By Zephyria 
“Thank you for your hard work. We will let you know the test results as soon as they come out.”
Kim Jeong-seong became even more friendly when Yeon-rok obediently woke up at 6 a.m. and followed the health checkup, which seemed to consist of dozens of tests. It might have been because Yeon-rok glared at him without realizing it because he was hungry. His stomach was burning because he was so hungry.
As soon as he returned home, Kim Jeong-seong placed a heavy bundle in front of Yeon-rok, who was sitting at the table. When he untied the purple wrapping cloth, what came out of it was a wooden lunch box filled with freshly made, warm food. It was Korean food, with glossy rice, skewers, bulgogi, and plenty of vegetables.
“The staffing here has not been finalized yet, so we have to replace meals with lunch boxes like this. I’m really sorry. Please be generous and understanding.”
“No! It’s totally fine!”
Yeon-rok answered, fixing his gaze on the delicious-looking lunch box. His hands were already holding chopsticks. He had been starving since lunch yesterday, so he put a spoonful of rice in his mouth and looked at Kim Jeong-seong. He swallowed the rice almost without chewing and asked.
“Come to think of it, did the secretary eat lunch?”
When he asked because it seemed like there was enough to eat together, Kim Jeong-seong answered with an even gentler face.
“I ate while Lee Yeon-rok was getting tested, so don’t worry about me and eat.”
Since he said that much. Yeon-rok didn’t refuse and took another big spoonful of rice. Kim Jeong-seong left, saying he would get some fruit for him. One bite of skewers, one bite of bean sprouts, one bite of rice, and a hearty spoonful of beef radish soup… He was diligently eating lunch when he heard someone approaching and raised his head to see Choi Hwan. Yeon-rok flinched.
“Ugh, the smell.”
Choi Hwan was already annoyed as soon as he arrived. He had just finished filming, so his already flashy appearance was even more radiant today. No, his eyes, which had a subtle shimmer, were really sparkling. He distorted his handsome eyes and brushed back his well-styled hair, creating distance. Yeon-rok, who had been happily eating, raised his eyebrows.
‘Let’s be patient for now. He’s a Name partner.’
He was the least likable person from the first meeting, but he was still a precious Name partner. If he wanted to live a smooth life in the future, he had to get close to him somehow. Yeon-rok offered his kindness.
“If you haven’t eaten lunch, would you like to eat with me?”
Then, Choi Hwan, who had been gulping down water, showed even more annoyance than before.
“I’m on a diet!”
Then, before Yeon-rok could say anything, he left. What a rude bastard? He narrowed his eyes in disbelief and glared at the receding figure.
“I, I’m sorry. Hwan gets a little sensitive when he’s on a diet. I’m really sorry. He’s been having a hard time controlling his diet lately, so he’s been acting like that. I’ll apologize on his behalf.”
Yeon-rok was startled by the person who had appeared without a sound. A plump man wearing a baseball cap bowed repeatedly, apologizing. Then, he took out a business card from his pocket and handed it over with both hands.
“Ah, right! I’m Jo Jun-ho, Hwan’s manager. Please take care of me.”
I keep getting business cards since yesterday. Should I get one made too…? But I’m unemployed? Thinking that, Yeon-rok bowed his head in return after receiving the business card.
“Ah, yes. I’m Lee Yeon-rok. …Um, Manager, have you had lunch?”
“Oh my! Don’t worry about me. I already ate before coming in. Ah, right. I happened to buy some coffee, and there’s one cup left, haha. Would you like some? Don’t worry, it’s a new coffee that hasn’t been touched.”
Then, he took out a takeout coffee cup from behind his back, where there was clearly nothing, and politely placed it on Yeon-rok’s seat. Then, he smiled brightly and bowed before leaving.
“Then, I’ll go see Hwan. Enjoy your lunch!”
While starting his meal again with a sullen look, Yeon-rok thought. Unlike his Name partners, the people around them were kind and friendly. They all seemed like good people. It was then, as he was eating a bite of abalone, a bite of tteokgalbi, and a bite of royal court tteokbokki in quick succession, that he felt a cold breeze and looked up, startled. It was Moon Kyeon-woo.
