MM 140

“Assistant Han, you should go home and get some rest.”

Yu-young shook his head at the low, slightly rough voice.

“I’m fine. I’ll stay until the end.”

“Yu-young, don’t push yourself too hard…”

“I don’t want to leave you here alone, Team Leader.”

Fatigue was evident in Yu-young’s voice, but his determination remained firm. Do-won looked at him for a moment before placing a steady hand on his back.

“All right. Let’s hang in there a little longer.”

The late-night hours were spent compiling data that the team had gathered throughout the day, working toward a final report. While Yu-young continuously revised the presentation materials, Do-won handled countless phone calls with the business and production teams to manage the crisis.

Coffee, coffee, and more coffee—Yu-young had lost track of how many cups he had downed. As he absentmindedly lifted his mug to take another sip, a gentle touch on his hand stopped him. His gaze followed the movement upward.

“…Ah, Team Leader.”

“Yu-young.”

Outside the window, the sky was still dark. The clock read 4:30 AM. Rubbing his dry, aching eyelids, Yu-young leaned his head against Do-won’s stomach without resistance. Do-won accepted the weight without a word, running a comforting hand through Yu-young’s hair.

“You must be exhausted. Get up.”

“Where are we going…?”

“Just follow me.”

Do-won led him to the team leader’s office. A plush sofa behind the table was covered with a blanket.

“Lie down.”

“What? No, I’m fine, Team Leader.”

Yu-young quickly waved his hands in refusal. Of course, this space carried Do-won’s scent and pheromones so heavily that just stepping inside made his eyelids droop from the overwhelming comfort.

But this wasn’t home. At work, Do-won wasn’t his husband—he was his superior. No matter how late they worked or how empty the office was, it didn’t sit right with Yu-young to be the only one sleeping while someone else was still working.

However, Do-won’s resolve was stronger. He firmly guided Yu-young onto the sofa and took off his jacket, draping it over him.

“You may think you’re fine, but your face is completely pale. Get some rest.”

“But how can I sleep while—”

“You’re really not listening, are you? This is an order from your superior. Lie down.”

Faced with those words, Yu-young hesitated before finally settling onto the couch. Only after making sure he was lying down properly did Do-won return to his desk.

I’m so tired…

As soon as Yu-young released the tension in his body, a flood of emotions washed over him. No matter how much he tried to act unaffected, lying there under Do-won’s jacket—steeped in his scent—made it impossible to hold back.

Regret and sorrow.

Today was supposed to be special. They should have been at the ends of the earth, where no one could find them, whispering sweet words while wrapped in each other’s arms. He had imagined holding Do-won’s hand, gazing at breathtaking scenery, laughing together in pure happiness.

But what could they do? This was an accident—no one’s fault. Even so, seeing Do-won staring at his monitor with a blank, unreadable expression, as if their honeymoon was the last thing on his mind, made Yu-young feel a little bitter. If only Do-won had acknowledged it—just one word, “You must be disappointed.” Maybe then his heart wouldn’t ache so much.

For a brief moment, that disappointment even extended to Do-won himself. But Yu-young quickly pushed the thought away. Just moments ago, Do-won had been running around, sleeves rolled up, doing everything he could. Blaming him would be unfair.

The regret and sadness were inevitable, but they shouldn’t be directed at Do-won.

…Enough of this. Just sleep for a bit.

Yu-young took a few deep breaths and closed his eyes. Do-won’s pheromones, enveloping him like a warm blanket, were a welcome comfort. So was his jacket, saturated with his scent. The sound of Do-won’s keyboard clicks drifted in and out of consciousness, distant and lulling.

But above all, the most reassuring thing was knowing that he was inside Do-won’s space. He might be a little upset, but that didn’t change the fact that being wrapped in Do-won’s presence was the most peaceful thing in the world.

With the quiet hum of the office as his lullaby, Yu-young quickly fell asleep.

“Yu-young.”

“…Hngh.”

A low voice calling his name echoed in his ears. Startled, Yu-young’s eyes flew open.

Beyond Do-won’s shoulder, the sky had begun to turn pale. Morning was approaching. He shot upright, Do-won’s jacket slipping from his lap onto the floor.

