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Chapter 16
“The more I hear, the more it sounds like there’s absolutely no reason for you to go after Min Seol-ah, a third party. Even if you’re under different labels, the head company is the same, isn’t it? Can you really be sure it won’t become a problem even if headquarters finds out?”
Seo-yoon paused when she met Jung-oh’s cold stare. She could tell he was angry, but she had no idea why he was angry, and that baffled her even more. Frowning in confusion, she continued speaking whether Jung-oh listened or not.
“Sigh… Are you not going to renew Gogyul’s contract?”
Her voice came out a little arrogant, but it hadn’t been intentional. Her nerves were on edge, and the irritation leaked straight into her tone. If it were Yoojung standing here, she wouldn’t have made such a mistake—but Seo-yoon wasn’t Yoojung.
“You seem to be very interested in BE Entertainment, but that’s for me to handle.”
The way Baek Jung-oh spoke sounded like a warning not to touch Min Seol-ah or Soulmate. Seo-yoon stared at him and bit her lip. She couldn’t understand why both Gogyul and Baek Jung-oh kept gravitating toward Chae Yoojung, and it only irritated her more.
“Of all people, it’s Gogyul—the man who shakes up all of Korea. If you sit back doing nothing and let Chae Yoojung steal him away, then what? CEO Chae isn’t someone to take lightly.”
When Jung-oh didn’t react the way she wanted, Seo-yoon blurted out what was truly on her mind. Anyone could hear the blatant hostility toward Yoojung. But she didn’t care how she sounded. All she wanted was for Jung-oh to see Yoojung as a threat. But nothing she said affected him. He simply glanced at his watch, completely unbothered.
“Let’s end this conversation here.”
“No way. You’re really just going to sit there and watch this happen? You’re about to lose the golden goose entirely!”
When she came to BE Entertainment, Seo-yoon had been full of excitement. She was so sure she would finally crush Chae Yoojung this time. She never imagined the very agency she expected to be her ally would refuse to fight—like they had lost all will to respond.
“I don’t want to live a life ruining someone else’s. And I don’t have any reason to cling to results that desperately. CEO Ha, don’t waste your energy on pointless, ugly things.”
Seo-yoon frowned, tilting her head as if she couldn’t understand a single word he was saying.
“Even if it wasn’t me, Min Seol-ah’s school violence article was bound to come out eventually. There’s clear evidence she dropped out—who would believe her word over the proof?”
All she did was reveal the truth. What was so wrong about that? That’s how Seo-yoon saw it.
“To me, it just sounds like you’ll use any means necessary to get what you want.”
“I think everyone is selfish. In the end, if your relationship with Gogyul goes south, won’t you also use the media?”
“No. I’m different. I’m not going to trample someone’s life just to get what I want. So don’t do anything stupid.”
It was a blatant warning—a promise that if she escalated things, he wouldn’t let it slide.
If Baek Jung-oh were relying only on the power of a big agency, Seo-yoon wouldn’t have backed down so easily. But he was the son of a major conglomerate’s chairman. Trying to catch a mouse and ending up getting swept away by the counterattack—that was a very real danger. So even though it felt unfair, she had no choice but to sheath her claws.
“Sigh, fine. I understand you want to trust yourself right now. But if you ever get stabbed in the back by Gogyul or CEO Chae later, call me. I’ll always be ready to get on the same boat as you.”
Meanwhile, in Z Entertainment’s underground parking lot, Yoojung realized she didn’t have her car keys. She had rushed out carrying only documents, so she hadn’t grabbed the keys sitting on her desk. When she turned to head back upstairs, she saw a man striding toward her from afar.
“……”
A subtle wood scent, a perfectly tailored suit, flawless skin even without makeup, neat hair—as if he’d walked straight off a film set. Seeing Gogyul suddenly appear in such flawless form made Yoojung flinch in surprise.
“What brings you here…?”
When she looked at him questioningly, he answered in a calm voice:
“No matter how long I waited, you never showed up. So even though I knew it might be rude, I came to see you. I was worried something might have happened.”
Only then did she remember their appointment—and her body jolted in guilt.
