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Soaking In
Jae-hee’s vacant gaze wandered aimlessly across the TV screen. A Christmas movie was playing, but she couldn’t focus on it at all. Hyo-jeong, munching on popcorn, nudged her gently.
“Hey sis, can we order room service? I really want to try this out.”
“......”
“Kang-joo gave us money earlier as a reward for acing our university entrance exams... Can’t we use some of that?”
“......”
“But what happened to Kang-joo anyway? Why did he leave so suddenly?”
“......”
“Sis? Sis?”
Hyo-jeong chattered incessantly at Jae-hee, who remained unresponsive. Her voice washed over Jae-hee’s ears, its meaning lost in the process.
Jae-hee was still replaying that intimate moment over and over in her mind—his lips pressed firmly against hers, clothes falling into disarray. She could almost hear Kang-joo’s labored breathing as his heated body pinned her down with its weight. And then there were the sounds of tearing stockings and saliva splashing audibly on her thigh as he hungrily sucked at it, leaving marks behind.
“Ah...!” This is insane...! Jae-hee groaned, burying her face in both hands as she twisted in discomfort. The sight of herself so aroused earlier seemed like a dream now. Her embarrassment was unbearable. He had been the one to arouse her, yet somehow revealing this most private part of herself to him felt utterly humiliating.
The fact that her partner was none other than Kang-joo made things even more distressing for her.
Me and Manager Kang? How did this happen?
It was something she’d never even fathomed could happen. How could someone who had always been so calm and composed—one who seemed utterly devoid of sexual desire—look at her with such eyes? Eyes that promised to tear through her very soul...
Jae-hee bolted upright from her seat, unable to remain still any longer. She caught sight of Hyo-jeong ordering room service with obvious excitement on her face.
“Yes, for the steak—I’ll take it medium rare... No wait, between medium-well and rare—yeah, that’s right, medium rare.”
Leaving Hyo-jeong behind as she placed their food order, Jae-hee entered the bathroom and splashed cold water on her cheeks. Only then did the burning heat in her body begin to subside slightly.
The couch where Kang-joo had entangled himself with Jae-hee now held only Hyo-jeong. Just moments ago, Kang-joo had straightened out Jae-hee’s skirt after it became disheveled during their encounter. He’d gone into the bathroom afterward and stayed there for quite some time before emerging. Then, without another word, he left for home, leaving behind a parting remark: I can’t stay here any longer.
In place of Kang-joo, Hyo-jeong had arrived at our location—Kang-joo must have called her over. I wasn’t sure when they’d started communicating or spending time together, but it was good that he brought her along; even if just slightly, she helped distract me from those lewd thoughts constantly swirling in my head.
“Sis, seriously though, what’s going on here?” Hyo-jeong asked. “Why did Kang-joo suddenly invite us all to this room? It’s great and everything, but still...”
“...I don’t know,” I replied tersely.
I couldn’t bring myself to say: He rented out this space so we could cry. Instead, I swallowed hard as memories flooded back—the way he kissed me passionately before abruptly tearing off his stockings and leaving.
“Huh? What is this?”
Hyo-jeong bent down to pick something up—a tie, neatly untied by Kang-joo earlier. Startled, Jae-hee snatched it away as if grabbing onto a lifeline.
“It seems like Executive Director Kang forgot something.”
“But why would Kang-joo untie his tie right here?” Hyo-jeong wondered aloud, puzzled by the gesture.
“...I don’t know; maybe his throat was feeling tight.”
“Here? And specifically a necktie?” Hyo-jeong questioned with confusion written all over her face.
Jae-hee reached behind herself, groping along the sofa cushions. It should be somewhere back here...... The torn stockings suddenly came to mind—being caught with both items would truly spell disaster for her. Though she was nearly an adult, Jae-hee didn’t want young Hyo-jeong witnessing such embarrassing evidence of her sister’s private life just yet.
Found it.
Jae-hee swiftly stood up from the couch, clutching tightly to the necktie and the ripped stockings—the lingering traces left by Kang-joo and herself earlier that day.
“Hyo-jeong, I need some space,” she said hastily.
As if making a run for it, she dashed into the bathroom, stripped off her clothes, and stepped under the lukewarm spray of water. Even this wasn’t enough to cool her down, so she adjusted the temperature lower still. Despite the biting cold outside, her body remained flushed with heat—a stark contrast to the frigid wind howling beyond their walls.
Suddenly, his words echoed in her mind:
Don’t dwell on past matters.
“Don’t dwell on past matters”... But how could she do that? She had always lived with one foot firmly rooted in the past. In school, she’d clung to the memory of ‘Kang-joo-oppa,’ carrying him like a burden in her heart all these years. Even now, reliving their recent encounter continued to stir her emotions deeply.
But why did Kang-joo—no, Vice President Kang—do what he did? Why such a sudden change after constantly pushing her away? And then, as if erecting a barrier between them based solely on rank...
“Jae-hee, we’re not that close anymore.”
After leaving Korea so abruptly despite everything they’d shared... It was hard for her to accept this cold reality.
“This time, I ran into Yuseon near the Mediterranean. You know her, right? Chairman Jeong’s niece.”
“Yes.”
“She’s very pretty. Tall and slender. She knows you well, you know?”
Yoo Young-hYoon, Kang-joo’s mother, said with a twinkle in her eyes, like a young girl. With her bobbed haircut, tall stature, and graceful figure, her sharp, piercing eyes and slightly angular jaw exuded the unique charm she always had.
Young-hYoon, who had been living in Italy, had returned to Korea just yesterday. As soon as she shook off her travel fatigue, she immediately called Kang-joo to come to the family home. After a long time without seeing her son, she held him close and couldn’t stop praising Jeong Yuseon, the daughter of a president of a subsidiary company of the Buyeong Group.
Si-eun glanced at Kang-joo. His expression clearly showed that he wasn’t listening to his mother’s words at all.
“Mom, why the pressure all of a sudden after such a long time? Oppa’s still far from that.”
“Are you saying I’m forcing you to meet her? I’m just saying she’s a nice and pretty girl. You never bring a girlfriend home, so I have no fun with it. Right?”
“There are plenty of people who like oppa. What are you worried about?”
“Chung-hYoon married at twenty-four and already has three kids. Many of them married early.”
