Do Hyuk, who was about to sign the contract, put down his pen and looked at Jae In.
“What is it?”
“Well… I know it seems absolutely impossible and absurd, but in life, many miraculous things happen… so…”
“Why are you making such a fuss about it?”
As Do Hyuk urged her, Jae In took a deep breath and blurted out in one breath.
“Please include a clause stating that the team leader will never see me romantically.”
In an instant, Do Hyuk’s brow furrowed.
Jae In felt her uneasiness grow for no reason.
“Why should I accept that?”
“Oh, I’m sorry! I don’t even consider anyone as a potential partner.”
“…”
“But since we have to be in the same space, it’s better to address it clearly. Men and women are different, you know.”
“I’m glad you see me as a man.”
“What?”
Do Hyuk asked Jae In, who was taken aback.
“But why does it only apply to me? There’s a possibility that Ms. Seo Jae In might see me as a potential partner too.”
“Me? Oh, that’s ridiculous.”
Jae In chuckled at Do Hyuk’s words and added.
“That will never happen, so don’t worry.”
“How can you be so sure?”
Do Hyuk’s eyes flashed sharply.
Jae In finally realized her mistake and tried to remedy the situation.
“So, what I meant was… It’s not that I dislike the team leader, but it’s better to clearly establish boundaries between work and personal life. That way, I can comfortably enter the team leader’s house. I apologize if it upset you.”
Even with Jae In’s explanation, Do Hyuk’s tense face showed no sign of relaxation.
After a short silence, Do Hyuk spoke up.
“Alright, then let’s add that provision.”
“Thank you for understanding.”
“A contract is a contract, so it should be fair. What would you like to happen if I violate that provision?”
I hadn’t thought that far.
Startled by the sudden question, but the answer came quickly.
“Terminate the contract immediately and let me receive the scholarship.”
“That’s how it will be.”
What an unexpected turn of events.
Jae In hummed a tune silently in her mind.
From her perspective, it was a way to prevent any unforeseen circumstances and ensure a secure insurance.
Although she would probably never have to use that insurance.
A little while later, a contract with a new clause was placed side by side on the table.
Jae In finished signing and stood up, bowing politely.
“Well then, I’ll take my leave.”
“Thank you for your cooperation.”
Somehow, Do Hyuk’s voice seemed a bit softer than before.
Feeling relieved, as she was about to leave the room, a sudden question popped into Jae In’s mind.
“Team leader, come to think of it, you didn’t ask why I changed my mind?”
In an instant, their eyes met.
Do Hyuk gazed at Jae In’s clear, wide eyes and asked in return.
“Should I have asked?”
“Surely, you wouldn’t have done any background check on me?”
“Me?”
“Oh, no. I asked a pointless question.”
Of course not. Why would the team leader investigate me?
Just write a novel, a novel.
Jae In couldn’t believe it herself and burst into laughter.
Late in response, Do Hyuk casually replied.
“There must have been a reason for you to change your mind. I don’t know what it is though.”
He speaks so beautifully.
Jae In was actually grateful that Do Hyuk didn’t probe further.
Everything was simply a coincidence.
If she hadn’t come here to submit her resignation letter that day, none of this would have happened.
It’s probably fine.
This too shall pass.
As always, Jae In made up her mind to accept the extraordinary fate with composure.
“Team leader, you will keep your promise, right? If we successfully complete the project, you’ll let me resign and receive the scholarship in two months.”
“Of course. I promise.”
Do Hyuk firmly nailed it with a resolute voice.
Still, Jae In decided to drive the point home with determination.
“I know. You may be stubborn at times and criticize me harshly for being overly naive, but deep down, I know you’re a warm and good person.”
“…!”
“That’s why I’ve decided to trust you. Not just the contract, but you as a team leader.”
Jae In raised the corners of her mouth, showing a meaningful smile, as if saying, “I’m counting on you.”
However, Do Hyuk remained frozen, his gaze piercing through Jae In’s face like a still image.
Oh no. Did I overdo it with the flattery?
Apart from the word “warm,” it’s not entirely untrue.
How many people turn out to be not so great when you get to know them?
If he has any conscience, he won’t say anything contradictory later.
Jae In had already switched to a thorough “survival mode.”
In her own way.
“Seo Jae Iiiiiin!”
Left alone, Do Hyuk clenched the armrest of the chair tightly, his face filled with deep frowns.
Seriously, she’s such a fickle woman, toying with people’s emotions.
I stamped my seal on the contract and thought I had overcome the last hurdle, but I was hit hard at the last moment.
“What do you take me for?”
What do I take you for?
An obsessive person who can’t be stopped.
Someone who speaks harshly.
Someone who criticizes me unfairly.
“Did you always think of me that way?”
Male lead is a Divorced Husband
She said to him: “Tell me, what makes you like me? I’ll change it!”
Liu Changning transmigrated into a female cannon fodder character in a female-dominant novel.
After reading the first half of the novel’s plot, the first thing she did upon transmigration was to divorce the Pan Jinlian-style male protagonist she had just married.
She indulged herself, pretending to be ugly and poor.
But as time passed, the way that man looked at her became more and more unusual…
Liu Changning was dumbfounded: Tell me, what makes you like me? I’ll change!
――
This lifetime, Pei Yuanshao was rejected by the same woman twice!
The first time, she drove him away. Forced by the situation, he endured the waves of anger in his heart, yielding and humbling himself.
That person lay slanted on a rocking chair, her sallow face emotionless: “If you don’t want a divorce, go cook!”
Pei Yuanshao’s face was dark and gloomy: “You!”
The second time, after the crisis in Jinling City was resolved, the new emperor sent someone to pick him up. He turned around, stammering: “I… I have to go. If you keep me…”
That person lay on the kang bed, her back to him, as if she had long anticipated this day, crisp and clear: “Goodbye!”
Pei Yuanshao was so angry his fingers trembled: “You… you!”
The mission of family and country made him restrain himself, averting his eyes and turning to leave this broken household.
Two years later, they met again. Seeing her ethereal face, his body shook like a sieve.
“She was originally a ‘she’!”
At the Qionglin Banquet, the top scholar of the imperial examination, a talented person with exceptional speech and conduct, all the unmarried young gentlemen from aristocratic families looked at her with shy and timid eyes.
The peerless imperial official Pei Yuanshao felt the anger in his heart erupt. He pointed at the woman surrounded by the crowd at the Qionglin Banquet, his thin lips slightly curled: “Little sister, I wants that person to be the wife-master of my Mingde Prince Manor.”
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