MFYBS 31

Chapter: 31

Kanghoon gave a bitter smile.

“Come on, Kanghoon~ Don’t think like that~.”

Haeseon, flustered, glanced meaningfully at Muhyuk.

Muyeon’s mother, Haeseon, lightly slapped Kanghoon’s shoulder as she laughed loudly in an exaggerated, carefree manner, trying to ease the frozen atmosphere.

As if he had no intention of helping lighten the mood, Muhyuk tilted his head and looked at Lee Kanghoon with a mocking smile.

“Funny. At times like this, you’re surprisingly quick to catch on.”

The smile faded from Kanghoon’s lips. The two men stared at each other as though they were about to fight.

Watching the scene, Haeru also thought Muhyuk was making the wrong choice.

Quite a few employees called Muhyuk nothing more than a nepotism hire. But if he successfully closed the Daong contract and made this project a success, the same employees would pretend they had never criticized him.

That was why Kanghoon was important to Muhyuk. A secretary’s duty was to guide their superior back onto the right path whenever they strayed.

Filled with determination, Haeru clenched her teeth and quietly stretched out her foot, lightly stepping on the tip of Muhyuk’s shoe.

Feeling the sting, he frowned and turned his head to look at her.

“President, didn’t you say yourself that you liked Mr. Lee Kanghoon’s work and that it would be nice to collaborate with him?”

She winked dramatically with one eye, trying to signal him.

But he simply shrugged as if he had no idea what she was talking about.

“When did I ever say that?”

“Y-You don’t remember? I’m sure you did.”

She stammered in panic.

For Muhyuk’s sake, she kept blinking one eye repeatedly, to the point it felt like the muscles around it were about to cramp.

But her desperate winking was useless. His response remained as lukewarm as ever.

Trying to salvage the atmosphere, Myungmu hurriedly clapped his hands together and spoke.

“Well, we’d certainly appreciate it! Kanghoon!”

“Really… Is that okay with you?”

“Of course!”

Vice Chairman Chae Myungmu answered with a bright smile, though he still seemed oddly dissatisfied with Muhyuk.

Muhyuk’s father, Myungmu, was already excitedly walking several steps ahead.

“So, is there anything you want in the contract? I’ll have it added.”

“I do have one request…”

It seemed Kanghoon had come prepared with conditions.

As Kanghoon spoke, Chae Muhyuk shook his head and muttered just loudly enough for everyone present to hear.

“Acting like he’s the only one with the upper hand.”

Even though he clearly heard it, Kanghoon pretended not to.

“Please assign Yoon Haeru as the person in charge of this project.”

At those words, Muhyuk, who had been eating indifferently, frowned and looked up. He shot Kanghoon a displeased look.

After letting out a long sigh, Muhyuk spoke in a low, stern voice.

“You may not know this, but Ms. Yoon Haeru is both my secretary and the head of the secretary’s office. She already has plenty of responsibilities.”

Hearing the firmness in Muhyuk’s voice, Kanghoon briefly met his eyes before turning back to Kim Myungsook.

“Chairwoman, wouldn’t it be possible? Ms. Yoon Haeru is very capable. Even if she lacks expertise in certain areas, couldn’t you assign another specialist to work alongside her while making her the project lead?”

“And why are you so determined to work with Haeru?”

“Because I get inspiration whenever I see her.”

“Oh my! You two must be soulmates!”

Haeseon covered her mouth with both hands and smiled brightly.

Upon hearing Muyeon’s mother’s words, Haeru instinctively looked at Muhyuk instead of Kanghoon.

The crease between Muhyuk’s brows deepened.

Lowering his head, he stared at the floor and sighed.

“Ha…”

He had been trying to endure it, but watching Lee Kanghoon—no, any other man—openly show interest in her was infuriating.

Sensing his mood, Chairwoman Kim Myungsook cleared her throat.

“The president should decide. Muhyuk, it’s your call.”

The decision was placed in Muhyuk’s hands.

This, too, was part of his training as the company’s successor.

From Myungsook’s perspective, Muhyuk seemed to be mixing his personal feelings into company business.

She thought it would be a valuable lesson for him.

Without even taking time to think, he answered immediately.

“I can do perfectly well without resorting to tricks like that.”

He had gone over every reason he could think of.

Objectively, it would certainly benefit the company.

But he simply couldn’t allow Kanghoon to stay by Haeru’s side.

Having carefully presented the excuse he had forced himself to come up with, Muhyuk suddenly stood up.

“I’ll be leaving first.”

