Chapter 7 : Turning the Tables

“Wow, I knew our new employee would make it big someday! Hahaha.”

Manager Kim approached Yehyun and patted him on the back as he spoke.

Since when had they become so close? Yehyun almost frowned, but thinking of his precious salary, he barely managed a smile.

“I feel dazed, like I suddenly became famous.”

“I already called around to everyone I know. Told them that Cinderella or whatever is our employee.”

Who gave him permission to spread my personal information like that? Yehyun bit his lip discreetly behind the manager’s back.

“So, new employee. How did you end up dating Kang Yijeong? Looks like the quiet cat climbed onto the rice cooker first. No wonder you always hid your relationship.”

“Ah, Manager. I told you, he broke up with that person.”

Assistant Manager Park, who had just arrived, approached Yehyun knowingly. “He broke up with that person and started dating Kang Yijeong only recently, I heard.”

“Oh? How do you know that, Park?”

“The official statement came out. They said they started dating not long ago. Good for you, Shin.”

“Haha…” Yehyun laughed awkwardly and scratched the back of his head.

“Now that things are like this, can we use your connection to your boyfriend?” Manager Kim started acting chummy with Yehyun. It wasn’t unexpected, so Yehyun smiled and spoke casually.

“He’s really busy, and the contract situation is complicated, so that might be difficult.”

“Tch. What’s that?” Manager Kim clicked his tongue and frowned.

It’s not even a real relationship, and even if it were, would it be okay to ask for such favors? Yehyun muttered inwardly.

“Yijeong is so busy that I’d feel bad asking him to take time out.”

“Still…” Manager Kim looked disappointed and trailed off. But as if Yehyun’s firm attitude had some effect, he backed off. “Well, try asking anyway. You never know.”

“Okay, I’ll try,” Yehyun nodded reluctantly.

Clap, clap.

“Let’s get to work now. Work.”

It was Assistant Manager Lee’s clap that settled the situation. With her savior-like intervention, Yehyun’s slightly delayed workday began.

“Yehyun, just once, please? Okay?”

He hadn’t thought the harassment would end as soon as he came to work, but the crisis returned without even giving him a chance to catch his breath.

“Yijeong is really busy. It’s hard to contact him…”

“What’s the big deal about making one call to your boyfriend?”

He was already dying from the pressure from his own team members, but as soon as lunchtime came, colleagues from other departments came looking for him and harassed him.

“Yehyun. When you joined the company, I bought you drinks and printed out documents for you… I didn’t do it expecting anything, but I was nice to you, right? You’re not going to refuse this one favor?”

Chief Kim from the next department had been whining and clinging to Yehyun for ten minutes already. Even the people around them got sick of it and started nagging Yehyun to just make the call.

“Ah, just make one call and let’s go eat. Like Chief Kim said, it’s no big deal, so why drag it out?”

Even if he were a real boyfriend, it would be hard to call out of embarrassment. And Yijeong wasn’t even Yehyun’s real boyfriend. If he suddenly called, he would get a businesslike response. And if the people at work heard that tone, they would definitely bother Yehyun with unnecessary meddling.

“I feel bad. He’s busy as it is, and he might be filming, so it’s hard to answer…”

“Oh, I heard Kang Yijeong started filming a new drama with Lee Haeri. Is he shooting that? Yehyun, since you’re his boyfriend, you must know his schedule, right?” Chief Kim’s eyes sparkled as she started making a fuss.

“I’m a huge fan of Kang Yijeong. I even went to a fan meeting before. Ah, it’s a bit embarrassing to like a celebrity at this age… But I’d have no regrets if I could just hear his voice once, so I’m willing to suffer the shame.”

My precious lunchtime… Yehyun barely suppressed a sigh and made a troubled face. But everyone in the office except him was on her side.

“Just do it once.”

“Yeah. How long are you going to drag this out?”

Should I just say my phone is broken? Yehyun couldn’t do anything and just glared at his innocent phone. Chief Kim’s fan heart had brought her even to him, whom she barely knew, just to whine for a call. He understood, but it wasn’t pleasant.

‘Ah! Just once, I’ll study hard and listen to oppa. Okay? Just let me video call once—’

‘Don’t talk nonsense and go study.’

There was also someone like that at home, but Yehyun could scold her, and their relationship wouldn’t be ruined over something like this. But he couldn’t scold a chief from another department like a younger sibling, and if he refused nicely, she wouldn’t listen. Stuck in a difficult situation, Yehyun bit his lip.

“Then, Chief Kim. I’ll ask Yijeong to call later when he has time, so for today…”

Ring—

Just as he was about to kick Chief Kim out while mentioning the future, a basic phone ringtone sounded in the office.

“Whose call is that?”

“It’s a basic ringtone, so isn’t it Manager Kim’s?”

“Huh? My phone is here.” The manager shook his phone.

