Office Romance Scandal (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 5
Tae Hong’s words clearly split the team members’ expressions.
Some were pleased by his statement, others disappointed—precisely two reactions. If the former were male employees, the latter were the female employees, who were no longer the sole woman on the team.
“Please immediately hand over your current schedule to Miss Jeong Hae Jin.”
Tae Hong’s gaze briefly touched the questioner, then locked firmly onto Hae Jin.
“Miss Jeong Hae Jin, please familiarize yourself with the schedule and share upcoming appointments afterward.”
Only then did Hae Jin finally turn her eyes toward Tae Hong. When their eyes met, Tae Hong was beaming brightly.
Only then did Hae Jin understand.
She grasped the true meaning behind his radiant smile.
It was as if he were saying: “If you can’t endure it, just leave on your own. So go ahead—try your best to hold on. I’ll shake you until your roots come loose.”
She knew well enough that everyone wears at least one socially acceptable smile. Reading Tae Hong’s expression wasn’t difficult—it was a silent battle between someone trying to drag another down and someone determined to stand firm.
Still, a slight unease lingered about the feelings hidden beneath that smile. Yet she steadied herself, thinking, “He holds a position of authority—what trouble could possibly arise?”
Leaving behind only the words “The meeting is over,” Tae Hong was the first to exit the conference room. Only the Strategy Planning Team 1 employees and Hae Jin remained, abandoned in the empty space.
She felt as though she’d been left alone in the middle of a battlefield—or like an animal being stared at in a zoo.
They pretended to be colleagues, acted like colleagues, yet weren’t truly colleagues at all.
The first to greet Hae Jin was a middle-aged man. He walked steadily toward her and stood before her, who was still standing.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Lee Byung Soo.”
His relaxed smile exuded ease—and a sharp, intense presence brushed past Hae Jin’s mind: *This must be the second-in-command.*
She instantly recognized the aura of someone holding that unspoken rank. After all, in any setting, even among those of equal rank, hierarchy always existed. He’d been the only one throughout the meeting to maintain a perfect poker face.
Back in her prime, Hae Jin had learned to read social cues through endless social gatherings.
Her family hadn’t been among the elite chaebol circles, so at those gatherings—where status was dictated by one’s father’s wealth—Hae Jin was always at the very bottom. Thus, her survival instinct had sharpened into near-instinctive awareness.
“Please take care of me.”
In response to Hae Jin’s greeting, Byung Soo gave a slight nod, then quietly slipped out of the conference room, leaving only the words “Please take care of me, too.”
Now only three people remained in the room: two men and one woman. Hae Jin quickly scanned the four of them. Unlike Byung Soo, the other four appeared roughly her age.
The earlier exchange with Byung Soo had felt neutral, but this time, an odd chill clung to the air. Curiosity vanished, replaced entirely by open wariness, as the woman—who was no longer the team’s only female—stood up.
“Miss Jeong Hae Jin? I’m Kim Yeon Jung.”
Yeon Jung then went around, introducing each seated person in turn: Park Jeol Hong, Choi Yun Gi, Kim Woo Jin. After finishing the introductions, she finally walked over to Hae Jin.
“You’ll receive the handover from me.”
Her cautiousness toward Hae Jin was so evident it was as if she were actively trying to suppress tension. And Hae Jin understood: this woman made no effort to hide her disapproval.
“Yes, I’ll be in your care.”
But Yeon Jung showed no reaction to Hae Jin’s cheerful smile. Instead, her expression seemed to say, “Is this really all there is to it?”
Without acknowledging Hae Jin’s bright smile, Yeon Jung swept her long hair behind her and walked briskly out of the conference room.
Left behind, the remaining three stood up awkwardly, their smiles stiff and unnatural. One by one, they offered half-hearted greetings and perfunctory handshakes before leaving.
Soon, only Hae Jin remained.
Alone in the quiet conference room, she slowly surveyed the seats where her new colleagues had just been.
“What am I even doing here?” The thought crossed her mind—but what choice did she have? She had to do this. After all, she needed to eat and survive.
