, recalling how he’s indebted to her. “But you know there’s no way Baekhyun and I can ever get along. We’ve hated each other for far too long.”
“But things change with time!” Sulli pouted. “People change, circumstances change, so why can’t your relationship with oppa?”
Jong In gritted his teeth. How was he supposed to explain something that he didn’t understand himself?

///

Se Ryeong decided she would be eternally grateful for Baekhyun’s help before he flew off when she realized that for once, she was all caught up with her work. She was even running late this morning from spending too much time at breakfast with Eun Sook. The woman looked much better with color in her face and Se Ryeong knew the credits had to go Mama Oh and Sehun who went to the market early in the morning in order to prepare a very traditional Korean breakfast consisting of rice, soup, and a few side dishes. Byul-ie had been confused when she saw real food instead of her usual pancakes or cereals, but she wolfed down every bite of her food when she saw how her Eun Sook Halmoni was enjoying it.

Also thanks to Baekhyun, Se Ryeong found her office filled with her colleagues when lunchtime came, all of them insisting on her joining them for lunch.
“We don’t want you to be lonely since Mr Byun isn’t around to have lunch with you!” Wendy rounded the table and pulled Se Ryeong up from her seat. Allowing herself to be dragged along with them, Se Ryeong smiled gratefully at Wendy who had also picked up her bag for her. “We’re gonna have steamboat!”
“Sounds great.” they were just out of their department when everyone paused in their tracks and bowed, allowing Se Ryeong to have a proper view of who was blocking their way. “Jong In?”
Jong In wasted no time in grabbing her hand from Wendy’s and she barely got over her shock when all of a sudden they were in the lift heading for the underground parking lot.

Jong In drove without a word and Se Ryeong crossed her arms in frustration as she watched the colorful streets go by. “Do you mind telling me where we’re going if you aren’t trying to kidnap me?”
“Lunch,” he supplied.
“With me?” she looked at him incredulously. “Last I recall, you still hate Baekhyun and I’m his girlfriend.”
“As a repayment.” Jong In clarified. “For resolving my problem without letting anyone else know of it. We’re quits after this meal and you can’t use it as leverage to get me to do stuff anymore.”
“Oh,” So he was referring to how he was practically forced into keeping Eun Sook’s location under wraps for her. “I wasn’t intending to use that against you any more than necessary.”
“I’d rather you don’t have that as an excuse.” Jong In was undoubtedly heading towards the upmarket Apgujeong and Se Ryeong didn’t even waste time thinking as she leaned over and attempted to maneuver the steering wheel.
“Pull over!” Se Ryeong was a tad too close to his ear and he flinched as he jammed his foot on the brakes.
“What the heck are you doing?” Jong In shouted as he glared at her.
Se Ryeong had already unbuckled her seatbelt and was one foot out of the car. “Since you insist lunch is your treat, then I get to decide where we’re eating.”

Jong In’s car had stopped right before a fried chic