The Textbook of a Lover - Chapter 18

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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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18.
When Do-a declined, Na-hui, who had been waiting in the corner, lifted her head as if on cue.
“A prior engagement? Don’t tell me you’re going to meet your ‘boyfriend’?”
“That’s right. I have an evening appointment with my b-o-y-f-r-i-e-n-d today.”
At those words, laughter burst from Na-hui’s lips—sharp and mocking.
Gathering her things and turning away from Na-hui’s derisive smile, Do-a heard her voice drop to a whisper.
“I wonder what kind of car your boyfriend will drive today? Doesn’t your entire salary go straight into renting a foreign car?”
Do-a left without acknowledging the sneer.
* * *
Cha-gyeong’s car glided smoothly along Hannam Daero.
Inside the vehicle, where only the low hum of the engine resonated pleasantly, Cha-gyeong turned his mind to today’s objective once more.
“I’ll need to fix the way she stares at me with those rabbit eyes every time we meet.”
In Cha-gyeong’s estimation, Do-a was far from timid or lacking in backbone.
No ordinary person could stage a solo protest in the middle of a corporate lobby, no matter how much they resented a dowry—it took real nerve.
She had shown as much in front of him.
When she spoke, she articulated her thoughts clearly and without hesitation, and she had defended herself just as readily against his threat of a substantial lawsuit.
Yet for some inexplicable reason, she would suddenly seem like a different person—hesitant, avoiding his gaze.
In any case, today he intended to dismantle Do-a’s defenses with full force.
Of course, only to an appropriate degree.
They had six months of their contract relationship ahead of them, and he didn’t want her becoming too comfortable or starting to take him for granted.
While weighing the right balance, the car arrived at a dining restaurant in Hannam-dong.
Parking, Cha-gyeong stepped out and headed toward the entrance.
Just as the expansive view of the Hangang River and the restaurant’s geometric interior caught his eye, a sudden chill ran down the back of his neck.
Vroooom—!
In the next instant, a motorcycle burst from a side alley and hurtled toward him at terrifying speed.
On the steep downhill slope, the brakes seemed to have failed; it bore down on him as if ready to swallow him whole.
At that very moment, a lipstick rolling down the incline was sucked under the motorcycle’s front tire.
Screeeech!
The tire, grinding over the lipstick, shrieked and tore at the asphalt.
In an instant the motorcycle lost traction, its trajectory twisted, and it crashed to the ground with a deafening roar.
Beside the bike, now sprawled like a felled beast, scattered fragments of the pulverized lipstick lay strewn across the pavement.
It had stopped barely a footstep away from Cha-gyeong.
When he looked up, he saw Do-a on the opposite side of the slope, her handbag overturned.
Her spilled belongings tumbled down the incline toward his feet.
Her eyes trembled, torn between apology and confusion.
“I… the motorcycle—it was because of me, wasn’t it?”
Do-a stood frozen, her face on the verge of tears.
Cha-gyeong barely managed to calm his racing heart, exhaling a low breath.
Yes, if not for her, it would be him skidding across the asphalt right now, not the bike.
A heavy sigh escaped his lips.
* * *
“Director, thank you so much for your help.”
Do-a bowed deeply, her gratitude genuine.
Recalling the disaster her clumsy hands had caused mere minutes before, her spine still felt cold.
It had started when she reached into her handbag searching for her phone.
In her urgency, she’d flipped the bag upside down, and its contents had cascaded out like a waterfall, tumbling down the slope.
One lipstick had rolled directly under the motorcycle’s tire, causing it to skid, and it came to rest precisely in front of Cha-gyeong’s shoes.
When Do-a gasped in alarm and checked on him, he didn’t so much as blink before immediately pulling out his phone.
“Send security and legal down here now. As fast as possible.”
Barely had his command finished when an ambulance and several black sedans pulled up in front of the restaurant.
Mercifully, the motorcycle driver appeared to be unharmed despite the collision.
Cha-gyeong gave those who had arrived a brief nod to take charge, then turned to Do-a.
“Let’s go.”
Stunned by how swiftly the situation had been resolved, Do-a simply followed him inside, mouth agape.
Inside the restaurant, the night view of the Hangang River spread out like a panorama.
“Don’t worry about it. It’s nothing.”
Cha-gyeong said this offhandedly while perusing the menu.
Do-a’s hands, still trembling, folded over each other as she ventured carefully, “But really… do you think it’s all right if I don’t go check on them?”
“Don’t worry. There are no serious injuries. The legal team will handle everything.”
“Then how should I cover the settlement or medical bills?”
At that, Cha-gyeong let out an incredulous laugh.
“The motorcycle was speeding—driver error to begin with. If not for you, I’d be the one on that asphalt. My side will take care of it. Stop fretting and choose from the menu.”
When Hyun-sin Group’s third-generation heir spoke like that, his words carried more weight than any legal consultation.
Influence really does matter in this world.
Do-a felt the full force of his power and turned her attention back to the menu.
But her eyes wandered hopelessly among the unfamiliar French names and ingredients.
“This is an appetizer of seasonal seafood, and the main will be prime rib roasted over oak charcoal. The sauce is red wine–based, so it will be mild.”
Without a trace of impatience, Cha-gyeong walked her through each course one by one.
‘More thoughtful than I expected,’ she thought to herself.
It wasn’t the kind of warmth that radiated outward, but his quiet attentiveness gradually eased Do-a’s tension.
‘When I went to eat with Woo Kyung-jun, I always had to search for restaurants and make the reservations myself.’
Do-a abruptly shook her head to dispel the unbidden memory.
‘It’s just rare to find someone like Woo Kyung-jun. There’s nothing special about this man.’
She steeled herself firmly against being swayed by his small gestures of consideration.
As she did, the ordered courses began to arrive in sequence, and Do-a gripped her fork and knife tightly.
‘Mmm, delicious!’
Lost in appreciation as she moved her fork, Do-a suddenly felt a gaze drilling down from above.
Cha-gyeong had stopped eating and was staring at her intently.
His eyes held no malice, yet they weren’t exactly warm either.
It was the look of someone watching a dolphin through an aquarium wall, fascinated by how it took its food.
“Why… why are you looking at me like that?”
“It’s nothing. Never mind and just eat.”
How could she not mind when he was staring so openly?
Wondering if she was eating too greedily, Do-a began picking at her steak self-consciously when Cha-gyeong frowned slightly and asked, “Does that not suit your taste? Should I order something else?”
“Oh, no! It’s delicious!”
She denied it urgently, afraid he might snatch the plate away, and Cha-gyeong let out a soft laugh.
Then, turning the conversation, he reached for his wine glass. “How is your revenge progressing? On schedule?”
At his question, Do-a’s eyes—which had been focused on her meal—suddenly blazed.
“Yes. I’ve deliberately left some business cards from a role-playing agency on my desk. So Na-hui is now convinced that you’re a fake I hired with my own money.”
Do-a recalled Na-hui’s mocking expression. Cha-gyeong gave a slight nod, clearly intrigued.
“When do you want me to appear in front of her?”
“I want to time it carefully. I need you to show up at the moment Na-hui has laid a trap to humiliate me most thoroughly—that way the impact will be greater.”
Do-a paused for a moment and studied Cha-gyeong. Under the light, his face was beautiful enough to leave an impression on anyone.
“When Na-hui sees you, she’ll definitely be drawn in. You have everything she wants—looks, background, everything.”

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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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