Chairman Cha, who had been quietly listening, turned off the TV and agreed with his wife’s words.
“You should be worried. Only when you start a family will you realize how important family is.”
Hearing the phrase “only when you start a family will you realize how important family is,” a brief sneer appeared at the corner of Kang-joo’s lips before fading away. He quietly listened to the conversation around him, then nodded vaguely.
“Yes, I should.”
“Did you see the photos I sent through Manager Kwon the other day? They’re all well-mannered and pretty girls.”
“Yes, I saw them.”
“How were they?”
When Chairman Cha asked, Kang-joo responded calmly and immediately.
“I have no particular thoughts.”
“Seeing them only in photos is one thing. When you meet them in person, talk to them, and get to know them, that’s when you start forming a bond and feeling something for them.”
“Yes, Chairman.”
With a smile, Kang-joo nodded slightly.
For the past few months, Chairman Cha had been sending pictures through his secretary. Most of them were daughters of ministers or chairpersons of foundations—people close to power and prestige, but somewhat distant from wealth.
Chairman Cha’s intentions were clear. To elevate Si-eun somehow, it would be better if Kang-joo’s own foundation was less established.
“I don’t want you to marry someone from a prominent family just for the sake of it. I’m not trying to force you into anything old-fashioned.”
“Yes.”
“Don’t worry too much about conditions. Marry the person you love. Just as I married your mother for love, you should build a family based on love.”
“Yes.”
Kang-joo nodded neatly, and a brief sneer appeared at the corner of his lips.
Do I love those women?
After a while, Kang-joo, saying he was tired, went upstairs to his room. Despite his mother, Young-hYoon’s persistent suggestion to stay and rest, he eventually gave in and went up to the second floor.
Young-hYoon, gazing at Kang-joo’s empty seat, whined to Si-eun.
“He really doesn’t like being home. Our house is a bit old-fashioned, isn’t it? Should we remodel it? I went to Newport Beach recently, and it was so beautiful. The windows were arched like this.”
Young-hYoon gestured with her hands, describing the arched windows. Si-eun just smiled.
“Mom, is this a beach house? It’s in the middle of Seoul.”
“If the house looks nicer, maybe Kang-joo will come back more often. I don’t like seeing him wandering around alone. It worries me.”
“…If it worries you, just stay in Korea. Who knows, maybe oppa will come back then.”
A cloud passed over Young-hYoon’s bright face.
Kang-joo. My beautiful son, who looks even more lovely the more I see him. Every time she looked at him, Young-hYoon felt a slight sense of guilt and regret. She wanted to give him all her love, but when she gazed at him, it felt like facing her own bare, unembellished reflection.
That’s why it was hard to look at him for long. It was the reason Young-hYoon often stayed abroad. Born as the daughter of the former Chairman of the Seon-gang Group, she had lived her life without a hitch. Kang-joo was the only small thorn in her otherwise smooth existence.
“Si-eun, please take care of oppa for me instead. Okay? He must be lonely living by himself, so try to bring him home more often. I’m always worried.”
“…Okay.”
Si-eun nodded, looking down.
Mom, oppa will never come back to this house. From the moment you left him alone here, this house has always been a silent battlefield for him.
Jae-hee picked up her buzzing cell phone. An unknown number was displayed. In the end, she didn’t answer and turned the phone over, silencing the vibrations.
“Shouldn’t have done that,” she muttered to herself as she dried her hair with a hair dryer. An unknown number. It was probably Min-cheol. Her friend of three years, and her boyfriend for a little over six months, Min-cheol. After they had parted ways at the hotel, Min-cheol had started bombarding her with calls and texts. When she blocked his number, he contacted her from a new one.
“Jae-hee, I really messed up. Please forgive me, just once.”
He apologized.
“You’re really cruel. Are you really never going to see me again? Even if we’re not lovers, we’ve been friends for so long. Are you going to disregard all that friendship?”
He got angry.
“Is it all my fault? You put up such a wall, I was lonely and lost my mind for a moment. Yoon Jae-hee, it’s not all my fault.”
He blamed her. Then he begged again and apologized.
Honestly, it was exhausting.
Every time Min-cheol hurt her, she had let it slide and tried to be understanding. She appreciated how he helped Hyo-jeong and comforted her. But like a balloon that eventually bursts, when she found out he was trying to be with another woman at the hotel, her patience finally ran out.
How could Min-cheol, after everything I’ve done for you, say such things? Jae-hee even checked her bank balance. If he was so upset, maybe she should return the favor for all the meals she had received.
The phone soon stopped vibrating. After drying her hair, Jae-hee went to the kitchen and put on plastic gloves. She was going to prepare some side dishes. Glancing up, she noticed the small basement window outside was still a deep blue. Early on a weekend morning. She began washing vegetables after putting rice in the cooker.
Even though her boyfriend, who was supposed to be her support, had betrayed her, even though Christmas had passed and the new year had begun, and even though…
“Even though something happened with the executive director… I still have to do what I need to.”
And even though she had rolled around on the couch with Kang-joo, nothing had changed.
A short time later, Jae-hee, holding the side dishes, was standing in front of Kang-joo’s house.
Would he be home today?
Jae-hee hesitated to put her hand on the fingerprint scanner at the front door. It had always been a place she entered without hesitation, but now, knowing he was inside, her lips felt cold.
It wasn’t even her first kiss, yet it felt so cheesy. Well, she had her first kiss back in high school, so it had been quite a while. Her kiss with Kang-joo felt so new that it almost seemed like it was her first kiss, a distant memory now faded away.
As Jae-hee carefully stepped inside, the living room window, with its curtains wide open, immediately caught her attention. And there he was, under the pouring sunlight.
“Did you come?”
Resting his chin on his hand and reading a book, he greeted her without even looking back. Jae-hee, startled, responded in an overly loud voice.
“Yes! I’m here!”
“I know.”
She could see the corner of his mouth curl into a smile. It somehow made her feel embarrassed. He was completely indifferent, while she, on the other hand, was tense to the point of frustration.
Not wanting to disrupt the calm atmosphere, she carefully began arranging the side dishes. She even held her breath, trying to make no sound.
“I’ll put the bulgogi in the freezer. Thaw it out before you eat it.”
Instead of answering the suggestion about thawing the food, he changed the subject.
