Office Romance Scandal (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 4
The situation resolving so easily felt strange. It was as if I’d just blankly stared into space for a moment.
“Oh, is it weird that things are going your way so smoothly?”
Tae Hong, who’d instantly grasped Hae Jin’s thoughts as if they’d popped into his head, withdrew the hand he’d extended.
“Right, if things wrap up this easily, it’s honestly no fun at all. Don’t you agree?”
I felt like a puppet, toyed with and jerked around helplessly in his grasp.
He picked up his phone—when he’d even taken it out, I didn’t know—and called someone. Switching to speakerphone, he tossed it onto the table.
Naturally, my eyes fixed on the name displayed on the screen.
It clearly read “Chairman.” The only person Tae Hong addressed as “Chairman” was Moon Jun Tae.
Before I could even compose my stunned expression, Jun Tae answered the call. Tae Hong’s voice boomed loudly through the office.
“I’ve finished the exclusive-mark interview you assigned.”
He acted as if no one was present, even though the very person in question stood right before him. I even held my breath instinctively—pretending not to exist was the only option.
—Good. They’ll be useful enough.
I bit my lower lip. It felt like I was seeing Jun Tae’s true face behind his gentle smile. This was the moment I realized I’d been reduced to a disposable item—valued only as long as I remained useful.
“That’s something I’ll be judging from now on.”
The other end stayed silent. Their exchange felt utterly dry, nothing like a typical father-son conversation. The uncomfortable silence made me sit up straighter, yet Tae Hong’s gaze never left Hae Jin.
“If they’re not useful, I’ll cut them without hesitation.”
Who was this declaration aimed at? Was it Jun Tae, setting the terms of usefulness—or himself, who now had to prove his worth? Hae Jin’s chest tightened in response.
I had to shed the preconception of being a “parachute hire” and fully commit to the assigned exclusive-mark role. I needed to convincingly prove I was someone he truly needed.
I swallowed hard, involuntarily.
The speaker call ended, and he immediately connected the intercom.
“Let’s hold a Strategy Planning Team 1 meeting in five minutes.”
“Yes, Team Leader.”
The woman’s voice over the intercom sounded unusually gentle—almost jarringly so against the room’s tense atmosphere.
Tae Hong’s eyes remained unreadable as he set down the intercom. He gave Hae Jin’s outfit a polite, cursory glance—Hae Jin didn’t notice the slight twitch at the corner of his mouth.
“Let’s get straight to work.”
At the word “work,” a deep tension entered Hae Jin’s eyes. Exactly five minutes later, Tae Hong opened his office door. Hae Jin quickly stood and followed him.
When Tae Hong glanced back, he found Hae Jin standing right behind him—and let out a soft chuckle.
“You’re certainly acting like a rookie—so full of spirit?”
It was all or nothing now. I’d officially stepped into the real game, not just a trial run.
Hae Jin matched Tae Hong’s walking pace and maintained a proper distance.
Tae Hong entered the meeting room. About five people were already seated inside. All five pairs of eyes immediately turned toward Hae Jin, who followed Tae Hong in.
Hae Jin was accustomed to such gazes—curious yet wary. But this time felt different. Though familiar, these stares carried weight I couldn’t afford to underestimate.
After all, hadn’t Tae Hong himself already labeled me a “parachute hire” with just one look? Would his team be any different?
To keep my livelihood secure, I couldn’t afford to provoke jealousy. Next came winning them over—I had to gradually turn each of them to my side.
Only by becoming a parachute hire who didn’t act like one could I hope for a safe landing.
Tae Hong sat down in his usual seat and positioned Hae Jin right beside him. Hae Jin clasped both hands tightly in front and subtly fidgeted with their fingers.
“Sorry for calling this meeting without prior notice.”
Hae Jin turned toward Tae Hong at the unexpected apology.
He actually knows how to say sorry?
