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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: Not Gossip?
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“Vice President?”
“Where, where?”
When their eyes met, Do Hyun walked toward Yi Yeon.
“Wow, Yu Yi Yeon must get an eyeful every day.”
It was the first time Do Hyun and Ha Yul had met face-to-face.
“Vice President. What brings you here?”
“To buy coffee at the cafe?”
Do Hyun rarely came down to buy coffee himself. He always drank the coffee Yi Yeon prepared for him and ordered it when needed.
For him to come buy coffee personally—it was a first for Yi Yeon.
“Oh, I see.”
Yi Yeon hesitated internally about whether to introduce Ha Yul to Do Hyun.
“Hello! I’m Im Ha Yul, Yi Yeon’s best friend.”
Before she could decide, Ha Yul greeted Do Hyun first.
The flustered Yi Yeon hurried over to Do Hyun, stood on tiptoe, and whispered in his ear.
“Ha Yul is the only friend who knows about our relationship.”
Yi Yeon smiled, her eyes crinkling. Do Hyun gave a slight nod toward Ha Yul.
“I’ve heard a lot about you, Vice President. You’re even more handsome in person!”
“Oh, yeah. I’ve heard a lot about you too.”
Ha Yul had never mentioned her?
Still, it was a relief that he played along.
If he said he hadn’t heard anything, Ha Yul would’ve gotten upset.
“Later, for the housewarming...”
Yi Yeon urgently poked Ha Yul in the side to stop.
Why bring up a housewarming here...?
Haha. Yi Yeon just gave an awkward laugh from the side.
“Yes, then I’ll head up first.”
Do Hyun pulled out a card from his wallet. It meant to buy theirs too and his own before coming up.
“Thank you! I’ll enjoy it.”
He’d clearly come down for coffee but was just leaving—probably too lazy to wait, or Ha Yul was a nuisance. One or the other.
Oblivious to the subtext, Ha Yul’s voice brightened with excitement.
“Thank you, Vice President.”
Watching Do Hyun’s retreating back, Ha Yul went on and on about how hot he was, how dignified, grabbing Yi Yeon and teasing her endlessly.
It was while Do Hyun was gone and they waited in line.
“That’s the secretary I told you about. Right there.”
“Oh my! So it is. How come she dresses like that?”
Other employees who spotted Yi Yeon standing there started gossiping freely about her.
“Hey, isn’t this backbiting?”
Ha Yul was appalled, but Yi Yeon just told her to keep her voice down.
“No, why...”
“No need to get involved. They’ll drop it after one round, so just ignore them.”
“Those people who’d shut up if they saw your real face! And you still won’t take off the glasses? Let me flatten their noses!”
“Why bother...”
Yi Yeon showed no reaction, focusing only on placing her order when her turn came.
Agh! So frustrating! Does she have no pride, or is she just used to it?
Seeing her friend pretend not to hear the gossip right in front of her hurt Ha Yul’s feelings.
What kind of friend is she to me?
More precious than her ragtag family, and she’s getting treated like this.
She’d pushed so hard for the contract marriage, but there was no progress. Do Hyun still hadn’t seen Yi Yeon’s real self.
Wishing their contract marriage would turn real, but seeing no hope, Ha Yul clenched her fist again.
It’s been eight years already. It’s time.
I’ll make her take off that wig, responsibility be damned!
Ha Yul’s eyes sparkled once more.
* * *
The Vice President was off at a meeting, belly full.
Maybe a light nap? It was a drowsy afternoon.
Rrr.
Yi Yeon frowned at the bell disrupting her peaceful afternoon.
[Yes, this is Yu Yi Yeon.]
[Yi Yeon, you busy right now?]
Su Jin’s urgent voice came through the receiver.
[No, Vice President’s at a meeting.]
[Help me—suddenly they want me to get coffee! Fifteen cups!]
[What? He won’t be gone long, so let’s hurry down and back.]
At Su Jin’s plea for rescue, Yi Yeon dashed to the cafe.
“Ordering coffee set up thirty minutes before the meeting? And today of all days, with Choi Assistant on vacation and short-staffed.”
The two hurriedly bought the coffee and returned. Thanks to calling ahead, it was already packaged when they arrived.
“Oh, Jeong Secretary. You got mine as a hot Americano, right? Getting old, my teeth hurt.”
An Executive Director, the executive Su Jin assisted, tossed the remark at her on his way into the meeting room.
Su Jin’s inner curse of “damn potbellied bastard” was plain on her face.
Gonna hear it again?
“Damn potbellied bastard!”
Yi Yeon stifled a laugh watching Su Jin mouth the words silently.
Thanks to Yi Yeon’s quick help, Su Jin finished setting up and chased after her even to her own desk.
“Not going back to your seat? Can’t leave it empty long.”
“My destination was here. Already forwarded calls.”
Su Jin waved her phone at Yi Yeon.
“Heard you were alone with Vice President in a meeting, so figured ten minutes of chat before heading back.”
Good job, really good.
She said ten minutes, but who knew how long.
Feeling her freedom end, Yi Yeon stared blankly at the clock on the wall pillar.
Happiness over, chit-chat begins.
