Chapter 27: Chapter 27

"Use me as much as you need," Baek Ihyeon said, his tone steady, his words filled with intent.

“Don’t be ridiculous. I can’t do that. I’m the one who should apologize, oppa,” Suin replied, guilt flickering in her voice.

Noticing her sincerity, Ihyeon chuckled and teased her. “You’ve already dragged me into this, and now you’re sorry? That’s pretty shameless.”

“I have committed a grave sin.”

“I forgive you.”

Suin, catching onto his playful tone, matched it effortlessly. They both shared a laugh, the lightness easing the tension between them.

Once the mood had settled, Ihyeon ventured into the question that had been nagging at him.

“Does Seo Jaehee have some kind of obsession with you? Back in school, people used to call him… what was it… ‘the lunatic who’s crazy about Suin’? Or something like that.”

“You knew about that?”

“Of course. Everyone did. It was infamous.”

“It was absurd.”

“Is he still like that? Was he the same way in America?”

Though Ihyeon tried to sound casual, there was a faint edge of anxiety in his questions—a thinly veiled jealousy.

Unaware of his feelings, Suin answered honestly.

“We didn’t even contact each other in America.”

“Not at all?”

“Not at all.”

“I assumed he’d planned to appoint you as his secretary the moment he returned to Korea.”

“Making me his secretary was just him asserting dominance again.”

“Dominance?”

“He was my self-proclaimed ‘leader’ when we were kids, and I was his loyal follower.”

“When was that?”

“Elementary school.”

“I had no idea… You’ve known each other that long?”

“Yeah. My parents worked for his family back then.”

Hearing this, Ihyeon felt a pang in his chest. The history between Suin and Seo Jaehee ran far deeper than he had anticipated.

Time is the one opponent no one can beat, he thought bitterly.

“Seo Jaehee still treats me like I’m his subordinate. He crosses boundaries without hesitation. I started the rumor because I wanted to set clear lines and avoid his interference in my life, but…”

Realizing she was rambling, Suin gave Ihyeon an awkward smile.

“Clearly, my plan backfired.”

Ihyeon didn’t know the full scope of her feelings, but one thing was clear—her relationship with Jaehee made her uncomfortable. That was enough to put his mind at ease.

“I don’t think it’s a failure yet. Use me. Draw the line as clearly as you want.”

“No, it’s fine.”

“I’m serious. It’s fine.”

“It’s not fine.”

“I’m telling you, it’s fine!”

He playfully tapped her arm, but Suin’s expression grew serious as she warned him.

“Seo Jaehee will kill you.”

“…”

“I mean it.”

Though she spoke with certainty, Ihyeon let out a skeptical laugh. Her unwavering gaze, however, was so resolute that even he was momentarily at a loss for words.

If it were anyone else, he would’ve brushed it off, but with Seo Jaehee… it felt oddly plausible.

Embarrassed by his own momentary hesitation, he straightened up and tried to sound confident. “I’ll be fine. I’ve got two hearts.”

“It’s too late.”

Suin dismissed him outright.

“I’ll do my best to beat Seo Jaehee,” Ihyeon joked, though there was a genuine resolve behind his words.

“I’ll take that spirit as your intention. Thanks,” Suin replied, a slight smile tugging at her lips.

Both of them, now fully aware of Jaehee’s extreme personality, sighed and shook their heads before rising from their seats.

Leaving the rooftop lounge on the 42nd floor, they stepped into the elevator. Suin pressed the button for the Construction Support Department on the 15th floor and the Executive Office on the 39th.

“Don’t overthink it,” Ihyeon said, his tone more serious now. His usual playful demeanor faded as he continued.

“This is about what makes you comfortable. If I can help you with that, I don’t mind at all.”

When she glanced up at him, his lips curved into a gentle smile.

“Besides, being your ‘secret boyfriend’ isn’t so bad.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. When else would I get to be Chief Lee Suin’s boyfriend? It’s an honor.”

His kindness softened her defenses, and Suin returned his smile. As the elevator stopped on the 39th floor and she stepped out, she turned back to him.

“Thanks. Really.”

Suin turned and walked away without looking back.

“Take care,” she said over her shoulder.

As the elevator doors closed, Baek Ihyeon’s hand fell from the button he had been holding. He stared through the narrowing gap, watching her retreating figure until the doors shut completely.

With a quiet sigh, Ihyeon leaned against the elevator wall.

“Hmm,” he muttered, staring blankly at the ascending floor indicator until the elevator arrived at the 15th floor.

Ding—

Stepping out into the hallway, Ihyeon made his way toward his department. Just as he entered the corridor, he ran into Assistant Manager Kim Janghyuk, who was exiting the office.

