Chapter 8 – Shallow Jealousy
Woogyeong approached Chaekyung’s desk and set down the proposal she had submitted.
“Assistant Manager Min, your proposal passed the first review.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. It was refreshingly unconventional—just enough to make you wonder if it had a chance. Apparently, when the vice president was at headquarters, he created a brand-new team like ours and pushed a preemptive project that turned out to be a huge success. He’s looking for a project that can lead Mott ten years ahead, so something with rarity and originality makes sense right now.”
“I see. They did say to come up with something fresh, but I didn’t expect it to be my proposal.”
“Congratulations.”
“Thank you, Manager Kang.”
The good news made the corners of Chaekyung’s lips lift, but her expression stiffened at what came next.
“They’re planning to assemble an advisory group soon to flesh out the proposal. The vice president will be attending the meetings too, so look forward to it. Prepare well.”
“Ah… the vice president too…”
Chaekyung bit her lip.
Since it was his direct team, it was only natural—but being in the same space as him was uncomfortable.
Feeling stifled, she instinctively craved caffeine and headed for the pantry.
Just then, Kangwoo passed by with his secretaries, documents in hand. Chaekyung lowered her head as she walked past. He stopped and spoke to her quietly.
“Congratulations, Assistant Manager Min. It’s your first project—let’s do well.”
“Yes, Vice President. …Thank you.”
The way he spoke like a considerate superior only made her more uncomfortable.
She was loading a capsule into the machine, lost in thought, when a shadow fell behind her. Sensing it instinctively, she turned her head.
Kangwoo was standing right behind her, looking down at her.
Startled, Chaekyung dropped the coffee cup—but Kangwoo reflexively caught it. The position was practically a back hug, and Chaekyung’s eyes widened.
“Focus. You go blank every time you see me.”
“Ah—no, that’s not…”
Trying to avoid him, Chaekyung hurriedly shifted to the side. Kangwoo extended his arm, blocking her escape and boxing her in. He placed the cup she’d nearly dropped down and calmly started the capsule machine.
Through her blouse, she could feel the heat of Kangwoo’s chest—clad only in a dress shirt—against her back.
Too startled to speak, she hunched her shoulders.
“I’ll do it myself.”
“Would that cup survive? Just take it and drink.”
“If you need anything, just tell me. I’ll bring it to you.”
As she tried to slip away, Kangwoo narrowed the distance between her and the machine. She shrank back even more.
With Chaekyung trapped in his arms, Kangwoo leisurely selected another capsule.
His unhurried movements only made her nerves stretch taut.
Every time he leaned down, his breath brushed the nape of her neck, making it tickle. Chaekyung held her breath, her face heating up.
Flustered by the thought that someone might see them, she couldn’t bring herself to move at all.
Her heart pounded wildly, like a machine gone haywire.
“I have plenty of secretaries. Why would I make you do it? Besides, they’re busy right now. I can handle this much.”
Chaekyung shrank in on herself like a dried squid. As if determined to make her more uncomfortable, Kangwoo casually scanned the pantry shelves.
She swallowed hard.
A quiet chuckle reached her ear—Kangwoo’s reaction to her tension. Not knowing how flustered and anxious she felt, his playful teasing made her angry.
“Please move.”
Her words were cold, edged with irritation.
Ignoring her, Kangwoo continued what he was doing. He leaned in even closer, his breath clearly spreading across her neck.
Chaekyung bit her lip. He had definitely decided to tease her.
“Breathe.”
Enjoying her flinch, Kangwoo lifted the cup and placed it in her hand.
“I’ll move. Drink.”
He immediately opened the fridge, grabbed a 500ml bottle of water, and disappeared. As the heat-filled shadow he cast vanished, a chill swept in, making Chaekyung shiver slightly.
“Ha…”
She let out the breath she’d been holding.
Clutching the cup he’d given her, she bit her lip. The coffee inside—topped with thick crema—sloshed as her hand trembled.
Working at the same company as him felt bleak.
With each passing day, the department felt more and more unconventional by domestic standards. Unlike regular departments, this was a direct-report team, so regardless of rank, planners often worked directly with the vice president.
No matter how much she wanted to avoid him, facing him was inevitable.
A secretary from Kangwoo’s office came to find Chaekyung.
“Assistant Manager Min, congratulations on your proposal passing. I’ve been with the vice president since headquarters—he takes his first project here very seriously. He’ll be putting everything into making it succeed.”
“Thank you. I didn’t realize the focus was that intense…”
“The advisory meeting is this Thursday. You know how thorough the vice president is, so we’re counting on you.”
“Yes.”
From their immaculate attire to their polished appearances—it was as if even the secretaries reflected Kangwoo himself. The secretary smiled brightly as she offered her congratulations. He had brought the same staff he’d worked with at headquarters over to the Korean branch. That alone showed how meticulously he took care of his people.
There’s no way… right?
