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“Yeah.”
Min-hyuk’s nonchalant answer sent ripples across the calm surface of the conversation.
“W-wait, really? REALLY?”
Jang-wook’s eyes widened to their absolute limit in disbelief.
“The woman you met at the travel destination—the one you called your destined encounter—was… Song Joo-eun?”
His voice trembled, betraying just how shocked and tense he felt.
Meanwhile, Min-hyuk, who held all the answers, remained perfectly composed.
With a languid smile, he replied:
“Destiny? I don’t usually believe in that kind of thing, but for the first time, I’m starting to feel like maybe it exists.”
“D-destiny? Huh…! Wait, does that mean you transferred from being a DK Electronics executive to DK Media because of Song Joo-eun?!”
Min-hyuk lightly raised his eyebrows in affirmation.
“You’re insane. Wow… You’ve completely lost it. Does Song Joo-eun know about this? About your crazy intentions?”
“She knows.”
“You’re not already dating, are you?”
Jang-wook was so flustered that his speech alternated between formal and informal language.
“I’m working on making it happen.”
“Working on it? So you’re trying, but she’s pushing you away?”
Whether attending alumni gatherings or going on business trips, Jang-wook had only ever seen women vying for Min-hyuk’s attention—he’d never encountered someone pushing him away.
The mere existence of such a woman was astonishing enough—but for her to be…
The very woman who had captured the heart of Jeong Min-hyuk was none other than Song Joo-eun, the same person they had just seen in the conference room?
Stunned into silence, Jang-wook listened as Min-hyuk added with a chuckle:
“I’m learning for the first time that the world doesn’t always bend to my will.”
“Haa… At least it’s fortunate that Song Joo-eun seems to have her wits about her. Listen, Director Min. Are you aware of what happens when you pursue someone like her?”
“One person worrying about that is more than enough. I don’t need to join in.”
“Hey. Jeong Min-hyuk…!”
“Not a single hair on her body will be harmed. Neither her body nor her heart.”
As soon as the faint smile disappeared from his lips, Min-hyuk’s expression turned dry and serious once again.
Though it was merely his usual cold demeanor, today it felt sharper than ever.
There was no room for anyone to dare say another word.
All Jang-wook could do was silently hope that this quiet eye of the storm would last just a little longer.
With a deeply worried expression, Jang-wook maintained his silence, and the heavy stillness was broken only by the soft chime signaling the elevator’s arrival.
---
Glance.
Behind his black horn-rimmed glasses, Jang-wook’s eyes darted back and forth restlessly.
Ever since returning to his desk, he had been sitting upright, trying to peer over the partition separating them, and had been observing Joo-eun for several minutes now.
He admitted that she had caught his attention the moment she joined the marketing team—she was undeniably beautiful.
But for the great Jeong Min-hyuk to become so utterly infatuated?
The curiosity over what her true charm might be was driving him mad.
“Song Joo-eun, if I want to exclude the entries marked as 'confirmed' in the Excel file you gave me earlier, what should I input?”
When someone called out to Joo-eun, Jang-wook quickly lowered his gaze and pretended to focus on his work.
“I’ll send you the formula via messenger.”
“Thanks.”
After the brief exchange, Joo-eun returned to her tasks, and Jang-wook stole another glance at her.
‘She’s good at her job too.’
He had already known she wasn’t someone to be dismissed solely for her beauty, but how had Min-hyuk fallen for a woman who was both skilled and attractive after meeting her at a travel destination?
Some people worked 365 days a year and still hadn’t even brushed fingertips with someone like her.
A bitter taste lingered in his mouth as envy slowly crept in.
“Yes, this is Song Joo-eun from the marketing team. Oh, Manager Gwak? It’s been a while.”
Her voice on the phone was warm yet crisp.
Even without a video call, the way her slightly crinkled eyes conveyed genuine laughter was incredibly charming.
‘Could she… be a player? Someone who reels men in with her eye-smiles?’
Right. If he felt this captivated just watching her for a moment, there must be countless men wrapped around her finger.
He needed to inform Min-hyuk of this discovery as soon as possible…
“Stop staring.”
“What?”
The spine-chilling voice made Jang-wook shiver as he snapped his eyes wide open.
Kim Min-seok, another team member, leaned in with a sly grin.
“I’ve been sending signals to Song Joo-eun for a year now, but it’s like talking to a brick wall. I’m giving up.”
What… what was this?
“Even I’m halfway there. That woman only knows how to work—I just hope someone makes her happy someday. It’s sad to see her waste her youth like that.”
“I see… Well, that’s not me. Yeah, I’m not really into women like Song Joo-eun.”
“Liar.”
Kim snorted dismissively and walked away, leaving Jang-wook staring after him in disbelief.
Why the hell shouldn’t he like her? What’s wrong with that!
Anything Jeong Min-hyuk liked, he hated on principle!
That was the only reason he could come up with—no other excuse seemed to fit yet.
If it weren’t for Min-hyuk, maybe he would’ve been smitten with her too.
Meanwhile, oblivious to the conversations swirling around her, Joo-eun ended her call and continued with her tasks without a second glance.