“Is it okay for you to bring the side dishes?”
While reading his book, he asked casually, not even bothering to look at her.
“Yes?”
“I was just wondering if it’s bothering you.”
It was hard to figure out the intent behind his indifferent words. Was he hinting that if she found it troublesome, she could stop? That would be difficult for her. The 1 million won for the side dishes, and the 700,000 won for the ingredients. That’s a lot of money. Thanks to it, she was able to cover the costs for meals with Hyo-jeong and even have some extra, so cutting it off suddenly would be a big blow.
“It’s not a problem at all, not at all. By the way, have you been finding the side dishes unappealing lately? I did change the soy sauce... I’ll switch back to the old one if you prefer.”
She waved her hands, worried he might ask her to stop.
Kang-joo suddenly flipped the book over and got up from his seat. Jae-hee, startled for no reason, lowered her head. Even the plain white T-shirt he was casually wearing seemed blinding. The thought that she had kissed someone like him made her feel strangely uneasy.
“What are you doing today?”
His indifferent question reached her as she raised her head. Stretching his arms lazily, he looked at her. Jae-hee absentmindedly stared at his well-defined bicep muscles.
When she didn’t respond, he tilted his head and began massaging his neck, then spoke again.
“You’re not going to meet your boyfriend after leaving my house, are you?”
“Sorry?”
“You always used to do that. After finishing what you needed to do, you’d sneak away.”
He lowered his arms from the stretch and muttered to himself, his gaze directed directly at her, his eyes cold for some reason.
That look. She had seen it before.
Back then, when he had completely ignored her feelings, turned his back on her, and decisively pushed her away.
Kang-joo pulled a bottle of water from the fridge and casually asked,
“Did you cry?”
“Sorry?”
“Did you cry after that?”
After drinking a few sips, he poured the remaining water down the sink and tossed the empty bottle into the corner. The sound of it hitting the floor snapped Jae-hee back to reality. Ah, he must be asking if she cried after breaking up with Min-cheol.
“Not at all. I didn’t cry.”
She felt wronged, frustrated, and angry, but no tears came. After finally letting out all the emotions she had been holding back and pushing Min-cheol away, she felt relieved. She had been dragged around just because he had helped her in difficult times, but now, it was almost a blessing that it ended like this.
“If you had cried, I would have tried to comfort you. It’s a shame.”
His voice was dry, but there was a hint of amusement in it.
Jae-hee’s neck turned bright red. She immediately realized what kind of “comfort” he was referring to.
This was a memory she had been replaying, recalling, and revisiting in her mind. The sensation of their heated bodies pressed together, the wetness of his tongue, and the feel of his firm palm resting on her thigh—these sensations were still vivid.
“So, what are you doing today?”
He seized Jae-hee’s attention again, pulling her out of her thoughts. She touched her flushed cheek and responded.
“I’m going to see my mom. It’s the New Year, so I should greet her.”
“Is there transportation to get there?”
“I’ll have to transfer a few times.”
The nursing home, located in a place with clean air, didn’t have a direct bus, so Jae-hee would need to take the subway and buses for over two hours. If she had a car, it would be quick, but unfortunately, she didn’t have one.
“I’ll take you.”
“Huh? Why?”
“I’ll drive you.”
Without giving her a chance to respond, Kang-joo went into the dressing room. Jae-hee stood there dumbfounded, staring at the door to the dressing room, then sat down in a chair to wait for him.
She followed him out and reached the underground parking lot. Standing in front of the passenger seat, Jae-hee didn’t know what to do. She had been to his house so many times, but she had never been in his car.
A firm, strong hand reached out from behind her. The passenger door swung open.
“What are you doing? Get in.”
“Then I’ll take you up on that.”
“Make yourself at home.”
He said it flatly, then closed the door for her before getting into the driver’s seat. Jae-hee sat stiffly, scratching the door handle with her fingers. Her feet wiggled awkwardly in her shoes.
So, now the executive is my driver?
The atmosphere felt completely different from when they were alone in his house or the hotel room. This was an enclosed space, just the two of them. The strange intimacy of it made her heart tighten.
Sitting with her back straight and hands folded on her lap, she could feel his gaze on her. Jae-hee only moved her eyes, trying to gauge what he was doing.
‘Why haven’t we started yet?’
Then it hit her. Ah, I didn’t give him the hospital address. She was about to scramble to provide the address when he leaned toward her.
The subtle scent of shampoo enveloped her. Jae-hee’s heart dropped. His face was so close. The elegant line of his jaw, his straight nose, and his clear skin were right in front of her.
She shut her eyes tightly. The memory of what had happened in the hotel room suddenly flooded her mind. Back then, he had come this close and kissed her. She clenched her fists from the tension.
A moment later, a clicking sound broke the silence. His scent faded away. Jae-hee opened her eyes again. She saw the seatbelt cutting diagonally across her body. He had buckled her seatbelt and had stepped back neatly.
‘Oh, the seatbelt.’
She felt a little embarrassed.
So that’s why he kept looking at me. To make sure I put on the seatbelt. I didn’t even realize it, just sitting stiffly like a boss too proud to move.
“Thank you. I could’ve done it myself. Ah, I’ll give you the hospital address. It’s in Gyeonggi-do—”
“I know the address.”
Her attempt to list the address was abruptly cut off. Soon, the car began to move smoothly. They were leaving the dark parking lot and heading toward the bright, sunny outside.
Her mother was still the same. Her pale face, eyes softly closed as she couldn’t get much sunlight.
My beautiful, delicate mother. When will she call my name again with that pretty face? Jae-hee, sitting by the window, peeled an apple and spoke to her mother.
“Mom, there’s a lot of snow outside. When the first snow came, Hyo-jeong and I made a snowman... Oh, I think I’ve already told you this? Anyway, I changed the soy sauce recently, but I think the old one tastes better.”
Even though she visited once a week, there was always so much to say. Just like when her mother was well, sitting together at dinner and chatting, Jae-hee continued talking.
After placing the apple on the table, she gently slipped her hand under her mother’s back and carefully stroked it. It seemed like no bedsores had formed. That was a relief.
“When will my mom wake up and hug me again?”
Muttering, she gently massaged her mother’s swollen hand. Tears welled up. Her mother was lying down, while time kept passing, and the New Year was approaching. She kept moving forward, leaving her mother behind, over and over again.
