“I shouldn’t have let him go like that… ha.”
“……”
But as he kept watching, Director Shin’s eyes narrowed again. He thought,
No matter how dramatic he acts, he’s still just an Esper~.
The guy might be all pride and rage now, but after a few more experiences? He’d go crawling back to the Guide himself. No doubt about it.
“What’s with your face? Fuck, it’s annoying.”
“Hey now, that’s no way to talk to your Director. Do you hate the idea of having a Pair Guide that much?”
“It’s not just about the Guiding. Just the thought of having to touch someone makes my skin crawl.”
“Still, you can’t back out now. Even if you hate it, treat it like your lifeline and try to get along. Don’t go acting on that temper of yours. Isn’t Guiding something you need to adjust to? Once you do, it might actually feel better.”
“I’ve lived just fine without any of that crap.”
“……”
Director Shin decided to take a gamble. If things stayed like this, the Guide would be the first to run.
“Alright, how about this: if, after spending a whole month together, you still can’t stand even touching him and the results are mediocre, then fine—I’ll let it go. One-month grace period. What do you think?”
“You really think that’s in your favor right now?”
“But no pretending. Don’t you dare fake getting along just to scare off the Guide. I’m only suggesting this on the condition that you actually make an effort.”
Yoo Ji-ho’s jaw twitched for a moment.
“I mean, how could I force you if you’re dead set on resisting for a whole month? I’m doing this for your sake. Dr. Na said the psychological aspect is super important, so compatibility matters too, right? Just give it a try during this trial period—open your heart a little. You might be surprised, you know?”
“…Fuck.”
Yes! That was Yoo Ji-ho’s “yes” in response to Director Shin’s long-winded persuasion. Director Shin was celebrating internally.
“So, if we get along for a month… that bastard’s out, right?”
“What?”
“I mean I won’t have to keep doing this shit anymore. Fine, let’s do it that way.”
To twist “open your heart and get along” into that interpretation… The joy was short-lived—Shin had to sigh again.
Judging by Ji-ho’s confidence, he clearly believed the Guiding wouldn’t work a second time. His smug certainty was irritating, but still. It was something. Even if it failed, Shin would at least enjoy a month of peace.
“Haha, sure. If skin-to-skin contact for a whole month doesn’t help, then we’ll stop.”
“What if I play nice but he gives up before the month’s over?”
“Why would he, if you’re being nice?”
“Who knows? Maybe he’s the problem, not me.”
Doesn’t seem likely, but…
“Ahem. Well, in that case, we’d have to find someone else and start over. That’s why I’m telling you—start strong, be decent from day one. So we can finish this bullshit once and for all!”
“Fine. I made the mistake this time. So I’ll give it a shot for a month. But if it still doesn’t work out and I feel disgusted again, it’s over.”
“Right, right.”
Shin didn’t know what the far future held, but for now, he got the answer he needed. He couldn’t stop the grin spreading across his face.
“Hehehe.”
“Don’t smile. It’s pissing me off.”
“Got it.”
Still, he had to wipe the grin away quickly. Because, oddly enough, everything was going too smoothly for Director Shin.
“Get out.”
“Huh?”
The car, still speeding down the road, suddenly pulled over. Ji-ho scowled as if repeating himself was the height of annoyance.
“I said get out. We’re done talking.”
“What? Where even are we? Weren’t you dropping me off?”
“Why the hell would I do that? Get out. Or do I have to make you?”
“I’m going, I’m going!”
Not this again! Director Shin scrambled out of the car and leaned down to the window.
“Hey, you don’t have to be all warm and fuzzy, but at least be polite. That guy’s not officially one of us yet. If your Guide runs off, we’ll be starting the Yoo Ji-ho ‘White Knight Guide’ search all over again!”
“My Guide, my ass. Fuck off.”
Ji-ho crinkled his face like just hearing the word made his skin crawl and kept his eyes away from Shin. Then vrooom—his sleek sedan sped off.
“Tsk, tsk.”
Watching the car fade away, Director Shin shivered.
Since when does that bastard drop me off at the curb? Last time he left me in the middle of the fucking road.
He remembered having to cross the center divider with nothing but his own two feet. Goosebumps crept up his spine.
“…Yeah, I already knew.”
The power of Guiding was truly something else. Director Shin sighed in awe and raised his arm to flag a taxi.
***
In the Guide Bureau emergency stairwell, a very cautious, quiet voice echoed.
“Yoo Ji-ho isn’t like that. This is all a misunderstanding, sunbae.”
“…Huh, is that so?”
