Ji An looked at Ha Joon politely while pointing forward. It was a signal for him to leave.
And she pulled the transparent wire of the headset connected to the walkietalkie.
“As you can see, I’m working.”
“Your job was tutoring classes. Or translations. I’m surprised because a kid like that is here. You’re quite sharp with your reaction.”
“I got a job. I’m in customer support at Play Round. My workplace is a library. As you can see, I’m helping with other things today. Is that enough?”
Ji An hesitated to say the rest of the words on the tip of her tongue, unsure whether to mention she was a contract worker.
But considering Eugene’s reaction last time, she felt it would be best not to.
As if reading her inner thoughts, Ha Joon continued.
“A library? Looking at what you’re doing here, you’re not a regular librarian, so you must be a contractor… If you want to work, I can look for a permanent position for you. As a librarian.”
Although Ha Joon’s words were not mockery but rather for her benefit, Ji An felt a sense of melancholy.
She pulled her inner lip with her teeth and suggested Ha Joon return to his seat.
“Go for now. It seems like the law firm’s CEO is looking for you.”
As Ha Joon left with steady steps, Ji An looked at the stage where the spotlight was on. It was where Dan Woo had been standing just a moment ago.
Upon the introduction of the host, the violinist Jenis made a spectacular entrance. Watching Jenis playing the violin as if possessed, Ji An’s feelings became even more complicated.
Ji An felt like she was standing in a jungle.
A place where the law of the survival of the fittest was strictly applied. She felt like she was standing in a place where the weak without power had no choice but to crouch down and hold their breath.
Jenis, who played the last note, ended the performance by flicking her bow and raising her arm high. A round of applause poured out for the stage of the worldrenowned artist.
Even without the bright spotlight, her passion truly shone.
It wasn’t that she envied Jenis for becoming an artist by listening well to her mother’s words. She envied that heart filled with passion for her own work.
“My sister is really cool. Mom would love it. I admit it.”
Ji An tried to hold back the feelings of becoming infinitely small, weak, and inferior. That was all she could do.
It was a simple matter of quietly returning home when the time was up, wandering around as if she was there but not there.
It was a very simple and easy task.
Ji An muttered with determination.
“Kim Ji An, no one here will care about your feelings. If they encounter you, you’re at work. You can just say that.”
The moment she gently pressed her racing heart, she heard the voice of the deputy in her earpiece.
[Customer support team. This is the last official event. The banquet will start soon. The external event team is preparing the beverage catering. Check the hall situation from your positions.]
As Ji An moved to prepare for the banquet, she thought about Dan Woo.
CEO, huh.
She had no idea he was such a great person, even though he was not like her.
What kind of person would he be if he was the CEO of a large shopping mall with its headquarters in America?
A chaebol perhaps? He probably came from a good family, had a good education, and might already have a designated marriage partner.
Up until now, Ji An thought that Dan Woo was a big businessman with a pain similar to hers. Because that’s what she had heard.
But today, the boundary between herself and Dan Woo seemed clear.
Woo Dan Woo. Every time she thought of him, a hot energy gathered and her heart throbbed. However, it felt like she couldn’t continue this way any longer.
When she entered the hall with the catering team, the ceiling lights were bright.
Among the people in fancy outfits tilting champagne glasses, there were people in uniforms mixed in.
They wore black vests and white shirts visible to anyone, with name tags on their chests. It felt as if they were showcasing the difference in status.
The man, who was the owner of the stone house in Jeju, appeared in Ji An’s view, which was slanted with upset feelings.
She saw Dan Woo standing beside him, and across them was Jenis. Ha Joon, who was handing over a glass of champagne to Jenis, filled her sight again.
They were exchanging glances and having a conversation.
These four people must have met for the first time today, right? They couldn’t possibly have been friends from the beginning, could they?
An indescribable strange energy gradually gathered and, like a tsunami, engulfed her all at once.
Ji An felt like she was abandoned by the world.
“No matter what, this isn’t right. This can’t happen.”
