CHAPTER 59: I’LL BRING A CLASSMATE TOO.

Cho Rin swatted her hand away, amused. "I’m fine. The company gave us a day off."

"Your boss gave you leave?" Jo Hee’s eyes widened. "That’s... unheard of. Factories don’t give holidays!"

"Boss Kim is always good to us," Cho Rin said matter-of-factly.

Jo Hee grinned, her gossip instincts tingling. "Yoyo, listen to you defending him. So, what’s the deal with you two, hmm?"

Cho Rin’s cheeks flamed. "You want to die?" She swatted Jo Hee with a pillow.

"You’re blushing!" Jo Hee crowed, tackling her. The two wrestled like schoolgirls until they collapsed in a heap, hair messy, laughing breathlessly.

Jo Hee turned, eyes soft. "Cho Rin... You’ve changed. You’re brighter now. Before, you were always buried in three jobs, exhausted. You’d never play around like this."

Cho Rin paused. Maybe Jo Hee was right. Ever since working under Boss Kim, her pay increased, her stress dropped, and—shockingly—she could sleep in. Before, two or three hours of sleep was normal. Today? She’d woken at seven.

But she knew who made that possible. "It’s all thanks to Mr. Kim," she murmured.

"Let’s go shopping," Jo Hee suggested suddenly. "You have a rare day off."

"I was planning to visit the orphanage tomorrow," Cho Rin said. "I want to bring Grandma Wu and the kids some gifts."

She’d already wired Grandma Wu ten thousand. Grandma, stubborn as ever, only accepted five. So Cho Rin would bring the rest in kind: clothes, snacks, and toys.

"You’re off tomorrow too?" Jo Hee blinked.

"Yes. Mr. Kim changed the system. Saturdays and Sundays are official rest days now."

Jo Hee’s jaw dropped. "Two days off? In a factory? Is your boss the reincarnation of a bodhisattva?!"

"Mr. Kim has always been kind," Cho Rin said, pride softening her smile.

"Then invite him to lunch!" Jo Hee grinned wickedly. "I want to meet this mythical boss of yours."

"No, no. He’s too busy."

"Call him. What if he’s not busy?" Jo Hee tugged Cho Rin’s arm like a child begging for candy.

After endless pestering, Cho Rin caved and pulled out her phone.

Chicago, Antiquity Town.

Meanwhile, Kim Suho lay sprawled on his bed, staring at the ceiling like a prisoner in solitary. ’Giving them a holiday was a mistake. In the office, I’d have AC, a gaming chair, high-speed internet, and Cho Rin serving coffee. Here? No AC, no Wi-Fi, no coffee. This is hell.’

His phone buzzed. Caller ID: Cho Rin.

Suho sat up. ’What now? Did the system crash? Did the employees riot?’ He answered cautiously. "What is it?"

Cho Rin’s voice came, hesitant but nervous. "Mr. Kim, I hope I’m not disturbing you."

Suho glanced around his barren room. "You’re not disturbing me. What’s wrong?"

"Are you free today? I’d like to... invite you to a meal."

Suho blinked. A meal? Outwardly, he kept calm. Inwardly, he screamed, ’Finally! Deliverance! I was about to gnaw my own arm out of boredom.’

"When?"

"Noon or evening. Either works."

"Noon," Suho said instantly. "Send me the location; I’ll navigate."

He was about to hang up when Cho Rin added timidly, "Mr. Kim, I’ll bring a classmate too. Is that alright?"

"Fine. But you’re paying."

"I’ll pay," she promised.

Suho leaned back in relief. ’Good. As long as I’m not footing the bill. My personal assets are thinner than Wonho’s hairline. System funds don’t cover private meals.’

"Then it’s settled," Cho Rin said, excitement bubbling in her voice.

Suho hung up, grinning. ’A free lunch, with a loyal employee covering the tab. Now this is management done right.’

Cho Rin hung up the phone and looked at Jo Hee with relief, cheeks pink. "He agreed."

Jo Hee clapped her hands like she’d just won the lottery. "See? I told you! Just ask, and boom—your boss is eating with us."

Cho Rin’s excitement wavered. "But... where should we go? I can’t afford a fancy hotel dinner. Last time, Mr. Kim dined at a star-rated place with the staff. If I drag him to some cheap spot—"

"Hot pot," Jo Hee declared. "Affordable, cozy, and nobody ever refuses hot pot. Even saints eat hot pot."

"Really?" Cho Rin hesitated.

"Of course! He ate with you before, didn’t he? Trust me, hot pot will do." Jo Hee slung an arm around her shoulders, her grin sly. "Besides, what’s more romantic than watching steam rise between you?"

"Romantic?!" Cho Rin’s blush deepened, but she eventually nodded. "Fine. Hot pot it is."

K District Road – Shopping Mall

Jo Hee shoved a long dress into Cho Rin’s arms. "Try this one."

"I’ve already tried so many. If I don’t buy, it’ll be embarrassing." Cho Rin whispered nervously, glancing at the salesgirl.

"Nonsense. You try before you buy. That’s the rule of shopping." Jo Hee pushed her into the fitting room.

Minutes later, Cho Rin stepped out in a long, elegant dress. She tugged at the neckline nervously. "Isn’t this collar too low?"

"Low? It’s perfect. You finally look like a woman, not a secretary disguised as a nun." Jo Hee circled her, eyes gleaming. "Pair this with a necklace, and Mr. Kim won’t know what hit him."

Cho Rin flushed crimson. "No necklace, and the dress is too expensive. Over five hundred dollars! That’s enough to feed the orphanage kids for weeks."

Jo Hee rolled her eyes. "It’s discounted. Look—" She flagged the salesgirl. A quick calculation later, the dress was marked down to 465. Before Cho Rin could protest, Jo Hee announced, "We’ll take it. Cut the tag. She’ll wear it out."

Cho Rin sighed, both guilty and thrilled. She hadn’t owned a dress this nice in her entire life.

Chicago Diner – Noon

The two women snagged a booth and waited. Ten minutes later, Kim Suho walked in, scanning the room. Cho Rin spotted him instantly and stood, waving shyly. He almost didn’t recognize her—gone was the stiff work attire. In her new dress, she looked stunning, almost... radiant.

’Damn,’ Suho thought, caught off guard. ’She actually looks... good.’ He quickly slapped the thought away. Out loud, he kept it boss-like and calm.

"This is my classmate Jo Hee," Cho Rin introduced quickly. "This is my boss, Mr. Kim."

"Hello!" Jo Hee beamed, shaking Mo’s hand firmly. She sized him up with the intensity of a CIA interrogator.

"Hello." Suho returned the handshake and sat opposite the women.

"Mr. Kim, did you drive here?" Jo Hee asked casually after ordering.

"I took a taxi," Suho replied smoothly. Privately, he grumbled, ’As if I could drive the company car on a holiday. Damn system rules.’

"Smart choice. Better not to drive if you’re drinking," Jo Hee said innocently.

Cho Rin nearly choked, kicking her under the table. "Hee!"

Jo Hee ignored her, watching more closely. "Mr. Kim, how about a couple of drinks?"

Suho froze. ’Drinks? Hell no. Last time one bottle nearly put me in the hospital. Not again.’ He forced a polite smile. "I’d better not. I really can’t hold my liquor."

"Then fruit wine," Jo Hee said, eyes gleaming. "Zero alcohol. Basically fancy juice. Little Rin and I drink it all the time."

"Really no alcohol?" Suho asked warily.

"None. Not even a drop."

Suho exhaled in relief. "Alright then. Juice it is."

Cho Rin sat back, mortified. Jo Hee smirked, satisfied. The test had begun.