In Baek Hye-seong’s hands was a very dangerous, extremely secretive note clutched tightly.
It was something Choi Yoon-sol had insisted he check after Guiding Yoo Ji-ho—an elite piece of insider information he’d sourced from another Guide.
And now, after finally reading the note, Hye-seong was shocked.
☆ Y Guiding Survival Tips ☆
— Do not speak to Y.
— Do not smile in front of Y.
— Do not cry in front of Y.
— If Y smiles, something is wrong.
— Absolutely NO Contact Guiding.
— Reports should be strictly quantitative.
— If you don’t read the room, expect a barrage of profanity. (You’ll know it’s directed at you even if it technically isn’t.)
(Absolutely NO sharing, photographing, copying, etc.)
It was supposed to be top-tier info, and yet it was all false?
Choi Yoon-sol opened the note, now looking awkward.
“Yeah, based on my experience, this is definitely just a rumor.”
Hye-seong was now correcting the false rumors circulating among a small group of Guides about Yoo Ji-ho.
“Huh… The person who gave me this isn’t really the type to lie, but I guess they never experienced it themselves. When I think about the contents… yeah, it does feel like a rumor. But where the hell did it start?”
“The Yoo Ji-ho I met wasn’t like that at all. In fact, he slept the whole hour while I was Guiding him.”
“Huh? Is that a good thing?”
“Yoo Ji-ho is bound to have a huge rank difference from any Guide. I think he was trying to be considerate. He probably does that on purpose.”
“…You think so?”
After a moment’s thought, Choi Yoon-sol nodded.
This was the first time he’d seen Hye-seong speak so firmly about anything in his role as a junior. And if he said the person who gave him the note had never even met Ji-ho, well… what was there to argue?
“Well then, good. Let’s toss this thing and let that friend know too. I was so shocked when I read that over the weekend. Jeez. I almost scared you for no reason, huh? Sorry, Hye-seong!”
“No, not at all! You were just looking out for me, sunbae…”
When he first read the note, Hye-seong had been deeply offended.
There’s no way Yoo Ji-ho would curse at Guides. If you’re going to make up rumors, at least make them believable.
He’d never felt that kind of negativity toward someone before. But regardless, he was sincerely grateful to Choi Yoon-sol.
The note was scary enough that, had he seen it first, he probably would’ve passed it on too.
Looking back, maybe it was lucky that he’d had to rush straight into the Guiding room that day without time to hear about it.
If he’d read it beforehand, he probably would’ve been so terrified he couldn’t perform properly—let alone attempt Contact Guiding.
Don’t cry in front of him, don’t smile in front of him… Seriously? He’s a human being too—how do rumors like that even get started?
Hye-seong shook his head again, staring at the note in disbelief.
“We were all really worried about you, you know. Couldn’t even tell the team leader properly…”
“Huh…?”
Hearing they’d been worried about him made Hye-seong freeze and fluster silently.
“It’s true! I mean, look at this! How couldn’t we worry? I’m glad to hear it’s just a rumor, phew.”
“……”
Regardless of whether the note’s contents were true, Hye-seong felt immensely grateful to his team seniors.
It strengthened his resolve—once his probation period was over, he had to stay on this team.
I’ve met so many good people. I’m seriously lucky.
Biting his lip as he watched Yoon-sol sigh in relief, Hye-seong spoke with a soft smile.
“Sunbae, would it be alright if I bought you coffee later? For you, the team leader, and the rest of the team too.”
“Mm, nope.”
“…….”
“Just kidding. Can I get something fancy?”
“Yes!”
“Also kidding.”
“…….”
Brushing the whole situation off with a laugh, the two of them returned to the Guide Team 6 office with coffee and drinks in hand. By then, several team members had already arrived.
“Good morning.”
“Morning!”
“…Team Leader?”
And in the center of the office, Team Leader Kim Han-young stood motionless with a very strange expression.
Since arriving, she hadn’t even put down her bag or taken off her coat—she just stood there, completely dazed.
Hye-seong and Yoon-sol exchanged a glance before approaching cautiously.
“Team Leader, are you alright?”
“Huh? Oh, Hye-seong. Can you come here a second?”
“Yes?”
Being suddenly called made him jump in surprise. As he stepped closer, he saw that Kim Han-young still looked completely out of it.
“Listen, I got a message on my way in just now.”
“Yes?”
“It said… you’ve been reassigned.”
“Pardon? Me?”
“Why a reassignment out of nowhere?”
All eyes in the office turned toward Hye-seong, standing in the center, utterly bewildered.
