DYMD 03

DYMD

Posted by Zoe, Released on September 1, 2025

Chapter 03…..

A natural disaster had struck her life, yet the world kept on turning as if nothing had happened.

Having spent a sleepless night, Yeon-ha dragged herself to the office. Deep down, she never wanted to see those two ever again, not even until the day she died—but she refused to let it look as though she were running away.

The moment she stepped through the office doors, all eyes turned toward her. Clearly, many had witnessed the events of the previous night, and gossip had already spread like wildfire through the company.

Blame and criticism poured onto Choi Kyung-jin and Oh Mi-joo.

It wasn’t just that they’d had an affair while one of them was already engaged—what enraged people most was that they’d done such a thing inside the office.

Young and inexperienced, Oh Mi-joo couldn’t withstand the ridicule and finger-pointing. She burst into tears and ran out, never to return that day. Kyung-jin also made excuses about outside work and disappeared, not coming back.

That evening, Kyung-jin came to her house. When she refused to open the door, he kept pounding on it until she had no choice but to let him in.

The moment he entered, Kyung-jin dropped to his knees before her.

It was a complete reversal from the brazen attitude he’d shown the night before.

“Yeon-ha, I was wrong. That day… I don’t know what came over me. Please, just forgive me this once. I swear it will never happen again.”

But Yeon-ha’s reply was firm.

“I can’t. I already told your parents I’m breaking off the engagement.”

Kyung-jin’s eyes widened in shock.

“What? You already… told my parents?”

“So go. Nothing you say will change my mind.”

From then on, he alternated between threats, persuasion, and desperate pleading.

But when she remained immovable, he eventually left hurling curses at her.

The very next day, Kyung-jin’s mother came to see her.

She bowed her head, apologizing for raising her son poorly. At that sight, Yeon-ha’s long-held tears finally burst forth.

She didn’t regret breaking up with Kyung-jin in the slightest.

What hurt was the thought that she would no longer be able to see his parents, who had cherished her like their own daughter.

“Truthfully, I came to beg you to forgive my foolish son just once… but seeing you cry, I can’t bring myself to say it. Please, don’t be unwell. Stay healthy.”

With those parting words, Kyung-jin’s mother wiped away her tears and left.

From the start, her own parents had never been supportive of the marriage.

Living under the same roof, they had treated her with indifference, as if she were a stranger. By contrast, Kyung-jin’s family was warm and close-knit. That was why she had accepted his proposal after a year of persistence. She had wanted to become part of that warm family. She had thought that would bring her happiness.

But it was nothing more than greed.

She had longed for a warmth that wasn’t hers—and all she was left with was a bitter smile.

Meanwhile, Oh Mi-joo, after repeatedly skipping work without permission, was eventually forced to resign.

Kyung-jin, however, shamelessly claimed that while having an affair had been his mistake, the real cause lay with Yeon-ha.

He insisted she had always put work before him, that she was too picky and hard to please, and worst of all, that she had often pushed him away when he tried to hold her, saying she was too tired.

One humiliating accusation after another spilled from his lips as he tried to twist the situation in his favor. Instead of reflecting on his wrongdoing, he sought to tarnish her reputation. His behavior enraged the female employees.

The following day, a post appeared on Blind, the anonymous office worker message board, exposing his conduct by name and company. Kyung-jin immediately requested deletion, but was told only the original poster could do so. He was left dumbfounded.

The rumors that had been whispered quietly within the office quickly spread upward, and in the end, Kyung-jin was formally disciplined with a pay cut.

At first, Yeon-ha had felt her pride wounded—ashamed and humiliated, as if her private pain had been laid bare before the world. But it was bearable, since she had done nothing wrong.

What truly wore her down wasn’t Kyung-jin glaring daggers at her as if he might kill her—it was the pitying looks from others. As though her life were over just because her engagement had ended.

Those gazes felt like a prison. In the end, Yeon-ha handed in her resignation.

Three years later.

“Good morning, Team Leader.”

“Morning.”

As Yeon-ha walked in, Kwon Jin-young, a junior on her team, greeted her. It seemed the other teams hadn’t arrived yet.

After setting down her bag at her desk, Yeon-ha powered on her computer and headed for the break room. Having slept poorly the night before, she was in desperate need of a hot coffee. Jin-young trailed eagerly after her.

“Team Leader, did you hear the news?”

“What news?”

Yeon-ha asked absently as she pressed the coffee machine button. But the red light came on—it was out of beans. Of all days, why today?

“About the new employee joining from the Planning Department today. His résumé is insane!”

“Is that so.”

Yeon-ha responded half-heartedly, then opted for a green tea bag in hot water instead of the missing coffee. Coffee would have woken her up better, but she hesitated. Unlike in her twenties, when she ate and drank without a second thought, at thirty-three she couldn’t ignore the calories.

“You know Melbourne University in Australia, right?”

Yeon-ha gave a vague nod as she sipped the bitter tea, and Jin-young’s excitement grew.

“He graduated from there! But that’s not even the amazing part. He’s supposedly ridiculously handsome, like a model, and his family is no joke either. Both his parents are professors at Melbourne University—his dad teaches physics, and his mom… geography, I think. Isn’t that incredible?”

Eyes wide with anticipation, Jin-young looked at her expectantly. Reluctantly, Yeon-ha nodded.

“And where did you hear all that?”

“I’ve got a college friend in HR. She said when he came in for the interview, she thought he was a company model! Said his face was insane, and he’s over 190 cm tall. She swears he looks like a walking fashion spread. Just think—we get to see someone like that every day. I’m so happy!”

Clasping her hands together like a giddy child, Jin-young beamed. Watching her, Yeon-ha gave a faint smile, dumped the barely touched tea, and left the break room.

Green tea really isn’t for me.

Muttering to herself, she returned to her desk.

At that moment, her phone screen lit up—a notification that the sample she had requested yesterday had arrived.

“I’ll head down to logistics on the first floor.”

“Team Leader, I can go for you.”

“No, it’s fine. I’m going to grab coffee from the café anyway. You want a vanilla latte, right?”

“Yes! Thank you.”

Leaving the ever-cheerful Jin-young behind, Yeon-ha took the elevator down.

A few minutes later, she picked up the sample from the logistics office at the far right of the lobby, then headed past the central reception desk toward the café.

It was still early, so the café was quiet.

She ordered an iced Americano for herself and a vanilla latte for Jin-young. While waiting, her phone rang—it was a vendor.

“Hello? Yes, boss. I just picked up the sample. And about the review sample I requested last week—when can I expect it?”

Just then, her drinks were ready. Balancing the take-out cups in one hand and the phone in the other, she turned around.

“Thursday? I’m sorry, but the review is Friday—I’d need it by Wednesday at the latest… ah!”

Distracted by the call, she didn’t see someone coming and crashed straight into them. Coffee spilled everywhere, soaking both their clothes.

“……!”

Yeon-ha froze, staring at the brown liquid dripping down the man’s clothes, unable to speak.

On the other end of the line, the vendor kept calling, “Hello? Hello?” into the silence.

Snapping back to her senses, she quickly raised the phone again.

“Sorry, I’ll call you back.”

She hung up and immediately bowed her head.