Chapter 80: Shadows of Motives

After lunch, Ah Young cautiously approached me at my desk.

“The Director’s offer… he wasn’t serious, right?”

I gave a wry smile.

“Haha, why? Thinking of going?”

“No, it’s just weird. He barely knows us and suddenly says that… Did I mess up or something?”

“What could you mess up? If anyone did, it’s him.”

Ah Young looked flustered but not upset. Being scouted, even jokingly, beats being ignored. Meanwhile, Sun Woo, who was brushed off, had been bombarding me with messages on the office messenger.

[😭 Why didn’t he pick me? 😭 Can you ask? He seems to listen to you 😭]

I ignored him and glanced back. Ji An, typing furiously with a serious expression, was probably more worked up than either of them. Frowning, I texted Do Yoon.

[Don’t mess with my team’s vibe. If you’re gonna act like this, don’t join us for lunch.]

He replied soon after.

[Come to my team, then.]

“This guy…” I sighed heavily.

He meant Ji An, not me. He was hiding his true intentions with nonsense, but as someone who knew the original story, I saw right through him. Ignoring him, I texted Yoo Hyung Joo.

[You knew Do Yoon was back in Korea, didn’t you? Why didn’t you tell me?]

Since his discharge, Hyung Joo had been traveling to Southeast Asia for “business” but wouldn’t spill what kind. I’d warned him against anything shady, but he kept insisting it wasn’t, telling me not to worry.

His reply came.

[I didn’t know. Stop being paranoid, or you’ll get more gray hairs.]

“This jerk…”

Last year, drunk, he’d yanked out my gray hairs, claiming they were new, and kept teasing me since. I rubbed my temples, glaring at the text. If we were face-to-face, I’d know if he was lying, but he was abroad, and I couldn’t check.

Even if I knew, what would’ve changed?

If Do Yoon, the protagonist, wanted something, nothing could stop him. All I could do was try to influence the supporting characters around me. After a moment, I texted Hyung Joo again.

[No loan shark stuff, got it?]

[It’s not! 😣]

I smacked my lips and set the phone down. Another text from Do Yoon arrived.

[If you don’t reply, I’ll keep following you.]

How’s that different from chasing Ji An?

From what I’d seen, the male and female leads didn’t need my help—or shouldn’t. I stared at the message, then flipped my phone over.

Do Yoon acted like he had a duty to follow through. He showed up constantly after that day. He avoided the office to keep things discreet, but by some cosmic joke, I ran into him every time I went on fieldwork, ate lunch with him whenever he had a chance, and he even “passed by” our team’s dinners, treating everyone to expensive meals. My teammates, initially wary, warmed up to him.

The kicker? Ji An was always there. The novel’s fated pull was strong.

Or he’s stalking her.

Even for a male lead destined to stick to the heroine, this was excessive. Recently, when I tried helping Ji An carry an A4 box, Do Yoon swooped in, snatched it, dumped it by the copier, and left. His comment was priceless.

“She’s always hanging around you.”

Warned by the male lead, I felt wronged enough to cry. We’re on the same team!

You’re the one popping up randomly!

Why was he checking me so relentlessly? After a few incidents, people started whispering, “Why’s he here so often?” Frustrated, I grabbed my coat and headed to the rooftop.

Clutching my cigarette pack, I sighed deeply, my breath clouding in the air. As I fumbled for my lighter, familiar footsteps stopped beside me.

“Cigarettes are bad for you. Cut back.”

“…Ji An’s not here.”

“Huh?”

Do Yoon looked at me, puzzled. Annoyed, I shoved the pack back into my pocket.

“It’s just me.”

“I know. That’s why I came.”

“What?”

“Why’s it so hard to catch you alone? You’re always surrounded.”

I was stunned. He came for me? Not Ji An?

He frowned, his handsome brows knitting.

“Can you stop mentioning Bae Ji An? She’s everywhere even when she’s not.”

I shut my mouth. It sounded like… he was really here for me. Absurdly, I felt a flicker of joy.

“Why’re you looking for me?”

“Why else? I missed you.”

Shocked, I widened my eyes. He stepped closer, looking aggrieved.

“You’re always out on fieldwork, surrounded by people when you’re here, glaring at me when I visit Marketing, and you don’t let just anyone into your place… What choice do I have but to chase you?”

His playful tone carried a hint of hurt. My heart sank.

What? It sounded like he genuinely wanted to reconnect. He grinned.

“Or come to my place? I’m ready anytime. I clean every day.”

My excuse about my messy house must’ve stuck with him. Why didn’t he just visit on a weekend? Since when did he need my permission? I wanted to brush off his teasing but couldn’t resist my curiosity.

“…Where’s your place?”

Trying to sound casual, my voice came out gruff. He looked surprised, eyes rounding.

“You’d really come?”

Is he messing with me?

“Forget it. I wouldn’t come even if you begged.”

As I turned away, he suddenly hooked his arm through mine, holding tight and looking at me.

“Please come? You’re the only one left.”

I caught a nuance in his words—“only one left”? Pushing his arm off, I asked suspiciously.

“Who else did you invite?”

“There was someone.”

“…Yoo Hyung Joo?”

I was a bit annoyed but could accept Hyung Joo. He shook his head.

“No, he’s not in Korea.”

True. But someone else besides Hyung Joo? I racked my brain, landing on a name I hadn’t thought of in ages.

“Huang Yeon Seok?”

Yeon Seok and I lost touch after Do Yoon left for the States. In the novel, they were close, so maybe now too. Do Yoon’s face soured.

“Why him? You still talk to him?”

“You’re the one who would.”

I answered curtly, biting my lip. Not Yeon Seok either? Then who? My heart raced anxiously.

Ji An?

The thought hit me with a strange, intense pang of disappointment. Even if they were fated, they’d known each other less than a month. Imagining Ji An invited to his place before me felt like a crushing defeat. Then Do Yoon said.

“Seung Hee noona.”

“Huh?”

My mind, which had spiraled to Andromeda, snapped back. I must’ve looked like I’d been slapped with a bucket of water. Realizing what I’d been thinking, my face flushed.

What’s wrong with me?

I slapped my cheeks to snap out of it. Do Yoon, startled, grabbed my hands.

“What’s wrong?”

“Invite Hyung Joo, Yeon Seok, everyone… Throw a party.”

“What?”

He frowned at my nonsense. Then I remembered something I’d forgotten.

“What’s Yeon Seok up to? Doesn’t he work here?”

“He’s in France.”

“What?! Then what? He should be here.”

Do Yoon gave me a strange look.

“Why should he be here?”

To be your secretary. The male lead finds the heroine no matter the company, but secretaries don’t chase employers, it seems. Fate outweighs employment contracts.

But without Yeon Seok, no one would coach Do Yoon’s romance with Ji An.

Then I thought.

Does he even need a romance coach?