TUW | CHAPTER 25

Chapter 25

“You Sent That Message to the Wrong Person”

Bzzz—

Yeon sat down with her damp hair wrapped in a towel when her phone began to vibrate.

“Who’s messaging me this early in the morning?”

She picked it up and saw a photo from Hayul.

Curious, she tapped it open only to find a picture of the shopping bag she had forgotten in Hayul’s car.

A second photo arrived immediately after.

This time, it was of the wig she had left behind, dangling from Hayul’s hand.

She had forgotten all about it.

It hadn’t even been that long, yet she had already pushed it from her mind.

[I’ll keep it safe and give it back later.

Did you greet him properly?]

She had left the event early, rushing off so she could get home before Do-hyun.

All her attention had been on sneaking away, and in the process, she had completely forgotten to contact Hayul.

[More or less.

Didn’t you see the article about me?]

Of course not.

She hadn’t had a single spare moment lately to even browse online.

[No, I didn’t.

Why, what happened?]

[Search it.

It’s hilarious.]

When Yeon searched “Youngshin” online, the headline that popped up read: “At last Youngshin’s youngest daughter revealed.”

She clicked it, read through it, then checked other articles just to be sure.

But no matter how many she opened, Hayul’s face wasn’t in a single one of them.

[So… you’re the faceless youngest daughter?]

[Exactly.

Guess they were too desperate they wanted to use me but not actually show my face.]

Yeon could almost hear the weary laughter behind those words.

With one hand holding a dryer to her wet hair, she typed out a reply with the other.

But no that wasn’t the time for politeness.

This was the woman who had hurled her straight at Do-hyun and vanished without a care!

[Maybe it’s better that your face isn’t out there.

By the way… don’t you think you forgot something?]

[?]

Hayul’s reply was just a single question mark, as though she truly had no idea.

[You personally sought out the Vice President, greeted him, and then tossed me at him, remember?]

Yeon finished drying her hair, slipped a wig cap on, and secured her wig over it.

She needed to leave before she was late.

[So, did she recognise you?]

Hayul didn’t sound apologetic at all if anything, she seemed amused.

[No.

Not at all.]

[Really…?

Oh, right.

I need to return the dress.

Could you pack it up and send it back to the shop?]

[Sure.

By the way, Jihoo joined my company.]

Since they were already chatting, Yeon mentioned Jihoo’s new employment.

Hayul, apparently stunned, called her immediately.

On her way to work, Yeon explained everything in detail, chattering along the way.

Do-hyun had morning engagements and wouldn’t arrive at work until the afternoon.

Thinking they could have an early lunch, Yeon begged Sujin to go with her to a well-known ramen place a little farther away. Sujin agreed.

“Ugh, company dinners again.”

Once they were seated, Sujin let out a sigh.

Twice a year, each department was allocated funds for mandatory team-building dinners.

“You guys haven’t heard anything yet?”

“No, nothing’s been announced to us.”

Sujin exhaled heavily.

Yeon tilted her head.

Something was clearly bothering her.

“Sujin, what’s wrong?

You don’t seem like yourself.”

Resting her chin in one hand, Sujin sighed at the table.

“You’re always the last to hear rumours, aren’t you?”

“What rumour?”

“When I first heard it, I was so angry and upset that I completely forgot to tell you.

I’ve felt so betrayed I can’t even eat.”

Right then, the ramen they had ordered arrived.

“You know ramen gets soggy if you don’t eat it fast.

Let’s talk after.”

Despite claiming she’d lost her appetite, Sujin slurped down her ramen in no time.

Watching her eat so eagerly, Yeon realised she had worried for nothing and picked up her own chopsticks.

It was over quickly.

By the time only a few noodles were left, Sujin wiped her forehead and spoke again.

“I only heard this morning…”

Yeon waited.

“There’s a rumour going around… that our Vice President is married.”

Yeon nearly dropped her chopsticks.

Her heart plummeted, slamming into the floor somewhere far below her chest.

The pounding in her ears drowned out everything else.

Do-hyun… married?

That was a rumour that should never have existed.

“Ridiculous, right?”

Sujin assumed Yeon was simply too shocked to respond.

“Sure, gossip comes and goes, but marriage?

With no wedding announcement?

No notice at all?

This is the most infuriating nonsense I’ve ever heard.

How dare they slander our Vice President like this!”

Of all the rumours that could spread, this one?

