CEB - 37

37. Exemplary Punishment

Having met with Secretary Oh in the morning, Manager Na chewed her fingernails anxiously, trembling with fear and unease. She hadn’t anticipated the situation escalating to this extent. This was because nothing had happened even after she spread malicious rumors about Dan-jung in the past. Moreover, she had never imagined that everyone would point fingers at her. They had clearly spread the rumors together, seemingly enjoying it, so why should only she be sued? Manager Na felt this was unfair and seethed with anger. However, even so, she couldn’t avoid the lawsuit. Furthermore, Le Soleil Hotel’s legal team consisted of the best lawyers in the country, making her conviction almost certain. According to Secretary Oh, her only option was to apologize and hope for leniency. But Manager Na absolutely refused to apologize to Dan-jung. Just the thought of Dan-jung marrying into a wealthy family and living a comfortable life made her seethe with jealousy, let alone apologizing to her. It was repulsive. Utterly repulsive.

‘What should I do?’

Just as Manager Na had nearly chewed off all her fingernails, Si-woo suddenly came to mind. If he hadn’t come to her with those stories in the first place, she wouldn’t have spread the rumors.

“Yes, maybe he’ll help me.”

Unaware of Si-woo’s true nature, Manager Na was completely mistaken and went to find him.

“Manager Na, what brings you here?”

“Si-woo, please help me.”

“Huh? With what?”

“About the rumors about Choi Dan-jung.”

“Ah~ did you meet Secretary Oh today too, Manager Na?”

Si-woo, anticipating what Manager Na would say, pretended not to know and played dumb.

“You met her too, Si-woo? What did she say?”

“I told her it wasn’t true. It’s not like I actually dated Dan-jung or she betrayed me.”

“But you were the one who told me!”

“I never said that. When did I ever say I dated Dan-jung?”

Si-woo asked back, his face serious.

“I, I didn’t spread the rumors either. The rumors just got exaggerated on their own. That’s how rumors are.”

“Then why did you spread them in the first place? I believed you, Manager Na... I was actually very disappointed in you when I heard those rumors.”

“That, that’s... never mind. Just go back to work.”

Realizing that Si-woo had no intention of helping her, Manager Na became instantly disheartened. There was no point in saying anything to him.

“Go apologize.”

Before walking away, Si-woo whispered into Manager Na’s ear.

“What?”

Did she hear him wrong? Manager Na couldn’t believe what Si-woo had just said. His voice was chillingly cold, unlike his usual tone.

“Go to Choi Dan-jung and beg on your hands and knees. That’s your only way out.”

Si-woo gave the frozen Manager Na a sardonic smile and walked away. In fact, he felt somewhat responsible for Manager Na’s downfall and wanted to give her some minimal advice. However, he didn’t pity or sympathize with her at all. Thinking about how Dan-jung had suffered from the rumors, he felt a little vindicated. Moreover, he found her occasional leering glances at him, even though she wasn’t his type, quite disgusting.

________________________________________

Dan-jung, who was always tense from working three shifts, seemed to have slept soundly thanks to her long-awaited vacation. How long had it been since she had slept in like this? It was clearly because Min-hyuk had considerately gone to work without waking her.

‘How sweet.’

Dan-jung suddenly recalled the smile Min-hyuk had given her last night. His smile, filled with happiness, put her in a good mood from the morning. But she soon realized that she was completely naked. Dan-jung’s face flushed as she recalled the events that followed his smile. Looking at her breasts, where Min-hyuk had touched her, she felt her body heat up again. And she remembered touching him. Dan-jung spread her hand, recalling the moment she had touched him. And yet, she felt the urge to touch him again.

“Phew~ was I always like this?”

Dan-jung was surprised at how increasingly sensual she was becoming. She had never let down her guard before, so she didn’t realize she was so interested in such things. Since she had only ever allowed kissing, anything beyond that was uncharted territory. Everything felt new and strangely exciting, making it impossible to escape the feeling. Just then, her phone rang loudly from her bag. Dan-jung wasn’t in the mood to answer the phone. She wanted to stay in bed and savor the memories of last night. But the phone kept ringing persistently. Dan-jung reluctantly picked up her teddy bear pajamas from the floor, put them on, and strode over to grab her phone from her bag.

“Hello?”

“Choi Dan-jung?”

“Who is this?”

Dan-jung, recognizing the familiar but unwanted voice, pretended not to know.

“It’s me, Manager Na. How have you been? Do you have time to meet today?”

“I’m busy today. Why?”

Dan-jung was genuinely busy, as she was supposed to pick out a wedding dress with Min-hyuk at 1 PM. Besides, why would she want to meet her? Dan-jung had never had a pleasant experience meeting her and didn’t want to meet her now.

“Please, just meet me once. If you don’t have time, I’ll come to you.”

“No, absolutely not.”

Dan-jung didn’t want to let her step into her territory.

“Dan-jung, I’m sorry for everything. I sincerely apologize. Please forgive me just this once. I won’t do it again.”

“What are you talking about?”

Dan-jung, unaware of Manager Na’s situation, was bewildered by her sudden apology. Could it be... was it about the rumors?

