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The Mysterious Man
After the short-term project ended, it was time for a company dinner.
Jeong Yeon-hee’s face, flushed like a peach, was a result of drinking soju cocktails one after another. She shook her head while looking at Manager Kim’s gloomy face, who had been worrying about his growing belly lately.
“No, Manager, what are you talking about? There’s an old saying that a belly is a symbol of wisdom, right? You just don’t have time for exercise because you’re so busy at work, but if you start working out, you’ll get a six-pack in no time!”
After saying this, she smiled brightly at the manager, who seemed a bit cheered up, and immediately turned her head toward Deputy Manager Yoo. He had been concerned about his receding hairline, particularly on top of his head, lately.
“Deputy Manager, you’re tall, right? Even if you wear a wig to cover up the bald spot, your height can’t be hidden, no matter how much you wear high-heeled shoes. Winner fighting!”
“Is that so? I guess you’re right!”
Clink. Deputy Manager Yoo placed his glass down with a hearty laugh, clearly in a good mood now. Yeon-hee’s lips curled into a smile.
At that moment, Yeon-hee was working hard to flatter her superiors at the dinner. To put it nicely, she was networking at the company; to put it bluntly, she was doing the “flirty assistant” routine.
It was pathetic, but what else could she do? Her long-term dream was to become a female manager in her 40s, with long-term tenure at a large company. Her short-term dream was to get a performance score of over 360. With no reliable connections or a strong background, she had no choice but to struggle like this to build up her retirement fund.
As she kept flattering her superiors, a moment of clarity hit her when she noticed her empty glass. But then, thinking about the bonus coming in early next year, she quickly brushed it off. And the dinner menu was hanwoo beef—there was no time to worry about anything else.
How long had she been flattering them? While preparing some lettuce wraps for the new employee, Yoo Jeong, and refilling Manager Kim’s empty glass, the time had flown by, and it was now shining brightly.
Yeon-hee tapped Jeong’s knee, sitting next to her.
“Jeong, should we leave now?”
She whispered in her ear, suggesting that they wrap things up quickly and sneak out after fulfilling her duty of flattering the superiors.
Jeong immediately nodded as if it were the best news she had heard. Being a new employee, she must have felt uncomfortable in such a setting.
After one last round of compliments, Yeon-hee started packing her things.
“Let’s cheer for the success of our planning team… and with that, Jeong and I will be leaving!”
She shouted energetically, slinging her bag over her shoulder. She didn’t forget to tap Jeong’s shoulder lightly.
Manager Kim, Deputy Manager Yoo, Manager Kim, and the rest of the team all nodded as if it were natural and waved their hands.
“Take care, Yeon-hee, Jeong.”
“It’s late, are you sure you don’t need a taxi?”
Yeon-hee waved her hand.
“It’s fine, Deputy Manager.”
Like Cinderella who must leave before midnight, Yeon-hee also slipped out of the company dinner before eleven o’clock. It had become a routine, so no one questioned it anymore. Today was no different—it was a neat and tidy end to the evening.
She was about to slip out between the round tables, holding Yoo Jeong’s wrist as she was nodding and saying her goodbyes.
Someone set down their glass and then stood up as well.
“I should be going too. I’ll give you a ride, Yeon-hee.”
It was Team Leader Min Jeong-hoon’s voice.
For a moment, all eyes turned to him. The only sound over the silence at the table was the sizzle of meat cooking.
Min Jeong-hoon. He was the kind of person who could naturally draw attention to himself. Perhaps it was his commanding presence. Without making grand gestures or raising his voice, he always attracted attention.
He wasn’t a star that shone on its own but more like a black hole that pulled in starlight.
“Are you leaving already, Team Leader?”
“Yes, I’d only be in the way if I stayed.”
“Oh, no, what are you talking about!”
Instead of responding, he simply smiled, grabbed his coat, and then swiftly stood up, passing between his team members who were offering their farewells, and nodded toward Yeon-hee and Jeong.
“What are you doing? Let’s go.”
“Ah, yes, yes.”
Finally, after standing blankly for a moment, Yeon-hee and Jeong followed him out of the dinner. There was no way any employee would refuse when the team leader was leaving.
Through the car window, the bare trees passed by quickly. Ice particles, not yet melted, clung to the dry branches.
As Yeon-hee stared at the blurry streetlamp lights, she absentmindedly wiggled her fingers. Her mouth, which had moved so easily while flattering her superiors, now felt heavy as lead.
Beside her, with a calm expression, was Team Leader Min Jeong-hoon, driving the car. At a young age, he had become the head of the planning team in a large corporation. There were rumors that he might have gotten the position through family connections in the owner’s family, but neither he nor the company had confirmed anything, so most people kept quiet about it.
Yeon-hee glanced at him secretly before turning her attention back to the road ahead. The unfamiliar silence felt suffocating.
After dropping off Yoo Jeong in the middle of the trip, they were now on their way to Yeon-hee’s house. Though Yeon-hee had said it was fine to take public transportation, the team leader insisted on driving her all the way home.
Yeon-hee gripped her bag strap tightly as she looked at the yellow sign beyond the traffic light.
“Team Leader, if you drop me off here, I can take the subway from here.”
She spoke cheerfully, not wanting to impose on him, but…
“I’ve noticed for a while now… Yeon-hee, you’re quite stubborn. Didn’t I say twice that I’d take you all the way home?”
His voice, laced with laughter, swiftly cut off her suggestion. Even in his kind tone, there was an undercurrent of sharp reprimand.
It was always like this. He never furrowed his brows or displayed an authoritarian demeanor, yet he always managed to successfully pressure others. It seemed to come naturally to him.
Yeon-hee blinked slowly, then awkwardly nodded. Although he wouldn’t be able to see her, still...
“Then I’ll gratefully accept your offer.”
She stole a glance at his fingers gripping the steering wheel. The long, straight bones were firm. His hands were both masculine and delicate. She hesitated, opening her mouth to ease the stiff atmosphere—it was the responsibility of a subordinate to do so.
“By the way, Team Leader, you’re heading home earlier than usual today?”
“Yes, it seems so.”
He answered flatly, and his wrist, as he turned the steering wheel, looked firm.
“You live in Hannam-dong, right?”
“Yeah. You live in Bundang, don’t you, Yeon-hee?”