Just as she was about to feel down, a crisp sound came from behind her. Turning her head, she saw Kang-joo casually eating an apple, leaning against the window. The natural crack in the atmosphere broke the heavy silence. He speared a piece of the apple with a fork and handed it to Jae-hee.
“Eat it. It’s your mother’s favorite, so you can eat it on her behalf.”
He handed it over as if he had cut it himself, effortlessly. The sadness that had been rising inside her quickly vanished, like a disappearing bug.
On the way back in his car, they stopped in front of a small lake bathed in the glow of the setting sun. He had suggested they stop to breathe in the fresh air.
Jae-hee stood quietly by the lakeside. The lake, with no walking path, contained the raw vitality of nature. Every time the grass rustled in the breeze, it made her feel better.
“I didn’t know there was a place like this around here.”
“I didn’t know either until I came here last time.”
Kang-joo answered flatly. Only then did Jae-hee decide to ask the question she had been wondering about.
“How did you know about this place? Have you been here before?”
“Yes, I’ve come here occasionally.”
“Why?”
Kang-joo, who had been quietly watching the lake, turned his eyes toward Jae-hee. A thin hue of sunset light seemed to melt into his gaze.
“Because it’s where the accident happened, at my house.”
“......”
Ah.
Jae-hee bit her lips together and avoided his gaze. It was difficult to face his expressionless face.
The accident at my house. Thinking of what he had said, she felt a sharp pang of guilt, an unnecessary sense of responsibility.
Her mother had had the accident when she tried to steal something from the chairman’s house. She had entered the empty mansion, thinking no one was there, and unexpectedly encountered the chairman. Startled, she tried to flee and ended up tumbling down the stone steps of the front door.
Jae-hee couldn’t understand why. Her mother, always upright and good-natured, had made such a wrong decision. But because her mother had never regained consciousness, the truth remained buried forever.
Perhaps it was because of her college tuition. With that thought, Jae-hee always carried the guilt. If it hadn’t been for me, if it hadn’t been for that tuition, maybe my mother wouldn’t have...
The betrayal of the housekeeper, who had been with them for years, had angered Chairman Cha greatly. However, when her mother became a vegetable, he eventually forgave her. He even supported her medical bills, citing the years of service. Everyone praised his generosity.
In this way, the wrongs were covered up, and the truth was buried. With her mother’s consciousness, it remained hidden, deeply sealed away. Perhaps that’s why Kang-joo found it difficult. She was the daughter of the thief who had tried to steal from his house.
“I only answered because you asked why I came.”
His voice, carrying the breeze that brushed her neck, reached her ears.
Only then did Jae-hee lift her head. She saw Kang-joo staring at her with his characteristic calm expression.
The breeze gently brushed his bangs across his forehead. After carelessly sweeping them up, Kang-joo lazily crossed his arms.
“I liked your mother. She took good care of me. That’s why I came. So don’t dig any deeper into my answer. It means there’s no need for unnecessary thoughts.”
His calm voice seemed to gently caress her. Though his face was expressionless as usual, there seemed to be concern in his gaze.
The sunset light on the water sparkled like golden scales. Jae-hee narrowed her eyes, feeling a tingling sensation around her eyes. She couldn’t tell whether it was the light or Kang-joo causing her eyes to sting.
By the time they arrived in Seoul, the sun had set.
Since the place where Jae-hee lived was inaccessible by car, she got off at the bus stop at the end of the alley. She declined Kang-joo’s suggestion to walk her to her door, as it was dark now.
Bowing toward the descending window, she thanked him.
“Thank you for today, Mr. Kang. I really should thank you properly, but giving you money would feel somewhat rude, somehow.”
“......”
Kang-joo rested his elbow on the car window and stared at her intently. Then, almost to himself, he asked her.
“By the way, when did I become ‘Mr. Kang’ to you?”
“Pardon?”
“How much were you thinking of giving me?”
Jae-hee instinctively began to count on her fingers. Five thousand won for gas, and five thousand for the trouble. Although she never had any real intention of giving him money, his question made her mind work on its own.
“About 100,000 won? ...Is that too little?”
Kang-joo’s mouth curved into a sharp smile.
“No, that should be fine. I can’t be the kind of person who accepts favors from you without expecting something in return.”
And that was the end of it. Before Jae-hee could blink, the car smoothly started moving. Without even a final goodbye.
Jae-hee stood there for a moment, watching the car disappear, and only when the cold wind hit her did she finally start walking.
She walked under the yellow streetlights. When did he become ‘Mr. Kang’? Since the time I joined the company, I suppose. Maybe he was always ‘Kang-joo oppa’. But after coming back to Korea, it was Kang-joo himself who first set up a clear boundary and spoke to me formally.
His words and actions were always hard to grasp. They were as vague as mist. Every time she tried to hold onto them, they slipped away from her fingers like an illusion.
She walked step by step, almost out of habit.
“Jae-hee!”
A familiar voice pierced her ears from behind. Min-cheol was nervously standing under a streetlight that was barely flickering. Upon spotting her, he ran toward her like a dog that had found its owner.
“Jae-hee, are you really going to end it with me? Really, just because of this misunderstanding?”
“I never misunderstood. I just saw it with my own eyes.”
“I didn’t do anything! I’m innocent!”
“If we hadn’t run into each other there, you would have.”
Min-cheol opened his mouth in surprise. He probably wanted to make an excuse, but it seemed like he had nothing to say.
“What’s there to be innocent about? You’re the one who lied to me, and you’re the one who tricked me into making other plans. What on earth are you so innocent about?”
He turned his anger toward Jae-hee.
“Hey! I was just desperate because you kept pushing me away! Honestly, a guy can only take so much. Did you ever think about my feelings, after six months of dating, not even being able to hold hands properly? I mean, how could I have not acted like that! You should understand!”
“Min-cheol, why are you blaming me? Don’t get it twisted, you’re not the victim.”
Jae-hee shook her head in disbelief and turned her body to avoid him.
“Don’t come to me anymore. We’re done.”
Is there such a thing as a good breakup in this world? If you’re going to part ways, it’s better to draw a firm line. Even though Min-cheol had treated me like a pitiful person, sympathizing with me in a condescending way and secretly looking down on me, I had turned a blind eye to it. He was the one who saved Hyo-jeong, so I owed him that much.
