The Textbook of a Lover - Chapter 13

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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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13.
‘This voice is……?’
Do-a hesitated for a moment. She’d definitely heard this voice before, but the unfamiliar number made it difficult to place.
‘Could it be Yun Cha-gyeong?’
― Is something the matter? Why the silence?
At the sound of his voice repeating itself, Do-a knew for certain it was Cha-gyeong.
She’d received his business card, but hadn’t saved his contact separately, which was why she hadn’t recognized the number right away.
“Oh, no. I just… I didn’t expect you to call.”
After a brief silence, a short, dry laugh filtered through the receiver.
― It seems Sung Do-a’s memory of what we discussed is rather hazy still.
“That’s not it. I just didn’t think you’d contact me without warning like this.”
― Do I need to send advance notice before calling Sung Do-a?
“No, no. I’m just startled. But what’s this about? How did you know I was in a meeting?”
He unsettled her in a way entirely different from Gyeong-jun.
Despite his measured tone, there was something about it that made her breath catch.
― Isn’t it a meeting with our company? I’m aware of that much. I happen to have time free today, so I was thinking of coming to pick you up.
“What? Now…… you’re coming here?”
Do-a’s eyes widened instinctively. She’d never imagined hearing such a thing on a first phone call.
― Didn’t I tell you? That I would do my utmost to help with your revenge. I think it’s time we got things moving.
Cha-gyeong added with the calm certainty of someone who had already calculated his schedule.
― The contract period is six months. If we’re to complete everything before it ends, we’ll need to move efficiently.
Six months.
Neither long nor short—a peculiar stretch of time.
By the time the contract ended, she would have to make it absolutely clear to Gyeong-jun and Na-hee that she and Cha-gyeong were together.
And she would have to make Na-hee break up with Gyeong-jun because of Cha-gyeong, while acting like a real lover in front of his family.
Yet somehow, the thought of him coming today didn’t sit right with her.
No—to be precise, it made her nervous. Afraid.
Deceiving Gyeong-jun and Na-hee meant lying to everyone at the Company.
Could she really bear the aftermath?
…… No, wait. Why am I thinking like this already?
I was the one who resolved to do whatever it takes for revenge.
Do-a steadied herself and spoke.
“All right. But I have a favor to ask in return. It’s just that…….”
As revenge crossed her mind, a clear image formed. Do-a began explaining it to Cha-gyeong carefully, without omission.
* * *
As glasses were cleared away and orders stopped coming, the table gradually wound down.
“Let’s call it a night.”
At the team leader’s words, everyone nodded in unison and pulled out their phones.
Driver apps were opened, taxis summoned. The surroundings grew briefly busy.
Do-a stood quietly in the midst of it all, eyes fixed on her phone’s clock.
Meanwhile, she heard Gyeong-jun asking Na-hee for her address and calling a driver.
Watching that scene, an old memory surfaced unbidden.
“My card’s maxed out. Can you send me some money for a cab?”
“I’m drunk. Come pick me up.”
During his jobless days, Gyeong-jun was always asking Do-a for taxi fare.
After she’d gotten a car, he’d called her casually at dawn without hesitation.
That same man was now paying for a driver to take a different woman home.
‘A man who was a miser to me, a cheapskate, a fraud…….’
A bitter smile played at Do-a’s lips.
Just then, Na-hee approached.
“How are you getting home, Do-a? All the cars are taken. You don’t need to call a taxi?”
Do-a recognized it wasn’t genuine concern—it was meant to unsettle her. She laughed calmly.
“Someone’s coming to pick me up.”
At that, Na-hee’s eyes flickered subtly.
“Who?”
“My boyfriend.”
Everyone turned to look at Do-a at once. Among them was Gyeong-jun’s gaze.
“You have a boyfriend? You never mentioned it before.”
“We haven’t been together long. I didn’t have the chance to say anything.”
Yes, I have a boyfriend.
Fake or not.
So please stop thinking I’m some obsessed stalker who’s lost her mind over that despicable toad.
That was when it happened.
“Pffft, hehehehe.”
Na-hee burst into sudden laughter.
“Oh, our Do-a’s got a boyfriend! I’m just so happy for you. How long have you two been together? A week? A month?”
Na-hee clasped her hands together as if genuinely delighted, smiled sweetly, and continued.
“And he comes to pick you up at this hour even though you’ve just met? He must really like Do-a. Oh, but be careful anyway. There are a lot of scammers out there these days, you know.”
Right. So what you’re saying is…….
If a guy comes out with his car to pick up his girlfriend this early in the relationship, he must be a scammer?
Now I get it.
This whole time, I’ve seen exactly how you look down on me.
You steal Gyeong-jun from me and think you’re better than me now.
Fine.
Try taking something from me again.
What comes after will be more than you can handle.
* * *
As they stepped outside the Restaurant, humid night air rushed in all at once.
In the Parking Lot, taxis and drivers were picking people up one by one.
Gyeong-jun, frowning, was loudly berating his driver on the phone for being late.
Do-a turned her attention to her phone.
‘When on earth is he getting here?’
As she waited for Cha-gyeong, who was running behind schedule, Na-hee drifted closer.
“Aren’t you calling a taxi, Do-a? Oh, that’s right. Your boyfriend’s picking you up.”
Na-hee raised her voice loud enough for others to hear.
“Your boyfriend is……coming, right? Oh my, I’m sorry if I bothered you. It’s just, he’s taking so long, I got worried and curious.”
Do-a thought Na-hee had no real reason to worry, but her words rippled outward like waves, stirring murmurs all around.
“Does she even actually have a boyfriend?”
“I don’t know. She never mentioned it before.”
“You don’t think she’s just going to stand here until we all leave, do you?”
Really, everyone was shameless with their meddling.
As Do-a shook her head internally in disdain, a heavy engine note suddenly roared from the Parking Lot entrance, and a car slowly rolled in.
“Isn’t that a Bentley?”
Go Dae-ri, known for his passion for cars, spoke with gleaming eyes.
“A Bentley?”
“Isn’t that an incredibly expensive car?”
“Very expensive. It looks like a Bentley Flying Spur. Depending on the options, it easily costs over three hundred million won.”
“Three hundred million? Wow, that’s insane.”
“But why would a car like that come here? The Restaurant’s closed anyway.”
That moment, Do-a’s phone rang.
― What are you doing? Get moving.
The moment she answered, his characteristically low, measured voice pierced her ear.
“I’m coming now.”
Right. There was no one else who would drive a car like that here.
Do-a slowly made her way toward the car.
Tap-tap, tap-tap—her heels clicked against the asphalt.
Everyone’s eyes snapped toward Do-a in unison.
“Is she drunk? Why’s she getting in that car?”
Shocked, Gyeong-jun spoke in casual speech, but all eyes were already on the car Do-a was walking toward, his words swallowed up.
When Do-a reached the car, she opened the door without a word, bent slightly, and slid into the passenger seat.
As the door closed, the car, which had been idling, pulled out of the Parking Lot with the same heavy engine growl it had arrived with.
Those who had been staring blankly at its departure soon turned to each other with expressions of disbelief and began to whisper.
“Wait a second.”
“Did Do-a just……?”
“Get in that car?”
Then Gyeong-jun, who had forgotten all about his arriving driver, his eyes still fixed on the car, muttered in a voice thick with shock.
“That person…….”
“What? Do you know him?”
Gyeong-jun nodded, his expression one of utter disbelief.
“Isn’t that Executive Yun Cha-gyeong?”

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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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