“Yes. I’ve lived there since elementary school. About 20 years?”
As she counted on her fingers, Jeong-hoon asked another question.
“Did you also attend university near home?”
“Yes. Thanks to that, I slept every day on the subway. I almost missed every 9 AM class…”
“I see.”
“Did you ever take the subway, Team Leader? Do you know what the ‘hell train’ is?”
“I haven’t used the subway much, but I know what the hell train is. I watch the news, after all.”
He smiled, answering as if it were obvious.
Yeon-hee suddenly felt embarrassed. How silly of her to ask someone with such delicate features, sharp eyes, and soft hair—someone who seemed to be from a well-off family—if they’d ever ridden the subway. She felt foolish.
She opened her mouth to speak again but stopped herself. She blamed the alcohol for her silly behavior and stared out the window for a while.
‘By the way, why is he really driving me home today?’
This had never happened before. She scratched the window as she tried to figure out the reason, but nothing came to mind. Still, despite not knowing why, she felt happy. The silence was a bit awkward, but she couldn’t help but smile quietly. It wasn’t just the alcohol.
Yeon-hee had secretly been in love with him for a long time.
The relationship between Team Leader Min Jeong-hoon and Yeon-hee was simple and straightforward. Jeong-hoon was the prince charming everyone cheered for, and Yeon-hee was just one of the crowd, standing among them. That seemed to be the right balance to her.
Ever since Jeong-hoon was appointed as team leader, her heart had fluttered. Perhaps it was love at first sight.
“Min Jeong-hoon. I look forward to working with you.”
The moment she heard that greeting, it felt as if a bell rang inside her.
His relaxed smile was captivating, and his deep voice was sexy. His broad, solid-looking shoulders and his well-fitted classic suit made him appear flawless.
He was the kind of man who made you develop feelings just by being in his presence. From the moment he took office, his name was mentioned on anonymous message boards, and whenever female employees gathered, his name always came up—these were all clear signs of his allure.
As she daydreamed, recalling her first meeting with Jeong-hoon, Yeon-hee suddenly heard someone’s voice behind her.
“Jeong Yeon-hee.”
“Yes, yes! Huh?”
Yeon-hee jumped to her feet in surprise. The voice she had just been thinking about, Jeong-hoon’s, was now clear and real. It felt as if he had caught her thinking about him, and her heart started to race uncontrollably.
Forcing her stiff body to stand, Yeon-hee faced Jeong-hoon as he approached her. She then rubbed her reddening neck and asked in an overly energetic voice, trying not to reveal her nervousness.
“What’s the matter, Team Leader?”
It was rare for a team leader to approach an employee like this. Normally, documents would go through Manager Kim first before reaching her.
Jeong-hoon handed her a black folder. Yeon-hee politely extended both hands to accept it.
“What’s this?”
“This is the pamphlet promotion proposal you wrote, but it needs some overall revisions.”
“Hmm.”
Yeon-hee felt a mix of confusion. Hadn’t this already been approved just a few days ago? Why the sudden request for revisions?
She opened her mouth to ask why, but then closed it again. If the team leader said it needed revision, asking questions would just be a waste of time.
“But how come you came to me directly, Team Leader?”
It was unusual for him, as the team leader, to personally deliver feedback to her, an employee. A slight expression of apology appeared on his face.
“Well, that’s because…”
Jeong-hoon trailed off, his gaze falling on the calendar on her desk. Yeon-hee followed his gaze and looked at the calendar, where a large star sticker was placed on the 25th. It was Christmas.
Jeong-hoon continued.
“Looks like you’ll need to come in even on Christmas.”
“Excuse me?”
Yeon-hee’s eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected words.
“I’m planning to send the proposal to Executive Director Kim before the end of the year. If we don’t want any delays in the schedule, I think you’ll have to come in on Christmas to handle it. I’m sorry, so I’m telling you directly.”
“....”
It wasn’t a very appreciated gesture of consideration. If he was sorry, wouldn’t it be better not to assign her the task in the first place...? But she couldn’t possibly say that out loud.
“Do you have any plans?”
“Plans...?”
“Plans?”
Yeon-hee, cautiously responding, was met with Jeong-hoon’s question.
For a moment, many thoughts flashed through her mind. A hotel room reserved with four high school friends. They had planned to decorate with balloons and drink wine, celebrating together.
She gave a weak, forced smile and slowly shook her head.
“I don’t have any plans, Team Leader. I’ll come in. Yes.”
Yeon-hee tightly gripped the folder and gave her firm reply. It was too urgent to refuse, and the matter was too important. She could feel the gaze of the new employee, Yoo Jeong, who looked up at her with a mix of sympathy and pity.
“Please don’t look at me like that, Yoo Jeong. You’ll be like me soon. A slave to the bank account.”
Just like that, Yeon-hee, the lowly worker and pawn, was now confirmed for her forced Christmas shift.
Yeon-hee hummed along to the Christmas carol as she moved the mouse. Click, click. A faint sound echoed through the office.
Today was Christmas, a public holiday. Naturally, the office was empty. As the people left, the only thing that filled the space was the Christmas carol playing from a Bluetooth speaker.
Yeon-hee was adding a circular shape to the PowerPoint file when she glanced to the side. Instead of Yoo Jeong, someone else was sitting at her desk.
It was Team Leader Min Jeong-hoon.
He was sitting with earbuds in, leaning back in his chair, reading a book. He looked as relaxed as if he were sitting on a sofa by a fireplace, not in an office.
‘Why is Team Leader here?’
Yeon-hee wondered aimlessly, but quickly returned her focus to her work. If she worked fast, she might be able to finish by noon and make it to her gathering.
She had been staring at the monitor for a while when a refreshing sound of water came from beside her. The empty wine glass was being filled with wine.
“You said you had no plans today, right?”
His voice, as deep and rich as the dark wine, asked.
“Pardon?”
“Your Christmas plans.”
Yeon-hee couldn’t answer right away, and her hand froze in place. What did he make of her silence? With a small smile, Jeong-hoon lifted his glass.
“Shall we toast?”
“Ah, yes, yes.”
Yeon-hee quickly drank the wine. The bitter taste slid down her throat. It was probably expensive wine, though she wasn’t sure. Given Jeong-hoon’s taste, he wouldn’t have brought cheap wine.
‘What on earth is going on here?’
