I Think I've Poked a Sleeping Bear
Chapter 12
Dopamine Rush
Inside the private showroom, Seo-rin gazed into the mirror. Pale skin, long flowing hair, an elegant countenance—all reflected perfectly before her eyes.
“Wow, you look stunning.”
“My goodness, it suits you beautifully.”
“It’s as if this dress was born just for you.”
The stylists, personal shoppers, and assistants chimed in with unified praise.
Naturally. When haven't they?
It’s not like you know how to say anything else.
Seo-rin, Yi-heon’s fiancée, forced a practiced smile.
“Really? Then I’ll take this one.”
It was utterly tedious.
A life spent raised like a fragile princess, unable to do a single thing on her own terms due to her frail health.
Ever since childhood, she had suffered from severe anemia.
Her condition had been so bad she couldn't even attend regular school, barely managing to finish high school through equivalency exams.
When she entered university, she kept collapsing without warning, which eventually forced her to drop out altogether.
Though she had improved considerably since then, she still had to undergo routine medical checkups. For the rest of her life.
Was being sick such an embarrassing disgrace?
Her illness had been kept an absolute secret from the world, and her father had essentially ordered her into marriage as if getting rid of unwanted clutter.
Go quietly while there’s still someone willing to take a damaged thing like you.
Even knowing she was such a flawed match, Saja Group had chosen her.
They claimed her illness didn't matter, but in truth, that simply meant who she was didn't matter to them either.
After all, this was nothing more than becoming business partners.
With an indifferent expression, Seo-rin stepped into the upscale private dining room they had reserved.
Having arrived who knew how early, Yi-heon rose from his seat the moment she entered.
Ra Yi-heon. My prospective husband.
Even after their formal engagement, this was only the third time they had ever met.
If there was any small comfort in a loveless marriage, it was that her husband-to-be was extraordinarily handsome.
A face one could never grow tired of looking at, one that evoked pure admiration the longer you stared.
As long as he wasn't boring, that was enough.
In this relentlessly tedious world.
She was doomed never to experience love in this lifetime anyway.
“You’re already here? I’m a bit late.”
Seo-rin approached and greeted him with poised, proper posture.
“I arrived early.”
A dull man with nothing going for him except his face.
To be so stiff and rigid when we're about to be married soon.
Then again, it wasn't as if he was marrying her out of love either. No, love? He probably didn't even know what the concept meant.
If he ever did have a lover, it would undoubtedly be an AI robot that did nothing but work efficiently.
A man obsessed with work.
A cold-blooded businessman who wouldn't hesitate to use marriage itself as a mere corporate stepping stone for the sake of Saja Group.
That was the reputation Ra Yi-heon held in their world.
“Was the trip here comfortable?”
“Yes. My driver dropped me off right at the entrance.”
“Let’s sit.”
Once they sat down, an awkward silence settled between them. Seo-rin broke it first.
“The wedding date has been set. Did you hear?”
“As a matter of fact, that is precisely what we need to discuss.”
“I thought so. Even if the wedding date and ceremony are decided for us, we should at least settle our post-marriage arrangements ourselves…”
“Baek Seo-rin-ssi.”
“Yes, Ra Yi-heon-ssi?”
“How interested are you in me?”
Caught off guard by such an unexpected personal question, Seo-rin hesitated, momentarily lost for words.
“Aside from the fact that my family owns Saja Group, how interested are you in Ra Yi-heon the person?”
The premise of his question was flawed.
She had absolutely no interest in Saja Group either, let alone Ra Yi-heon the human being.
“Why do you ask such a…”
“I intend to call off this marriage.”
“…Pardon?”
Seo-rin’s jaw dropped in sheer astonishment at his unthinkable declaration.
The refined posture, expression, and tone she had spent years cultivating collapsed in an instant, leaving her completely unable to maintain her composure.
“What on earth do you mean by that…”
“I am saying I intend to nullify this marriage.”
Her heart pounded rapidly against her ribs, and a sudden flush of vivid color rose to her cheeks.
“The wedding date has already been set.”
“That does not matter.”
“If… if our marriage falls apart, it will deal a severe blow to the company.”
“I would rather ask you: is that truly acceptable to you?”
“Is… what?”
“A relationship where, when faced with a broken engagement, your very first concern is the company.”
“…”
“Is this kind of marriage truly right for us?”
“Why are you suddenly bringing this up… Is it because of my illness?”
“…Were you feeling unwell? I apologize for that.”
He hadn't given the slightest thought to her condition in the first place.
“Do you have anything else to say?”
When she simply stared at him, at a complete loss for words, Yi-heon stood up and buttoned his suit jacket.
“I have made my intentions clear. I hope you will take time to sort out your thoughts as well, Seo-rin-ssi.”
He wants to break off our engagement?
A man who lives and breathes only for his company, having second thoughts about a corporate alliance and calling it off…?
Ra Yi-heon, I took you for a dreadfully dull workaholic.
Things are… getting rather interesting, aren't they?
“…Does he have another woman?”
Watching Yi-heon’s retreating back as he walked out, Seo-rin wore an intrigued smile.
***
Pressing the elevator button, Do-hyun hummed a cheerful tune under his breath.
When the president stepped away, wasn't that pure freedom for his secretary?
How many hours would the date take?
He didn't dare dream of five or six hours.
Not with a man who couldn't let go of work for a second.
Still, having a meal and a cup of tea should take at least two hours, right?
Even if that barely matched the runtime of a movie, he would gladly take what he could get.
