Su-Jin didn’t like wasting words.
So when he spoke—he expected her to listen.
“Take it off.”
Seo-Yeon froze.
Her hands tightened around the jacket he had just thrown over her waist.
Her brain? Gone.
“W-what?”
Su-Jin, completely unfazed.
“Take it off.”
Seo-Yeon felt her entire soul leave her body.
Her face? On fire.
Her dignity? Absolutely nonexistent.
“Y-yes?” she managed to groan.
This time, Su-Jin paused.
Looked up from his desk.
Frowned.
And finally—his eyes narrowed.
“What are you thinking?”
Seo-Yeon swallowed.
Her voice rose.
Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.
“What are you thinking?”
Su-Jin exhaled sharply.
“Miss Eun.”
“I meant my jacket.”
Seo-Yeon blinked.
Oh.
Oh.
Oh.
.
“Take it off,” Su-Jin repeated, pointing at the fabric.
“Or are you going to wear it like that?”
Seo-Yeon still didn’t move.
Because—wait.
“But I don’t have—”
She was about to explain she had nothing else to wear.
But Su-Jin?
Su-Jin cut her off.
“Some mending will do for now.”
Seo-Yeon’s brain slowly loaded.
Wait.
What?
.
Su-Jin—completely unfazed—rolled up his sleeves.
Walked to his desk.
Grabbed a sewing kit.
And, without another word—
He knelt in front of her.
And started mending her skirt.
Seo-Yeon stopped breathing.
Because what.
What—
.
Su-Jin was fixing her skirt.
While she was still wearing it.
Like this was just another normal task.
Like he wasn’t close enough that she could feel his breath against her thigh.
Like his hands weren’t skimming dangerously near her skin.
Like she wasn’t about to lose her mind.
Seo-Yeon’s fingers twitched.
Her throat suddenly dry.
Because this wasn’t the problem.
The problem was—
The problem was realizing she was standing still while Su-Jin’s fingers were brushing against her.
That this was too intimate.
That she could feel the warmth of his hands, the precision of his touch, the quiet focus in his expression.
That this felt nothing like a manager fixing an employee’s wardrobe malfunction.
This felt—
This felt too personal.
.
Seo-Yeon’s breath hitched.
Su-Jin glanced up.
Saw the way she was avoiding his gaze.
Saw the way her breathing had changed.
And then—finally—
It clicked.
His hands paused.
His eyes narrowed.
“Miss Eun.”
Seo-Yeon jumped.
“Y-yes?”
Su-Jin tilted his head.
“Why are you acting like I just asked you to undress?”
Seo-Yeon’s face exploded.
“You—you—” she stuttered.
“You kind of did!”
Su-Jin stared.
Then—he sighed.
“You’re impossible.”
Seo-Yeon crossed her arms.
“You’re the one kneeling in front of me!”
Su-Jin—completely unimpressed.
“Because your skirt is torn.”
Seo-Yeon—completely flustered.
“That doesn’t make it any less weird!”
Su-Jin—raising a brow.
“Would you prefer to walk around the office in a torn skirt?”
Seo-Yeon opened her mouth.
Closed it.
Looked away.
Because—damn it.
He had a point.
.
A few quiet moments passed.
Su-Jin finished stitching the fabric.
Without missing a beat, he straightened up.
Dusted off his sleeves.
And finally met her gaze.
“Next time, wear something that won’t cause problems in the office.”
Seo-Yeon glared.
“Next time, don’t touch a girl’s skirt while she’s still wearing it.”
Su-Jin—completely unbothered.
“I wouldn’t have needed to touch it if you had dressed properly in the first place.”
Seo-Yeon—mortified.
“You—!”
Su-Jin—already walking away.
“You’re welcome, Miss Eun.”
Seo-Yeon—ready to throw something at his head.
Because this was the worst.
Because she wasn’t supposed to be flustered.
Because Su-Jin wasn’t supposed to be this close.
Because this was just mending a skirt—
But it had felt like something more.
.
Chapter 22: "The Manager’s Noona"
