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“The news director is on a rampage again.”
“A rampage? Again?”
Sometimes, Yoo Eun-yoo would push her subordinates to the brink, and whenever that happened, everyone referred to it as “the news director’s rampage.”
“It’s not like this is new. Why now?”
“Well…”
Secretary Park hesitated before continuing.
“After speaking with a certain reporter, she suddenly started acting like this…”
“Suddenly? What kind of conversation could have caused this?”
“That part hasn’t been disclosed. But right after, she started demanding re-reviews of articles that had already been approved, so the editing room is in chaos.”
“What on earth… Why is she tormenting the reporters again?”
“Exactly.”
Joo-hyuk had already warned Eun-yoo multiple times to stop these personal ‘rampages’ that ended up burdening the staff below her.
“Hmm. I understand. I’ll ask her myself.”
“Yes, President.”
After Secretary Park left the office, Joo-hyuk walked over to his desk, perching on the edge as he picked up the phone. He tried calling the news director’s office, but when there was no answer, he dialed Eun-yoo’s personal number instead.
[Hello?]
“It’s me.”
[Yes, President.]
Eun-yoo’s voice was unusually stiff. She rarely used formal titles like “President” unless they were in public or around others.
“Are you outside?”
[Yes, President.]
“I heard you’re on a rampage. What’s going on? What happened?”
[I’ll report back later.]
Report back later?
It seemed something—or someone—had clearly upset her. There wouldn’t be a need for a formal report if it were trivial.
“Alright, understood.”
[Yes.]
“This isn’t something I should worry about, right?”
Feeling uneasy, Joo-hyuk hesitated before hanging up and decided to ask one more question. However, Eun-yoo didn’t immediately respond.
“Is something wrong?”
[I’ll report back once I confirm the details.]
After a brief pause, Eun-yoo answered curtly and hung up before Joo-hyuk could say anything else.
What on earth was going on?
The appearance of Kang Un at the wedding, and now Eun-yoo seemingly troubled by something—ominous feelings began to creep up on him like rising smoke.
Joo-hyuk shook his head, trying to dispel his unease. Whatever it was, as long as it didn’t affect the upcoming launch of KMS Broadcasting, that was all that mattered. Just one more week—only one week until the station’s grand opening.
He turned his phone back on and called Se-na. She was the only one who could calm his troubled mind.
[Joo-hyuk?”]
Her surprised yet delighted voice brought an immediate smile to his face.
What was this feeling?
“What are you doing?”
[I just finished a counseling session and was taking a short break.]
“Let’s go out to eat tonight.”
[Eat out?]
“Is there anything you want?”
[Hmm, I’m not sure.]
As always, Se-na struggled to express her preferences easily.
“Think about it before you finish work. We’ll go wherever you decide.”
[Okay. I’ll think about it.]
Though the call was brief, Joo-hyuk’s mind was now clear of thoughts about Kang Un or Eun-yoo.
Instead, his thoughts were entirely consumed with planning where to eat in case Se-na couldn’t decide on a menu.
“Is something worrying you?”
“Did something happen?”
Se-na asked Joo-hyuk after pausing mid-meal. She found it strange that his plate of pasta hadn’t budged at all, despite him having praised the restaurant for its excellent Italian cuisine and bringing her here without complaint when she couldn’t decide on a menu.
“No, why would you think that?”
“You’re not eating at all. What’s wrong?”
“It’s work-related. Something’s been on my mind.”
He gave a vague answer before finally taking a bite of his pasta. But even then, his meal was unusually calm—far from the way he usually enjoyed his food.
“Is it because of the broadcasting station’s launch? You’ve been preparing so well. Don’t worry too much.”
“Yeah, everything will work out. And what about you? Anything bothering you?”
The question felt somewhat awkward given that they lived together and were intimate almost daily. Still, Se-na nodded.
She could tell his attention was elsewhere, so she thought to steer the conversation in a different direction.
“I’ve been getting a lot of calls from reporters.”
“Reporters?”
Just as she expected, Joo-hyuk tilted his head curiously.
“We already did an interview with our station, didn’t we? Why are they calling?”
“That interview wasn’t with me—it was with you. People are curious about the woman who suddenly ‘snatched’ Choi Joo-hyuk.”
“Snatched? I’m not some big deal. What’s there to be curious about?”
“That’s your opinion.”
Watching Joo-hyuk’s perpetually humble attitude about his position, Se-na shook her head slightly.
“So, did you schedule another interview?”
“No.”