But now, it’s over. The friendship we had, and the unspoken sense of indebtedness I carried toward him—it was all truly over.
I hurried my steps, afraid Min-cheol might follow me. The sound of my feet, tapping rapidly, echoed crisply in the narrow alley. Maybe it was because it was winter, but the atmosphere felt bleak and cold. I hunched my shoulders as I walked, and suddenly someone grabbed my wrist, making me startle and pull away.
“Ah!”
“Sis! What’s wrong?”
It was Hyo-jeong. She must have just come from the convenience store down the alley, as the plastic bag hanging from her wrist was swinging lightly.
“No, it’s nothing. I was just startled.”
“Why were you so lost in thought that you couldn’t even hear me calling you? What were you thinking?”
“I was thinking about our beautiful Hyo-jeong.”
“Oh, really...”
Hyo-jeong muttered in embarrassment, but she smiled brightly. Jae-hee tightly held her hand. Maybe because of the cold wind, Hyo-jeong’s dry fingertips felt cool. I’ll have to put some hand cream on her when we get home.
The two of them walked side by side, shoulders touching.
“I saw Min-cheol oppa down there,” Hyo-jeong said.
“Yeah, I know.”
“His face looked terrible. He was kicking the streetlight and swearing, so I didn’t even say hello and just left. Did you two have a fight?”
“Well... just...”
I kicked out the person who saved you. I just cut him off. It was hard for Jae-hee to say it that way, so she trailed off. She felt like a shameless, ungrateful person.
Hyo-jeong pouted.
“If you had a fight, then just say it! Why would he be kicking the streetlight and making a fuss, swearing too? Min-cheol oppa... no, that guy’s really not great.”
“...”
“I won’t just stand by if he does something to you later. If someone tries to hurt you, I’ll really...!”
Jae-hee smiled lightly and squeezed Hyo-jeong’s hand tightly.
“I still don’t want you to do that. He’s still someone I’m grateful for.”
“Grateful? For what?”
“There is, you know. Just let him be. He’ll give up eventually.”
The two of them walked together, holding hands tightly down the narrow alley. The wind that touched the back of their necks was cold, but the hands they held grew warmer, so it wasn’t cold anymore.
“I have a meeting with the head of the sales team in the afternoon, you go instead.”
“But the manager said he would handle it on his own.”
Jae-hee responded in disbelief. Manager Kim was suddenly pushing her to take over the task that was currently on her plate. She didn’t even know what the project was, as there had been no sharing of information regarding the meeting.
Manager Kim forcefully handed her the file.
“The task I’m handling with Team Leader Jeong is more important right now. You handle the sales team’s matter.”
“...”
“Team Leader Jeong fully trusts you. You know what that means, right?”
It meant that since it was Team Leader Jeong’s order, she, as the subordinate, should just follow along. Jae-hee stared at the yellow file folder for a moment before stiffening her lips and replying.
“Yes, I understand.”
What else could she do? If they told her to do it, she had no choice. With both the team leader and manager giving the order, she had to carry it out perfectly without making any mistakes.
The day before, an announcement was made that a TF team would be formed under the leadership of Vice President Cha Kang-joo from the Strategy Planning Coordination Department.
Seon-gang Beverage and Seon-gang Liquor, subsidiaries of Seon-gang Group, held an unchallenged number one position in market share. However, recently, competitors were quickly catching up with aggressive marketing strategies. The industry was watching closely.
As a result, the sales teams, planning teams, marketing teams, and PR teams from the beverage and liquor sectors were tasked with forming a defense TF team, and both Team Leader Jeong and Manager Kim from the marketing team, to which Jae-hee belonged, were selected.
Thus, the unexpected workload had been suddenly pushed onto her.
“Then, I’ll leave it to you. The meeting is at 4 p.m. Got it?”
Manager Kim’s face, grinning slyly in these situations, was annoying.
“Yes, I understand.”
Jae-hee nodded and began looking through Manager Kim’s file. It contained data graphs and information about distributors.
After some time spent organizing, Jae-hee pressed her tired eyelids together and closed the file. Then, she opened the green file she had originally been working on.
As she flipped the cover, the promotional materials she had planned for bottled water passed by quickly.
“I’ll do this at home.”
Jae-hee closed the file cover with a neat expression. Since she had to do it anyway, she decided to give it her best effort. It would also be a good opportunity to build some rapport with the manager of Sales Team 1.
On the 6th floor of Seon-gang Group’s headquarters. In the meeting room next to the cafeteria, several people had gathered. They were the team members for a short-term project, mostly employees handling the beverage and alcohol sectors.
Kang-joo pointed to the white screen. Everyone turned their heads and focused on the screen. The screen displayed the red logo of the competitor, Cheonglang Korea.
“You all know why we’re here, right? Since everyone is busy, I’ll keep it brief. I’m Cha Kang-joo, the Executive Director of the Strategy Planning Coordination Department. Nice to meet you.”
Kang-joo continued as the team members bowed their heads in greeting.
“I already know all your details, so we won’t waste time on introductions. Let’s get to the point.”
“Yes!”
Everyone nodded eagerly.
The meeting room was neat and tidy. There were no unnecessary documents or hastily put together presentation slides. It was a no-nonsense approach, typical of Kang-joo.
“Most of Seon-gang Beverage and Liquor’s products are industry leaders, but recently, Cheonglang Korea has been catching up aggressively.”
The presentation screen switched. A chart showing the recent market share trends from a distribution industry research firm appeared.
“Since Cheonglang is closing the gap, we need to do something. That’s why you’re all here.”
Although the TF team was formed under Kang-joo’s leadership, it was more of a symbolic project. It had been created after a single remark from Chairman Cha to Kang-joo.
Chairman Cha had handed Kang-joo a neatly folded newspaper article and said:
“Kang-joo, the collapse of a dam is caused by a small brick. Cheonglang is coming up in beverages, so you should do something about it.”
Beverages were a tiny part of Kang-joo’s responsibilities, which also included the restaurant, retail, and coffee franchise businesses. The same was true for the overall Seon-gang Group business. But since Chairman Cha had directly instructed him to do something, Kang-joo had no choice.