The more she heard, the more suspicious Chaekyung became about her proposal being selected.
She was meticulous when it came to work. If his personal schemes had influenced the decision, it would wound her pride deeply.
And since he’d been putting her in uncomfortable situations lately, her imagination couldn’t help but run ahead.
It had been an especially exhausting day for Kangwoo.
Since moving to the Korean branch, more things than ever demanded his attention. And on top of that—Min Chaekyung.
No matter how hard he tried not to think about her, once the urgent work was done and he had a moment to breathe, thoughts of her slipped in.
As he passed by a meeting room, a familiar voice caught his ear.
Through the hazy reinforced glass, a familiar silhouette hovered beside a man.
Kangwoo frowned, fixing his gaze on the shadows. Once he was sure it was Chaekyung, the unfamiliar male figure beside her made him uncomfortable.
He needed to confirm it—for the sake of ending the day in peace.
Turning away from the elevator, he headed toward the meeting room.
“Vice President, where are you going—”
Secretary Shin followed after him, startled, but Kangwoo ignored him.
“What are you doing here?”
He had already opened the door, revealing the two standing side by side, heads close together as they reviewed materials.
No matter how work-related it was, Kangwoo found it irritating that they were standing so close.
Startled by his sudden appearance, both of them immediately bowed.
“Good afternoon, Vice President.”
Ignoring Jeongseok’s easygoing greeting, Kangwoo walked straight toward Chaekyung.
He snatched the briefing materials from her hands and flipped through them irritably.
His brow furrowed. The issue wasn’t the quality of the materials—it was Assistant Manager Choo helping Chaekyung at all. His irritation sparked outward.
“Assistant Manager Min Chaekyung. This is your proposal, isn’t it?”
“Yes, it is.”
“Then Choo Jeongseok—Assistant Manager, was it? Why is he working on this proposal with you?”
Kangwoo spoke indifferently, glaring at Choo as if he barely remembered his name.
“I asked Assistant Manager Choo to help with the statistical data needed for the advisory briefing. He majored in statistics.”
The question had been directed at Jeongseok, but the answer came from Chaekyung. She spoke calmly, defending him. It was natural to stand up for someone who had helped—but she didn’t realize her words only fueled Kangwoo’s irritation.
“I offered to help because I’m confident in statistical analysis. I heard the schedule was tight. We’re on the same team—shouldn’t we help each other?”
Seeing them cover for each other annoyed Kangwoo. He raised an eyebrow.
His sharp mood turned into criticism rather than praise.
“Assistant Manager Choo must be pretty free. I underestimated the strategy planning team.”
“Pardon?”
Kangwoo drove the point home, looking straight at the flustered Jeongseok.
“If you have enough time to help others outside your own work.”
“Ah, well—”
Before Jeongseok could finish, Kangwoo’s gaze sharpened.
“I’ll make sure you have more opportunities to put those skills to use.”
The warning, delivered as if it were consideration, sounded chilling.
Jeongseok swallowed hard, unable to respond.
Chaekyung silently shot him an apologetic look. Kangwoo noticed—and promptly dropped into a chair.
Their puzzled expressions didn’t matter.
He had no intention of leaving the two of them alone in that room.
“Secretary Shin, have a seat too. This proposal is important—we should know how it’s progressing.”
Reluctantly, Secretary Shin sat down beside him.
Even he seemed taken aback by Kangwoo’s sudden behavior—someone who usually wasted not a single second.
“Let’s hear what’s been done so far. I’d like to assess Assistant Manager Choo’s capabilities as well.”
Watching Jeongseok’s face drain of color was oddly satisfying.
Kangwoo turned his gaze to Chaekyung.
She was just as flustered, but she quickly composed herself and began explaining the progress calmly.
Rather than the content on the projector, Kangwoo watched her.
It was strange.
From their first meeting, she had unsettled him—and each time he dealt with her, he found himself becoming more mischievous.
For some reason, he felt an urge to keep putting her in awkward situations.
As if addicted to the way she disrupted the dry, razor-sharp man he usually was…
When her explanation ended, Kangwoo followed up with advice.
He wasn’t just teasing her like a child. At least in business, Kangwoo was precise and unforgiving.
After the briefing, Chaekyung spoke carefully.
“Vice President, there’s something I’d like to ask. May I have a moment with you?”
“Sure. You two, get back to your work. Give us the room.”
Jeongseok and Secretary Shin left the meeting room.
Leaning back in his chair with his legs crossed, Kangwoo looked steadily at Chaekyung, who had just finished presenting. He was curious what she wanted to say.
She didn’t sit—remaining standing, she asked her question.
At her words, Kangwoo froze.
“Vice President, I want to know whether my proposal was selected because of personal matters between you and me.”
“What did you say?”
“It’s a reasonable suspicion—that my proposal was chosen due to what happened between us.”
“A reasonable suspicion?”
The gentleness drained from Kangwoo’s expression, replaced by something dark and dangerous.