“I was jealous of you because you’re pretty and popular. I must have been possessed. I won’t do it again. Please forgive me.”

“Are you saying you really spread the rumors this time, Manager Na?”

“…Yes. I must have been crazy. I’m really sorry.”

“Ha!”

Dan-jung had expected it, but hearing it from her own mouth was even more absurd.

“Then what about all the rumors that have been circulating at the hotel?”

“That’s...”

“Were those your doing too, Manager Na?”

“Please, I’m begging you. Can you forgive me just this once? I’m on my way to submit my resignation as an apology. I’ll live a life of repentance, never doing anything bad again.”

Manager Na had concluded that it would be difficult to work at the hotel now that her identity had been exposed. Moreover, she would be automatically fired if she went to prison, so she thought it would be better to submit her resignation to gain some sympathy. If only she had been careful with her words... But the damage was already done. And as Secretary Oh and Si-woo had advised, her only option was to beg for forgiveness.

“Then can you kneel and beg?”

“Yes, I will beg. I’ll kneel and beg until my hands and feet are worn out.”

“Ha! Seriously.”

Dan-jung was dumbfounded by Manager Na, who was groveling and admitting her mistakes. How could someone who knew their wrongs so well commit such acts? Was she truly sorry?

“Let’s meet tomorrow at 10 AM at the hotel coffee shop. I’ll consider forgiveness then.”

After ending the call with Manager Na, Dan-jung was quite taken aback by her sudden apology. When she met Manager Na, Dan-jung intended to confront her about what wrongs she had committed that warranted such harassment. Forgiveness was a matter for later. What on earth was going on? Could it be the president? It seemed Min-hyuk was involved in this.

________________________________________

“What brings you here without calling?”

Yeon-ju asked, welcoming Min-hyuk, who had suddenly visited their family home.

“I need to see Min-hee. Is she home?”

“She went to work out. She’ll probably be back in 30 minutes.”

Min-hee, aspiring to be an actress, was always conscious of her figure. But she kept failing auditions, leading a semi-unemployed life.

“Sit down for a bit. I have something to ask you too.”

“Yes.”

“So, did you look into the rumors about your bride?”

“The culprit has been caught.”

Min-hyuk sat on the sofa, putting on a serious face.

“Who on earth spread those rumors, and why?”

“...”

Min-hyuk was momentarily speechless at Yeon-ju’s question. Even thinking about it again was absurd.

“All the rumors that slandered Dan-jung were traced back to Manager Na Ji-hye. The reason... she just didn’t like Dan-jung.”

“What? Good heavens! What a terrible person. How could someone with a human face do such a thing? We need to make an example of her to prevent this from happening again.”

“Don’t worry. I’ve already contacted the legal team.”

“Good. Now that she’s your wife, you need to take care of her without any shortcomings.”

“I understand.”

“Phew~ I had such a bad impression of my daughter-in-law without knowing.”

Yeon-ju felt guilty for looking at Dan-jung with prejudiced eyes, thinking she was an easy woman. She wondered how difficult it must have been for her, feeling sorry.

Just then, Min-hee, wearing sweaty workout clothes, returned home.

“Oh? Oppa, you’re home?”

“I need to talk to you.”

“Why? What’s wrong?”

“I just have a few questions.”

Min-hyuk got up from the sofa, approached Min-hee, grabbed her arm, and led her outside. He suspected Hye-mi might be involved in this.

“About the rumors about Dan-jung and Si-woo. How did you find out and tell Mom?”

“Huh?”

“Did Hye-mi tell you?”

“How, how would Hye-mi know such a thing?”

Min-hee flinched when she heard Hye-mi’s name from her brother. How did he know? Hye-mi couldn’t have told him...

“Then how did you find out about the rumors about Dan-jung?”

“Why, why is that important? And why are you marrying such a cheap woman and bringing shame to our family?”

“Don’t speak carelessly! She’s my wife, Mom’s daughter-in-law, and the future lady of Le Soleil Hotel. And, lastly, your sister-in-law.”

Min-hyuk’s eyebrows narrowed, and his expression turned fierce. Min-hee was quite surprised, as she had never seen him like this. Min-hyuk, who usually showed no emotions, maintained a nearly expressionless and chic face, but now he looked completely enraged. Was it true? Did his new sister-in-law cure his illness?

“I’m sorry. I was wrong.”

Min-hee, realizing she had gone too far, immediately apologized to Min-hyuk. And she felt she really had to accept Dan-jung as her sister-in-law now. Though she felt sorry for Hye-mi, she knew that if she didn’t, her relationship with her brother would deteriorate significantly.

“So, Hye-mi didn’t tell you?”

“No, I just overheard it when I stopped by the hotel coffee shop for something nearby.”

Min-hee lied, feeling sorry for her brother but unable to put her long-time friend Hye-mi in a difficult position.

“I see. From now on, be careful what you say. Don’t fall for pointless rumors. If you tell Mom any more nonsense, I won’t let it slide.”

Min-hyuk, though suspicious, decided to believe his sister since she was family. But he firmly warned her not to spread any more nonsense.