The office stayed frozen.
Jin adjusted her glasses.
"Ninety percent?" she repeated."Laddu… what about the other ten percent?"
A slow wave of fear passed through the room.
Riya leaned forward.Zara chewed popcorn like this was a funeral documentary.Ken covered his mouth, already accepting blame for something he hadn't done yet.
Laddu sighed.
Deep.
Philosophical.
"Boss… this is the problem with people."
Jin blinked."Problem?"
"Yes," he nodded gravely."Humans always ask—why not one hundred?""Why not perfect?"
He waved his hand.
"Ninety percent is already amazing.""But humans are greedy."
The room murmured.
No one knew why they agreed.
Even Jin paused.
Then she crossed her arms.
"Fine.""Then who has the missing ten percent?"
"Oh, that?" Laddu said instantly."My sister."
Jin stiffened.
"…Your sister?"
"No no," he corrected cheerfully."YOUR sister."
The office stopped breathing.
Jin's fingers clenched.
"Janna has the remaining ten percent?""Why?"
Laddu shrugged.
"Family name.""Backup plan.""In case something happens to you."
Jin muttered darkly.
"So five percent is basically…""I'm only winning because I'm not dead yet."
"Exactly," Laddu nodded.
Riya nearly fell.Zara wheezed.Ken whispered prayers.
Then Laddu burst out laughing.
"HAHA—WAIT—no no no!""She doesn't have five percent."
He wiped his eyes.
"She has negative ninety."
The room froze.
"…Negative ninety?" Jin echoed.
Zara whispered,"How can chances be negative?"
Laddu raised both hands.
"Easy."
"She's late every day.""Sleeps in meetings.""Ate the company cake alone.""Told HR they smell like cabbage.""Called her own father 'old monk.'""And she glued my chair."
Jin covered her face.
"WHY IS SHE LIKE THIS?!"
The office exploded.
Laughter everywhere.
Even Mochi's family failed to stay serious.
After a long sigh, Jin asked quietly,
"Fine.""If she has negative ninety…""Who gets the real ten percent?"
The entire office leaned forward.
Riya whispered, "Please be Jin."Ken whispered, "Please be me."Zara whispered, "Please don't be Laddu."
Laddu raised two fingers.
"The last ten percent is split."
Jin narrowed her eyes.
"Explain."
"The first five percent," Laddu announced proudly,"goes to the most genius, most hardworking person here."
Jin straightened.
Accepted.
Laddu smiled.
"Me."
The office detonated.
"NOOOOO!""LIAR!""YOU SLEEP AT WORK!""That's not hard work!"
Jin stared at him.
"You think YOU are the most hardworking?"
"Yes," Laddu nodded confidently."I work hard in my own chaotic…""…confusing…""…self-destructive style."
Groans shook the room.
"And the last five percent?" Jin asked slowly.
Laddu lowered his voice.
"That belongs to—"
Pause.
"'What if you die.'"
Silence.
Pure.
Then chaos.
"What kind of logic is that?!""So if she dies, she loses five percent?!""This man is insane!"
Jin stared.
"So the final rule is literally…""What if I die?"
Laddu nodded like a monk.
"Very solid system."
Jin covered her eyes.
"I cannot deal with you…"
Laddu patted her shoulder gently.
"Cheer up, future boss."
"Even with all our stupidity…"
He smiled.
"We all believe in you."
And just like that—
Jin smiled again.
Small.
Reluctant.
Real.
And the office breathed again.