Chapter 9: Quit the Company Right Now
After turning on her laptop, Yoon-kyung habitually opened her inbox. A single unread email sat at the very top.
The sender was Kwonseong.
She immediately opened it.
The first part of the email explained the new project scheduled to begin next month.
Yoon-kyung already knew that a TF team was being formed for KD Health. There had been no way not to notice—the office manager had spent the past week busily preparing a private office for the project manager and workstations for the incoming team members.
“…Maybe Da-hee’s coming as the manager.”
She remembered Da-hee saying they’d be seeing each other often from now on.
At that point, it never once crossed Yoon-kyung’s mind that Do-heon himself would be leading the project.
“Assistant Manager, where are you? I just got to work, and Kwonseong sent us an email! It looks like everyone got it. But… they’re saying they’re going to monitor attendance now. Ugh, I don’t know. Just hurry up and get here so you can read it.”
Looking up, she saw a woman from the Public Relations team complaining into her phone over the partition.
She wasn’t the only one.
All around the office, employees who had just arrived were reacting with confusion to the email from Kwonseong.
Reading further, Yoon-kyung found details about fingerprint attendance, standardized lunch hours, and stricter employee attendance management.
She swallowed a sigh.
Since when did basic workplace rules require this level of management?
It was honestly pathetic.
The email also stated that the incoming manager would conduct interviews with each team leader, and if necessary, entire departments.
Everyone was instructed to organize their current responsibilities and submit them before reporting to work the following week.
She didn’t know who the new manager would be.
But one thing was obvious.
They were the complete opposite of the atmosphere at KD Health.
Someone with neither affection for the company nor the ability to run it currently occupied the CEO’s chair.
The employees would undoubtedly resist and complain…
But to Yoon-kyung, this person sounded exactly like what the company needed.
It was embarrassing enough that the parent company had to send people over because the subsidiary couldn’t even manage itself.
Even now, the president behaved as though none of it was his responsibility.
“Maybe this is actually for the be—”
She stopped.
Her eyes froze.
The email listed the names of the people assigned to the TF project.
Next to the title Project Director…
She saw Do-heon’s name.
Kwon Do-heon.
It was definitely him.
But that wasn’t what shocked her the most.
It was the name listed underneath.
〈KD Health Marketing Team — Kang Yoon-kyung〉
No matter how many times she looked…
It was her department.
Her name.
Thinking she’d misread it, she rubbed both eyes.
Even though her vision blurred, the words remained.
A typo?
Did someone paste the wrong name?
Otherwise…
There was no reason her name should appear beneath theirs.
Exactly.
It made no sense.
“…”
It shouldn’t make sense.
It couldn’t.
“…Can an official announcement email really contain a mistake?”
Apparently, other employees had also noticed her name.
The whispers throughout the office grew louder than before.
Kang Yoon-kyung.
The name on everyone’s lips…
Was unmistakably hers.
“What on earth…”
Just as confusion overwhelmed her more than anyone else…
Her phone vibrated.
An unfamiliar number.
“Hello?”
Still staring seriously at the email, she answered.
“Have you arrived at work?”
“…Who’s this?”
“This is Kwon Do-heon.”
Startled, Yoon-kyung nearly dropped her phone as she fumbled to grip it properly.
“W-Who?”
“I don’t think I need to repeat myself.”
How…
No.
Why?
“Did you read the email?”
“I-I did…”
“You won’t understand it anyway.”
“So don’t waste your energy trying to.”
“Just leave it alone.”
That makes even less sense.
“Excuse me…”
She was about to ask him about the TF assignment when—
The office door opened.
Ji-hyun walked in.
Unlike her usual relaxed demeanor, she looked strangely frantic.
Someone like Ji-hyun, who often ignored work emails even during office hours, couldn’t possibly have checked this one before arriving.
“Kang Yoon-kyung.”
“I need to talk to you.”
Yoon-kyung looked from Ji-hyun to the Public Relations employee standing behind her.
They may not do any work, but they’re certainly quick to spread gossip.
“I’m on the pho—”
“I don’t care who you’re talking to. Come with me.”
Afraid Do-heon might overhear, Yoon-kyung covered the phone with her hand.
“I’ve said everything I needed to.”
“I’m hanging up.”
Before she could respond, the call disconnected.
Praying he hadn’t heard anything, she stood up.
Under the watchful eyes of the office, she followed Ji-hyun into a meeting room.
The moment she stepped inside, she frowned.
The unpleasant smell of food still lingered.
“What was that email?”
People keep eating in here after being told not to.
Sighing, Yoon-kyung opened the window.
“I asked what that email was!”
“If someone told you about it, then check it yourself.”
“If you saw it yourself…”
“Then believe exactly what you read.”
“Why are you on that list?”
