Jae-O hadn’t realized how much time had passed. Checking the current time, he attributed Chae-Yoon not answering his calls to her being busy with afternoon work. It felt a bit like rationalization, but since he had things to attend to himself, he decided to talk to her later at home and got up from his seat.
His steps to the meeting room felt heavy, a contrast to his usual assertive and unhesitant demeanor. This change in attitude persisted throughout the meeting.
His sharper and more direct approach than usual left the employees muttering after the long meeting.
“Wow… Today was really something. What’s with him?”
“Must be having a bad day.”
Witnessing Jae-O’s irked expressions and the subtle conversations among the staff, Woo-Jong, sensing something was amiss, approached Jae-O, who was walking ahead.
“Director, today is…”
“Ahh, she’s not answering again.”
Woo-Jong’s attempt to suggest canceling the remaining schedule was interrupted by Jae-O’s comment.
“Who is it?”
Hearing Woo-Jong, Jae-O promptly ordered, “Check if Song Chae-Yoon has left work.”
Though not a direct answer to his question, it was sufficient for Woo-Jong, who quickly checked Chae-Yoon’s attendance status. She had already left work.
“She left for the day.”
Reacting quickly to this news, Jae-O asked, “When?”
“Right after lunch, she took a half-day off…”
So that’s why she’s not answering. If that’s the case…
His eyes gleamed with a sharp light.
“Director, today is…”
“Cancel all remaining appointments.”
“Yes? Yes!”
As Jae-O took charge of the situation and quickly moved ahead, Woo-Jong was momentarily stunned, having barely considered the possibility of such a straightforward cancellation. He hurried after his superior.
[Star Icon]Having uncharacteristically canceled his schedule, Jae-O rushed home and burst through the door.
“Song Chae…”
Contrary to his expectation of finding Chae-Yoon, who left work early, the house was empty.
After searching the house and finding no sign of Chae-Yoon, his eyes darkened with irritation.
“Where did she go?”
Not at the office, not at home, and now her phone is off too.
“Ah, what’s this?”
Frustrated by the unprecedented unreachability, Jae-O was momentarily unsure what to do next. However, he quickly decided to contact Ji-Pil.
[Dash]Why.
“Where’s Song Chae-Yoon?”
[Dash]Why are you asking me?“She’s not at the office, not at home, and her phone’s off.”
[Dash]Really? Maybe she went out for some air.Despite his concern, Ji-Pil’s response was nonchalant.
So that means…
“Did Song Chae-Yoon say she’s going out?”
Guessing there must have been a conversation between them, Jae-O asked directly, prompting a sigh from Ji-Pil.
Ji-Pil hadn’t received any communication from Chae-Yoon. Yet, he could understand her actions based on what he knew from Jae-O.
Why would she want to talk to someone who had harshly accused her of wanting a divorce because of another man?
Ji-Pil clicked his tongue and softly called out to Jae-O.
“Jae-O.”
[Dash]Will she come back today?As soon as Jae-O called out the name, an eager voice rushed in, clearly anxious to know Chae-Yoon’s whereabouts. Ji-Pil, maintaining his calm, spoke to Jae-O. [Dash]Stop pretending to be sharp and hang up. I’m busy.
With Ji-Pil’s words, the call ended abruptly.
“Hello? Hel… What?”
Jae-O, frustrated by the sudden disconnection, tried calling Ji-Pil again, only to be met with a call rejection.
With Chae-Yoon not answering and Ji-Pil, who seemed to know her location, also not responding, Jae-O felt like he was going insane.
“Ah, this is driving me crazy.”
His frustration rose to a boiling point.
He desperately wanted to find Chae-Yoon and talk to her, but there was no way for him to ascertain her location.
Realizing he had no option but to wait for Chae-Yoon, Jae-O, trying to suppress his frustration, headed to his room.
That’s when it happened.
Buzz.
Reacting swiftly to the short vibration, Jae-O hoped it was Chae-Yoon and immediately checked the incoming message, only to find it was not from her.
The message, from an unfamiliar number, contained several photos.
Two cars parked in the same parking lot, a shot of Hyun-Min entering an apartment parking entrance, and another of Chae-Yoon heading towards the same entrance.
Upon seeing all four photos, Jae-O’s eyes hardened icily.
My Step-brother Is Obsessed With Me (Female-dominant)
A gentle female protagonist vs pitiful in the early stage, and a sick male protagonist in the later stage
Cheng Songer transmigrated into the body of a vicious cannon fodder female supporting character with the same name as her in a female-dominant novel.
In the original story, the cannon fodder female supporting character was inhumane, committing domestic violence, gambling excessively, being lustful, and even wanting to sell her stepbrother to a brothel for money.
As luck would have it, she just happened to transmigrate at this time.
Seeing Cheng Qingzhi biting his lip, enduring the tears in his eyes, looking pitiful, her heart softened.
She stuffed the money back into the Madam’s hand and reached out to him.
“Brother, come home with me.”
