“Manager Kang Si-hyun proudly shared it with her friends!”

While people were vigorously discussing and looking at their phones, someone raised their head belatedly.

“Let me see too.”

The employee who had seen Si-hyun dropped their phone in surprise.

“Oh my!”

Si-hyun picked up the phone and looked at the photo.

She remembered it exactly. It happened when Tae-ha was in the first year of middle school. To commemorate being the top of the class for the first time, they took a picture together. They wanted a sticker photo of the moment, so they playfully posed, including a fake kissing pose.

Because they took various shots in different poses, they even mimicked a pose like they were about to strangle each other. As university friends eagerly took the photos, Si-hyun ended up losing all of them. There were so many people, she couldn’t even remember who it was.

[Wow, this guy is a debutant just with his face. When are you going to show it to us, huh?] [Don’t even dream. He’s in the first year of middle school.]

The memory of receiving a scolding for that sticker photo, and now boasting about it. Moreover, this photo was supposed to be evidence of their friendship since middle school.

It was so absurd that a hollow laughter escaped.

Returning the phone to its owner, Si-hyun shrugged.

“It’s a relief that this came out. There were probably also poses like a night attack and grabbing by the neck back then. It could have been mistaken for assaulting a minor.”

“……!”

“Continue with what you were saying.”

Returning the phone and turning away from the frozen people in the corridor, Si-hyun deliberately lifted her head higher and broadened her shoulders.

Upon arriving at the OneApp team’s office, she noticed that team members were gathered, sighing deeply.

“Poor Si-hyun. What should we do?”

“Yeah. What do they know about Manager Kang that they’re gossiping so recklessly?”

“We should sue them all. Well, our Manager Kang Si-hyun wouldn’t do something like that, right?”

Seeing even the team leader angrily spitting, Si-hyun’s nose tingled. Still, not everyone was attacking her. I haven’t completely messed up my life after all.
Taking a deep breath, Si-hyun entered the office, wearing a broad smile as if she hadn’t heard anything.

“Good morning!”

The team members scattered like kids caught playing pranks. The team leader, clearing his throat, asked,

“Uh, Manager Kang. Is your cold getting better?”

It was amusing how he didn’t even call her ‘Manager Kang Si-hyun,’ probably due to how flustered he was.

“Yes, Team Leader. Thanks to your concern, I’m all better now. I’ll work twice as hard today to make up for yesterday!”

She replied confidently, took her seat, and beside her, Miju asked,

“Si-hyun, are you okay?”

Miju was the only one in the company who knew about the past story between her and Tae-ha, and she didn’t know how to console Si-hyun, who seemed more upset.

“Seriously, after raising a kid who can’t even eat properly, what’s this? Trying to fix a tutor who seduced a rich family’s son? It’s unbelievable!”

Miju comforted Si-hyun, even shedding tears.

“Don’t worry, Si-hyun. I’ll spread the real story throughout the company. I’ll even post it on the internet…!”

“Enough, just leave it. Let them chatter as they please.”

Miju exploded in anger. Did she have to keep holding it in like she did during the incident with Lee Bora? This time, she would get hit without saying a word!

“Why do you always keep things inside? Aren’t you unfairly treated, Si-hyun? Please, you should speak up and live your life!”

However, Si-hyun just found it amusing.

“I’m fine, so let’s get to work quickly. Could you summarize yesterday’s meeting?”

[Star icon]

Tae-ha was in complete disarray. Since the news came out yesterday morning, there had been no contact with Si-hyun.

[Dash] Sorry, Tae-ha. I need some time alone at home today.

That was the only message he received. Si-hyun’s phone was either turned off or unreachable, and she didn’t show up at the office.

The main company, Korea Edu, pressured to resolve the situation quickly.

[President Yoon, with all this chaos, you’re not seriously continuing with the marriage, are you?] [I will.]

In response, the main company hinted at considering a reacquisition of UnionTA’s shares.

[Feel free to do so. I will repurchase the shares whenever.]

Tae-ha responded firmly. The reason he started the business in the first place was to achieve economic independence quickly to stand before Si-hyun as a man. If he kept the business after losing Si-hyun, what would be the point?

Meanwhile, the situation escalated rapidly. Tae-ha didn’t mind being treated like a poor child who suffered gaslighting, but he couldn’t bear to see Si-hyun being treated like trash.

Tae-ha decided. He would personally address the media, reveal everything truthfully.

But before that, he had to talk to Si-hyun, and it was a big problem because she cut off all contact and stayed holed up in her house.

What could she be thinking alone right now? Worried, Tae-ha’s heart suddenly pounded.

‘Could she be thinking of breaking up?’

He became anxious. Now was not the time for this. Thinking that he should go to her house immediately, he got up from his seat. But just as he was about to rush out of the office, he stopped, surprised by the breeze as the door opened.

The person who entered was Si-hyun.

“Did you come to work?”

“Even if the world turns upside down, work still needs to be done.”

The resolute voice made Tae-ha’s anxiety swell.

Upon reflection, Tae-ha had been afraid that something like this might happen before they even started.

[If we date or get married, assuming we do. How will people see me?] [You liked it. From the beginning, I wanted you!] [What’s the use of that? Others will look at me with those eyes. Ah, you grew up like that from a young age. You had your back to us. Wait, did you mess around since you were a minor?] Looking back now, it was an eerily accurate prediction. Tae-ha felt like a child again. Unlike himself, who was blindly immersed in love without discrimination, Si-hyun had already foreseen everything.

She had said this before:

“I had an absolutely pure heart, without a hint of shame, raising you. I don’t want anything tarnishing that pure heart, like dirty accusations.”

In the end, her worries had come true. She seemed likely to suggest breaking up, and tears welled up in Tae-ha’s eyes. How hard he had worked to gain her heart!

Before she could say the words about breaking up, Tae-ha urgently spoke.

“Don’t worry. I’ll personally do an interview or whatever it takes to clarify everything. You are not my tutor but someone who raised me when I had no parents.”

“Then what changes?”

Si-hyun smiled bitterly.

“You’re like a puppet I control. I brainwashed you since you were young. But what difference would it make if you hold a press conference? If I say I was an orphan not from middle school but since the second grade in elementary, I’d be seen as even worse.”

It was a resigned tone. Tae-ha, growing anxious, pleaded again.

“But we can’t just break up like this!”

“Do you want to break up?”

Si-hyun’s questioning made Tae-ha a bit flustered.

“I’d never think of that even if I died. I’m asking how you feel.”

Si-hyun sighed.

“I considered breaking up. I’ve caused damage even to your company. Maybe stepping back is the right thing to do. Otherwise, I might be blocking your path.”

“What’s the use of a company or my path without you!”

“I thought the same.”

Si-hyun nodded.

“If we break up to protect your reputation, will you be happy? If we break up to save the business, will you truly be happy? …But no matter how much I think, it doesn’t seem right.”

Tae-ha was perplexed. He couldn’t understand what this woman was trying to say. So, does she want to break up, or not? It felt like standing in front of the gallows.

“So, a bit shameless, but I’ve decided.”

Looking at Tae-ha with an unbelievable expression, Si-hyun took out a small box from her pocket.

Meeting Tae-ha’s eyes, Si-hyun handed him a ring.

“Let’s get married, Yoon Tae-ha.”