If she backed down now, she’d fall all the way to rock bottom again—and she’d already felt that sensation enough when moving into an unfamiliar address and stepping into that strange house.
She never wanted to go through that again. She refused to plummet into despair once more. This was real life—and real combat.
Only the hyper-aware, presence-oozing Jeong Hae Jin remained at Yeon Chang Group.
**
Stepping out of the conference room, Hae Jin walked down the hallway. In the distance, several people in black suits were busily moving about. She quickened her pace toward them.
“Is this spot okay?”
Two movers set down a desk right in front of the team leader’s office, then turned to Yeon Jung, who stood rigidly nearby, and asked.
Just from their tone, it was obvious Yeon Jung was extremely on edge—so much so that she didn’t even seem to notice Hae Jin standing beside her.
“Senior?”
Since the team members had only exchanged names, Hae Jin naturally called out to Yeon Jung.
Yeon Jung’s petite face scrunched up tightly at the sight of Hae Jin, then quickly smoothed out. Hae Jin tilted her head slightly, puzzled by the fleeting expression she’d just glimpsed.
What was that chilly feeling all about?
“Did you just call me?”
Yeon Jung pointed at herself and asked Hae Jin. Hae Jin nodded brightly with a cheerful “Yes.”
“Where is Senior Jeong Hae Jin?”
Yeon Jung’s sharp tone instantly confirmed that the unpleasant vibe wasn’t imagined.
“I’ve never had a junior like Miss Jeong Hae Jin before.”
Ah—the universal law of mass conservation.
So you’re the first example.
Thinking “The inevitable has arrived,” Hae Jin calmly concealed her inner thoughts and spoke evenly.
“You haven’t informed me of your official title or preferred form of address yet.”
This isn’t my fault—you simply didn’t tell me.
“I used what I thought was the most common form of address.”
She deliberately feigned embarrassment, playing the innocent mistake so convincingly that Yeon Jung seemed momentarily at a loss.
With arms crossed and posture defiant, Yeon Jung finally stated her proper title.
“I’m a section chief. Call me Chief Kim.”
Her tone practically said, “What would you know anyway?” So Hae Jin smiled even more brightly and stepped forward slightly.
“Chief Kim, Section Chief Kim Yeon Jung—I understand now.”
After all, it’s hard to spit on a smiling face.
Hae Jin nodded with her sunniest expression. Yet Yeon Jung’s mood remained sour—clearly not the reaction she’d hoped for.
Hae Jin took a small step back and turned toward her own desk, which was nearly finished being set up.
Just as she was thinking, “This desk is now my lifeline,”
the office door opened, and Tae Hong appeared. The moment he entered, his eyes found both Hae Jin and Yeon Jung—but showed no surprise, as if he’d known all along they’d be standing there.
“Team Leader.”
Yeon Jung instantly transformed, fluttering toward Tae Hong as if wagging an invisible tail. Tae Hong’s gaze briefly rested on her, then shifted to Hae Jin.
“Miss Jeong Hae Jin—is this desk location alright for you?”
Though Yeon Jung’s face dripped with forced sweetness—as if fishing for praise—Hae Jin pretended ignorance and simply observed Tae Hong’s expression.
Tae Hong’s eyes flicked once toward the desk, once toward Yeon Jung’s face, then finally settled on Hae Jin.
Hae Jin deliberately averted her gaze sideways.
“Section Chief Kim would’ve handled this appropriately, I’m sure.”
At that single sentence, Yeon Jung’s face lit up brighter than anyone else’s in the world. Her beaming smile practically made a tail visible behind her.
But that’s not the face you showed me earlier.
Hae Jin silently added one more entry into her mental file on Kim Yeon Jung:
*You’re a nine-tailed fox, Kim.*
At the same time, another thought crossed her mind: He seems kind to his staff—so why did they call him a rugby ball?
Her thoughts didn’t get far. Tae Hong took a few steps ahead, then turned back. Despite his gentle expression, his eyes remained cold and unwavering, drawing a sharp, intense line that radiated pressure.
“Ah, Section Chief Kim Yeon Jung.”