As she organized her files, she had already drunk three glasses of wine. The alcohol was loosening her up, and a silly laugh escaped her.
On Christmas, when everyone else was off, she was at work. Her team leader was sitting beside her. Christmas carols filled the office. She was drinking wine during work hours. It was a confusing and absurd Christmas.
The person who put on the Christmas carols was Jeong-hoon. The one who brought the wine and said, “Let’s drink and try to enjoy the mood,” was also Jeong-hoon.
She licked her bitter lips and looked at him again. Jeong-hoon hadn’t drunk the wine. He casually set the glass down on the desk.
“By the way, why are you here, Team Leader?”
“Because I feel bad.”
He answered simply, then turned his head and looked at Yeon-hee.
“Yeon-hee, I asked you to come out, but the more I think about it, I feel bad. So I came along to share the pain, even though I’m just sitting here with nothing to do.”
Jeong-hoon lifted the book he had been reading. *The Dictionary of the Maritime Silk Road.* It was a book that seemed completely out of character for him.
The neat, high-necked sweater he was wearing looked comfortable. He usually wore perfectly tailored suits, but today he seemed more relaxed.
It made Yeon-hee’s heart skip a beat. It felt like she was with Min Jeong-hoon, not Team Leader Jeong-hoon. If she threw the mouse aside, it could almost pass for a date.
‘…A date? Am I drunk?’
Yeon-hee shook her head and started working again. How dare she imagine a date with someone as high up as him? Her fantasies were truly ridiculous.
She returned to typing, but as she was finishing the sixth page, she couldn’t hold back a question that had been gnawing at her.
“By the way, Team Leader, don’t you have any plans?”
It was a question that naturally arose from her feelings for him. Jeong-hoon tilted his head slightly at the sudden question, then smiled as though melting.
“I’m not sure about plans, but I do have something in mind.”
“I see.”
He must have a date or something. It didn’t make sense that someone like him would spend Christmas alone. Yeon-hee silently accepted this and resumed her work.
But still, she felt his gaze on her side profile. Jeong-hoon was resting his chin in his hand, staring at her intently.
Yeon-hee, unsure of his intentions, tried to ignore the uncomfortable gaze.
“By the way, Yeon-hee, when did you stop wearing glasses?”
The unexpected question came out of nowhere.
“I had LASIK two years ago. It was uncomfortable with the fog on my glasses in cold weather.”
“Your glasses looked good on you, though. Not that you don’t look good now.”
“Really? I’ve never heard anyone say my glasses looked good. Thanks for the compliment.”
Yeon-hee responded with a small smile. She knew it was just a polite compliment, but hearing it from her team leader made her heart flutter.
Her eyesight had always been poor, so her glasses were more like thick magnifiers than regular ones. Even she didn’t think her glasses looked “pretty,” so hearing him say that felt surprisingly nice.
‘But how did Team Leader know I used to wear glasses?’
A sudden question popped into her mind. Jeong-hoon had been appointed about a year ago. There was no way he would have known she used to wear glasses. Maybe one of the team members had mentioned it, but she quickly dismissed the thought.
Yeon-hee had just started working again when Jeong-hoon’s voice came close to her ear.
“Can I ask you something?”
“...Yes? Yes?”
She had been concentrating so hard that she almost missed his question. Stopping what she was doing, she turned to look at him. He was casually resting his chin in his hand, tilting his head slightly as he stared at her intently.
“Why are you so distant with me, Yeon-hee?”
“Me?”
“Yeah. You’re all sweet-talking Manager Kim and Deputy Director Yoo, but you don’t say a word to me.”
He spoke with a hint of feigned hurt, though his tone carried a playful teasing. Yeon-hee awkwardly smiled.
‘Is he really asking me why I’m not being all charming with him like I am with Manager Kim and Deputy Director Yoo?’
Suddenly, she recalled the team dinner from last week. She had said to the round Manager Kim, “You’re so kind!” and to the bald Deputy Director Yoo, “You’re tall, you’re a winner!”
But to Jeong-hoon, she hadn’t said anything. It was because she liked him. Even light-hearted words were hard to come by.
“Team Leader, you get so many compliments from others, not just me.”
“Hmm...”
“You’re always told how handsome you are, how upright you are, how you’re such an elite...”
Yeon-hee made an effort to compliment him. The words that suited him best were probably something like, “You’re like a celebrity, really handsome!” but she couldn’t bring herself to say such a silly thing. She had her pride.
Jeong-hoon smiled slightly, almost self-deprecatingly, at her words.
“I’m not that upright. Not an elite either.”
If you’re not an elite, then who is? Yeon-hee pouted, unconvinced by his humble words. She didn’t buy it from someone who had it all.
“Not an elite? Then what are you?”
“Someone called me trash.”
“What?”
Yeon-hee, shocked, almost jumped out of her seat. No way. Someone actually called the most upright, diligent, and excellent Team Leader Min “trash”?
“That person must be out of their mind. How could they say that about you? That’s ridiculous.”
Jeong-hoon slowly rubbed his furrowed brow, a smile playing at his lips.
“He said it right to my face.”
Yeon-hee shook her head in disbelief. Whoever had said that must have been someone who didn’t know how to judge people. If Team Leader Min Jeong-hoon were a thug, then the entire world would be nothing but an empty bottle with a cigarette butt in it.
“Who on earth said that?”
“Well...”
“Did you just let it slide?”
Jeong-hoon looked directly at Yeon-hee as he responded.
“Of course not. I didn’t just let it go. I gave him a lesson with my body.”
“Thank goodness!”
He gave him a lesson with his body? That probably meant he hit him.
‘But does ‘giving a lesson with your body’ mean hitting someone…?’
It was a bit confusing, but Yeon-hee felt relieved. It was hard to imagine the gentle, well-mannered Team Leader Jeong-hoon hitting someone, but in the end, that’s what had happened.
Jeong-hoon’s gaze on Yeon-hee seemed somewhat strange. It was as if he wanted to look into her thoughts, his eyes sharp and piercing. With that look, he asked:
“By the way, Yeon-hee... haven’t we met before?”
A strange sense of familiarity hit Yeon-hee from his gaze. She felt a chill run down her spine.
Had I met Team Leader Jeong-hoon before? This felt odd. Where had I seen him... those eyes…
But as his expression softened again, she brushed off the strange feeling. She must have been mistaken.
