My Perfectly Flawed (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 13

Back in her seat, Yu In realized the alcohol had completely worn off.

Instead, her heart pounded as if she’d sneaked off to do something terribly wrong behind her friends’ backs, and her face burned like a ripe apple—so much so that she deliberately acted even stiffer than usual.

Her friends, thoroughly convinced Yu In’s odd behavior was entirely their fault, quietly focused on eating; after finishing their meal, they exchanged a few more meaningless words before leaving the restaurant.

While Ji Han went to retrieve the valet-parked car, Jae Hee suddenly claimed she had something urgent and left, leaving just the two of them in the car, enveloped in an awkward silence.

“Jae Hee probably went off to drink, right?”

“Leave her be. It’s already a blessing she didn’t insist we drink with her.”

Yu In’s attempt to start a conversation clearly displeased Ji Han, who was staring ahead; her fair face showed clear discomfort.

From that reaction, it seemed she hadn’t properly made up with Jae Heee earlier.

Though Yu In wasn’t particularly worried—those two always stuck together despite their fights—it was obvious the mood wasn’t right for pushing further, so she turned her gaze out the window.

As she gazed at the scenery outside, trying to recall what exactly had sparked their argument, the image of the man who’d abruptly appeared at the restaurant faintly surfaced in her mind—just as Ji Han called out.

“Yu In.”

Hearing her name spoken in a voice far heavier and more serious than usual, Yu In slowly turned her head.

Their car had stopped at a red light, and their eyes met—Ji Han’s state was clearly off.

Her ever-upturned lips, usually curved like she’d just stepped out of a downpour, now drooped; the lively spark in her eyes had vanished, leaving them listless. Staring blankly at Yu In with this unusually gloomy expression, Ji Han finally asked,

“Were you… upset earlier?”

“About what?”

“About me asking that Director.”

Ah, so that’s what it was about. Yu In instantly relaxed.

She hadn’t been able to explain everything she’d been entangled with that Director, so her evasiveness must have made Ji Han think she resented being asked at all.

“No, I wasn’t upset.”

“…Are you sure it’s okay?”

“Yeah. But wait—since when do you go drinking with girls? How come I never knew?”

Seizing the chance to clarify while the topic was up, Yu In was met with the same grimace Ji Han usually reserved for Jae Hee.

“You actually believe that? After knowing me all these years? Honestly, Han Jae Hee is such a problem.”

“Really not true?”

“Of course it’s not.”

True enough—since high school, Ji Han had drawn countless fangirls, and in college, her fame with Yeon Young had even made her something of an idol—yet for some reason, she’d never once been seen dating anyone.

In fact, no one had ever even seen her with another girl, let alone dating.

Precisely because she lacked nothing, Jae Hee had once joked—half in jest—that maybe Yoon Ji Han liked guys instead.

Deciding it was better to drop it as she normally would, rather than press further, Yu In chose not to ask her friend—who was now concentrating intently on driving.

She herself didn’t understand romance well, and if interfering ever actually helped, Yoon Ji Han—the famously flawless one—wouldn’t have stayed single this long.

With Yu In turning her eyes back to the window, their conversation ended. Lost in their own thoughts, both remained silent until they reached Yu In’s house, where they exchanged farewells far longer than necessary.

“Make up with Jae Hee tomorrow, okay?”

“I don’t really see why I have to.”

“You’ll show up together at the café tomorrow anyway. I know you too well.”

“Not happening at all. Guess I can’t be friends with someone who’s clearly delusional.”

“You’ve said ‘can’t be friends’ so many times, you sound delusional yourself.”

“…Yu In. Seriously though, isn’t there a clear difference between her and me?”

Ji Han complained with a deeply wronged expression, but Yu In remained unmoved and stepped out of the car.

Immediately, Ji Han rolled down the passenger window, scowling with her fair face pinched in dejection as she called out, “Nam Yu In!”

But even that meticulously perfected face couldn’t sway Yu In’s resolve.

