Impossible Romance - Chapter 31

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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31.

“Gasp.”
Jun-hee jolted awake in shock, leaping from her seat.
It was early morning, just past dawn. The sky glowed with a pale, murky brightness, as if the stars were still embedded somewhere above.
“Why are you so startled? So you do have a conscience after all?”
Kwon Seok-ha looked down at her with displeasure etched across his face. His skin appeared rough—whether from insufficient sleep or not shaving, I couldn’t tell.
“What do you mean? And why did you come in so early? It’s still well before work hours.”
I had fled to the company, but my one-night stand turned out to be my boss at this very workplace.
Realizing this inconvenient truth belatedly, Jun-hee was now deeply flustered and embarrassed. That tangle of emotions surfaced plainly across her rigid expression.
“My collateral has been out of my sight for two whole days. Wouldn’t you be anxious? Put yourself in my position.”
Kwon Seok-ha held one hand behind his back while extending the other. As Jun-hee flinched at his approaching hand, a mischievous smile played at his lips before he revealed the hand he’d been hiding, offering her a packaged soup.
“What is this?”
“Can’t you see? Eat it.”
“That’s not what I’m asking. Why are you giving this to me?”
Jun-hee accepted the soup and set it on her desk. Whether from hunger or not, the savory aroma of the soup felt dangerously tempting. At the same time, I felt pathetic for being lured by food even in this situation.
“You’ve been out all weekend. If you catch a cold, it’s only a problem for me. Drink it while it’s warm.”
“Now you’re blaming me for catching a cold?”
Jun-hee shot him a sharp look before lowering her gaze. Even though I thought he was detestable and hateful, my heart inexplicably softened. I was grateful for his concern about the soup—at least until I heard what came next.
“Then it’s your fault, not mine. Do you remember what you said to me that night? Say it back to me.”

“I want to sleep with my older brother today. Is that okay?”

His words from that day echoed in her mind like a phantom sound. The shame was so overwhelming that Jun-hee couldn’t lift her head in front of Kwon Seok-ha. Yet precisely because of that, she needed to resolve this matter as quickly as possible.
“That day was a mistake. I’m sorry. So….”
“You want to pretend it never happened?”
“Yes. Though I can’t say it was entirely my fault…,”
“It wasn’t your fault. It was mine, so I’ll take responsibility, alright?”
Kwon Seok-ha possessed an audacity that bordered on shamelessness in any situation. He was the type of man who could twist any argument to his advantage.
Jun-hee let out a small sigh watching him. Not only did his talk of taking responsibility seem incongruous with what they’d done by mutual agreement, but she dreaded the fallout that would inevitably follow.
Han Seon-young was problematic enough, but Jun-hee was equally worried about her family’s reaction.
If Han Seon-young discovered the truth, she would never let Jun-hee off the hook. True, she’d hurled insults about serving her in bed, but what Kwon Seok-ha meant by “taking responsibility” was an entirely different matter.
And if her family—especially her mother and older brother—found out, neither of them would simply let this opportunity slip away.
They would demand something from Kwon Seok-ha, or worse, go after Han Seon-young as well. If they demanded money, Jun-hee would genuinely want to flee South Korea.
Kwon Seok-ha surely understood all of this, so why was he doing this? Was he enjoying tormenting her? Did he find this amusing?
Why had she indulged in such sentimentality alone that day?
After a brief moment of self-recrimination, Jun-hee carefully opened her mouth.
“I’ll take responsibility for my own life, so please don’t worry.”
“Then, will I be your responsibility too?”
“What? No, that’s not what I meant. That’s why I apologized.”
As the conversation grew increasingly pathetic, Jun-hee reached a conclusion. She immediately realized it was the wrong one.
“Is an apology all it takes?”
Kwon Seok-ha’s eyes gleamed with vitality, like a goldfish that had taken the bait.
“Isn’t it?”
Jun-hee, having swallowed the bait, blinked.
“Instead of pretending it never happened as you want, I have a condition.”
“What… is it?”
Anxiety began to creep into Jun-hee’s heart.
“My condition is simple. Morning and evening greetings.”
Kwon Seok-ha stepped back and leaned against the wall.
“Morning and evening… greetings?”
At his absurd words, a breath of laughter escaped Jun-hee.
“First of all, respect for hierarchy is the foundation of our country.”
“Yes? Yes.”
“I chose the cheapest option considering your circumstances.”
“….”
“If you don’t like it, I can think of something else.”
“No! I’ll do it. I will.”
Jun-hee grabbed Kwon Seok-ha as he turned to leave.
No matter how she thought about it, morning and evening greetings seemed like the cheapest price. With Kwon Seok-ha, he could demand something far more outrageous. He’d always been peculiar since childhood. Besides, she was already being held as collateral.
“Keep your promise.”
Kwon Seok-ha spoke with a rather serious expression before heading toward the Executive Office.
‘Will this be okay?’
I thought a simple greeting would suffice, but watching Kwon Seok-ha’s retreating figure sent a wave of unease through me.

