TUW | CHAPTER 52

Chapter 52

Prettier than me?

Lee Yeon went to work, glancing nervously at the clock over and over.

The closer it got to the filming time, the more her heartbeat raced, making it impossible to sit still.

She also stayed at her desk because she worried she might bump into someone and feel embarrassed.

“I’m glad you kept it natural.

It would have been embarrassing if you’d overdone it.”

There was still some waiting time left before the filming team arrived.

“Ugh, I wish someone would just talk to me right now.

Even a passing puppy…”

If she could just talk with someone, maybe she could forget the creeping nervousness for a while.

Lee Yeon looked around the empty room of someone

The person she wanted to whine to, even with silly wordplay, Do Hyun, wasn’t there.

Of all days, it had to be one where he had outside business.

He had dropped her off in front of the company and then left for his next appointment.

Not that he needed to, but still.

Thanks to him, at least she’d arrived comfortably.

She had read over the company welfare summary for filming so many times that her eyes ached.

She had prepared what she wanted to explain, determined not to make mistakes.

Maybe I should move around a bit.

Thinking it might help her relax, Lee Yeon stood up.

that She had only taken about three steps when she heard someone call her name.

Turning toward the sound, she saw Jihoo standing there.

“I have about an hour left.”

For the past few days, Jihoo hadn’t had any excuse to go near the office, so he’d kept his distance.

But now he’d thought of a good reason — to cheer Lee Yeon on for her filming — and had come up.

Earlier that morning, he had gone straight to her desk after arriving at work, but since she hadn’t been there yet, he had sighed and gone back down.

Now he stood in front of her, words stuck in his throat.

It had been such a long time since he’d seen Lee Yeon’s face without a disguise.

Meeting her moist, clear, round eyes at such close distance made his heart lurch.

Maybe it was the clothes, but Yoo Lee Yeon looked dazzlingly mature and radiant.

Standing right in front of her left him frozen in place.

“Oh, so you’re the random puppy passing by?

I was wishing for someone to talk to me, even a puppy, so thanks for showing up.”

Still unable to take his eyes off her, Jihoo barely even registered that she had just called him a puppy.

He had missed this face of Yoo Lee Yeon.

This kind of moment, this kind of conversation.

His heart pounded so hard he felt dizzy, like he had gone back to the day he first saw her in their freshman year of college.

Today, she looked different, exuding a faint sexiness.

Her neatly tied-up hair exposed her slender neck, drawing his gaze again and again.

Nothing about her appearance was revealing, yet just looking at her sent a strange thrill through him.

“What’s that in your hand?”

She noticed the item he was clutching and asked, making him smile faintly.

“Here. Eat this and get some energy.”

He held out a pack of five round chocolates, coated with nuts.

“Thanks for the chocolate.”

“What’s your pick for the best company welfare?

Have you decided?”

Jihoo was asking about the Company Welfare segment where employees chose what they thought was the company’s best benefit.

“Wouldn’t your favourite welfare be this break room?

You’ve got your own snack stockpile, and a wide sofa where you can even nap.

You’re the only one who gets to use it.”

Jihoo opened the break room door as he spoke.

“Can’t you see?

I only use a quarter of this space.

The rest is filled with important documents, and there are CCTV cameras over there.

My only territory is the sofa.”

Lee Yeon shrugged as if baffled by his envy.

“Besides, this isn’t a space all employees can use, so I can’t present it as our company’s best welfare.

It has to be something everyone can appreciate.”

“Ah… that’s true.

So what did you pick?”

“Oh, time’s already up!

I’ve got to go.

Mr. Eom, please hurry back to work.”

Checking the time, she rushed Jihoo out, grabbed her notes and filming materials, and hurried down to the lobby.

“I heard she’s a smart woman from a prestigious university.

She was even famous on campus for her looks.”

“No wonder the Vice President married her!”

“Come on, even if she’s pretty and sharp, she can’t beat our Heera.

Right?