Chairman Cha was always like this. He would subtly put people to the test, trying to chip away at them. Facing that smiling face always left Kang-joo with an unsettled feeling.
Once Kang-joo set the stage, the team members started offering their ideas.
“We should focus on the products that Cheonglang is targeting, right?”
“I think so too. They’re currently running an SNS event focused on fruit drinks. They’re holding a Peach Person and Grape Person contest.”
“Yeah, I saw it too. They posted photos of a famous comedian in costume on SNS.”
The product planning team’s Deputy Yoo frowned slightly.
At the front of the room, Team Leader Kim from the Strategic Sales Team interjected, rubbing his neck.
“Those strange events are useless. Let’s go with money. Right now, Cheonglang is running a 2+1 event, so we’ll do a 1+1. Two Seon-gang drinks in each hand! We’ll create an event where people post on SNS with two drinks in their hands and hashtag it to win prizes. Something like that.”
“We haven’t done a 1+1 event since 10 years ago. Price-cutting would hurt our image, so let’s focus on more unique events.”
“Discounting is the best. 1+1 is the best.”
Team Leader Kim leaned back in his chair, clearly bored with the meeting.
He was a seasoned expert from the B2B sales field and believed the solution to defend against the competitor’s pursuit was obvious. Mass quantities at a low price. Throw together some eye-catching events, and that would be the end of it. There was no need for a TF team like this.
Having listened quietly, Kang-joo called on him.
“Team Leader Kim from the Liquor Strategic Sales Team, right?”
“Ah, yes, Executive Director.”
“I appreciate the good suggestion. However, driving sales through an event is something I can handle with a single phone call right now, so let’s think about another approach. That method would hurt our brand image.”
“Ah... yes.”
Team Leader Kim scratched his chin with an awkward expression.
“Instead of simple, short-term sales events, let’s focus on a long-term project aimed at maintaining our existing brand awareness and increasing customer loyalty.”
Team Leader Kim, subtly adjusting his thinning hair, asked quietly.
“Just to clarify, if we can’t increase sales quickly, it won’t affect our performance, right?”
“I’m not looking to offload the work and retreat. This is something I’m leading, so I won’t shift the responsibility to others. Don’t worry about that—just proceed for now.”
Once Kang-joo firmly set the direction, Team Leader Kim finally laughed awkwardly.
“Do you have any ideas in mind?”
“Honestly, not really. But to outline the broad strategy, Cheonglang is currently pursuing a kitsch image in their marketing, so let’s go in that direction as well. For defensive purposes.”
“Ah, I see.”
“As you know, it’s too late to go the ATL route. Let’s plan the initial promotion and launch it within 45 days.”
Everyone quickly wrote “45 days” in their notebooks, circling it. The timeline was tight, but with Executive Director Cha involved, they felt like things might work out.
Kang-joo watched their actions and continued.
“Think about content that consumers can share on social media, leading to organic viral connections. Since we’ve also launched healthcare products, it would be great if we could connect this with that.”
“Yes! We’ll make sure the event target group aligns with that.”
The team members nodded and began discussing ideas.
At that moment, Jae-hee was about to start her meeting with Team Leader Han from Sales Team 1. It was the same meeting that had been handed over to her after Team Leader Kim moved to the TF team.
“Hello, Team Leader Han. I’m Yoon Jae-hee, the assistant.”
When she extended her hand, Team Leader Han reluctantly shook it. Judging by the expression on his face, which was almost ready to start complaining, he seemed to be in a bad mood.
It was understandable. The person who had originally been scheduled for the meeting was Kim, but suddenly an assistant was showing up instead, which must have been surprising. He might have felt disrespected or uncomfortable with the situation.
Jae-hee quickly sensed that this meeting wouldn’t go smoothly. But she smiled and shrugged it off. It wasn’t the first time she had seen someone furrow their eyebrows at her. She had received many such looks from Team Leader Kim and Manager Jung. It had become second nature to her by now.
“I’ve received and fully understood all the requests Team Leader Kim had for you, so you don’t need to worry. Since you must be busy, shall we get to the point?”
Jae-hee opened the yellow file that Kim had handed over and began discussing the business matters. Team Leader Han crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair as soon as Jae-hee spoke.
It was a defensive posture. He seemed to be saying, “Go ahead and talk.” It was like a test, or maybe a challenge.
Instead of treating this like a regular meeting, Jae-hee felt like she was giving a presentation. She spoke clearly and systematically. She knew that in order to make the meeting progress smoothly, she needed to get Team Leader Han to relax and put down his arms.
“Team Leader Han, regarding the B2B market breakthrough you mentioned, I’ve been thinking about it. If you look at this graph... See? The delivery app market has grown significantly, hasn’t it?”
Jae-hee’s neat fingertip pointed at the graph. Team Leader Han still had his arms crossed, but he lowered his head slightly to check the graph. After watching his expression, Jae-hee smiled and continued.
“As a result, our Seon-gang sales profits have been increasing steadily. Look at this graph. Yes, here.”
“...I see.”
“This is the projected performance graph that Sales Team 1 presented last year. If you compare it here, you can see that the actual numbers have exceeded the projections made at the start of last year.”
At this point, Jae-hee clapped her hands, almost as if celebrating.
“The bonus we got at the beginning of the year was all thanks to the efforts of the Sales Team. I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank you again! Now, back to the main topic. Among our Seon-gang products, carbonated drinks are particularly being threatened by Cheonglang in the B2B market. So, you suggested that we do something about it together, right?”
Jae-hee’s praise, though not overly flattering, seemed to lighten Team Leader Han’s mood. It looked like he didn’t mind being recognized in a moderate way. Good, his arms were uncrossing. Jae-hee’s eyes sparkled. She lowered her body slightly toward him and continued speaking.
“So, what I was thinking is, let’s shift our sales focus toward the delivery sector. Look here, isn’t this delivery app character cute? We could collaborate with this character and promote Seon-gang products... We could even support it with company-level events...”
As she flipped through several pages of the proposal, Jae-hee spoke softly and smoothly. Before long, Team Leader Han had moved his back away from the chair and leaned forward toward the desk. His tightly crossed arms were now fully relaxed, and he was holding the pen firmly.
Soon after, Team Leader Han was talking about his favorite type of chicken while chatting with Jae-hee. It was a complete breakdown of his defensive posture. Then he suddenly realized something and clenched the pen again.
