The benevolent superior offered to stay with her.
So-eun felt a desire to lean on someone who could penetrate her weakened heart. However, she couldn’t use her high-ranking superior as an emotional crutch. She didn’t want to be indebted to him for sympathy or gratitude. She had no energy left to express her feelings. Despite appreciating Tae-joon’s kindness, So-eun declined.
“It’s okay.”
“That man…”
“I’ll sort things out with him. Don’t worry.”
So-eun coldly brushed off the topic.
Maybe she would regret being harsh to such a high-ranking superior when facing another day of hard life.
Tae-joon responded.
“I’ve learned too much to just ignore it halfway.”
“No. Director, you don’t know anything.”
She thought, how could he understand her past, her attachments to Hee-wook? Feeling guilty for not wanting to talk more, yet Tae-joon persistently trying to involve himself, So-eun firmly responded.
“Director, have you ever had tough times?”
“…….”
“And who was there for you then?”
His eyes widened momentarily. Those pretty eyes, seemingly untouched by hardship, suddenly looked innocent. It seemed like she had hit a nerve.
“Ever been a fan of an idol?”
“……Why would I like such things.”
“That’s what I mean. You wouldn’t understand.”
In school, idols were saviors to ordinary friends who didn’t know what they wanted in life. They were idols who comforted hearts with words like, ‘You are precious’, ‘You are lovely’. Even if these idols later made mistakes or misbehaved, friends couldn’t easily sever their attachment. They defended, saying, ‘My idol couldn’t have done that’.
People understand as much as they’ve experienced. Now, she could understand all those emotions she once couldn’t.
Hee-wook was the first person to step into So-eun’s unremarkable life. He was the man who told her, someone who never felt loved, that she was beautiful, that she was lovely. Because of him, she came to love his world too. The love was so abundant, so sincere, she couldn’t think otherwise. It was a dangerously firm belief.
Too firmly rooted to be safe.
Unable to say anything, Tae-joon watched as So-eun forced a small smile and said goodbye.
“Thank you for the ride. Goodbye.”
She hurried out of the car and ran into her house.
[Star icon]The next afternoon.
Knock, knock. Song Moon-kyung, the chief secretary, entered Tae-joon’s office.
“Director. So-eun has taken sick leave today.”
He knew already.
He had checked with the mobile service team early in the morning. Tae-joon responded expressionlessly.
“Understood.”
Moon-kyung nodded and turned to leave but was called back by Tae-joon.
“Chief Song.”
“Yes, Director.”
“There must be a device that So-eun was working on. It’s a flip phone belonging to an elderly customer who’s turning eighty. They might be waiting.”
Tae-joon continued as if handling routine tasks.
“Check if there’s been a proper handover, if there are any issues.”
“Should I contact the customer?”
“No. Contact So-eun.”
“I’m not sure if she’ll answer during her sick leave… Shall I ask the mobile service team who took over?”
“Contact So-eun.”
“…….”
“And check if she’s alright.”
Moon-kyung, a bit perplexed by his insistence, replied with a slightly tensed face.
“Alright.”
After Moon-kyung left, Tae-joon, who had been clicking his PC mouse absentmindedly, sighed deeply.
So-eun’s words from yesterday kept replaying in his mind.
“No. Director, you don’t know anything.”
“…….”
“Have you ever had hard times, Director?”
“…….”
“And who was there for you then?”
It was like a fool with the ability to nonchalantly pierce through someone’s soul.
Of course, he had tough times.
Twenty years ago, when my parents passed away, leaving me alone in this world.
Even now, after twenty years, that despair still painfully haunts Tae-joon.
That was when I met you.
You know nothing, really. That’s why you could say those things.
To Tae-joon, Han So-eun was still a frustrating, foolish, and annoying person. He was even angry at himself for caring so much about someone he disliked.
Yet, somehow, he was worried. Was she hurting too much?
Did she say they should break up? Was she suffering from the aftermath of the breakup?
He hoped her unnecessary heartache wouldn’t last too long.
[Star icon]At Law Firm Yulgyu.
Hee-wook, who had been to court for a trial, was followed by lawyer Lee Chan-il.
“Yang Byun.”
“Yes, Senior.”
“It’s a shame about this time.”
“What do you mean?”
“The Japan trip didn’t go well. The headhunter said it’s become difficult to proceed.”
Hee-wook’s face, which had been bright, hardened. He was full of hope when he returned, as the headhunter had been confident about the contract. But now, in just one day, everything changed.
“So, Kim Tae-joon also seems disappointed. He said to treat the contract as if it never happened.”
Hee-wook’s heart sank at Chan-il’s continued words.
The only grandson of K Group’s chairman Kim Jae-pil. The second in line for inheritance…
He was living in a happy dream.
Flustered, Hee-wook stuttered.
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!!!
