The Textbook of a Lover - Chapter 21

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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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21.
Do A barely caught her balance before stumbling to the ground.
“Misfortunes never come alone, they say. Already so busy, and now this broken heel…… ugh.”
Do A sighed and looked down at the fractured heel.
Just then, a familiar silhouette appeared in the distance down the corridor.
It was Yun Cha Gyeong.
The man, who had been surveying the store with a few attendants, locked eyes with her standing there in stunned silence and his expression shifted subtly.
‘Oh God, how embarrassing. Of all moments, why does it have to be now?’
Do A caught a glimpse of her reflection in the department store glass and turned her head away.
Her hair had grown disheveled from combing through every corner of Hyun Shin Department Store, and despite the air conditioning, fine beads of sweat dotted her forehead.
And on top of everything, her shoe heel had snapped—she was hobbling with each step.
Meanwhile, the figure of Cha Gyeong walking toward her with his attendants was perfection incarnate. From the crisply folded edges of his shirt sleeves to the flawless knot of his necktie.
He looked as pristine as a mannequin on display in the department store.
His proportions rivaled any model, and he was a full head taller—he stood out unmistakably.
‘It’s not like he came here to film an advertisement.’
Do A released a short sigh.
‘Never mind. Why would I compare myself to him anyway? We live in completely different worlds.’
Do A bowed her head politely in his direction.
The truth was she wanted nothing more than to slip past without acknowledgment, but she knew criticism would rain down on her if she did.
‘Huh?’
But something unexpected happened. Though their eyes had clearly met, he simply walked past her without a glance.
‘…… What? Is he seriously just ignoring me and moving on?’
Do A straightened from her bow and stared blankly at his retreating figure.
She couldn’t believe it.
Hadn’t he just made a show of insisting she had to practice calling his name, that she needed to pull off being his girlfriend convincingly in front of others?
Yet he could be so indifferent himself! Her irritation flared instantly.
“Right, I’m the minor party and he’s the major one in this arrangement.”
Even if it was supposed to be a mutual contract, the power dynamic between employer and employee was fundamentally different.
As Do A was settling that thought and moving forward, someone called out urgently from behind her.
“Do A! You need to get to the office right now!”
She turned to see one of the video production staff who had come out to shoot with them.
“Is something wrong?”
Seeing the urgency in his expression, Do A asked. He nodded and spoke.
“The Memory Card from today’s shoot is missing!”
“What? Are you serious?”
“Yeah. The Marketing Department Head from Hyun Shin is here now. Everything’s in chaos.”
Do A hobbled quickly toward the 2nd Floor Beauty Section.
‘The Memory Card is gone.’
It contained all the short-form video footage they’d shot while going through every corner of the department store, plus the vital data that was supposed to go on the main homepage.
“How could you let this happen? As the coordinator, you should’ve been keeping track of the materials! What exactly have you been doing?”
Sharp rebuke rained down on Gyeong Jun.
With his head bowed before his superior, Park the Department Head, Gyeong Jun muttered excuses.
“I specifically warned all the A-V staff not to make any mistakes…….”
“What did you do about it? You’re the one in charge!”
Park the Department Head sighed heavily and spoke.
“Start a reshoot immediately. Right now!”
“I don’t think it will be possible to complete a reshoot within the allocated timeframe.”
At Do A’s words, everyone’s attention turned toward her.
“We haven’t even finished shooting the main cut yet. To complete a reshoot and all the color correction work would require more time.”
Hearing this, Park the Department Head struck his chest.
“I don’t understand what you’ve been doing all this time. We gave this job to A-V because they were supposed to be competent—is this all you can deliver?”
Hearing this, Gyeong Jun quickly backed up his superior’s criticism and turned on Do A.
“Exactly. I wonder if it’s lack of skill or if you’ve just been slacking off the whole time. The shoot still isn’t finished at the stage where materials should have been organized? How does that make sense? Do A!”
Hold on.
Who does he think he is to say that?
Do A looked at Gyeong Jun directly and spoke.
“The delay in shooting isn’t my fault—it’s because you, as the Coordinator, failed to distribute personnel properly in the first place, isn’t it?”
“How dare you……?”
How dare what?
Do A stifled a laugh internally.
This wasn’t the Joseon dynasty, he wasn’t nobility and she wasn’t a slave. What made him think she wouldn’t speak her mind?
“Originally, I was supposed to handle the on-site shooting today with Na Hui. But you, Coordinator Gyeong Jun, reassigned her exclusively to the VIP Lounge.”
“That’s not true, Do A. I was out shooting with you too.”
Do A shot a glare at Na Hui, who was brazenly lying, then continued.
“I handled the camera work, the equipment, and the logistics all by myself. Of course the shooting fell behind. Park, would you be able to extend the shooting time? I’ll do whatever I can to recover the lost Memory Card.”
“Do A! You’re just a subcontractor—how dare you badmouth people like that!”
“I was simply trying to ensure you understood the accurate cause and effect, sir.”
“Don’t be presumptuous! Why would someone in your position think about such things?”
“Everyone, that’s enough!”
Park the Department Head’s sharp shout cut through the room, and the atmosphere froze instantly into silence.
It was at that exact moment.
The sound of measured, firm footsteps echoed across the marble floor.
At the same time, an inexplicable oppressive presence swept down the corridor.
“What is this commotion?”
A voice that was low and chilling enough to freeze the blood came from behind.
“This is not a marketplace.”
Every person present turned to look in one direction.
There stood Cha Gyeong in a flawlessly tailored dark gray suit, with attendants at his side.
‘Y…… Yun Cha Gyeong? Executive Director?’
Do A wasn’t the only one shocked.
Everyone gasped in dismay upon seeing him.
“Sir…… Executive Director!”
Park the Department Head fumbled and bent at a sharp ninety-degree angle.
Gyeong Jun, where had his earlier boldness gone? He trembled like an aspen leaf and dropped his head.
Cha Gyeong walked past them and approached Do A slowly.
Then he took a box from the attendant beside him and held it out to her.
Do A had no choice but to accept it.
As she stood there uncertainly clutching the box, Cha Gyeong spoke.
“Open it.”
His tone was measured but commanding, brooking no refusal. Do A slowly opened the box.
“This is……”
As the lid lifted, a black loafer emerged from the tissue paper.
The soft black gloss caught the light subtly, and the tapered yet unsharp toe looked both refined and comfortable.
As Do A gazed at the shoe in confusion, Cha Gyeong suddenly dropped to one knee.
Then he began to remove the broken-heeled shoe from her foot.
“Sir, Executive Director. You don’t need to do this…….”
Do A started in alarm and tried to back away, but Cha Gyeong’s firm hand caught her delicate ankle firmly, holding her in place.
“Stay still. You were hobbling around on that broken heel—you’ll hurt your ankle that way.”
Despite the coldness in his voice, the tips of his fingers brushing across her instep were remarkably careful.
As he touched her foot, soiled with sweat and dust, without hesitation, Do A’s face burned with shame. But Cha Gyeong, his expression unmoved, gently slid her foot into the new shoe.
Soon the soft, cushioned comfort of the new shoe enveloped her foot.
“Why are you running around so frantically? You were dashing through the department store all day.”
Wait—how long had he been watching?
She thought they’d only made eye contact once.
And wasn’t it agreed that he wouldn’t step into view until she asked him to?
To suddenly show up like this without warning is confusing!
But Cha Gyeong continued speaking as if her startled reaction meant nothing to him.
“Be reasonable.”
He stood and spoke quietly.
“Only work hard enough not to get hurt.”
Then he turned and walked away.

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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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