“You’re not even from Kwonseong!”
Exactly.
No one wanted that answer more than Yoon-kyung herself.
“I heard you ran into Do-heon at work.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Do I have to report everyone I meet to you?”
“Then why were you with him at the hotel?”
“What could the two of you possibly have to talk about?”
“Don’t tell me…”
“You actually approached him first?”
“You didn’t try to tell someone with amnesia who you were, did you?”
Deciding she wasn’t worth arguing with, Yoon-kyung turned toward the door.
Ji-hyun quickly blocked her path.
“Why aren’t you answering?”
“Did you really do it?!”
“And if I did?”
“What would you do?”
“And if I didn’t?”
“Then what?”
“Hey!”
Despite Ji-hyun’s shouting, Yoon-kyung remained perfectly calm.
Rather than simply maintaining boundaries…
She drew them clearly.
“Meeting Executive Director Kwon was purely a coincidence.”
“You expect me to believe that?”
“You don’t sound very confident.”
“…What?”
“You seem nervous.”
“Quit.”
“Quit this company right now.”
Yoon-kyung stared at her in disbelief.
“I’ll ask Oppa Ji-cheol to find you another job.”
“So quit immediately.”
“I made a promise.”
“I can’t do that.”
“I’ll pay you.”
“My father gives you money, doesn’t he?”
“I’ll give you the same amount.”
“And who exactly are you to give me money?”
“What difference does it make who it’s from?”
“You need money.”
“So I’m offering it.”
“I earn that money through honest work.”
She wouldn’t accept even ten cents from Ji-hyun.
“Why don’t you just admit it?”
“You want to stay near Do-heon.”
“…”
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“What?”
“Do you want to say I stole what belonged to you?”
Ji-hyun’s irrational accusations felt especially severe today.
“I’m trying to be nice.”
“So back off while I’m still asking politely.”
“I’m saying this for your own good.”
“You don’t want to watch your mother beg again, do you?”
“My brother and I only have to say one word, and your mother would crawl if we asked.”
“Should I tell her?”
“Wouldn’t that make things difficult for you?”
“If that’s the life she chose…”
“Then she’s the one responsible for it.”
“So your father really has no hope after all.”
Ji-hyun sneered at her retreating back.
“That’s what your mother said.”
Yoon-kyung slowly turned around.
She knew exactly why Ji-hyun kept provoking her.
She knew the reaction Ji-hyun wanted.
Which was precisely why she refused to give her one.
“Even if that’s true…”
“I’m still going to do everything I can.”
For the sake of this girl who so desperately wished for her unhappiness…
Yoon-kyung refused to become unhappy.
“And apparently you don’t know this.”
“I don’t have a mother.”
“She died three years ago.”
Turning fully toward Ji-hyun, she continued.
“If anything…”
“You should be thanking me.”
“I’m still working at this company to earn money for my father’s hospital bills.”
“That’s the only reason your loveless engagement is still intact.”
“…What?”
“Oh…”
“I guess you’ve never actually been loved by him.”
“So you don’t even realize what it means not to be.”
That hit its mark.
Watching Ji-hyun’s face flush bright red, Yoon-kyung gave a mocking smile.
“The money your father gives me is legitimate compensation for working here.”
“If there weren’t anything for me to gain…”
“I wouldn’t have any reason to stay in this pathetic company.”
“Or keep overlooking everything your family has done.”
“Hey.”
“I’m letting it all go.”
“Even though your family erased every trace of me because you were terrified he might recover his memories.”
“What right do you have to ‘let it go’?!”
Ji-hyun exploded.
“Do-heon can’t remember anything!”
“Three whole years!”
“He hasn’t remembered a single thing about you!”
“Isn’t that proof enough?”
“And what about the memories that never existed in the first place?”
“Do those matter more?”
“Are you saying those three years mean nothing?”
“You had those three years.”
“And after all that…”
“All you’ve managed to obtain is an empty shell named Kwon Do-heon.”
“You don’t even have that!”
“So…”
“Are you satisfied?”
Yoon-kyung already knew the answer.
Someone as greedy as Ji-hyun would never be satisfied.
“I’m saying this as someone who’s known Kwon Do-heon much longer than you.”
“You finally got the right to stay beside him after everything you’ve done.”
“So wake up before he throws you away and you’re left crying.”
Just remembering the way Do-heon had treated Ji-hyun outside the hotel…
Yoon-kyung knew every boast Ji-hyun made about him contacting her every day had been nothing but lies.
“I want to know why my name is on the TF team list just as much as you do.”
“Since the project director is your fiancé…”
“Why don’t you ask him for me?”
“And when he gives you an answer…”
“Please let me know.”
Brushing past Ji-hyun with a bump of her shoulder…
Yoon-kyung walked out of the meeting room.
