Haeyeon couldn’t move on to the next artwork and was captivated by this piece, unable to realize the reason for her focused attention.
For some reason, without providing clear answers, the technique of expressing meaning and coloring ambiguously in this painting seemed to show something akin to the illusion she saw when there was an accident in the company parking lot last time.
It was during this endless immersion in the artwork that someone spoke up.
“By any chance… aren’t you the second young master of Gilmyeong Conglomerate?”
Haeyeon, who was fully immersed in appreciating the artwork, turned around. Two unfamiliar women caught her eye, and upon closer inspection, they were people she had encountered a few times at other parties. One of them smiled and introduced herself.
“Hello. I’m Jeon Hee-joo, the daughter of Yutifood. This is my friend, Lee Ji-na, the wife of JR Construction’s CEO.”
“Nice to meet you. It’s been a few months since the charity party.”
Dressed formally for the art museum, the two had an air of formality. Jeon Hee-joo and Lee Ji-na were undoubtedly people from prestigious families, but they hadn’t reached the level of being invited to today’s founding anniversary party. They had never had a conversation at the previous charity party.
Haeyeon smiled.
“Hello, I’m Min Haeyeon.”
Perhaps considering the acknowledgment of the greeting as a signal, the two took a stance to continue the conversation after Haeyeon finished her greeting.
“Oh, isn’t today the day of Gilmyeong Conglomerate’s founding anniversary party?”
Hee-joo asked, and Haeyeon replied with a smile.
“Yes. My husband and I left a bit early.”
Knowing that the news of the second couple of Gilmyeong Conglomerate leaving the party early would spread by tomorrow, Haeyeon didn’t feel the need to hide it.
“So, is Representative Cha not in his seat right now?”
“He briefly left his seat due to a phone call.”
“I see…”
With a strangely blurred tone at the end of her words, Jeon Hee-joo slightly raised the corners of her mouth, and Ji-na, who had been listening by her side, joined in the conversation.
“Haeyeon, you must be happy. Bringing someone like Chairman Yoon Myung-gil as a mother-in-law.”
“Well, is it just happiness? Chairman Yoon’s charisma is no joke. How is it at your place?”
The content of their conversation was excessively personal. As they claimed, it had been almost four years since Haeyeon had been living as the chairman’s daughter-in-law. Haeyeon responded with a social smile, and when there was no particular reaction, Jeon Hee-joo turned the topic, and that’s when the conversation took a strange turn.
“Um is this lemonade uniquely flavored?”
“Is that Dally Coffee?”
“Seems like. Oh, Haeyeon, do you happen to know Dally Coffee?”
“Yes. Since there’s no one who hasn’t tried Dally Coffee’s drinks.”
Although irritated by the abrupt mention of Dally Coffee, Haeyeon responded to the conversation. Upon this, Ji-na made a peculiar expression.
“Dally Coffee might make good drinks, but it seems they’re not so good at hiring employees.”
“What do you mean?”
Showing curiosity, Jeon Hee-joo, Ji-na slightly narrowed her eyes and spoke ambiguously.
“There seems to ha
“The interesting thing is this. The person who was the main character of that parachute hiring process is said to be the daughter-in-law of a famous figure in the business world.”
Dally Coffee, parachute hiring, and a daughter-in-law of a famous figure.
Now Haeyeon understood. The reason these two approached her, confirming Doha’s absence, was intentional. The content they brought, deliberately acting as if they knew Haeyeon even though they didn’t exchange a single word at the charity party, was calculated.
Since Ji-na pointed out the target, it was obvious she was pointing at Haeyeon herself. Although Haeyeon could confidently assert that there was no shame in the Dally Coffee hiring process, she knew that the world saw things differently.
Regardless, such controversies needed the fact of Haeyeon working at Dally Coffee to be known to the public for the discussion to unfold. However, the fact that she was an office worker was a discreetly kept secret.
‘Did Lee Soo-rin or maybe Han Yoon-seo spread the rumor?’
It was a rhetorical question, but it was almost a settled fact.
“Why would someone with more than enough money do that, Miss Haeyeon?”
Ji-na, as if pointing, asked. The question was directed at Haeyeon, but the answer came from Jeon Hee-joo.
“So, in the end,
“Both of you, take your private conversation outside. Oh, and when you leave, be sure to read the exhibition manners at the entrance. You seem a bit ignorant.”
“What did you say?”
Hee-joo’s voice was calm but low when she shot back.
“Haeyeon, have you had enough of the exhibition?”
Whenever he came, Doha smiled affectionately.
“…Doha, Mr. Doha. Did the call end well?”
“Uh, sorry. I left you alone.”
Doha, who had been observing Haeyeon from a distance, surrounded by the unfamiliar two women, suddenly closed the distance, took her hand, and squeezed her fingers.
Actively expressing affection, Doha, but Haeyeon couldn’t concentrate due to different thoughts.
‘When did Mr. Doha come? Did he happen to hear the conversation of these people just now?’
Like the bewildered Haeyeon, both Jeon Hee-joo and Ji-na had awkward expressions. They, too, showed an inclination to leave immediately with Doha’s sudden appearance.
“…Oh, since your husband has arrived, we should leave now.”
“That’s right. Please enjoy your intimate date.”
Watching the two women leave as if fleeing, Haeyeon smiled to freshen the atmosphere.
“The artworks here seem really splendid. Oh, would you like to see that painting with me?”
Leading Doha towards the artworks she had seen earlier, Haeyeon walked ahead, causing him to trail behind. Due to this, she didn’t notice Doha’s gaze. His pitch-black eyes were shining brightly.
The Villainous Demon Lord Laid an Egg for Her (Female-Dominated)
Several months after transmigrating into a book, Yu Wu found herself facing the demon lord Li You, who could no longer conceal his dragon horns. With one hand on her aching waist and the other gripping a sharp sword, she stared at him.
The demon lord’s eyes were red with fury:
“This is all your doing! Today, I won’t rest until I kill you!”
Yu Wu rubbed her temples. Putting aside the taboo against bloodshed during pregnancy, wasn’t it this very man who willingly walked into her trap that day?!
Warnings:
- Male pregnancy.
- Height ratios are set to mirror typical male-female height proportions.
- Characters include a foot-loving demon lord and an eldest daughter from an immortal family’s concubine lineage.
