Chapter 48
Secretary Yoo?
Yeonjung sat in her office, staring at Lee Yeon’s company messenger status, waiting for her to log in.
At last, the little blue light came on.
And yet, the message Yeonjung had sent the moment she arrived at work remained unanswered.
Frustrated, she grabbed one of the many approval files piled high on the desk beside her.
Forget it, I’m just going up there!
If anyone asked why, she’d pretend she came to get an approval signed.
Curiosity burned hotter than hesitation, and it took Yeonjung less than three minutes—certainly not five—to find herself standing in front of Lee Yeon’s desk.
No one else might care, but there was no way she was going to miss this spectacle.
She wanted to witness the moment Do Hyun’s wife and his rumoured mistress, a secretary, came face-to-face.
When she hurried over, she saw a woman at the secretary’s desk, head lowered, writing something.
Assuming it must be Secretary Yoo, she strode forward.
“Secretary Yoo! Why didn’t you reply to my message…!”
But the instant the woman lifted her head and their eyes met, Yeonjung froze like a broken machine.
Her pupils widened so much they felt as though they might burst like overinflated balloons.
The woman rose from her chair slowly, every movement laced with a dignified grace that commanded attention.
Yeonjung found herself following the rise of that face, her head tilting upward as if caught in a trance.
A gentle smile curved across the woman’s lips, and Yeonjung’s heart tingled at the sight.
She had never felt this way toward another woman before.
She had seen plenty of pretty faces, but never someone this beautiful, this close.
It was the kind of beauty you could only gape at, like spotting a top-tier celebrity up close.
And now she finally understood why people reacted that way.
It wasn’t just her looks—her whole aura was magnetic.
Sharp, unwavering eyes gave her an air of strength and resolve.
The woman hadn’t even spoken yet, but Yeonjung already knew.
This was the woman who had turned the entire Wuseong Card company upside down.
But her eyes… they felt strangely familiar.
“Deputy Kang, my computer froze because too many messages came in at once.”
Thud.
Yeonjung felt as though someone had slammed a hammer into her head.
“S–Secretary Yoo?”
No, it couldn’t be.
No, it shouldn’t be.
Her lashes trembled, but she forced herself to stay composed.
Unlike Yeonjung, who was parched with shock, Lee Yeon gazed at her calmly, smiling with ease.
Deputy Kang’s mouth went dry.
Because at that moment, every cruel thing she had ever said to Lee Yeon flashed before her eyes like a lantern slide show.
Secretary Yoo, don’t you ever think about changing your clothes?
At least fix your hairstyle.
Do you always wear such big sizes?
Is it really acceptable for a secretary to dress like that?
Oh, God.
Was it time to start a religion right here and now?
Kang Yeonjung! What were you thinking, mouthing off like that?
Her inner voice scolded her mercilessly.
Looking at Lee Yeon now, every word she’d ever uttered about her appearance felt humiliating.
As if she had any right to comment on a woman like this.
Heat rushed through her body, shame burning her skin.
“It’s me, Deputy Kang.”
“So then… Secretary Yoo is…”
“Yes.”
Lee Yeon lifted her hand and pointed precisely at Do Hyun’s office.
“That man inside is my man… no, my husband.”
Following the gesture, Yeonjung turned her head and saw Do Hyun sitting inside.
What have I done?
Wait. I haven’t criticised her recently, have I? That counts for something, right?
“I’ll… come back later.”
Yeonjung wanted nothing more than to flee.
She stumbled back as quickly as she had come, disappearing in a fluster.
“Ahhh! Look who it is!”
Almost as if on cue, Sujin appeared the moment Yeonjung left.
Bouncing over, she stomped her feet in excitement, her exaggerated reaction so comical that Lee Yeon couldn’t help but laugh.
“You’re really Lee Yeon, right?”
Even when bonuses were generous, Sujin had never looked this thrilled.
Lee Yeon blinked, wondering why her appearance was making Sujin so ecstatic.
“Just looking at you makes me feel so refreshed!
All those people who used to nitpick you must be shrivelling up right now! Serves them right!”
Sujin seemed about ready to break into a traditional mask dance.
And she wasn’t finished.
“Those nasty rumours about you being the mistress will finally be silenced, too!
This is amazing.
You’re even more stunning in person—no wonder you kept hiding yourself!”
Her excitement only grew, her voice rising with every word.
Why on earth was she this worked up?
