UR | Chapter 5

“Assistant Manager Kim Yujin, how was Busan?”

Monday morning.

The female employees who were drinking coffee in the break room started talking to Yujin as she walked in.

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It wasn’t the first time Yujin attended conferences or various events alone with President Han Jihoon. Yet, the female employees couldn’t hide their curiosity every time Yujin returned from somewhere.

“This time, there was a photo of you on the internet news. There was even a picture of you giving a presentation, Assistant Manager Kim.”

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“Oh, really? I haven’t seen it yet.”

Since the event was quite large, local newspapers did come to cover it. Even if my photo appeared, it wasn’t something to worry about. It’s just an article that only interested people would look up.

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“Make sure to check it out. The photo came out really well.”

“Eun-ah, let’s be clear. Assistant Manager Kim Yujin is naturally pretty, right? I saw the article too, but she looks even better in person.”

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Yujin awkwardly smiled at the flattering compliment.

If she reacted to every comment like this, rumors would spread that she was being pretentious, so she just smiled appropriately and moved on. Even if she couldn’t get along with everyone, she didn’t want to be disliked.

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Having gotten used to being the subject of gossip among employees due to spending a lot of time with President Han Jihoon, Yujin had developed her own way of handling things.

“By the way, where did you get the clothes you wore that day? I’ve seen you wear them before, and they suit you so well, Assistant Manager Kim.”

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“They’re from a boutique. I didn’t have anything suitable to wear to such events, so I bought a few pieces from a friend’s favorite clothing store and have been wearing them well.”

Turning clothes worth nearly ten million won into boutique items was also part of Yujin’s strategy.

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“Really? Where is that place? Please introduce me.”

“I’d love to introduce you, but they closed down recently. I’m disappointed too.”

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“I see. Anyway, Assistant Manager Kim Yujin, you should dress like that when you come to the office too. I noticed you have a lot of pretty clothes, but you only wear them for special occasions.”

“When I come in, I change into a lab coat and safety shoes right away, so I don’t think it’s necessary.”

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“Oh, if I had a face like yours, I’d be advertising it everywhere. You don’t use your face enough. It’s such a waste.”

Yujin smiled again at the lighthearted joke.

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Just then, she received a work-related message from Section Chief Hwang Wonjun.

“I think I should get going.”

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As Yujin, who had answered the call, checked the time and stood up, everyone bid her farewell.

“Yes, let’s do our best this week!”

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As Yujin hurriedly left, one of the female employees tilted her head in curiosity.

“Isn’t she such an enigmatic character? She looks so luxurious yet is modest, and she’s very introverted, but when given the stage at events, she speaks so well.”

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“That’s why the president takes her around. She’s never embarrassing to show off anywhere. Assistant Manager Kim Yujin is really pretty. Plus, she’s articulate, so she helps elevate the company’s image. There’s something mysteriously charming about her.”

No one could argue with that.

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“Even I think she’s impressive. Why is she so good at English?”

“I heard she lived in the U.S. for about two years when she was in middle school.”

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“Really? She’s pretty, and her parents must be well-off.”

It wouldn’t be surprising if that were the case.

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Even though Yujin said her clothes were from a boutique, the accessories she wore on special occasions, as well as her bags and clutches, were quite expensive for an office worker’s salary.

However, one of the employees from the general affairs team challenged the others’ assumptions.

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“When we sent holiday gifts before, it didn’t seem like that.”

“Huh?”

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“You can kind of tell from the address, right? It seemed like she lived in a small villa on the outskirts.”

The employees, learning something they hadn’t known before, looked at each other with disbelief.

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The general affairs team employee, who had created this atmosphere, realized too late that revealing someone else’s personal information was wrong.

“It might not be true. Please pretend you didn’t hear what I just said.”

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But once something is said, it can’t be completely erased.

“Then where did she get those expensive clothes and bags?”

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“Could it be that the president bought them for her?”

“No way. Would he really buy such expensive things just for the company’s image? That’s ridiculous.”

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Everyone agreed on that point.

President Han Jihoon wouldn’t go out of his way for just any employee.

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Despite being only thirty-four, Han Jihoon was known for being very cold and rational. He never engaged in personal conversations with any employees and didn’t seem interested in their personal circumstances.

He believed that a boss who pays well is the best boss, and he always kept his distance from the employees.

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Would such a person buy clothes for a female employee?

It was absolutely impossible.

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“No matter how pretty Assistant Manager Kim Yujin is, I bet my month’s salary that the president wouldn’t do that.”

