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chapter 22
“What?”
Kim Sung-su’s face twisted at Do-hyun’s cold tone.
“You can only know a person’s side of the story if you hear both sides.”
“Are you saying our cousin lied?”
“Have you actually verified it?”
Kim Sung-su’s expression hardened at Do-hyun’s retort.
“What’s the point of verifying? A woman like Team Leader Seo, who lives for her own pride, would ever admit to something like that herself? Never.”
“Don’t spread rumors recklessly. You could get sued for that.”
“What? Sued? Are you threatening me?”
“Threatening? No. I’m just warning you out of concern.”
Just as anger was about to flare in Kim Sung-su’s voice, a black sedan quietly pulled up and stopped. Soon, the rear window rolled down, revealing Vice President Jo Seok-jin’s face.
“Hello, Vice President.”
Kim Sung-su bowed sharply, but Jo Seok-jin didn’t even glance at him.
“Get in. I have something to discuss.”
“Yes.”
Flustered, Kim Sung-su hurriedly opened the passenger door and got in.
Despite being uncle and nephew, the car was filled with cold silence.
Just before the windows closed, Do-hyun and Jo Seok-jin’s eyes met.
Do-hyun lightly nodded, but Jo Seok-jin sharply turned his head away.
By the end of work,
Yeon-ha, having decided to refuse his proposal, sent Do-hyun a text: “Do you have some time today?”
But the message wasn’t read.
Perhaps he was busy since it was Friday.
With no choice, she finished preparing to leave and waited for the elevator. When the doors opened, Do-hyun was already inside, holding a bag. He seemed to be leaving work too.
“Are you leaving now?”
“Yes.”
Trying not to draw attention from others, Yeon-ha cautiously entered the elevator.
She had assumed he hadn’t seen her message because he was busy, but now that they had met in person, the mood was bitter.
Thinking she should take advantage of the moment to talk, she resolved to speak when others got off—but at the next floor, several people crowded in.
Pushed back, she barely stopped in front of Do-hyun, but before she could breathe a sigh of relief, more people entered at another floor.
Struggling to avoid touching the man behind her, she braced herself on her toes but lost balance amid the crowd and wobbled.
“Ah—”
In that instant, Do-hyun quickly grabbed her arm. He naturally pulled her toward him and used his arms to create a protective space against the wall.
“Are you okay?”
Yeon-ha nodded but couldn’t raise her face, afraid her flushed expression would show.
Because people kept forcing their way into the elevator, it was hard to maintain space between them. She felt his arms pressing against the wall tighten slightly.
The distance between them gradually narrowed, and his chest seemed just about to touch her body.
Holding her breath to avoid contact, a low voice whispered above her head:
“Don’t worry.”
It was calm and gentle, as if he had pierced through her thoughts.
Do-hyun seemed unfazed, leaving Yeon-ha wondering if she was overthinking. The thought made the corner of her lips twitch slightly.
At that moment, warm breath brushed over the top of her head.
…Did he just smile?
She didn’t dare lift her head to check, so she glared hard at his tie pin, as if it were him.
The display on the elevator panel read “FULL,” accompanied by an announcement: “Capacity exceeded.”
Finally, someone reluctantly stepped out, and the elevator headed to the lobby.
The thirty seconds inside felt like thirty minutes.
When the doors opened, people poured out.
Do-hyun stepped aside, and Yeon-ha finally exhaled deeply.
“What floor?” he asked.
Only then did Yeon-ha realize she hadn’t pressed the button yet.
“B5.”
Do-hyun pressed the button, and after a short silence, Yeon-ha spoke first:
“I texted you earlier.”
“Did you? I didn’t hear it because it was noisy.”
Do-hyun pulled out his phone to check the message, his eyes softening.
“Were you trying to ask me out?”
“If you have time, can we talk briefly?”
Yeon-ha’s serious expression caused Do-hyun’s thick eyebrows to twitch.
“Why the serious look? What’s the matter?”
“This isn’t really the place… shall we go to my car?”
Perhaps noticing her resolve, Do-hyun’s gaze sharpened.
“Is it okay if we’re seen together… by company people?”
Yeon-ha, who hadn’t considered that, pressed her lips and looked away.
Watching her, Do-hyun glanced at his watch and said,
“I have plans tonight. I’ll head home after that.”
“Oh, no, there’s no need—”
Before she could wave her hands in protest, the elevator doors opened.
Do-hyun stepped out without waiting, turned, and said,
“I’ll call you.”
Then he walked briskly toward his car as if nothing had happened.
After showering and having dinner, it was 8 p.m.
Yeon-ha kept sneaking glances at her phone, irritated at herself, and busied herself with unnecessary cleaning and laundry.
Even after keeping herself busy, only an hour had passed, which made her sigh.
With nothing else to do, she turned on a drama she rarely watched.
A story whose ending she could already predict.
Still, with nothing to occupy her, she hugged her knees and stared blankly at the TV screen.
By the time the drama ended, it was 11 p.m.
Yet, no contact from him.
If he were going to be late, he could at least send a message. Doesn’t he think about the person waiting?
Boiling with frustration, Yeon-ha turned off the TV and flopped onto her bed.
If only she had just spoken in the elevator.
Since they saw each other every day, she wanted to sort things out clearly.
She probably didn’t want their relationship to sour.
She had been waiting for a call that could have been made right away.
Enough. Don’t wait. Call him yourself. We’re not even dating.
Pushing herself, Yeon-ha picked up her phone from the nightstand.
Just as she was about to dial,
Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep.
The keypad at the front door sounded. Her spine went cold.
…Who could it be?
Startled, Yeon-ha jumped out of bed. No one should be entering her house at this hour, and certainly not using the keypad.
Though he said he’d come, he wouldn’t use the keypad instead of the doorbell. Her parents, who knew the code, were away in the countryside and wouldn’t come without notice.
Gripping her pounding heart, Yeon-ha got up and cautiously looked around for something to use as a weapon.
Her eyes fell on a mop in the corner.
It didn’t look sturdy, but she had no other choice.
She picked it up and crept toward the door, pressing the intercom.
The screen showed a man she had never seen, leaning over the keypad.
“Damn. Why won’t this open?”
Outside, a rough, drunken voice muttered. Probably frustrated that the code kept failing.
Had he come to the wrong house?
Her body trembled; it was her first experience like this since moving in.
Holding her breath, she waited for the man to leave, but he seemed determined to stay, muttering curses and pressing the keypad again and again.
She wanted to say, “You’re at the wrong house,” but she couldn’t risk letting him know a woman was alone inside.
What should she do? Call the police? Or the security office?
As she hesitated, her phone buzzed.
“Are you asleep?”
It was a text from Nam Do-hyun.
