My Childhood Friend’s Stock Will Never Fail Chapter 68

Apparently, Do young had completely misunderstood the situation. There was no way Do young and Joohoon could ever be similar to each other.

 

“Y-Yeah. Of course it’s only you, Joohoon.”

 

A relationship is a little more special than friendship. Since she had come to like Joohoon romantically, it was slightly different from the relationship he had in mind, but still.

 

“Really?”

 

The corners of Joohoon’s lips stretched upward.

 

This time, it wasn’t a forced smile that only moved his mouth. His eyes curved brightly as well, forming a genuine smile.

 

‘…….’

 

The expression bewitching fit him perfectly.

 

When Joohoon smiled right in front of her, Yoohee’s heart began pounding loudly. It was too much stimulation. It was telling her to calm down.

 

But she couldn’t look away. His clear, smiling eyes held her firmly in place, refusing to let go.

 

“Then that’s a relief.”

 

Joohoon’s face slowly lowered.

 

Yoohee stared blankly at his approaching face when a moist sensation briefly touched her cheek before disappearing.

 

It took her a moment to realize that he had kissed her cheek.

 

“We’re getting a little closer, right?”

 

It wasn’t a question that expected an answer.

 

Still wearing a faint smile, Joohoon gently removed his hand from her shoulder.

 

“I’ll wait patiently.”

 

Chirp, chirp, chirp.

 

When Yoohee opened her eyes and sat upright, it was already morning.

 

An ivory ceiling. A light fixture covered in star stickers. The loud cicadas buzzing outside.

 

“Human, feed me.”

 

Even Ppiyak’s high-pitched voice was there.

 

Thank goodness. I didn’t regress.

 

“Ah, food……”

 

“Why are you just sitting there? Still not awake? Want me to wake you up properly?”

 

At Ppiyak’s scolding, Yoohee instinctively got up and prepared some feed. It was enough to last until lunch, but she filled the container generously in case something happened again like yesterday.

 

“Annoying. Water is supposed to be changed three times a day! Do you have any idea how much dust gets in here even if you can’t see it? It all ends up in my water container eventually!”

 

“I’m sorry. There’s a hose in the yard. Can you drink that?”

 

“You know I only drink bottled water!”

 

Apparently, Ppiyak had a lot built up inside because she was scolding Yoohee rather harshly.

 

Looking around, Yoohee noticed that Joohoon seemed to have gotten up early. His bedding was already neatly arranged.

 

“And food, too! It gets soggy if you leave it out too long. Seriously, do I really have to live eating food like this?”

 

Yoohee felt sorry for Ppiyak, but she had to go to work, so there was nothing she could do.

 

She was repeatedly apologizing when the bedroom door creaked open.

 

“Oh, you’re awake.”

 

Joohoon had apparently already showered. Unlike Yoohee, who had only just woken up, he looked incredibly refreshed.

 

“Drink this. Auntie made it herself.”

 

“Oh, thanks.”

 

The glass Joohoon placed on the floor contained sweet sikhye with ice cubes floating in it. Ppiyak seemed interested in the sikhye as well, waddling over and tilting her head curiously.

 

When Yoohee glanced at Joohoon again, he was sitting casually on the threshold, drinking his sikhye.

 

He looked completely normal, no different from usual.

 

Yoohee felt relieved once again when she saw no signs of a system error.

 

Then suddenly, the back of her hand began to itch.

 

“I’m coming with you.”

 

When she looked down, Ppiyak had placed one foot on the back of her hand.

 

“……What?”

 

Yoohee mouthed the question quietly, and Ppiyak answered bluntly.

 

“I said I’m coming with you. Do I have to say everything twice before you understand?”

 

“No, I mean, why…… how……”

 

“Yoohee, come out slowly. I’ll help Auntie for a moment.”

 

Joohoon said that as he left the room.

 

“I’ll be out in a minute,” Yoohee quickly replied before turning to Ppiyak and asking aloud,

 

“You’re coming with me?”

 

“Yeah. I turn into a ring, don’t I? Wear me while you work. I don’t want to watch your every move either, but I absolutely cannot survive on food like this.”

 

“Really……?”

 

Was she really that serious about food?

 

When Yoohee asked again, Ppiyak pecked the top of her foot with her tiny beak.

 

“How many times do I have to tell you! I’m coming with you! Make sure you feed me when you go to work.”

 

And so Yoohee ended up bringing Ppiyak to work.

 

During working hours, she would turn into a ring and stay on Yoohee’s finger, transforming back into a chick whenever it was time to eat.

 

“I haven’t seen that ring before.”

 

On the way to work, sharp-eyed Joohoon noticed the Ppiyak ring on Yoohee’s left hand.

 

“Oh, I bought it recently. Just a fashion accessory.”

