The Textbook of a Lover - Chapter 1

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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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Prologue
A fierce beast prowled ahead, and a lynx watched from behind.
Then again, maybe “fierce beast” was the wrong word.
She had accepted his suggestion to pretend they were kissing, and she had chosen to come to this place. Every step was hers alone.
So why did she feel as though she were about to be swallowed whole?
“How far do you plan to run? I’m not forcing myself on you.”
His lazy, half-polite voice grazed her ear.
The railing behind her dug into her waist. There was nowhere left to retreat.
Laughter grew louder. Her classmates were drawing near.
“You’re free to leave if you’d rather.”
She hadn’t even finished her revenge yet—she couldn’t back down now. Do-a clenched her fists and spoke.
“I… I will.”
“You won’t regret this?”
“No. Never.”
What was a little lip contact anyway? It wasn’t like she was dying. It wasn’t like she was getting hurt.
Just lips touching. That was all.
Cha Kyung stepped closer.
His sharp jawline, his faultlessly refined features—they suddenly loomed near. At this distance, his face was unfair.
Ah.
She shut her eyes tight.
His warm breath tickled her lips first, then something firm and burning descended in a rush.
Light as a feather, yet Do-a’s breathing quickened with every instant.
Just until they pass by…
But the lips that had touched so softly suddenly grew heavy.
Wait.
There was no time to think. Cha Kyung’s hand wrapped around the back of her neck, gentle at first, then he bit her lower lip with unmistakable force.
A muffled sound escaped her.
Each time he ravaged her sensitive lips without hesitation, her head spun.
Why did he need to go this far? A simple touch would have been enough.
Do-a’s hand pressed against his chest. But there was no strength in it.
The thought that she should push him away melted away from her lips, and nothing came to mind.
For a ruse, it was far too deliberate. For acting, it burned far too hot.
Her heart thundered against her ribs.
This won’t do.
Not with this man.
Do-a prayed desperately that what she felt was not love.
1.
The Hyunsin Department Store Headquarters Lobby gleamed with the full grandeur of a major corporation.
Beneath the glittering metal sculptures, footsteps crisscrossed purposefully.
In one corner of that vast lobby, someone rather suspicious was making small but deliberate movements.
What am I doing? Did I really come here to do this?
Do-a gripped her bag strap tightly. Her palms were clammy with sweat.
No. I’ve already made it this far. I’ve tried everything. This is the only option left.
She’d even saved up vacation time for today.
At this point, there was no turning back.
With grim determination, Do-a rummaged through her bag and pulled out a palm-sized Mini Megaphone and a Paper Placard.
Scrawled hastily across the white cardboard were the words:
[Woo Kyung-jun of Marketing Team 1 is a marriage fraud artist! Return the dowry money you stole!]
Do-a put on sunglasses to hide her face, just in case anyone recognized her, and pulled a black baseball cap low over her head.
Even though it was summer, she deliberately wore a long-sleeved shirt and threw a thin jacket over it.
Anyone looking at her would see a clear disguise, but she figured it was better than nothing.
If photos got taken and spread on social media, it would be a disaster.
Damn him. For forcing me to come all this way.
Do-a bit her lip hard and squeezed her eyes shut.
Then she took a deep breath and brought the megaphone to her mouth, shouting with all her might.
“H-hear ye! Hyunsin Department Store Marketing Team 1, Woo! Kyung! Jun! is a marriage fraud artist!”
Startled by her own voice, Do-a’s face flushed burning hot.
She looked redder than a tomato.
The embarrassment will pass… but the revenge will last forever!
Do-a steeled herself and gathered her courage. Then she gripped the megaphone again.
“Marriage fraud artist Woo Kyung-jun! Return the 3.27 million won you swindled from your ex-girlfriend right now!”
As her strained cry ended, her strength drained away and her trembling legs nearly gave out.
The truth was, Do-a wasn’t naturally bold or shameless.
If anything, she tended toward timidity and caution. Yet today, she simply couldn’t retreat.
You did this to me, Woo Kyung-jun!
That garbage. He’d promised to marry her, then bedded her best friend.
Just wait. I’ll make you suffer just like I suffered.
Do-a was about to shout again, burning with vengeance, when—
“What do you think you’re doing!”
Two security officers came rushing from the lobby entrance.
Do-a cried out in panic.
“Oh! W-wait! Just a moment! Woo Kyung-jun! Marriage fraud artist Woo Kyung-jun from Marketing Team 1!”
She twisted around to flee, but was caught by one of the security officers before she could get far.
I haven’t even seen Woo Kyung-jun’s face yet!
In that instant, Do-a’s eyes flared with resolve.
“This won’t do.”
And with that, she simply collapsed to the floor.
“What! This woman is—!”
The security officers scrambled to help her up, but Do-a stubbornly held her ground.