There were only two people in this office who used the basic ringtone. One was the manager. And the other was…

[Kang Yijeong]

“…” Yehyun.

“Kang Yijeong. He’s really bold, huh?”

“Don’t embarrass me, senior.”

At the filming set, Yijeong was also getting comments from people about his boyfriend. Haeri, who was playing Yijeong’s love interest, giggled at him.

“I was really surprised. Honestly, I thought you’d take some damage from admitting the relationship, but you’re unfazed.”

“I’m glad I won’t cause trouble for the production,” Yijeong said with a bright smile.

“You’re no fun to tease.” Haeri glared at him as if she was annoyed. “You must have the tightest schedule, but you’re dating and working. Your body won’t hold up. Anyway, don’t let it show on camera.”

“Of course. I’ll do my best.”

“Um, excuse me…” Haeri’s manager, who had been trailing behind her, hesitantly spoke to Yijeong.

“Go ahead, Manager Han.”

“Ah, well. It’s nothing big, just a personal curiosity…” The manager blushed and checked Yijeong’s reaction. He remembered her being the quiet type. What could it be? Yijeong looked at her with smiling eyes.

“What is it?”

“Um, is the person you’re dating named Shin Yehyun?”

“…Yes?”

Haeri’s manager had dropped her phone in surprise as soon as she saw Yijeong’s dating video, overwhelmed by Haeri’s pressure.

‘Ah, my phone!’

‘I’m, I’m sorry.’

That was because the person kissing Yijeong passionately on the screen was someone she knew.

‘Damn, the screen cracked.’

‘Gasp. What do I do? I should… pay for it…’

‘Oh, I’m going to cry. Forget it. I have that much money.’

She had been so flustered by cracking Haeri’s phone screen upon seeing the video that she forgot about it, but seeing Yijeong’s face reminded her of Yehyun. After hesitating for a long time whether to ask or pretend not to know, the manager finally gave in to her curiosity about Yehyun’s current situation and asked Yijeong.

“Ah, I could be mistaken… but you look so much like someone I know.”

At the sudden question, Yijeong’s mind started racing. Although Yehyun’s identity had been slightly leaked, if she were completely sure the person in the video was Yehyun, she wouldn’t have asked like this. She would have made a fuss, saying she knew that person. So the manager must have watched the video and wondered if it was Yehyun.

If she were close to Yehyun, she would have confirmed it through him. The fact that she asked him, with whom she wasn’t comfortable, suggested they only knew each other by face.

“Yes. Manager Han, do you know my boyfriend?”

“So it was him…!”

“What? You know his boyfriend?”

Having quickly assessed the situation, Yijeong smiled professionally. Then Haeri fussed and dragged the manager away.

“What? Why didn’t you tell me such interesting news? Tell me about Kang Yijeong’s boyfriend.”

“Ah, I’ll ask Yijeong…”

“Ask him later.”

Fortunately or unfortunately, Haeri, who had finished all her scenes for the day, dragged the manager to her van. Left alone, Yijeong sighed softly.

They didn’t seem close, and it probably wasn’t a big problem, but Manager Han was someone he had to face until the end of this project. If she spread wrong information about Yehyun and got suspicious, it would be troublesome.

“Hyung, how much time until my next scene?”

“Uh, what? I think we have about an hour. Why?”

After asking his manager, Juseok, who had just returned from the restroom, Yijeong learned he had about an hour of free time. It seemed unlikely that Manager Han would suddenly contact Yehyun, but just in case, it would be good to contact Yehyun and align their stories.

“Then I’ll be in the van for a bit.”

“Huh? Oh… okay. Are you tired? Want me to get you some coffee?”

“No. Just make sure no one comes near the van.”

After leaving that request with his manager, Yijeong got into the van and picked up his phone.

[♡]

He found the symbol at the top of his contacts and pressed the call button. It didn’t take long for the ringtone to stop.

Was Manager Han’s name Han Myeongah? First, he needed to ask what their relationship was. As he was about to speak,

– Eeek! Kang Yijeong!

The voice on the other end wasn’t Yehyun’s. They had been texting until last night, so the number should be correct. What was going on?

– Yijeong… Ah. I’m at work right now…

– Yehyun, what are you saying? It’s lunchtime! Can you put it on speakerphone?

Yehyun was speaking formally, and a woman’s voice was fussing next to him. Yijeong turned on the screen to check the time. It was probably lunchtime. He roughly understood what was happening.

What should he do? After a moment’s thought, Yijeong came up with something and suddenly grinned.

– Chief Kim. Just a moment…

“Honey, did you have lunch?”

– …

At Yijeong’s words, the other end went silent.

“You can put it on speakerphone. They’re your colleagues. What’s the big deal about greeting them?”

He had been so bold in front of reporters. Yijeong wondered what kind of expression Yehyun was making now. Thinking that, Yijeong waited for Yehyun’s answer.

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