It was such an unfamiliar word coming from him that Hae Jin was utterly bewildered by how naturally it slipped out. Tae Hong continued.
“I called everyone today because a new associate has joined Strategy Planning Team 1.”
At the words “new associate,” the five employees exchanged quick, cautious glances. In practice, an associate was essentially the team’s lowest-ranking member.
Last night, Hae Jin had searched online about the company—especially confirming that no recent job postings had appeared.
It turned out Yeon Chang Group’s Strategy Planning Team was famously selective, rarely hiring externally. Tae Hong personally recruited everyone. Thus, a new employee joining was truly rare.
The employees, who’d been subtly observing, now fixed their full attention on Hae Jin. Noticing this renewed focus, Tae Hong glanced back.
“Ms. Jeong Hae Jin, did you prepare a self-introduction?”
A self-introduction. Hae Jin was articulate and eloquent, with exceptional verbal fluency. Over the past week, Hae Jin had prepared thoroughly—recalling vividly the cover letters and interview prep done before joining Si On.
“Yes.”
The confident, crisp reply made the employees’ eyes light up; Tae Hong, however, slightly furrowed his brow.
Though standing right beside him, Hae Jin could distinctly see his expression hardening in real time.
You thought I’d coast along just because I’m a parachute hire, but I have no intention of letting you cut my livelihood so easily.
“Good. Go ahead, then.”
He leaned his chair far back, clearly signaling he’d watch how I handled it, and fully turned toward Hae Jin. Feeling uneasy under Tae Hong’s intense proximity, Hae Jin pivoted slightly away—facing the opposite direction.
Locking eyes with each person one by one, Hae Jin bowed politely, wearing a practiced social smile.
This was just the beginning.
“Hello everyone. I’m Jeong Hae Jin.”
Despite her delicate, gentle appearance, her crisp, clear tone compelled even those bowing their heads to look up at her.
Hae Jin didn’t shy away from the barrage of stares but instead met each person’s gaze in turn.
“It’s a tremendous honor to join Yeon Chang Group.”
Though lacking company loyalty, she stoked the engine of urgency—fueled purely by the desperation of making a living.
“I understand you might assume I’m a parachute hire, and I won’t deny it.”
This might sound discouraging, but hear me out to the end.
“However, I’ll work hard beside all of you to ensure no one ever thinks, ‘Parachute hires can’t do their job,’ or ‘They’re useless—might as well not be here,’ or ‘Just a salary leech.’”
And I’ll take good care of our unpredictable team leader too.
“I’ll do my absolute best not to disgrace our team leader and not to become the villain of Yeon Chang Group’s Strategy Planning Team 1.”
She bowed deeply and paused briefly, waiting for their reaction.
After a moment, Tae Hong’s laughter drifted down from above. His chuckle acted as a catalyst—soon, the others began clapping and offering awkward smiles.
Hae Jin subtly glanced upward and straightened her back. Had she made a good first impression? With a mix of worry and anticipation, she studied Tae Hong’s and the others’ faces.
“I heard your self-introduction well.”
As the laughter faded, Tae Hong stretched out his legs, then crossed them again.
Was it just my imagination, or did his mocking expression soften slightly?
“Not overly grandiose, but I liked your confidence.”
Tae Hong stroked his chin. The other employees continued smiling, glancing between him and Hae Jin.
“Your parachute pilot would’ve been pleased to hear that.”
His words carried a strong undercurrent of warning.
“Strategy Planning Team might be the most relaxed department in Yeon Chang Group, don’t you think?”
Had my self-introduction been too stiff? Hae Jin tilted her head slightly, puzzled by his comment about a “relaxed atmosphere.” Tae Hong’s gaze shifted from her back to the team.
“I know you’ve all been working hard under me.”
This time, the employees looked genuinely bewildered. Tae Hong’s lips curved slightly upward, as if reading their reactions in real time.
