The Textbook of a Lover - Chapter 11

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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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11.
From the moment Do A stepped out of the hotel room, her nerves had been wound tight.
The hallway was silent, as though sound had been deliberately sealed away.
The thick carpet swallowed her footsteps entirely, and the indirect lighting along the walls cast soft shadows across the floor.
Do A moved her head slowly, checking left and right. Fortunately, no one was there.
“Whew…….”
Only then did Do A, who had been unsettled by the fact that she was walking down the hotel corridor beside Cha Kyung, allow her tension to ease a little.
But the relief was short-lived.
Suddenly the elevator doors opened, and the housekeeper pulling out a cleaning cart met Do A’s gaze head-on.
“Oh!”
Do A reflexively tried to step away from Cha Kyung.
In that instant, his hand caught her arm.
“Where are you going?”
His voice was low and calm.
Do A had no chance to respond before being pulled close to his side.
As the distance closed until she could feel his breath, her heart began to race from the solid warmth transmitted through his suit.
No, this wasn’t the time for that.
If anyone happened to see a man—with striking looks even from a distance, and a third-generation heir of Hyunsin Group no less—emerging from a hotel room with a woman?
The thought alone was horrifying.
“Wh—what are you doing? Are you in your right mind right now?”
As Do A asked in a flustered voice, Cha Kyung looked down at her, his brow furrowing slightly.
“And what exactly are you doing?”
“I—what do you mean?”
“Why are you running away?”
Cha Kyung’s grip tightened slightly.
“Have you forgotten what we are to each other?”
“…….”
“I swear, did your memory evaporate the moment we turned around?”
Ah. Do A pressed her lips shut.
‘It’s not that my memory evaporated—it’s that none of this feels real.’
Just signing a piece of paper couldn’t possibly transform the entire world she had lived in until now.
The whole situation felt like wearing clothes that didn’t fit her body—fundamentally wrong.
She still didn’t have nearly enough resolve to face being caught in a scene like this by anyone.
But Cha Kyung pressed her further.
“You haven’t forgotten what we were doing in that room before we came out, have you?”
Do A’s face flushed instantly.
“Don’t say things that can be misunderstood! We were only talking in there.”
Cha Kyung looked at her with an expression of disbelief.
“Do A, we are the kind of couple who must actively court suspicion. You shouldn’t be dodging me like I’m some kind of criminal.”
“But—I’m still not mentally prepared…….”
“Then when will you be ready? It was you who suggested using rumors for your revenge.”
So he knew all of it. It was just…….
“I’m not a robot without a shred of emotion like you are, so it takes time to adapt!”
Cha Kyung’s brow twitched faintly. Do A hurried to correct herself.
“Ah, I’m sorry. What I mean is, you’re so collected in everything, so rational and…….”
“Right. What exactly do you think this contract is?”
Cha Kyung clicked his tongue briefly and continued.
“From now on, we need to look like lovers. Any place, any time. Without anyone doubting it.”
“I know that. But……!”
“I can go anywhere more intimate than that, if it means looking like your lover.”
Do A, who hadn’t even adjusted to the hotel yet, felt dizzy at the thought of anything more and shook her head rapidly.
“What?! No, I—I haven’t even thought that far ahead yet.”
“Then think that far from now on. Since you’ve signed the contract, give it your all.”
Cha Kyung’s gaze sharpened.
“If you act with that kind of halfhearted attitude, do you really think the people you want to take revenge on will willingly fall into your plan? If you avoid me over a single hotel staff member and treat this contract like a game?”
His voice dropped even lower. It was a clear warning.
“I can reopen the 200-billion-won lawsuit anytime I want.”
But we agreed to drop that!
“I understand. I’ll do it. I’ll do well!”
As Do A answered urgently, Cha Kyung finally released the wrist he’d been holding.
The spot where his touch had lingered felt strangely warm.
“Can I trust you?”
“Yes. Of course!”
“Good, then I’ll hold onto that faith.”
“But you have to help with my revenge too. According to the contract terms…….”
At that moment, a confident yet arrogant smile crossed Cha Kyung’s lips.
“As long as you do your part properly, you don’t need to worry about that.”
It was somewhat infuriating, but not wrong.
With his looks, height, build, wealth, and position all intact, he was the very definition of what Nah Hee aspired to be.
Perhaps this was an opportunity heaven had granted her out of pity. Do A steeled herself once more.
‘Just wait. I’ll repay them two-fold, three-fold for what they did to me.’
* * *
“Why does the Sejin side keep changing their story right before confirmation?”
“The contact person at that company is just naturally fickle. It’s really a headache.”
“Have you worked with Yun Mi’s contact person on that? How would you……. Oh.”
The bustling office fell silent the moment Do A stepped in.
Several pairs of eyes glanced over her briefly before scattering.
“Good morning, Team Lead.”
“Yeah, Do A.”
Even Hye Jeong, who would normally have greeted her warmly, answered curtly without lifting her eyes from the monitor.
Do A tried her best to act unbothered as she returned to her desk.
‘To these people, I’m trash for coveting a friend’s boyfriend, a stalker, and even a violent offender. It’s only natural they react like that.’
So there was no reason to resent anyone.
When revenge is complete, the misunderstanding about me will clear up too.
……Will that day ever really come?
The moment the negative thought crossed her mind, she shook her head fiercely.
She couldn’t lose heart before she’d even properly started.
But the moment she sat down to gather herself, a message arrived from her team lead.
[Team Lead: Do A, come to the Conference Room for a moment.]
A summons before work hours had even started felt ominous.
As Do A trudged into the Conference Room, the team lead who was already seated let out a deep sigh.
“Do you realize how serious this situation is?”
Instead of answering, Do A lowered her gaze. Her chest sank heavily.
“No matter how angry you are, you can’t go around assaulting people! And our client no less!”
Assault……?
He was being such a drama queen—she hadn’t even kicked him that hard.
The excuse rose to her throat, but Do A swallowed it.
One way or another, she was responsible for creating this problem with the client.
“I’m sorry, Team Lead.”
The team lead continued with a sigh-laden voice.
“I don’t usually interfere in my employees’ personal lives, but there are standards of basic decency. Stalking someone your coworker is going to marry is just too much, don’t you think?”
Do A’s fists clenched involuntarily.
“Team Lead, I really feel unfairly treated about that. Actually, I dated Gyung Jun—Gyung Jun first…….”
“Enough. Whether you three are doing a love triangle or whatever, sort it out among yourselves and just fix the client problem.”
“Team Lead…….”
“I’m not working with an employee who’s being sued for assault. Either fix this or hand in your resignation. Understood?”
The team lead waved her off without waiting to hear more. Injustice washed over her in waves, but Do A ultimately answered quietly.
“……Yes. I’ll do whatever it takes. Thank you.”
Do A’s shoulders felt heavy as she left the Conference Room.
“Should I go grovel to that bastard?”
But Gyung Jun wasn’t the type to drop charges even if she did.
Before she’d even properly started, she was already facing an obstacle.
But Do A understood one thing.
If she couldn’t get past this problem, she wouldn’t be able to do anything at all.

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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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