Episode 3
She’d kissed him on impulse… only to get the coldest rejection yet.
It was going to be hard to look him in the eye for a while.
Her first kiss—something that should’ve been a sweet memory—was now just a memory of being dumped by Yoon Tae‑jun.
Even after kissing him, to still be turned down like that… the sting went deeper than she expected.
But they worked in the same company. Same team, even. How was she not supposed to see him?
Still, lucky or unlucky, he had an off‑site schedule today and wouldn’t be coming in early.
Wish he wouldn’t show up at all…
Her to‑do list was piling up, but her mind kept drifting.
Even though she didn’t know if Tae‑jun would come back to the office today, every footstep in the hall made her flinch.
Every time she heard the elevator stop on their floor, her fingers froze mid‑typing.
Her mentor, Deputy Manager Park Soo‑jung, finally noticed how distracted she was and asked if something was wrong, even suggesting she go home if she didn’t feel well.
“What do you mean you’re telling me this now? I told you to check this stuff in advance!”
A loud shout from the next team over snapped Ha‑yoon back to reality.
“This is why you guys are so thick‑headed! You work like this and I’m the one getting chewed out by the higher‑ups! What’s the point of carrying that rock on your shoulders if it’s not even useful? Huh?”
It was Team 2’s leader, Chae Byung‑wook, ripping into his own team.
Ha‑yoon froze mid‑breath. Is it even okay to talk like that?
She glanced sideways with wide eyes. Soo‑jung caught her look and let out a small sigh.
“There he goes again. I don’t know why he acts like he can’t survive unless he’s eating his team alive.”
Soo‑jung shook her head. She’d tried stopping him before, but Byung‑wook only blew up worse, saying some “lowly deputy” had no right to tell him what to do, leaving the office air frozen solid.
“Ugh, I still get chills thinking about that day. Don’t let it get to you, Ha‑yoon.”
“…Okay, got it.”
Ha‑yoon had been working here for a few months now, so she was used to brushing things off.
But hearing Byung‑wook go off never failed to make her tense.
It wasn’t just yelling—he cursed, too. It was hard not to pay attention.
Just listening made her anxious; she couldn’t even imagine how awful it must be for the people he targeted.
KJ Media was a hotshot subsidiary of KJ Group, one of Korea’s top corporations.
Ha‑yoon worked in the beating heart of KJ Media: the Marketing Department.
Because the department’s performance was visible at a glance, her Team 1 was always in competition with Team 2—and Team 1 always came out on top.
Maybe that’s why he’s so on edge…
She could understand being frustrated over losing.
But taking it out on his team? That, she couldn’t get behind.
Once, she’d even mentioned Byung‑wook’s behavior to Tae‑jun, explaining how he spoke to his team when Tae‑jun wasn’t around. Tae‑jun had just nodded with a blank face, like he already knew.
“I know how Team Leader Chae acts.”
“Then… can’t you do something?”
He’d simply switched off his tablet and said,
“I’ll handle it. Don’t get involved.”
It felt like a line in the sand, but she believed him.
Still, Byung‑wook never acted out in front of Tae‑jun, so catching him red‑handed wasn’t easy.
Watching Byung‑wook now, Ha‑yoon silently thanked her luck for being placed on Team 1.
Team 1 always had a bright, positive energy.
Team 2? Always gloomy, weighed down by their boss.
Can’t blame them.
When your own team leader looks ready to devour you, how can you smile?
The constant tension made their results worse, made them trip up in live broadcasts—and yet Byung‑wook would sigh as if he couldn’t imagine why.
Ha‑yoon shook her head and turned back to her monitor.
Time to focus on her own work.
She tapped at her keyboard, trying to concentrate—when she felt someone approach.
She glanced up.
“You got a minute?”
It was Byung‑wook, the same guy who’d been chewing out his team moments ago.
Ha‑yoon shot up from her chair and bowed politely.
He rubbed his temples, voice sharp as he asked again,
“Do you have time or not? Don’t waste my time.”
“…What’s this about, sir?”
“I asked if you have time. Why are you yapping so much? Do you not understand plain Korean? Just answer the question instead of babbling. So damn annoying.”
Soo‑jung finally stood, unable to watch him anymore.
“Team Leader, could you please tell us what this is about? Ha‑yoon needs to know what you need before she can answer.”
Byung‑wook let out an exaggerated groan, ruffling his own hair.
“Ugh, we’re about to go live and someone called in sick last minute. We need more hands, but getting someone from another team will take forever and they’d need training.”
“Ah…”
“Your team isn’t going live right now anyway, right? She can fill in for a few hours. Looks like she’s not doing anything urgent.”
“I actually have something I need her to—”
“What could be more urgent than a live broadcast? She’s done it before.”
“But—”
“No buts. Just send her over. I’m not asking for a week, just four hours. You can’t even do that?”
His voice rose louder and louder. Ha‑yoon felt cold sweat break out on her palms.
In that moment, she wanted nothing more than to see Tae‑jun.
Soo‑jung bit her lip and glanced at Tae‑jun’s empty office.
Normally, Byung‑wook wouldn’t push this hard. But Tae‑jun wasn’t here today.
Right now, Byung‑wook was the boss, the sky itself.
No one could say no to him.
“Well? What’s it gonna be?”
“At least let me check with our director first—”
“It’s urgent! I’ll clear it with the higher‑ups. Just lend her to me for a few hours!”
His voice was practically a shout now.
Ha‑yoon didn’t want Soo‑jung to get into a fight on her account. She didn’t want to cause trouble.
“I’ll do it. It’s fine.”
Finally, Byung‑wook calmed down, snorting as he said,
“Guess you’re sharper than I thought. Follow me.”
Wow. Did he really just say that…?
Ha‑yoon narrowed her eyes, glaring at his back.
“Ha‑yoon, are you sure about this?”
“Don’t worry. He’s not gonna give me anything too crazy. I’ll just treat it as a learning experience and do my best.”
Seeing her bright smile, Soo‑jung gave a helpless sigh and patted her shoulder.
“Okay. Call me if anything happens.”
Honestly, Ha‑yoon wanted to cling to her desk and refuse to go.
Dark thoughts churned in her head, but she forced herself to stay positive.
Think of it as an opportunity.
More than anything, if she did a great job on Team 2’s broadcast, maybe she’d get a real chance to talk to Tae‑jun.
After that kiss, things had been so cold between them…
If she could show him she was capable, maybe she could get a proper conversation.
No matter what, she was going to do a perfect job and earn praise.
She clenched her fists tight.
All I have to do is show them a side of me they’ve never seen before.
I’ll make sure he never calls me a kid again.
