But unfortunately, Hakyung wasn’t in a calm state to answer his grandmother’s interest.
His mind was buried in negative thoughts, and he felt like tears could burst out any second.
In the end, he couldn’t answer any of his grandmother’s questions properly and tried to end the call awkwardly.
However, his grandmother only hung up after getting a promise that he would call every evening to check in.
Because of the long call, Hakyung’s phone had warmed up in his hand as he collapsed right there.
Curling his body up, he held the phone close to his chest.
Doing so made him feel like he was receiving his grandmother’s support.
He reminded himself not to be disappointed already by the fact that he knew nothing about the boss’s personal life — he felt guilty for falling just because the boss was handsome.
The next day, Hakyung woke up an hour earlier than usual.
He planned to wipe away yesterday’s gloom and start today with fresh courage.
A full stomach makes a good mood, and having at least one nice thing to say wouldn’t hurt either!
Hakyung planned to fill the boss’s stomach well.
If the boss also admired his cooking skills, that would be a bonus.
Strong Dolphin (Kang Dolgo-rae), who was more interested in the extras, smiled softly and headed to the kitchen.
Braised short ribs, japchae, pollack pancakes, and a refreshing beef soup.
At a glance, it looked like a feast fit for a birthday party.
“Oh, nice.”
Satisfied with his preparation, he scooped fluffy rice.
Just as his smile was about to reach the sky, a low voice whispered right by his ear.
“What is Kang Hakyung’s birthday?”
Startled by the sudden man’s voice, Hakyung screamed and flinched.
In the fluster, the rice bowl slipped from his hand and floated in mid-air.
Hakyung quickly reached out, but the bowl slipped past his fingers and started falling to the floor.
“No, my rice!”
Just as he shouted, a hand suddenly appeared and caught the bowl quickly.
It was Muheon.
“Ah, it’s hot.”
However, instead of handing the bowl back to Hakyung, Muheon tossed it unceremoniously into the sink.
Turning around, still clutching his startled heart, Hakyung saw Muheon staring at him with his usual sullen expression.
“Ah! Not good for my heart.”
Hakyung gasped, breath shaky, his heart pounding harder at the boss’s intimidating face.
“You were that startled? Isn’t your energy too weak?”
“I was really startled! You should’ve given me a heads-up! But boss, could you turn your face away for a moment?”
“Huh? Like this?”
At Hakyung’s request, Muheon slightly turned his head and bent forward.
He thought Hakyung wanted to look at something on his face, so he obediently complied.
But instead of words, a soft palm struck his temple.
Though small, the palm of the ‘Strong Dolphin’ was quite a blow up close.
Despite doing what was asked, Muheon looked dazed after suddenly being hit.
Meanwhile, Hakyung had his own grievances.
He asked the boss to turn his face away to calm his heartbeat, but instead of the front, the boss showed him a cooler side profile.
This was a clear violation of the law.
He didn’t know exactly which law, but there definitely was such a law.
The boss had a duty to protect his heart health…
But why was the boss’s skin so nice?
The moment his face brushed past the man’s, the touch was incredibly soft.
Was it really okay for a man twelve years older than him to have skin this good?
All kinds of strange thoughts mixed together, turning Hakyung’s head into a complete mess.
Still, he clenched his fist tightly, not wanting to forget that soft sensation.
If his grandmother saw him, she’d click her tongue and scold him for being foolish.
“What’s wrong with you?”
“Nothing’s wrong. Sorry.”
“Really? Then can I have breakfast?”
Hakyung nodded and moved the rice bowl that was left alone on the sink.
Today, the dolphin seemed even stranger than usual, and Muheon quietly felt a little worried.
But since he wasn’t the type to ask too many questions, he just shrugged his shoulders.
For a while, only the sound of spoons moving filled the air, and the first to speak was, unsurprisingly, Hakyung.
Remembering the saying “If you’re thirsty, dig a well,” he saw his chance to ask the questions that had been bothering him all night.
“Boss.”
“Yeah, it’s delicious.”
“I haven’t said anything yet.”
“Oh, I thought you wanted a compliment.”
Embarrassed by his wrong guess, the man raised one corner of his mouth.
Hakyung’s face flushed bright red, and he bowed his head deeply to eat.
No matter the curiosity or what, just seeing the boss breathe made his face burn so hot he thought he’d go crazy.
“So why did you call me?”
“Ah, no reason. I forgot.”
Muheon’s eyes narrowed at the half-hearted answer, but Hakyung didn’t notice because he kept his head down.
If he had seen the narrowed eyes of the man, he might have been so overwhelmed by his sexiness that his heart would race again.
***
Asking the boss directly was a spectacular failure.
So Hakyung had no choice but to ask one of the boss’s closest aides.
While thinking carefully about who would give the best answer, Hakyung entered the bathroom to fetch cleaning tools.
“Hey there, Hakyung.”
A relaxed voice rang in his ear.
It was Park Geowung. Hakyung quickly bowed his head.
Geowung was the one who spoke to Hakyung the most after Bugeolim, and also one of the boss’s closest aides.
Hakyung’s mind lit up.
The person who could clear his curiosity most clearly had just appeared right in front of him, and his steps naturally quickened.
“Uncle Geowung!”
“Oh, cleaning?”
“Yes! But I have something urgent to ask.”
“Hmm? What is it?”
Park Geowung blinked slowly.
As a sea turtle beastman, all his movements were about 0.87 times slower than others.
Only after Hakyung grabbed him and brought him into the cleaning tool closet did Geowung realize the serious situation.
He looked around the narrow closet, curious about the place he’d never been to while serving Muheon.
“Uh… I don’t mean anything special by asking this.”
“Hm? Asking what?”
“Has the boss gotten married?”
One second, two seconds, three seconds ticked by, and Hakyung’s mouth went dry.
Was the boss’s marital status such a complicated question that needed so much time to consider?
Maybe it was because the boss’s private life was a huge mess, or he’d already divorced three times…
As he waited for Geowung’s answer, all kinds of bad imaginations grew bigger and bigger.
He even imagined that Muheon might have five hidden kids.
“Muheon hasn’t married.”
“Gasp…!”
Just before his bad imaginings caught up and made it hard to breathe, Geowung gave his answer.
It was a hopeful answer considering how long it took.
Barely holding back his joy, Hakyung asked a second question.
“Then what about a girlfriend? Or maybe he’s not married yet but promised to marry someone soon…?”
Geowung shook his head after rolling his big eyes around.
He had spent hundreds of years sleeping and hadn’t met anyone or even taken care of his business properly.
Because of that, other nearby dragons took turns watching over the West Sea.
Compared to back then, the current Muheon was living very, very diligently.
“By the way, Hakyung, why are you so curious about the boss’s marriage?”
Only then did Geowung ask slowly, confused by Hakyung’s question.
But having already gotten the important answer, Hakyung simply said “Thank you!” and left the cleaning closet.
Left alone, Geowung’s head slowly tilted sideways.
Boss is single! Hakyung was very pleased with the answer he got from the closest aide.
Back in the office, he hummed happily while wiping various places on the desk.
Of course, that didn’t mean he’d immediately confess and ask the boss—who was twelve years older, possibly a gangster, and a sea eel beastman—to go out with him.
But it felt like the odds, which had been totally negative, suddenly shifted to positive.
Even while moving his hands busily, Hakyung’s eyes kept glancing toward the boss’s office.
If he had the power of clairvoyance, he could stare at that handsome face until he got tired of it…
But he was just an ordinary dolphin beastman with soft nostrils.
Working in the same company but unable to even look at the man, he could only clench his lips in frustration.