The team leader resolved to avoid any mistakes and focused his mind. He then calmly continued his report.
“The contractors’ demand is an increase in construction costs. They claim that due to the surge in raw material prices, including a hike in cement costs, labor wages, and fuel prices, they’re unable to maintain profits, let alone manage company operations with the current contract amount.”
Jinwook, who had been listening quietly, asked, “What’s the proposed increase rate?”
“They are demanding a 25% increase in subcontracting fees.”
25%. Jinwook let out a wry smile.
“Are we a charity? Consider the increase in cement prices and labor costs and agree up to 15%, and make it clear that there will be no further negotiations.”
His tone was firm.
“Tell them that if they don’t accept, we’re ready to terminate the contract and even go to court if necessary.”
The team leader hesitated briefly before offering his opinion.
“But… the longer the negotiation takes, the greater the loss on our side.”
“If we cave to their demands now due to immediate losses, they’ll come back with even bigger demands in the future.”
Jinwook met the team leader’s eyes with a resolute expression.
“Be firm. And show them who really suffers from this strike.”
His cold gaze continued.
“We need to completely crush them so they don’t dare pull something like this again.”
As soon as the meeting ended, Jinwook headed to his office.
His office resembled its owner in atmosphere. The monochrome tone interior with just the right amount of furniture was neat and uncluttered.
Jinwook took off his suit jacket and sat down. The desk in his office was piled with documents to read and approve.
Sitting up straight, he started scrutinizing the documents. Quickly grasping the key points of each document and making decisions was crucial.
Known for his understanding and judgment skills, Jinwook boasted extremely high efficiency, surpassing others. His meticulous nature ensured his work was always clean and flawless.
Thus, while the employees might have resented his cold demeanor, they recognized and respected his work capabilities.
Jinwook, as usual, was demonstrating remarkable concentration, thoroughly going through the documents.
The only sound in the office was the rustling of papers.
After a while, his eyes scanning the documents began to slow, and the motion of flipping pages gradually became sluggish.
“…”
Jinwook momentarily lifted his gaze from the documents. Despite trying to refocus, it was futile. His mind felt clouded, and the words on the papers barely registered.
The reason he couldn’t concentrate was clear. The image of Yeonju from the previous night kept flashing before his eyes, troubling his thoughts.
“…I’m so tired.”
Seeing Yeonju drunk for the first time was new.
“…It’s so heavy… I can’t bear it.”
It was also the first time she uttered such words.
What had made her so weary?
Was it the pressure of pregnancy and the attention surrounding it?
But such stress should have been anticipated when she chose to marry him.
Regardless of the reason, had he been too harsh?
Jinwook let out a frustrated sigh.
He didn’t know how to comfort a woman. Before marriage, if women cried or sought attention, he simply cut them off. Having never deeply involved himself with anyone, he saw no reason to ponder deeply.
But a wife was different. Even if there were moments of conflict, they still had to face each other.
Like it or not, they had to live seeing each other’s faces every day. She couldn’t be simply cut off or ignored. It was a relationship that demanded more.
So he chose a composed woman as his spouse. A woman who wouldn’t be emotional or demanding. Someone who wouldn’t interfere with his work or have unnecessary stubbornness. Yeonju seemed exactly like that kind of woman.
But recently, she had started to change. Her changes were bothering him. Enough to the point where he couldn’t focus on his work.
“Ha.”
Jinwook let out a long sigh. Yeonju’s concerns were domestic issues. He felt it was pathetic and deplorable of him to be unable to concentrate on company matters because of home affairs.
Feeling a throbbing in his temples, Jinwook held his forehead. He called his secretary.
[Yes, Director.]“Bring me some aspirin, please.”
[Understood.]A few minutes later, there was a knock at the office door, followed by his secretary’s voice.
[Director, it’s Secretary Joo.]“Come in.”
The office door opened, and Secretary Joo Minhee, dressed in a neat office outfit, entered. She was one of Jinwook’s secretaries, with long hair and a slender figure. Among the three secretaries, Minhee was the longest-serving and most trusted by Jinwook for her sharp personality and error-free work.
Minhee set the tray with aspirin in front of Jinwook.
“Here’s the aspirin you asked for.”
Jinwook took two aspirin pills, swallowed them with water, then refocused on the documents. While his eyes were fixed on the papers, he spoke.
“Thank you. You can go now.”
After Being Cheated On, She Picked Up a Treasure (Female-dominant)
One-line summary: The husband I married on a whim had been secretly in love with me for a long time.
On the day when Jun Shao finally obtained the imperial decree for her marriage, Lan Qu, the person she had admired for six years, defied the decree and ran away.
Her gentleness and devotion, her promise of a lifetime together, were all disregarded by him. Instead, he dreamed of entering the palace to serve the Emperor’s sister as a sixth-rank attendant.
News of this incident spread throughout the capital, and the alleys in front of and behind the Lan mansion were crowded with people who came to watch the commotion.
Jun Shao should have been embarrassed and angry.
But someone stepped in to protect her dignity.
The figure was in a miserable state, yet still possessed an undeniable elegance and handsomeness.
The young lord struggled to climb the wall of the Lan mansion and shouted to her, “If he won’t marry you, I will!”
So, Jun Shao took advantage of the situation and married the person.
She thought the young lord did it to save the Lan family from the crime of defying the imperial decree, but never imagined that from beginning to end, what he coveted was her.
*
After the wedding, Jun Shao felt like she was living in a dream.
Her Wife-master was as beautiful as a fairy in a painting, skilled in the six arts, well-versed in poetry and literature, capable of being gentle and attentive, and also grand and dignified. Most importantly, she was the only one in his heart and eyes.
Jun Shao didn’t know how Lan Shiwu, as a illegitimate son without a father and blessed with beauty, had managed to preserve his purity, recklessly escape, and use his last ounce of strength to ruin his own reputation, all because of his love for her, just to stand before her.
She could only see him gazing at her with eyes full of love, and when she bestowed a name upon him, his eyes shone like stars.
“You have come to me like a weary bird perching on a branch. I shall call you A Qi.”
