Chapter 32
. Gu Dong-geun’s Written Pledge
Hana blinked her large eyes at Oh Ah-young.
She’s going to laugh and say, “Hahaha! I’m joking!” … right?
But it didn’t seem like a joke.
Hana narrowed her gaze at her team leader.
“What about you, Team Leader? What will you be doing?”
It might have sounded rude, but it was a natural question.
Up until now, the “Food Fair” had always been overseen by the head of the Product Planning Team.
Since the main person in charge was being switched out suddenly, it made sense that Team Leader Oh should be more hands-on.
But from the way she was talking, it felt like she was planning to sit this one out entirely.
“The Director told me personally. Since this is an urgent situation, he’ll take the role of overall supervisor for the fair himself. Meanwhile, I’ll be… accompanying Manager Cha Min-hwan on a business trip in his stead.”
Ah-young’s expression instantly darkened.
Manager Cha Min-hwan—the sly fox of the business division.
He was the person Oh Ah-young found most uncomfortable in the world.
As a combative type, she actually preferred “Viper” Manager Kim Deok-bae—his emotions were easy to read, which made him less tiring. And if things came to it, she could just confront him head-on.
But with Cha Min-hwan, she couldn’t do that.
Was he complimenting or mocking her? Was he pleased or annoyed? Was he actually telling her to do something or to leave it alone?
For a straightforward woman like Oh Ah-young, everything about his words and actions was infuriatingly unclear.
Hana knew exactly how much she disliked him.
If Ah-young had to choose between “overseeing the fair and betting ₩1 million” or “going on a trip with Cha Min-hwan and receiving ₩1 million,” she’d choose the first without hesitation.
No wonder she’d looked a bit worn out today—it must be the stress.
Hana genuinely liked and respected her boss.
Seeing those deep dark circles under her eyes, she couldn’t bring herself to protest further.
Sigh… guess there’s no helping it.
The biggest reason Hana had wanted to avoid the fair was the “burden,” and the second was having to work with Gu Dong-geun.
Still… if Director Do Siwan is overseeing the whole thing, that means I’ll get to spend more time with him during the preparation…
She froze mid-thought.
Wait, what am I thinking right now?!
No one had heard it—it was just in her head—yet her face heated up in embarrassment.
Steadying herself, Hana spoke carefully.
“All right, Team Leader. I’ll take the lead on the food fair. But… I’ll do it alone.”
“Rejected.”
The firm rejection made Hana pout.
“Why not?”
“Because I need to train him up and turn him into a real worker.”
“But still…”
Why did the training have to happen during this project, of all things?
Ah-young raised a finger to cut her off.
“If you really don’t trust him, just make him carry boxes. You know how much heavy lifting there is at these fairs.”
Hana spoke seriously.
“It’s not that I don’t trust him. I just don’t want to work with him. Or even be around him.”
“You can’t just work with people you want to work with.”
“If he says something stupid, can I hit him?”
Ah-young shrugged.
“You already do.”
“Then make him sign a pledge. If he pisses me off with stupid comments and I hit him, he can’t sue or report me.”
“Okay.”
Snapping her fingers, Ah-young immediately typed up a document.
Click-clack-clack.
“I, Gu Dong-geun, will not say anything unnecessary. If I break this rule, I will not file a report or lawsuit even if Assistant Manager Joo Hana hits me.”
Hana looked at the monitor and nodded in satisfaction—then suddenly added another clause.
“And he can’t come within three meters of me before calling my name.”
“Okay.”
Click-clack-clack.
“And no sending me messages in the morning.”
“What? He does that?”
“Every day.”
“That’s nuts. Fine, that too.”
And thus, the Gu Dong-geun Written Pledge was completed.
From start to finish, the man in question had been watching the entire process, dumbfounded.
“Don’t you think this is going too far?”
But despite his words, he signed the pledge with flair.
Dong-geun’s heart was racing.
Normally, fair preparations started months in advance. This time, there were only two months left.
Since they’d have to start from scratch—deciding on a concept, etc.—time was going to be very tight. That meant plenty of overtime, plus lots of off-site work like market research.
With Hana as the lead and himself as the assistant, that meant… plenty of time alone together.
