My Perfectly Flawed (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 8

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“There are currently ten candidates being considered as new members for the upcoming boy group. Among them, the main vocalist is…”

Inside the dimly lit conference room, a presentation was in full swing.

Fewer than ten people sat around the ash-gray table, attentively watching the employee who stood before the screen, passionately flipping through and explaining the materials.

Ki Yeon, seated at the head of the table—the spot farthest away yet with the clearest view of the screen—sat with his arms crossed, staring ahead with a blank, disinterested expression.

Although Ilrang Entertainment had originally been an idol-centric agency, in today’s competitive era where singing alone wasn’t enough, many idols were transitioning into acting or hosting, prompting the company to undergo a major strategic shift.

Two years had passed since the company restructured under the Ilrang label to enable more detailed management, and Ki Yeon had been placed in charge of the actor division.

The reason Ki Yeon now found himself attending a meeting outside his department was because, a few weeks ago, the management team leader had practically begged him to attend just once.

“That trainee sings really well during practice, but why does he score so poorly in monthly evaluations?”

“He seems a bit fragile under pressure. Even if we pick him, I’m not sure he’ll handle the stage well.”

“If his issues are manageable, it might be fine—he’s got exceptional talent, after all.”

“What do you think, Director Do?”

The man seated closest to Ki Yeon asked.

Ki Yeon, who had been slouching with an indifferent expression the whole time, tossed out a careless reply.

“Cut him. With that level of mental fortitude, he won’t make it.”

Immediately, the stares that had converged on him shifted back to the front.

The presenter promptly wrote “excluded” next to the trainee Ki Yeon had just dismissed and moved on to the next slide.

At this place, at this moment, Ki Yeon’s word was both answer and law.

“Director, what about this one?”

“Give him one more month. Inform him of the deadline as well.”

Ki Yeon spoke in a flat tone, having just skimmed through the dance rehearsal video and vocal recording.

Once again, no one raised any objections, and as the presentation moved on to the next trainee with its dull explanations, Ki Yeon’s phone buzzed in his jacket pocket. He pulled it out and checked the notification.

After quickly replying to an email from Jin Seok, Ki Yeon habitually scrolled through his messages and call logs once more—but there was nothing new.

“…”

Ki Yeon stared down at the darkened screen and tapped the display petulantly.

A whole week had passed—it wasn’t like he hadn’t waited long enough. Clearly, she wasn’t planning to call.

As that thought crossed his mind, a cold, hollow chuckle slipped through his tightly closed lips.

That inexplicable urgency—the feeling that seeing Nam Yu In once more would somehow bring him clarity—had only intensified without resolution. And now, to top it off, he was waiting for a call from someone he’d never even spoken to before. The absurdity of his own situation struck him as utterly pathetic and laughable.

This went far beyond the minor curiosity he’d initially felt.

What the hell was she, really? Why was she doing this to him? To Ki Yeon, Nam Yu In was nothing but a series of frustrating, unanswered questions.

Vrrrring.

With an irritated sigh, Ki Yeon was about to tuck the phone back into his jacket when it vibrated and lit up. He paused, checked the screen, and saw an unknown number.

Without realizing it, Ki Yeon noisily scraped his chair back and abruptly stood up.

“Director Do?”

“Director, what’s wrong?”

The room had fallen silent, and everyone—including the presenter—was now staring at Ki Yeon, who had just risen from his seat.

They all wore the same eager, expectant look, like baby birds waiting for their mother to drop food into their beaks.

Annoyed by the rising tension from the ringing phone, Ki Yeon didn’t bother hiding his irritation and snapped curtly,

“Carry on. I’ll be back shortly.”

He then flung the conference room door open and stepped outside, immediately pressing the call button and holding the phone to his ear.

“Yes.”

—…

The caller remained silent. Yet a faint smile slowly crept onto Ki Yeon’s face.

He already knew who it was, even without hearing a word. He prompted gently,

“Hello?”

—…Hello. You asked me to call…

“Ms. Yu In?”

—…Yes.

A slow reply—soft, delicate, unmistakably hers. It was Nam Yu In, the very person he’d been waiting for.

All the restless tension that had coiled inside him finally loosened, sending a quiet shiver through him.

Though baffled by his own helplessness, right now all he wanted was to keep listening to her voice on the other end of the line.

Trending

“You must’ve been busy. It took you a whole week to call.”

—…Yeah, well.

In that brief response, her discomfort, unease, and awkwardness were all plainly evident.

Amused by her honest reaction, Ki Yeon nearly laughed out loud but quickly pressed two fingers to his lips to stifle it.

Just then, a group of employees passing through the hallway spotted Ki Yeon and loudly greeted him.

His expression instantly hardened, and with only a slight nod, he brushed past them in search of a quieter spot. Over the line, a flustered voice said,

—Ah, if you’re busy, I’ll call back later.

“No, it’s fine. Are you at school right now, Ms. Yu In?”

As Ki Yeon briskly walked toward the elevator, he encountered another group of employees.

Seeing him, three of them immediately started bowing dramatically—so he swiftly raised a finger to his lips before they could make a sound.

Quiet down. You’ll scare her. He swallowed the words he wanted to say aloud, but fortunately, they understood his signal and silently bowed instead.

