“DIRECTOR Bae likes confident people. Director Bae is attracted to Super Seulgi ver. Drunk. Director Bae bought a gaming pc for me to use when I visit her home. Director Bae asked me to eat dinner with her. Director Bae… I wonder if I have a chance with Director Bae!”

Seulgi was singing to herself in a very tiny voice while on her way towards the parking lot. Since they had a meeting with the production team that day, the band had their meeting right after and just called it a day. Director Bae said that rest is also vital so they were sent home at the right time.

And guess which pair is going to eat dinner?

Well, yes. Minjoo and Yujin also went to have their own dinner and for sure, Yujin won’t be coming home that night. Though the drummer was surprised about Seulgi spending the night at Joohyun’s place, she didn’t find it weird at all. It was just the two of them claim that they are taking it slow but already acting like lovers in some way.

Seulgi was about to reach the parking lot when her phone suddenly rang. She’s been waiting for that call so she immediately answered it.

“Y-Yerim-ssi!” The bassist called. “Finally. I have been waiting for your call!”

“Oh wow~” She heard chuckles from the other line. “I didn’t think that you would miss me like this, Daeri-nim. I am so touched~”

“U-Uh…” Seulgi scratched the back of her head. “A-Are you back in Korea now? I’ve been sending messages to you in KKT but you don’t seem to be seeing it.”

“Oh my~” Yerim giggled over the phone. “So, you’ve been sending me messages too? Don’t worry, Daeri-nim, I will be back in the office tomorrow~”

“Yerim-ssi…” Seulgi sighed. “You said it was just a quick shopping, right? You’ve been away for a week! You will get fired like this…”

“Seulgi-daeri-nim, do you remember that I am the daughter of the Chairman? I can do whatever I want.” 

Seulgi heard laughter from the younger girl which made her sigh again. She was already expecting that answer. The elevator door opened and Seulgi went out right away but she didn’t go to Joohyun’s car yet. The young director could already see her from where she was parked, frowning as she wondered who Seulgi was talking to.

“I understand that you may have the power but it won’t give you a good image from the other employees.” Seulgi tried to say what’s on her mind. She’s Yerim’s senior anyway. “As an intern, there’s really not much holiday that you can file but I believe you have exceeded what you can use already. The other employees might lose their drive to work if they see such action being tolerated.”

“But Daeri-nim~~” Yerim cutely whined. “I am the daughter of the Chairman~~”

“But you’re also an employee of the company. An intern to be exact.” Seulgi patiently explained. “It will also give a bad impression to our department. Director Bae is actually considering firing you.”

“She what!?” Yerim rose up from lying down. “She can’t—“

“She can, Yerim-ssi.” Seulgi firmly said. “She is our Department Head. She can fire an intern. If this is in another company, you were already out on the second day of your absence!”

“Seulgi-daeri-nim…” The spoiled brat continued to whine but for some reason, she couldn’t get angry at Seulgi after literally scolding her. “Alright, I will really go back to work tomorrow and work hard. Anyway, did you receive the gifts I sent to you?”

Yerim immediately changed the topic even though she was really giggling. She felt like Seulgi was her kind girlfriend who was worrying about her future.

“Ah… about the gifts.” Seulgi bit her lower lip. “Can you send me an address where I can send it back? There’s no return address on the packages.”

“Send it back!?” Now Yerim was standing on her bed. “What the— Why!? Don’t you like them!? Those are all branded products from Paris! I bought them all for you!”

“Uhh…” Seulgi looked at her watch, concerned about making Joohyun wait. “I can’t receive them, Yerim-ssi. Just like what you said, those are all expensive stuff. I can’t give you anything in return with the same value.”

“I am not even asking for anything in return!” Yerim shouted, making Seulgi put a distance between her ear and phone. “I just really want to give you fashionable clothes because I think your clothes are dragging your visuals down! I am just trying to help—“

“But Yerim-ssi—“

“I don’t care what you want to do to them. Sell them, give them away, I won’t bat an eye! If you return them to me I will just burn them!”

“Y-Yerim-ssi…” Seulgi suddenly felt bad. “I’m sorry if it seemed like I wasn’t grateful. I am actually happy that you remembered me even on your trip. But I am not used to expensive things… It feels like a burden to receive things like this…”

She heard Yerim scoff. “So that means you’re fine with less expensive stuff?”

“I’m—“

“Let’s eat lunch together tomorrow. I’ll make a reservation at a cheap restaurant.”

“Y-Yerim-ssi, i-it’s—“

“Alright, lunch date set! See you tomorrow, Seulgi-daeri-nim! I miss you~”

That’s all and the call ended. Seulgi was left sighing it was just for a moment. Her face brightened up and her back straightened. She held her chin up high, trying her best not to smile.

