I Think I've Poked a Sleeping Bear
Chapter 21
Sin and Reward
Do-hyun was stealing glances at Lee Heon.
Until recently, he had been dressing recklessly like a beast of the savanna, but a few days ago, he had started dressing properly again.
It was better than when he had two buttons undone, but how to put it? Even though he was in a full suit, it somehow didn’t look like work attire.
It felt overly styled, dripping with effort.
And that wasn’t all.
After acting as edgy as an adolescent boy over some ball game, now he was humming as if swept up in the spring breeze.
What on earth was going on?
“What do you mean, ‘what is going on’? It’s just that spring has actually arrived.”
Lee Heon looked up at Do-hyun and smirked.
Do-hyun’s eyes widened.
“D-Did you hear that?”
“Did you honestly think I wouldn’t hear you if you spoke with only your eyes poking out from behind that clipboard?”
Oops. My inner thoughts slipped out.
“If you have something to say, just say it, Secretary Kang. Instead of glaring at me like I’m an abusive customer cussing you out.”
From my perspective, you ARE an abusive customer.
More like a sworn enemy, really.
When did we end up like this…?
There was a time when things were great.
Nothing to report, nothing to worry about, nothing to monitor—just work, work, work all day long.
To think my boss, who used to work so much it was concerning, suddenly turned into a problem child and is giving me such a hard time.
Could it be that I raised him wrong?
And what on earth happened with Executive Director Ra Lee-on?
He had come looking for Lee Heon that day and seemed to have talked, but there had been no word since.
It wasn’t like an article about the broken engagement had come out either, so… was he persuaded?
Whee— whee—
Suddenly, Lee Heon began whistling a tune.
What is this sickly sweet melody right down to the bone?
On top of that, he clearly wasn’t working, yet he was bustling about restlessly.
“President, what are you doing right now?”
“Desk-deco.”
“Desk-deco?”
“Decorating my desk.”
“Excuse me? What… what are you doing?”
Instead of answering, Lee Heon whistled again.
What is it? What on earth is it?
Do-hyun’s eyes grew wide.
Lee Heon was sticking photos framed in colorful borders all over his desk.
Do-hyun snatched the photo from his hand.
“What… is this?”
“Ah, that. You might not know, Secretary Kang. It’s called Chalna Four Cuts. Couples take four photo strips together.”
“I know what that is, but President, why… why on earth are YOU…?”
“Ah, the ones I took with Lee Dan-a-ssi. You see…”
“Why are all your poses identical? There are four cuts, shouldn’t you have posed differently? This one, this one—no, you took this many and every single pose is the same?”
“…”
“I’ve never seen someone look so dead serious in a Chalna Four Cuts.”
Who takes photo booth strips like this? Do-hyun was simply dumbfounded.
“Is that all?”
“Would that be all? Why are you doing desk-deco during work hours?”
“Well, that’s because love…”
“For now, it looks messy, so just stick this one up. The poses are all the same anyway.”
“What about the rest?”
“Confiscated for now. I’ll give you one each time you do well.”
Lee Heon narrowed his eyes at Do-hyun, then rose from his seat with a slightly sulky face.
Then he began putting on his overcoat.
“Where are you going instead of working? Don’t tell me you’re leaving for the day? At four in the afternoon?”
“Is that all the time it is? I never knew the world could be so boring.”
“Where are you going?”
“I have no energy because you took my photos away, Secretary Kang. I’m going to see the real thing.”
“The real thing? No, to think you’d make up any excuse just to get out of work…!”
Lee Heon vanished like the wind.
Staring blankly at the empty spot, Do-hyun looked down at the Chalna Four Cuts in his hand.
In every cut, Dan-a looked thrilled, while Lee Heon was equally awkward across all of them.
“It’s a composite.”
No wonder his pose was identical to the company newsletter photo. She must have cut that out to make this.
Lee Dan-a-ssi, I knew you liked the President, but did you really want a proof shot this badly?
Did she want to make something like those Chalna Four Cuts where people pose next to an idol?
Shaking his head, Do-hyun tucked the photos into his planner.
Since he seems to like them anyway, I’ll use them one by one like praise stickers.
My precious golden chi—no, my boss.
Dan-a was genuinely serious.
Baek Seorin came looking for me…?
“Did she find out that the President and I are dating? How? A background check, maybe?”
If they broke up, there shouldn’t be any reason to do a background check, right?
Gasp.
Could it be? The classic drama trope: ‘Let’s see the face of the woman who stole my man’…?
Come to think of it, while the President said he broke off the engagement with Baek Seorin, she hadn’t heard that Baek Seorin agreed to it.
Besides, officially, the two were still engaged.
Which meant she was an obstacle wedged between a handsome couple.
“Is this really her face, though?”
She zoomed in and out on Baek Seorin’s press photo, checking her face.
Was it not Baek Seorin?
When they bumped into each other, most of the woman’s face had been covered by hair, leaving Dan-a uncertain.
Her body type seemed right, though? Or not?
She was wearing an evening gown in the photo, so it was hard to tell.
