TUW | CHAPTER 44

Chapter 44

I Have a Boyfriend

After lunch, Yeonjeong returned to the office and immersed herself in work.

Then a sharp, tingling signal began pulsing from her lower abdomen.

Catching her breath, Yeonjeong stood up to head to the restroom.

“Ah!”

Just as she stepped, the corner of the drawer blocked her foot.

Her instep struck the sharp edge, and a pained groan escaped her lips.

Somehow, the top of her foot felt emptier than it had that morning.

The ornament on her shoe had snagged on the corner and clattered to the floor.

Her mood sank immediately.

She considered just going home like that but shook her head.

If the missing ornament nagged her back, it would drive her crazy.

She decided she should just get it repaired right away.

“Ugh, what a hassle. Where was that shoe repair place again?”

Thankfully, she remembered one not far from the company.

Since it was just reattaching the ornament, it wouldn’t take long.

She left the office at once.

She was on her way back from the quick repair shop.

At the crosswalk, Yeonjeong spotted two familiar faces.

“Secretary Yu and the Vice President?”

Do-hyun was impossible to miss, even from afar.

‘Did Jihoo say he saw the two of them holding hands?’

Yeonjeong quietly studied the atmosphere between them.

In that moment, it happened.

She saw Do-hyun pull Lee Yeon close, the two of them wrapped in each other’s arms.

She witnessed with her own eyes the unbelievable truth Jihoo had told her.

Clutching her shoes with both hands, Yeonjeong ran as far away as she could.

Her jaw ached from the shock of her mouth hanging open.

Breathless, she hurried back to the company entrance and collapsed onto the nearest bench.

“What on earth is this?”

Jihoo had said he saw Do-hyun and Lee Yeon secretly holding hands, smiling as they talked.

But Yeonjeong had thought that wasn’t enough to draw conclusions.

It could have just been handing something over.

As she’d listened to Jihoo’s suspicions, she had been more exasperated than convinced.

After all, Jihoo claimed he still had someone he couldn’t forget, yet acted like he was interested in Lee Yeon too.

Could he really be forgetting that person just because he liked Lee Yeon?

Yeonjeong couldn’t figure him out.

Even harder to believe was the claim that Do-hyun—who had such an extraordinary wife—was having an affair with Lee Yeon.

Was that really believable?

Yeonjeong had denied Jihoo’s suspicions.

But it seemed she’d been wrong.

“So Secretary Yu was flirting with Jihoo and the Vice President?”

Ha!

She let out a disbelieving laugh.

No matter how much she thought about it, it was unbelievable.

One of her shoes slipped from her fingers and fell to the ground.

She bent down, picked it up, and brushed off the dirt clinging to the ornament.

“Was this ornament acting up just to make me see that?”

Shaking her head violently, Yeonjeong tried to dispel the memory.

Still, no matter how she thought about it…

She could believe Lee Yeon might harbour feelings for Do-hyun.

Even if she always said she wasn’t interested in men, who wouldn’t want someone like him at least once?

Most of the women at the company had daydreamed about being the heroine of a drama, wondering if they might end up with Do-hyun.

Yeonjeong herself had imagined him as her man countless times.

Once, trusting her looks, she’d even tried making a move on him.

But the man was like stone, not even flinching, so she’d given up quickly.

As a woman, she felt both envy and jealousy toward Lee Yeon.

At the department store, she’d seen Do-hyun treat his wife as if she were his true beloved.

And yet, just now, the way he’d looked at Lee Yeon… it was the same gaze.

Had he fallen for the complete opposite of his wife?

Why had he crossed a line he should never have crossed with Lee Yeon?

Do-hyun holding Lee Yeon, looking at her with concern—eyes locked only on each other.

Yeonjeong rose from the bench and hurried back to the office.

She was desperate to tell Jihoo immediately.

“Jihoo! Jihoo!”

Her urgent voice called out for him.

He turned his head toward the sound, locking eyes with Yeonjeong, who clutched her shoes in both hands and breathed heavily.

“Come here for a second!”

She waved the shoes wildly, glaring, motioning him over.

She looked so frantic that it seemed like she might strike someone with them.

As soon as he followed her into the emergency stairwell, Jihoo asked,

“Why the shoes… did I do something wrong?”

