Seventeen

Jiang's day often ended with a ritual: a quiet moment under the shower, letting the water wash over him as he replayed his day. Tonight was no different. How strange and draining the day was! He had several business meetings and each one was more exhausting than the last. As he stood beneath the stream, his mind raced. Thinking whether he could perform any better in those meetings or if he needed to schedule further meetings with some clients as he got better ideas.

As he massaged shampoo into his hair, a flash of irritation came over him, remembering an especially aggravating moment. The reason for his frustration was none other than the informer who always gave him updates about the company.

Jiang recalled their earlier conversation. Min Jiho, the strange yet useful informant, had initially hinted he knew the identity of the mole within the company. Then, what was that? Why did he deny it? Is there something he doesn't know or that boy deliberately keeping him in the dark? He couldn't get the answer. Jiang sighed, trying to shake off the frustration and confusion.

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[Earlier that day...]

Focused on his computer, Jiang muttered to himself while working, lost in spreadsheets and schedules. A sudden knock broke his concentration. As there was no schedule set up at that moment, Jiang tried to figure out who it could be. When he failed to do so, he replied a bit loudly, "Come in!"

Min Jiho, his secretive informer, peeked inside the door before entering. He had that odd, infuriating grin which Jiang despised very much. Although he could be called handsome, right then, because of the strange smile, he was nothing but an annoying thing for Jiang. He sighed, thinking of what's incoming.

"Bonjour!" Jiho chirped, stepping in with an exaggerated bow.

"What's the news?" Jiang's voice was cool and expectant.

"Aww, can't I just visit for fun? Where's the warm welcome?" Jiho clasped his hands behind his back, bouncing toward Jiang's desk with an unsettling enthusiasm.

"Oh, right! I should've rolled out a red carpet and thrown a parade," Jiang replied, sarcasm thick in his tone.

"I'd be honored if you did!" Jiho grinned, winking as if Jiang's annoyance was a game.

"Don't waste my time. Why are you here?" As he had many things to do, he wanted to make the conversation as short as possible.

"Well…about that…" Jiho backed up a little, reading Jiang's reaction. "I may have…um…been a bit too eager last time. Turns out, I don't actually know who the mole is. Haha!" He knew Jiang would be angry after hearing it and that's why he tried to avoid Jiang's gaze.

"What?" Jiang's voice rose in disbelief.

"No, I mean, I can find them out if you give me more time. I was this close, you know?" Jiho insisted, edging closer, clearly trying to soften the impact.

"Then? Why the f*ck did you come here?" Jiang growled, turning back to his documents as his patience frayed.

"Ah! I was gonna give you another info I thought you'd be interested in. But, I think you don't need them. Well, I'll be off then." he shrugged his shoulders, pouting his lips, acting as if he was doing all of these for Jiang's sake. Jiang took a long breath as it was getting harder for him to keep his patience under control.

"Out with it," Jiang muttered, looking at his computer, acting calm although he was clearly irritated.

"Hmm…did I hear something? Must've been the wind," Jiho mused, tapping his cheek as if he hadn't heard Jiang.

"Only if he wasn't my cousin's husband…" Jiang muttered, holding himself back from saying anything harsher.

Jiho's smirk deepened. "There it is. Music to my ears!"

"Get on with it," Jiang demanded, taking a deep breath to calm down.

"Haha! Now, that's better! Hehe!" Jiho relented, taking his hands behind again, clasping them together and leaning on Jiang's desk.

"I heard the branch in your X city has been tampering with the documents for a while. And I've got some solid evidence while researching about it." Although his voice was serious, he had a smile on his face as always.

Jiang's face hardened. "What did you find?"

Jiho's tone shifted to one of businesslike seriousness, but he couldn't shake his playful smirk. "I'll email you the details…after I get a little 'incentive.' How about a nice red envelope?" He leaned in, squishing Jiang's cheeks as if he was adoring some little child. Jiang's expression darkened, he rolled his eyes as his blood started boiling.

