Tae-hong’s words clearly divided the team members’ expressions.
Between those who were pleased and those who were disappointed by Tae-hong’s words. The former being the male employees, and the latter, the female employees, who were no longer the only women in the team, showed two distinct reactions.
“Please transfer my schedule to Mr. Jeong Haegin.”
Tae-hong’s gaze shifted from the questioner to Haegin.
“Mr. Jeong Haegin, understand the schedule and share it with me later.”
Haegin’s eyes finally met Tae-hong’s. When their eyes locked, Tae-hong was smiling broadly.
Only then did Haegin understand the true meaning behind his bright smile.
If you can’t bear it, leave on your own. Try to endure it. I’ll shake you until your roots come out.
Everyone knows how to wear a social smile. Reading Tae-hong’s expression wasn’t hard. It was an invisible battle between one trying to pull down and another trying to hold on till the end.
The only slight unease was the hidden intent behind that smile. Given his social status, Haegin reassured himself that nothing too serious could happen.
Leaving a note that the meeting was over, Tae-hong was the first to leave the room. Haegin was left alone with the Strategic Planning Team 1 employees.
It felt like being left in the middle of a battlefield, or like being watched in a zoo.
Colleagues, yet not quite colleagues, these people.
The first to approach Haegin was a middle-aged man. He walked up to her, still standing, and introduced himself.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Lee Byung-su.”
His relaxed smile exuded ease, and Haegin immediately sensed that he was the second-in-command.
Haegin instantly recognized the aura of a second-in-command. No matter where you go, there’s always a hierarchy, even among the same ranks. He was the only one who maintained a poker face throughout the meeting.
Haegin, in her more successful days, had learned to read the room in social gatherings.
Not being from a prominent chaebol family, she was always at the bottom in social groups divided by their fathers’ wealth. Hence, her survival instincts were keen.
“Nice to meet you.”
In response to Haegin’s greeting, Byung-su slightly nodded his head as a form of greeting and left the room after leaving a polite word.
Now, in the room were two men and one woman, besides Haegin. She quickly scanned the four people. Unlike Byung-su, the rest seemed to be about her age.
There was an odd and somewhat tense feeling different from her interaction with Byung-su. The curiosity had disappeared, replaced by overt wariness. The woman, who was no longer the only one, stood up.
“Mr. Jeong Haegin? I’m Kim Yeon-jung.”
Yeon-jung then introduced each person sitting around. Park Jeol-hong, Choi Yun-gi, Kim Woo-jin. After finishing the introductions, Yeon-jung approached Haegin.
“You can get the handover from me.”
Her efforts to suppress hostility were palpable, and Haegin realized she had no intention of hiding her displeasure.
“Yes, thank you.”
Despite Haegin’s bright smile, Yeon-jung showed no response. Instead, she looked as if thinking, ‘What’s all this?’
With Haegin’s cheerful smile left behind, Yeon-jung walked out of the room, her long hair swaying.
Following Yeon-jung’s chilly response, the remaining three people stood up awkwardly, offering greetings and courtesy handshakes before leaving.
Haegin was left alone in the room.
In the now quiet conference room, Haegin slowly scanned the places where people had been sitting.
What am I doing right now? But what choice do I have? I need to survive.
Backing out would mean falling to rock bottom again, a feeling all too familiar from entering a strange house with an unfamiliar address.
I didn’t want to experience that again. No more falling into the abyss. This was real life, the real battle.
With keen intuition and a strong presence, Haegin was the only one from Yeonchang Group there.
Stepping out of the conference room and walking down the corridor, Haegin saw several people in black suits bustling around in the distance. His steps quickened towards them.
“Is this spot okay?”
Two people, carrying a desk, set it down in front of the team leader’s office and then turned to Yeon-jung, who was standing close by.
Just from her response, Haegin could tell Yeon-jung was on edge, as if she hadn’t even noticed Haegin standing beside her.
“Senior?”
The team members’ introductions had ended with just their names. Haegin naturally called out to Yeon-jung.
Yeon-jung’s petite face crumpled and then relaxed as she looked at Haegin. Haegin tilted his head at the quickly hidden expression.
What’s this uneasy feeling?
“Did you just call me?”
Yeon-jung asked, pointing at herself and then looking at Haegin. He cheerfully nodded in affirmation.
“Where is Mr. Jeong Haegin’s senior?”
Yeon-jung’s sharp voice immediately confirmed that the uneasy feeling wasn’t baseless.
“I’ve never had a junior like Mr. Jeong Haegin.”
The law of conservation of mass always exists, no matter where you go.
So, you are that first character.
Turns Out He’s Been Secretly in Love with Me
One-line summary: He acts like he doesn’t like her but is actually playing hard to get.
Synopsis:
Xu Muzhou like her. He has liked her for a very long time, and through repeated schemes, he finally closed the distance with her.
But this is still far from enough.
He wants to be the one who stands out among her many suitors, to fight for her attention, and to make her take the initiative to pursue him.
_____
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