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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: Let's Have Dinner Together
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Woosung Card was one of the companies famous for its delicious in-house cafeteria food.
Not only did it have main dishes, but a separate salad bar and even a dedicated ice cream station.
"No way, in this day and age, telling someone to wash their own car before coming in? That's too much, right? Report him! And he leaves his office door wide open, and even with me sitting right there in front, he just farts away! And I have to hear it from up close! It's so gross, seriously."
The cafeteria on the upper floors had seats where you could eat while gazing out the window.
The moment Su Jin sat down next to Yi Yeon, she whispered her office grievances right into her ear. Yi Yeon picked up on the hushed complaints as if she were used to it.
"Seriously, those old guys ruin my appetite. Thanks to hearing that and losing my taste, my diet's been perfect."
Her vivid complaints killed Yi Yeon's appetite completely. Yi Yeon whispered harshly to Su Jin, who was steadily emptying her tray.
"Su Jin, you're the one killing my appetite. You don't have to help with my diet like this."
"Yi Yeon, the Vice President might be rude, but at least he doesn't fart in the office, right? Though a perfect guy like the Vice President could get away with anything. Isn't he getting to that marriageable age now? I'm so jealous. Who'll end up as the future wife of Woosung Group's chairman? She's gotta be from a great family, super smart and pretty, right?"
*Cough cough.*
Yi Yeon's shoulders stiffened as she tried to force down some food.
"What's wrong? Choked? Hold on, I'll grab some water quick."
Yi Yeon gulped down the water Su Jin brought, soothing her burning throat with the cool liquid.
The 'Vice President's marriage partner' was a hot topic among the female employees at Woosung Group, and the sudden gust of it caught her off guard.
Su Jin, I'm right here in front of you.
If Su Jin ever found out Yi Yeon was Do Hyun's wife, she'd faint from shock.
Yi Yeon seriously wondered if she should stock up on some calming pills just in case.
"You okay now?"
"Yeah, thanks."
"No big deal."
Su Jin waved it off. As she chased away her hunger, the food on her tray started disappearing bit by bit.
With Su Jin's stomach full, Yi Yeon figured now was a good time to ask, and opened her mouth.
"Su Jin, you know tons about Woosung, right?"
Sensitive to new info, Su Jin perked up her ears.
"I'll share some intel again. What's up? Something you're curious about?"
Yi Yeon glanced around once, then leaned close to Su Jin's ear and whispered.
"It's old news, but... has there ever been any big incident or scandal with the Woosung family?"
Su Jin pursed her lips as if deep in thought. She rolled her eyes toward the ceiling a few times before speaking, as if she'd figured it out.
"The Vice President's family stuff? Why are you suddenly curious about that?"
It was an innocent question, but it made Yi Yeon flinch. Truth be told, Yi Yeon had never been interested in Woosung family matters before—it was outside her usual scope. Su Jin widened her eyes even more, as if finding it odd.
"Just got curious all of a sudden."
"Why? Is the Vice President acting weird? Hmm... If it's a big incident, the biggest was probably his mother's car accident."
"Car accident? Did she pass away in one?"
"Yeah, but Woosung keeps it so hushed up and under wraps that no one knows the exact details—just that there was a car accident, that's all that's public."
What could have happened that they'd hide even the fact of the car accident? Su Jin shook her head, indicating she didn't know more.
"Ah, so even you don't know much..."
"But who am I? According to my sources, it wasn't your typical car accident."
Su Jin, where on earth do you get this info?
"Really? If it wasn't a normal car accident, what was it?"
"Rumor has it there was a man in the car with her, and they were involved or something. That's all I know. Probably happened when the Vice President was in elementary school?"
Losing his mother in an accident when he was in elementary school. How tough must that have been at such a young age?
They say there are two types of facing a loved one's death: prepared and sudden.
If someone passes from illness, there's time to accept it, so it can feel somewhat resigned. But a sudden death forces those around them to say goodbye without any mental preparation.
At a young age, when the world is filled only with Mom, just the sudden parting must have been devastating. And with affair rumors on top? It must have been overwhelming.
Even if it was just a rumor of unknown truth, Yi Yeon's chest tightened.
"Isn't that more than half the story already?"
Su Jin shrugged with a look that said, "This is nothing."
Yi Yeon thrust her thumb up toward the sky.
She overdid it to hide her heavy heart.
Praising Su Jin, who took pride in her intel network, to make her happy.
"It's hot out, so let's cool off with some iced Americanos."
As expected, women have separate stomachs for meals and desserts.
The two ordered two iced Americanos and a slice of cake at the cafe, then naturally settled into the corner-most seat.