“W-what time is it?! Did the others—”

“They’re not here yet. You’re fine. I woke you up early so you’d have time.”

Picking up the fallen jacket, Do-won placed it back on Yu-young’s lap. Then, with a gentle touch, he stroked his cheek.

The way he pressed a light kiss to [stolen content]Yu-young’s forehead was so familiar, so natural, that for a moment, Yu-young could almost believe they were at home.

“You were sleeping so soundly… I feel bad for waking you.”

Lowering his gaze, Do-won murmured softly as he slowly ran his fingers through Yu-young’s hair.

“N-no, it’s fine. Thanks to you… I actually feel a little better.”

Stretching his arms wide, Yu-young sprang to his feet and smiled. Just a while ago, his mind had been so clouded that the letters on the screen barely made sense. But after a short nap, he felt significantly more refreshed.

“You must be exhausted too, Team Leader.”

“I’m fine.”

“I’ll go wash my face real quick.”

Yu-young rinsed his face with cold water and brushed his teeth. As he wiped his face with a handkerchief and stepped back into the office, Kim Ju-yeon and Lee Yoon-seok walked in one after another. They had arrived far earlier than usual.

“You’re here already?”

“Well, we had to come.”

Ju-yeon let out a long yawn, tying her disheveled hair back. Then, ​stolen content​her eyes suddenly widened as she took in Yu-young’s appearance.

“Wait… Don’t tell me you stayed here all night?!”

“Ah… I was working on the presentation with Team Leader.”

“Oh, man… That must’ve been rough. Did you not sleep at all?”

“No, I managed to get a little rest.”

“Where? There’s nowhere to lie down.”

“Uh…”

There was no way he could say, I slept in the team leader’s office, under his jacket. Instead, Yu-young forced an awkward smile and gestured toward his desk.

“I just… laid my head down for a bit.”

“I see. Must’ve been tough. Is the presentation almost done?”

“Yeah, about a third left. We just need to compile the remaining data and finalize everything today.”

“Got it. Ugh, I really hope we can wrap everything up by the end of the day.”

“Same here…”

With tired eyes, Ju-yeon and Yoon-seok settled into their seats. Before long, the rest of the team trickled in. Once the office was full, Do-won strode out of his office with purposeful steps. Rolling up his sleeves, he clapped his hands twice, instantly commanding everyone’s attention.

“Alright, let’s push through just a little longer. This situation didn’t arise because of our mistakes.”

His tone was calm, yet it carried enough authority and encouragement to rally the team. His sharp, focused gaze made it hard to believe he had been working all night.

“Instead, we’re using this as an opportunity to strengthen areas that needed improvement. If anything, this is turning into an advantage. Team One has always performed well, and by the time this is over, we’ll be recognized as a team that excels at crisis management. Think of this as a chance to prove that.”

“Yes, sir!”

“Understood!”

“Around nine, some snacks will be delivered. Eat while you work. Let’s keep going.”

“Thank you!”

The team, who had looked exhausted just moments ago, seemed revitalized. As they joined in a collective cheer, Yu-young couldn’t help but admire Do-won’s leadership once again.

From that point on, it was another day of the ​Read on​same grueling routine. The office was filled with the constant ringing of phones, voices calling out instructions, and hurried footsteps.

The coffee and brunch that Do-won had ordered disappeared quickly, only to be followed by a delivery of black bean noodles and sweet-and-sour pork. Aside from the two employees who had been sent to the field, everyone else remained glued to their desks.

“Now, we just have to wait for the sample results. Unfortunately, the production line needed emergency maintenance, so even in the best-case scenario, it’ll take about three days.”

At last, when the clock struck 7 PM, Do-won’s words signaled the end of the crisis.

“Great job, everyone. I truly appreciate how well you’ve all handled this unexpected situation.”

“Thank you, Team Leader!”

“Wow… We really went through a lot.”

Relief washed over the team as they exchanged tired but satisfied smiles. Hearing Do-won’s words, Yu-young finally let go of the tension in his shoulders.

And just like that, exhaustion crashed over him like a tidal wave.