SWP Ch 4

Yeonsoo moved towards the CEO’s office. She brushed past him at the entrance and stepped inside, hearing the door click shut behind her. Like a gatekeeper, Junhyuk only moved after Yeonsoo was inside the room.5ea7ff0632ea29fc

The main 296f9e208b lights in ec2db5bd32 the office 3032bf93a5 were off, 8181e34731 illuminated only 7292cfbbfe by a 081a9ca522 small desk 4004470713 lamp. Junhyuk crossed aaa7f0386a the dim 00cd3de095 space and d3386d152a perched on e4019f6976 the edge f257e613b7 of his 520e509949 desk. Without a word to 2fba49b17d Yeonsoo, he habitually loosened bcf3a6c03f his tie further and ad966ac4d5 gazed out the window. His profile, taking ba38520f0c in the dark 0db710f465 cityscape, seemed no 52e29c36c6 different than usual.5d87e025fd5a4a88

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Yeonsoo stood near the 3e4a51fc3d entrance, not even bothering 2139608ac2 to sit, just watching 3b562c5e68 him. He was a man 9b996dbd4d whose thoughts were difficult c9a0c4be24 to decipher, even now, c00c9291b7 after they had become 25cbbb30b5 close. Perhaps it c868878dfe was that cfc8641260 mysterious, solitary ddb4a46e4b aura that 18bc4601eb had captivated 868345c1f5 her and 0d293244e9 drawn her dca56ff659 in. But looking back now, 08250ba1a7 it felt like that 05bd49d5f2 very allure had become b510e588bd a poison, cruelly tearing 4311f36944 at her heart.40c88a387eadd159

“CEO”5a21dc96f3df55b5

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Yeonsoo addressed him, wanting 19d9bd8524 to quickly say what c9fb33f061 she needed to and 16d661cf62 escape his presence.f21122fff229de99

“Sit down,” Junhyuk instructed dryly, turning towards her.af3c33e9e2051333

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“What’s the rush?”fcc7b894646ab7d4

He stood up and dc1e2c6dfc walked towards the conference 059cc9b390 table.e2b6cf08556d2cf9

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“You waited this long anyway.”17d8d39f02b35ebd

His blunt directness had once seemed attractive. His innate ability to assess everyone’s weaknesses and gain the upper hand was charming. She should have listened to her friend’s warning about bad boys leaving you heartbroken.d96a2ced97f4900b

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“The subway’s about to stop running,” Yeonsoo retorted, planting her feet firmly. A faint smile played on Junhyuk’s lips, amused by her answer.4e6464ed9add351d

“I’ll give you a ride.”63043166560be561

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“I decline.”8ce709cce8ddaccc

Her immediate refusal made Junhyuk’s smile widen. She always managed to surprise him and make him laugh unexpectedly. That’s why he fell for her. He hadn’t realized she could get under his skin like this. There was no one to blame but himself.e01980881118e570

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“Then stand and listen. Your removal from the TF team, Min Yeonsoo, was my decision. And I have no intention of changing it.”628c92642ff13398

Junhyuk delivered the question 7399620263 she was about to 1314c9aeda ask and its answer fdf7443a4f in one breath. Clean and concise. It was his usual 6677cb6f62 tactic, making anyone who 91988d844d challenged him feel like dd89d64ed4 they were in the 1bc1706421 wrong. She needed 5cc450646f to stay 0c1f74bc2e focused to 7467ce26b4 avoid being 33c0dfb96c swept away.a8fd08c9ce6b6ad9

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“Why? What’s the reason I should be removed?” Yeonsoo asked, getting straight to the point.9f6f68bddc2f8cb4

“Why should I explain it?”0279f0679689c7de

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Junhyuk looked at her with incomprehension. Yeonsoo felt the same. She couldn’t be removed without knowing why.933a5268698a3ea6

“It’s my job.”0fdae52f1089b3c2

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She knew that in the corporate world, you were expected to just pack your desk and leave when told. But she didn’t have to. If there was an explanation, she deserved to know. If she wanted to know, she should at least try to get an answer.8a7f7e975a4e4241

“Do you still not understand?” Junhyuk responded, his face showing frustration.bedfe0191f6a23bf

