Small Worlds

11 Le Coup de Foudre

11 Le Coup de Foudre

It was 2 AM, and Haerin found herself standing outside a door on the seventh floor. Without a second thought, she pressed the doorbell. The door swung open promptly.

There stood Kim Minji, adorned in a teddy bear pajama, with a less-than-pleased expression. It was the weekend, the stock market had a break, and she seemed to have already retired to bed.

Kim Minji sniffed, "Are you drunk?"

Haerin entered without uttering a word.

"Do you know what time it is now? What's wrong with you?" After mumbling a few words, Kim Minji cooperated and followed Haerin inside.

Kang Haerin's face was all flushed, clearly indicating her lack of alcohol tolerance. So Kim Minji took out a bottle of sparkling water from the refrigerator, but Haerin refused the water leaving her hand in the air.

"Is it you?" Haerin asked.

"What?"

"Seungwoo oppa got fired. Did you talk to CEO Park?"

Manager Seungwoo has been missing for a few days. Initially, the excuse was an illness, and Haerin didn't think much of it, given the recent surge in colds. However, things took a serious turn during tonight's dinner when another manager sought out Haerin.

While the others gathered to play games, Haerin abstained, occupied with flipping beef on the grill. The manager took a seat.

"Haerin."

"Yes?" Haerin looked up, greeted her, and went back to tending the meat. She was mindful of the flames; leaving it unattended for too long would result in a burnt mess.

"Seungwoo got fired," manager unnie disclosed. "Did you know that?"

No, Haerin didn't. Her expression confirmed that she wasn't lying.

The manager unnie picked up on Haerin's clueless demeanor and frowned. "You didn't know? I heard he made a big mistake while sending you to record SonicOne."

Haerin halted the meat-flipping process.

The manager unnie paused for a moment before continuing, "They said it was a slip-up during your SonicOne recording. CEO Park was furious, so she gave Seungwoo compensation and fired him."

"Haerin, I really didn't want to bother you, but you know Seungwoo. He's been dedicated and contributed a lot over the years, but if possible, do you think..."

Haerin dropped the meat scissors and stood up.

"I get it. I'll handle it," she assured the manager before stepping out.

Hyein, who had just returned from the restroom, encountered Haerin rushing out.

"Unnie! Unnie!"

"Is it over already?"

"No." Haerin answered the question, but her steps didn't slow down.

"And you're leaving already?" Hyein tried to stop her. "Where are you going?"

"Home, urgent."

Haerin had already put on her mask and cap, hailing a taxi at the entrance and leaving.

Hyein returned to her seat, telling Danni and Hanni, "It's weird! Haerin unnie left."

"She left?"

"Said she had something urgent and went home." Hyein was puzzled; just a moment ago, everything was fine, and her Haerin unnie even ladled out naengmyeon for her.