Desperate for a Catch (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 5

Myeong San Corporation’s secret weapon, Cha Tae Kyung, was revealed to the world through Woo Yeon’s words.

It conveyed the public’s reaction to the Cha family’s downfall and the problems of the chaebol monopoly structure, without filtering or bias.

“Citizens said they feel ambivalent. While criticizing the ‘winner-takes-all’ succession culture that sparked numerous internal power struggles, many also argue that for Myeong San to regain its former strength, a new leader must inevitably emerge from the Cha family. The prevailing opinion is that the Myeong San Group, now in the hands of professional executives, clearly isn’t what it used to be. The fact that this once rock-solid corporation—so robust it could proudly claim to feed the entire nation—has been faltering for decades seems to have genuinely shocked everyone. Citizens expressed high expectations for CEO Cha Tae Kyung, hoping he’ll uphold the noblesse oblige practiced by the previous chairman—and I personally agree. This concludes today’s ‘Anchor’s Perspective.'”

It was already past 11 p.m. when Woo Yeon returned home after successfully finishing her news broadcast.

She politely declined Anchor Hwang Woon Young’s offer to celebrate with drinks—her senior colleague’s invitation—afraid that if she gave in to the celebratory mood and drank tonight, her entire next day might fall apart.

Even though she knew it was a rare celebration, she struggled hard to resist the sweet temptation.

Despite not being the type to gain weight easily—thanks to her naturally sensitive constitution—she still feared that just one moment of carelessness might unravel everything she’d worked for.

Overwhelmed by a creeping heaviness in her body, she covered her forehead with her hand, realizing her thoughts had once again drifted elsewhere.

Please.

“Do you have someone you’re seeing?”

Enough.

“I see.”

Cha Tae Kyung’s tone and face haunted her relentlessly, surfacing several times a day.

Just when she thought she’d finally forgotten him, his lingering image would suddenly return like a nightmare, thoroughly disturbing her.

Myeong San Corporation’s PR team had expressed regret upon learning the report would air today, while reactions elsewhere ran hot.

Yet the man himself—Cha Tae Kyung—remained silent.

She was the one who’d clearly drawn the line by saying she had someone—so why did she feel this strange sense of longing?

Just as Woo Yeon, exhausted from days of sleep deprivation and wearing an irritated expression, tried closing her eyes again—

Ding.

She assumed it was a message from her stylist about outfits for next week.

But when she finally picked up her phone and checked the screen after a long delay, Woo Yeon shot up from the sofa.

[“I watched your briefing today. You did well.”]

Ding again.

He sent another message, noticing she’d read the first one.

[“Let’s meet today. Seems it’s my turn to ask a favor.”]

The following message contained only a location—no date, no time. It was an utterly one-sided arrangement from him.

She was too tired, and didn’t want to be dragged along by him like this.

Woo Yeon pushed her phone away and headed to the bathroom to wash up.

When she finally emerged much later, she had no choice but to admit it: emotionally, she was drawn to Cha Tae Kyung, despite what her rational mind insisted.

She wanted to find out—was that remark he’d made to her seven years ago an act of kindness… or a flirtation?

No. She just wanted to see him once more. That was her honest truth.

As she dried her hair and applied some moisturizer, her ex-boyfriend—who she’d broken up with three months ago—called.

Knowing it was likely another drunk call, Woo Yeon didn’t answer. Moments later, he sent a message.

[“I have something important to say. I really need to see you right now. Should I come over to your place?”]

She wanted to reply.

To tell him there was nothing left worth discussing between them, no urgent reason to meet, and absolutely no justification for him showing up at her doorstep.

But Woo Yeon didn’t respond.

At the very least, she hoped he wouldn’t ruin her mood today.

“Hah.”

Woo Yeon blew air through her lips. Just as she decided she needed to go outside—anywhere—the message from Cha Tae Kyung caught her eye again.

[“Gdo, afternoon.”]

When she typed the phrase into a search portal, only one bar popped up—a place in Samseong-dong, not far from her home.

By the time she finally arrived at the location he’d mentioned, it was already well past midnight. She briefly scolded herself for coming so late—but ultimately, it was his fault for not setting a proper meeting time.

“Oh…”

The bar was underground. As she descended the long staircase, Woo Yeon mulled over turning back multiple times.

It’s too late today. Just go home.

Nothing good ever comes from late-night bar encounters.

The broadcast is over—you have zero personal reason to meet him.

Anchor Yoon Woo Yeon.

She repeated this to herself over and over as she stepped down each stair.

As soon as she entered through the narrow doorway, a staff member guided her to a private room. His calm, natural demeanor—as if he’d expected her—briefly stunned her.

Following him, she felt a wave of defeat: despite rejecting her senior anchor’s celebratory drink, coldly brushing off her ex-boyfriend’s desperate plea, she’d utterly failed to resist Cha Tae Kyung’s mere invitation.

To think she’d come running so eagerly after having openly mocked his arrogance.

What an idiot.

Just as she silently cursed herself yet again, the staff member opened the door.

With a gesture indicating she should enter, he bowed politely and disappeared from her view.

Now, only one person occupied Woo Yeon’s sight.

Unlike the two times she’d seen him recently at hotels, he was now dressed in a sharp formal suit, a tightly knotted tie, and his hair neatly combed back.

Cha Tae Kyung, exuding several times more masculinity than he had seven years ago when they first met, sat alone drinking.

Her heart fluttered.

He didn’t say “Come in,” but their eyes briefly met.

Unable to resist his gaze, Woo Yeon sat deeply into the seat to his right—at a ninety-degree angle from where he sat in the center.

