After finishing a meeting, Min Hyuk saw a text message from Da Hyun on his phone and smiled naturally.
He also received a message from Si Hoon, but he casually ignored it, pressing on Da Hyun’s name instead.
“Did you miss me already?”
Thinking it was a casual message, Min Hyuk smiled as he read it. However, his smile did not last long.
“I knew this would happen.”
Min Hyuk’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he read the message Da Hyun had sent. He had anticipated that Kim Chan would tag along when Da Hyun said she was meeting Kim Yul.
People following Min Hyuk noticed his expression change and stepped aside, startled.
The temperature around him seemed to plummet rapidly.
“I should have made it impossible for her to leave the house when I left for work.”
He regretted not dissuading her from meeting Kim Yul. The thought of Da Hyun meeting Kim Chan in his absence made his chest tighten.
Min Hyuk loosened his tie. Although he didn’t think Chan would harbor inappropriate feelings for Da Hyun, a married woman, he was still worried about past stories being brought up.
He couldn’t just call her immediately to find out where she was and go there.
“Team Leader.”
Just as Min Hyuk was about to call Da Hyun, he turned around at the sound of someone calling him.
A woman in a neat black suit stood behind him, her voice firm.
“Ah, there’s a concern I have.”
“What is it?”
Min Hyuk responded coldly, already tense from thinking about Da Hyun.
The woman pursed her lips, pushed up her glasses with her index finger, and swallowed hard.
“I honestly don’t have confidence that using a 23 billion won virtual human for advertising will generate enough profit.”
Min Hyuk looked down calmly at her, unimpressed by her lack of confidence in the project’s value.
“You lack confidence?”
“Yes? Yes.”
The woman hesitated before responding. Min Hyuk, recalling her passive attitude during the meeting, coldly scoffed.
A person lacking drive, no matter how skilled, was still a failure.
Min Hyuk quickly concluded. He seemed to suggest that her worries were unnecessary.
“It’s simple. You can resign.”
“Excuse me?”
She needed to be confident in her abilities.
“If the technician lacks confidence, how can any amount of investment, not just 23 billion, be successful? You know that amateurs are creating deepfake technology these days, right?”
The employee, referred to as an amateur, bristled, but Min Hyuk continued undeterred.
He glanced at her name badge, which read Hong Jin Ah, before continuing.
“But now, Ms. Hong Jin Ah, you’re being given the opportunity to fully utilize 23 billion won worth of technology, yet you’re scared.”
“…”
“A leader is not just there to comfort employees. It’s not my style either.”
“…”
“Why didn’t you say this during the meeting? ‘Honestly, I lack confidence, and even with the investment, I’m not sure if we can generate enough profit.’ That would have been a very honest statement.”
Da Hyun, oblivious to Yul and Chan’s feelings, reached for her fork to enjoy the cake.
Just then, her phone vibrated with perfect timing, and her motion to eat the cake stopped.
Min Hyuk, feeling disheartened, had no intention of encouraging or boosting Hong Jin Ah’s morale.
He believed that in this world brimming with talent, if one misses an opportunity, another person will take their place. The workplace was no different from a battlefield.
“Now is not the 90s. If you want to live analog, I won’t stop you, but if you plan to hinder my work, I suggest you quietly resign. There are plenty of people to replace you, Hong Jin Ah.”
Min Hyuk was making it clear to Hong Jin Ah that there were many others who could take her place.
“Make a decision by tomorrow. Either be visible or invisible to me. Think it over.”
Hong Jin Ah’s jaw dropped. She knew Min Hyuk was cold, but she had expected at least some comfort.
It felt like a strong blow to the back of her head. However, his harsh reality check helped her refocus and let go of any thoughts of resignation or escape.
“Thank you, Team Leader.”
She sincerely thanked him with a bow.
Min Hyuk responded with a short nod, then turned his attention back to his phone.
He moved while bringing the phone to his ear, dialing a number.
As the ringing prolonged, his anxiety grew.
He couldn’t predict how Kim Chan would act. Was Da Hyun deliberately not answering, perhaps too engrossed in conversation with Chan? For a moment, various thoughts raced through his mind.
Finally, the call connected.
[Min Hyuk. It’s me.]Da Hyun’s voice immediately calmed his frayed nerves.
“Da Hyun, I just saw your message. Are you still with him?”
Min Hyuk’s tone was much softer than when he had spoken to Hong Jin Ah.
[Yes, I’m still here.]“Okay. When do you plan to head home? Should I come to pick you up?”
He tried his best to sound amiable, holding back his urge to ask her to leave Kim Chan and come home.
[No, it’s fine. I’ll be home before you.]
“That’s good. I’ll head straight home after work.”
Knowing she wouldn’t be with Kim Chan till he finished work, Min Hyuk felt relieved.
An Indifferent Woman is the One Men Desire the Most
One-line summary: The female lead is actually cold-hearted and extremely rational. She has stage-by-stage relationships and won’t two-time, but there will always be someone who secretly likes her.
This novel has the following triggers, so if you’re sensitive to these, please don’t read:
1. The female lead has had many relationships, but she treated each one seriously and broke up properly.
It’s just that the men unilaterally pestered her incessantly. For the female lead, when she doesn’t like someone anymore, she simply doesn’t like them.
(This applies to her relationships with Male Lead 1, 2, 3, and 4 as well, but she’s loyal in each 1-on-1 relationship!)
2. In this novel, Male Lead 2 and the female lead kiss in a car, and Male Lead 1 sees it and beats up Male Lead 2.
The female lead calls the police and sends both Male Lead 1 and 2 to the police station! Male Lead 1 begs the female lead not to break up with him.
3. Male Lead 1 has a gentle appearance but an obsessive personality.
Male Lead 2 has a delicate and soft appearance, slightly green tea-like (two-faced).
Male Lead 3 is a youthful college student and a smart person who has secretly liked the female lead for a long time.
Male Lead 4 is the female lead’s father’s special assistant, a business elite with deep, hidden thoughts.
4. At the beginning of this novel, the female lead has already broken up with Male Lead 1 (Chapter 4) and gotten back together with Male Lead 2 (ex-boyfriend).
5. Enter with caution if you have triggers!!!