“You know how brutal yesterday was? Word’s already spread about the department head’s humiliation.”
Su Jin jabbed her index finger at the floor.
Pointing at the Marketing Department head one floor below.
“Guess he got the market share numbers wrong. Vice President spotted it and turned the meeting room icy in seconds with a few words. Isn’t it cool how he handles older subordinates so sharply despite being young?”
Su Jin clasped her hands in near-worship, shaking them. She even added a crisp hand gesture to mimic “handling.”
Cool guy, dignified guy—sure.
But he likes budae jjigae too, and smirks with that quirked lip pretending otherwise when I make it.
I wonder what else the Vice President likes.
As Do Hyun came up in conversation, Yi Yeon recalled the sides of him she’d recently learned.
Mid-ramble, Su Jin seemed to remember something.
“Oh, new hires this time?”
“Secretarial Pool?”
“No, public recruitment.”
“What’s that got to do with us?”
Yi Yeon shook her head laughing, and Su Jin slammed the desk, shoving her face close.
“Hey! Hot newbies could join. How exciting in this ant hell of a company? Trapped in credit card debt from endless bills, no escape! But we’re single—office romance possible, right?”
“Office romance, huh.”
Haha. Then mine’s an affair.
“Management Planning got a newbie too. First day today—haven’t seen them yet?”
“Yeah. Tell me if you do.”
Yi Yeon had zero interest but replied politely.
Then she pushed Su Jin’s back, telling her to get back to work.
* * *
Do Hyun, home earlier than usual, entered the quiet house with no signs of life.
“She’s not back yet.”
Do Hyun strode into the dark interior. His steps halted just before heading to his room, piercing the heavy air.
It had been ages since he’d gone upstairs.
Suddenly curious how the second floor had changed, how Yi Yeon had made it her own.
Couldn’t bring himself to enter her room, but wanted to see the living room and kitchenette.
Gotta glance quick and leave. He headed upstairs.
Yi Yeon had chattered on these stairs before.
Around here?
Do Hyun climbed step by step, following her footsteps. Thought about turning on the light, but unsure when she’d return, decided to peek fast and go. Left it dark.
Upstairs, the contrast to the first floor hit immediately.
Woman’s space—warmth and cuteness everywhere.
One rice bowl, one soup bowl. An elephant plush on the living room sofa.
What’s with the elephant?
‘What’s on the wall?’
Polaroids dangled in a line across the wall.
Should’ve turned on the light. Regretting, Do Hyun pulled out his phone flashlight from his pocket.
He shuffled sideways, one by one, examining the hanging photos.
His expression twisted with each passing photo.
What kind of hobby is this?
A ridiculous chuckle escaped.
The photos were close-ups of the sofa elephant plush: its face, huge round ears, thick feet, swishy tail.
Do Hyun turned to leave, figuring it was time to go.
Just as he headed for the stairs, Yi Yeon’s door clicked open.
Flinch.
Do Hyun froze like a statue.
Yi Yeon emerged and hit the button by the door, lighting the living room.
“Kyaa! A ghost!”
She plopped straight to the floor.
Do Hyun stayed rigid, unable to move.
Yi Yeon’s appearance from the room was utterly bewildering.
In shorts and a tank top, her smooth limbs were fully exposed.
He couldn’t tear his eyes from Yi Yeon’s bare skin, unseen before.
No scars anywhere like he’d imagined. Just sleek, toned legs without a single flaw, arms stretched refreshingly long.
Didn’t know she dressed this comfy upstairs.
“Yu Secretary.”
From her sprawl, hands over face, Yi Yeon’s eyes peeked through her fingers.
“Your glasses probably have fingerprints now.”
Clutching her face in fright, the lenses fogged under the pressure.
“Vice President! You scared me! What are you doing upstairs?”
Flustered, her voice rose.
Only then did Yi Yeon check her outfit.
“Kyaa!”
She let out a timid shriek and bolted back to her room.
Do Hyun watched her startled scream and hide in bewilderment. No thought of apologizing amid her bouncy reaction. She had a cute side unlike her usual self.
He could almost see through the door to her frantic changing inside.
Chuckling aloud, the door clicked open again. Yi Yeon stepped out in a long hoodie.
“Doesn’t matter if you flash your limbs. No interest.”
Do Hyun spoke against his feelings, to reassure her in case she was startled.
She was already sensitive about showing skin.
“So, what are you interested in, then?”
Caught off-guard by Yi Yeon’s retort, Do Hyun turned away. Looking back, she glared with narrowed eyes.
Do Hyun quirked his lip in a puff of air, eyes crinkling pleasantly.
“The elephant.”
“The elephant?”
“What’s with those wall photos. Part-by-part shots of the plush. First time seeing such a weird hobby.”
Only then did Yi Yeon seem to understand, mouth agape slightly.
“Oh, the Polaroids on the wall? For interior vibe. I hate photos of myself, as you know, so none of me.”
“Thought you had some odd fetish.”
Couldn’t quite say “pervert.”
“Why come upstairs suddenly?”
Never been up before—why now? No excuse came to mind facing her protesting gaze.
“So I’m heading down now.”
A “Huh?” trailed from behind, but Do Hyun hurried downstairs.
