“I… wuaaahhh….”
Instead of answering, Assistant Manager Jo Si-Nae burst into tears and slumped to the floor.
Assistant Manager Jo Yu-Ri, unaware of what had happened, came running over to help Si-Nae up. Eun-Bi, who had been standing behind Ji-Heon, couldn’t bring herself to approach.
“Assistant Manager Jo Si-Nae. Stop crying and tell me. What is going on? Why is your computer in that state?”
Ji-Heon demanded, his expression hardening.
“Hic, ugh….”
Si-Nae only continued to sob.
She had come to dislike Jin-Seo after hearing Manager Eun-Bi Chae complain about how difficult Jeong-o Lee had made her life back in their school days. There was nothing to gain from crossing Eun-Bi, the lover of Executive Director Ji-Heon Jeong, so Si-Nae had deliberately tormented Jin-Seo to curry favor with her.
Following the company dinner incident with Dawon Liquor, Si-Nae had been forced to report her work to Ji-Heon daily. He, however, didn’t hesitate to humiliate her—seemingly influenced by whatever Jin-Seo had whispered in his ear.
What started as a bid for Eun-Bi’s favor had turned into genuine hatred. She wanted revenge at any cost.
Si-Nae had been carrying a USB drive loaded with a virus, waiting for the right moment. The opportunity came when Jin-Seo was assigned a specific task. Taking advantage of a moment when Jin-Seo stepped away, she infected the laptop and snuck into the rarely used C Output Room to delete the files Jin-Seo had uploaded to the cloud.
She had been in such high spirits that day. Manager Eun-Bi Chae seemed annoyed by how close Ji-Heon and Jin-Seo were, but that was none of Si-Nae’s business. She had thought it would be a harmless incident, but today, things had spiraled.
“Assistant Manager Jo Si-Nae, this won’t do. Let’s talk about this again tomorrow. Just finish your work for today and go home.”
“D-Director, Assistant Manager Jo Si-Nae has… materials that must be sent to the advertiser today,” Assistant Manager Jo Yu-Ri interjected.
“I would prefer it if Assistant Manager Jo Yu-Ri handled it instead.”
“…….”
“I cannot entrust company work to an employee whose integrity is in doubt,” Ji-Heon said coldly. Even Yu-Ri looked frightened.
“Assistant Manager Jo Si-Nae, I will be taking this USB; it needs to be investigated.”
Ji-Heon took the USB from Jin-Seo. He knew exactly whose drive it was.
*I’ve been framed by their schemes!*
Overcome by a sense of injustice, Si-Nae burst into even louder sobs.
Once the crowd dispersed, Eun-Bi walked up to her.
“Assistant Manager Jo Si-Nae, I hope you can clear your name if you’ve been framed. Let me know if there’s anything I can do to help. …This whole thing is truly unfortunate.”
“…….”
“By the way… was it because of you that my Ji-Heon Oppa had to work overtime with Assistant Manager Jin-Seo?”
Under Eun-Bi’s cold reproach, Si-Nae felt like she’d been shattered. She stared at Eun-Bi with her mouth hanging open, looking utterly devastated.
Eun-Bi turned to Assistant Manager Jo Yu-Ri. “Assistant Manager Jo Yu-Ri. We should get back to work, shouldn’t we?”
“Ah, yes, yes. Manager.”
Yu-Ri loosened her grip on Si-Nae’s arm and followed Eun-Bi awkwardly, leaving Si-Nae alone.
Eun-Bi had been raising Si-Nae like a servant, but it had all been for nothing. She clenched her teeth, swallowing her anger.
*Jeong-o Lee again. Ji-Heon Jeong again.*
They had conspired to catch Si-Nae. Eun-Bi had actually known what Si-Nae did last Thursday; she had sensed it when the chaos started right after Si-Nae had vanished for a moment.
*She makes it so obvious that she hates her—of course she’d get caught.*
Eun-Bi lamented Si-Nae’s foolishness, hating Jin-Seo all the more for closing the distance with Ji-Heon under various pretexts.
*
The next day, the data on the USB was analyzed and confirmed to match the virus on Jin-Seo’s computer. Ji-Heon immediately called Si-Nae to his office.
“Assistant Manager Jo Si-Nae.”
“……Yes. …Director.”
Si-Nae replied in a trembling voice.
“No matter how much you deny it, the results are conclusive. The company has no choice.”
“…….”
“Whether you are an industrial spy, hold a personal vendetta against Assistant Manager Jin-Seo, or have another reason, I cannot ignore the risks. I can no longer entrust you with important work.”
Ji-Heon was cold, like a man without blood or tears. Si-Nae was filled with resentment but could not protest.
She was immediately stripped of her duties in Planning & Production Division 1 and transferred to the Management Division to guard the archives. For a design major, this was the ultimate humiliation. Having no other job lined up, she had no choice but to follow orders while she quietly prepared to leave the company.
Si-Nae’s issue was resolved, but Jin-Seo felt uneasy. Ji-Heon’s decisiveness was terrifying.
“Gihun, thank you so much for your help.”
In the hallway, Jin-Seo expressed her gratitude. Yesterday’s play—the hurriedly bought fingerprint-recognition mouse and the fake system—had only worked thanks to Jin-Seo’s quick wit and Gihun’s masterful acting.
Gihun replied with a nonchalant smile. “Assistant Manager, if you’re that grateful, I have a wish.”
“Oh? Tell me. What is it?”
“Can I call you Noona?”
“Pfft.”
“I guess I shouldn’t speak informally yet, right?”