Just as Jiang reached up to shove him away, Ma Ri burst into the room.

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[Back in the present]

Under the shower, Jiang sighed as he recalled the encounter. Setting aside his annoyance at Jiho's behavior, he focused on the information. Should I just go and visit the branch? I'll tell Ryu Gil to schedule a visit to X city and I'll audit everything myself. He nodded on his own decision.

And then, a different frustration came to mind—his conversation with Ma Ri. How dare she! What does she think she is! Woah! And what was wrong with him? Why did he go easy on her? Shouldn't he need to give an earful? At least he should've cleared things up, no? Wait! Why should've he? Moreover, why did she think he was flirting with others? And with whom? Was there any misunderstanding? Jiang calmed down a bit as he was confused with all of the questions inside his head.

"Does she think she's my partner now?" He scoffed under his breath, amused despite himself.

"But, no matter how hard she tries to act tough, she can never be rude because she still looks cute. And maybe that's why I couldn't say anything to her." as he turned off the shower, a totally unintentional but sweet smile portrayed on his face.

Wait. Did he just think she was cute? He shook his head, bewildered. "No, no. She's not cute. She's not at all! She's…annoying! What's wrong with me? Is this the sign of getting old? Where I'd think a young lady adorable just like some old grandpa? Argh! No! Before she gets on my nerves more, I'll have to give her a taste of real strict boss." he muttered while nodding, planning how he should put Ma Ri in a tough spot.

He wrapped the towel around his waist and came out of the shower. But right after he entered his room, he panicked, seeing a scary human figure, sitting on his bed. As his mind was fully occupied with several thoughts, when he discovered someone on his bed, he was startled.

"Ah! You startled me, Argh! You really scared me just now!" When he finally realized it was his mother, putting some face mask on with slices of potatoes over her eyes, he shouted. Hearing his voice, she removed the potato slices from her eyes and sat down properly. "Oh, you're here?"

"Mom, you really have to stop coming in here unannounced!" he protested, flustered.

"Omo! It's my son's room! Why should I have to knock? I can come anytime I want, right?" She raised an eyebrow. "Or…are you worried about what might happen after you're married?" She teased, finding her son's reaction funny.

"You should! You should at least knock! Argh! Forget it! You're always like this. In the US too!" Jiang shook his head, exasperated, rummaging for clean clothes.

"If you don't have something to do, then go and wash your face! You're looking like Y*zma!" He added, putting on his pants and then looking for comfortable tshirts.

"Who are you calling Y*zma? Hey! Do you think I'm that old? Woah! I never expected I'd hear something like that from my own son." she was going to lay down again, but hearing Jiang, she sprang up while acting sulky.

"Yeah! You're not old. I'm the one, happy? Now go!" he said, slipping on his T-shirt.

"Hey! You're making me forget the reason I'm here." She crossed her arms, looking at Jiang, her expression became serious.

"What is it now?" Jiang asked, toweling off his hair.

She took the towel, guiding him to sit on the bed as she gently dried his hair. "Your dad and I…we're thinking it's time to move things forward. How close did you guys get? Shouldn't we go to her family with a proposal at this point? And set a date?"

"What? What do you mean by 'set a date'? What are you talking about? And we never even get to talk thanks to the engagement you guys arranged all of a sudden!" Jiang's eyes widened, his mind raced.

His mother's tone softened. "I know, it's early…but you're getting older, son. Marriage would give you both plenty of time to grow together, right?" she hesitated a bit as she knew her son wouldn't agree easily.

Jiang's jaw tightened. The recent quarrel with Ma Ri replayed in his mind, and he barely managed to keep his temper. "Fine! Go to her house," he snapped, standing abruptly.

Mrs. Ahn's face lit up with hope, thinking she could persuade her son to marry soon, before ending the six months.

"…And tell them I won't be marrying." He threw the words over his shoulder, tone icy as he strode out of the room.

"Huh? Wait! Hey! Ahn Jiman, get back here!" Mrs. Ahn called, but he was already gone.