I Think I've Poked a Sleeping Bear
Chapter 14
A Twinkling Star in a Blue Sky
Pfft— Pfft—
All kinds of perfumes were laid out across the desk. Leaning back in his chair, Yi-heon spritzed a bottle up toward the air.
As if to clear the air around him before things got noisy.
“The matter regarding the broken engagement you mentioned to me has been settled for now, sir.”
Do-hyun finished his report looking visibly relieved.
The day after Yi-heon had dropped the bombshell about breaking his engagement onto Do-hyun, rumors of the breakup had immediately spread through the business world.
However, both Saja and Dongyeon easily suppressed the rumors using the press. Saja had even mobilized Chairman Ra’s direct line.
They simply assumed it was dirty work by Bear Group, never imagining for a second that the Chairman’s own son was behind it.
Which meant Do-hyun hadn’t reported the truth to Chairman Ra.
That this broken engagement was entirely Yi-heon’s doing.
Pfft— Pfft—
When Yi-heon continued to spray perfume without a word, Do-hyun cautiously pinched his nose.
“Sir? Why on earth do you keep spraying that…? Last time you were playing with a ball, and now you’ve become a perfumer? And with all these varieties…”
Why else? Because Lee Dan-a said she liked my scent, so I’m trying to find an even better one.
Putting the bottle down, he looked up at Do-hyun with a tilted gaze.
“You should have reported it to the Chairman. Told him the rumor was true. It would have been the biggest scoop of Secretary Kang’s career. Isn’t that what the Chairman’s side wanted when they took your family hostage?”
“How did you… So that thing you said you needed to look into last time was a background check on me.”
Do-hyun had joined the company as a secretary when Yi-heon became President.
Someone who had never done secretarial work before was placed in the Secretariat—and as the chief of staff, no less.
Anyone would find it suspicious.
Back then, Yi-heon hadn’t had the luxury to dwell on it. His mind had been entirely consumed with reviving Saja Group.
He had begun to truly suspect Do-hyun only after realizing he was nothing more than a puppet in this family.
‘Oh, and about Kang Dohyeon-ssi, whom you asked us to investigate further—he was indeed brought in by the Chairman’s side. We confirmed that Gallery Director Yoon Yeonsuk wired the money for his mother’s medical expenses.’
Chairman Ra had pulled Do-hyun from the Strategy Office and installed him as nothing more than the President’s personal secretary.
He had leveraged treatment for his sick mother to make him spy on Yi-heon.
They were experts at trampling over people’s lives.
It was hardly surprising.
It merely made it crystal clear what kind of people they were.
Both Do-hyun and he were victims.
“Nothing changes. Secretary Kang does his job, and I do mine. But still.”
He set the perfume down.
“Why didn’t you report it?”
…Would I?
When you already caught me as a spy?
It’s hard to perform when you roll out the mat so openly.
Besides, you’ve turned a blind eye to my situation all this time…
And now you’re casually telling me to score points with it?
“Are you… truly intending to break off the engagement?”
“Yes.”
At Yi-heon’s prompt reply, Do-hyun furrowed his brow.
No, what are you planning to do?
Why on earth are you doing this?
Do-hyun was far more terrified of what lay ahead than the fact that his cover as a spy was blown.
At this rate, I won’t even be able to quit as planned!
“Sir. Um, may I ask why on earth you’re trying to break off the engagement?”
“No.”
“Si-i-ir.”
Do-hyun looked at him pleadingly.
There was something nagging at the back of his mind about Yi-heon’s behavior.
That… insane confession.
Did it actually sway his heart?
He had definitely been acting strange ever since.
Still, who cancels a multi-trillion-won marriage over an accidental confession like that?
“Sir, please don’t be like this. Can’t you just let me know why?”
“Why? Do I have to convince you before you can report it, Secretary Kang?”
“No, that’s not it… But sir, I’m not the kind of person who just recklessly reports everything…”
“It’s five-thirty. Pack up and leave. Or go make your report.”
Checking his wristwatch, Yi-heon stood up and quickly put on his coat.