“I’m sorry. Something came up this morning…”
She had handled as much of Seol-ah’s advertising cleanup as she could, but a few contracts still hadn’t been canceled. If the school violence scandal blew up now, the losses would be enormous. For Yoojung, the situation was like standing on a burning platform. Gogyul was important, of course, but right now she didn’t have the luxury to focus on him.
“I heard about Min Seol-ah’s article. I assumed you’d be busy trying to fix it.”
When Gogyul looked at her with an understanding expression, she relaxed a little and nodded.
“But since you came all the way here, you should’ve come inside. Seeing you wait like this makes me feel terrible.”
When she scratched her forehead in embarrassment, he let out a small laugh.
“Yesterday, you said you hated unannounced visits.”
‘Oh right… I really did say that.’
Feeling even more apologetic, Yoojung scratched her neck. She’d only said that because she didn’t want to raise her employees’ hopes. At Soulmate, Gogyul was the No.1 prey everyone desperately wanted to recruit. Yet this unbelievably handsome man appeared completely defenseless, unaware he was the prey—driving Yoojung crazy.
“Still, since you came all the way to the parking lot, you should’ve come up. If you’d called, I would’ve come down.”
“You were on the phone all day.”
Her face burned instantly. It was true—she had been on nonstop calls. She felt like she had done nothing but wrong him today.
“I wasn’t thinking. Next time you come, I’ll arrange for you to be taken directly to my office.”
“Really? Even though I’m still technically an outsider?”
He didn’t say he hated the idea. In fact, he seemed to be subtly checking her reaction—almost cutely. Yoojung stared at him quietly, then nodded.
“I’ll just say we’re personally acquainted. So next time, don’t wait outside like this—just come up.”
When she shrugged lightly, he smiled in visible satisfaction.
“Shall we go have lunch now?”
His eyes drifted toward her car behind her. It was before lunchtime, but Yoojung was in no position to relax and eat. Her schedule left her no breathing room, and she instinctively lowered her head again like a guilty person.
“What should I do? I still haven’t handled the urgent stuff. I need to be somewhere right now…”
“…I suppose that can’t be helped.”
“I’ll treat you somewhere nice next time. I really don’t even have time to grab a bite today. I’m sorry.”
Gogyul didn’t reply. When she saw his expressionless silence, Yoojung frowned, unsure what to do. As if pressed for time, she glanced at her phone again. Gogyul watched her quietly, then ran a hand through his hair.
“I don’t like that.”
His sharp profile stunned her.
“…What?”
“I was hoping to have a deep conversation with you. Today.”
When she blinked in surprise, he leaned closer with a smile so fresh and beautiful she had never seen anything like it. His face, suddenly close—was a weapon. Pretty smiles were once called “killer smiles,” but his face was so breathtaking it could stop a heart. Maybe it should be called a “killer face.”
“What do you think?”
Even with her world on fire, Yoojung couldn’t help hesitating. Gogyul was both her present and her future. She could only imagine a future with him, and he was the only thing keeping her afloat in her bleak present. How could she calmly refuse when a man like that was openly tempting her?
“Ah… If you really want to have a deep conversation, I’d be grateful, of course. But… I really don’t have time right now.”
He nodded, hearing her shrinking voice.
“Alright then.”
He turned away without hesitation and walked off. Watching him grow smaller in the distance, Yoojung tapped the inside of her left arm with her right index finger. She wanted desperately to run after him and pull him back—but she couldn’t abandon Seol-ah either.
“W-wait!”
When she called out, he turned and again smiled a smile that shook her heart.
“…Why? Did you change your mind?”
His eyes clearly hoped she had. Yoojung looked at him quietly, then shook her head.
“That’s not it. But… if you’re not busy, could you give me a ride? I actually need to go to BE Entertainment.”
“……”
Gogyul stared at her silently, then turned away again. Frowning, he began walking farther. Seeing his back, Yoojung hung her head. She wanted to grab his pant leg and beg him to consider Soulmate again—but a CEO couldn’t lose her dignity like that.
Honk.
A sharp, short horn sounded. When she lifted her head in surprise, his car was right in front of her. He’d rolled down the passenger window and tilted his head, looking at her puzzled expression.
“What are you doing? Get in.”
In that moment, Yoojung became certain—Gogyul was viewing her company positively. She didn’t know exactly what had changed his mind, but her instincts told her she was right.