“I don’t think so.”
“Think carefully. Doesn’t it seem familiar? A few years ago, maybe?”
“No, never.”
Yeon-hee’s response was firm.
It couldn’t be. A man that handsome couldn’t have passed by without leaving some kind of impression, even if it was just a passing glance.
“Alright, then. Let’s get back to work.”
Jeong-hoon picked up his book again, and Yeon-hee resumed using her mouse. The sound of the keyboard echoed through the office, which was filled with Christmas carols.
Yeon-hee tilted her head.
‘Did I really meet Team Leader Jeong-hoon before?’
But no matter how much she thought about it, nothing came to mind.
After typing the last period, Yeon-hee pressed Ctrl+S. It was done. Finally, it was done! She suppressed the joy swelling up inside her and calmly glanced at the clock. It was still before midnight. If she took a taxi, she could join the gathering a bit late.
She sent the proposal and PowerPoint file to Jeong-hoon’s email and saved them in the shared work folder. Then, she smiled brightly.
“Team Leader, it’s all done!”
“Good job.”
After clearing the wine glasses, Jeong-hoon casually placed a speaker on Yeon-hee’s desk.
“This speaker is a gift.”
The playful smile was an extra touch.
The office, now silent with the carols turned off, felt eerily quiet. In the stillness, Yeon-hee, dressed, turned to look at Jeong-hoon. He was fully dressed in his coat, looking like he had just stepped out of a photo shoot, leaving her momentarily speechless.
Wrapping his scarf around his neck, he spoke.
“Where are you going now, Team Leader?”
“Yeon-hee, you said you didn’t have any plans, right?”
Instead of answering, he returned with another question. Yeon-hee blinked, then nodded late in response.
“Yes. I don’t.”
Plans. She did have plans. But hadn’t she silently answered him with ‘I don’t have plans’? So, she couldn’t bring herself to admit she had other plans.
Jeong-hoon leaned slightly toward her. As his well-defined face drew nearer, Yeon-hee fought to steady her racing heart. His gently curved eyes were enough to unsettle anyone’s heart.
“Are you not hungry?”
“Huh?”
“You haven’t had dinner, right, Yeon-hee?”
“Oh. Actually, I’m a bit... hungry.”
She answered awkwardly. Jeong-hoon, straightening up, nodded toward the office entrance.
“Then let’s go eat.”
“Now?”
“Yes, right now.”
Following him, Yeon-hee fell into thought. Her friends were probably drinking at the hotel by now. She asked herself quietly:
Should I join the drinking party? I should.
Do I want to go? I’m not sure.
Do I want to have a meal with the Team Leader? That, I do want.
Then what should I do? I’ll follow the Team Leader happily, without going to the hotel.
It was a simple stream of consciousness and an easy conclusion. But something felt slightly off. An instinctive hesitation. It was as if she were about to get into a car with a broken brake.
As Yeon-hee didn’t respond, Jeong-hoon spoke again.
“Yeon-hee, you like me, don’t you?”
“Huh?”
The bombshell of a question made Yeon-hee flinch in surprise. Ignoring her reaction, Jeong-hoon casually asked with a smile still on his face.
“You always stare at me, don’t you?”
“I don’t just stare at you. Everyone looks at you when you pass by. You’re handsome.”
Unable to deny it, she dragged others into the conversation.
Jeong-hoon stopped in his tracks, and Yeon-hee walked a couple of steps past him before stopping herself. Her face turned red with embarrassment.
As Yeon-hee glanced at his expression, a playful voice rang out.
“Still don’t get it?”
“Huh? Get what...?”
“I’m trying to flirt with you right now.”
“......”
“So, let’s go. Let’s have dinner.”
Yeon-hee was at a loss for words.
Flirt? He was flirting with her?
The words felt surreal, thrown out as a direct hit. Was this a dream or reality? Was he joking, or was he serious? Perhaps she was hearing things due to the wine she had earlier.
She blinked foolishly. Jeong-hoon, tapping the collar of his coat, spoke again.
“You’re dressed so nicely, you brought wine, and even did your hair beautifully.”
“......”
“You’re just eating with a poor guy. Let’s go. It’s Christmas, after all.”
With that, Jeong-hoon’s lips curled into a smile.
Yeon-hee’s heart skipped a beat. Even though the office was dim, his smiling face seemed to shine brightly. It was as if only he was sparkling. The way his eyes slowly closed and opened, with shadows beneath his long lashes, was almost artistic.
How could she refuse someone like that? How could she shake her head?
Yeon-hee swallowed once and, like someone who had just emerged from cold water, answered with a trembling voice.
“Okay.”
His smile deepened.
“You didn’t rent out the whole restaurant, did you?”
“No, don’t worry. It’s a place run by a younger sibling of mine. He just said he’d let me use it at night.”
Yeon-hee secretly surveyed the empty restaurant while keeping up her calm expression.
The high ceilings and wide space created a refreshing, open feeling. Even though it was indoors, artificial trees were scattered around, giving the sense of being in a vast, open forest.
The lighting, which seemed casually placed, actually exuded an air of sophistication. It didn’t need a lengthy explanation to understand—this was definitely a very expensive and high-end restaurant. The fact that Jeong-hoon could casually say it was “a place run by a younger sibling” and “just used at night” seemed almost unbelievable.
Is it okay to be involved with someone like this?
Holding her full wine glass, Yeon-hee glanced at his expression. He was leisurely moving his utensils, not saying a word. In a way, she was relieved. If he had started explaining everything, it might’ve been a little uncomfortable.
Yeon-hee followed his lead and elegantly cut her steak. His words echoed in her mind.
“Yeon-hee, you like me, right?”
“You’re just eating with a poor guy. Let’s go.”
Yeon-hee took a drink of water to quench her dry throat.
Was this really something? Was this actually a ploy? Was Jeong-hoon really trying to flirt with her? She couldn’t read his calm expression, and her thoughts became more complicated.
Maybe he’s trying to sleep with me?
But he didn’t seem like that kind of person.
Of course, Yeon-hee had some experience. Her first and last experience in New York. Although she couldn’t even remember who the person was, it had been a mutual decision, and… she comforted herself with the thought that she had played him, so she didn’t feel too heavy about it.