Though he added the honorific “-nim,” his tone held no warmth. Yet Yeon Jung responded with a wide grin: “Yes?”
“Not ‘Miss Jeong Hae Jin.’”
Tae Hong’s bowstring drew taut—
“Assistant Manager Jeong Hae Jin.”
*Twang.* The arrow struck its mark: Yeon Jung. He was realigning her instantly, reminding her of his personal creed—to uphold boundaries even within the bounds of freedom. Yeon Jung’s expression hardened in an instant, her previously fluttering tail visibly drooping.
“I—I’m sorry. I made a momentary mistake.”
She could no longer smile. But Tae Hong simply passed by with indifferent eyes.
So the rugby ball isn’t just recklessly rolling around after all.
Watching Yeon Jung bow her head, Hae Jin gave an imperceptible shrug.
**
By midday—only half a day into her new job—Hae Jin had started getting used to the company’s atmosphere.
She examined her desk. Though hastily prepared, it was fully equipped for work. Sitting at a desk again after so long stirred something deep inside her.
Given the circumstances, she simply had to give her best to whatever tasks came her way.
A list of office supplies sat on her desk. She only needed to check off the small items the team required and pass it along.
As she ticked off items, a dark shadow fell across the white paper. Slowly, she lifted her head.
“T-Team Leader?”
Tae Hong merely dipped his chin slightly, yet his 189 cm frame cast a towering shadow over her. Startled, Hae Jin shot up from her seat.
The chair scraped backward, thudding against the wall. His emotionless gaze, tightly closed lips, and utterly blank face created such an oppressive atmosphere that she froze in place.
He was the type of person who could push others to the brink just by looking down at them.
Could she really handle being his executive secretary?
“Assistant Manager Jeong Hae Jin.”
The sharp voice snapped Hae Jin—lost in thought—back to reality.
By the time she refocused, Tae Hong was already standing beside her. He tapped her desk twice with his fingers. While she watched his fingers, his voice came from above.
“Come to my office.”
Having delivered his message, Tae Hong disappeared before waiting for her reply.
Hae Jin’s legs went weak; she gripped the edge of her desk, her fingertips pressing hard for support.
If she crumbled now, she wouldn’t even get assigned basic monitoring—let alone dedicated one-on-one oversight.
Jun Tae’s offered sum flashed vividly before her eyes.
Even if she eventually left, she’d at least collect her first paycheck before doing so. Hae Jin walked toward Tae Hong’s desk.
“You called for me?”
She stood at a carefully calculated distance—not too close, not too far.
Just enough to show she wouldn’t yield under his gaze.
He kept reading documents without asking anything further, simply waiting for her to speak. Only after flipping the last page did his eyes finally lift to meet hers.
Bracing herself for his first order, she stood tense—but instead, something arced through the air from his hand toward her. Instinctively, she reached out and caught it.
“Do you know how to drive?”
Her first test: driving.
When scheming men desperately battle for her favor in the male harem
This one’s also on my reread list! The rivalry, scheming between the men in the imperial harem are just as intense and thrilling as in classic palace drama novels, where concubines fight to the death. Give it a read, girls! I promise you won’t be disappointed.
Synopsis:
“I am not worthy of her… but I still want to be by her side, even if only as a loyal dog…”
Those were the painful whispers of Yue Guanyi – the proud Crown Prince of the Great Qi, who was torn between deep love and a guilty conscience. Despite holding the supreme power of the Imperial Guard, he still could not forget the dark past when he was sold into a brothel.
Fate played a cruel twist when Qiu Shuzhi – a young female official who had just passed the imperial examinations with top honors – stepped into his life. She did not know that she was the one who had saved him from a tragic fate many years ago. And now, her heart was the target of pursuit for both Yue Guanyi and the powerful Empress Dowager Qin Qing.
While Yue Guanyi only dared to silently care for and protect the one he loved from afar, the Empress Dowager Qin Qing openly expressed his feelings and did not hesitate to take advantage of his power to approach Qiu Shuzhi. The covert struggle between the two most powerful forces in the imperial court began…
Trigger warning: All men in this novel are yandere style.
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I like his honesty and my god there is communication.