As Jang-wook stole another peek at her, Kim passed by in the distance, grinning mischievously.
What do you mean “not interested”? He sneered silently.
I wasn’t staring because of that! Stop laughing like that!
Jang-wook bit his lip, ready to mutter a curse under his breath.
“Haa… This damn company. The only reason I’m here is for the money. Just for the money.”
Unable to bear the unfair misunderstanding, he scratched his head furiously.
---
Lost in her work, Joo-eun finally left the office after 8 p.m.
She remembered a time when the hallways were still bustling with employees even at this hour.
But now, the lobby felt eerily quiet.
This change had started since Min-hyuk became the department head.
Not just the Strategic Planning Division—early departures were strongly encouraged across all departments, leaving the entire building deserted by this time.
With her phone tucked between her shoulder and ear, Joo-eun shook out her umbrella lightly.
“Don’t worry. Just in case, I left a spare one in my desk drawer at work.”
[That’s our daughter—always so prepared. Still, if it looks like the rain isn’t stopping anytime soon, wait a little longer before heading out. Don’t rush out blindly, okay?]
Hye-joo had called, worried about the sudden downpour.
“Okay, I’ll do that.”
[Be careful on your way home.]
“Got it. I’ll be there soon.”
After ending the call, Joo-eun gazed up at the sky.
For a sudden shower, the rain was heavier than expected.
The dark clouds and pouring rain hinted that it wouldn’t stop anytime soon.
The wind was strong too.
‘Surely there won’t be lightning?’
Though she had an umbrella, it was clear she’d get soaked on the way to the subway station.
Even standing at the entrance, the fine mist of rain was already drenching her.
What should she do? Maybe she should wait a little longer, as her mom suggested, since she’d already worked overtime…
Her white blouse made the chill feel sharper, and her resolve to leave faltered multiple times.
Lost in thought while staring at the sky, a familiar baritone voice interrupted her musings.
“Did you forget your umbrella?”
Startled, her eyes widened.
She didn’t need to see him to recognize that voice.
There was no one else in the company with such a stylish, deep tone.
She had assumed he’d already gone home.
Ignoring her heart, which inexplicably raced again, she took a deep breath.
How dare you ask if I forgot my umbrella when you can clearly see I have one? I’ll snap back at him and walk away.
With her mind made up, she turned her head—but froze.
Min-hyuk was talking to another employee.
The flustered employee, adjusting her glasses and blushing, looked unsure of what to do upon recognizing him.
“Huh? Oh… I didn’t know it was going to rain…”
“I’ll let you borrow this. Use it to get home.”
Joo-eun couldn’t believe her eyes as she watched Min-hyuk hand his umbrella to the woman.
‘Ha! How dare he offer an umbrella to another woman right in front of me…’
The blushing woman hesitated, mumbling, “But… what about you, Director Min?”
“I have another one, so don’t worry about it.”
“But still…”
“Take it. I’m really fine, I promise.”
The woman shyly accepted the sturdy umbrella with both hands.
“T-thank you so much. I’ll return it to you first thing tomorrow.”
With a single press of a button, the umbrella snapped open smoothly—it was clearly high-quality and expensive.
The woman bowed her head bashfully, her face flushed, and hurried off into the rain with small, quick steps.
Joo-eun glared at Min-hyuk as he watched her go with a satisfied smile.
You said you’ve never been insincere with me? Oh, sure. I can see just how sincere you are!
She clenched her teeth in frustration, ready to scream. In her anger, she yanked open her own umbrella when he suddenly took a large step closer to her.
“Let’s share this one.”
His teasing smile only fueled Joo-eun’s scowl.
“I thought you said you had another umbrella. Why don’t you use that one?”
“That’s why I’m saying we should share.”
“And is that other umbrella mine now?”
What kind of absurd logic was this?
“I heard walking together in the rain under the pretense of not having an umbrella is part of romance. I wanted to try it for myself.”
His response left Joo-eun momentarily speechless.
She hadn’t expected him to remember the drunken ramblings about her romantic fantasies at the bar.
Her earlier anger fizzled out instantly, leaving her face burning hot.
“D-do it often then. With someone else.”
“I don’t want anyone else. I only want to do it with you.”
It was just about sharing an umbrella, but why did it feel so mortifying?
“This… we’re still at the office. People might misunderstand if they see us leaving together under the same umbrella.”
“There’s no one around even if you squint. Stop overthinking. Didn’t I tell everyone not to work overtime? And yet here you are again.”
“...”
“And if anyone sees us, the rumor that an employee abandoned their umbrella-less director would be far worse, don’t you think?”
His smug grin made it impossible for her to argue back.
She’d never lost an argument before—except with him. Around him, all her defenses crumbled.
Unable to find a retort, Joo-eun turned to leave, but Min-hyuk reached out and placed his hand over hers, which was gripping her umbrella.
“Let’s go.”
Before her startled eyes could settle, swish—a large black umbrella unfolded above them.
At the same time, he wrapped an arm around her shoulder and pulled her close under the shelter of the umbrella.
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