Short Extra: Overtime

Although the night had deepened, LOEN Entertainment remained brightly lit. Trainees and staff bustled about, but inside the CEO's office, the scene was entirely different.

Chen Zhe sat on the sofa with his head hanging low, while Kim Jung-min sat before him, gesticulating wildly and talking incessantly. His voice, however, sounded increasingly distant to Chen Zhe’s ears.

"Zhe, listen to me, for the next album we should do this... then we’ll head to Japan, then to the United States. I believe you can definitely..." Kim Jung-min’s excited voice kept hammering away, but Chen Zhe was clearly disinterested.

"Ah, yes, yes, CEO-nim, you make a very good point."

Nonsense. Someone was waiting for him outside to go grab a late-night snack, which sounded infinitely more fun than being stuck here with Kim Jung-min. Chen Zhe propped his head up with one hand, his mind already miles away.

Soo-jung, sparkling and bright, my dear Soo-jung is waiting for me out there, and this old geezer just won't shut up.

"Zhe, are you hungry? How about I order some takeout? We can eat while we talk."

I don't know what kind of medicine Kim Jung-min took today, but he was unusually high-spirited, even planning to order food and have a heart-to-heart throughout the night. Bah! Why talk to an old man when I have my girlfriend waiting? Chen Zhe was cursing internally.

"CEO-nim, anything is fine. Whatever you prefer." He might be cursing in his head, but he had to show respect to the boss.

"Alright, Zhe, you're from Guangdong, right? I'll order some claypot porridge. There's a new Chinese restaurant..."

What? You’re actually ordering it? Chen Zhe clutched his forehead, wondering if Soo-jung would give him a "Return to Beauty" punch the moment he stepped out.

...

In the lounge outside the office, Soo-jung had been pacing back and forth for over an hour. As she waited anxiously, the "Ice Princess" looked colder than ever, the temperature in the room seemingly dropping by a few degrees.

"Soo-jung, why are you here? Are you waiting for Zhe?" A female voice sounded behind her. Soo-jung turned to find Lee Ji-eun.

"Yes, Ji-eun unnie. I've been waiting for so long. Why hasn't Zhe come out yet?" Soo-jung puffed out her cheeks, looking annoyed.

"Why? Where is Zhe?"

"He seems to have been called into your CEO-nim's office. I have no idea what they're talking about."

"Soo-jung, don't worry. I'll go check. Just wait here for a moment."

With that, Lee Ji-eun patted Soo-jung on the shoulder and marched confidently toward the CEO's office. Soo-jung didn't hold out much hope; who knew if Lee Ji-eun could handle a CEO who had suddenly gone crazy in the middle of the night?

However, not long after, Chen Zhe was seen bolting out of the office as if escaping, nearly colliding with a delivery person carrying claypot porridge. From the door that hadn't yet closed, Lee Ji-eun’s hearty laughter echoed out.

"Haha... The CEO-nim wants to treat me to a late-night snack! Kamsahamnida!"

"..."

Faced with this sudden turn of events, Soo-jung was dumbfounded. Chen Zhe, not giving her a chance to process it, grabbed her hand and dashed out of the building.

"Zhe, wait! Where are you taking me?" Soo-jung called out urgently from behind.

"Noona, does it matter where we go? The important thing is to get out of here first!" Chen Zhe only wanted to leave immediately and find a place to be alone with her.

"We still need a destination! Besides, I'm hungry," Soo-jung said, pulling her hand away with a pout.

Facing Soo-jung’s sudden display of haughtiness, Chen Zhe walked slowly toward her. "Soo-jung, where we go really doesn't matter. Wherever you are, that is my whole world."

"Hmph... save it. Ooh... let go, there are people here."

"Don't speak. I am your best late-night snack."

The two shared a passionate kiss at the company entrance, and the passing staff members covered their mouths and giggled at the sight.