Yeon was reminded once more that nothing stayed hidden forever.

Would her own disguise be exposed one day, too?

Uneasy, she fiddled with her glasses.

But then irritation bubbled up.

Why did Sujin keep calling him our Vice President?

“I thought maybe I could be the one meant for him.

So if it’s true… who’s the wife?

It can’t be Junghee, can it?”

She slapped her hand against the table, her eyes flashing dangerously as she glared at Yeon.

“Your eyes are terrifying right now.”

“You know, sometimes rumours have reliable sources.

This one came from a place that usually turns out true.

That’s why I lost my appetite.”

So that’s why you still drank the broth, Yeon thought dryly.

“Do you know who the wife is?”

“No, but she wouldn’t be ordinary.

At the very least, someone above Junghee.

Our Vice President isn’t the type to be swayed by just a pretty face.

Whoever she is, she must be remarkable.”

If only Sujin knew it was me… what would she say then?

Yeon’s heart twisted.

It’s a marriage without love, she wanted to scream.

The love only grew one-sided, and that’s the problem.

“If it’s true and it’s this quiet, it must mean Wuseong is actively suppressing the news. But why?”

“Maybe… because we’re not supposed to care?”

Yeon cut her off quickly, not wanting her to dig further.

Sujin narrowed her eyes suspiciously.

“Yeon!

How are you not curious?

You’ve worked under him for years, yet you weren’t invited to his wedding?

Doesn’t that sting at all?

I bet he looked amazing in a tuxedo.”

“I think you’re just upset you didn’t get to see him in one.”

Yeon tried to deflect, but Sujin only grew more determined to uncover the truth.

Back at her desk after lunch, Yeon felt as though she’d been struck with a stone.

Her mind was blank.

Why would such a rumour start?

Who knew the truth?

Blink.

A new notification flashed at the bottom of her screen.

Uhm Jihoo.

Why would he message her?

Her stomach clenched with unease.

She didn’t want to open it, but she had no choice.

[Secretary Yoo.]

[Yes?]

[I’ve actually been curious about something for a while.]

Her throat tightened.

Just say it already!

He seemed to wait for her to ask what it was, but she refused, staring at the screen until another message popped up.

[How have you been?]

Her heart plummeted.

He knew.

Jihoo knew everything.

“No… how could he recognise me like this?”

Her stomach turned violently.

Never before had someone from her past recognised her through her disguise.

What should she do?

How could she respond?

Her mind went utterly blank.

She glanced at the mirror on her desk.

“Should I have added more freckles?”

Staring seriously at her reflection, she finally decided: play dumb.

[You sent that message to the wrong person.]

[No, I didn’t.

I meant it for you.]

[Who are you?]

[At first, your look shocked me it was so unexpected.]

It was no use.

Jihoo was too certain.

[Seeing you like this… it doesn’t look like you’ve been doing well.

Where did pretty Yeon go?]

[That’s none of your business.]

After a pause, another message arrived.

[I still have all our old photos together.

No one here knows your real face, right?]

[Just pretend you don’t know me.]

[Not for free.

Meet me.

I have things to ask, things to say.

Are you free after work?]

Yeon froze.

She had dug her own grave.

[No.]

Would he meet him if their places were reversed?

Absolutely not.

[Then the weekend?]

Worse.

Much worse.

Jihoo clearly wasn’t going to give up until he met her in private.

Why now?

Why not just say it the moment he recognised her?

She had been so certain her disguise was perfect.

[I don’t want to meet you on weekdays or weekends.

But if it has to happen, weekdays are better. Fine.

Tonight.]

[Alright.

I’ll tell you the place before we leave work. Meet me there.]

A new obstacle had appeared.

She had to shut Jihoo up somehow.

I should tell the Vice President I have plans tonight, she thought, her head throbbing.

Do-hyun had occasionally mentioned having his own late-night engagements.

Surely, he would understand.

She knocked on his office door.

“Vice President, I have plans tonight, so I’ll be late.

Please go home without me.”

“What plans?”

“…What?”

Why was he suddenly curious about her evening?

Puzzled, Yeon answered honestly.

“Just dinner with an old friend I haven’t seen in a while.”

“…I see.”

Though his brow furrowed briefly, he nodded.

Yeon bowed and left the office, her chest tight as though she’d already eaten something that refused to go down.

Dinner hadn’t even started, and already she felt sick.