“...So, chicken and hamburgers, those things sell like crazy. That means the consumption of carbonated drinks will inevitably increase. Just like you said, I’ve been looking for a breakthrough in this area too. We’re on the same page!”
“How about I have a meeting with the Product Planning Team and steer the direction from the beginning to focus on this? What do you think?”
“That sounds good. I was planning to talk to the Product Planning Team at first, but it seemed like it was getting too big. Honestly, I find it a bit troublesome. There’s nothing in it for me, even if I stick my nose into it.”
“Of course, Team Leader Han, you’re a busy person, so you need to make things happen in sales! I’ll provide the support. Don’t worry about it!”
Jae-hee playfully patted her chest, and Team Leader Han laughed out loud.
The meeting was going much better than expected. Team Leader Kim always dragged things on endlessly, which made things unpleasant, but this replacement, Assistant Yoon, was easy to talk to and was very efficient.
When Jae-hee first appeared, Team Leader Han had been irritated, thinking it was some sort of hot potato being passed around. But now, everything was progressing smoothly.
“Yoon Assistant? She’s known for being quick and sharp, and she does her job well. But when she pushes back, she really pushes back, so she doesn’t get along with her superiors.”
Yoon Jae-hee. The rumors about her were true. Team Leader Han nodded as he watched Jae-hee neatly organize the files, signaling the end of the meeting.
“Is Jae-hee going to be at the next meeting too? Tell that guy Kim that it’s over.”
Jae-hee took the file folder in her arms and got into the elevator.
She had inherited Kim’s work unexpectedly, so her original tasks had piled up. To meet the deadline, it was going to be tight.
She got off the elevator and turned around. It was already dark outside the lobby. When would spring come? She shook off the cold air wrapping around her ankles and walked briskly when someone approached her like a shadow.
“Are you leaving now?”
Startled by the familiar low voice, she looked up. A passing employee bowed his head as a greeting and walked past.
It was Executive Director Cha Kang-joo.
“Yes, it seems like you’re leaving as well, Executive Director.”
Jae-hee asked, raising the file. She was quite surprised because he had never spoken to her like this before. Moreover, since Cha’s car should be in the parking lot, it was unusual for him to be in the lobby.
“Looks like you have a lot of work.”
Kang-joo asked in a calm tone, his gaze fixed on Jae-hee’s file. Jae-hee awkwardly smiled. Complaining directly to the Executive Director about having a lot of work was something that should never happen. She couldn’t say, “Kim transferred his work to me because of the TF team you set up.”
“No, it’s not that much. It just happened this way.”
“Did Kim pass it on to you?”
It was as if he had read her mind when he asked.
“Pardon?”
Jae-hee tightened her grip on the file in surprise. It almost seemed like he had pulled the words right out of her thoughts. Kang-joo, seeing her reaction, let out a small laugh.
“You really can’t lie, can you? Whether in the past or now.”
The past.
That word made her go silent. It had always been like this. Whenever she thought of the past with him, her heart ached, and it was hard to speak.
Before she knew it, they had reached the edge of the lobby. As she was about to head outside, Kang-joo’s heavy voice followed behind her.
“Don’t go.”
At his words, Jae-hee stopped and turned around. He was standing just a step behind her. “Don’t go?” Kang-joo added with an expressionless face.
“I’ll give you a ride.”
Ah, that’s what he meant. Only then did Jae-hee vaguely smile. It wasn’t easy to nod and say “okay.” She had ridden in his car before, but that was because there were no buses when she had to visit a nursing hospital. Now, they were at the company, he was an executive, and she was an employee.
She had always hidden her feelings for him. Maybe that’s why she felt a little guilty. Being so close to him made her feel like her emotions might slip out, just like “in the past.” She knew that couldn’t happen.
Jae-hee hesitated for a moment, then slowly nodded.
“Yes, then I’ll rely on you.”
It was cold outside, dark, and black. It was a strange excuse, but still, she didn’t want to refuse his offer. She wanted to be with him, even if only for a short time.
The car sped through the streets of Seoul, sparkling under the lights. Jae-hee tried to start a conversation with Kang-joo but gave up. His cold profile suddenly seemed distant. So, she lowered her head and stared at her file.
For this spring event, let’s focus on bottled water. Spring bursts forth with life, and water replenishes energy, revitalizing you. Let’s go with a theme that reflects that... The color scheme should be pastel tones—fresh green buds and pink cherry blossoms. A gym could be a good event location. Even though it’s cold, the Han River area might work as well.
She muttered to herself and lost track of time. When she came to her senses, the car had already stopped.
“Are we here already? I just said I’d look at the file for a bit. Thank you, and I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable.”
She had been so focused on the file that it felt like she had been in a taxi. How rude. As she gathered the files, Kang-joo, with his arm casually resting on the steering wheel, lazily observed her.
“It’s fine. Who wouldn’t like to see someone from our company working hard?”
“Ah, yes.”
“I’m always just Kang-joo to you, nothing more.”
“...”
Jae-hee paused before answering. She didn’t know what to say.
“And about the event you’re planning now...”
Kang-joo shifted his gaze to the file Jae-hee had been looking at and seemed about to say something but stopped himself. It looked like he didn’t want to discuss work matters personally.
“I’ll look into it and tell you later.”
“Okay, I understand.”
After that, there was silence. Jae-hee fidgeted with her bag, unsure of what to do. What should she do now? Should she just say goodbye and leave? She felt like a child staring at a difficult math problem, unsure of how to proceed.
She absentmindedly fiddled with the small tassel on her bag, then with the cold metal zipper. Watching her hesitating, Kang-joo smiled faintly.
“Why, are you going to offer me money again?”
“What?”
Jae-hee jerked her hand away from her bag in surprise. Had her gesture looked like that?
“You’re not someone who’s desperate to repay me, are you?”
“I’m sorry, and thank you.”
She couldn’t just accept everything from him. Her face stiffened and her gestures became awkward whenever she was in front of him. Perhaps it was because of the hidden feelings of affection she had for him. It was because of the emotions she couldn’t suppress. She was ashamed of the feelings she couldn’t control, afraid of revealing the heart she shouldn’t let him see.
As he followed the trembling movement of her eyes, he leaned forward. His scent grew closer in the dim car. The faint fragrance of his perfume seeped in.