Everyone whispered among themselves, wondering what had gotten into him.

But seeing how poor his expression looked, Haeru couldn’t help worrying.

She needed to talk to him.

Without hesitation, she stood up as well.

“I’ll go after him.”

“Good! Go talk to him! He always listened to you when you were kids, Haeru.”

Haeru bowed her head slightly, left the dining room, and walked out of the main house, ignoring everyone’s curious stares.

She ran as fast as she could.

Perhaps because she had come out a little later, he was nowhere to be seen.

She regretted not leaving sooner.

He was already quick on his feet and had long legs.

What if he had already left the estate?

Anxious, she hurriedly searched the garden.

“President!”

Her voice rang loudly through the grounds.

She looked around desperately for his tall figure.

Just as she reached the entrance leading to the annex and the large garden, a hand suddenly reached out from beneath a large tree and grabbed her wrist.

Startled, she was pulled forward helplessly.

When she turned around, she saw him leaning casually against the tree, watching her.

She had no idea how long he had been standing there, but he looked thoroughly dissatisfied.

Although surprised for a moment, she pretended to stay calm.

“What on earth was that about?”

Unlike the warm breeze blowing around them, her voice was firm as she stood straight and confronted him.

He frowned.

“You’re asking why I did that?”

“Yes. Why?”

“You really don’t know?”

“No.”

It had truly been a great opportunity for him.

From the brief time she had observed him, she knew Muhyuk had excellent business instincts.

There was no way he hadn’t realized that.

That made it all the more frustrating.

Looking him straight in the eyes, she pressed him while he let out a deep sigh.

“Do you really not understand what a good opportunity this is? If you succeed in expanding into the fashion industry this time and secure the Jeju Island contract, your position will become much more secure. So—”

Before she could finish, he fixed her with a sharp stare and suddenly pulled her wrist.

In an instant, her body was drawn into his arms.

Just then, the voice of Mrs. Im Bokju, who was in charge of maintaining the large garden, could be heard.

Mrs. Bokju was famous for spreading rumors.

Even worse, she always exaggerated them.

Muhyuk immediately glanced toward the left.

It wouldn’t be good if she saw them together.

Personally, Muhyuk didn’t care.

But for Haeru, who was always conscious of what others thought, it would only cause trouble.

The sound of Mrs. Bokju talking on the phone grew closer and closer.

Unaware of her habit of spreading gossip, Haeru simply looked up at Muhyuk’s unusually serious expression, not realizing the woman would be passing this way.

Noticing something strange in his face, Haeru realized that his gaze was fixed somewhere behind her.

She turned her head.

“What is—”

She never got to finish.

At that very moment, Muhyuk opened the door of the small storage shed beside them, grabbed her wrist, and pulled her inside.

As soon as they entered, he pushed her gently against the wall and trapped her within the span of his arms.

Only a faint sliver of light filtered into the darkness, barely illuminating their faces.

“What are you—!”

She was about to shout, but he covered her lips with his hand.

Her eyes widened in shock.

To avoid being seen, he pressed his body close against hers.

If they were careless, someone might spot them through the open window.

As his body drew so close, Haeru felt as though her heart would burst.

The voices outside became louder.

Only then did she finally understand why he had acted the way he had.

For a long while, she simply stared at him without saying a word.

While Muhyuk focused entirely on the situation outside the window, Haeru found herself staring at the elegant line of his neck and the sharp curve of his jaw.

Without warning, her heart began racing.

She placed a hand over her pounding chest and bit the inside of her lip, trying to calm herself.

Outside, Mrs. Bokju continued chatting on her phone for what felt like forever.

By the time beads of sweat had formed on both their foreheads, she finally walked away.

Once he confirmed she was gone, Muhyuk lowered the hand covering Haeru’s mouth and let out a breath.

He sighed in relief before lifting his head to meet her eyes.

The moment their gazes locked in the pitch-black storage shed, Haeru panicked, afraid her pounding heartbeat might somehow be heard outside.

She hurriedly tried to slip past him.

But she couldn’t.

He grabbed her shoulders and pressed her back against the wall.

A faint ray of light slipped inside, revealing his eyes.

They looked strikingly similar to the desire-filled gaze he had worn that night.

Just from his expression, Haeru could guess what was about to happen.

Flustered, she stammered,

“W-What are you doing?!”

He looked deeply into her eyes and slowly leaned closer.

But just before their lips could meet, he clenched his teeth and stopped himself.

“Do you know how hard I’m trying to hold myself back?”