Keep your chin up.
That’s what the popular female idol had shouted recently. So, I decided to walk with my chin up and confidence.
In front of the company building. Today, it looked taller than usual. I continued chanting this mantra to myself. It was a technique I had used since high school, and it had some effectiveness.
After taking a few deep breaths, I took a step forward.
I discreetly ignored the gazes and got in line to wait for the elevator.
“Good morning.”
“Team Leader, you came in early today?”
“Yes, I wanted to come in early today.”
In reality, I was getting annoyed by the rising murmurs. How fortunate that the Team Leader appeared. Otherwise, I would’ve glared at them.
Going out nonchalantly, as Moon Da Yul had planned, was not an easy path.
“Where is that annoying buzzing coming from?”
Suddenly, the Team Leader became irritated and started looking around.
“Buzzing? At this time?”
“Yes. I hear it buzzing. It’s annoying.”
As far as I could see, there were no flies, but the Team Leader started loudly clapping his hands.
People looked at the Team Leader with strange eyes, but he ignored them and continued trying to catch flies until the elevator arrived.
It was only after getting into the elevator that I realized all the gazes that had been fixed on me had dispersed.
“Thank you.”
As I softly spoke, the Team Leader merely shrugged his shoulders up and down without any expression.
“Good morning.”
I entered the office, greeting everyone more enthusiastically than usual.
It was a rather slow day. I busily moved my body and mind, organizing files that had been postponed for a while.
“Let’s go for lunch.”
“Ah, is it already lunchtime?”
“Are you that busy? You looked really busy earlier.”
“Ah, I was just taking care of some postponed work.”
I picked up my wallet and stood up.
“Shall we eat out today?”
She looked at me as she said this.
“Let’s just go to the company cafeteria. They have pork cutlet today.”
I smiled brightly and linked arms with her as we left the office.
“Is it true you’re not dating Researcher Jung Chan-hyung?”
“Why? Did you hear that from someone else?”
“No? Uh, I mean…”
Baek In-ha started nervously poking at the side dishes on her tray.
“I’m not dating him. There’s no reason to.”
“Huh?”
She looked at me with wide eyes like a startled rabbit.
“There’s no reason for me to date Researcher Jung Chan-hyung.”
“You seem adamant.”
I nodded at her.
“Do you have a policy against dating within the company?”
Uh-oh.
I felt my conscience pricking me as I looked into her cute eyes.
“No, that’s not it.”
“Then why is Researcher Jung Chan-hyung completely off the table?”
“That is…”
I was quickly thinking of how to convince this rabbit-like lady. Then suddenly, the chair next to me scraped back.
“Are you eating?”
It was Ji Seo Joon.
“Deputy Moon, long time no see.”
Beside him was Researcher Lee Kyung-hoon. Lee Kyung-hoon, who had a pleasant demeanor, greeted Baek In-ha as well and sat across from Ji Seo Joon.
“It’s been a while. I haven’t seen you since the sports day.”
“Yes, I’ve been a little busy. Haha.”
Then a pork cutlet was placed on my tray.
“Oh, are you giving up this precious pork cutlet? Then I’ll take one too…”
Ji Seo Joon handed me a pork cutlet, causing Researcher Lee Kyung Hoon to enviously push his own tray aside. Ji Seo Joon nudged Researcher Lee Kyung Hoon’s tray back with his index finger.
“Such pettiness.”
Puckering his lips, he began to eat. Should I give him mine? I pondered as I looked at Researcher Lee Kyung Hoon.
“Ah, Manager Moon. Are you really dating Researcher Jung Chan Hyung?”
I completely kicked my intention of sharing the pork cutlet to the curb.
“No!”
“Huh? Ah… Haha. Was my question too direct?”
As I frowned, his pupils wavered ever so slightly and he began to sweat.
“By the way, why is Chief Ji glaring at me like that?”
“Why don’t you finish your paper instead of looking at those message boards? Or should I just back off?”
“Huh? Ah, no. It would be a big problem if Chief Ji isn’t involved.”
Upon hearing Ji Seo Joon’s words, Researcher Lee Kyung Hoon visibly flinched, and beads of sweat started to form on his forehead.
“Are you co-authoring the paper?”
At the question from Baek In Ha, who was next to us, Researcher Lee Kyung Hoon quickly changed the topic.
“Yes, ever since Chief Ji joined, the progress has been swift. Haha.”
Amidst Researcher Lee Kyung Hoon’s flattery, Ji Seo Joon who had been nodding attentively, looked at me and asked,
“How about today?”
His words were somewhat, no, heavily implicit, but I knew what he was asking.
“It’s fine.”
“It’s fine? Rumors like that are flying around. Who could have written such a thing? It’s upsetting.”
As I said it was fine, Baek In Ha suddenly became agitated and began to fuss over me. Ji Seo Joon, for the first time, initiated conversation with Baek In Ha.
“Do people outright say things?”
“Huh? Ah, no, not really…”
Baek In Ha, not expecting Ji Seo Joon to speak, answered, blushing.
“Both of you, stop! I’m really fine. It will end just like last time.”
Male lead is a Destined Young Husband (Female-dominant)
One-sentence summary: Wife-master, listen to my explanation!
Li Ruantang, a young lady from a prestigious family, stumbled and fell. When she woke up, she saw a noble and beautiful young man sitting by her bedside, wiping away tears.
The young master had slightly reddened eyes, and his every move exuded charm.
The sight made Li Ruantang’s eyes hot and her heart flutter. After all, she had made a bet with the young master Meng from the neighboring family. If she couldn’t marry a husband before the end of the year, she would have to admit defeat and give up the jade she had worked so hard to obtain.
Outside the window, the flowers were in full bloom.
Rather than losing the bet, the jade, and her face, Li Ruantang calculated that it would be better to seek marriage with the young master in front of her, killing three birds with one stone.
…
Meng Jun never thought that an accident during a spring outing would lead to them rolling down a cliff and into a river, yet still survive.
Now they were trapped in an unknown village, and Meng Jun had overheard that the family who had rescued them had their own intentions.
After all, it was Li Ruantang who had lost her mind and sought marriage first. He was only trying to protect himself!
Glancing at Li Ruantang, who was listing her own merits, the young husband’s voice softened, and he blushed as he lied, “W-wife-master, Wife-master, don’t you remember me?”
The young husband’s voice was clear and handsome, coaxing Li Ruantang’s heart to be soft and sweet, and she spared no effort to protect him.
It wasn’t until they returned to the capital that Li Ruantang suddenly remembered.
When they had fallen off the cliff, in order not to implicate Wei Yunruo, whom he secretly admired, the young husband had instead pulled her, who was slightly farther away, down the cliff with him…
Short summary by Yuushi L: Initially, the male lead (ML) liked another girl, while the female lead (FL) liked the ML. Both fell off a cliff. The FL temporarily lost her memory, and the ML, fearing others might take advantage of him, claimed FL was his wife while they were staying in a village. Later, when they returned home, the FL regained her memories and remembered that the ML liked someone else, so she kept her distance from him. However, during their time living together in the countryside, the ML’s view of the FL had completely changed. From this point, his pursuit of the FL begins.
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