“To me, you’re exactly the same. You absolutely must apologize. Drive safe!”

After firmly shooing away the reluctant Ji Han, Yu In went straight upstairs. The moment she entered her room, she stripped off her uncomfortable clothes and took a shower.

Lying down on her bed in a refreshed body, she finally began to feel a sense of peace return.

“Ugh. I’m really exhausted…”

At the same time, the fatigue from squeezing into ill-fitting clothes and the shock of encountering someone she never expected to see crashed over her from her toes upward.

Her body was so drained she couldn’t even lift a finger, yet somehow her mind grew more active—her thoughts already replaying the scene hours earlier at the hotel where she’d met that man.

Strangely enough, though she hardly ever went out, whenever she did make concrete plans to go somewhere, she’d inevitably run into him.

It had happened every single time—from the club at the beginning until today. Maybe now, before going anywhere, she should first check whether he’d be there.

It seemed impossible for all this to be mere coincidence—yet since it was unfolding right before her eyes, she couldn’t very well deny it.

And the biggest problem of all was that he crossed the boundary line she’d drawn to keep everyone else out—effortlessly, as if it didn’t even exist.

Bzzzzzt—

At the vibration beside her pillow, she barely managed to pry her eyelids open and glanced at the screen. True to the old saying—speak of the tiger and he appears—it was a message from Director Do Gi Yeon.

[Did you get home?]

That was exactly it.

Why would he care whether she’d gotten home or not? And why was his contact—completely absent all day—suddenly so casually appearing now?

Even more baffling, he’d pinpointed her exact mindset: she’d never imagined he might actually reach out first, assuming he’d only ever wait.

He’d even claimed to personally select masterpieces worth investing in—could it be this man was genuinely born with a talent for this sort of thing?

The absurd thought was interrupted by another buzz—again, Director Do Gi Yeon.

[Sorry I couldn’t get in touch today—I was busy. Don’t be mad. I’ll definitely reply tomorrow. Sleep well.]

“Who’s mad? Hah, seriously.”

Yu In shoved her phone aside and buried her face deep into her pillow.

Yet after a moment of fidgeting, she reached out and reread the still-glowing message.

Her feelings were strange. She never expected to receive a gentle “sleep well” from someone who’d made her feel scared, uneasy, and uncomfortable.

And yet those words kept tickling and stirring something deep inside her chest.

“Sigh…”

Right now, where was this person standing? Outside the line I drew? Or had he already blurred and erased that stark white boundary, standing right on top of it? Or perhaps—

Had he already leapt over everything and stepped inside?

She couldn’t be sure—but one thing was absolutely clear: his actions and words no longer felt unpleasant or unwelcome to her.

****

Had there been a forecast for rain today?

On the way back from the script reading for the drama he’d decided to invest in, Gi Yeon looked up from his tablet and gazed out the car window at the sky.

The weather had been brilliantly sunny as of this morning, but now the entire sky was stained with dark gray clouds, looking ready to unleash a downpour at any moment.

“Secretary Kim, did they say it would rain today?”

The young secretary at the wheel flinched at the sudden question.

“Ah—um, no, they didn’t…but judging by how it looks now, it’ll probably start soon.”

The newly hired secretary, who’d only recently joined Gi Yeon’s team, fumbled even over such a minor reply.

Knowing his boss disliked hesitation, he braced himself for a sharp rebuke—blinked tensely—but the back seat remained eerily quiet.

He quickly glanced in the rearview mirror: the flawless face was gazing indifferently out the window.

The rookie secretary, now realizing his aloof, unapproachable boss’s silence was even more terrifying, grew increasingly nervous—while Gi Yeon’s mind was entirely occupied by a single thought:

It can’t rain. That kid already hates rain so much—getting home will be a real hassle for her.

Someone who’d never cared about the weather or attached any meaning to it before, Gi Yeon had changed overnight—transformed so drastically by just one sentence from Yu In that he’d abandoned a lifelong habit. It wasn’t a conscious decision; his heart had simply made up its mind.