*This kid, he’s flirting.* Jin-Seo gave his shoulder a light shove. Gihun returned with a wide grin.
“Sure. Speak informally, talk back, whatever you want.”
“Aish, why would I talk back to you? I was just saying. I’ll keep speaking formally and serve you well.”
The two of them were in their own world, unaware that Ji-Heon was walking behind them, shooting lasers of jealousy from his eyes. He felt deeply offended.
*Jeong-o Lee. I’m the one who provided the help, so why are you only thanking Gihun Song?*
He had apologized, found the culprit, and handled the disciplinary action just as she asked. Why was the credit going to that guy?
Throughout the meeting, Ji-Heon remained sullen and distressed. They seemed to have grown closer, and he was disappointed in Jin-Seo.
*Wait, you made me apologize like you were collecting a debt, yet you won’t say thank you? Don’t you have any gratitude?*
He sat in stony silence until the meeting ended. In the hallway, he ran into Seung-Gyu Park.
“Why that look on your face?”
“What look?”
“You look more bitter than usual.”
Ji-Heon couldn’t say a word. Entering his office, he collapsed onto the sofa.
“I heard you sent Assistant Manager Jo Si-Nae to the Management Division.”
“Yeah.”
Seeing Ji-Heon’s mood, Seung-Gyu changed the subject. “You know next Monday, right? You cleared your schedule?”
“What? What schedule?”
“Hey, don’t forget! You promised Do-Bin that you’d come to our house again. Don’t you remember?”
Ah, that one.
A young girl with clear eyes and fair skin. He had made a reckless promise to visit again on a Monday. He hadn’t expected Seung-Gyu to actually bring it up.
“Do the kids even remember?”
“Of course! You have to keep promises you make to kids. That’s what they live for. You’d understand if you were a father, but you don’t even show a sign of settling down… You don’t have plans, do you?”
He had no plans. He’d intended to be at the office, but Seung-Gyu was pestering him. He wasn’t confident about playing with kids—he didn’t know how to treat them.
“I’m not confident.”
“Just come, please! Save your friend’s face! My Park Do-Bin says he wants to see you.”
“It’s not Park Do-Bin, it’s Park Do-Bin’s girlfriend, isn’t it?”
“Yeah! Whatever! Just save face for my Park Do-Bin!” Seung-Gyu exaggerated his grievance. “I’m not asking for a promotion. Is it too much to ask for you to just visit my house? As a friend?”
“Why would I hold your hand?”
“It’s a figure of speech! Why are you so prickly today?”
Seung-Gyu, noticing his friend’s foul mood, tried to probe the source. “Is there any progress with Assistant Manager Jeong-o Lee?”
Ji-Heon’s expression turned serious. “She said I resemble her father.”
“……Huh?”
“She told me I resemble her late father.”
“Jeong-o Lee said that?”
“…….”
“Ha. That’s a tough spot.” It didn’t seem easy to start a romance with someone who associated you with their late father.
“Still,” Seung-Gyu pressed, “even if the feelings are murky, isn’t that better than being disliked?”
Just then, the door swung open. Eun-Bi walked in.
Both men’s expressions soured. Eun-Bi was struggling to keep her composure, her face twitching.
“Jeong-o Lee said you resemble her father, Oppa?”
She had noticed Ji-Heon’s mood in the conference room and followed him. Having eavesdropped outside the door, she was dumbfounded.
“Ha. Jeong-o Lee said that? To you, Oppa?”
Eun-Bi asked, accusingly. Ji-Heon remained silent.
Eun-Bi was usually respectful, but right now, she was blind with rage. *Jeong-o Lee, isn’t she a total vixen!* She stormed out of the office.
“Whoa, man. Manager Eun-Bi Chae seems really angry. I’ll get going. Handle it well!” Seung-Gyu hurried out.
***
Eun-Bi called out to Jeong-o, who was returning to her seat after tidying the conference room.
“Assistant Manager Jeong-o Lee, come here.”
“Yes?”
“Hurry.”
Jeong-o followed her into the hallway. “What is it?”
*Grab.*
“There’s somewhere we need to go. Let’s go.”
Eun-Bi grabbed Jeong-o’s wrist, dragging her along.
“Can you please let go?”
“Just follow me.”
Jeong-o followed, curious about what Eun-Bi was up to. They arrived at Ji-Heon’s office. His eyes widened when he saw them enter.
“Jeong-o Lee, you tell him,” Eun-Bi demanded, standing them face-to-face. “You’ve never seen your father, have you? You don’t even know who your biological father is.”
Jeong-o’s pupils wavered.
“This is what your mother told our teacher in high school: ‘Please look after my daughter. She was born without knowing who her father is, but she’s a daughter who has never given her mother a moment of trouble.’”
“…….”
“You’re from a single-parent family, right?”
“…….”
“Isn’t it? If not, I’ll apologize.”
Jeong-o clenched her fists. A strange, miserable emotion welled up. This was a fact she had once shared with the Ji-Heon Jeong of seven years ago, but it was something she never wanted to reveal to the current one.
Eun-Bi burst into a mocking laugh. “What? Ji-Heon Oppa resembles your father? Who are you trying to scam?”
“Eun-Bi Chae, stop it,” Ji-Heon said, unable to watch any longer.
“She approached Oppa by lying to him!”
“Eun-Bi Chae.”
“It’s a lie, Director.”
It was Jeong-o who interrupted him.
“In truth, it’s not my father, but you, Oppa. The Director didn’t resemble my father—he resembled my ex-boyfriend.”
Suppressing her tears, she told the truth.