Chapter 2
“Our Executive Director Kim said he wanted to take a look at the newsroom.”
“Kim Sa-hyuk.”
“Ah, yes, Executive Director. I’m Hong Kyungtae, the editor-in-chief.”
Kim Sa-hyuk. The only son and official heir of Chairman Kim Hu-yong of Noble Group. Soon, he would become an advertiser for Sanghyeon Daily, the man who would control the paper’s financial lifeline.
For Director Hong, whose position had recently weakened because of articles that offended major sponsors, he would have had to bow his head even if a child young enough to be his grandson had walked in.
Hong Kyungtae led President Oh Sangil and Sa-hyuk across the newsroom.
“All the core departments are on the seventh floor where we are now. Politics, Legal Affairs, Economy & Industry, and Social Affairs share this floor. Culture & Sports and the other departments are on the eighth.”
Sa-hyuk looked far too young to be a corporate executive and far too handsome. Yet he carried a depth and composure that did not fit the image of a carefree chaebol heir.
In an instant, he drew every gaze in the newsroom.
Director Hong, as if unwilling to take up any more of his important guests’ time, explained quickly from a distance away from the Social Affairs desk.
“That department over by the windows is Social Affairs. As you know, they cover various incidents and accidents, so it’s not somewhere you’d need to pay special attention to, Executive Director.”
“Of course not. A respectable young man like Executive Director Kim wouldn’t end up in the crime section. I’ve never seen such an upright young man. Ha ha.”
While Director Hong and President Oh exchanged shallow jokes, Sa-hyuk stepped past them.
Toward the spot where an old sign reading [Social Affairs] dangled from the ceiling.
Beneath the sign that looked ready to fall at any moment—
Seobin sat.
Late afternoon sunlight, tinted orange, rested softly on her cheek.
But under the desk, her hands trembled faintly.
Only when Sa-hyuk stopped in front of the Social Affairs desk did Seobin lift her head.
Their eyes met in midair.
It had been eight years.
Sa-hyuk still shone brightly enough to capture every gaze in the room. No, he looked even more mature and complete than he had as the boy she once loved.
Why?
Why is he here?
Seobin bit her lip.
She had not taken a single step forward since that day eight years ago.
But their world had not changed at all.
If anything, their world had grown stronger and more solid.
That fact drained her strength.
Just then, Gong Subyo, a third-year reporter and the mood-maker of the Social Affairs team, greeted loudly.
“Good afternoon, President!”
“Ah, yes. You’re all working hard, right? This is Executive Director Kim Sa-hyuk of Noble Holdings.”
“Wow. You’re even more impressive in person.”
When Gong Subyo joked, President Oh asked curiously,
“You knew Executive Director Kim?”
“Of course. He used to be a star swimmer, right? The idol of Sarim High’s swim team, wasn’t he? My younger sibling graduated from Sarim High, so I know.”
At Gong Subyo’s unnecessary information, Woo Jihyun glanced at Seobin and covered his forehead with one hand, muttering under his breath as if to say, Who asked?
But at the unexpected connection, President Oh’s eyes lit up.
“Executive Director Kim, you’re from Sarim High?”
“Yes.”
At that moment, Sa-hyuk’s gaze returned to Seobin.
The overwhelming presence he radiated made her body tremble.
Still, she met his direct stare without looking away.
She could not run.
And she had no intention of running.
“Then you must know Assemblyman Yoo’s son as well. We’re planning to hold an economic forum together with the Sarim Foundation this time. What a connection, ha ha.”
Every year, the “Sanghyeon Economy Forum” was held under the name of an economic conference, but in reality, it was a way for the newspaper to extract sponsorship money from companies.
This year, the Sarim Foundation volunteered as the main sponsor. If they could tie Noble Group into it as well, it would be a huge success. Excitement flickered across President Oh’s face.
“How about joining forces as alumni and making this a big project?”
Sa-hyuk replied calmly, without taking his eyes off Seobin.
