“Our team has never won against the others in outings. It seems like a matter of pride for the guys. Especially since Mr. Park from Product Planning joined, we’ve been losing terribly. He’s crazy about foot volleyball. Last year was my first time watching, and we were utterly defeated.”
Dong Sik, after losing to Mr. Park, reportedly drank till he was out of his senses upon returning to the office.
“So, help our team out tomorrow. Even if we can’t win, at least let’s not lose by a big margin.”
Sa Rang, still agitated by being belittled by Mr. Park, corrected herself in a moment of realization.
“Ah, I mean, Deputy Ji.”
She accidentally called Do Han ‘Oppa’, something she had never done before. Caught up in the emotion, her words slipped out.
Realizing her mistake, she was suddenly covered in goosebumps.
“If we’re playing, we might as well win.”
Feeling like he saw the twenty-year-old Sa Rang for a moment, Do Han’s heart raced.
Thinking of making her happy, he resolved to win the foot volleyball game.
“It’s impossible. Our team, perennial last-place, against the three-time champion Product Planning team?”
“Is it that impossible?”
“Of course.”
The original Korean paragraph contains 32 lines. Here is the verbatim English translation, preserving the same number of lines:
“Then, if we win, you have to grant me one wish.”
“What?”
“There should be a reward to give my best.”
Sa Rang hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
“Fine. We won’t win anyway.”
Knowing the capability of the opponents, she was confident in her statement.
Even if Do Han was good with balls, winning the team victory alone was impossible.
“But what’s the wish?”
Curiosity struck Sa Rang a bit late, but Do Han wasn’t someone to easily reveal his thoughts.
“I’ll tell you after we win tomorrow.”
Such confidence. The brave are always blissfully ignorant, and right now, that was exactly him.
Yet, Sa Rang secretly hoped, not knowing what his wish was, to see Mr. Park’s face twist in defeat.
“Now, let’s start with a simple game.”
After arriving at the lodging, having dinner, and gathering in a hall-like place, the MC took the microphone.
The outing, intended for bonding among the three teams, turned into a competitive event from the start.
“First, let’s check the skills of the new employees from each team. All newcomers, please come forward. As the Development Planning Team doesn’t have any new employees, we’ll have Deputy Ji Do Han join.”
Watching Do Han walk forward, Sa Rang reminisced about the last outing.
Representing her team, she lost in every game.
Hoping for Do Han to win this time, she silently cheered him on.
The first game was to stack paper cups within a time limit.
The MC started the stopwatch with the signal.
Jin Ho from Product Planning, Su Hyun from Sales, and Do Han began stacking the cups.
The time limit was just one minute.
Su Hyun kept knocking the cups down in a rush, while Jin Ho and Do Han were fairly steady.
Almost at the same height, but Do Han was leading by one cup.
As everyone watched the teetering tower of cups, the room filled with tension.
It was such a trivial game, yet everyone was so solemn.
Just when it seemed like Do Han would win, Jin Ho added one more cup, tying the score.
In the tense atmosphere, both teams urged their representatives to add just one more.
The MC began counting down the last 10 seconds.
10, 9, 8, 7…
In the end, Jin Ho, unable to handle the pressure, tried to add another and the tower of cups collapsed.
“Wow! Our team won!”
While the Development Planning Team cheered and clapped in excitement, Do Han calmly cleaned up the cups, as if he had anticipated everything.
The second game started right away.
This time, it was bottle flipping.
The task was to throw three water-filled bottles and stand them up on the table as quickly as possible.
Sa Rang shook her head at the sight of the prepared bottles.
She had painful memories of not succeeding even once last year.
Expecting Do Han to fare similarly, she watched without much hope, but to her surprise.
Right off the bat, every bottle Do Han threw stood upright.
While Jin Ho and Su Hyun failed to stand even a single bottle, Do Han had succeeded with all three.
Impressed, the MC asked Do Han for an encore performance.
The original Korean paragraph contains 32 lines. Here is the verbatim English translation, preserving the same number of lines:
Do Han nonchalantly threw the bottle again, and it stood upright, as if by magic.
He continued his winning streak, also acing the tissue-paper throwing and bottle cap flicking games. Park, the infamous manager from Product Planning, who was sitting beside Dong Sik, commented.
“Where on earth did you find this monster?”
Though he knew Do Han was a tough guy, his expression now questioned if Do Han was even human.