I wonder if she was okay after falling down back then.
She felt as light as a feather.
“What are you doing during work hours, Lee Dan-a-ssi?”
“Ah, I’m sorry!”
Bowing automatically, she raised her head to find Ji-hoon standing there, snickering.
“Ugh, Han Jihoon! You scared me.”
“What’s there to be scared of? It’s not like the President would come to the breakroom.”
That’s because you don’t know—the President COULD come.
“What are you doing?”
“Huh? Nothing.”
“Nothing, my foot. You were looking at Dongyeon Group’s Baek Seorin.”
Why ask if you already know?
And what’s with that pitiful look in your eyes?
“You should just take that blind date Yunseo offered to set up.”
“I’ve told you a hundred times I’m fine.”
“Fine, right. You’re foolishly looking at the President’s fiancée and moping.”
“I am not.”
“Are too.”
“Cut it out.”
“‘Cut it out.’”
“Should I call Yunseo?”
“She’s coming anyway, you know.”
“Again? Having the time of your life, huh? Is the company your dating spot?”
“A corporate slave needs at least this much fun. Going on dates while getting paid.”
“I’m going to tattle on you to the President.”
“Go ahead! Tattle, see if I care.”
Acting so cocky. I actually CAN tell on you, you know.
“Oh, look, the President is coming right on cue! Hurry up and tell him.”
“Where, where is the Presid—…”
While she turned her head, Ji-hoon poked the back of her head with his finger and bolted out of the breakroom.
“Childish jerk.”
She couldn’t believe she had ever liked such an immature guy.
Compared to him, the President was a grown-up…
“Here you are, Lee Dan-a-ssi.”
Lee Heon was looking at her with a gentle smile.
He really came…
She immediately snapped to attention.
“Good afternoon, President.”
“Looks like you’re on a break.”
“Yes, just for a moment—a very brief moment.”
Because my mind was a mess over Baek Seorin.
She wanted to consult with him, but since she wasn’t certain she had seen Baek Seorin, bringing it up was tricky.
More than that, there was something she needed to clarify first.
“I stepped out for a moment as well. Partly to see you, Lee Dan-a-ssi.”
“You came at the right time, President. Please talk with me for a moment.”
Scanning the surroundings, she grabbed his hand, pulled him into the emergency stairwell, and then—
Thud!
She pinned him against the wall.
“President!”
“Yes?”
“Are you certain you broke up with Baek Seorin-ssi?”
Dan-a’s eyes flashed with intensity. Lee Heon, who had pretended to be startled, smiled softly.
“By any chance, is there a reward depending on my answer?”
“Just answer the question.”
“Yes. I clearly told her to break off the engagement.”
“Really?”
“Did you bring me here just to ask that? You’re making my heart flutter.”
“Pardon?”
She had cornered him to force an immediate answer, but…
Upon closer inspection, the sheer difference in their physical build meant that rather than trapping him, she was practically enclosed in—no, almost nestled right into his embrace.
Gasping, she tried to step back, but he caught hold of her.
“Why do you ask about Baek Seorin-ssi, though?”
“No, just…”
“Could it be jealousy?”
“J-Jealousy?”
That wasn’t it at all, but for now, her role was that she was in love with the President.
She nodded reluctantly.
What do I do? I think a deeply touched look just crossed his face.
“Don’t worry. Lee Dan-a-ssi is the only one for me.”
I mean, THAT is the biggest problem right now.
I really wish I could just be touched without guilt.
“That aside, I was just checking the situation. After all, you still officially have a fiancée, President.”
“…I didn’t think of that. Since Baek Seorin-ssi is also in a position where she can’t easily bring up breaking the engagement to her family, we planned to coordinate the timing before releasing the press article. If it makes you uncomfortable, Lee Dan-a-ssi, even today, right this instant…”
“No! That’s not what I meant. Just… if it’s agreed upon between the two of you, that official announcement can be done l-later, whenever it’s convenient. I understand everything completely.”
They hadn’t even dated properly yet, so she hadn’t found the right timing to break up with him. If he officially broke off the engagement already, she would be in big trouble.
Lee Heon gazed intently at her.
“Why… are you looking at me like that?”
“Because my girlfriend seems far too kind.”
Oh, you dense man.
You’re the kind one here.
I’m… I’m…
He pulled her into his arms.
Is this what it feels like when your heart freezes in your chest?
Held in his embrace, Dan-a stood frozen, unable to move an inch.
This was an emergency stairwell, and they were lovers.
She couldn’t find a single reason to push him away.
Thump, thump, thump.
Pit-a-pat, pit-a-pat.
Trapped helplessly against his broad chest, it felt as though the entire stairwell was echoing with the sound of beating hearts.
I ought to dislike this, but I don’t.
She swallowed hard.
“By the way, Lee Dan-a-ssi.”
He whispered softly into her ear.
“I’m feeling jealous, too.”
“Over… what?”
“What is your relationship?”
“…”
“With Han Jihoon. What are you two to each other?”
Dan-a’s eyes widened.