Hae Jin, too, carefully observed the teammates ahead. They responded strongly even to Tae Hong’s smallest remarks.
Some appeared visibly unsettled, while others remained stoic—impossible to read beneath perfect poker faces.
After all, they were just salaried employees like me—fellow sufferers in the same boat. Before long, Hae Jin found herself nodding along with them in silent unity.
“Ms. Jeong Hae Jin joined Strategy Planning Team specifically to closely assist me.”
Just when they’d thought a junior staffer would help share the workload, it turned out she was assigned exclusively to the team leader. The team couldn’t hide their surprise at this new revelation.
Standing beside Tae Hong, Hae Jin instantly read the team’s expressions—their faces filled with disappointment, as if thinking, “Oh, so that’s how it is.”
They probably assumed another person to boss around had just arrived, so learning she was a direct, exclusive assistant must’ve been quite a shock.
Everyone’s eyes darted around, clearly overwhelmed by yet another unexpected twist that morning.
“Please set up her desk directly in front of my office entrance.”
But Hae Jin immediately realized—she wasn’t in a position to empathize with them.
A floor plan automatically formed in her mind. Earlier, when I came in, I glanced around roughly…
Wait—no. That can’t be right. I clearly saw plenty of empty desks earlier.
Just because I’m an exclusive assistant doesn’t mean I have to sit right outside his office!
And “closely assist” doesn’t mean literal physical closeness either. I’m just assigned to assist—assigned!
She screamed internally, but today was her first day at work.
Hae Jin kept a gentle expression on her face, carefully suppressing any trace of irritation, and lowered her eyes.
If our eyes met right now, he’d probably immediately order a separate desk be placed inside his office—just to match the mood.
Near the end of the meeting, one team member suddenly raised their hand. Everyone’s attention snapped toward the raised hand—barely masking their wary curiosity.
“What exactly does ‘closely assist’ entail?”
It was the same voice heard earlier over the intercom. Come to think of it, apart from Hae Jin, there was only one other woman on Strategy Planning Team 1.
Hae Jin herself was curious just how “close” this assistance needed to be. She briefly considered buying the woman a coffee for asking on her behalf.
“It means accompanying me through all my schedules—as the words imply.”
Tae Hong emphasized the phrase “all my schedules” with clear intent.
“If necessary, from the moment I arrive until I leave—even overtime and weekend work.”
Oh. My. God.
Was this really acceptable?
Labor laws floated like debris in her mind, impossible to ignore.
Hearing the specifics made her heart race even faster than before. She wanted to protest—this couldn’t be right—but this job was her livelihood.
Tae Hong wasn’t finished setting boundaries.
“Ah—almost forgot something important.”
He tapped his fingers lightly against the meeting table.
“Business trips—domestic and overseas.”
Hae Jin clenched her lips tightly to stop them from dropping open.
Don’t show your shock, Jeong Hae Jin. Not even a bit.
What started as an exclusive-mark assignment had effectively turned into a full-time personal secretary role.
When the male lead is punished by carrying the female lead’s child and having periods like a woman
“I’ve given birth to two children for you, yet you still think about him.
Was I nothing but his substitute to you from beginning to end?”
Synopsis:
Meng Huan, a scumbag who has dated countless girlfriends, transmigrates to a female-dominated country.
Day 1: Whether it’s female dominance or not doesn’t matter. The beauties here are passionate and amorous. Isn’t it easier to date them than in modern times?
Day 2: After a night, Meng Huan discovers the differences in the female-dominated world. Men here actually have chastity locks and menstrual cycles. This hinders his ability to perform, damn it!
Day 3: What’s wrong with sleeping around? I don’t want you to marry me. I’m meant to be a playboy. I don’t care about male virtues… What? You want to drown me in a pig cage? Marry, I’ll marry!
Day N: Meng Huan inexplicably vomits and receives the shocking news of his life… He’s pregnant.
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I like his honesty and my god there is communication.