Please, just hurry up and get married.
So I can quit this job with a light heart.
While waiting for the elevator to descend, Do-hyun turned his head and spotted Yi-heon walking out of the café.
Oho. Moving to the next date venue already?
He waited for Seo-rin to emerge behind Yi-heon, but strangely enough, the man was walking toward him entirely alone.
Huh. Is it because he's so tall?
Is Baek Seo-rin-ssi hidden behind him?
There's no way it's already over. This is a date, for crying out loud!
Right?
Right, President?
Alas, life's worst premonitions always came true.
Brushing past him without a word, Yi-heon stepped alone into the newly arrived elevator.
“Aren’t you coming in?”
“Ah, y-yes, coming.”
Do-hyun hastily hurried in after him.
“Why did you come out so soon?”
“My business is concluded. Get the car ready. We’re returning to the company.”
“Excuse me? What do you mean? What about your date?”
“There is no date. The engagement has been called off.”
Called off… What does calling it off mean?
“Called off? Did you just say called off?! Are you saying you’re not marrying into Dongyeon Group anymore?”
“Yes. Why? Looking to report this to the Chairman?”
Do-hyun flinched violently.
H-How did he know that…?
“W-Why would I report anything to the Chairman?”
“How would I know? You’d be the one who knows, Secretary Kang.”
Meeting Yi-heon’s impassive yet razor-sharp gaze, Do-hyun swallowed hard.
“You… knew?”
Yi-heon stared pointedly at Do-hyun in silence. Do-hyun shrank back and lowered his head.
“Then why didn't you say anything before…?”
“Because my life has had no vulnerabilities to report.”
Infuriatingly arrogant, but entirely true.
There really hadn't been anything worth reporting all this time, but now, a massive scoop had finally landed in his lap.
“He's bound to find out eventually anyway. Score yourself some points with him for once, Secretary Kang. Build a little trust while you're at it.”
Yi-heon let out a faint smirk, but his eyes remained deadly serious.
A violent shiver ran straight down Do-hyun’s spine.
“M-Mr. President, look, the truth about that is…”
Yi-heon stepped right out of the elevator.
Do-hyun scrambled in pursuit behind him.
“Mr. President! But why! Why on earth did you call off the engagement?!”
***
Saja Group–Dongyeon Group ‘Marriage Alliance’ Poised to Reshape Industrial Landscape
President Ra Yi-heon of Saja Group and Baek Seo-rin of Dongyeon Group are set to wed. With this union as a catalyst, the two conglomerates are expected to strengthen cooperation across nationwide transportation, logistics, and aviation markets.
‘Lion Pay’ is projected to integrate with Dongyeon Group’s Hi-Pass, railway, and airport payment networks. Once realized, integrated transactions via Lion Pay will be available across expressways, railways, and airports nationwide.
…Omitted…
An industry insider remarked, “Through this merger, Saja Group will extend its reach into the nationwide transit and aviation payment markets, with anticipated new revenue reaching into the trillions of won.”
“Wow. Unbelievable. The scale of a chaebol wedding.”
Having read through the article, Assistant Manager Kim shook his head in disbelief. Yunseo, seated across from him, glared and chided him sharply.
“Do you really have to read that out loud, Assistant Manager?”
“What's the big deal? I’m just briefing the team on the PR impact of the President’s wedding.”
“Then you could just read it silently and give your opinion. Someone might get hurt by the article you're reading so casually.”
“Yunseo-ssi, did you eat something bad? Who on earth would be hurt by this article? Unless it’s Chairman Go of Bear Group, who's been eyeing Dongyeon Group forever.”
“Ugh, that's not it at all… You really have zero tact.”
“What? What did you just say?”
“Never mind.”
Yunseo stole a glance toward Dan-a. Seeing her looking so thoroughly dejected broke Yunseo’s heart.
Of all people, why did she have to fall for the President?
If it's hurting her this much, why did she refuse a blind date?
Ever since Yunseo told her about the President’s wedding date being set, Dan-a looked like her soul had left her body.
Yunseo’s assessment wasn't entirely wrong. Dan-a's mind had indeed been in a state of absolute chaos for days.
Just for a reason wildly different from what Yunseo imagined.
‘I don't want to be a side piece!’
Dan-a ruffled her hair in sheer agony.
Why did I say that?
Even I can't make sense of it!
Panicking, she had opened her mouth and blurted out pure, unadulterated nonsense.
Decades from now, even on her deathbed, she would probably bolt upright the moment she remembered what she said that day.
‘That…! All of it… will come from your mouth.’
The vague memory of a fortune-teller’s words, seen just for fun with friends back when she was twenty, brushed faintly against her mind.
Please, just let me avoid running into him until the President safely gets married.
Every single time we cross paths, a disaster happens.
Never again, please let me never run into him again…
Rrrrrrrr.
Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.
Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.
While she was praying with her hands tightly clasped, the office phones suddenly began ringing off the hook.
The employees gathered in the meeting room exchanged startled glances.
The manager came dashing into the room at a frantic sprint.
“Damn it, don't just sit there! Everyone, get ready for damage control on the press!”
“What happened, Manager?”
“I don't know! They're saying the President called off the engagement! Nobody answer the incoming calls—just call every reporter you know and kill those articles right now!”
“Ah, really? The President called off his…”
Dan-a sprang straight to her feet.
“What? What did you say? Who did what to what?!”
“President Ra Yi-heon called off the engagement! He broke things completely off with Dongyeon Group!”