"But about the Vice President. Don't you think Jeong Hee Ra's the one gunning for the seat next to him? The way she chases him around. Even a perfect celebrity like her, all pretty and well-maintained—if she keeps at it, won't the Vice President fall eventually? Thinking about it, yeah, someone on Jeong Hee Ra's level fits next to him."
Jeong Hee Ra was the hottest actress right now. She'd recently played the protagonist's friend with such flavor that she stole more attention than the lead. With her lovely looks backed by top-notch acting, news articles flooded about love calls pouring in.
As the trendy celebrity, Hee Ra was indeed the only woman, as Su Jin said, hovering around Do Hyun.
Do Hyun and Hee Ra had known each other since they were kids, like siblings. So while he didn't easily let anyone into his space, he didn't push Hee Ra away.
That was why plenty of people speculated like Su Jin.
But to Yi Yeon, Do Hyun didn't seem particularly warm toward Hee Ra.
Whenever Hee Ra showed up at the office with lunchboxes or snacks, Do Hyun didn't welcome it.
It felt like Hee Ra was the one clinging and chasing unilaterally.
"It's been quiet lately. She should be showing up around now."
"Yeah, right? No tree survives ten strikes without falling—unless it's steel or something."
Yi Yeon smiled faintly along with Su Jin. She just moistened her parched throat with the cool coffee.
⋮
*Knock knock knock.*
"Secretary Yu. What're you up to?"
She'd barely finished lunch with Su Jin and settled down to digest when...
Today was the weekly meeting day, once a week, so Yi Yeon was reviewing Do Hyun's meeting materials.
At the dull knocking sound interrupting her, followed by a sharp voice, Yi Yeon looked up.
It was Assistant Manager Kang Yeon Jeong from the Brand Marketing Department.
Yeon Jeong had approached without notice and was tapping Yi Yeon's desk like a knock to announce herself.
She was certainly a presence.
With her wavy hair tied half-up, see-through bangs, a tight V-neck knit top, and a slim H-line skirt, Assistant Manager Kang stood out glaringly. Her chest seemed especially prominent today due to the clinging knit.
Yeon Jeong's personality was as flashy as her fashion.
She always deluded herself that men were ogling her.
In reality, her snarky, poking remarks and scanning glares rubbed people the wrong way. Constant meddling and gossip, plus a loose mouth, made her top of the dislike list.
Especially toward Yi Yeon—she seemed afflicted with a daily itch to pick a fight, like one-pack-a-day.
And that chronic condition was flaring up now.
"Secretary Yu, didn't you wear that same suit yesterday? You should at least buy one new outfit. Gotta wear your actual size, right? You do know your own measurements?"
Today it was the clothes she was targeting. Yi Yeon countered Yeon Jeong's jab with practiced ease.
"It's different from yesterday. This one's a darker color. Assistant Manager Kang, do you have trouble telling colors apart?"
A relaxed smile bloomed on Yi Yeon's lips.
True to form, Yeon Jeong had poked at Yi Yeon today too, but got nothing back—her eyes twitched in frustration.
Yeon Jeong hesitated, lips twitching as if debating another jab, then gave up and let her mouth corners droop.
"I have a report. The Vice President's inside, right?"
Without waiting for Yi Yeon's answer, Yeon Jeong headed straight for the office.
If you're just going to barge in anyway, why ask?
Yi Yeon shook her head and finished prepping the materials.
* * *
Do Hyun had back-to-back meetings and an external one today, so they barely crossed paths. Knowing his external meeting would run long, Yi Yeon headed out first.
Do Hyun hated making his secretary waste time waiting for an executive to finish late. He preferred flexible commute times.
Though "flexible" was easier said than done.
'Budae jjigae.'
On her way home, Do Hyun crossed Yi Yeon's mind.
His cute answer—"My favorite food is budae jjigae"—had stuck with her.
"Is there a mart on the way?"
She suddenly wanted to cook his favorite for him.
Plus, budae jjigae's my killer dish, right? Wonder if he has plans tonight.
Yi Yeon pulled out her phone from her pocket.
[What time will you get home?]
Hmm, he might eat out...
Yi Yeon deleted what she'd typed.
[Have dinner...?]
No, that doesn't work. She shook her head.
[Let's have dinner together tonight.]
Ah, that sounds too old-fashioned.
Again.
"Ack!"
Yi Yeon clamped a hand over her mouth.
She'd gripped her phone too hard and accidentally hit send.
No! Come back!
"This isn't it!"
Snap out of it, Yu Yi Yeon. Just delete it quick.
But next to the sent message, the word "Read" was peeking up at her cheekily.
