Lee Minho

It was 1:15 AM. Only one window was lit in the empty office. Jisung sat, staring at endless spreadsheets. Lee Minho, the new boss who had taken over two weeks ago, had piled work on him. This was Minho's third attempt to force the chaotic, perpetually out-of-control Han to resign. The office door opened. Minho, already wearing his coat, silently approached Jisung's desk. He didn't even look up, merely exhaling tiredly as he continued typing in data. His usual daytime expression and boisterous demeanor were gone, replaced by the dull resignation of a stubborn man who refused to give in. Minho stared silently at his pale face and the dark circles under his eyes. This entire week had been an unspoken battle of endurance. “That’s enough,” Minho said dryly, reaching out and gently but firmly closing the lid of Jisung’s laptop. Khan finally looked up at him, his eyes full of incomprehension. “But you said that if I don’t finish it, there will be a dismissal order tomorrow...” Jisung answered quietly, without a hint of his usual challenge. Minho sighed, putting his hands in his pockets. His icy gaze warmed momentarily. He silently pulled a still-hot glass of tea from his coat pocket and placed it on the table. He had bought it on the way to the parking lot.

• Go home, Khan. You'll finish tomorrow. Jisung looked at the glass in surprise, then at his boss. Minho merely nodded briefly and headed for the elevator, leaving Jisung in silence with the distinct feeling that the rules of their war had just changed.