“Baek, where have you been? I’ve been looking all over for you,” Janghyuk said.

“Why?”

“Come with me.”

Janghyuk gestured for Ihyeon to follow him into the smoking room. Once inside, he glanced around to ensure no one else was listening, then leaned in with a mischievous grin.

“Did you finally confess to Chief Lee Suin?”

“What are you talking about?” Ihyeon frowned, his brow furrowing.

“There’s a rumor going around that Suin has a secret boyfriend in the company.”

“Oh, that.”

“I figured it must be you! I thought you finally made your move and got things going.”

Janghyuk was one of the few people who knew about Ihyeon’s long-standing feelings for Suin, thanks to a drunken confession during a team dinner. Although he had promised to keep it a secret, he couldn’t resist pushing Ihyeon to act on it whenever the topic came up.

“I didn’t confess,” Ihyeon replied, trying to brush it off. “Someone must’ve misinterpreted seeing us together.”

His vague response was enough for Janghyuk to believe his assumption.

“I knew it!” Janghyuk exclaimed.

“Why?”

“Who else could it be? You’re the star of Hyesung Group, and you and Suin are high school alumni. Plus, you’ve had a thing for her forever.”

“It’s just a one-sided crush,” Ihyeon muttered.

“Come on, the rumor’s already out there. You might as well go for it.”

“What if it ruins our friendship?”

“Why are you being so cautious? If you keep hesitating, someone else will snatch her away.”

Someone else.

At those words, an image of Seo Jaehee flashed in Ihyeon’s mind, filling him with a bitter taste.

“Relationships are better bold and short-lived than drawn-out and lukewarm. Don’t miss your chance—go for it now.”

“Is that so?” Ihyeon murmured.

“Look at me! I scored the trifecta: dating, marriage, and a kid—all in one shot,” Janghyuk boasted, referring to his whirlwind romance and shotgun wedding with a fellow employee.

Ihyeon barely listened, lost in his thoughts. His imagination wandered to a different scenario entirely.

What if I married Suin? What if we had kids? A child who looks like her would be so beautiful…

The fantasy brought a faint smile to his face, though he quickly chastised himself. I’m dreaming of soup before I even have the rice.

***@@novelbin@@

Suin’s day had been surprisingly peaceful.

Thanks to Chairwoman Woo Ilhwa assigning Seo Jaehee to an off-site meeting with a partner company, Suin was free from his presence for the entire day.

Even her commute home was uneventful. Reflecting on the day, she felt a profound realization settle over her.

Independence is peace. Long live independence.

As she exited the subway station, her phone buzzed with a message from her mother, Jin Sookyung.

Suin, are you on your way home? The Chairwoman is here at the café.

Suin hoisted her handbag onto her shoulder and typed out a quick reply.

I’m at the station. Is she drunk?

Somewhat.

Chairwoman Woo Ilhwa had attended an early meeting that day. It was no surprise that, after a few drinks, she instinctively sought out Suin at the café. Old habits die hard.

I’ll be there soon.

Suin had just sent the message and was about to turn the corner when she caught sight of a figure lingering near the café.

Tall, with legs longer than most men’s.

A tailored suit jacket fluttered as broad shoulders shifted effortlessly.

When the man turned toward her, revealing his face, Suin froze.

“Damn it,” she muttered under her breath. It was Seo Jaehee.

She should have known.

He wasn’t the type to quietly let a day pass, nor the type to leave her alone after what had happened.

And they had kissed.

“Lee Su…” Jaehee called out, his voice warm as he raised a hand in greeting.

Before he could finish, Suin stormed over, grabbed his arm, and dragged him into a narrow alley beside the café.

Her glare was sharp as she lowered her voice to scold him.

“What are you doing here? The Chairwoman is inside.”

“Oh, is she?”

He sounded utterly indifferent, his calm demeanor unshaken.

Annoyed, Suin waved her hand as though trying to shoo him away like an illegally parked car.

“Leave. Now.”

“I’ll leave if you give me a kiss.”

His audacity stunned her. After one kiss, he was already making such brazen demands.

“You must not have been hit hard enough,” she snapped.

Before she could react further, he grabbed her shoulders and pressed her against the wall.

Thunk.

Her back made light contact with the wall just as Jaehee leaned in close, his mischievous smile now laced with a dangerous intensity.

“Lee Suin,” he murmured, his voice low and threatening, “you’re in big trouble now.”

A shiver ran down her spine as he lowered his gaze, his expression darkening.

“I’ve lost all control.”

And then, he kissed her.

A quick, deliberate kiss.

Smack.