The Smile You Bring Me

Episode 14 pt.4: Being Petty

That night, Ji Pyeong was still thinking about Min-Ah and what was, she doing in the Morning group earlier. He knew that Min-Ah and Sang-Su knew each other, but he didn't expect them to be close enough for her to attend Mo-Mo's demo.

"Should I ask her about it? But why do I need to ask her? What are you going to ask her? Why didn't you tell me you are close to Morning Company?" Ji Pyeong debated himself.

Then he held his head, "Aren't you too demanding?" he asked himself.

Ji Pyeong sighed.

 "Yeong Sil, Am I, being demanding?" he asked his AI assistant.

"A person becomes demanding because they want or expect to have something. It was 'totally' normal for you to be demanding at work; or to the people close to you." Yeong Sil replied.

"So, What I feel is normal between two friends! But what if she tells me that 'she need not tell me everything'? What right do I have to demand her to tell me about the morning group?" he debated himself again.

Ji Pyeong decided to sleep it off as he surrendered to the thoughts his unable to answer.

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Min Ah was too busy to contact Ji Pyeong. And he had too much pride— to ask her about Morning Group. Hence it's been weeks since Ji Pyeong and Min Ah last saw each other. On his way to his office, Ji Pyeong bumped into Yong-San in the lobby of Sandbox, "Mr. Han! I mean, Director Han!" Yong-San greeted.

Ji Pyeong stopped— surprised to see Yong-San in Sandbox., "It's been a while. What's brought you here?" he said, 

"I am looking—— if we can rent an office here because we decided to start a new business here," Yong-San happily relayed.

Ji Pyeong was taken aback by what he said, " A business?!? I thought you were here for a vacation only?"

"We change our minds! Thanks to our experience with 2sto, various companies want to invest in us now!" he said proudly.

"Ah! I see! Congratulations! Good Luck with your business then!" Ji Pyeong said.

Yong San stopped him, "You have changed a lot Director Han. You've become a lot nicer," he complimented.

"No, I haven't! You know: I only give good words to companies I am not interested in. Why bother checking and criticizing the condition of a car if I am not going to buy it? See you then!" he said and left.

Ji Pyeong stood in front of the elevator, and  In-Jae came out.

"Good Morning, Director Han!" she greeted and slightly bowed her head.

"Good Morning, Ms. Won!" he greeted back.

When Ji Pyeong entered the elevator, he saw Min Ah— before its door completely closed. She was sitting in the cafeteria greeting, In-Jae. But by that time, he wasn't surprised anymore to see Min-Ah have a friendly relationship with the Won's. He figures that out during Mo-Mo's demonstration.

But Min-Ah was not what was bothering him; it was Nam Do-San. If what Yong San said earlier was the truth? It also means that: there was a higher possibility for Dal Mi and Do-San to see each other —often. And that he did not want to happen.

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The day at the office came to an end. Ji Pyeong was walking in the parking when he saw Dal Mi in her car. She was banging her head on the window of her car. And he knew something was bothering her. Ji Pyeong already made it his responsibility to help her. He walked to her and knocked on her window. Dal Mi was surprised to see him. He instantly walked to the passenger side and sat.

"Is something bothering you?" he asked her, something he already knew.

"No, nothing!" she denied. But she also knew him; she knew that: Ji Pyeong wouldn't buy her lies.

"Is it because I am not your mentor anymore, so you don't want to tell me?" he said, urging Dal Mi to tell him what was bothering her. Dal-Mi ended up telling Ji Pyeong her problem. And he was the most qualified person she could run to for advice.

Dal Mi sighed.

"You know how the Morning AI pirates our head programmers? We need to hire new programmers to fill up their same C-level position. And we are thinking of Nam Do-San and the boys. But Do-San flatly turned me down," she said, disheartened by it.

"For once, he did something I approved." he jokes.

"Mr. Han!"

"Sorry! If it's another circumstance, I will give you advice. But I'm too personally involved with this, so I will not. This is what I get from being nosy!" He said and smiled hurtfully.

It was easy for him to dismiss that idea. And tell her they can hire other programmers that have similar qualifications as the guys. However, Ji Pyeong knew the real reason behind Dal Mi feeling down. It's because it was Do-San that rejected her. He tried to deny that in his mind, but he read her face.

"This is exactly why I don't want to tell you about it. But you insisted that I tell you." Dal Mi said.

"Sorry, I guess I am quite petty," he admitted.