Haejin continued to explain slowly and steadily.
“I think the first step of the project is close collaboration with colleagues, and isn’t the basis of that interest in the other person?”
“Your explanation is verbose.”
Taehong still didn’t look at Haejin.
“I want to succeed in this project, expand my rice bowl, and preserve Team Leader’s rice bowl.”
Haejin put the thermos back where it originally was. The feeling of barley tea warming her stomach was fulfilling.
“I just want to get along with everyone.”
Of course, Kim Gumiho needs to think about it a bit.
“And Team Leader.”
When she said this, she couldn’t see Taehong. Following Taehong, Haejin also looked ahead and continued speaking.
“You are different from others.”
It meant that he and other team members were not on the same level.
In the warmth, a sense of being protected emerged unconsciously. Meanwhile, her hidden feelings hoped to get a little closer to him.
“Jeonghaejin, come a step closer. I’ll be waiting.”
As the air became murky and scattered, they couldn’t continue the conversation any longer. The words urging her to approach, the words saying they would wait, caused her once-relaxed heart to tighten again.
Haejin was quicker than Taehong, who was about to speak after parking.
“Team leader, can I take this barley tea and drink it?”
Haejin really liked the mellow barley tea that suited her taste. She often thought she should drink barley tea after overeating.
Since Haejin was tightly holding the thermos, Taehong couldn’t say anything and just smiled.
“Jeonghaejin.”
His low tone was particularly charming in the morning. The name Seokja that was called with a pleasant mid-low pitch made her heart warm.
“Do you know what I was thinking while boiling this in the morning?”
Haejin hadn’t thought that far, so she quietly hugged the thermos she was holding tightly.
“Taehong Moon, doing all sorts of things.”
Taehong also turned half of his body to look at Haejin in the same posture. They faced each other in the narrow car.
“And while watching Jeonghaejin, who is enjoying the barley tea I made deliciously, I thought again.”
The still warm mouth was full of the scent of barley tea he brewed. Was the warm heart because of the barley tea or because of him?
“I should do more in the future.”
It was because of Taehong Moon.
**
After a long business trip, is it usual to receive a warm welcome from colleagues upon returning to the company? Or is it only Taehong’s affection?
Yeongjeong suddenly appeared next to Taehong when he entered the office, starting with the words, “Team leader, wasn’t the business trip difficult?”
and continuing with delusional thoughts like, “I should have gone, then our team leader would have been less tired.”
We? If Gumiho Kim had followed, well, I know. Feeling relieved that it was fortunate that she went, Haejin lightly ignored Yeongjeong and returned to her seat.
Returning to the company after a long business trip didn’t mean that the work was over. On the contrary, the work piled up even more in place of Byungsoo. Fortunately, tasks related to the brand launch were progressing smoothly.
She organized the notes written here and there in the notebook during the business trip one by one. While organizing for a couple of hours, she massaged her stiff neck.
Just then, the phone rang, and as soon as she confirmed the caller ID, Haejin answered the call at the speed of light.
“Manager!”
Byungsoo was still in the hospital.
Uh, Jeong Manager. Did you have a good business trip?
“Yes.”
Unable to provide a detailed explanation, Haejin replied vaguely.
“Thank you for your hard work. It must have been difficult to adapt to the team leader’s preferences.”
As expected, the only person who understands is the manager. Haejin couldn’t ask if he followed Kim Taehong to the gym at 6 in the morning. If she did, it seemed like she was gossiping about Taehong behind his back, and she didn’t want to do that.
“When do you think you can be discharged?”
I don’t really know. My bones need to help as much as possible, but even the doctor can’t give a definite answer.
“I see. Since recovery is important, don’t worry about work at the company.”
Haejin coolly responded that work at the company was nothing special. She only hoped that Byungsoo’s feelings would be less uncomfortable.
I’m sorry. Manager Jeong’s work must be busy too.
“It’s good to learn a lot when you have a lot of work.”
Yeah, I’ll repay everything later.
