Chapter 33. Amateur
At Lee Jun’s words, Ji-hye narrowed her eyes with a smile, as if she didn’t understand what he meant.
Most people would instinctively act more kindly when making eye contact, but Lee Jun spoke coldly.
“If you were just here to deliver something, you could’ve left it at the front desk or the secretary’s office.”
“Th-That’s…”
“I’m asking what your real reason was for coming all the way up to the executive office.”
Ji-hye’s breath caught at the unexpectedly cold tone. Her displeasure was evident, and Lee Jun frowned in annoyance.
“Should we talk here?”
But there was no way someone sent by his aunt would back down so easily. Ji-hye quickly composed her expression, more stable now than before, perhaps buying time to think and choose her words.
“Talk about what?”
“I don’t mind, but I wonder if you’ll be fine. You know… that woman? I heard about her—from your aunt. I mean, the director.”
After calling Lee Jun’s aunt “auntie” naturally, Ji-hye quickly corrected herself to “director,” probably realizing that carelessly provoking him would do her no good.
She smiled brightly and tucked her chestnut bob behind her ear.
“I don’t know what you heard, but do I have to keep listening to you, Miss Sung Ji-hye?”
“If I open my mouth, things will spiral and end up in the news. If you care even a little about that woman, wouldn’t it be better to shut me up?”
In many ways.
Her trailing words held weight. Lee Jun realized she wasn’t someone to take lightly.
Despite being coldly brushed off, Ji-hye still clung on, desperate to talk. That made Lee Jun curious—what was she hiding?
“That woman has a name. It’s Yoon Yoo-ah.”
The secretarial staff knew this well. Yoo-ah hadn’t been made public to protect her from media attention, not out of shame. So every time Ji-hye referred to her as “that woman,” it rubbed him the wrong way.
“I’m getting scolded a lot today. I’m not usually this rude. If I offended you, please don’t take it to heart.”
Her voice was soft, but her words landed sharply.
The way she looked at him directly, with confidence that she would eventually get her way, made Lee Jun uneasy.
“Did you bring your car?”
“I thought there was a chance we’d have dinner, so I sent my driver ahead.”
“Let’s go. It’s just about time to get off work anyway.”
“Sure.”
She smiled with confidence.
His aunt, Kang Ju-hee, had said Lee Jun would do anything at the mere mention of Yoo-ah’s name. Ji-hye liked the wealth and capabilities written in the file Ju-hee gave her, but the real thing looked even better than the photo.
He looked like someone without a single weakness. And yet, one woman’s name could crumble him?
As they rode the elevator down to the underground parking lot, Ji-hye imagined having Lee Jun to herself.
Just the thought of wielding that kind of power was thrilling.
“If we wait here, it’ll come.”
Though he said that, Lee Jun had already texted his driver from the elevator—move in ten minutes.
As Ji-hye smiled brightly, believing they were headed to dinner, Lee Jun asked calmly:
“Why did you come to me knowing I have a woman named Yoon Yoo-ah?”
“Is that really what you’re curious about?”
“I’m curious about your answer, Miss Sung Ji-hye.”
She pouted thoughtfully, then burst into a laugh that sounded a bit cheap.
Lee Jun didn’t respond, standing still until she quieted down.
“You’re surprisingly naive, Lee Jun. Maybe that’s what makes you a bit attractive?”
“…”
“For people like us, isn’t marriage just a business arrangement?”
She claimed it was normal for people like them to fall in love freely, but marry someone chosen by the family.
Then she likened Yoo-ah to a toy. Just a doll to play with until marriage.
“Miss Sung Ji-hye, you have such a… charming way of speaking.”
“But I’m not wrong, am I?”
That’s the world we live in, she said. Her brother and father had their share of “dolls” before marriage too.
“You never know how things will turn out. Plenty of couples fight on the honeymoon and file for divorce right after landing at Incheon Airport. You know Kim Young-ji from Yoo-hwan Group? She’s my friend. They slept in separate rooms the moment they arrived.”
She claimed she wouldn’t make a fuss as long as things were cleaned up before marriage. That bold attitude made Lee Jun nauseous.
Apparently, she had already imagined walking down the aisle with him—she even offered advice.
“You know how they say diversification is safer? Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Right now, Yoon Yoo-ah might seem like everything, but in the end, happiness comes from being with someone of similar background.”
“Is that so?”
Typical of someone sent by his aunt—she was parroting the same lines.
When he gave a sarcastic smile, Ji-hye must’ve thought he was warming up to her, because she boldly linked her arm through his.
“Please open your heart to me. I can be the umbrella that shelters your future.”
She looked up at him, promising Hanseo News would promote the camper van launch with positive coverage.
Lee Jun tilted his head.
“Can you actually do anything?”
“What?”
“I heard you failed your college entrance exams and couldn’t get into a Seoul school, so they sent you to study abroad. Though, really, unless it’s Sydney, the rest of Australia is basically countryside.”
His voice pierced like a knife, hitting her where it hurt. Ji-hye’s lower lip trembled.
Lee Jun remembered the message his secretary sent about Ji-hye and even mentioned her university.
She flinched, visibly shaken. Feeling the chill emanating from him, she pulled her arm away and hugged herself.
“Nobody knows why you came back, but as far as I can tell, you’re not working.”
“I just needed a break after studying too much.”
“Then why is someone doing nothing talking about ads and articles from Hanseo News? It’s not like you have any authority over them.”
Raising one eyebrow, Lee Jun questioned whether she’d really studied anything abroad.
“Coming at me even knowing I have a woman… doesn’t that make you an amateur?”
Lee Jun had no intention of looking at another woman, let alone treating Yoo-ah like a toy.
Still, he tolerated Ji-hye this long because something about her visit felt off.
Something was being rushed.
He felt it deep in his gut.
“Executive Director.”
Just then, a black car pulled up in front of them. The driver stepped out and opened the back door.
Lee Jun nodded at Ji-hye.
She thought they’d continue their talk over dinner and got in the car.
Thunk.
The door shut loudly behind her. She rolled down the window on Lee Jun’s side.
“Lee Jun? What’s this supposed to be?”
“I think it’s best to eat dinner at home.”
“What?”
“Separately.”
He casually shoved his hands in his pockets, his expression shameless.
“Hey, Kang Lee Jun. Do you really not know why I came today? You’re just going to send me off like this?”
You’ll regret this.
As she smirked at him, he stepped forward and placed a large hand on the car roof, lowering his head to her eye level through the half-open window.
“Let’s not be cheap, Miss Sung Ji-hye.”
