Boss, Our Promise was Different (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 7
Do Hyuk, who was about to sign the contract, put down the pen and looked at Jae In.
“What is it?”
“Well… I think it’s absolutely, absolutely impossible and doesn’t make any sense, but strange things do happen in life…”
“What on earth is it that you’re dragging it out like this?”
When Do Hyuk urged her, Jae In took a deep breath and blurted it out all at once.
“Please add a clause that Team Leader will never, under any circumstances, see me as a member of the opposite sex.”
In that instant, Do Hyuk’s brows furrowed sharply.
Jae In felt her stomach shrink, wondering if she had unnecessarily upset him.
“Why would I accept that?”
“Ah, I’m sorry! The person who’s supposed to give rice cakes is the one who never even thinks about it.”
“…….”
“Still, since we’ll be living in the same space, I thought it would be better to make things clear in advance. Men and women are different, after all.”
“I’m glad I look like a man to you.”
“Pardon?”
Do Hyuk asked the bewildered Jae In.
“But why does that clause only apply to me? There’s also the possibility that Seo Jae In might see me as the opposite sex.”
“Me seeing Team Leader that way? No way, that’s ridiculous.”
Jae In burst into a scoffing laugh at Do Hyuk’s words and added.
“There’s absolutely no chance of that, so don’t worry.”
“How can you be so sure?”
Do Hyuk’s eyes flashed sharply.
Only then did Jae In think, Oh no, and hurriedly tried to clean it up.
“I mean… that doesn’t mean Team Leader isn’t attractive or anything, it just means I think it’s better to clearly draw the line to keep work and personal matters separate. That way I can move into your place with peace of mind. I’m sorry if I offended you.”
Even with Jae In’s explanation, Do Hyuk’s crumpled expression showed no sign of softening.
After a short silence, Do Hyuk opened his mouth.
“Fine. Then we’ll add that clause.”
“Thank you for understanding.”
“A contract is a contract, so it has to be fair. If I violate that clause, what do you want me to do?”
She hadn’t thought that far.
Caught off guard by the sudden question, the answer came quickly anyway.
“Immediately terminate the contract and still let me have the scholarship.”
“I’ll do that.”
What a windfall.
Jae In was inwardly humming with joy.
From her perspective, she had prevented any unexpected incidents and added solid insurance.
Though she would never have to use that insurance.
A moment later, a new contract with the additional clause was placed side by side on the table.
Jae In finished signing, stood up, and bowed politely.
“Then, I’ll be leaving now.”
“Thank you for cooperating.”
For some reason, Do Hyuk’s voice seemed a little softer than before.
As she was about to leave the room in relief, a sudden question popped into Jae In’s head.
“Team Leader, come to think of it, you never asked why I changed my mind?”
In that moment, their eyes locked perfectly.
Do Hyuk stared into Jae In’s clear, large eyes and countered.
“Was I supposed to ask?”
“No way, Team Leader couldn’t possibly have…”
Investigated my background, right?
“Me?”
“Ah, no, never mind. It was a pointless question.”
Of course not. Why would Team Leader investigate me?
Just write a novel already.
Jae In let out a hollow laugh at how absurd her own thoughts were.
A beat later, Do Hyuk answered indifferently.
“You must have had your reasons for changing your mind. That part is none of my business.”
He sure knows how to speak prettily.
Jae In was actually grateful that Do Hyuk didn’t pry further.
It was all just a coincidence.
If she hadn’t come here that day to submit her resignation, none of this would have happened.
It’s fine.
This too shall pass.
Jae In decided, as always, to calmly accept this absurd twist of fate.
“Team Leader, you’ll definitely keep your promise, right? If the project succeeds, in two months you’ll accept my resignation and give me the scholarship.”
“Of course. I promise.”
Do Hyuk drove the point home with a firm voice.
Still, just to be safe, Jae In decided to hammer in one more nail.
“I know. You’re an incurable workaholic, you speak harshly, and you nitpick in the most ridiculous ways, but deep down you’re a warm and good person.”
“……!”
“So I decided to trust you—not the contract, but you, Team Leader.”
Jae In flashed a bright, beaming smile, raising the corners of her mouth as high as they would go to show her sincerity.
Yet Do Hyuk remained frozen like a paused screen, staring intensely at Jae In’s face.
Oops. Did I lay on the flattery too thick?
If I just remove the “warm” part, nothing I said was wrong.
Deep down, how many truly bad people are there?
After saying all this, if he has any conscience, he won’t go back on his word later.
Jae In had already fully switched into thorough “survival mode.”
In her own way.
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“Seo Jae Iiiiiin!”
Left alone, Do Hyuk gripped the armrest of his chair hard enough to crush it, his face deeply crumpled.