After having some more work-related conversations with Byungsoo, Haejin hung up the phone. She tried to work again after putting down the phone, but she couldn’t just ignore Byungsoo’s voice, filled with apology.
“Should I visit Byungsoo?”
Considering Byungsoo’s personality, he might continue to feel sorry even in the hospital. It might be better to go for a visit to show that things are really okay.
Haejin glanced at Taehong’s schedule. If there was a schedule that didn’t require her presence, she thought she should go for a visit. While contemplating, a message alert sounded.
As soon as Haejin checked the message, her face turned pale. She looked at the message that had rung the alarm again. She couldn’t take her eyes off her phone.
And a smile, never seen before, stretched across her face. At that moment, Taehong, who had just opened the door of his office, witnessed such a sight of Haejin.
What’s she praying for on her phone?
Taehong slowly approached Haejin. She didn’t even notice Taehong coming as she continued to tightly hold her phone, seemingly fixedly looking at the screen.
What’s with her praying on her phone?
Taehong approached Haejin slowly. She still didn’t realize that Taehong was coming, holding her phone tightly, as if staring only at the screen.
It was a different feeling from when she firmly held the thermos he rode this morning. It felt as if the phone screen had made her happier than her barley tea.
Is it more enjoyable than my barley tea?
Out of curiosity and a strange sense of competition, Haejin became even more curious about what made her happy.
Why is Jeong Haejin holding and praying on her phone?
“Manager Jeong.”
Whether she didn’t hear or not, Haejin continued to only look at her phone. Taehong approached her a little more and tapped the desk with his hand.
Tap, tap.
“Manager Jeong.”
Whether it was because of the close voice or the sound of tapping the desk, Haejin finally lifted her head.
“Team leader. Now is not the time to call me.”
Contrary to the expression Taehong had seen, Haejin’s voice had become sharp.
The Male lead Always Seduces Her with His Beauty (Matriarchy)
Xin Jiao Zhou is the leader of the world’s premier sect. She has just experienced betrayal from all sides, was poisoned in an assassination attempt, and faced death squad attacks while the poison was taking effect. After finally clearing out the scum from her sect, she was drugged again while trying to detoxify.
After waking up from a night of unconsciousness, she gained a “beautiful and kind-hearted” husband.
Xin Jiao Zhou: “???”
He fell ill.
She came to see him, bringing breakfast.
As she put down the breakfast and was about to leave, his hand slipped while holding the spoon. “Clank!”
She turned around upon hearing the noise.
He looked up at her, his eyebrows drooping: “My hand… has no strength.”
“Shall I… feed you?” she asked tentatively.
He opened his mouth cheerfully: “Ah—”
Thinking she was drowning, he jumped in without hesitation to save her, but nearly drowned himself. In the end, it was she who swam over to rescue him, giving him air underwater.
After emerging from the water, his ear tips turned red. He lightly brushed his cheek, tucking his sideburns behind his ear, revealing delicate, pink-tinged ear tips. He lowered his gaze, too embarrassed to look at her.
Xin Jiao Zhou: He’s truly beautiful, kind-hearted, and adorable.
A certain someone when disciplining subordinates behind the scenes: “If they don’t obey, just kill them.”
What’s that? She might already have someone she cares about in her heart? A certain someone: Find out who it is, kill them, and then there won’t be anyone.
What? She met a man by the riverside? What? That man even hurt her? A certain someone: Whichever hand hurt her, chop off his entire arm.
Love at first sight without realizing it, gradually falling in love, slowly getting closer…
Family and national grudges, schemes and desires, good and evil, crime and punishment, she and he face the future together, seeking justice with passion!
A naturally dark female lead who could accidentally destroy the world but is actually an honest person VS a weak, pitiful, and helpless but skilled fighter, beautiful white-cut black male lead
My heart is not of stone, how steadfast is your love? — Tao Yuanming “Imitating the Ancients (No. 3)”
— Reading Guide —
Cold female lead & dramatic black lotus with hidden yandere traits male lead