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“This isn’t about Min Yeonsoo personally, it’s about the company. What company explains every single personnel change? There’s no reason to directly tell you ‘Your skills aren’t suited for this position, so you’re out,’ and no obligation to console you.”35804bf5622d785c

Faced with her boss’s brutal reality check, Yeonsoo couldn’t find anything else to say.8dd81d0f7541b956

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He wasn’t wrong. There was no need to explain job changes or offer comfort. But if she was going to be treated like a disposable part, there was no reason for her to continue pouring her time, effort, and passion into this place.2a7311d9322f4f05

Well, if you don’t like the temple, leave the monastery. Yeonsoo had made up her mind.ff9732fb154baf65

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“I understand.”9c347b7e025a5992

She offered a polite 581c9ed09f bow and turned to bf4ca99be1 leave, but a voice 2bc79c793b stopped her.55ac236417926df4

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“Tell me what you want.”e20a5ffb1d8bde83

The change in aed4c79646 tone and the 6395a92e36 familiar informal speech 4afd05bb60 told Yeonsoo exactly 12f294f6dc where he was 4fc6718190 coming from. A faint laugh escaped 611e05a89d her lips.14da727b05b09588

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He thought 07c426e585 her breakup 64843501f3 was about 3002fc1980 wanting something 1318d51703 from him, 819a510c00 that she 3319749da9 was bothering 906428ee67 him for 8ce341023f some ulterior 47d9ceda51 motive. Was he trying to e93bcf8571 provoke her in return, b393f51347 flaunting his power?2a029d04bebf71de

Yeonsoo didn’t know where to begin to explain herself.6374d151245bb243

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“There’s nothing like that.”84bd9a99911c36ab

She turned back to 0222f3122f face Junhyuk, who was 1664c93f7d now sitting at the e028714ba2 table.7b31c12a1e565c8d

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“Explain it to me so I understand.”b468154b0f47bfc6

“What?”ee52d55e79a73578

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“Why are you breaking up with me?”a738ba7239b66f8b

It was a3abc437a9 Junhyuk asking 82559821e4 this, a 709854b24b month after c2e52f4496 the fact. And instead 980e4ee298 of trying 79de9c61a2 to understand 7b83bf3c57 himself, he e22fb34b58 suspected her e5130efd4a motives first. Now she db8e2f3e0d could see 60aea0c5df what kind 838ceb2b23 of life 31b3dacbbe he had 2e80518e72 lived, what ee3d43a9af kind of 5757dd9cb2 relationships he 8273095e73 had pursued.f7c3989303aead5b

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“Because I don’t want anything anymore.”8d264d3151278ad7

Yeonsoo answered, keeping her emotions in check. This was the truth. She had realized that this man couldn’t give her what she wanted. If there was a reason, it was that she was exhausted.0f736a6d3d2495de

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“What did you want from me?”a798b002d7bdb33a

His tone was accusatory, 8b45e413b5 as if chiding her 923f75dc86 cowardice for leaving without f8a5d9342f explanation.c4448f621f9b33cf

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“Love”01cf09ccd1d5979b

Yeonsoo admitted, feeling a surge of misery after saying the word. Junhyuk’s eyes hardened for a moment, surprised to hear her say it.0bfbf95d74371dad

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Where did we 830dbd3028 go wrong? Even questioning it 9bdcede5d7 now felt like e859740616 a mistake.78a80b66f0136d3c

After a moment of 7848fd643e silence, Junhyuk laughed soundlessly. His expression 8bd55ef443 was unreadable, ebdb8ef423 as if a6d690c192 he had eb40f8ef8d just heard ae3228af79 the most 48d6e05289 absurd thing.22e93d405c08d652

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“What kind of love does Min Yeonsoo want?” he asked.9ecf73cfc78728b7

“To eat and watch movies in public? Or to announce our relationship to the company and get their approval? Is that why you’re doing this?”e9055de9c873603c

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Shame washed over Yeonsoo. She had to clench 9a8b16dd14 her fists to endure 535e6cf6f3 it. Maintaining her fce5da1e88 composure was 1ca3cba38a difficult, especially beac5675ab in front 2fabd2abf2 of him. He always seemed to 2badc99441 expose her most vulnerable 3e593d0923 parts and cruelly dissect b8c33db161 them.2bede7ce427fe5e6