“Why not? It might help satisfy people’s curiosity.”
Joo-hyuk teasingly narrowed his eyes and chuckled.
“You want me to do an interview alone? There’s no way I can handle that.”
“What’s so hard about it? Just go out and stick to the prepared answers.”
Prepared answers—a reference to the document delivered by the secretary of Chairman Choi, Joo-hyuk’s father. The hefty 30-page document detailed how and where the two had met, how they fell in love, and other answers to questions the public might ask.
“You must memorize every word perfectly.”
The secretary had left with a stern face and heavy tone, and since then, the contents of that document had been etched into both Se-na and Joo-hyuk’s minds—as if the script within it were the absolute truth.
“But I don’t want to.”
Se-na lowered her gaze and answered quietly.
I don’t want to lie. What I feel is nothing like the lies in that document.
Whether or not Joo-hyuk understood the weight of her words, he remained silent.
“Anything else troubling you besides the reporters?”
“No. My life is simple. Marrying you was the most complicated and significant thing to happen in nearly ten years.”
“Right. If anything ever happens, don’t hide it from me, okay?”
“Okay. Like I’d hide anything.”
Still wearing an expressionless face, Joo-hyuk watched as Se-na smiled brightly at him.
There really was nothing else happening in her life. The biggest event in her recent years had been marrying him. She couldn’t imagine—or find a reason to imagine—anything more significant.
“Alright, let’s eat now. This pasta is amazing, trust me.”
She pointed to his still-full plate of pasta and laughed. He smiled back and nodded.
While waiting for the accounting team to bring the requested documents, Eun-yoo bit her nails nervously—a habit she had whenever she was anxious.
“Don’t say nonsense, Reporter Seo.”
“Nonsense? Are you really clueless, or are you trying to deceive me?”
“What am I supposedly clueless about or deceiving you over? The story you’re spouting is the real nonsense here.”
Eun-yoo snapped shut her laptop, clearly irritated. A flicker of confusion crossed his face.
“So you haven’t suspected a thing? How amusing. Could it be that even the news director has been deceived?”
“What?”
“Could it be that President Choi Joo-hyuk has completely fooled the news director?”
The remark was outrageous.
Throughout the creation and growth of KMS, Joo-hyuk and Eun-yoo had never kept secrets from each other regarding the company.
KMS was Joo-hyuk and Eun-yoo, and Eun-yoo and Joo-hyuk were KMS.
The idea that there could be secrets between them or that one could deceive the other was utterly absurd.
“Don’t say such nonsense.”
“Then you should verify it. Don’t come crying later when my article drops and you feel betrayed. I’m telling you this because you and the news director have worked together for so long.”
Hmph, acting all benevolent and merciful.
Even recalling her meeting with Reporter Seo made Eun-yoo scowl involuntarily.
“News Director? Here’s the transaction record you requested.”
The accounting team handed over the document, which showed the date when Chairman Wang had transferred the investment funds to KMS, claiming he wanted to invest in their company.
As Eun-yoo remembered, it was exactly one month after the first issue of KMS was published.
“Isn’t this incredible? Such a huge investment in our KMS!”
“I told you someone would recognize our potential!”
After meeting with Chairman Wang, Joo-hyuk and Eun-yoo had celebrated with a toast.
No matter how much money they were or weren’t making, the bold venture they had started needed encouragement—and Wang’s investment gave them the confidence to push forward. But what if that money came from Joo-hyuk’s father, the man he had desperately tried to distance himself from, the man he swore never to accept help from?
Eun-yoo had hoped that Chairman Wang and Chairman Choi were strangers, but based on what she’d learned today, they weren’t just acquaintances—they actually shared some level of familiarity.
Perhaps Reporter Seo’s suspicions were true.
At the thought, her mouth went dry, and the back of her neck tensed.
“Are you alright?”
“Huh? Oh, I’m fine.”
“Why did you need this record…?”
“Just checking something. Thanks for your help.”
Eun-yoo forced a smile at the accounting team member, thanked them, and left the office.
Of course, there was an uneasy feeling lingering, but that didn’t mean she had any reason to blindly distrust Chairman Wang’s investment.
Why was Reporter Seo so certain that the investment originated from Chairman Choi?
Rather than chasing down the flow of money, Eun-yoo decided to take the most direct approach.
“This is Lee Eun-yoo, News Director of KMS. I’d like to meet with Chairman Wang.”
She immediately called Chairman Wang’s secretary.
Strike while the iron is hot—there was no reason or time to hesitate.
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