Why was she practically dancing the moment she walked in?
Sujin beamed, puffing up her shoulders with pride.
“I feel like I’ve got a whole army behind me! I’m so giddy I can’t sit still.”
“Why your shoulders?”
“Because everyone knows I’m your closest friend here.
Who would dare mess with me now, when I’m the best friend of Vice President Ahn’s wife?
Let those old geezers try and dump their chores on me now—I’d like to see them try!”
Lee Yeon could only imagine how far Sujin’s fantasies had spiralled.
Sujin, so this is why you’re excited?
She thought about reeling her back to reality, reminding her it was just wishful thinking.
But for now, she let Sujin enjoy the high.
She even joined her friend’s bouncing by lifting her own heels slightly off the ground.
Sujin’s joy was contagious, and soon Lee Yeon’s own heart felt lighter, her worries dissolving.
The fear and unease she had carried in the lobby earlier now seemed like nothing.
Sujin, did you forget you also teased me about my looks?
You told me to get hair treatment, dragged me shopping saying you’d pick better clothes.
Remember?
Of course, Sujin’s mind had conveniently erased all that.
She clapped her hands together with a grin.
“Oh, right! We have to eat in the company cafeteria today.”
“I was actually planning to avoid it.”
To eat in the crowded cafeteria, on this day of all days?
The first day she showed up like this, with all eyes on her?
No way.
“Today’s a day for eating alone.”
“Nope, I won’t allow it.
I’m going to watch every single person’s face and revel in it.
Anyone who dared to slander you—oh, I’ll crush their pride into dust!”
Whose pride was she planning to crush, exactly?
Clearly, today’s company drama revolved around Lee Yeon.
Maybe it really was better to let everyone see her all at once, instead of enduring constant whispers.
Better one embarrassing lunch than a hundred awkward encounters.
After Sujin left to prepare for lunch, Do Hyun stepped out of his office.
He glanced down the hall where Sujin had disappeared, frowning slightly.
“So, the bouncing ball finally left?”
“Bouncing ball? You mean Secretary Jung Sujin?”
Do Hyun nodded, dead serious.
So he had seen Sujin bouncing around, clinging to her.
Lee Yeon laughed softly at his teasing.
“I don’t have lunch plans today.”
Sometimes, it seemed like Do Hyun forgot she was his secretary.
He should’ve known she wasn’t scheduled to eat with him today.
Not lunch, not after the morning they’d already shared.
“If you don’t have plans, eat with me.”
“Not today.”
She smiled up at him, her expression radiant.
“If I eat lunch with you on a day like this, it’ll only make things worse.”
Her smile was so beautiful that Do Hyun couldn’t argue.
“I’m eating with Secretary Jung in the cafeteria.”
“The bouncing one from earlier?”
Did he really not know Sujin’s name, after seeing her so many times?
At last, he seemed to realise and nodded, dropping his crossed arms.
“Enjoy your meal.”
And with that, he spun on his heel and went back into his office.
That’s it?
But what else was there to say?
If he had asked if she was alright, she would only have said she was fine.
Lee Yeon stood there, staring blankly at his closed office door.
Why did lunchtime come so fast?
When she arrived at the cafeteria, she swallowed hard.
She would have to eat with her nose today, not her mouth.
Even though she had prepared herself, the weight of all those stares was suffocating.
“Today’s menu is grilled short rib patties.”
Sujin, linked at her arm, read the sign aloud.
Of course, it had to be a dish she didn’t like.
Not the best omen.
As they stood in line, the whispers started.
Not hushed at all, but clear enough to pierce her ears.
Most people already knew, through Sujin and Yeonjung, that Secretary Yoo and the vice president’s wife were one and the same.
Which only made them stare more openly.
At least the chatter centred around how beautiful she looked.
And at least the rumour of Do Hyun being an adulterer had been put to rest.
Carrying her tray, she hurried to Sujin’s table and sat down.
Ready to choke on her food if she had to, she lifted her spoon.
But the whispers only grew louder, until she finally looked up.
The employees weren’t looking at her anymore.
They were staring behind her.
What now?
Did the chairman show up for lunch?
She turned her head.
Should’ve brought stomach medicine.
Walking toward her, tray in hand, was none other than Do Hyun.
“Is the seat next to you free?”
He grinned at her as he approached.
Leaning close, his voice dropped to a private murmur.
“To help you, Yoo Lee Yeon.”