With a complicated expression, Yeon-hee drank more water. By this time, their meal was nearly finished. Finally, they ate the grapefruit sorbet with dissolved sugar, and she glanced at Jeong-hoon.
What happens next? What should she do? Should she speak first? Was it always the subordinate’s role to make a move with the team leader?
Perhaps sensing her gaze, Jeong-hoon raised his eyes.
“Your home is in Bundang, right?”
“Yes.”
“It’s getting pretty late. Aren’t you going to miss the last subway?”
“Ah, I’ll take a taxi! I’ll get a taxi.”
Yeon-hee quickly responded. Seeing the atmosphere signaling that the night was ending, she figured maybe it wasn’t really a flirtation after all. But why did it feel so disappointing? If it had been someone like him, she would have been ready to go along with it, even if it was just a fleeting impulse.
Of course, he was her team leader, but he was also the object of her unspoken crush. If they kept their relationship a secret, what would be the harm? When would she ever have the chance to get involved with someone so well put together?
But in the end, it was just a dream.
“I’ll give you a ride. I haven’t had any alcohol.”
“It’s fine. I can go on my own, Team Leader.”
She felt embarrassed, thinking of the fantasies about him flirting with her, or possibly even a one-night stand. But deep down, she had wanted to grab his hand at least, even if it was just for that fleeting moment.
Internally, she cursed herself while fidgeting her fingers, but Jeong-hoon, who had been watching her, smiled and lightly tapped the table. Yeon-hee, lost in her thoughts, lifted her head again. His eyes were calmly gazing at her, like something beneath the surface.
“Or, we could go together.”
“Huh?”
“I’ve booked a suite. The night view there is incredible.”
He casually placed the hotel key card on the table, almost as if offering her a choice.
Yeon-hee stared at the golden card key placed on the table. Ding ding ding—the sound of Christmas bells rang loudly in her mind.
“Wow. The night view is really beautiful.”
Yeon-hee intentionally spoke in a bright tone and moved to the window. The Han River, bathed in the light of the night, flowed gracefully across the city.
Her heart was pounding uncontrollably. The magnificent view in front of her was hardly what her mind was focused on.
Behind her, Team Leader Min Jeong-hoon. The man who might, in just a little while, be her man.
As soon as they entered the suite, unlike Yeon-hee, who rushed to the window, Jeong-hoon calmly removed his coat and casually draped it over a chair. She heard the soft clink of metal. He had taken off his watch and placed it on the table. Yeon-hee swallowed nervously. That sound felt like a signal.
About thirty minutes earlier, she had picked up the key card he handed to her.
Okay, let’s go.
She had accepted his offer.
Although she had said she wanted to see the night view, anyone not foolish would know what was implied. In simple terms, it meant, let’s go to bed. And so, she had picked up the card key and agreed to his proposal.
After leaving the restaurant, they got into his car and drove here. While listening to his calm voice, Yeon-hee could only respond stiffly, unable to shake the tension building inside her. That was how they ended up on the top floor of the hotel.
“The Han River is always so beautiful, don’t you think? I’ve heard that there’s no river as beautiful as it anywhere in the world. Even the Thames is nothing compared to it, right?”
As Yeon-hee remained glued to the window, not even bothering to take off her coat, Jeong-hoon stepped closer to her.
Yeon-hee wasn’t sure if she was pushing against the window or if her hand was just resting on it. She was lost in thought, nervously wondering what to do next.
What now? Team Leader Jeong-hoon was getting closer... Should she say she was going to wash up first? What should she say?
Lost in these thoughts, she absentmindedly began speaking again, keeping her eyes on the view.
“Team Leader, have you ever been to London? What was it like?”
“Well...”
He answered slowly, moving even closer. Yeon-hee’s shoulders stiffened. A faint scent of perfume wafted into her nose—clean and sophisticated, a perfect match for him.
As she stood frozen, his arm wrapped around her waist. Yeon-hee could feel his fingers lightly touching the buttons on his coat, and the tension in her chest grew tighter with every movement.
“Is the night view really that beautiful?”
His deep voice sent a shiver down her spine like a heavy scent. Yeon-hee nodded weakly. “Yes, yes. It’s very beautiful.”
His face drew closer. Jeong-hoon slowly unbuttoned the coat wrapped around Yeon-hee and gently nibbled on her ear. His soft lips brushed against her earlobe and then retreated. Yeon-hee shuddered.
“Yeon-hee, instead of the night view, look at me for a moment.” There was a faint hint of thirst in his playful tone. Yeon-hee’s coat fell to the floor with a thud. As soon as he took off her coat, Jeong-hoon turned her around and pulled her towards him. Their hot bodies pressed together seamlessly.
‘Oh...’ Yeon-hee’s heart raced. Jeong-hoon was right in front of her. His straight, masculine nose, his elegant jawline, his beautiful lips curved in a smile, and his deep eyes that seemed to search her soul. He was stunning. Her mouth went dry, and she could only swallow. Jeong-hoon reached under her skirt and pulled her towards him.
Yeon-hee staggered and clung to him, gasping for breath. Below, something hot and hard pressed against her. His aroused cock was blatantly on display. Jeong-hoon slowly lowered his face. He stopped just before their lips met. Yeon-hee’s lips trembled with anticipation. He slipped his hand under her clothes and whispered, “I’m sorry, Yeon-hee. I can’t see the night view.”
His large, hot hand felt against her bare skin. “I only want to undress you right now.” At the same time, their lips met roughly. His tongue invaded her mouth forcefully. He pushed and pulled at her wet flesh, capturing and sucking her in. It was a surprise attack. Yeon-hee took a deep breath and stepped back slightly. Jeong-hoon pulled her back, roughly mixing their tongues and chewing on her lips.
“Mmm, ugh...” It felt like her lips were being devoured. His wet tongue swirled inside her, exploring her sensitive insides and sucking them dry. Yeon-hee grabbed his shoulders and began to sag. When he abandoned his usual leisurely pace and rushed at her, she could only be helplessly swept away. A heat began to build up in her lower abdomen. It felt like she was carrying a ball of fire.
