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Chapter 1
It was the night before the last day of the year.
“Hey.”
That sharp single word stabbed straight into Taehui’s chest.
“What did I ever do with you for you to call this love?”
At those cold words, her knees went weak.
This was about her feelings for Do Mugeon—a one-sided love that had lasted nine full years, now heading into its tenth.
She was only thirteen back then, far too young to understand love.
But Do Mugeon, her brother’s friend, had been the start of her feverish feelings.
And yet…
She had hidden it well. Endured it quietly for so long.
“N-No, oppa. I never expected anything from you. Not even once!”
“……”
An unkind warning followed.
Taehui answered with a short “Yes,” but in the end, she burst into tears.
Her unrequited love was over.
No—it had to end.
She had imagined this moment before.
She had even dreamed of a happy ending where ten years of lonely love would finally be rewarded.
But that day, Taehui met the worst possible ending she had ever imagined.
She welcomed the most painful New Year of her life.
Two years passed.
She spent that time trying to forget Do Mugeon.
At least one thing helped—
right after that confession incident, he was suddenly assigned overseas and left the country.
Her ten-year crush faded.
…Or so she thought.
“I was afraid my feelings would burden you… so I never said anything… I kept it all to myself…”
Her secret love of ten years had been exposed.
By her male friend.
Jiho—Taehui’s close friend and Mugeon’s junior from school—had blurted everything out while drinking.
Why he had done something so unnecessary, she didn’t know.
She felt like crying.
Trying to fix the situation, Taehui lifted her head—but before she could speak—
“You’ll regret this when you grow up. Stop liking me.”
The words came down like blame.
Her heart felt like it split in half.
After hearing what Jiho had said, Mugeon spoke first.
“You know we’re people who have to see each other, whether we like it or not.”
“Yes… oppa.”
“For Taeseong’s sake… I have to think of you as my little sister and take care of you.”
At the mention of her dead brother, Taehui froze.
“Don’t leave behind useless feelings. End it cleanly. As fast as possible.”
Until she met Do Mugeon again—
in an unexpected place, in an unexpected way—
she believed that was truly the end.
***
“Secretary Lee, please place these documents on the desk of the Executive Director of Strategic Planning after work!”
Lee Young hurried out of the office, calling out to Taehui.
Taehui, focused on finishing her last task, jumped up.
“Yes! See you tomorrow, Director!”
Lee Young smiled brightly and waved as she left.
Do Lee-young, the second daughter of Myungdo Group.
She was the Executive Director of the Product Planning Department at Myungcent Department Store—and Taehui’s boss.
Always energetic and cheerful, she was called the “sunshine of Myungdo.”
Taehui, the youngest secretary with only five months on the job, admired her deeply.
Abuse of power?
Chaebol arrogance?
Those words had nothing to do with Lee Young.
Watching her, Taehui thought kindness must come from inner comfort.
Lee Young seemed to have everything.
But even she had one flaw—she was an illegitimate child the chairman had outside his marriage.
Because of that, there were rumors she was treated coldly by the family.
And she was especially on bad terms with one sibling.
That sibling was Do Mugeon.
The second son of Myungdo Group.
Taehui’s painful past. Her dark history.
That was why Taehui had transferred here without hesitation.
Mugeon hated Lee Young and had no interest in the department store business.
She believed he would never come here.
Even Jiho had confidently said Mugeon would never set foot here as long as Lee Young was around.
Lost in thought, Taehui returned to her desk.
“Who do you think the new executive coming next week is?”
“This level of secrecy is unusual.”
“Maybe Director Do Huijun? I heard a rumor.”
After Lee Young left, the office buzzed with talk about the new executive director joining Strategic Planning after the weekend.
Do Huijun was the chairman’s youngest son—and the one sibling Lee Young got along with.
Would he take the position?
***
After working late, Taehui went to the Strategic Planning office.
It was empty.
Being Friday evening, everyone must have gone home early.
She unconsciously softened her footsteps as she looked at the vacant office.
“Excuse me.”
Even knowing it was empty, she knocked before entering.
The dark office was clean and ready for its new owner.
Her heels echoed loudly in the silence, making her nerves sharpen.
She placed the documents on the wide desk and turned to leave—
“Oh…!”
Her pen caught on her ID card, and the pen holder spilled onto the floor.
“Oh no.”
She hurriedly knelt down to pick them up.
As she bent lower to reach a pen that had rolled under the desk—
Click.
Someone entered.
“…?”
Frozen with her hips raised, Taehui slowly turned her head.
The lights snapped on.
Startled, she shut her eyes.
“Hey. You. With your butt up.”
A cold, low voice cut through the air.
“What kind of indecent behavior is this in someone else’s office?”
The obvious irritation made her lift her head.
“Let’s greet face to face. Not ass first.”
And then—
She almost screamed.
The man leaning against the door was unbelievable.
“You.”
He recognized her too.
His brow creased slightly.
Why are you here?
“Trying awfully hard to leave an impression.”
“…!”
“Lee Taehui.”
He said her name clearly and strode toward her.
It was Do Mugeon.
More polished.
More dangerous than two years ago.
“M-Mugeon… oppa?”
Her hips dropped immediately.
“Yes. Do Mugeon. Your brother’s friend.”
Cold words followed as he grabbed her ID card.
Her neck burned.
“Secretary Lee Taehui. Product Planning Department.”
A silent storm raged in his dark eyes.
“Of all places… you came here.”
He pulled her closer by the ID card.
Her body was dragged straight into his chest.
This smell…
The scent that carried ten years of memories brushed her nose.
“Go on. Finish what you were doing.”
His gaze traveled over her flushed face, slim waist—
and lower.
Her raised hips from moments ago.
“It was… worth looking at.”
Not admiration.
Just cold displeasure.
“I—I was picking up pens.”
Her voice shook.
“…That excuse won’t do.”
He clicked his tongue.
“Try again. With a better answer, Secretary Lee.”
His warning rang in her head.
“Why is someone from Product Planning crawling on my office floor?”
“…!”
“You’d better explain properly.”
His fingers still gripped her ID.
“You know, right?”
“I’m not the kind of ‘nice oppa’ who goes easy on you just because you’re my friend’s little sister.”
