TUW | CHAPTER 12

Chapter 12

 Even If I Disappear Like Cinderella…

 

Click—

 

The moment she got into Do-hyun’s car, Lee Yeon buckled her seatbelt.

 

Thanks to this unexpected “Do-hyun chance,” she’d had a whole extra hour to get ready for work.

 

Now, without worrying about being late, she was riding to the office at ease.

 

I really didn’t think he’d wait for me.

 

But Do-hyun had

 

He’d sat patiently on the sofa until she was finished, quietly waiting until she came downstairs.

 

Lee Yeon glanced at him as he drove.

 

The side profile of a man focused on the road was undeniably sexy.

 

The firm muscles of his arm, the controlled movements of his hand turning the wheel, the way his face shifted just slightly whenever he checked the side mirror every detail of him was distractingly handsome.

 

If other women saw him like this, they’d go wild.

 

How lucky that she was the only one who got to see it.

 

Her thoughts spiralled, and suddenly her heart went berserk, pounding as though it wanted to escape her chest.

 

What am I even thinking right now?

 

Lucky?

 

Really?

 

“Should I pull over?”

 

Do-hyun’s voice cut through her panicked heartbeat.

 

Lee Yeon blinked fast, startled.

 

“What… what do you mean?”

 

She asked, wide-eyed.

 

“If you stare at me that hard, I can’t focus on driving.”

 

So he’d known all along.

 

His lips curved into an amused smirk.

 

“I—I wasn’t looking at you!

 

Vice President, I wasn’t staring at you!

 

I was just… uh, looking at the hair on your hand!”

 

Her face flushed scarlet as the words tumbled out in a jumble of desperate denial.

 

Hair?

 

Out of all things, I said hair?

 

She wanted to crawl into the nearest hole in the ground manhole, mouse hole, anything would do.

 

Do-hyun’s eyes crinkled as laughter slipped out.

 

Apparently, he found her ridiculous excuse about hand hair more than a little entertaining.

 

“Stop staring at my hand hair.

 

We’re here.

 

Get out.”

 

Phew… saved.

 

She hurried into the office, eager to put distance between herself and Do-hyun.

 

She needed time—time to calm the storm in her chest.

 

But the moment she arrived, there was no chance to breathe.

 

Lately, Do-hyun had been pushing a new marketing initiative: launching a collaboration card with the hottest influencer among children and young adults.

 

This particular influencer, the undisputed number one in reach, had refused every attempt from Wuseong Card to make contact.

 

Yet suddenly, just yesterday, they’d reached out, saying they wanted a meeting.

 

That meant today, from the moment she walked in, Lee Yeon had to scramble.

 

She needed feedback from the marketing team and, most urgently, a free meeting room equipped for presentations.

 

But nearly every room with a projector had already been booked.

 

Determined to secure one, she dialled frantically, one call after another.

 

Bzzzt.

 

Bzzzt.

 

Bzzzt.

 

Her phone buzzed nonstop, vibrating across the desk like it was alive.

 

“Why won’t it stop ringing?”

 

She muttered, scowling.

 

With the deadline looming, she had to get that meeting room before lunch. Lee Yeon’s nerves were stretched thin.

 

Since no one was picking up, the caller had apparently switched to bombarding her with messages, the vibrations rattling without pause.

 

 

Wondering what could possibly be so urgent, Lee Yeon picked up her phone.

 

[ Lee Yeon, LeeYeon!

 

Please help me!

 

You know you’re the only one I can rely on, right? ]

 

[ Please… ]

[ Help me! ]

 

[ No, seriously save me! ]

 

The desperate string of messages lighting up her screen came from Hayul.

 

[ What’s wrong?

 

Did something happen? ]

 

Lee Yeon couldn’t ignore the frantic tone.

 

Worried, she typed a quick reply.

 

Almost immediately, as if waiting for her to answer, Hayul’s call came through.

 

“What’s going on?”

 

Her friend never sounded this desperate.

 

The unease in Hayul’s voice made Ilyeon’s stomach twist as she hurriedly answered.

 

[ I’m right near your office!

 

Can we meet for a moment?

 

I can wait until you’re done with work if I have to, but this is something I need to tell you in person.

 

Just give me thirty minutes, please. ]

 

Her voice carried both urgency and a rare, polite pleading.

 

What could have happened that she was willing to wait all the way until after work?