“Ugh... mmm, ugh...” She groaned and collapsed. Jeong-hoon supported her waist and followed her, clinging to her persistently. When Yeon-hee was about to suffocate, he finally released her mouth. Their lips parted with a wet sound. He carried the nearly unconscious Yeon-hee and moved towards the bed. He laid her down and climbed on top of her, enveloping her in his solid chest. Yeon-hee opened her eyes with difficulty. Her eyes were slightly wet from her heavy breathing.
The lights behind him flickered dangerously. His expression as he looked down at her seemed sinister, and Yeon-hee averted her gaze, letting out a shaky breath. She turned her face into the pillow, and a hot breath washed over her. Jeong-hoon pressed his solid chest against her back. Heat radiated from their touching bodies. He kissed her white neck, which was exposed between her tousled hair. He gently pressed his lips against her skin and then licked it softly.
As he slowly slid his tongue down, Jeong-hoon said, “Do you like it from behind? Why are you running away?” He smiled as he pulled her towards him, his hand around her waist. Yeon-hee shook her head slightly. Every time he whispered to her, a warmth spread through her lower abdomen.
Jeong-hoon gently sucked on the soft flesh he had gathered in his hand. The sensation was so intense that Yeon-hee felt a tingling sensation travel from her nipples all the way down to her lower abdomen. He gently bit her swollen nipple.
“Ugh!” Yeon-hee arched her back and let out a moan. He was tormenting her as gently as if she were a delicate sugar cookie. Trying to escape the unbearable sensation, Yeon-hee kept backing away. She heard him chuckle above her.
“Are you trying to avoid me because you want me to lick you down there?” Before she could comprehend the meaning of his words, her underwear was pulled down. The cool air touched her bare skin. Yeon-hee quickly pulled her legs together.
“Ugh... Team Leader...” She called out to him in a voice that sounded like she was about to cry. But the large hand that gripped her white, soft thighs simply pulled her legs apart. She fidgeted, as if to say,
“Don’t look.” But his body, as hard as a rock, remained unyielding. She felt both embarrassed and strangely excited. Yeon-hee couldn’t bear the embarrassment and ended up covering her face with her hands. To reveal her private parts to her boss, especially to Team Leader Min Jeong-hoon whom she had a crush on. She couldn’t believe what was happening. Her face was burning up.
“Don’t look... hic...” His laughter reached her vulva.
“How can I not look when it’s so beautiful?” There was a sense of leisure in his voice even in this moment. With a playful voice, he gently parted Yeon-hee’s secret folds. The already wet, red flesh quivered and revealed a swollen clitoris. Jeong-hoon immediately lowered his face. He gently touched her clitoris with the tip of his tongue. Yeon-hee’s body convulsed.
“Ah!” Yeon-hee, already highly sensitized, let out a cry at the slightest stimulation. Jeong-hoon played with her clitoris with his tongue, then gently wrapped his lips around it. He spread her labia wide with both hands and gently teased the exposed, sensitive spot with his tongue. He sucked her clitoris so hard that it made a sound, and then licked and rubbed it slowly.
“Ah... ugh...” Yeon-hee’s thighs trembled. The unfamiliar sensation made her head spin. She had never done anything beyond a one-night stand, let alone masturbated. She was overwhelmed by the strange sensation. He sucked her clitoris so hard that a viscous liquid began to overflow from the gap between her labia. Her white thighs were wet and slippery. Jeong-hoon buried his face between her legs and, with one hand, pressed down on her thighs, while with the other, he gently entered her. The entrance, which was already so relaxed from the relentless caressing, welcomed his finger with a wet sound.
Soon, his middle finger began to move in and out smoothly. He gently traced the walls of her vagina with his fingerprints and pressed firmly at the very end where his finger could reach. He slowly pulled out and then penetrated again, ruthlessly. “Ah... ugh... hmm...” Yeon-hee moaned uncontrollably. Jeong-hoon watched her, as if admiring her as his finger moved in and out of her. The wet flesh quivering rhythmically was incredibly erotic. “Yeon-hee, are you always this sensitive?”
“Ugh...” “Your panties are completely soaked just from my finger.” “Uh, ah...” Yeon-hee could only moan. She was too overwhelmed to respond to his suggestive question. Every time he rubbed her clitoris with his thumb and poked around inside her with his middle finger, she felt a jolt of electricity. And then, when his fingertip pressed firmly against a particularly sensitive spot inside her, “Ah!” Yeon-hee let out a sharp cry. It was an incredibly sensitive spot.
Realizing Yeon-hee’s pleasure, Jeong-hoon started to poke at that spot repeatedly. He pushed his finger deep inside her, probing and exploring. “Do you feel it? Every time I hit this spot, your pussy sucks my finger.” He spoke slowly, his voice husky and suggestive as he continued to delve deep inside her.
“Ah, ugh... uh, hic...” A wet, sloppy sound echoed in the room. The liquid that had leaked down her thighs was now splattering as he moved his finger. His hand and Yeon-hee’s thighs were slick with the wetness. When he pressed firmly on her spot with the tip of his finger, Yeon-hee finally let out a long, drawn-out orgasm. “Ahh...” She arched her back and moaned.
An intense pleasure washed over her like a sudden wave. She climaxed wildly, her body going limp and her thighs trembling. Jeong-hoon, his finger still deep inside her, started unbuttoning his pants with his other hand. Unlike Yeon-hee, who was completely disheveled and wet, he was still neatly dressed. He slowly unzipped his pants and lowered his briefs.
His enormous, erect cock popped out. Veins bulged prominently on his hard shaft. His cock, which looked as if it had been carefully sculpted, was dripping pre-cum in contrast to his relaxed expression. Jeong-hoon began to slowly rub his cock with the hand that had been caressing Yeon-hee inside. The pre-cum and her fluids mixed together. As if masturbating, he looked at Yeon-hee, who was sprawled beneath him, and rubbed his cock vigorously, making a wet sound. Soon, he pulled Yeon-hee towards him.
Without hesitation, he pressed the tip of his erect cock against her wet entrance. “I was thinking about putting it in your mouth... but I think this is better for the first time.” He whispered soothingly as he rubbed the head of his cock against her wet flesh. He gently pushed her labia apart and pressed against her clitoris. Yeon-hee flinched.
“Ah, ugh...” Yeon-hee, already highly sensitized, let out a cry. Jeong-hoon circled her clitoris with his tongue, then gently wrapped his lips around it. He pierced her swollen clitoris with the tip of his tongue and twirled it around. Every time he chewed on her sensitive flesh, Yeon-hee could only exhale. A tingling sensation spread through her body. He rolled one of her nipples in his mouth and slowly rubbed the other with his finger.