***

It was afternoon, after lunch. The Secretary’s Office hummed with constant activity, yet this hour—like any workplace—carried a drowsy lassitude. Soft white noise filled the office when the door opened and someone entered.
“Welcome, Director.”
Hwang Manager, who had already heard the news from the First Floor Desk, stepped forward to greet Han Seon-young.
“Hello!”
“Good afternoon!”
Following Hwang Manager’s greeting, all the Secretary’s Office staff rose from their desks to bow. Jun-hee did the same, standing to offer a quiet greeting before lowering her head.
Seeing Han Seon-young here in person sent an unexpected chill down my spine, my body stiffening. Coupled with her warning from before and the memory of that weekend night, my stomach churned with anxiety.
“Thank you all for your hard work. These are health supplement drinks. Please enjoy them.”
Han Seon-young presented a box of beverages she had personally prepared, without even bringing an assistant. Her elegant bearing and gracious manner of speaking to the staff elevated her very presence with an air of refinement.
Jun-hee, who knew Han Seon-young’s true nature, could only smile bitterly to herself.
“How thoughtful of you to bring such gifts. Director, you truly are perfect in every way. We’ll enjoy them gratefully.”
Hwang Manager bowed deeply beside her, offering subtle flattery. He seemed quite fond of Han Seon-young.
“Our Hwang Manager is quite the wit, isn’t he? Is the Executive Director inside?”
“He’s stepped out momentarily. He’s waiting for you inside.”
Hwang Manager escorted Han Seon-young to the Executive Office.
“Thank you. Come in as well, Hwang Manager. And.”
Han Seon-young turned her head and looked directly at Jun-hee. Her gaze was precise and unwavering—as if she had located Jun-hee’s position the moment she entered the Secretary’s Office.
“Hello.”
Jun-hee offered another quiet greeting, lowering her head.
“You seem new to the Secretary’s Office. Could you bring me some tea?”
Han Seon-young clearly intended to conceal their connection in front of the others. Recognizing her intention, Jun-hee bowed again.
“Of course.”
Jun-hee also had no desire for the Secretary’s Office to know of her connection as the villa keeper’s daughter, so she played along with Han Seon-young’s lead.
In truth, had Han Seon-young acknowledged knowing her, the staff might have assumed Jun-hee had some special relationship with Seonjin Group.
So perhaps it was fortunate for them both—avoiding unnecessary rumors.

***

When Jun-hee brought in the tea she had prepared, Han Seon-young and Hwang Manager were sitting on the sofa. On the table lay a photograph of a woman that was unmistakably taken for a matchmaking meeting.
“It’s time our Seok-ha got married, don’t you think, Hwang Manager?”
“Absolutely. I’m all for it.”
Hwang Manager replied with a broad smile spreading across his face.
Jun-hee entered, but neither of them seemed to pay her much attention. She placed the tea she had prepared in front of each of them.
“Please enjoy.”
She spoke in a quiet voice and was about to leave the Executive Office when—
“Why don’t you sit down and look at this with us, Ahn Joon-hee?”
Han Seon-young lifted her head and looked at Jun-hee. Her gaze was precise and unwavering, as if she had been waiting for the moment Jun-hee would walk in.
“Me?”
A note of discomfort escaped Jun-hee’s lips in that instant.
“The Secretary’s Office is full of male employees anyway. I’d like you to take charge of Seok-ha’s matchmaking schedule and other general affairs.”
At Han Seon-young’s words, Jun-hee’s pupils trembled ever so slightly.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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