‘I managed to speak to a junior and gave a life lesson! Road to self-confidence, here I go!!!’

Seulgi looked really happy as she walked towards Joohyun’s car. She knocked on the window and she heard the unlocking sound. She opened the door and sat with that proud face, she didn’t even notice the look on Joohyun’s face.

“You look happy.” Joohyun commented, sounding like a robot. “I wonder who you were talking with.”

“Oh, you saw?” Seulgi asked, her eyes were smiling as well and flowers seemed to be blooming around her face. 

“I am not blind.” Joohyun answered with the same monotonous voice.

“It was Yerim-ssi.” Seulgi fastened her seatbelt. “She said she will be coming back to work tomorrow.”

“Ahhhhhhhhh… That’s why you’re happy?” Joohyun blew her fringe upwards then started her car. “The girl who went AWOL just to buy you branded things from Paris is finally coming back, huh? Of course you will be happy. Yey.”

“You don’t seem happy though, Director…” Seulgi innocently commented, unaware of what was happening. 

“Oh no, you’re wrong.” Joohyun answered with a forced smile, her hold on the steering wheel was so tight. “I am so happy that she’s coming back.”

“I see!” Seulgi faced the road, her smile wasn’t faltering. “I managed to tell her that leaving just like that isn’t good and won’t make a good example to other employees. I managed to knock sense in a junior’s mind, Director! Isn’t that amazing?”

Joohyun’s frown instantly flattened down. “Is that what you’re happy about?”

“Yes!” Seulgi nodded enthusiastically. “That’s the first time I actually managed to talk to any junior in the company like that. It feels so strange but I feel accomplished!”

“Wow.” Joohyun finally made her way out of the underground parking lot. “It was your first time but you talked to the daughter of the Chairman, huh?” A smirk curved up off Joohyun’s lips. “Aren’t you going to be fired now, Kang-daeri?”

“EEK!” Seulgi shrieked. “W-What do you mean, D-Director!?”

“Well, didn’t you just nag at the only daughter of the Chairman? What if she reports you–”

“Nooo!” Seulgi quickly pulled her phone. “I-I-I must a-apologise!”

Seulgi’s actions were halted when Joohyun started laughing, a sound that Seulgi really likes. The younger girl slowly turned to her senior and she could feel the heat in her ears when she saw how the other woman gets even more beautiful when she’s laughing.

“Silly! You don’t have to apologise. You just did the right thing~” Joohyun gave her a sweet, sweet smile. “I don’t think Yerim-ssi would be reporting you but if ever that happens, I will tell the Chairman that you did what a senior is supposed to do. You did really well, Kang-daeri~”

Seulgi’s face brightened up once more. “That’s a relief then. Thank you very much, Director!”

‘So cute, she looks like a happy puppy.’ Joohyun chuckled to herself before focusing on driving. 

It didn’t take long before they arrived at the place that Seulgi recommended. It is a ddeokbokki restaurant in a street corner located in Yeonnam-dong. The young director couldn’t help but to shake her head. 

“I know I told you about my love of ddeokbokki but we don’t have to eat the same dish everytime we go out, do we?” Joohyun commented in between chuckles. Her hands automatically found their way to latch on Seulgi’s arm—an action that Seulgi wasn’t still used to. 

“Don’t worry, Director. I assure you. This place has the best ddeokbokki you’ll ever taste!” Seulgi said with a wide smile. The excitement was very evident on her face. 

“We’ll see how many stars Food Critic Bae would give this~”

The two entered the said restaurant and Joohyun was startled the moment she took a step inside. It was the type of restaurant where you have to take your shoes off and sit on a floor cushion. What’s more surprising was the decor of the said restaurant. Seulgi said that it was a ddeokbokki restaurant but looking at the posters and pictures of a certain celebrity on each wall of the restaurant, one would think that she entered a birthday cafe or something.

“Welcome, dear guests—” The woman, who seemed to be the owner of the place, suddenly froze when her eyes laid on Seulgi. The visitor just gave her a meaningful smile and bowed her head. A joyful smile was seen on the face of the lady. She then took a peek of the person with Seulgi. “Table for two?”

“Yes. Table for two, please.” 

“This way~” 

The two were then guided to the table in the middle most part of the restaurant where they could see all the posters. Joohyun couldn’t help but to look around. There were even CDs of that certain artist all around.

“Wow~” Joohyun was speechless for a moment before she looked back at Seulgi who was wearing a shy, little smile. “Kang Hanna? Is this like a place of tribute for her? Wow~ My mother will be really happy if I tell her about this place. She’s a fan of Kang Hanna!”

“Really?” Seulgi’s smile widened. 