He wondered if this was a series of coincidences, but soon realized that it was lunchtime and everyone was just coming out to eat. Since Moon Kyeon-woo didn’t even glance his way, Yeon-rok wondered if the man was even aware of his existence.
“Moon Kyeon-woo? Would you like to have lunch together?”
He called his Name, but there was no response. Looking closer, he saw earphones in his ears. Hesitating, Yeon-rok got up and lightly tapped Moon Kyeon-woo on the shoulder. Immediately, as if he had been touched by an insect, he turned around roughly.
“Don’t touch my body without permission.”
He had only tapped him, but it was as if Yeon-rok had done something utterly outrageous to him. Annoyed, Yeon-rok held back and asked with a smile.
“If you haven’t had lunch…”
Before he could even finish speaking, Moon Kyeon-woo turned his head sharply, grabbed something to eat from the refrigerator, and quickly left. Yeon-rok was starting to get angry. Two of them seemed to have no manners at all, and one didn’t even show his face.
‘Could it be that I’m also rude?’
In the community of Name Awakened, it was often said that like-minded people meet. It meant that when they met, they were surprised by how similar they were to each other and how well they got along. If that was the case, wasn’t it saying that he was similar to those guys? Choi Hwan and Moon Kyeon-woo were consistently rude, so he didn’t have much expectation for Yeom Cheon-ho, and now he was even starting to doubt his own personality.
‘Well, there’s no one who gets along well from the start.’
No matter how he looked at it, Choi Hwan and Moon Kyeon-woo both seemed like personality failures, but Yeon-rok, who had been desperately longing for a Name partner, decided to be a little more patient. As he was making up his mind, the secretary returned with fruit and dessert.
“Ah, thank you. …There’s a lot, would you like to share?”
Yeon-rok, who had been rejected for offers to eat together all day, asked dejectedly as he looked up. Kim Jeong-seong, who met his eyes, flinched, looked around, and pulled out a chair to sit down. Yeon-rok’s face brightened. He carefully and politely ate a piece of apple, then took out a small envelope from his pocket.
“Also, if you need anything, please purchase it with this card. Yeom Cheon-ho has decided to pay for living expenses and upkeep for everyone.”
Opening the envelope, he found a credit card inside. Without saying much, Yeon-rok fiddled with the card and asked.
“That, CEO… When will I be able to meet him?”
“Ah… Yeom Cheon-ho is really busy these days. But I will pass on the message.”
Kim Jeong-seong replied neatly with a trustworthy face. Then, he ate only one piece of fruit and left. Unable to hold him back because he seemed busy, Yeon-rok ate the fruit alone for a long time.
After that, Yeon-rok waited endlessly for Yeom Cheon-ho’s call. However, even after another week passed, he didn’t even receive a call, let alone see Yeom Cheon-ho’s face. Inevitably, he decided to build a friendship with Choi Hwan and Moon Kyeon-woo. And soon he realized it was a foolish choice.
“Aaaaaah! You personality failures! You sons of bitches!”
Filled with anger, Yeon-rok thrashed on the bed and began to hit the pillow. He was so sad, annoyed, and angry that he couldn’t stand it.
Yeon-rok had a dream. A dream that if he met his Name partner, he would treat them really well, give them everything he had, understand and care for them, and live happily together. That dream was being shattered these past few days. Shattered to the point where there was no trace left.
Over the past week, he had worked hard to get closer to his Name partners. He tried to smile often and tried to talk to them. However, Moon Kyeon-woo was cold and aloof, even answering with a contemptuous expression, and Choi Hwan was disgusted.
‘Ah! I don’t like you, so don’t pretend to be friendly!’
After experiencing this several times, he had many thoughts. Did everyone avoid him because his conditions were too different? Even if they couldn’t be lovers, couldn’t they just be friends, or at least friendly acquaintances? Was something wrong after all? With his unlucky life, maybe there was a computer error…
Even as Yeon-rok struggled to build friendships, Yeom Cheon-ho still didn’t show his face. No, in fact, he wondered if he even came home. Yeon-rok gritted his teeth, but tried hard to gain favor with the other two.
The easiest to target was Choi Hwan. As a famous actor, there was a lot of related information on the internet.