Not for the First Time (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 14
The next day, afternoon.
A man entered the CEO’s office of SL Entertainment, guided by the secretary.
“Why do you keep summoning me like some errand boy.”
It was Ji Sang, who had come after receiving Sung Hyuk’s call last night.
Sung Hyuk, who had been reviewing a proposal submitted by the content production team, glanced up. He looked at Ji Sang walking toward the sofa with a grumbling expression and responded with an indifferent gaze.
“Isn’t it obvious a jobless bum would come when called?”
“Drop that stereotype that unemployed people have nothing but time.”
“That’s exactly why the phrase ‘death by overwork while unemployed’ exists—because of guys like you.”
Ji Sang pretended to dig in his ear as if asking whose dog was barking and leaned back on the sofa.
“What’s the business? Why’d you call me?”
Sung Hyuk stood up from his desk, moved to the sofa, and started the conversation.
“To get you out of unemployment.”
Ji Sang firmly shook his head.
“No thanks. I don’t want to escape.”
“You’ve been playing around for over a month. That’s enough.”
“Who decided that’s enough? I’m still not satisfied.”
Lately, Ji Sang had been thoroughly enjoying his sweet unemployed life.
The place he had worked until right before returning to Korea was America’s largest entertainment agency, home to world-renowned directors and actors. Last year, he had served as the executive producer of a drama that became a massive global hit.
He had quit the company at the peak of his success and returned to Korea simply because he was tired of life in America. It was a rather absurd reason, but no one who knew him was surprised.
That was just how Yoon Ji Sang was—a uniquely free spirit everyone acknowledged.
“Come work with me. I’ll give you the position of Global Business Team Leader.”
“Like being a team leader is some big deal.”
“If you don’t want it, fine, forget it.”
Ji Sang, who had been scoffing, suddenly frowned.
“Is this the attitude of someone asking for a favor? Why are you being so arrogant?”
“It’s not a favor, it’s a proposal.”
“Did you think I’d jump at it just because you proposed it so confidently?”
“You will take it anyway.”
As if he had never been serious, the corners of Ji Sang’s mouth curled up.
“You know me too well.”
Sung Hyuk let out a short laugh.
“I’m not planning to lowball you just because we’re friends. I’ll give you the best treatment.”
“I do want to rest a bit more, but since you’re practically begging, I can’t exactly ignore you.”
“I told you—it’s not begging, it’s a proposal.”
Ji Sang grumbled about not letting anything slide even once, then smoothly changed the subject.
“Was this the important thing you wanted to talk about yesterday?”
He immediately corrected himself.
“No, I should say it’s less important than taking Young In.”
“Less important than taking Young In, but still important.”
Realizing that teasing further would get him nothing, not even flattery, Ji Sang dropped the playfulness and asked seriously.
“Dragging even me into this means you’re planning to do things properly, right?”
Sung Hyuk frowned and shot back.
“Is that even a question?”
“Because you gave up the Management Planning Division for Young In, if things work out with her again, you won’t need to stay here. Since you’re not staying long anyway, wouldn’t it be fine to just maintain the status quo and leave? That’s what I’m saying.”
“I don’t know how long I’ll be here, but I have no intention of just coasting until I go. Even if I leave, I’ll leave behind meaningful results.”
A satisfied smile appeared on Ji Sang’s lips.
He knew how much a company’s atmosphere changes depending on the top executive’s management mindset, and that it was better to enjoy a leisurely unemployed life than to work under a CEO content with the status quo.
“Isn’t part of it that you don’t want to look incompetent in front of Young In?”
“You know I couldn’t look incompetent even if I tried.”
“I don’t know! I don’t know anything!”
Whether Ji Sang covered his ears and shook his head dramatically or not, Sung Hyuk didn’t care at all.
“You help Young In a lot.”
“Why me? You help her. The CEO is better than a team leader anyway.”
“Fill in the parts I might miss. You’ll communicate well with her about work too. I’m still clueless about this industry, but you’re not.”
Sung Hyuk was certain that Ji Sang would be a huge help not only to SL Entertainment but also personally to Chae Young In. There was so much to learn from him—information, experience, connections, everything.
“At least you know your place.”
He just ignored the sarcasm.
“If anyone bothers Young In, tell me immediately.”
“Are you hiring me as a spy?”
“No, an informant.”
“……”
“Should I say henchman?”
“Yes, yes, whatever you want.”
Sung Hyuk handed over the contract he had prepared to Ji Sang, whose face had gone blank.
“Since you’re here, just sign and go.”
Cha Sung Hyuk was a man who liked to get things done quickly.
[This is the timeline separator]-The CEO wants to see you.
Young In went up to the 8th floor after receiving a call from the CEO’s office secretary.
At Hye Seong, she had met one-on-one with CEO Kang almost every day without batting an eye, but meeting CEO Chae alone felt extremely uncomfortable.
The reason was that she was afraid others might think something strange. A thief’s feet go numb on their own.
With an uneasy feeling, Young In entered the office and her legs suddenly stopped.
It was the moment she realized it wasn’t a one-on-one meeting.
A man she had never seen before jumped up from the sofa with a bright smile.
“Hello, Young In.”
Who is he?
Before Young In could open her mouth, Sung Hyuk cut in with a curt tone.
“This is the company.”