Joohyun eagerly nodded, she couldn’t take her eyes off the decorations. “How did you know this kind of place though? Are you a fan of Kang Hanna as well?”

Seulgi just silently nodded. Joohyun looked a little bit confused. “Wait, if my memory serves me right, you’re probably still not in the world when she passed away. How did you become her fan?”

“Because music is timeless.” Seulgi answered before passing a sheet of wet wipes to Joohyun. “Her songs are really good, aren’t they? Her voice is very beautiful too.”

“You’re right.” Joohyun then started to wipe her hands while Seulgi set up the utensils for them. Joohyun was surprised once again when dishes were placed on their table when they hadn't even placed an order yet. 

Joohyun was about to tell the server about the order but words failed to come out of her lips when she noticed the cat eyes of the young server. She didn’t realise that she was already staring. 

“W-We didn’t order—”

“Haerin-ah~” The lady who greeted them earlier called out to the waitress. The girl immediately turned towards her without saying any word at all. “The tuna kimbap is ready too~”

“Yes, mother!” The girl named Haerin immediately went back to the kitchen and took the kimbap and hurriedly served it to Seulgi and Joohyun’s table. “Do you want to add anything else, Unnie?”

“Unnie?” Joohyun repeated how Haerin addressed Seulgi.

“She’s a regular here.” The owner said as she joined them. She gave Joohyun a warm smile. “What would you like for drinks?”

“Coke, please.” Seulgi was smiling at the owner, something that Joohyun wasn’t used to seeing. Seulgi seems to be the type that would avoid people as much as possible. She actually rejoiced when kiosks and online deliveries were made because she doesn’t like talking to strangers at all. Joohyun witnessed a lot of those instances as well. That was the first time that Seulgi was facing restaurant operators with a smile on her face. 

“T-The zero one please.” Joohyun added. 

“Coming right away!” Haerin ran towards their fridge and took two 250ml cans of Coke Zero. “Here you go, Unnie.”

“Thank you, Haerin-ah.” Seulgi gave a smile at the young girl, making the girl smile as well in the process.

“Haerin-ah?” Joohyun repeated the way Seulgi addressed the girl who seemed to be a high school student.

“She’s a regular here.” The owner repeated what she said earlier as if giving it emphasis. She then gave Seulgi a pat on her head. “Eat well, Seulgi. Let me know if you need more, okay?”

“Yes, thank you!” Seulgi was a complete picture of a happy sun in front of the two. It was cute but Joohyun couldn’t help but to be curious.

“Are you really a regular here?” Joohyun asked in a whisper after the two left them.

“I told you, Director. This is the best ddeokbokki place on Earth.” Seulgi said happily while pouring drinks on Joohyun’s glass.

“On Earth?” Joohyun snickered at the cuteness. She then wondered if Seulgi even made it out of Korea with her personality. “Let’s eat some kimbap while we wait for the ddeok to be cooked.”

“Eat well, Director.”

Seulgi waited for Joohyun to take a piece before she took her own. Seulgi was known to be a very fast muncher but she matches the speed of Joohyun’s eating. It was something that Joohyun noticed recently. At first, Seulgi would just sweep her plate clean in minutes but lately she really slows herself down when she dines with Joohyun.

“Kang-daeri.”

“Yes, Director?”

Joohyun eyed Seulgi. “I am just wondering why you eat so fast.”

“Ahh…” The smile on Seulgi wasn’t faltering as if she wouldn't reveal anything depressing. “It’s because I was too ashamed to show my ugly face to people. I had to eat quickly during lunch break so I could hide my face. It became a habit.”

“…” Again, Joohyun was speechless. “Who even told you that you’re ugly?”

Seulgi stuffed with a kimbap slice and just smiled at Joohyun. The latter already had the feeling that it was her family behind her zero self-confidence based on the clues Seungwan and the others gave her. 

The information about Seulgi only telling people she trusts about her family also got stuck in her head. Seulgi is always tight-lipped about family matters whenever she asks about it.

‘Does this mean she doesn't trust me?’

“I think the ddeokbokki is ready now, Director. Have a taste~” Seulgi put a bit of the rice cake and fish cake on a separate plate to cool it off so that Joohyun can eat. “Here you go.”

“Thank you.” Joohyun was blowing on a rice cake to cool it down when she noticed Seulgi staring at her with those expecting eyes. “Don’t look at me like that, silly.”

“Hurry and take a bite, Director!” Seulgi cheered for her which made her laugh. Joohyun just shook her head before putting the rice cake in . Seulgi watched her face brighten up.

“It’s delicious!” Joohyun exclaimed, one hand was on her cheek. “The sauce is really tasty while the rice cake is in the right amount of chewiness!”

“Right?” The bassist proudly laughed. “The fish cake is tasty too