His gaze always felt sharp, as if it were stripping her bare, and it made it hard for her to breathe.
“If you’re sorry and grateful, I’ll have you repay me in the way I want.”
His languid voice wrapped around her ear. Jae-hee found herself staring at his face, entranced by the closeness.
“What is it that you want, Mr. Executive?”
A faint streetlight glimmered in his eyes, and that blurry light flickered like a flame. She stared at him blankly, mesmerized. The delicate bridge of his nose and soft line of his lips. Suddenly, that day came to mind. The soft and moist sensation, and she swallowed hard.
His lips slowly moved.
“Let’s kiss. You do it first, Jae-hee.”
Jae-hee was startled, taking a deep breath and opening her eyes wide. Her heart dropped and pounded. The one who had spoken appeared so calm, which only made her feel strangely frustrated.
Kang-joo lightly raised the corner of his mouth, as if mocking her reaction. That expression made her even more determined.
She didn’t know what his intention was in saying something like that. Perhaps he was satisfied with the kiss they had shared at the hotel last time. Or maybe he just wanted to tease her.
Jae-hee swallowed again and gripped her bag tightly.
Maybe, just maybe, this was his lighthearted game. But, if he really wanted to play a game with her...
The Kang-joo in front of her was no longer the “Kang-joo oppa” who had pushed her away after their kiss.
Jae-hee closed her eyes tightly and slowly lifted her head toward him. They were already close enough that with just a slight movement, their faces would touch, but it was still hard to get any closer.
His steady gaze watched her movements carefully. Her eyebrows furrowed slightly in tension. Her eyelids were tightly closed. The delicate eyelashes fluttered as they observed her every tremor.
They were so close now that she could feel his breath. Then, their lips slowly met.
‘Ah...’
Jae-hee bit her lip tightly. Even though it was just a light touch, her heart was pounding like it was malfunctioning. Her body shivered. It felt like a soft, downy hair floating inside her chest, tickling her.
She remembered the large body that had covered her. The heat that had lingered between them. The hot hands that had dug between her legs, and the heavy sensation of his excitement. Just imagining it made her thighs tense. It was a strange, unfamiliar feeling.
Jae-hee exhaled nervously, pulling her lips away. That was as much courage as she could muster.
Kang-joo watched her, who had lightly pulled back, as if she were someone else. Then, when their lips parted, he grabbed the back of her neck and gently pulled her in again.
Their lips met again. Startled, Jae-hee parted her mouth slightly as Kang-joo’s tongue slipped inside. Their noses touched, breaths intertwining slowly. The tongues began to entangle gradually, almost lazily.
“Mmm...” Jae-hee held her breath. A tingling sensation shot down her spine, making her feel dizzy with its intensity.
With each smooth glide of their tongues, a low wet sound resonated within their mouths. The heat that filled her entire oral cavity was scorching hot.
Kang-joo continued gazing at Jae-hee through lowered lashes—the same eyes now locked onto hers as they shared both kisses and breaths. His tongue gently explored hers, wrapping around it tenderly before pulling back for another slow suck. He swallowed her rapid panting along with his own, meticulously caressing every inch of her tongue from tip to root.
Jae-hee gripped the chair’s leather tightly as she writhed with desire. Her tongue slowly swam around her mouth, feeling both moist and scalding hot. If only he would be rougher—then she could have used that as an excuse to pull him close for a proper embrace.
Her breathing grew even more labored. Kang-joo swallowed every drop of saliva from Jae-hee’s parched lips before lowering his face away. Their entwined tongues parted reluctantly, sliding against each other in a wet farewell.
“Haa... haa...” Between brief moments of separation, Jae-hee’s breath came out in ragged gasps mixed with moans. It was astonishing how such short kisses alone could set her aflame. The kiss had been slow enough to leave her craving more yet fast enough to fill her with regret at its end—a bittersweet moment etched deeply into her senses.
The windows fogged up from their shared heat. Kang-joo’s hand slipped between her legs, pushing aside her sweaty skirt to caress her stockings. His fingers brushed against her burning skin, sending shivers through her body.
Jae-hee trembled as she drew her knees closer together. With each gentle touch through the thin fabric, his fingertips seemed to send electric currents surging down her spine. Even when his warm hands only grazed her outer thigh, it made her most intimate areas quiver uncontrollably.
Kang-joo gently bit her earlobe. Jae-hee’s eyelids fluttered involuntarily at this sensation.
“Good thing,” he murmured. “This time you didn’t tear your stockings during our second kiss.”
His lips curled into a sardonic smile as he smoothed out the perfectly seamless stocking without missing a beat—a slow smirk spreading across his face like ink diffusing in water.
The hot water cascaded over her head. The small bathroom was filled with steam. Jae-hee paused mid-scrub of her thigh, her hand hovering. The spot where his hand had touched her made her breath quicken.
‘I need to stop thinking about this.’
She patted her reddened cheeks and closed her eyes. She felt dizzy. She couldn’t tell if it was the swirling steam or the memories flooding her mind.
The relentless sound of the water hitting the tub was deafening, but only one thought persisted: the memory of just a moment ago.
She wished he had torn her stockings then. She wanted him to grip her tightly, ignoring her pleas, and kiss her wildly. She was consumed by the tantalizing sensation.
“I must be crazy…”
She muttered to herself, defeated.
She put her hand between her legs, feeling the dampness. She tried to erase him from her mind, slowly washing away the evidence of her arousal.
Her fingertips felt slick.
“Haah…”
She sighed involuntarily.
She bit her lip and rinsed the sticky residue down the drain. She was ashamed. To be so aroused by just a kiss, a touch.
It wasn’t just now. Even in the car with him, she had felt a dizzying, almost frightening desire. Her panties had been soaked. She had felt an unbearable itch in her most private place.
Had she always been this way? She had never even held a man’s hand, let alone kissed one, so how could she have this shameful part of herself? How?
She was confused by her own body, her desires, and her excitement. She couldn’t accept them.
Whenever she was with him, she felt herself crumbling. He melted away her fortress, gently invading her vulnerable body.
She had to admit it.
She was still under his spell, just like before.
Jae-hee swayed, her face contorted in despair. A sticky residue trailed down between her legs, burning hot.
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