She really is a woman who toys with people’s emotions.
He had stamped the contract and thought he’d finally overcome the hurdle, only to get hit hard at the very end.
“What does she take me for!”
What does she take me for, indeed.
An incurable workaholic.
Someone who speaks harshly.
Someone who nitpicks absurdly.
“So that’s how you’ve been thinking of me all this time?”
And the one thing that bothered him the most.
“That it’s ridiculous for you to ever like me? That it would absolutely never happen?”
Do Hyuk pressed his throbbing temples.
Thirty-one years living without lacking anything thanks to his “lethal good looks.”
He was Do Hyuk, who never spared a glance at the countless women who threw themselves at him.
For him to be rejected and have a line drawn like this—it was the first time he had ever felt such humiliation.
And the one doing it was the only person who had ever shaken his heart, Jae In.
This was the part he simply could not understand.
“How could she not…”
A dark shadow fell over his striking features.
“How could she not like me? Does Seo Jae In have particularly unique taste?”
That was the only somewhat acceptable reason he could come up with.
Remembering all the ridiculous misunderstandings Jae In had spouted when she said she was quitting, and how she laughed saying it was absurd for her to like him, a corner of Do Hyuk’s chest ached.
At the same time, the competitive spirit that had been sleeping deep inside him stretched vigorously and woke up.
Since things had come to this, the only way to keep Jae In without breaking the contract was to make her fall for him on her own.
“Just wait, Seo Jae In! I’ll definitely make you like me.”
Do Hyuk clenched his fist, burning with fighting spirit.
At that moment, the phone on his desk vibrated. Checking the caller, Do Hyuk pressed the answer button.
“This is Cha Do Hyuk.”
―Did everything get resolved well?
“Thanks to you. Good work.”
―Not at all. Contact me anytime if you need anything.
“Will do.”
―What should we do about Seo Jae In’s house?
“Take care of it as you see fit.”
―Yes, understood.
After ending the call, Do Hyuk stood up and walked to the window. A sly smile formed on his lips as he looked outside.
Seo Jae In, add one more thing to your list about me.
Someone who stops at nothing to achieve his goals.
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As soon as Jae In left the team leader’s office, she stepped into the hallway and immediately called her mom.
Her mom was on the first bus heading down to Hwasun.
“Mom, I have good news. I got a scholarship to the Japan Confectionery and Baking School!”
―Oh my goodness, really? Congratulations! My daughter is amazing!
Hearing her mom’s voice overflowing with joy, Jae In felt heavy-hearted for deceiving her.
She swore to herself that she would definitely secure the scholarship for her mom’s sake too.
“So, I don’t need the money I saved for tuition anymore, so I’ll put it toward moving the shop.”
―Sweetie, what are you talking about out of nowhere?
“I heard everything from Dad about how you fought over money the day you came up. Because of the shopping district redevelopment, you have to vacate the shop by the end of the year, right?”
―Are you crazy! Dad told you that?
“Actually, Grandma called. Dad barely stopped her from nagging you to come back right away and explained what was going on.”
Tch.
A short click of the tongue was heard.
―Sigh, that old lady’s temper somehow gets worse with age. Anyway, I don’t need your money!
“Mom, I heard moving the shop costs over 100 million won. Even with a loan, it’s still far short, so just take it.”
―No way! I know how hard you worked to save that money—how could I take it? Keep it and use it for living expenses.
“Mom’s daughter is capable and already has living expenses fully prepared. And I’m an adult now. You raised me well, so please let me repay you.”
Silence flowed on the other side for a moment, then a tearful voice came through.
―Sniff… This isn’t why… I brought you home… sniff.
Jae In held back her own tears, comforted her mom, and hung up.
Wiping the tears welling in her eyes while looking in the bathroom mirror, old memories suddenly surged up, choking her throat.
Twenty years ago, her mom had married into the eldest son’s family of the main lineage and was living stifled, blamed for five years of not producing an heir.
Then, while volunteering at an orphanage by chance, she saw Jae In and felt drawn to her as if it were fate.
Because Jae In’s quick-witted, eager-to-please appearance reminded her so much of herself.
When adoption was mentioned, it was only natural that the bloodline-obsessed family turned upside down.
Especially Grandmother threatened that it would disgrace the family and she wouldn’t leave a single penny of inheritance.
Still, Mom never gave in, and with Dad’s support, she eventually adopted Jae In and raised her with utmost care.
For parents like that, there was nothing Jae In couldn’t give up.
Even if it meant putting her precious dream at risk.
That’s why she decided without hesitation to give them the money saved for tuition.
She had even gone to the real estate office in front of her house Saturday morning, explained the situation, and asked them to quickly find a new tenant so she could withdraw the deposit for the rooftop room as well.