Sure, Director Do Siwan being the overall supervisor was a bit of a nuisance—but “overall supervisor” meant he’d just sit in his office, receive reports, and give orders.
So what? Hehehe… Hana-sunbae, this time I’ll make you fall for my charm completely!
Watching his expression, Hana’s brows knit tightly.
She leaned in close to Ah-young and whispered,
“Can I please just do it alone?”
But Ah-young gave her a rueful smile and patted her shoulder.
“No can do. Company policy says at least two people have to be assigned.”
At that moment, in the Director’s office.
Siwan was peeking through the blinds, looking out at the office floor.
There was Hana, lips pursed like a pouting fish, twirling a strand of hair around her finger.
“Cute.”
When he’d first heard that Hana would be taking the lead for the fair, he’d been overjoyed.
But then it occurred to him—when she found out, and when she learned he was the overall supervisor—she might not actually be happy about it.
“Hm… maybe she feels burdened, having to report directly to a director and take on work that’s above her pay grade.”
He muttered like a man caught in the rain—then shook his head vigorously.
“This will definitely be good for Assistant Manager Joo Hana’s career! Even if it’s a burden, she has to do it. I’ll do my best, too!”
Even if Hana felt weighed down by it, Siwan couldn’t hide how thrilled he was to be working with her on the fair.
10 p.m.
Chae Suhwa lay sprawled on her bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.
Still in the clothes she’d worn during the day.
Hair and makeup untouched.
She’d just been lying there for hours.
She let out a long sigh—then suddenly yelled,
“Ugh, I’m so pissed! Do Siwan, how could you do this to me?!”
She remembered the way he’d looked at her coldly, hiding Hana behind him.
“Unbelievable! After everything I’ve done for you—wait… no, that’s not true.”
Suhwa might be selfish and entitled, but she had at least a shred of self-awareness.
What had she really done for Siwan?
She’d mooched meals, drunk his booze, unloaded her complaints when she was in a bad mood…
“…Wow. I’m a total leech. Ugh, whatever!”
Unwanted self-awareness made her flail her arms and legs in frustration.
She might not admit it out loud, but she knew how she’d treated him.
So why had she kept calling him, dining with him, and whining to him?
Because she was attractive and wealthy—that’s why!
Even at lunch today, she’d still believed it.
Siwan’s just a man like any other. He’ll choose me for sure, send Hana away, and promise to eat with me later.
Tears trickled from the corners of her eyes.
“Ugh, so annoying. Seriously annoying!”
She thought of Hana.
Baggy hoodie, hair loosely tied up, big round glasses, big round eyes, small round face.
What really grated on her nerves was… Hana was too cute.
“She’s thirty-two! So why the hell is she cute? Is that Siwan-oppa’s type?!”
Just then, her phone rang.
[Daddy♡]
Suhwa wiped her tears roughly with the back of her hand and answered.
“Hi, Dad.”
[Sweetheart! What’s wrong with your voice? Were you crying?]
“W-who was crying? I was just lying down.”
You know those moments when you watch a drama and wonder why the characters make it so obvious by stuttering?
Well, she now understood—when you’re in that situation, it just happens.
“Anyway, why did you call?”
[Oh, just checking to see how my daughter’s doing.]
From the odd nuance in his tone, she instantly guessed—
Ugh, he must’ve heard about today.
She sat up abruptly.
“You heard?”
[Huh?]
“You did, right?!”
[Yeah. Not all the details—just that you had some kind of fight with Siwan in DK’s lobby. Ahem.]
If her father knew, that meant President Do Myungjin probably knew too.
Chances were high he’d been the one to tell him.
Sigh… the life of a public figure is such a pain.
Getting her personal business exposed in such a short time.
“Dad, it’s nothing. You don’t have to worry.”
[Why’d it happen?]
“I went to see Siwan-oppa without an appointment and asked him to buy me lunch. He got mad.”
It wasn’t a lie—she’d just cut out the surrounding context.
[Suhwa, you didn’t throw a fit and pressure him, making him uncomfortable again, did you?]
It was framed as a question, but it wasn’t really one.
At the reminder, her irritation surged back.
“No! Do I look like the kind of person who’s always throwing fits and pushing people around?”
[Not always… but often…]
“Ugh! Dad, did you call just to get on my nerves?!”