“Right. And even if someone like the president did buy clothes for Assistant Manager Kim Yujin, wouldn’t that be sad? He’s from a prestigious family, so wouldn’t he marry someone from a similar background? It’s all predetermined, and Assistant Manager Kim Yujin might just end up misunderstood and hurt.”

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“Oh, let’s not talk about things that aren’t true. Anyway, the president probably thinks of women like us as less than dirt under his nails. Oh? Isn’t this Assistant Manager Kim Yujin’s lab notebook?”

One employee picked up the notebook Yujin had left behind.

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“I’ll take it to her. I need to go to the research lab anyway.”

Unfortunately, Yujin was standing right outside the break room door.

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She had realized she left her notebook behind and came back, but hearing the conversation through the open door made it impossible for her to go in.

‘Anyway, the president probably thinks of women like us as less than dirt under his nails.’

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Knowing she was included in “women like us,” she never dared to covet Han Jihoon’s heart.

But hearing her own reality from someone else’s mouth made her chest feel tight.

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❀❀❀

“Oh, who is that person?”

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One of the employees, who was in the middle of an experiment, pointed with their chin towards the window. Outside, a young woman was touring the research lab with Jihoon.

“Oh, the president mentioned it during the morning meeting, but she came sooner than I thought.”

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Hwang Wonjun, who was gauging the atmosphere, spoke up.

“Everyone knows M&O, right?”

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“Wouldn’t it be stranger if someone didn’t?”

M&O, known for aggressively investing in promising startups and rapidly expanding its size, was famous in the industry. The president of M&O, Seo Hoonjae, was a Zainichi Korean¹ and a self-made success story. Having moved to Japan at a young age and overcome numerous hardships, he was still flaunting his robust presence.

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“It seems like M&O is showing interest in our company. Rumor has it that President Seo Hoonjae and our president’s father are very close friends.”

“Since they’re both in the investment business, that makes sense. But they could become strangers just as quickly.”

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While one of the employees laughed off the comment, Yujin glanced over at where Jihoon was. Naturally, not only Yujin but also the other employees were paying attention in that direction.

“But who is that woman? Is she an M&O employee? She’s incredibly glamorous.”

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Yujin was just having the same thought.

The woman, who seemed to be around her age, elegantly tossed her long, wavy hair over her shoulder, revealing large, sparkling earrings.

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Everything the woman wore, from rings to bracelets, sparkled, and it all suited her perfectly. It was as if she was born adorned with all those glamorous things, absorbing them naturally.

“I think she might be President Seo Hoonjae’s daughter. I’ve heard she’s smart and has better business acumen than her father, but I didn’t expect her to be such a beauty. She’s even holding a position at M&O.”

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“She doesn’t look older than her early 30s at most. I’m envious.”

Even while working, everyone’s attention was focused on Jihoon and the young woman.

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Since they couldn’t hear what was being said from here, everyone spoke their honest thoughts.

“Isn’t this the first time you’ve seen the president smile like that? They seem really close.”

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“Not just that, but it’s also the first time I’ve seen him talk so much.”

Whatever Jihoon said, the woman burst into laughter and playfully pushed his chest. Yet Jihoon was smiling like a good-natured person.

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While the employees were surprised by Jihoon’s unfamiliar demeanor, Yujin tried to focus more on her work. But she couldn’t block out the conversation.

“I thought our president wasn’t interested in women, but I guess not. He seems really happy right now.”

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“It’s not that he’s not interested in women; he just treats the right woman well. Anyone can see they’re a perfect match.”

As Jihoon and the woman approached the lab, everyone fell silent as if on cue. The two, who entered under everyone’s watchful eyes, continued their conversation naturally.

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“You used to break machines all the time when you were little, and now you’ve really made it, oppa.”

“Don’t say too much in front of the employees.”

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Jihoon’s voice, scolding the woman, was incredibly gentle.

“All the equipment is expensive. The research budget is excessive compared to the company’s size.”

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“That’s not something you need to worry about.”

“Of course, I should be concerned since I’m in a position to become an investor, right?”

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In such an atmosphere, it was hard to pretend not to see or hear anything and just focus on work.

But as an employee, one had to accomplish that difficult task.

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“I think I’ve seen enough. You’ll drive me to the hotel, right?”

“Sure.”

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“Then let’s have lunch there. Your treat, oppa.”

“Alright.”

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Yujin tried to work as calmly as possible, but when she saw the woman link arms with Jihoon, she lost her composure.

Her hand, which had been writing down the experiment results, came to a halt.

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But no one noticed.