Chapter 13 – A Battle of Wills
Ray and Chaekyung are speaking in English.
Ray and Kangwoo switch to Spanish when Chaekyung cannot understand them.
Dialogue marked in italics with [Spanish] indicates Spanish.
When Ray spotted Kangwoo, the friendliness on his face from earlier vanished.
Both men fixed sharp gazes on each other.
Ray curved his lips into a smile, but his eyes were cold.
[Spanish] “I didn’t expect to see you here.”
Fluent Spanish flowed from Ray’s lips. The fact that Ray didn’t look particularly surprised made Kangwoo frown.
The tension between the two men was so intense that Chaekyung found herself holding her breath.
Kangwoo responded in Spanish as well.
[Spanish] “That’s my line. Shouldn’t you be in Switzerland?”
[Spanish] “My place… You mean that prison without bars?”
[Spanish] “If you think that way, you shouldn’t be wandering around so fearlessly.”
[Spanish] “……”
Ray’s gaze, which had been fixed on Kangwoo, shifted to Chaekyung.
Kangwoo’s cold voice criticized Chaekyung’s work attitude.
“Assistant Manager Min Chaekyung. What are you doing standing around instead of preparing the presentation?”
“I’ve finished preparing.”
“You’re confident there won’t be any mistakes?”
Ray’s earlier comment flashed through her mind, and she couldn’t bring herself to answer confidently.
“I’m sorry. I’ll go back and check again.”
Kangwoo stepped aside, clearly intending to send Chaekyung away from the scene as quickly as possible.
[Spanish] “Thank you for earlier.”
Before leaving, Chaekyung offered Ray a final greeting.
[Spanish] “Let’s meet again somewhere we won’t be interrupted.”
Ray relaxed his eyes as he spoke, leaving room for implication.
Kangwoo’s eyes snapped upward at Ray’s words. Intimidated by Kangwoo’s sharp expression, Chaekyung couldn’t bring herself to reply and instead bowed lightly before turning away.
[Spanish] “Go. Now.”
Kangwoo tossed the words out coldly.
[Spanish] “Do you like her?”
Ray asked slyly, clearly trying to provoke him.
[Spanish] “……”
Kangwoo turned back expressionlessly.
Ray didn’t flinch. He looked almost used to that face—as if thinking, There he goes again.
[Spanish] “Then why are you so on edge, trying so hard to push me away?”
Judging that it wouldn’t be good for others to understand the conversation, Kangwoo switched back to Spanish deliberately.
[Spanish] “Don’t play games that ruin other people’s lives like you used to.”
[Spanish] “You’re the one who ruined it.”
Ray’s expression hardened as he glared at Kangwoo.
Kangwoo let out a quiet scoff.
[Spanish] “Ray. That’s why you always lose to me.”
[Spanish] “……”
Kangwoo turned away and walked quickly toward the elevator where Chaekyung was waiting.
Imagining Ray seething behind him kept his mood from completely sinking.
He had never imagined Ray and Chaekyung would have any connection at all. Seeing the unexpected unfold before his eyes made the blood in his veins run cold.
Anger surged—he wasn’t even sure who it was directed at.
The walk toward them earlier had felt unusually long. Watching Ray smile at Chaekyung had made Kangwoo want to punch him, and he clenched his teeth to hold himself back.
He caught the closing elevator doors and forced them open.
Chaekyung looked up at him but quickly averted her gaze.
Staring forward, she lowered her head.
It was obvious the two men knew each other. She was curious about the sharp hostility between them.
“Um… are you acquainted with Mr. Ray?”
“Mind your business. Everything about that bastard.”
Chaekyung looked up at him without answering.
Only then did Kangwoo glance down at her from the corner of his eye, his tone domineering.
“Answer me.”
She had no reason to contact Ray again, nor were they connected. Still, she didn’t think she should harbor hostility toward someone who had helped her without knowing why. It wasn’t something he had the right to command. And she was curious about their relationship.
Gathering her courage, she spoke.
“Why should I?”
Kangwoo turned toward her, his gaze no longer merely oppressive but threatening.
“Do I look like I’m joking? This is a warning. If you ignore it, you’ll bear the consequences yourself.”
Thinking he had misunderstood, Chaekyung decided she should explain what happened earlier.
“Today, Mr. Ray happened to help me, so—”
Kangwoo frowned deeply, clearly displeased. Leaving those words behind, he exited the elevator first. It felt as though cold air dripped from his back.
“Avoid anything related to that bastard. Whether it’s beneficial or harmful.”
He took his seat near the front of the conference room. As if on cue, Manager Shin followed and handed him some documents.
About ten minutes before the presentation, the attendees began to arrive.
Four core members of the advisory board—the professors—entered with Ray. While greeting them with handshakes, Kangwoo noticed Ray and frowned.
“I was told there would be four advisors. Who is this?”
It was an undisguised question—Why is this uninvited guest here?
“This is Professor Ray Rolf from the University of Lausanne in Switzerland. He’s here for a campus research project focused on the practical application of AI technology, and since it closely aligns with our current project, he joined us.”