—Yes, class just ended.

“Oh. So this is usually when your classes finish?”

—That’s right.

“What are you going to do now?”

Ding.

The elevator doors opened with a clear chime, and Ki Yeon stepped inside. Oblivious to his coworkers’ curious glances, he fixed his gaze solely on the control panel, utterly absorbed in the voice on the other end.

—I’m… heading to the library. Finals are coming up soon.

“Is it already that time? When exactly are your exams?”

—In two weeks.

“You’ve still got plenty of time. You’re being diligent.”

—It’s a student’s duty. I have to study hard.

Her voice, though still tinged with reluctance, sounded far more obedient than it had a week ago. Ki Yeon was briefly puzzled—then chuckled softly.

So she’s playing along just because I’m her agency’s director, huh?

He’d anticipated this when he handed her his business card, but actually seeing her act according to his expectations felt surprisingly satisfying.

The elevator stopped midway, and the doors opened. Staff members, noticing Ki Yeon’s unrestrained smile, bowed respectfully as they exited.

Now alone, Ki Yeon leaned loosely against the wall and pressed the phone tighter to his ear. Her faint breathing and the muffled background noises on her end became perfectly clear.

—But… what did you want to talk about?

“Talk about? Ah.”

It had merely been an excuse to get her to call—he didn’t actually have anything specific to say.

Hmm. Ki Yeon cleared his throat, stepping out of the elevator as the arrival chime sounded, and spoke.

“Why don’t we meet in person? It’s not really something to discuss over the phone.”

Silence again.

Apparently, Nam Yu In’s comfort zone extended only as far as a phone call.

Ki Yeon gave a lazy smile, brushing past Jin Seok—who looked startled by his sudden appearance—and entered his office.

“When are you free? You said class ends around this time, so how about meeting in the afternoon?”

—…

“I know you’ll be busy with exams, so I’ll adjust to your schedule.”

Even after all this, she still hadn’t answered.

Seriously, what a high-maintenance face. Ki Yeon clicked his tongue silently, amused despite himself.

In truth, he found the novelty of this experience rather enjoyable—though anyone who knew Do Ki Yeon would have been shocked by such a thought. He himself remained completely unaware of it.

Finally, after a long pause, his counterpart responded.

—Would the day after tomorrow work?

“Sure. I’ll pick you up. What time exactly does class end?”

—…Three o’clock.

“The day after tomorrow at 3 p.m. See you then, Ms. Yu In.”

Without another word, the call disconnected.

Ki Yeon chuckled softly as he lowered the phone and saved the incoming number. Just then, a knock sounded, and Jin Seok entered.

As always, Ki Yeon paid no mind to who came or went. Seeing his boss seated on the desk with a full-blown smile, Jin Seok calmly asked,

“Director, have you already finished the management team meeting?”

ads

“Ah.”

Only then did Ki Yeon lift his head from the screen, blinking as if he’d completely forgotten about the meeting.

The earlier warmth vanished instantly, replaced by his usual cold detachment. With a slightly annoyed frown, he said,

“Check if the meeting is still ongoing.”

“Hmm… Yes. Everyone’s waiting for you.”

Jin Seok checked his phone messages with a calm glance, clearly having already known.

Ki Yeon exhaled a shallow sigh, rose from his seat, and walked toward the door. Suddenly halting mid-step, he turned back to Jin Seok.

“Clear my entire afternoon schedule for the day after tomorrow.”

“The day after tomorrow? So, everything after lunch?”

“Reschedule every single item without exception.”

His tone left no room for doubt—no reconsideration, no refusal would be tolerated.

Without giving the composed man a chance to respond, Ki Yeon spun on his heel and strode out of the office. Jin Seok quickly followed.

“Director.”

“What is it?”

“Other appointments are fine, but you have a dinner meeting scheduled with Representative Do that evening. He insisted you absolutely must attend this time.”

At Jin Seok’s words, a deep furrow appeared between Ki Yeon’s brows, his expression completely unreadable until now.

Was that this week?

He’d probably just drone on with unhelpful chatter anyway. Ki Yeon began brainstorming excuses to decline—but despite the hallway being empty, Jin Seok lowered his voice even further.

“Director Shin hinted that something seems off with Representative Do.”

“What’s off?”

“He said you’d have to hear it in person.”

“Hah! My secretary, are you Representative Do’s little puppet?”

“Of course not. I’m merely relaying exactly what I was told to say.”

Even as Ki Yeon’s irritated glare pierced into him, Jin Seok remained unmoved, his eyes fixed calmly on the closed elevator doors.

Ki Yeon let out a much deeper sigh than before, turned away, and muttered under his breath,

“Reschedule that meeting too. If he really wants to talk, tell him to come to my office tomorrow.”

“That’s already the third postponement.”

“Three times, and I can’t do a fourth? Maybe I’ve overestimated my secretary’s capabilities.”

Just then, the elevator chimed, its doors sliding open and breaking the chill in the air.

Ki Yeon walked in alone, hands in his pockets, and gave a mocking sideways tilt of his head toward the person standing directly in front of him.

The recipient of such blatant sarcasm bowed politely and said, “Have a good trip, sir.”

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