 

Lee Yeon’s heart began to race with a vague sense of dread.

 

“What on earth is it that you’re this frantic?

 

You’re making me nervous now!”

 

[ It’s a big deal for me… but it’s also a big deal for you. ]

 

Hayul trailed off, her words heavy with implication.

 

“A big deal for me?”

 

[ I’ll explain everything when we meet. ]

 

Fortunately, it was still before lunch.

 

Better to hear her out over a meal than spend the whole day wondering.

 

“Let’s talk over lunch then.

 

My treat.”

 

[ I knew you’d say that!

 

You’re the best.

 

I’ll wait at the café nearby! ]

 

Lee Yeon agreed and hung up.

 

What on earth has her worked up like this?

 

She pushed down the growing unease and returned to the pile of unfinished work on her desk.

 

By luck, a meeting room had just been freed up and was cancelled that day.

 

After booking it, Lee Yeon felt lighter as lunchtime approached and quickly headed out to the café where Hayul was waiting.

 

[ I’m almost there.

 

Come out front—we’ll go straight to lunch. ]

 

She texted as she walked, picking up her pace so as not to waste the short break.

 

“Lee Yeon!”

 

The moment she arrived, Hayul came running toward her, latching onto her arm with a clinginess that didn’t suit her at all.

 

“Wha—what are you doing?”

 

Concern was one thing, but this sticky display was another.

 

Even when Lee Yeon tried to shake her off, Hayul wouldn’t budge, tugging her insistently toward the street.

 

“Come on, let’s eat!”

 

“Where are you dragging me?

 

I already picked out a place.”

 

Contrary to her earlier panic, Hayul hardly looked like she was on the verge of collapse.

 

“I made a reservation too!”

 

“How would you even know any restaurants around here?”

 

“I researched, of course.

 

It’s your office neighbourhood, after all.

 

And since it’s something top-secret, I needed a place with private rooms.

 

Turns out there aren’t that many.”

 

Sometimes Hayul’s thoroughness was unnerving.

 

She had even hunted down a restaurant with private dining rooms.

 

“Thorough, aren’t you?”

 

Hayul shrugged with a playful grin.

 

The place she had dragged him to turned out to be a course dining restaurant called Tuna Master.

 

The interior was so polished that it really felt like a master chef might appear to slice the fish right at the table.

 

The lunch course alone wasn’t exactly cheap.

 

So she really does plan on bleeding me dry, huh.

 

Well, fine.

 

If his friend was struggling, he could handle this much.

 

They followed the host into a private room reserved under Hayul’s name.

 

“What?”

 

The moment the course meal began, Hayul dropped a bombshell.

 

Startled, Lee Yeon fumbled his chopsticks and a slice of tuna sashimi slipped onto the table.

 

“Wait, wait, wait—what are you saying?

 

Yŏngshin is going to present you publicly?

 

Why?

 

Aren’t those the same people who always denied you even existed?”

 

“Of course they denied me!

 

But the whole ‘illegitimate daughter’ thing is already the worst-kept secret in town.

 

And now, apparently, there’s been some huge slush fund scandal in Yŏngshin.

 

 

They’re just trying to use me to cover it up.

 

Think about it one more headline: ‘The Infamous Illegitimate Daughter Makes Her First Official Appearance!’”

 

She spoke lightly, as if brushing it off, but her eyes betrayed the tremor beneath.

 

Lee Yeon knew better than anyone how much Hayul hated being tangled up with that family.

 

“Honestly, I don’t want to play into their filthy little scheme, but… since the secret’s already out, maybe securing my place as Yŏngshin’s youngest daughter isn’t the worst move either.”

 

She said it casually, but it was clear as day that Hayul’s will had never once been considered in this.

 

She was being pulled along, nothing more.

 

Lee Yeon bit his lower lip, unable to hide his sympathy.

 

“There’s a VIP party coming up Yŏngshin’s collaborating with a world-famous designer.

 

I’m supposed to attend.

 

And… well… would you come with me?”

 

Me?

 

Blinking in disbelief, Lee Yeon turned to her.

 

But Hayul was already clasping her hands together, pleading with both eyes and gestures.

 

“Are you insane?

 

How could I possibly show up there?

 

With this face, I’ll get whispered at from every corner of the room!”

 

Even if he wanted to help her, this was impossible.

 

That kind of event was reserved for the Rich and celebrities.