The small spark flared up fiercely in an instant. It felt as if her body was burning red with the unfortunate energy that had pierced through her.
‘I am me and they are just them. It’s not like you did anything wrong.’
Such affirmations were useless. Her selfesteem, which had been shocked several times today, was busy being undermined. It shrank endlessly, cornering her.
Why is this happening? Why is everything like this to me?
Ji An stepped back. Then she quickly took two steps, followed by a third in retreat. Her stride, trying to get further away, accelerated.
She hated it.
She didn’t want to face any of them.
Reality was harsh, and if she could, she would have liked to run far away.
Then, along with the successive crashing sound, something poured around Ji An.
She had collided with the trolley that the catering staff had set up.
The sound of the trolley falling was louder and sharper than the subtle classical music filling the hall, drawing attention.
Ji An blankly watched the frothy champagne that soaked the floor fizz out. Shattered champagne glasses and sharp glass were scattered everywhere.
The catering staff was also standing in a daze, not knowing what to do.
Reflexively, Ji An looked back at where Dan Woo and Ha Joon were.
The moment her eyes met Dan Woo’s, it was as if icecold water was poured over her head, giving her chills and bringing her back to reality.
Taking a deep breath, she adopted the posture prescribed in the training manual and bowed her head to apologize to those around her.
It was late, but she returned to her duties as a member of the customer support team.
“I apologize for causing inconvenience. I will clean up the area promptly.”
Ji An reported the situation through her headset and knelt down, lowering her body.
With her heart pounding, she wanted to get out of their line of sight as quickly as possible after wrapping up this situation.
She began to pick up the sharp shards of glass wrapped in napkins. Although another team would come to clean up the scene, it was right to do something.
“Unni, are you okay?”
“Oh! Mi Kyung, I’m fine.”
“Let’s do it together.”
Unfortunately, the trolley not only had drinks but also finger food prepared for easy eating. Several employees scattered around to clean up the messed up area.
Her fragile heart was worn to the point of disappearance. It was hard to breathe with the tightness in her chest, and she could feel her ears and pale neck flushing red.
If she could, she wanted to disappear without a trace, thinking there was no place worse than this.
The sharp sensation of a glass shard in her finger was felt in an instant. Ji An let out a short cry at the sharp pain.
“Ah!”
A red line formed on Ji An’s finger, blood pooling and beading at the tip of her finger.
Holding the wounded finger tightly with her other hand and looking up, she saw three large shadows cast.
It was Dan Woo and Ha Joon. And the owner of the house with the Jeju stone wall.
lu lu lo la ▪️ net (lululola.net)
An Indifferent Woman is the One Men Desire the Most
One-line summary: The female lead is actually cold-hearted and extremely rational. She has stage-by-stage relationships and won’t two-time, but there will always be someone who secretly likes her.
This novel has the following triggers, so if you’re sensitive to these, please don’t read:
1. The female lead has had many relationships, but she treated each one seriously and broke up properly.
It’s just that the men unilaterally pestered her incessantly. For the female lead, when she doesn’t like someone anymore, she simply doesn’t like them.
(This applies to her relationships with Male Lead 1, 2, 3, and 4 as well, but she’s loyal in each 1-on-1 relationship!)
2. In this novel, Male Lead 2 and the female lead kiss in a car, and Male Lead 1 sees it and beats up Male Lead 2.
The female lead calls the police and sends both Male Lead 1 and 2 to the police station! Male Lead 1 begs the female lead not to break up with him.
3. Male Lead 1 has a gentle appearance but an obsessive personality.
Male Lead 2 has a delicate and soft appearance, slightly green tea-like (two-faced).
Male Lead 3 is a youthful college student and a smart person who has secretly liked the female lead for a long time.
Male Lead 4 is the female lead’s father’s special assistant, a business elite with deep, hidden thoughts.
4. At the beginning of this novel, the female lead has already broken up with Male Lead 1 (Chapter 4) and gotten back together with Male Lead 2 (ex-boyfriend).
5. Enter with caution if you have triggers!!!
