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“Ch-Chairman…”
As the secretary stammered in shock, the woman hastily detached herself from Chairman Jung.
Her trembling hands pulling down her raised skirt were pitiful to watch.
Though he had expected such debauchery, the absurdity of it all made Jin-Sook smirk with disdain.
That smirk caused Chairman Jung’s eyes to narrow dangerously.
“All of you, leave.”
“…Yes.”
At the secretary’s gesture, the woman sprang up like a spring and quickly exited the room.
With only Jin-Sook and Chairman Jung left, a heavy silence enveloped the room.
“Since you’re here already, why not have a drink of your favorite liquor?”
“How can I drink something that filthy lips have touched? No thanks.”
Chairman Jung set the glass back down and sneered mockingly.
“What? Do you think every woman in a place like this is beneath you? Why so high and mighty, Chairwoman of DK Gallery?”
“I don’t want it because your lips touched it. It’s disgusting.”
Did he really need her to spell it out? Jin-Sook gave him a pointed look, causing his facial muscles to twitch irregularly.
“This, this…”
“I don’t care what you call it—’this’ or ‘that.’ But if you touch those kids, I won’t stay quiet.”
“What?”
His face hardened, and his eyes widened.
What children was she referring to? Chairman Jung seemed utterly clueless.
“You’ve already ruined me—one life is enough. If you lay a hand on Min-Hyuk, I won’t just sit back and take it. Go ahead and test me if you’re curious.”
“So you’re telling me to leave Min-Hyuk and that girl alone? Hah! Have you lost your mind? You barely held on after taking medication, and now you’ve completely gone off the deep end! How dare you defy me? Who do you think you are to talk back to me!”
Even under the thunderous scolding, Jin-Sook remained unshaken.
“If I so much as open my mouth, the entire nation will turn upside down tomorrow.”
“What… What?”
“The string of mistresses and illegitimate children of the revered Chairman Jung Geun-Sik exposed. Would you be okay with that?”
Unable to counterattack and used to self-inflicted wounds, Chairman Jung trembled at her first-ever warning.
But he was a survivor of the Serengeti, where showing weakness meant being bitten at the neck.
He tried to overpower Jin-Sook with exaggerated mockery.
“Ha… Ha… You? The person who kept quiet for decades? I doubt you’ll do anything.”
“Doubt away. Test me if you’re curious.”
“You… You insane woman! If you breathe a word, everyone will know you’re a lunatic.”
“Let them know. Being sick isn’t a crime.”
“That… That…!”
“For the sake of those whose lives were uprooted trying to save me, I refuse to live like this anymore. You should also wake up and live properly. How much time do you have left to act like this? Tsk.”
He was supposed to be preparing for his 60th birthday celebration, but here he was acting like it was a baby’s first birthday feast again.
The line of mistresses clinging to him was pitiful.
Jin-Sook turned away with a look of disdain, and Chairman Jung’s scream-like cry echoed through the room.
“Hey! You… I’ll throw you into a mental hospital! Be prepared!”
Of course, there was no point in replying to such nonsense.
________________________________________
• Have you eaten?
• I just finished eating. I was thinking how much better it would’ve been if the person sitting across from me wasn’t Byeon Jang-Wook but you.
• Oh, by the way, don’t go to that new stew place. It’s terrible.
• Song Joo-Eun’s doenjang jjigae is the best. Can I go eat it again today?
• Hmm? Hmm?
Tsk. Did he really believe that?
Before she could even reply, another message buzzed in, followed by more piling up.
Joo-Eun smirked softly as she sipped her sweet macchiato while reading the flood of texts on her phone.
It felt more like walking through a garden of flowers than heading back to work after lunch.
Which path was she on? Who cared?
If it was a path with him, then it was happiness.
That thought made her smile naturally, lighting up her face.
“Assistant Manager Song, something good going on lately?”
Startled, Joo-Eun quickly tucked her phone away and looked up.
“Huh?”
Team Leader Choi narrowed his eyes knowingly.
“You’ve been smiling constantly. Definitely feels like you’re in love.”
Ah, why was he so perceptive at times like this…
To hide her nervous swallow, Joo-Eun took another sip of coffee.
“Oh? Not denying it? So you really are dating. Congratulations!”
As the chatter spread among the group of coworkers walking together, their gazes shifted toward Joo-Eun.
“Dating? Assistant Manager Song is dating?”
“Assistant Manager Kim, looks like we’re having drinks tonight!”
Amidst the teasing half-jokes and half-sincere congratulations, Assistant Manager Kim forced a bitter smile.
He knew well that there was no chance between him and Joo-Eun, who had never once reciprocated his feelings.
But hearing it officially still made it hard to keep his expression in check.
“Congratulations… Assistant Manager Song.”
“Ah, thank you…”
“What kind of guy is he?”
“Huh…?”
“It’s not an office romance, right?”
“A-Ah, no. Of course not.”
