Peering over the steering wheel, Haegin watched Tae-hong’s movements closely. When he returned holding coffees in both hands, she was about to get out, but he tapped on the window.
Startled, Haegin rolled down the window and received the coffee from him. Tae-hong then re-entered the car.
“Let’s go.”
Watching Tae-hong sip his coffee, Haegin started the car.
“But Mr. Tae-hong, shouldn’t I have gotten the coffee?”
“Parking time here is short, and we need to move the car quickly if another comes.”
Understanding dawned on Haegin, and she nodded.
“And I have another question.”
“What now?”
Tae-hong stopped sipping his coffee as Haegin, ever curious, continued her barrage of questions.
“Didn’t you say yesterday that tea is better for clearing the mind?”
“Oh, that? I have guests frequently at my place.”
Right, I was one of those guests yesterday.
“Those I want to meet, and those I don’t. Those I need, and those I don’t.”
Haegin’s lips twitched at Tae-hong’s binary logic.
“So, when people I don’t want or need enter my room…”
It’s probably not what I’m thinking.
“I serve them tea.”
Ding-dong-dang, it all made sense. This rugby ball of a man!
Haegin clenched her jaw, then posed one final question.
“Then, what does the coffee we’re drinking today signify?”
“The opposite kind of people.”
The opposite, meaning those he wants to meet and needs? Lost in her thoughts, Tae-hong gently brought her back to reality.
“Make a good judgment.”
“About what?”
“Whether to report or not, things like that.”
Haegin knew who he was referring to without him having to say it – the Chairman. It was suspicious, the sudden appointment of a parachute beside him, making it predictable what Haegin’s role was meant to be.
Should she say there’s nothing to report, or would saying so even matter if he wouldn’t believe her? She decided it was better to show him slowly through her actions.
“Assistant Haegin, another thing.”
“Yes, go ahead.”
Tensing up, thinking it was an extension of his warning, Haegin braced herself. Every moment felt like a test, a path strewn with thorns.
“From now on, come here by 7 AM.”
“Yes, eh?”
“Any complaints?”
Not that there were complaints, but of course, there shouldn’t be. Recalling his words, she was reminded of her role – a shadow assistant, following him from morning to night, on domestic and international trips alike.
“Understood. I will do as instructed.”
She had to ensure she wasn’t abruptly cut off by him. Resilient, Haegin was determined to hold her ground, no matter how much she was shaken.
Arriving at the company, Tae-hong walked half a step ahead of Haegin, who followed him closely. Their arrival together drew immediate attention.
Firstly, due to their style and appearance, and secondly, it was a rare sight to see Tae-hong walking with a woman.
Though people’s gazes were fixated on Tae-hong, he seemed indifferent, leaving Haegin feeling increasingly uneasy.
Only when they entered the elevator, away from prying eyes, could Haegin finally exhale deeply.
“Ha.”
“Were you nervous?”
“More nervous than my first day at work, believe it or not.”
Tae-hong responded with a chuckle instead of words.
“For your information, all the employees know I’m the owner’s son.”
So he’s candid about it, not shy about his background.
“Also, I’ve never had a secretary or a personal assistant before. So to others, this scene must seem quite extraordinary.”
It seemed like he was mocking the picture his father had painted.
“People will talk for a while. About how I’ve got a woman by my side.”
“Ah, I see.”
As she absentmindedly nodded, the words echoed in her ears.
“For a while, a woman, by my side.” The fragmented phrases lingered in her mind.
“Mr. Tae-hong.”
Still holding his phone in one hand and coffee in the other, Tae-hong gazed down at Haegin with a lazy look in his eyes.
“Just in case. Haha.”
An awkward smile spread across his face. She struggled to maintain her own grin.
“I mean, the words like ‘office scandal’ come to mind.”
No, right? It wouldn’t be.
“I’m just running my imagination wild, right?”
She wished he would confirm. That he hadn’t stirred up any scandals at the office.
But Tae-hong remained silent. His lazy gaze gradually loosened, then sharpened with an interesting glow.
That look, it makes me misunderstand.
Haegin tightly gripped her half-finished coffee. The heat from her palms caused the condensation to cool her hands.
“Why aren’t you answering?”
Tae-hong shook his head slowly, as if indicating she should answer for him.
“Did the Chairman appoint me as your dedicated assistant for that reason?”
Tae-hong’s gaze flickered momentarily, showing a sign of offense.
“Let’s moderately entertain that notion.”
An Indifferent Woman is the One Men Desire the Most
One-line summary: The female lead is actually cold-hearted and extremely rational. She has stage-by-stage relationships and won’t two-time, but there will always be someone who secretly likes her.
This novel has the following triggers, so if you’re sensitive to these, please don’t read:
1. The female lead has had many relationships, but she treated each one seriously and broke up properly.
It’s just that the men unilaterally pestered her incessantly. For the female lead, when she doesn’t like someone anymore, she simply doesn’t like them.
(This applies to her relationships with Male Lead 1, 2, 3, and 4 as well, but she’s loyal in each 1-on-1 relationship!)
2. In this novel, Male Lead 2 and the female lead kiss in a car, and Male Lead 1 sees it and beats up Male Lead 2.
The female lead calls the police and sends both Male Lead 1 and 2 to the police station! Male Lead 1 begs the female lead not to break up with him.
3. Male Lead 1 has a gentle appearance but an obsessive personality.
Male Lead 2 has a delicate and soft appearance, slightly green tea-like (two-faced).
Male Lead 3 is a youthful college student and a smart person who has secretly liked the female lead for a long time.
Male Lead 4 is the female lead’s father’s special assistant, a business elite with deep, hidden thoughts.
4. At the beginning of this novel, the female lead has already broken up with Male Lead 1 (Chapter 4) and gotten back together with Male Lead 2 (ex-boyfriend).
5. Enter with caution if you have triggers!!!