The nipple that had been pinched bounced and twitched. At the same time, Yeon-hee’s hips involuntarily twisted. “Ah, ugh...” Yeon-hee’s body trembled with each movement. She wanted him to go all the way in. The emptiness left by his retreating cock was frustrating. His cock gently entered her again. It easily slid into her wet flesh and slowly penetrated her. Half of his shaft was inside Yeon-hee.
She arched her back and gasped. The foreign sensation of something so large and hot inside her was overwhelming. She felt like she was being pierced by a thick, hot rod. “Ahh...” She let out a weak moan and pushed against his chest. She could feel the buttons of Jeong-hoon’s neatly ironed shirt. It felt surreal to be naked and entangled with her boss. Jeong-hoon slowly pushed deeper into her. Yeon-hee could feel his hard cock filling her up.
Soon, his fullness completely filled her inside.
“Eung… Euht……”
“Huu……”
His long groan echoed from above. He had pretended to be relaxed, but he also seemed aroused by her inner walls tightly gripping him.
Jeong-hoon pulled Yeon-hee’s thighs closer, holding them firmly, and began to move his hips. He slowly and gently penetrated her, repeatedly striking the pleasure point he had found earlier. His large glans stimulated her vagina, moving in and out with a sticky sensation.
Every time he brushed against her inner walls, a heat bloomed in Yeon-hee’s lower abdomen. Perhaps because the insertion was so slow, she could vividly feel the bulging curves connecting his glans and shaft, and even the rough veins rising on his shaft, against her vaginal walls.
“Ah, Team Leader… Euht… Just, just a moment……”
Yeon-hee shook her head at the wave-like, chilling sensation. Even though her body had already experienced climax, she crumbled again at the renewed surge of pleasure.
“Yes. What is it, Yeon-hee-ssi?”
Jeong-hoon asked soothingly. His low voice, quietly spreading, was very tender, but his actions were not. With the question, he thrust his slowly inserted cock all the way in.
“Ah!”
Yeon-hee’s tightly closed lips parted wide.
His cock, which had been filling her tightly, pulled out and then thrust in again abruptly. His unforgiving hip movements began to repeat rapidly.
Slap, slap. The sound of wet flesh hitting each other, the act of receiving and thrusting continued endlessly.
Sparks flew before Yeon-hee’s tightly closed eyes.
“Ah, ah-euht! Eueung! Ah……! Ah-euht!”
Her moans, along with her rapid breathing, were cut off like staccato notes.
His heavy, hard body pressing down on her was overwhelming. The onrushing pleasure also crashed down with the same weight, like an accident. She felt as if she had been ruthlessly thrown into the sensation of ecstasy.
Jeong-hoon pushed all the way to the root. He thoroughly parted Yeon-hee’s inner flesh, pressing down on the pleasure and grinding it deeply.
“Ah, eueung……! Euht!”
Yeon-hee, with her eyes tightly closed in the swirling sensation, flailed her arms and desperately grabbed his forearm. Beneath his clothes, his arm, which seemed full of muscles, was so firm that her delicate fingernails wouldn’t even leave a scratch.
So strongly that his testicles hit each other with a sound. The rapid insertions continued, so fast that her body was pushed around.
“Heut! Heu-euht, euht… A-eung! Ah!”
Yeon-hee groaned as if crying, her eyebrows furrowed. It felt as if only he and she existed in the dark space. Only their wet breaths, hot bodies, and the extreme pleasure scraping at every sensation in her body filled the air heavily.
Jeong-hoon, lifting one of Yeon-hee’s legs, thrust his cock in so deeply that it made a sound. He wildly stirred inside and pushed himself in so roughly that her body shook.
As the angle changed, the pleasure clung even more tenaciously.
Jeong-hoon lifted her thighs so high that her back arched, and forcefully ground his cock in. With the pleasure of being pounded and slammed, Yeon-hee was driven to distraction and finally let out a short scream, clutching the blanket tightly.
“A-eueung!”
It was the cry of climax.
In response to that signal, Jeong-hoon also moved ceaselessly. After lowering her raised thigh, he lightly stimulated the vaginal walls, which were trembling with orgasm. The inner walls, vibrating with repeated contractions and relaxations, clung hotly to his cock.
Yeon-hee’s second climax was long.
“Ha-heu-euht… Eueung……!”
Yeon-hee entrusted herself to the swirling sensations, sprawling like a broken marionette doll. The pleasure crashed in like a flood and then washed in small waves. She was on the verge of losing consciousness with the pleasure surging in like successive waves.
Jeong-hoon heavily pressed Yeon-hee’s trembling body down with his shoulder and then whispered softly.
“Did you come just now? Yeon-hee-ssi’s pussy is squeezing me.”
“Eung… Euht……”
He laughed as he slid his tongue over her ear. A voice that seemed to melt her flowed sweetly into Yeon-hee’s ear.
“But… I’m so sorry. I’m far from finished.”
And before Yeon-hee could even answer, he began to move again. He forcibly opened her languidly relaxed body and violently thrust his cock in. Before the afterglow could even fade from Yeon-hee’s body, he stirred up the pleasure again and roughly ravaged her.
“Ah… Team Leader! Hheu-eung……!”
Yeon-hee let out a moan that was a mix of pleading and excitement. Every time his fiery cock entered her, a feverish sensation, as if she were being burned, blazed up.
The trembling caused by pleasure did not stop. Only seductive gasps that didn’t sound like her own voice echoed throughout the room.
“Ah! A-eung, euht……!”
It was a time of excruciating pleasure.
Yeon-hee lay like a broken doll, breathing heavily. Every cell in her body felt languidly relaxed, as if her entire being was melting softly.
It wasn’t her first time. Wasn’t her first experience a one-night stand in New York, done on impulse?
But tonight, she was fully conscious. Because it was a night spent fully aware of who her partner was, her experience with Jeong-hoon felt like a first time.
In truth, she had felt anxious from the moment they entered the hotel.
She hadn’t wanted to reject his outstretched hand, grabbing it without pride, but a trace of fear lurked within her. Would it hurt? Would it be difficult?
But it was all for naught. She could confidently say that the pleasure far outweighed the pain.