“Oh my, look at me. I meant to put them down!”

She laughed awkwardly at the shoes in her hands.

Then, suddenly bright-eyed, she smacked his shoulder in excitement.

“Unbelievable! Jihoo, you were right! Do you know what I just saw?”

“No?”

Of course not.

“You were right! The Vice President and Secretary Yu, they’re definitely involved!

I just saw them hugging at the crosswalk with my own eyes!

Can you believe it?

The very same day you told me, I confirmed it myself!”

At her words, Jihoo’s brow twitched for an instant.

But seeing Yeonjeong revving up into full-blown theatrics, he hid a smile.

He forced down the corners of his mouth that wanted to rise.

***

“What’s with this coffee?”

Returning from the stairwell, Yeonjeong noticed the neat row of coffees on the empty table.

“The manager bought them for staff morale.”

“Really?”

She answered, then suddenly whipped her head around.

Something had occurred to her, and her lips curled up.

“Looks like there are some extras.”

“A few people are on leave.”

“Then I’ll take one. I’ll give it to Secretary Yu.”

Since when did she ever look after Lee Yeon?

She picked up an iced latte, her steps light and almost gleeful.

***

“Secretary Yu.”

Lee Yeon was sitting on the sofa in the break room, steeping hibiscus tea.

She was calming her nerves after the crosswalk incident and preparing to bring tea to Do-hyun.

At the sound of her name, she stepped out.

Yeonjeong stood in front of her desk, smiling.

She set the coffee down with another bright smile.

“The manager bought these. I brought one for you too.”

Should she check if it was poisoned?

When someone’s attitude changed so suddenly, suspicion was inevitable.

With Jihoo not even around, why was she smiling so warmly?

It made no sense.

“Thank you. I’ll drink it.”

Should she throw it away later?

Lee Yeon hesitated for a moment.

“Secretary Yu, do you have a boyfriend?”

“…What?”

“I asked if you have a boyfriend.

If not, I was going to set you up!

My friend’s younger brother’s friend is a great guy—top education, big company, fantastic personality!

He says he doesn’t care about looks, so I thought of you and came up here.”

That last part stung.

He doesn’t care about looks, so she thought of me?

What a way with words.

Yeonjeong had never cared about her love life before, so Lee Yeon couldn’t help but wonder what she was plotting.

Not long ago, she’d nagged about her clothes, and now she was offering a blind date?

It was far too out of the blue.

“I have a boyfriend.”

“Oh really? Who? What kind of man? I’m curious, show me a picture.”

Why so persistent?

He’s behind you. My man.

Her gaze flicked past Yeonjeong to Do-hyun, standing in the back.

He was on the phone, one hand in his pocket, staring out the window.

At the sight of his broad back, memories of their passionate night surged, and her face flushed.

There could be no better man than him.

“Assistant Manager Kang, I didn’t know you were interested in my love life.”

“Other people’s romances are always the most fun.

I was curious what kind of man you’d date.

Didn’t you say you weren’t interested in men?”

“Interest can appear, depending on the person.”

Lee Yeon forced a smile.

The coffee had been delivered.

She wished Yeonjeong would just leave.

“You’re right. Anyway, enjoy the coffee.”

Goodbye.

Lee Yeon cut the conversation short so she couldn’t drag it on.

“I’ve been away from my desk too long, so I should go back. See you!”

Even her farewell was oddly energetic.

Lee Yeon watched her walk away in confusion.

Meanwhile, Yeonjeong’s steps down to the office were light.

“It’s all too clear now.”

She hadn’t missed the way Lee Yeon had glanced at Do-hyun when asked about her boyfriend.

Amused, Yeonjeong couldn’t stop smiling.

Back at her desk, her fingers flew, juggling both work and messages.

Who should she tell first about this juicy news?

[Unbelievable! This is a secret, but…]

It didn’t take long for the “secret” to spread across the company.

***

A few days later, Lee Yeon was tidying her desk when heavy, pounding footsteps approached.

Thud.

Thud.

They came straight toward her.

An earthquake?

“Yu Lee Yeon! Did you see my message?”

It was Sujin, out of breath, glaring as she planted herself in front of her.

“I asked if you saw the message I sent!”