[Spanish] “Nice to meet you. I’m Ray Rolf.”
At Ray’s shameless act of pretending it was their first meeting, Kangwoo briefly frowned, then relaxed his expression and played along.
[Spanish] “Nice to meet you. I’m Jason Ji.”
Their handshake was tight, charged with tension.
Chaekyung was surprised by Ray’s lie. His expression shifted so seamlessly that he could have passed for a professional actor.
Once everyone was seated, Chaekyung began briefing the preliminary proposal.
“Hello. I’m Min Chaekyung from MOTE’s Strategic Planning Team. I’ll now present MOTE’s preliminary plan for applying AI technology to spray-based systems.”
The unexpected proposal caught their interest.
After she finished calmly, one of the advisors spoke up.
“It’s impressive that you’re considering commercializing this technology domestically. A research team currently stationed at the Seoul Center may be able to assist. If you have time, I’d recommend visiting the Seoul Research Center to see it firsthand.”
“If it’s a similar study, we’ll arrange a visit as soon as possible.”
After sharing information with the advisors, the meeting concluded smoothly.
Relieved that nothing had gone wrong, Chaekyung exhaled quietly.
The group moved to the center’s restaurant, where light refreshments had been prepared.
Delayed by cleanup after the briefing, Chaekyung arrived at the restaurant late.
As she tried to quietly sit in a corner where about ten people were gathered, two voices called her at the same time.
“Assistant Manager Min Chaekyung.”
[Spanish] “Chloe.”
It was Kangwoo and Ray.
They had spoken in different languages, but anyone could tell they were calling for her.
The two men turned to look at each other. Chaekyung, who had been halfway into a seat in the corner, froze awkwardly.
“Yes?”
“Come over here.”
[Spanish] “Come sit here.”
Once again, they spoke simultaneously.
The men turned toward each other, and the people around them followed their gazes.
Chaekyung panicked as her mind raced. She alternated her gaze between the two men, feeling burdened by all the attention.
As if to drive a wedge into the pointless conflict, Kangwoo spoke quietly, his eyes warning her that she was expected to comply.
“Come here and explain your proposal.”
“Ah—yes. Understood.”
Though she agreed, she couldn’t help wondering why Kangwoo was so unusually angry today. Shaking off her thoughts, she sat beside him.
He was her superior, and she didn’t want to earn his displeasure over something trivial.
[Spanish] “Feels like I confessed and got rejected.”
Ray winked jokingly at Chaekyung from across the table.
What was supposed to be a light refreshment felt more like an extension of the briefing, keeping Chaekyung tense.
Noticing her state, Ray took thoughtful care of her—refilling her empty cup and placing cookies in front of her.
She appreciated his kindness, yet Kangwoo’s irritated glare made her even more uncomfortable.
Ignoring Kangwoo’s sharp looks, Ray continued acting casually attentive.
This must be what it feels like when shrimp get crushed in a fight between whales.
For Chaekyung, the uncomfortable gathering finally ended about thirty minutes later.
“I’ll go meet the university president. Email the advisors for cooperation and gather the necessary materials. Contact me as soon as you’re done. And remember what I said about not getting involved.”
Kangwoo warned her once more to stay wary of Ray and waited for her response.
“Yes, Vice President.”
Only after hearing her answer did Kangwoo leave with Manager Shin to meet the professors and the president.
As Ray approached, Chaekyung offered a brief bow and avoided him.
An unexpected business trip, kindness from a stranger, and Kangwoo’s hostility—it had been an exhausting day.
Rushing, Chaekyung made a mistake.
Carrying her laptop and belongings, she left her phone behind in the restaurant where the researchers and advisors were gathered.
Trying to avoid Ray, she’d made an even bigger blunder.
Separated from Kangwoo and without her phone, she worried how she’d manage to find anyone on such a vast campus.
A sigh escaped her.
“Get it together…”
Meanwhile
Ray stood holding Chaekyung’s phone, deep in thought.
At first, his kindness toward her had nothing to do with Kangwoo. Now, knowing Kangwoo’s mood and seeing her leave as if avoiding him, he felt a twinge of regret.
Then he noticed the phone she’d left behind.
He chased after her, but she was already gone.
“How should I return this?”
Ray smiled slowly.
It had been a while since a woman had caught his eye.
The reason he’d never gotten along with Kangwoo growing up was Kangwoo’s cold, abrasive nature—his complete lack of interest in others. For Ray, who had always been sensitive to people’s moods, Kangwoo’s self-indulgent behavior was irritating.
And now, a woman whom Kangwoo was quietly tracking with his eyes?
That only made her more intriguing.
Unexpected charm… and eyes filled with quiet melancholy…
As Ray recalled her face, the phone in his hand vibrated with an incoming call.
Seeing the caller ID, Ray smiled.
“This is getting interesting.”
He answered the call.
—“Min Chaekyung, where are you?”
—[Spanish] “Hello.”
Ray’s voice was relaxed, almost amused. Imagining the look on Kangwoo’s face made him smile wider.
—[Spanish] “…Ray. Why are you answering that phone?”
Kangwoo’s furious voice came through the line.