 

Fortunately, Joohoon didn’t seem to find anything strange about it and let it go.

 

Tap, tap, tap.

 

As soon as they arrived at the center, the familiar sound of keyboards filled the air. Everyone seemed busy typing away, apparently already having work to deal with first thing in the morning.

 

“Good morning.”

 

Yoohee cautiously greeted Suin at the desk beside hers.

 

Suin, who had been staring at her monitor, pushed her glasses up and turned toward Yoohee.

 

“You two are here. Good morning.”

 

Then she turned back to her monitor and began scrolling through the screen with her mouse.

 

“Oh, right. Joohoon, I checked the file you sent me yesterday. You organized it really neatly.”

 

“Thank you.”

 

“So, about that…… I’m sorry, but could I ask you to do one more thing today? There’s a project that was originally due next week, but they suddenly want it finished by this week.”

 

Joohoon spoke as he turned on his computer.

 

“That’s fine. I came here for work experience anyway.”

 

“Then I’ll send it to you through Messenger now. It’s not difficult. You just need to look through the materials and summarize them. Oh, Yoohee, could you let me know once you’re finished with your work too? Please work on this together with Joohoon.”

 

“Yes, I will.”

 

“Thanks. It’s really a relief having you two here.”

 

Suin gave them a small, apologetic smile before returning to her work.

 

Yoohee decided she should quickly finish the work she had promised to complete today and turned on her computer.

 

For once, she felt like she was actually working.

 

Then—

 

Ding.

 

A soft bell broke the quiet atmosphere.

 

“Good morning.”

 

It was 9:07 a.m.

 

Do young had naturally arrived late, as though being late were part of his daily routine. He removed his sunglasses and gave them a charming smile.

 

“……Good morning.”

 

The team members returned his greeting with somewhat awkward expressions.

 

Suin didn’t even look at him. She merely continued scrolling with an expression as though she’d bitten into something unpleasant.

 

It was understandable.

 

Some people arrived before work and diligently worked away, while others treated being late like a daily meal.

 

Yoohee merely nodded in greeting before turning her attention back to her monitor.

 

There was still some work left over from yesterday. Fortunately, most of it was already finished, so she only needed a little more time.

 

Click, click.

 

She clicked through the files when—

 

“Did you get home okay yesterday?”

 

An ominous shadow fell over her from behind.

 

When she turned around, sure enough, Do young was standing behind her desk, hands clasped behind his back as he stared down at her.

 

Tap, tap, tap.

 

Suin’s irritated typing continued beside them.

 

“……Yes.”

 

Read the room, will you?

 

Yoohee answered curtly while watching Suin’s reaction.

 

But perhaps Do young interpreted her answer differently, because he gave her a grin and complimented her.

 

“That hairstyle looks good on you.”

 

Tap, tap!

 

This time, a ferocious keyboard clacking came from the right.

 

Yoohee looked toward Joohoon.

 

He was glaring at his monitor as though he might devour it whole.

 

Eventually, Do young leisurely returned to his desk, leaving Yoohee caught between the pressure of two furious keyboards.

 

***

 

“This is suffocating. Seriously, suffocating.”

 

At lunchtime, in the small courtyard behind the center.

 

Ppiyak, transformed into a chick, pecked at her feed while complaining about the atmosphere at the center.

 

Well, who told you to come along?

 

Still, Ppiyak wasn’t exactly wrong.

 

“Slow down, you’ll choke.”

 

It was the end of lunch break.

 

Being alone with Ppiyak was the most peaceful moment of Yoohee’s entire day.

 

After the commotion that morning, she had been forced to listen to the furious sound of Joohoon and Suin typing away.

 

Lunch had been boxed meals, but Do young had shown up with some gimbap from somewhere and joined them, so even that time hadn’t been peaceful.

 

For now, Yoohee had slipped away alone, saying she was going to the bathroom.

 

“How can you even eat in that atmosphere? Especially that squinty-eyed guy. Do something about him. How can someone be that oblivious?”

 

Ppiyak stopped talking to eat more feed.

 

Watching Ppiyak wolf down her food, Yoohee fell into thought as well.

 

She had definitely thought she’d sent Do young plenty of signals by now.

 

“Want some coffee? There’s coffee in the break room.”

 

“No, I don’t like coffee.”

 

“Then let’s have some snacks.”

 

“I’m on a diet.”

 

“You’re wearing your hair up today. I liked it down like yesterday, too, but this is a nice change.”

 

“I didn’t wash my hair.”

 

Why the hell won’t he take the hint?!

 

Do young was also Yoohee’s superior here.

 

She had been trying to resolve things amicably for the sake of her internship evaluation, but she simply couldn’t see a way out.

 

She grabbed her head as a throbbing headache began to set in.

 

Then suddenly—

 

A deafening siren began to wail, loud enough to tear her ears apart.