“Woo Kyung-jun! Woo Kyung-jun of Marketing Team 1! Where are you! Give me back my money!!!”
Like injeolmi clinging to a well-oiled pan, Do-a refused to budge from the floor.
She felt shame at her own thrashing and sprawl, but revenge mattered more.
Then it happened.
The noisy chatter of the lobby cut out abruptly.
And all the eyes that had been fixed on Do-a suddenly turned elsewhere.
What’s going on?
Confused by the sudden shift in the air, Do-a followed the crowd’s gaze and turned her head.
Four men in suits were crossing the center of the lobby.
The combination was peculiar.
Two middle-aged men with paunches, a Westerner, and finally, one strikingly young man.
This unlikely group drew closer and closer to where Do-a was causing a scene.
“We need to get her out of here. Now.”
The security officers’ voices turned urgent, their grip tightening.
Just a moment… I haven’t even grabbed his hair yet! I can’t be thrown out!
Then the young man from that group turned his gaze toward Do-a.
Even from a distance, his presence was undeniable—he had model-perfect proportions, a face chiseled like sculpture, and an air both sharp and abrasive.
The kind of man who steals every eye at a glance.
How was anyone supposed to be that handsome? Was it even allowed for a person to look like that?
As the man drew near, his beauty grew ever more impossible to believe.
The security officers holding Do-a’s arms immediately released their grip the moment they saw him approaching, bowing their heads in respect.
They moved awkwardly in front of Do-a, adopting expressions that suggested nothing was amiss.
In that small gap, the man’s gaze locked directly onto Do-a.
His eyebrows twitched slightly, and a tsk sound escaped his lips.
Tsk.
He withdrew his gaze without a second thought and walked past.
At that reaction from a total stranger, Do-a felt a wave of mortification. She wanted to sink straight into the earth.
But a more pressing reality was about to crash down on her.
“That’s your final warning. Get up now, before we call the police.”
“P-police?”
At that single word, Do-a’s pupils trembled.
She’d never even been near a police station in her life. And she certainly didn’t plan to visit one.
But I came here prepared for this, didn’t I? This much is worth bearing.
Armed with nothing but the determination to see her revenge through, she stubbornly held on, acting like a true troublemaker.
But then—
The moment she actually heard the word “police station,” fear shot through her.
“All right. I… I’ll get up.”
Just as she was about to rise, the security officer spoke again.
“You’ll need to come to the Security Office.”
“The Security Office? But… why me?”
“Or would you prefer to go straight to the police station?”
“No, that’s… not an option.”
Right. The Security Office had to be better than the police station. Maybe if she apologized and played dumb, they’d let her go.
Do-a was well aware that what she’d done was inconsiderate.
But there was also a lingering sense of injustice—wasn’t it fair to embarrass that bastard at least once? Was that such a great sin?
In the end, Do-a dropped her act and obediently got to her feet.
At least… at least he’ll be a little shaken by this, right?
Like a chastened puppy, Do-a trudged along between the officers, her shoulders drooping.
* * *
“I sincerely apologize. We never expected something like this to occur.”
Yun Cha Kyung, Executive Director of Hyunsin Department Store Global Operations, bowed respectfully. Across from him stood Gabriel, the Asia-Pacific Regional Director of the world-renowned luxury brand Moer.
Today was an exceptionally important day for Cha Kyung. Hyunsin Department Store was the flagship subsidiary within the Hyunsin Group, overseeing premium distribution.
And Moer was an exceptionally demanding brand with strict criteria for placement; it adhered to a principle of entering only one department store per country.
This contract was a massive project that could reshape the domestic retail landscape.
Despite fierce competition, Cha Kyung had secured the brand through superior strategy and negotiation skill. Only the final signature remained.
Then, at that critical moment, a woman of unknown identity had caused a disturbance in the center of the lobby.
That insane woman, of all days…
He was so angry he half-suspected her of being a corporate spy, but what was done was done.
Cha Kyung barely managed to suppress his rage and, as if nothing had happened, offered Gabriel the contract.
But things did not proceed smoothly.
“Pardon me, Monsieur le Directeur. I’m afraid today doesn’t seem like an appropriate time for such an important decision.”
Gabriel applied the brakes just as the contract was within reach.
“Just now… Director, that unexpected incident was deeply regrettable for us as well. We will be implementing heightened security measures immediately.”
Yet Gabriel slowly shook his head, speaking gently.
“I’m not asking to withdraw the contract. I’m simply saying I need more time to think it over.”
Cha Kyung felt as though his insides were burning. But he couldn’t afford to push harder.
Suppressing his emotions, he spoke calmly but firmly.
“By all means, take whatever time you need to review. And regardless of your decision, Hyunsin remains the place where your brand will shine brightest.”
Gabriel nodded in acknowledgment and left the Executive Office without waiting for further courtesy.
“Damn. I had that fish in my hands.”

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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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