 

He’d stick out like a sore thumb, and people would pick apart his looks until both he and Hayul became gossip fodder.

 

It was madness.

 

Both of them would end up humiliated.

 

“I’ve never been to anything like that before.

 

I won’t have a single ally there.

 

Who knows what tricks those people might pull on me…”

 

Her voice trailed off, quiet, vulnerable.

 

And against his better judgment, Lee Yeon felt his resolve begin to crumble.

 

“You don’t have to do anything.

 

Just stand next to me.

 

Let me lean on you.

 

If you’re there, I’ll feel like I can breathe, at least a little.”

 

That last plea—so raw, so desperate—made it impossible to refuse her outright.

 

“Fine.

 

But if you stay by my side, we’ll draw even more attention.”

 

When Lee Yeon finally gave in with a sigh, Hayul’s pleading face disappeared in an instant.

 

She clenched her fists, eyes blazing with fire.

 

“So what?

 

They’ll be busy gawking anyway.

 

If it’s come to this, let’s really steal the spotlight!

 

I’ll make sure those people get completely overshadowed by none other than Lim Hayul!

 

It’s not my fault, I was born this way, wasn’t I?”

 

Her sudden burst of energy eased Lee Yeon’s worries a little.

 

But then Hayul grew serious, lowering her voice.

 

“But… Lee Yeon, don’t you think showing up like this might be a problem?”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

Hayul cleared her throat, plopped back down in her chair, and propped her chin on her laced fingers.

 

“You can’t keep going around like this forever.

 

Don’t you think it’s time you practised living as yourself again?”

 

She wasn’t wrong.

 

Lee Yeon knew that.

 

But the truth was, she wasn’t ready.

 

She had grown far too used to the convenience that came with this face, this disguise.

 

To throw it away in an instant it wasn’t an easy decision.

 

“I… never really thought about it.”

 

“Look, if we’re going together, isn’t it better for Lim Hayul to show up with the beautiful Lee Yeon?

 

It’s only for a little while.

 

Just a little while!”

In her roundabout way, Hayul was saying it was embarrassing to be seen with someone “plain.”

 

Lee Yeon wavered.

 

Should she really give in again to Hayul’s persistence?

 

“Okay, I won’t ask for much.

 

Just three hours!

 

Three hours, and you can disappear like Cinderella at midnight.

 

I’ll take care of everything you just have to show up.”

 

“Ugh… seriously, Hayul.”

“Come on, no one’s seen your real face in forever.

 

Nobody will recognise you.

 

Who in their right mind would think that this awkward-looking girl is the same as the dazzling Yoo Lee Yeon?”

 

Really?

 

Even the Vice President wouldn’t recognise me?

 

The thought slipped into her mind before she could stop it.

 

What would Dohyun think if he saw her as she truly was?

 

Why was she even thinking of him now?

 

Shaking him off, Lee Yeon drew a deep breath and exhaled slowly.

 

“Fine.

 

Three hours.

 

That’s it.”

 

Because it was Hayul.

 

Because it was her friend asking.

 

There had been plenty of times when Lee Yeon leaned on Hayul, receiving comfort when she needed it most.

 

She couldn’t ignore that.

 

It was only three hours.

 

After so many years, what could possibly happen from dropping the disguise for just that long?

 

“Kyaa!

 

Thank you, Lee Yeon!

 

I’m so glad you’re my friend!

 

Don’t you worry—I’ll take care of everything!”

 

Lee Yeon wasn’t sure what exactly Hayul meant by “everything,” but the force of her excitement was too overwhelming to question.

 

Somehow, she found herself nodding along.

 

“Now that we’re done eating, time to get some caffeine in our system!”

 

“Weren’t you just at a café before this?”

 

“I only had tea.

 

Coffee on an empty stomach makes me queasy.

 

But your company has a café, right?

 

Let’s go there.

 

I’ll drop you off after, and you can head

straight up.”

 

“…Sure, why not?”

 

She didn’t even know what possessed her to say yes.

 

The two of them entered the café inside Wuseong Card headquarters and lined up at the counter.

 

The lunchtime crowd was fierce getting a seat was half the battle.

 

“Good thing there are still some open spots.”

 

“Any later and we wouldn’t have found one at all.”

 

And then—Lee Yeon saw it.

 

From a distance, a rare, unmistakable silhouette walked straight toward the café.