“What do you mean—wait, are you clocking out right now? Why are you leaving at five-thirty?”
“Is there a problem?”
“You’ve never done this before! Sir? Sir, what is wrong with you? Why on earth are you breaking off the engagement?!”
No, please don’t tell me it’s really because of that confession!
Just tell me it’s not because of that confession!
Slam! The door shut. Ignoring Do-hyun’s desperate plea, Yi-heon walked out coldly.
No, what does a workaholic like him think he’s doing?
She didn’t even confess directly to him!
Breaking the engagement → ‘I accept your confession’ → ‘I said I liked you, I never said let’s date though?’ → Ruined…
Having started out despairing over his ruined retirement plans, Do-hyun now genuinely began to worry for Yi-heon.
Besides, the workaholic Ra Yi-heon leaving at five-thirty was pure madness.
He hasn’t lost his mind, has he?
Clutching his head, Do-hyun’s eyes suddenly widened, and he dialed a number.
“Hello, Executive Director Ra Lee-on. This is President Ra Yi-heon’s secretary, Kang Dohyeon.”
***
Waiting for Dan-a to get off work, Yi-heon felt an inexplicable sense of joy.
He looked forward to when she would come out, and found simple happiness in imagining just how thrilled she would be to see him.
What should he call this emotion?
Right, this was fluttering excitement.
A word he had only ever seen in books.
He had thought such things would remain meaningless consonants and vowels for the rest of his life.
‘Sir. Um, may I ask why on earth you’re trying to break off the engagement?’
She had thrown a cute tantrum, saying she hated being a side piece. She had been adorable. And pitiable.
It felt unfair that just because he was marrying a woman who didn’t even love him, the woman who actually loved him would lose the chance to be with him.
Rather than a woman who knew nothing about him, it felt right to give the choice to Dan-a, who even loved his scent.
Besides, he liked Lee Dan-a as well.
She was funny, cute, and always shattered his expectations.
Even if they ended up living under the same roof, it didn’t seem like it would ever be boring.
Perhaps it might even be far more enjoyable than he imagined.
Every moment with her had always been that way.
“Um, iced Americano is fine, right?”
Yi-heon looked up. Dan-a set the iced Americanos down on the table with a thump, thump.
Then, she suddenly downed hers in one shot.
She must really love iced Americanos. Noted.
“Phew! So refreshing.”
Slamming her cup down, she roughly wiped her mouth.
She seemed polite, yet she had a strangely rough-and-tumble edge to her.
‘Get out, hurry up and get out. Park over there and come inside. Quick! Ah, I-I’ll ask if parking is allowed. Precious car… park it for now!’
Remembering how Dan-a had practically dragged him here with her bossy demeanor, Yi-heon let out a soft chuckle.
“Sir.”
“Yes, Lee Dan-a-ssi.”
“Um, you see. Well, the, the, the en-en-en…”
“The broken engagement, you mean?”
“Yes. That. Are you really going through with it?”
Is she happy?
Her face was flushed red.
To reassure her, Yi-heon emphasized every single syllable in his reply.
“I. Already. Did.”
“No, you didn’t! You haven’t! Just today, I was upvoting articles published by Saja Group and Dongyeon! Sharing them everywhere! I just came back from burying the rumors about the broken engagement!”
“…”
“Did you hear me? What I said?”
“Yes. I heard you. It must have hurt a lot, having to do that as part of your job.”
“…What? What do you mean…?”
Thinking of what she must have endured while working on the Crisis Management Team, his heart ached for her.
Having to read all the articles about the marriage and broken engagement of the man she loved, upvote them, and even write comments.
She wouldn’t have even been able to cry freely since she was at work.
As if grateful that he understood her feelings, Dan-a suddenly became meek.
“Ah, of course. It-it wasn’t great. Ha-having the person you like get married isn’t exactly a fun thing, after all…”
Her voice seemed to tremble at the end.
Is she crying? Yes, she must have held back so much.
“Don’t worry. From now on, I won’t let you suffer alone where I can’t see you, Lee Dan-a-ssi.”
“Excuse me?”
Drip. A tear rolled down from her eye.