Luckily, contrary to the estimate that it would take a month, the place was rented out in just a few hours.
On the condition that the room be vacated by next Tuesday.
Since she had moved in with only a few bags anyway, she planned to temporarily move to a goshiwon.
Yet Do Hyuk had told her, as if he knew everything, to move into his place on Tuesday.
“No way. It must be a coincidence.”
Jae In let out a deep sigh and shook her head.
Stop with the useless thoughts.
Right now, just succeeding in the project felt like her head was going to explode.
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“Assistant Manager Seo, here, eat this.”
As soon as Jae In returned to the office and sat down, Na Hee reached over the bookshelf and handed her something.
It was a small stick pack of collagen and vitamins.
“What’s this?”
“Good for your skin. When you came out of the team leader’s office earlier, you looked really pale. Frowning a lot and looking gloomy—you must have been really stressed?”
If you’re going to pretend to be worried, at least don’t smile. Having to see this for two more months.
Jae In’s face grew even darker.
“No thanks.”
“Why? I went out of my way to think of you.”
Na Hee pouted.
“I’m allergic.”
To you.
“Then I’ll eat it! Thank you.”
Yeon Ji, sitting beside her, quickly snatched the supplement stick, and Na Hee said with a sour face.
“Fine. Looking at your skin, Yeon Ji, you definitely need it.”
At that moment, Jae In saw it.
The thick veins bulging on Yeon Ji’s wrist as she gripped the stick.
Jae In subtly signaled Yeon Ji to come outside.
“Yeon Ji, just ignore her. Dealing with Deputy Manager Kang while sober will wreck your mental health.”
Handing her a coffee at the lobby café, Jae In said.
“Thank you.”
“No need for thanks. I’m the one who’s grateful you helped me this morning. If it weren’t for you, working here wouldn’t be fun at all.”
With delicate, pretty features and refreshing short hair that reached below her ears, Yeon Ji had a charm that lifted your mood just by looking at her.
Jae In always wanted to look after Yeon Ji, who followed her so well, like a little sister.
“It was nothing. I just told the truth. Assistant Manager Seo is overflowing with charm even without trying.”
“Even if it’s flattery, it feels good.”
“It’s true! Even as a fellow woman, you’re really pretty. Team Leader said the same, didn’t he?”
My Arch-enemy Sealed My Memory and Said That He is My Husband
This is an incredibly captivating story that you absolutely shouldn’t miss! I’ll give a brief introduction here, and below you’ll find a detailed synopsis of the plot.
The female lead is a fierce and powerful demon king. The male lead is a once-in-a-millennium celestial lord, admired by the entire cultivation world.
They are equally matched, legendary rivals who have battled for centuries.
In the final duel, the female lead is gravely injured. The male lead saves her, seals her memories, and hides her true identity. He tells her that he is her fiancé. His entire life has been flawless—except for the one thing he never expected, never controlled, and never wanted to control: falling for his greatest enemy. She is his inner demon, his obsession.
When the female lead regains her memories, she is furious at his deception.
She makes his life a living hell.
And somehow, the male lead—possibly a total masochist—doesn’t mind at all. In fact, he’s happy she’s paying attention to him.
Yep, we’re back to my favorite trope: male lead suffering. If you love this kind of story, jump into the pit with me now!!!
Intro
Dong Xia lost her memory.
Her handsome and extremely powerful fiancé Li Qing comforted her: “It’s okay if you can’t remember. I’ll always be with you.”
Everyone thought Dong Xia’s ancestors must have burned incense to get such a perfect fiancé. He was the number one person in the immortal realm, yet he remained chaste and only loved her.
…
The day before marrying her fiancé, Dong Xia finally remembered everything.
She wasn’t suffering from memory loss at all.
Her arch-enemy had made her fake her death, destroyed her cultivation, replaced her memories, and pretended to be her deeply in love fiancé.
No wonder he said, “It’s okay if you can’t remember”!
Dong Xia laughed coldly as she pulled out her long knife: Li Qing, prepare to die 🙂
*
Li Qing, as the supreme being of the immortal realm, was the people’s shining beacon.
The only unknown stain in his life was his affection for Dong Xia, the ruler of the demon realm.
In the final battle of the war between immortals and demons, the sky collapsed and the earth shattered. The ruler of the demon realm was finally slain under the sword of the supreme being of the immortal realm, and everyone in the immortal realm applauded.
The cultivation world lost a ruler of the demon realm.
And in the back mountain of Li Qing’s cave dwelling, he secretly hid away a fiancée.
Notes:
1. The female lead is white on the outside, black on the inside, and the queen of flattery; the male lead repeatedly tests the edge of darkness, a VIP guest at the crematorium.
2. Fantasy cultivation world setting.
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
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