L I A ✓ | discontinued

CEO

Chief Executive Officer

(Lia × Ryujin)

I hurled the alarm clock against the wall with a groan. Its relentless ringing had become a personal attack on my sleepㅡand I hated it.

“Shin Ryujin!” came my mother’s sharp voice from outside my door. “Get out of that bed and get ready! You're going to be late!”

“Eomma! I already graduated from school, so stop yelling at me this early!” I snapped, pulling the blanket over my head like a shield. I groaned again, muffling my frustrations beneath it.

“Ijgi swiun!” she scolded, yanking the blanket away from my face. I winced and sat up with a sigh.

Seriously, eomma?! Am I really the forgetful one here?

“Today is your first day, remember? Get yourself together and clean up. That alarm has gone off at least five times and you still ignored it! And you threw it at the wall! When your paycheck comes, you're buying a new one.”

With another heavy sigh, I forced myself out of bed. It was only 6:45 a.m. and my shift started at eight. I still had time. Couldn’t I just sleep a little longer? Please...

She shot me a final warning glance before disappearing down the hallway. I closed my eyes, pressing my forehead against my palm.

Okay, Ryujin. You’ve got this. Let’s not give your mother a stroke on your first day.

/ /

“Finallyㅡ!” eomma started, then paused mid-scold the moment she saw me emerge from my room. Her eyes scanned me from head to toe, then lingered on my face.

Huh? What now?

“You really are my daughter.”

“Of course I am. I came from your womb,” I replied dryly, earning an eye roll from her. Reallyㅡwhat’s up with my mom today? No wonder appa fell for her. She’s got that kind of odd charm.

Love really is a bizarre thing.

“I made your favorites for breakfast. Eat well, so you won’t get tired and hungry on your first day, arasseo?” she said, smiling warmly. My lips instinctively curled into a smile as I walked over and gave her a quick hug. We sat and began eating.

No matter how eccentric or loud she can be, no matter how much she nags, I still love her. She’s my eomma.

“Good luck today, daughter.”

“Thank you, eomma. Love you.”

/ /

I never thought just standing in front of a building could make your heart race like this.

Calm down, Shin Ryujin. Deep breaths.

This is just work, not a battlefield. Pull yourself together before you mess up your very first day.

One more breath. Gaja!

As I stepped into the sleek, glass-paneled building, I felt the weight of a hundred eyes on me. A soft chime above the door had rung, probably announcing my entrance, but people didn’t stop staring even after that. Their gazes didn’t shift. They followed me like I was some kind of celebrity.

Uncomfortable, I lowered my head and let my hair curtain my face. Without wasting another second, I made a beeline for the elevator.

The doors slid closed behind me, sealing me in a welcome moment of solitude. I ran a hand through my hair and sighed.