Still watching the road, now shadowed and dim under a blocked-out sun, Gi Yeon asked,

“Don’t we have anything much scheduled for this afternoon?”

“Huh? Oh—right. There’s one team meeting with the secretaries at 3 p.m.”

The rookie secretary answered stiffly, his voice taut with tension.

Gi Yeon rested his elbow on the window, propped his chin in his hand, and let out a thoughtful hum.

He’d finally accepted Nam Yu In’s bold intrusion—how she’d slipped in through the tiniest gap without permission, claimed her share with confidence, and kept demanding more.

More precisely, he’d made that decision a week ago—ever since he’d seen her walking away from SJ Hotel’s lobby, nestled in the arms of the very man he suspected was frantically calling the owner’s lost phone.

The instant he’d witnessed it with his own eyes, he’d nearly stormed over to pry her away from those arms—only stopping himself when he noticed others from her group waiting by the elevator.

He’d suppressed it then—but chased her all the way to the restaurant just to assert his presence.

“Director…is there anything else you need?”

The hesitant voice broke through his thoughts.

Gi Yeon, interrupted mid-contemplation by his secretary’s clumsy words, finally pulled out his phone from his jacket pocket.

After glancing at their earlier message exchange and smiling faintly, he typed a brief note:

[Do you have an umbrella?]

Her reply came a bit slower—and was even shorter:

[No. Why?]

What day of the week was it again?

After a moment’s thought, Gi Yeon quickly typed back:

[Your lecture ends at 3, right?]

The moment he hit send, the rookie secretary asked again:

“Director…do you have a personal appointment by any chance?”

From the secretary’s perspective, it was natural to want full visibility into his boss’s schedule—but Gi Yeon, irritated by the repeated questioning, fixed a cold stare on him through the rearview mirror.

“Secretary Kim Young Hyun. Since you still don’t seem to get it, I’ll explain just once.”

“Y-yes, sir!”

“You may ask questions—but if I don’t answer, don’t ask again. If it’s something the secretary team needs to know, I’ll tell you later. My personal schedule is handled by Office Manager Lee Jin Seok, so don’t worry about it. If you’re that curious, go ask him.”

“Ah—y-yes, sir. Understood. Sorry, Director.”

Unable to turn around while driving, the secretary kept his eyes forward—but his neck flushed crimson as he bobbed his head in apology. Gi Yeon’s expression grew even colder.

Looks like I really made a mistake hiring that one. Feeling deeply annoyed with Jin Seok for assigning such an incompetent rookie, Gi Yeon only calmed down when he felt the vibration in his hand.

[Yes, it does end at 3…why do you ask?]

Just as he read the message—its words seeming to carry a soft, delicate voice—a few raindrops began dotting the pristine windshield with soft, distinct taps.

“Oh…”

A small, startled sound came from the front seat, followed immediately by the swish of windshield wipers clearing away the streaks.

Gi Yeon gazed up at the sky, now finally releasing its rain, caught in strange conflicting emotions:

Relieved he now had a perfect excuse to go see her—yet worried she’d frown that lovely face at the damp, humid air.

Honestly, it was ridiculous when he thought about it again. He’d met countless women—beautiful, accomplished, wealthy, with great careers and personalities—but not one had ever stirred such feelings in him.

Yet now, a mere 23-year-old girl had managed it—and the girl herself, Nam Yu In, remained completely unaware. It left him both amazed and utterly speechless.

With a self-deprecating smile tugging at his lips, Gi Yeon tapped a familiar number on his phone screen. The other person answered before the second ring.

“Yes, Director.”

Gi Yeon had reached the point where even glancing at the darkening, rain-heavy clouds brought his thoughts back to just one person. He reaffirmed his resolve once more.

“Cancel today’s secretary team meeting.”

He would have Nam Yu In—no matter what.