“Good. Doesn’t seem like it. Be happy.”
“More like sending off a younger sister, huh.”
Laughter erupted around them, and Joo-Eun’s face turned beet red.
Even her flustered state was adorable, leaving Assistant Manager Kim feeling nothing but regret.
Awkwardly chuckling, he abruptly turned away.
Watching his deliberately confident stride, Joo-Eun couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt.
She hadn’t given him any false hope, but she could somewhat guess how he might feel now.
Amid her slightly sinking mood, her phone buzzed incessantly.
• Shall I cook for you today? I’ve been learning. It’s edible—I swear.
Pfft. Another laugh escaped her.
She started typing, “Finally figured out where the induction stove is, huh?” when—
Click-clack, click-clack—the sharp sound of heels approached.
She tried to avoid the path, but the suspicious sound followed her.
In the end, a forcefully intrusive woman called out to Joo-Eun with a shrill voice.
“Oh my, who’s this? After stealing someone else’s man, you’ve gotten so radiant I almost didn’t recognize you!”
A familiar voice.
Pausing mid-text, Joo-Eun slowly raised her head.
Sure enough, there stood Chaerin, trademark red lips stretched wide in a mocking smile.
“My friend collapsed, saying she has no will to live after losing the man she was going to marry.”
Chaerin pretended it wasn’t about herself. For her, being outdone by Song Joo-Eun hurt far more than losing a man.
The tendons on Joo-Eun’s hand holding the phone twitched—a clear warning she wouldn’t hold back anymore.
“Were you sure he was marriage material? Not the guy you were stalking?”
“What?”
“He said that without friends like you, she wouldn’t even want to live.”
“Ha. Your guts must’ve grown, huh?”
Her loud voice made passersby stop in their tracks.
“You’re really invested despite it not being your business. Must be quite the friendship.”
Chaerin took a bold step forward and whispered lowly.
“Because of you, DK Media will collapse. Think you can handle the guilt?”
Closing the already narrow gap, Joo-Eun stepped closer too.
“A company doesn’t crumble because of someone like me. Unless you’ve forgotten, success doesn’t come easily, and neither does failure.”
“Is that so? We’ll see whose words ring true.”
“There’s an old saying: Those who talk big about consequences are never scary. Funny how it comes to mind today.”
They say love makes people resemble each other.
Joo-Eun quirked an eyebrow, mirroring Min-Hyuk’s signature smirk.
It was the perfect smile to gracefully crush her opponent.
“Assistant Manager Song, you have a meeting this afternoon. Let’s go!”
Team Leader Choi called out loudly, and Joo-Eun feigned surprise, lightly shrugging her shoulders.
“I should get going. Give my regards to your friend.”
“Cheap thing.”
Ha. Here we go again with the “cheap” talk.
“I can’t leave after seeing how pathetic your friend is, crushed by someone like me—a cheap nobody.”
“…!”
In an instant, five fingers tipped with bright red nail polish shot up into the air.
Chaerin, the reckless brat who acted however she pleased, wouldn’t hold back just because they were in public—or because Joo-Eun belonged to Min-Hyuk.
Before Joo-Eun could react to the suddenness, a firm grip caught Chaerin’s wrist mid-air.
The low growl of a warning sent shivers down Chaerin’s spine.
“O-Oppa…!”
How long had he been watching?
Joo-Eun turned to see Min-Hyuk, and noticed Chaerin’s wrist turning pale under his tight grip.
Worried something might happen, Joo-Eun hesitated to intervene as Min-Hyuk leaned in and spoke softly, just for Chaerin to hear.
“I tolerated you until now because you weren’t worth my attention. But if you touch my woman, I won’t hold back anymore.”
“A-Ah, it hurts. Let go and talk…”
“If you keep annoying me, I might turn you into what you call ‘cheap.’”
“How dare you say that to me… My father won’t let you two get away with this.”
“And you think I’ll just sit quietly?”
“Ah!”
Min-Hyuk flung her wrist, causing Chaerin to lose balance and collapse onto the floor.
Joo-Eun flinched, unsure whether to help her up, when Min-Hyuk scanned the crowd and spoke loudly.
“Lunch break is almost over. Let’s hurry back inside.”
Everyone nodded and resumed their paths. Avoiding eye contact, Min-Hyuk quietly asked Joo-Eun.
“Are you alright?”
Joo-Eun quickly nodded, though her racing heart suggested otherwise. Still, she had avoided a potential slap in front of everyone. She could say she was fine.
“…Yes.”
“Let’s meet there. Seeing your face will make work easier.”
Joo-Eun immediately understood where “there” was.
Nodding, Min-Hyuk walked away with his usual stoic expression, as if nothing had happened.
“Jung Min-Hyuk! Stop right there! I said stop!”
Chaerin screamed like a banshee.
After giving a brief glance at Chaerin glaring at her with bloodshot eyes from the floor, Joo-Eun followed him.
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