Chapter 49
Company Welfare
“To help you, Yoo Lee Yeon.”
At Do Hyun’s sudden appearance, Sujin, who had been sitting across from Lee Yeon, glanced back and forth between the two of them.
Then, reading the mood, she picked up her tray and rose from her seat.
“I forgot I had to go to the bank for a loan consultation. Lee Yeon, I’ll get going first! Vice President, enjoy your meal.”
“Sujin, we just….”
We just sat down, so where are you going without even eating!
Before Lee Yeon could get an answer, Sujin was gone.
Just before turning away, Sujin caught Lee Yeon’s eyes and winked before disappearing.
It seemed to mean, I’ll give you two some space, so show everyone how sweet you look together.
Do Hyun slid into the seat Sujin had just vacated.
Facing Lee Yeon directly, he picked up his chopsticks.
“Vice President?
You don’t usually come to the company cafeteria, do you?”
Worried someone might overhear, Lee Yeon leaned forward and whispered quietly to Do Hyun, who looked relaxed, chopsticks in hand, as if unaware of her anxious heart.
It was rare for Do Hyun to eat in the cafeteria.
Whenever he joined the line, no matter what the day’s menu was, a flood of employees would suddenly gather, lining up and sitting down as if holding hands.
Because of all the furtive glances cast his way while eating, he rarely used the cafeteria.
“I said I came to help you.”
“And how exactly are you going to help me?”
Lee Yeon pouted ever so slightly.
Do Hyun nearly lifted his hand to her puffed cheek, looking adorably sulky, but instead gave a soundless smile.
“Hearing you’d be eating here today, I thought, so she’s going to fan the flames, and I figured I might as well pour some oil on the fire.”
Do Hyun wasn’t wrong.
Looking around, Lee Yeon saw that the tables surrounding theirs were filled with employees, sitting in clusters as if staking out seats.
The cafeteria, usually noisy and bustling, was now hushed, filled only with soft whispers.
People moved their chopsticks mechanically, but their ears were pricked toward Lee Yeon and Do Hyun.
Just the sight of the two of them eating lunch together had fanned their curiosity into a blaze.
Since Do Hyun had arrived, Lee Yeon realised she no longer cared about the stares.
She focused only on his eyes and voice.
She felt guilty for having tried to avoid him earlier.
She looked at the man across from her properly now.
He split a piece of grilled short rib patty neatly in two and slid it into his mouth.
The way his jawline moved with his lips was oddly sexy.
When his Adam’s apple bobbed with a swallow, Lee Yeon gulped down her own saliva in response.
“You’re really enjoying that. The short rib patty.”
She hadn’t even liked it before, but watching him eat made it seem delicious.
She licked her lips and began preparing her own bite.
“If that little wedge isn’t enough for you, I could always turn it up a notch with a kiss.”
What on earth did this man say!
“Are you crazy?”
Though Lee Yeon said it under her breath, the provocative word kiss was overheard by nearby employees, freezing them mid-bite.
They shifted, straining to hear more, wanting confirmation of what they’d just caught.
Seeing Lee Yeon’s face flare up from his teasing, Do Hyun let out a full, cheerful laugh.
Amidst the many watching eyes that found their bickering adorable, one pair in particular glared sharply.
Ha. So this is how it turns out?
Jihoo’s face twisted as if he were chewing rocks instead of rice.
The expression matched his moving jaw perfectly.
“Jihoo, why’s your face like that?
Did you actually bite into a stone?”
I’d rather be chewing stones right now.
That morning, Assistant Manager Kang had talked nonstop about Lee Yeon.
When word came that she’d shown up in the cafeteria, he dragged Jihoo along.
Already irritated by how little was going his way, Jihoo found himself seated directly across from Lee Yeon.
And then he saw her.
Matured since their college days, Lee Yeon’s femininity made her shine even brighter now.
Old feelings surged up inside him.
But alongside them, a wave of frustration tangled his chest into knots.
Nothing seemed to go his way.
Too late, Jihoo realised his mistake.
Yoo Lee Yeon wasn’t the type to let her man’s reputation be sullied by some rumour.
She would never stand by and watch.
Yet Do Hyun looked not the least bit scratched.
If anything, he seemed even more triumphant.
People were calling their marriage a story straight out of a drama.
Saying he was a devoted husband who loved even Lee Yeon’s flaws.
Praising them endlessly.
Who the hell cooked up such a drama-like story?
Unaware that Sujin had quietly spun the tale to sway public opinion, Jihoo’s eyes stayed fixed on Lee Yeon sitting so close to Do Hyun.