‘Yeon-hee-ssi, are you usually the type to feel this much? You’re leaking so much, the sheets are all wet.’
‘Did you come again? You know I can feel you twitching inside right now?’
The embarrassing words he had said on the bed resurfaced in her mind.
Far from hurting, she had, as he said, felt too much.
Pressed beneath his firm chest, she had groaned uncontrollably and begged him to an embarrassing degree. Her body, which hadn’t known pleasure, had collapsed lewdly as if it had lost all control once the stimulation had triggered.
Embarrassed by that fact, Yeon-hee buried her face in the blanket. Her flushed face burned. She felt like a stranger to herself.
Just as she thought the firm arms around her waist were loosening, a voice, still tinged with lingering heat, rang out sweetly.
“Do you want to shower first?”
At his slow, chillingly low voice, she shook her head. In her current state, it was difficult for her to even face him, let alone go shower.
“Or… shall I wash you?”
“Ah, no!”
Jeong-hoon chuckled softly. A neat hand reached out and gently stroked her hair.
“It’s strange. I’m the one who moved so much, but you look more exhausted, Yeon-hee-ssi.”
His teasing words were laced with laughter. Yeon-hee buried her face in the pillow and barely managed to shake her head.
Jeong-hoon playfully nipped at Yeon-hee’s ear and then rose.
Yeon-hee held her breath and sensed his movements. The bed shifted slightly. Then, the sound of clothes being removed in the darkness. Neat footsteps, as if heading to the bathroom, followed.
Only when she heard the sound of water running from over there did Yeon-hee sluggishly raise her upper body.
With a dazed expression, she smoothed down her disheveled hair. Where his touch had been, even though it wasn’t a place with particular sensation, she felt a faint warmth.
Her whole body was sticky and wet. The bed was messily soiled with his semen, which he had ejaculated and released countless times.
Pulling the drier part of the blanket over herself, Yeon-hee let out a thin breath.
His natural demeanor and his joke laced with laughter came to mind. Unlike her flustered self, Jeong-hoon had a relaxed composure. He had gently opened her tightly closed body, skillfully led her, and made her sob.
It seemed his excellence wasn’t limited to his work abilities.
‘I’m so embarrassed because I felt too much……’
Letting out a sigh, she plopped back down on the bed. She moved her hand and placed it on her lower abdomen. It felt as if a faint warmth still lingered inside.
How long had she lain there like that? She thought she had only closed her eyes for a moment, but it seemed she had fallen asleep for a short time.
“Yeon-hee-ssi.”
She came to her senses at his sweetly flowing voice. Along with the warmth touching her ear with a soft kiss, a subtle fragrance wafted over her.
“Are you sleeping?”
It was the refreshing scent of trees swaying under the warm sunlight. The unique scent of Min Jeong-hoon, masculine yet somehow making her heart ache.
Yeon-hee groggily opened her eyes and lifted her gaze. She saw Jeong-hoon, already dressed impeccably. His hair was neatly combed back as if he were about to go out. His face, smiling kindly under the light, was perfectly clean.
Yeon-hee blinked slowly with a puzzled expression.
The man who had groaned sensually on the bed was gone. The man who had indulged in her body and driven her like a beast was gone.
Before her stood her team leader, smiling smoothly as if nothing had happened.
A man like a noble sculpture carved from white marble. Someone somehow difficult to approach, like an unclimbable cliff.
As she was acutely feeling the distance between them, he leaned in and gently swept back her bangs. The metal watch on his wrist gleamed coldly.
“I’m about to leave now. Do you want to rest a little longer?”
“…Huh? …Leave… where to……”
He smiled leisurely and replied in a natural voice.
“To my house. I don’t really like staying in hotels unless it’s for a business trip.”
He straightened up and neatly adjusted his collar.
Unlike her, who was lying disheveled on the bed, he was as neat as a carved sculpture. The time they had just spent together felt like a dream, but this moment felt even more dreamlike to Yeon-hee.
It was utterly unreal.
So Yeon-hee, who had only sluggishly raised her upper body, offered a hazy farewell.
“Ah… yes… go safely.”
“Don’t worry about the cost and check out whenever you’re comfortable. You can stay for a few days if you want.”
I’m sorry for interrupting your plans, Yeon-hee-ssi. Jeong-hoon added, his smile seeming distant, like that of a stranger.
His well-formed hand placed something on the side table next to the bed. It was a jet-black credit card.
“Don’t feel pressured to use it.”
Yeon-hee’s gaze, following his actions, wavered. What did this mean? He was doing something that would make her feel pressured, yet telling her not to… she felt strange.
“What if I spend it all? This place has great room service.”
Disliking the atmosphere, she made a weak joke. But Jeong-hoon simply nodded as if it were nothing.
“That’s why I gave it to you. Use it as much as you want.”
And with that, he turned away.
In that fleeting moment when he turned his back, she thought she saw a hint of mockery and contempt in his eyes. It must have been a misunderstanding.
Yeon-hee simply stared blankly at him as he opened the hotel door with a perfect demeanor. At him leaving without any hesitation, at him indifferently not looking back even once.
Thump. The sound of the door closing was unusually loud. Only the city night view remained alone in the hotel room.
Yeon-hee was left alone, like a bird with broken wings.
‘Weren’t we supposed to spend Christmas together?’
She couldn’t express even that simple question to him as he left.
The moment she uttered those words, it felt as if the excessive expectations within her would be stripped bare and revealed pathetically. She couldn’t expose such primal shame.
She slowly moved her gaze and looked at the foreign object on the side table. It was the credit card he had left. After picking up the card, she quietly looked at it.
“He tells me not to feel pressured to use it. Should I order a hundred room service meals……”
A faint laugh even escaped her. She didn’t want to jump to conclusions, but… didn’t this seem like payment? Of course, considering his usual behavior, it couldn’t be payment.
‘…It’s consideration.’
It must be consideration. But she wasn’t grateful for his kind consideration. It was a strange thing. Staying in an expensive hotel that she couldn’t even afford with installments made her feel bitter inside.
She felt a strange sense of misery, but she brushed it off, thinking it was an emotion arising from an unfamiliar relationship.
This was her second experience, full yet empty, satisfying yet bitter. The partners were so different… yet in some ways, it was so similar to her first experience.
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