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Chapter 03
“When you’re twenty-nine. If you still like me then, let’s get married.”
At first, Somang truly believed what Hangyeol said.
He’d never once accepted her feelings—not even as a joke—so she cherished that one short sentence like it was sacred.
But the Hangyeol who said he’d be back soon gradually became harder to reach, and he began acting like someone who had completely forgotten their promise.
Even so, the moment she saw him earlier, her heart started pounding out of habit, and she felt like she might spring toward him without thinking.
“…I’m such an idiot.”
More than the smell of spilled coffee soaking her pants, the scent she remembered from the airport five years ago still clung to her—the scent of Hangyeol.
Somang glanced at her wristwatch and quickened her steps toward the banquet hall.
“Ugh—finally done. Great work today, Assistant Manager Baek.”
“You too, Eunjung.”
Just then, Hangyeol finished his inauguration speech and gave a slight bow. Thunderous applause and camera flashes erupted.
“That TF Team appliance-explosion recovery incident is why he ended up here, right?”
“Yeah. If I’d known the person in charge was this handsome, I would’ve applied when they accepted internal applicants.”
The female employees of the operations team huddled together, each adding their own comment as they stared at Hangyeol.
“My friend in HR said he worked at Seri Electronics and Clover’s U.S. branch.”
“Really? Then the rumor that he was parachuted in?”
“No way. They did a reference check—apparently there was nothing to pick on. His personal life was clean and his reputation among staff was great.”
Their voices weren’t even that loud, but Somang couldn’t help listening.
“Wow, really?”
“Yeah. I mean, of course he has a girlfriend, right?”
The women stared at Hangyeol with obvious interest, and a wave of anxious irritation tightened Somang’s chest.
“Probably. If not in Korea, then someone he dated in the U.S. branch. No way someone would just leave a guy like that alone.”
“Ahh… whoever she is, lucky girl.”
Surrounded by flushed faces and shy smiles, Somang alone couldn’t smile.
Even after ten years beside him, she had never crossed the line—only circled around him. She wasn’t any different from them.
Just as she was about to sneak out of the banquet hall, her chest aching—
“Assistant Manager Baek! B-Baek!”
Deputy Section Chief Gam rushed over, arms flapping as he tried to neaten his clothes.
“Quick, quick—come on, you know what I mean, right?”
“You’re bringing the team leader yourself, right?”
At her words, Gam nodded vigorously, smoothing the few hairs he had left.
“Then I’ll go straight to the office. Take your time talking to him.”
“Thanks, Baek!”
With a thumbs-up, he scurried off. Beside Somang, Eunjung stood with her mouth slightly open.
“Ma’am, that was amazing. How did you even understand what he meant?”
“I… well. You just learn after working with him this long.”
Everyone knew the TF Team leader position was essentially the “final evaluation” before promotion to executive.
As for Deputy Chief Gam—he acted like he’d happily give his organs to upper management if it meant becoming an executive at Clover Electronics. His most important daily task was having coffee time with his superiors.
And unfortunately, Somang had been under him for years.
“Alright, alright! Attention! Our Team Leader Yoo is here!”
On the way to his office, Hangyeol was pulled into the center of the department, becoming the focus of everyone’s attention.
He smiled brightly—showing not even a hint of discomfort. Somang quickly ducked behind her partition so their eyes wouldn’t meet.
“Chief Gam, thanks for all your work today.”
When Hangyeol handed him a card, small cheers rose around them. Gam flapped his hands dramatically.
“What do you mean—you’re the star today, Team Leader Yoo! A card alone? No way~”
Even Dahee—who normally disagreed with everything Gam said—got up quietly and agreed.
“Right. Let’s all go eat together.”
Then even the Quality Management Department, which supported the TF Team, shouted, “Great, let’s go!”
A company dinner with her first love—after five years—and in pants stained with coffee. She was always the first to say “Yes!” but this time she just couldn’t.
“Wouldn’t the team leader be tired today? How about we set a proper date next time?”
Somang rose timidly from her seat.
She glanced at Hangyeol but immediately looked away, feeling the prickle of dozens of eyes.
“Hmm… Assistant Manager Baek Somang, right?”
Hearing him call her by name so directly made her slowly lift her head.
“…Yes.”
“I’m fine. Actually, I’d be happy to join.”
His gaze lingered on her as his lips curled into a soft smile, his sharp eyes folding gently.
A jolt.
Her heartbeat stumbled into an irregular rhythm.
“I… my clothes are like this, so… I’ll skip the welcome dinner today. Sorry.”
With a flushed face, she pointed at her pants and quickly sat down.
No one could blame her—those coffee stains were unmistakable.
“Alright, alright. Baek can join next time. Anyone free after work, let’s grab a simple dinner.”
Gam wrapped up the situation and clung to Hangyeol’s side again.
“And our TF Team’s flower—the team leader—will definitely be there, right?”
“…Yes. Sure.”
After a brief pause, Hangyeol answered. Then he stopped and turned.
“Assistant Manager Baek Somang, come see me for a moment.”
“…Sorry?”
“Bring the smart factory materials to my office.”
Her voice cracked in panic, but Hangyeol’s expression remained perfectly calm.
“Ah… yes.”
The cheerful mood evaporated instantly, and everyone slipped back into work mode.
Somang printed the files, sat down, and pressed her palms to her cheeks.
When she opened her drawer, there lay a single gold-wrapped calming pill.
This is ridiculous.
She couldn’t take this every time she ran into him—not when she’d be seeing him constantly from now on.
She forced herself to breathe deeply and headed to his office.
Knock, knock.
“Come in.”
The office, lit by a full wall of windows, carried the scent of expensive leather and heavy herbs.
And in the center sat Yoo Hangyeol—black hair neatly swept back, pale skin contrasting sharply against it, eyes holding a cool edge.
Even after five years, he still made her heart flutter.
He rubbed his eyebrow as he scanned the documents—an old habit she remembered well.
But the unfamiliar aura of authority made her swallow hard.
She managed to step forward and placed the documents on the large conference table.
“Should I… leave them here?”
“Ah, Somang.”
As soon as he noticed her, his expression softened, his eyes curving warmly.
“Sit.”
“Oh… yes.”
The closer he got, the hotter her ears became. Her pressed-together lips barely let her breathe.
“F-first, for the business proposal… the factory with the most accumulated data is C-Chungbuk…”
From the head seat, Hangyeol began reviewing her documents.
She wanted to show him she wasn’t a clingy kid begging him to marry her anymore—that she was a capable adult now, someone who lived just fine without him.
But her words kept tangling up.
“Hmmm…”
Was her report really that bad? She shrank a little.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Hangyeol drummed his fingers on the table, then stood and perched on the edge of the conference table right beside her.
The air around them tightened.
“Baek Somang.”
Even with his blatant gaze boring into the top of her head, she pretended not to notice.
“Assistant Manager Baek?”
Hangyeol let out a low laugh and loosened his tie.
The navy tie slipped free and landed atop the documents.
Click—
Time seemed to stop. Then—
A quiet pop as a shirt button came undone, the sound slicing through the silence.
Beneath the open collar, a clean line of collarbone appeared.
W-why is he suddenly… undressing…?!
“T-Team Leader?”
“Yes, Assistant Manager Baek.”
His eyes locked onto hers, the corners of his mouth lifted.
His unpredictable movements sent her gaze trembling.
