The sex video had been a means and a shackle to him.
But sharing a bed… ever since Seo Seunghyun assured him it wasn’t a favor, since he affectionately held him, kissed him, and shared the warmth of the bed, it was no longer a means or a transaction for Lee Young-jin.
For a moment, he glanced at Seo Seunghyun’s eyes, then lowered his gaze to the contract, studying it intently.
As he read the contract repeatedly, Seo Seunghyun turned his body and approached the refrigerator.
The large double-door refrigerator didn’t exude a sense of liveliness. The bottom right compartment was filled with bottles of mineral water and carbonated drinks. Seo Seunghyun bent down, using his right hand to retrieve a bottle of carbonated water while simultaneously opening the freezer with his other hand. Familiarly, he pushed the freezer door with his elbow and pulled out an ice tray with his left hand. Then, he took out a long, slender titanium tumbler, filled it with ice, and poured carbonated water into it.
His movements were familiar and relaxed.
Just like the spacious kitchen, all the appliances and furniture were large and substantial. Despite Seo Seunghyun’s height of 190 centimeters, there was no sense of constriction as he moved effortlessly.
Leaning against the spacious island bar opposite the sink, Seo Seunghyun waited until the ice chilled the carbonated water, while Lee Young-jin thoroughly read and reread the contract to his satisfaction.
After a while, Lee Young-jin finally lifted his head.
“Boss.”
Perhaps that title was unexpected for Seo Seunghyun. His eyes narrowed slightly, and his eyebrows twitched.
“Boss, it seems there’s a typo in here.”
Lee Young-jin’s voice was faintly trembling.
“That can’t be.”
Seo Seunghyun immediately denied it.
A typo in the contract.
With an average salary of 230 million won per year, the eight members of the SH Legal Team spent all day scrutinizing legal texts and contracts, meticulously searching for any words that could be questioned. It was inconceivable that there would be a typo. If that were the case, heads would roll and more would be at stake.
“But…”
Lee Young-jin rolled his eyes and looked back at the contract.
[Article 3 <Salary>
The monthly salary is calculated based on 170,000 won per hour and a standard of 40 hours per week.]
“The salary section…”
Seo Seunghyun’s expression became faint.
“Why? Don’t you like it?”
“It’s not that.”
Lee Young-jin shook his head several times.
He repeatedly checked the number, which had six digits. Ten, hundred, thousand, ten thousand… even after reading it repeatedly, the number remained the same. 170,000 won. The position of the comma didn’t change either. He pondered whether the “per hour” part was a typo or if there was an error in the number of digits. Perhaps it was incorrectly written as “per week” or “per day.” Or maybe it was a mistake with the ten thousand won amount.
Either way, the amount of 170,000 won per hour seemed clearly incorrect.
“This is written as 170,000 won per hour.”
Instead of answering, Seo Seunghyun brought the tumbler to his lips. The ice, which had melted and become smooth, mixed with the strong carbonated water and flowed into his mouth. He crushed the ice with his molars, looking at Lee Young-jin intently.
After a long silence, when Lee Young-jin couldn’t bear the awkwardness any longer, he twirled his fingers nervously.
Only after a while did Seo Seunghyun finally speak.
“Is there a problem with that amount?”
In response to his question, Lee Young-jin raised his head abruptly.
His pupils shook uncontrollably.
“I-Is it alright to give this much?”
Seo Seunghyun didn’t immediately answer this time either. Instead, he tilted his head slightly and narrowed his eyes.
Silence tormented Lee Young-jin.
He couldn’t fathom how to accept the enormous gap between 10,000 won and 170,000 won.
Seo Seunghyun lightly touched the tumbler on the island bar with his fingertips, gazing at Lee Young-jin. Once again, he asked a question.
“Why? Don’t you believe you’re worth that much?”
Once again, Lee Young-jin couldn’t answer.
What kind of work would one have to do to be worth 170,000 won per hour?
Perhaps the scope of responsibilities was broader than he initially thought…
Besides the simple tasks of breaking server security or gathering information, there must be comprehensive compensation that included arduous labor like cleaning or errands, or even something unimaginable.
Lee Young-jin recalled the concept of comprehensive compensation he had vaguely heard from customers drinking beer at the chicken restaurant in the past.
As he pondered on it, he began to understand to some extent the staggering amount.
“So, is this comprehensive compensation?”
“What?”
Seo Seunghyun’s eyebrow twitched, and the corner of his mouth curled up slightly. He smirked.
“Well, in a way, you could say that.”
“Ah…”
Lee Young-jin nodded his head and quickly looked down at the contract again. No matter how many times he read it, the amount remained the same. Even considering the concept of comprehensive compensation, it was an immense sum. 170,000 won per hour, forty hours a week, totaling six million eight hundred thousand… He stopped his thoughts there.
Suddenly, he felt a surge of fear.
What kind of work would warrant such an amount?
Seo Seunghyun’s gaze wandered around the edge of Lee Young-jin’s cheek, which had turned slightly pale.
For some reason, his throat felt dry, and he tilted the tumbler, gulping down the remaining carbonated water. His Adam’s apple bobbed several times. Placing the cold tumbler with only ice remaining back on the marble bar, he straightened his body, which had been leaning against it.
Seo Seunghyun walked quickly, closing the distance to the dining table where Lee Young-jin was sitting. He stretched out his arm and lightly tapped the contract with his fingertips.
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