Regardless, Dong Sik, proud of Do Han for elevating the team’s status, was too busy laughing heartily to care.
After all the games, the real party – the drinking session – commenced.
Essentially the crux of the outing, everyone participated enthusiastically.
Isn’t drinking the essence of bonding?
‘We’re counting on this project’, ‘We’re grateful for your team too’.
Exchanging pleasantries, everyone merrily got drunk.
As the night deepened, people started leaving the gathering.
Having worked during the day, it was natural for them to be tired.
Sa Rang also quietly got up and went outside.
Still recovering from a cold, she hadn’t drunk much but thought some fresh air and sleep would do her good.
Walking along the trail in front of the lodge, she found Do Han sitting on a bench.
He usually smoked when alone, and this time was no different.
Noticing her approach, he put out his cigarette.
“Why come out in the cold?”
“Just needed some air.”
Do Han, dressed in just a t-shirt, regretted not having an extra layer to offer her.
Worried about her recent cold, the chilly night air was a concern.
“How did you learn all that?”
“What?”
“Those games today. How could you win them all?”
“It’s nothing big.”
Sa Rang gazed at him in wonder, as he nonchalantly brushed off his incredible feat.
“You’re really amazing. Maybe you’ll be the boss’s favorite from tomorrow?”
“I’d rather be favored by you than the boss.”
Caught off guard, Sa Rang slightly opened her mouth.
She needed to compose herself and calm her racing heart.
Struggling with the drowsiness from the alcohol, she quickly averted her eyes.
“I don’t really like coworkers who smoke.”
So, she barely managed to reply, but he said,
“Should I quit?”
“What?”
“If you don’t like it, I’ll quit.”
“The cigarettes?”
Do Han nodded casually.
Sa Rang knew quitting smoking was difficult.
Thinking it was just a casual remark, she responded with a light smile.
“If you don’t like it, I’ll quit.”
“Seriously?”
He nodded again.
Sa Rang blinked in disbelief, unsure what to do.
Sometimes the smell of cigarettes on him was unpleasant.
It didn’t seem like the Ji Do Han she knew.
“I’ll quit, then.”
As if quitting was as easy as cutting a string, his response baffled Sa Rang.
She couldn’t understand why he seemed so cheerful about it, even smiling.
Watching him, her heart unexpectedly fluttered.
The Male lead Always Seduces Her with His Beauty (Matriarchy)
Xin Jiao Zhou is the leader of the world’s premier sect. She has just experienced betrayal from all sides, was poisoned in an assassination attempt, and faced death squad attacks while the poison was taking effect. After finally clearing out the scum from her sect, she was drugged again while trying to detoxify.
After waking up from a night of unconsciousness, she gained a “beautiful and kind-hearted” husband.
Xin Jiao Zhou: “???”
He fell ill.
She came to see him, bringing breakfast.
As she put down the breakfast and was about to leave, his hand slipped while holding the spoon. “Clank!”
She turned around upon hearing the noise.
He looked up at her, his eyebrows drooping: “My hand… has no strength.”
“Shall I… feed you?” she asked tentatively.
He opened his mouth cheerfully: “Ah—”
Thinking she was drowning, he jumped in without hesitation to save her, but nearly drowned himself. In the end, it was she who swam over to rescue him, giving him air underwater.
After emerging from the water, his ear tips turned red. He lightly brushed his cheek, tucking his sideburns behind his ear, revealing delicate, pink-tinged ear tips. He lowered his gaze, too embarrassed to look at her.
Xin Jiao Zhou: He’s truly beautiful, kind-hearted, and adorable.
A certain someone when disciplining subordinates behind the scenes: “If they don’t obey, just kill them.”
What’s that? She might already have someone she cares about in her heart? A certain someone: Find out who it is, kill them, and then there won’t be anyone.
What? She met a man by the riverside? What? That man even hurt her? A certain someone: Whichever hand hurt her, chop off his entire arm.
Love at first sight without realizing it, gradually falling in love, slowly getting closer…
Family and national grudges, schemes and desires, good and evil, crime and punishment, she and he face the future together, seeking justice with passion!
A naturally dark female lead who could accidentally destroy the world but is actually an honest person VS a weak, pitiful, and helpless but skilled fighter, beautiful white-cut black male lead
My heart is not of stone, how steadfast is your love? — Tao Yuanming “Imitating the Ancients (No. 3)”
— Reading Guide —
Cold female lead & dramatic black lotus with hidden yandere traits male lead