The way her eyes curved sweetly toward him made Jihoo’s chest ache.
I really wanted those eyes to look at me.
Why is it that the harder something is to have, the more desperately we want it?
His gaze twisted with bitterness as he stared at them.
***
“What is this nonsense?
Why is Do Hyun’s marriage in the papers?”
Gapsoo roared at Deokho, startling the secretary pouring tea so badly that her hands trembled.
When she hurried out, Deokho tried to calm him.
“It’s true he’s married.
Honestly, the article should have come out long ago.”
Hearing that Do Hyun himself had asked for the wedding news to be released, Gapsoo couldn’t make sense of it.
“I told him not to let it slip until there was a baby. What’s all this about?”
“Do hyun will be here soon, Father?”
“And what’s this about? Who is this woman they’re calling Secretary Yoo?”
“It’s Lee Yeon, Father.
Looks like she had her reasons for keeping up that appearance all this time.”
Just then came a knock, and Do Hyun entered.
He bowed lightly and took a seat on the sofa.
Gapsoo, who had seemed ready to explode, instead stayed silent, fixing him with a heavy stare.
It was a kind of silence that Do Hyun knew could weigh more than anger.
“You come here and just sit?
You think it makes sense that you never once reached out, when you should’ve been explaining yourself at my very door?”
Gapsoo tossed a photo onto the table before him.
“Start with this. Explain.”
Do Hyun briefly outlined the unpleasant incident Lee Yeon had gone through.
Why did she have to disguise herself, and enough of the reasons behind it to satisfy them?
“So she ran into a wretch, did she? Did you find out what he’s doing now?”
At the end of Do Hyun’s account, Deokho cursed the man, furious.
“Yes. I checked, and he passed away from lung cancer.”
Do Hyun hadn’t told Lee Yeon, but he’d never planned to let the man who left such a lasting wound walk free.
When he finally learned the man had already died, Do Hyun had frowned.
To leave without paying for his sins. For Lee Yeon, it’s nothing but unfair.
“So he died without facing judgment. Irresponsible bastard.”
Deokho’s anger simmered on.
Such a lovely daughter-in-law, and yet she’d been scarred by someone vile, forced to hide herself in her youth.
It was heartbreaking.
The truth was, the person who leaked the news of Do Hyun’s marriage had been Deokho himself.
He never understood why Gapsoo insisted on keeping it hidden.
If they married of their own will, why keep it a secret?
He thought it did neither of them any good.
To him, Lee Yeon’s gentle, pure heart was rare in this age.
He had no wish to hide the fact that such a woman was his daughter-in-law.
“This is as good as having deceived us.”
“It wasn’t about deception.”
Gapsoo fell quiet, looking deep in thought, as if needing time to sort things out.
“I’ll let it slide this once, since there was a reason. But now focus on having a child. Why is there still no news?”
Privately, Deokho thought it a relief that things had ended here.
***
That morning, Do Hyun strode toward the conference room for a meeting.
As he opened the door, the employees inside sprang to their feet and bowed.
He gave a brief nod and took his seat at the head.
The meeting began.
“We’ll soon be filming for ‘Company Welfare.’”
“Yes. These days, the public is very interested in corporate welfare, and the variety show ‘Company Welfare’ is riding that trend.
Since Wuseong Card is known for its benefits and its cafeteria food has a great reputation, we’re finally moving forward with the proposal.”
‘Company Welfare’ featured three hosts visiting companies, big or small, to try their cafeteria meals and experience their workplace benefits.
With interest in work-life balance growing, it was especially popular among young people.
“They sometimes bring in special guests. We’ve been informed that our company’s shoot will feature one.”
“Who’s the guest?”
Team Leader Kim stroked his chin as he asked.
“It’s actress Jung Heera, our current model.
Apparently, she heard about the filming here and personally requested to appear.
She said she feels a sense of responsibility as our model and wants to represent us on the show, which surprised me.”
“But there’s a bit of an issue. I was told Heera has already chosen which employee she wants to guide her through the program.”
On the show, one company employee always acted as a guide for the hosts.
Who better to introduce the company than someone who experienced it firsthand, after all.
And it lent credibility, since they directly enjoyed the benefits.
Heera had specified exactly who she wanted to accompany her throughout filming.
“She chose someone?”
“Yes, she told the producers it had
to be that person. It was even made a condition of her appearance.”
“So, who is it?”
Do Hyun’s deep voice cut in sharply.