Everyone in the country knows our Heera’s beauty, character, and class.”

“No, senior, I could never compare myself to you.”

Seated in a corner of the lobby, chatting brightly, were today’s three hosts and the guest, Jung heera.

As top MCs and entertainers, the three hosts filled the air with praise and banter.

“I never thought Heera would agree to appear on our show.

They say she’s so hard to book these days.”

“They say if you don’t watch Company Welfare these days, you’re left out of conversations at school!

It’s an honor for me to be invited to such a popular program.

Thank you!”

“Heera is definitely going to be a huge star.

Just look at her character.

In this industry, a rotten personality won’t last long.

With social media, everything spreads instantly.

Not that we have to worry about Heera.”

Heera giggled sweetly, her words like honey.

It was impossible not to like her.

*I, Jung heera, am in this position now.

How could she ever compare to me?*

She snorted inwardly.

She hadn’t even planned on joining Company Welfare.

She already saw herself as one of Korea’s leading actresses, too far above some variety program.

Even when they first contacted her, she had intended to refuse.

After the news broke about Do Hyun’s marriage to Lee Yeon, Heera had asked Jisu about the details, only to be told it was like a drama.

*Drama, my foot.

That shameless woman conned her way into a chaebol marriage.*

What spell did she cast on Do Hyun…

“You’re not really in love with me.

You’re just afraid of losing me.

If you keep saying you love me, our relationship can’t continue.”

How could he cut off her devotion of over ten years so coldly?

She resented him for not understanding her feelings.

He claimed he didn’t want to hurt that woman.

Everything was a mess.

“Yeah, she fooled him completely.”

“Sure, you can cover an ugly face with makeup, but why disguise a pretty one?

If I had that face, life would be heaven.”

Heera overheard employees gossiping.

Tch.

Even if she hid her looks, how different could she really be?

You had to see her in person.

And she’d never be prettier than Heera, who had had all the treatments and care money could buy.

What was the big deal about being smart?

She wanted to prove to Do Hyun that this woman was nothing compared to her.

She had insisted Lee Yeon appear on the program as a guide, while she herself appeared as a guest.

The contrast would speak for itself.

Since Company Welfare involved staff showing their company and the cafeteria, it was the perfect opportunity.

It was obvious who would outshine whom.

But then, the chatter around the lobby suddenly shifted.

What’s going on?

Looking around, Heera saw the filming crew staring toward the gate where someone was entering.

“Wow, that startled me.”

“She’s really pretty.”

“Her features are so sharp.

Doesn’t she look like Anna, the AI model?”

They meant her face had near-perfect proportions.

Anna was a virtual influencer created with the golden ratio of facial features.

The hosts, who moments ago had been singing Heera’s praises, now stared, stunned, at Lee Yeon walking in.

Irritation surged through Heera.

She had chosen a plain white dress for a pure look, but now she wished she had worn her most extravagant outfit.

Looking down at herself, she realized she appeared ordinary compared to Lee Yeon, and bit her lip.

Her pride and superiority crumbled all at once.

She craved a cigarette.

Heera forced herself to walk toward Lee Yeon, following the PD and hosts who had rushed to greet her.

Her stiff mouth betrayed the sourness she felt inside.

“Seeing you in person is a surprise.

Hello, I’m PD Kang Chaho.”

One by one, they introduced themselves to Lee Yeon.

After the three hosts finished, Heera stepped forward last.

“Hello, I’m Jung heera.

We’ve met before, haven’t we?”

“Yes, hello.”

“You look so different this time.

If we ran into each other on the street, I wouldn’t have recognized you.”

She smiled as she spoke, but her words dripped with barbs.

So you fooled people that well, huh?

“But some people can still recognise me.

It’s my first filming, so I’ll be counting on your help.”

Did she mean that Do Hyun had recognised her?

Heat flushed Heera’s face.

It felt like she had just lost the first round.

Forcing recognition, she shook Lee Yeon’s hand.

“All right, let’s begin filming!”