As the atmosphere warmed up, the faces of the team members turned increasingly red. The number of liquor bottles on the table had grown to the point that they had to be placed even under the table.
Though the group was small, their table was definitely one contributing the most to the restaurant’s sales that night.
“Section Chief Lee.”
Haegin called out to Byungsoo, who was reaching for some side dishes. She glanced around the table and underneath it before speaking.
“It seems everyone was really thirsty for a company dinner.”
Hearing her, Byungsoo also looked around and chuckled softly.
“Yeah, we should’ve done this more often.”
Regret flowed from Byungsoo’s words. To avoid the momentarily sinking atmosphere, Haegin quickly changed the topic.
“Section Chief, how long have you been working with the team leader?”
“I’ve been in this field for about 15 years, and with the team leader for about 5.”
Surprised by his longer-than-expected career, Haegin grew more curious.
“So, you’ve been with the team leader for five years.”
“Yes, I’ve been with him since the day he joined.”
Haegin clapped her hands and pointed at Byungsoo.
“So, you’re the pick of the team leader I’ve only heard about!”
Byungsoo’s first target for persuasion was Lee Inja, Byungsoo. Her playful voice brought a natural smile to Byungsoo’s lips.
“Is that so?”
He scratched the back of his head awkwardly and downed his drink in one go.
“We used to have dinners together often back then. He wasn’t always this cold-hearted.”
Haegin put down her chopsticks, surprised by Byungsoo’s unexpected revelation. Tae-hong rarely talked about himself, and with infrequent company dinners, opportunities to hear more about him were rare.
“Really? I thought he was always distant.”
“Come on, who’s like that?”
People like that are always close by.
“Until that incident happened, he had the aura of a fresh young man.”
Incident? What incident?
Haegin leaned forward, putting her arms on the table, eager to know more. Byungsoo, taken aback by her forwardness, leaned back, lifting his gold-rimmed glasses.
Too pushy, I guess.
Haegin casually pushed some side dishes towards Byungsoo.
“Please eat a lot. You’re the mainstay of the strategic planning team. You need to stay strong.”
As if nothing happened, Haegin returned to her spot, clearing her throat but secretly waiting for Byungsoo to continue.
“Deputy Jeong.”
Byungsoo cautiously looked around and leaned forward towards Haegin.
Then, taking advantage of the moment when other team members were busy talking, he gestured for Haegin to come closer. Haegin, not knowing what to expect, cautiously leaned towards Byungsoo.
“I’ll give you a piece of advice since you’re the team leader’s dedicated mark.”
“What is it?”
Haegin quickly took out her mental notepad, ready to add information about Tae-hong.
“There’s one question you should never ask the team leader.”
“What’s that?”
“Never inquire about his family and women.”
“Family and women?”
“Shh, shh.”
Byungsoo quickly raised his finger to his lips, checking the surroundings. Luckily, no one was paying attention to them.
Family and women. Don’t ask about his personal life.
Then, Haegin suddenly remembered a day.
“I’m confident I can keep up with any woman.”
“Even if she’s my half-sister, she’s still part of the Yeonchang Group’s bloodline.”
Could it be a melodrama-level mess? Asking about sisters and brothers, then showing disdain at the mere mention of office scandals. Just a moment’s thought made it clear why she had to be so discreet.
As Haegin mulled over the memory, Byungsoo seemed to understand her realization and returned to his seat.
“You’ll handle it wisely, Deputy Jeong. Just remember what I said.”
Haegin mimed locking her lips with a key, as if sealing away the conversation.
“What’s there to handle wisely?”
Just as she was about to ponder more deeply, Gumiho Kim appeared, her eyeliner smeared and her lipstick seemingly flown away. She was quite drunk.
“It’s nothing.”
Byungsoo gave Haegin a look and spoke in his usual tone. However, the drunken Gumiho wouldn’t let it slide.
“It’s not nothing. I saw everything. You two were sharing secrets.”
“Secrets?”
Haegin bristled at Gumiho’s odd interpretation, but the latter was too intoxicated to reason with.
Just breathe. Just breathe. While Haegin mentally calmed herself, Byungsoo seated Gumiho down.
“Manager Kim, you seem very drunk. Should I call you a taxi?”
“Oh, come on. I’m not drunk.”
Typical of a drunk person, never admitting their drunkenness. Haegin, still considering her a team member, placed a glass of cold water in front of her.
“What, is this to sober me up?”
It’s typical for some to ungratefully receive kindness. Haegin shook her head.
“Manager Kim, your face is red. It’s to cool you down.”
“That’s the same thing!”
Gumiho’s loud voice drew the attention of the team to Haegin and herself.
“Look, Deputy Jeong.”
Feeling the focused attention, Gumiho gave Haegin a dismissive look.
“If you’re a parachute, act like one. Find a quiet landing spot and stay quiet.”
After Being Cheated On, She Picked Up a Treasure (Female-dominant)
One-line summary: The husband I married on a whim had been secretly in love with me for a long time.
On the day when Jun Shao finally obtained the imperial decree for her marriage, Lan Qu, the person she had admired for six years, defied the decree and ran away.
Her gentleness and devotion, her promise of a lifetime together, were all disregarded by him. Instead, he dreamed of entering the palace to serve the Emperor’s sister as a sixth-rank attendant.
News of this incident spread throughout the capital, and the alleys in front of and behind the Lan mansion were crowded with people who came to watch the commotion.
Jun Shao should have been embarrassed and angry.
But someone stepped in to protect her dignity.
The figure was in a miserable state, yet still possessed an undeniable elegance and handsomeness.
The young lord struggled to climb the wall of the Lan mansion and shouted to her, “If he won’t marry you, I will!”
So, Jun Shao took advantage of the situation and married the person.
She thought the young lord did it to save the Lan family from the crime of defying the imperial decree, but never imagined that from beginning to end, what he coveted was her.
*
After the wedding, Jun Shao felt like she was living in a dream.
Her Wife-master was as beautiful as a fairy in a painting, skilled in the six arts, well-versed in poetry and literature, capable of being gentle and attentive, and also grand and dignified. Most importantly, she was the only one in his heart and eyes.
Jun Shao didn’t know how Lan Shiwu, as a illegitimate son without a father and blessed with beauty, had managed to preserve his purity, recklessly escape, and use his last ounce of strength to ruin his own reputation, all because of his love for her, just to stand before her.
She could only see him gazing at her with eyes full of love, and when she bestowed a name upon him, his eyes shone like stars.
“You have come to me like a weary bird perching on a branch. I shall call you A Qi.”