A brief silence fell between them. Neither Cha Tae Kyung nor Woo Yeon spoke.

The air felt unnervingly cold and heavy against her cheeks. Just as she began regretting her decision to come, he quietly pushed a drink toward her.

Her heart pounded traitorously at the sight of his long fingers moving. The room was spacious, comfortable, and should’ve felt perfectly at ease—but

Woo Yeon kept feeling short of breath. Her cheeks flushed as if someone had turned on a heater in this lovely season.

It was because she kept feeling his gaze on her.

“Wanna keep me company?”

At Cha Tae Kyung’s quiet question, Woo Yeon shook her head.

“I’m sorry—I drove here.”

Her calm, lowered eyelids met the dry, scratchy air.

Bringing her own car to a drinking session was a convenient excuse. Though she hadn’t learned to drive for this exact scenario, it often came in handy.

His eyes followed the motion from the table down to the floor before he let out a chuckle.

“You drove all the way here just for this?”

Annoyed by her own restless emotions, she this time deliberately held his gaze without flinching.

Woo Yeon lifted her chin firmly and met his eyes.

“Yes.”

“Why? Were you afraid I’d get Yoon Woo Yeon drunk and do something to you?”

“…”

“Do I really look that dangerous to you?”

Well… maybe, and maybe not.

It must be that arrogant good looks of his stripping her of all objectivity.

With a self-deprecating smile, Woo Yeon removed the hat she’d been wearing all this time.

“Not to that extent—so please don’t make yourself look ridiculous, CEO.”

Instead of alcohol, she picked up the water bottle in front of her and filled her empty glass to the brim.

Holding up the water-filled glass, she lightly shook it in front of him—and he let out a wry laugh.

She almost wanted to respond to Cha Tae Kyung’s increasingly intrigued, appreciative gaze.

Today was undoubtedly the best day of Yoon Woo Yeon’s life—and it deserved to stay that way.

She really didn’t want to ruin this mood.

“I have something I want to ask.”

This was Woo Yeon speaking.

“Go ahead.”

“Why do you always stare so intently at people?”

“Did it bother you?”

“What if it did?”

“Then I’ll stare even more intently.”

“…”

“Yoon Woo Yeon.”

She cut off Tae Kyung as he softly spoke her name. This wasn’t an interview, nor was it a situation requiring apologies or persuasion.

It meant there was nothing left she needed to concede or consider for him.

Woo Yeon shrugged her shoulders.

“From the entrance all the way down each step of those stairs, I thought about a million things—like, why did I even come here?”

He gave a teasing smile.

“But you came, didn’t you?”

“…”

“Into this room. Next to me. Into my eyes.”

“Yeah, I guess so.”

“Do you like me?”

It was a question she couldn’t answer rashly—so she responded by shaking her glass noisily again.

“Let’s just raise a toast instead.”

“A toast?”

“Because today is special for me.”

“…”

“For Anchor Yoon Woo Yeon—one shot.”

Woo Yeon brazenly declared it.

It wasn’t a fair toast—their glasses held entirely different contents.

Yet somehow, she knew Cha Tae Kyung wouldn’t refuse.

One drink, two drinks… six, seven. They’d already clinked and downed several rounds.

Though she’d kept drinking continuously, Woo Yeon had only consumed water—so there was no way she was drunk.

But what about Cha Tae Kyung?

As she took another sip, she looked directly into his clear eyes. His gaze hadn’t changed a bit since the first drink—he was still watching her intently.

His smile deepened at the corners of his lips, as if silently asking: “Is it delicious?”

“…”

This was getting troublesome if he kept acting like this.

Standing before a man who seemed determined to bewitch her, Woo Yeon had to swallow hard. For some reason, whenever she looked at him, a tightness gripped her heart.

Back then, on that day, at that event—it had always been this man’s gaze that unsettled her the most.

Woo Yeon tried redirecting her thoughts.

“Thanks to you, CEO, I successfully wrapped up today’s broadcast. Thank you.”

At her formal words of gratitude, Tae Kyung let out a dry chuckle.

“Then you should reward me.”

“What?”

“You look like you don’t want to.”

“…”

“Then should I reward you instead?”

Woo Yeon briefly pressed her lips together. Unable to find a reply, she glanced around the room for a moment.

In her job, she could fill a full minute of news with just a few listed words—but conversations with Cha Tae Kyung never flowed easily.

“Does your boyfriend know?”

He set down his glass and parted his damp lips to speak. Woo Yeon lifted her shoulders once and slowly lowered them again, determined not to be charmed by him any further.

She had no intention of correcting the lie about having a boyfriend.

It was the bare minimum Maginot Line she’d drawn between them—

A silent warning: don’t come any closer.

“Know what?”

“That you’re drinking with me.”

Woo Yeon gave a faint smile.

“This doesn’t really feel like drinking.”

“Then let’s treat it as drinking from now on.”

But even as he said that, he was already stepping dangerously close to crossing that line she’d drawn.

Before she could protest, he picked up a bottle of strong liquor and filled her empty glass to the brim.

Absurdly, it felt like a poison cup.

In that instant, a nervous premonition struck her—drinking this would entangle her hopelessly with Cha Tae Kyung.

Woo Yeon hesitated. As she stared silently at the filled glass, Tae Kyung poured an equal amount into his own.

“Drink.”

It was an irresistibly charming, low command. Cha Tae Kyung’s overpowering presence shone brightly even in this moment.

As if spellbound, Woo Yeon slowly drank the poison cup.