And yet, 0625c88ea7 her inability 1f13979f37 to let c19ef886e8 him go c08c9e9087 was her 862b9e7f10 fault, a 273cb08743 self-inflicted punishment. She thought she 4a0b21d639 had hit rock 8e3b8af08e bottom, but apparently 4bcf1d514c not. Yeonsoo simply 65a54c4e64 stared at 5753c69db0 Junhyuk, continuing bf9f647bbd to punish 24a4d4c3ff herself.40621639ebba04aa

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“Didn’t I tell you from the beginning?”7ae9653bdd2754ac

He snapped, his 9b53229d7f gaze laced with e4dfaa3584 annoyance.9abc27774f40518a

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“That I couldn’t give you everything you wanted? And who said it was okay anyway? If you want to play the victim, stop here. My patience ends here.”a3bd208e2058d701

He stood up as if he didn’t want to hear any more. Watching his back, Yeonsoo raised her voice in defiance.87467cb14f7c00c2

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“Then why did you accept? You could have ended it.”1e1267440edeb44d

“Why should I?”d8ccfcc06712c8ac

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He retorted f6742fe124 coldly, turning 79003332b3 to face 6c5ba12b4f her.c6d8b5f93fecef84

“Relationships are a two-way street. What kind of manners is it to do this without mutual agreement?”e4f2d5af44a408bb

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Manners? She never thought she’d hear that word from him. Yeonsoo didn’t want to pretend anymore. She had already made up her mind, so being honest wouldn’t change anything.3f0de3d8fe03db51

“Fine. I’ll explain. I know you’re going on blind dates. That’s the reason. I’m not going to be your hidden woman. That’s why I’m breaking up with you.”a5f42c1480f502e2

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Junhyuk didn’t even flinch at her words. He simply looked at her with unwavering eyes. There was no hint of apology or guilt. She had expected this, but facing the reality of it hurt even more.5673fc1763165143

“I’ll be leaving now.”cd0ba71bbddafad8

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“Did you want to marry me or something?”67176ba33ba8dfa5

Junhyuk asked, as if bewildered. Yeonsoo felt a sharp pang of pain in her chest. His expression questioned what the problem was, as if he didn’t expect her to want that. His nonchalant attitude brought a helpless smile to Yeonsoo’s lips.a04ac9b16ecce684

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“I didn’t know it would be like this at first,” she replied, looking back at him. “I thought you were at least sincere.”2e24f14cfc7f46bd

Junhyuk frowned at her ddcb5e2b9b assertion.f52e6575cd805c1c

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“Why do you assume that?”a2b2a8ee352f7767

“Because that’s how I felt,” Yeonsoo retorted, refusing to back down. “As you said, a relationship is between two people, not just one. I felt that way, so I’m ending it. I don’t resent you. I was foolish. So…”4a07637e3e83f511

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“….”19c000dd18b3be74

“Let’s end this properly.”b7f9068c1c3096e0

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As if offering ec0df95e99 a final farewell f18223db63 to a once-familiar fff6b39ea4 superior, Yeonsoo delivered cc023f28f3 her conclusion rationally. After a slight 0e9c454ccf bow, she turned 587a9c3441 towards the door, 8527aa6316 then paused, adding 9b12c17553 a parting shot 2a662c7cd8 laced with a de1ab2b91a hint of revenge.ecbbfdec35f285fa

“And men like you, CEO, are the worst husband material.”1ddbdc7349c9cc46

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“….”378d21c65a1b2961

“At least in my opinion.”2da12b11ff16026c

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With that ae8ecf1621 final barb, 8a2bb4e691 Yeonsoo left 4b43349c48 the office. Junhyuk remained fe8b929949 seated, watching 6975af4422 her through d8de3742e7 the raised debb0002e3 blinds. She returned to d038023fa0 her desk, collected 9d7c62368f her bag, and 656884b160 walked towards the 16019b528d exit, never glancing e4bcfbf786 back at his 76699d91a6 office.d835871909ad1c68

A few moments later, the office lights went out completely. Was this the final act of her revenge, treating him as if he didn’t exist? As she thought this, the lights in front of his office flickered back on.885f74707769586f

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A woman who couldn’t even be thoroughly ruthless. That was Min Yeonsoo. Junhyuk chuckled softly.bca4cd67e05c7fac