“Yes. That sounds like a good idea.”
One corner of his lips curved up slowly.
As if for Seobin to see.
Her lips trembled.
“You really do take after your father. So decisive. Ha ha.”
Encouraged by Sa-hyuk’s positive response, President Oh beamed. He now looked ready to give Sa-hyuk anything he wanted.
“Director Hong, who usually handles coverage of our advertisers?”
“Ah, that’s mostly the Economy & Industry Department—”
“No! Isn’t there anyone among the reporters who graduated from Sarim?”
Waving his hand to cut the director off, President Oh asked directly.
Director Hong looked troubled, scanning the reporters.
“I’m not sure…”
His voice trailed off.
An awkward silence followed.
As everyone exchanged glances, unsure what to say, Sa-hyuk moved.
He walked gracefully a few steps and stopped in front of the very last seat at the Social Affairs desk.
“Here.”
He looked down at the woman in front of him.
“A Sarim High graduate. Reporter Bae Seobin.”
In an instant, all eyes that had been on Sa-hyuk shifted to Seobin.
“Ah, Reporter Bae is a new hire who just joined us…”
Director Hong stepped closer to the president, trying to smooth things over.
“No.”
Seobin cut in.
The atmosphere turned cold.
Woo Jihyun and Gong Subyo stared at her in shock.
Even Gu Bonghwan, who had been immersed in his own work with headphones on, took them off and looked over.
“I dropped out and passed the qualification exam. So I’m not a Sarim High graduate…”
The more Seobin spoke, the darker President Oh’s expression became. The surrounding reporters looked increasingly alarmed.
“Reporter Bae, just a moment—”
Director Hong, who had been fidgeting anxiously, stepped forward to stop her.
But Sa-hyuk was faster.
“We were close.”
He smiled more gently now as he looked at Seobin.
“Bae Seobin. It’s been a while.”
Even with a smile, he carried a chill that made one’s blood run cold. Yet in front of a supposed high school acquaintance, he looked sincerely pleased.
President Oh and Director Hong seemed relieved.
Only Seobin looked pale, as if she had reached the end of the world. She breathed in short, shallow gasps, as though even breathing was difficult.
She looked at him with contempt, as if his gaze touching her were something filthy.
“Hey, Reporter Gong. Is she okay?”
“Not sure…”
Woo Jihyun whispered worriedly.
But Gong Subyo, whose attention was fixed entirely on the president and director as he wondered how to make a good impression, paid no attention to Seobin’s condition.
Meanwhile, Sa-hyuk stepped closer to Seobin.
He placed his hand on her shoulder.
As if telling her she was okay.
As if telling her to breathe.
Breathe. Bae Seobin. Get a grip and breathe.
A fragment of a memory she never wanted to recall flashed through her mind.
Humiliation surged up.
Seobin took a step back.
Sa-hyuk’s hand slid naturally off her shoulder.
He glanced at his hand left hanging in the air and gave a faint smirk.
Then he continued calmly,
“You’ve become prettier.”
What a shameless man, Seobin thought.
Someone had died.
Someone’s family had died.
How could they stand there so unaffected?
“What are you doing right now…?”
Anger flashed in her eyes.
With that hostile gaze fixed entirely on him, she looked even more fragile, as if she might collapse at any moment.
But quick-witted Director Hong stepped in before things could grow stranger.
“Alright, then! Reporter Bae will take charge of covering Noble and the forum from now on! Since she’s still new… Gong Subyo! Help her out.”
“Yes, sir!”
Gong Subyo, who had longed desperately to escape the Social Affairs desk, smiled brightly as if he had been chosen for a great honor.
The president nodded, satisfied.
“Good. Excellent. This year, it looks like Sarim High graduates will be running Sanghyeon Daily. Ha ha. Well then, we’ll be going.”
Having achieved what he wanted, President Oh wrapped things up with a pleased smile.
No one objected.
Except for one person.
Bae Seobin.