The standing man let out a hollow laugh as if dumbfounded.
“If you’re going to separate work and private life—or at least pretend to—you should do something about those lovey-dovey eyes first.”
“I have no intention of separating them. You just do it.”
As if they had never bickered, the man turned to Young In with a gentle smile.
“Team Leader Chae Young In, why are you standing there? Come sit down.”
Young In walked over to the sofa and sat down, trying hard to figure out who the man was. But she ultimately failed.
“Are you feeling okay now?”
Someone who knew she had been drinking the night before last. Her curiosity about his identity grew even more.
“Excuse me, but who might you be…?”
“Privately, I’m Cha Sung Hyuk’s friend, and professionally, I’m Yoon Ji Sang, who will be taking charge of the Global Business Team.”
“Ah!”
As Young In’s eyes widened, Ji Sang’s eyes widened too.
“You know me? Have you heard about me?”
“Yes, I heard a lot about you before.”
“It wasn’t bad things, right?”
“As you know, CEO Cha Sung Hyuk doesn’t badmouth people behind their backs.”
“He does it to their face.”
“Yes.”
Sung Hyuk was displeased with how well the two were getting along.
He was also annoyed that Young In, who never smiled at him, was smiling at Ji Sang.
“Team Leader Chae, you can go now.”
She had been sitting for less than a minute and was already being told to leave.
Young In looked at Sung Hyuk with eyes full of questions.
“What you wanted to say was…?”
“I called you up to greet Team Leader Yoon Ji Sang. Greeting done, it seems.”
“Ah, yes. Then I’ll head down.”
Young In bowed slightly to Ji Sang, saying they should see each other often, then stood up. As she left the office, she heard one man threatening to terminate the contract if he acted too friendly one more time, and another man retorting that he would sue for unfair dismissal.
It seemed expecting a peaceful company life was going to be impossible.
[This is the timeline separator]In the blink of an eye, the first week at SL Entertainment passed, and Saturday arrived.
A little past noon.
Young In was sitting in a cozy armchair by the window, monitoring a variety show featuring one of her actors, when she received a call.
-Team Leader Chae Young In.
What is he scheming now?
Young In hid her true feelings and answered professionally.
“Yes, CEO.”
-I have something work-related to discuss. Let’s meet today.
“Today is Saturday.”
-Don’t want to come out?
“Yes, I would like my precious weekend protected.”
-Then there’s nothing I can do. It’s urgent, but I’ll wait until Monday.
The word “urgent” made her waver for a moment, but Young In quickly steadied herself.
“Yes, I think it would be better to talk at the company on Monday. Please let me know a convenient time, and I’ll come up.”
-I have several meetings scheduled on Monday, so it’s hard to fix a time now. I’ll come down to Team 5 when I have a moment.
“I’ll come up if you call me through the secretary.”
-I was thinking of coming to get you myself as exercise and going up together.
Is he a messenger now…?
“Won’t people think it’s strange?”
-Who cares what they think.
“……”
Young In became certain of his suspicious intentions.
-Then see you Monday.
“What time and where should I go?”
-You want to meet today?
“Yes.”
-I don’t want to ruin Team Leader Chae’s precious weekend.
“You already did.”
-Shouldn’t it be that I was going to but stopped?
“……”
His nonchalant attitude was so infuriating that veins bulged on the hand holding her phone.
-How about 7 o’clock? Let’s talk over dinner.
“It’s really work talk, right, CEO?”
-Of course.
“……”
Can I trust this?
-You don’t seem to trust me. When have you ever seen me lie?
“You may not lie, but you often talk nonsense.”
A pleasant laugh wrapped around her ear.
-If it turns out not to be work talk, I’ll buy you meals for life.
“I’ll pass.”
-Is this what you call nonsense? Or sweet talk?
“I think it’s both.”
The laughter grew a bit louder.
-If Team Leader Chae had accepted, I might have deliberately talked about something completely unrelated to work, but since you’re declining, I guess I’ll have to talk about work after all. I’ll hang up and send you the location. See you later.
“Yes, see you later.”
Young In put down her phone and let out a small laugh.
Today, she decided to honestly admit it. These small conversations and light teasing with Cha Sung Hyuk were fun.
She had pretended not to care, but in truth, she was curious about what he wanted to talk about.
Male lead is a Love-Obsessed Merman
When he discovers she has gone, he risks everything to pursue her on land, enduring agonizing pain to transform his tail into human legs…
One-line summary: Male lead chases female lead. The male lead’s love is a bit sick, an invincible love brain.
Synopsis
During a voyage at sea, Jiang Yang accidentally captures a merman.
Servant: I heard that mermen are fierce and brutal.
Jiang Yang looks at the merman obediently rubbing her palm like a puppy: “You call this fierce and brutal?”
Servant: I heard that mermen have no human nature.
Jiang Yang looks at the merman with wet puppy eyes, obsessively calling her ‘A Yang’ like a childish infant: “You call this having no human nature?”
With great difficulty, she releases the merman back into the sea and returns to shore.
Who would have thought that in less than half a month, the merman, who should have been freely wandering in the South China Sea, would shed his scales, endure the pain of losing his tail, transform into human legs, and come ashore to find her?
He kneels at her feet, rubbing her palm, with merman tears rolling down: “A Yang, don’t abandon me.”
_____
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