The Textbook of a Lover - Chapter 22

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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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22.
The filming set fell silent for a moment.
Those who had been bewildered by what had just happened soon collected themselves and stared at Do A.
The art director from the production team, the most curious among them, asked Do A a question.
“Do A, what exactly is your relationship with the executive director at Hyunsin Department Store? Don’t tell me…… are you two actually dating?”
The set felt as though time itself had stopped.
Beneath the brilliant lights of the Beauty Section, every eye in the room was fixed with stubborn intensity on Do A’s lips.
Do A had no idea how to handle this situation that had descended upon her so suddenly.
‘Lucky bastard. He makes a mess of everything and then makes his elegant exit.’
She wanted to say they were nothing to each other and run away, but she couldn’t.
She had signed a contract to act as an official partner in front of people.
Of course, she’d never imagined going public at this timing, but given what lay ahead, denying it was difficult.
“We’re… we’re dating.”
The surroundings went quiet as though everyone had stopped breathing. Do A squeezed her eyes shut, then opened them wide, driving the point home.
“That’s right. Yun Cha Gyeong and I are seeing each other seriously.”
The atmosphere was as though a bomb had detonated.
The eyes of those who’d been skeptical filled with shock. Manager Park stared at Do A with his jaw hanging open as if it might fall off.
Among them, the ones whose expressions showed the most disbelief were Gyeong Jun and Na Hee.
Though it was an extraordinarily awkward and uncomfortable situation, there was a strange satisfaction that bloomed in a corner of her chest as she watched the two of them go pale.
“No, how could Do A…”
“Do A, is this real?”
“What? Seriously? Why would Yun—”
Do A spoke firmly, turning away from the people approaching her.
“The rest is my private life, so I’m afraid I can’t say more. I’m going to do a retake now.”
Then she hurriedly gathered her equipment.
Thanks to Yun Cha Gyeong’s authority, the management team extended the shooting schedule without complaint.
With each step, instead of the high heels with broken heels, she felt the soft soles of the loafers he had put on her feet.
“Hey! Do A!”
Na Hee clung to Do A as she turned coldly away.
Her face was confused but edged with something like urgency.
“You’re lying, aren’t you?”
Do A walked past without even acknowledging her, so Na Hee grabbed her collar.
Do A sharply batted Na Hee’s hand away as though offended.
“What?”
“You and Yun Cha Gyeong! Does it even make sense for you two to be dating? What the hell are you plotting?”
Do A’s lips curved upward in a sneer.
“Why, don’t you believe it?”
“How could anyone believe it? Someone like you with a man like that.”
“Then go tell people again.”
Do A stepped closer to Na Hee and whispered.
“Tell them I hired the executive director at Hyunsin Department Store through a Role-Playing Agency.”
Do A turned her back on Na Hee, whose expression was growing increasingly contorted. And she made a silent resolution.
‘Wait and see. This is just a drop in the bucket of what I’m going to give back.’
* * *
Morning sunlight pouring through the window fell across Do A’s eyelids.
Normally she would have gotten up when the alarm went off, but today her body felt impossibly heavy.
“Ugh…… exhausted.”
Despite having slept, she felt exhausted. Do A forced herself upright and picked up the mobile phone she’d left on her nightstand, turning it on.
[23 missed calls, 45 unread messages]
The moment the screen lit up, the culprits responsible for her exhaustion came to mind.
Do A laughed in sheer disbelief.
‘Relentless. Really relentless.’
The moment she’d left work last night, calls and messages had flooded in from Gyeong Jun and Na Hee.
[Dowry Day Gangster Accomplice: What’s your relationship with Yun Cha Gyeong?]
[Dowry Day Gangster: Hey! Answer the phone! Why won’t you answer!]
[Dowry Day Gangster Accomplice: What are you scheming?]
[Dowry Day Gangster: Did you get something on our executive director?]
Unable to bear the barrage of sarcastic and appalled messages, Do A had finally been able to sleep only after turning off her phone.
But when she turned it back on, messages and missed calls had accumulated once more in the same volume as before.
Do A switched her phone to silent mode and hurried to get ready for work.
The moment she stepped into the office, all the employees’ eyes turned toward her.
“Oh my, Do A’s here?”
Rumors traveled faster than light.
Through the mouths of the Video Production Team staff, exaggerated gossip was already spreading.
“Do A, is it really true that you’re dating Yun from Hyunsin Department Store?”
“How did you two even meet?”
“Was the person who picked up Do A last time actually Yun?”
Do A managed a smile at the corners of her lips.
“Well…… we’re getting to know each other, that’s true, but it’s personal, so I’m hesitant to go into detail. I’m sorry.”
Though she’d done her best to be diplomatic, her colleagues’ imaginations knew no bounds.
“Maybe Do A is actually the secret daughter of a chaebol? The company is just her hobby.”
“Right. Birds of a feather, you know. What do Do A’s parents do?”
Just as the questions were becoming increasingly uncomfortable, an icy voice cut through the air like a glass of ice water.
“Don’t you all watch too many dramas and novels? I mean, Do A’s father being a chaebol chairman?”
Na Hee, who had appeared before anyone noticed, stood with her arms crossed, a contemptuous smile on her face.
“Do you know something, Na Hee?”
“Oh, come to think of it, didn’t they say the two went to the same high school and university?”
Na Hee nodded lightly.
“Yes. Do A is an orphan. She grew up in an orphanage, so she doesn’t even know who her parents are. Right, Do A?”
With those words, an icy silence descended over the office.
The employee who had made the joke glanced nervously at Do A, unsure what to do.
“……Na Hee, that’s a bit harsh.”
“Harsh? The fact that she grew up so well without parents is something to be proud of, isn’t it?”
Na Hee tilted her chin up and spoke with bold confidence.
“You don’t think being an orphan is a flaw that should be hidden, do you? I said it because I find Do A so admirable.”
Everyone fell silent. To push back was to risk the misunderstanding that they viewed orphans negatively.
Do A’s shoulders trembled slightly—not from hurt, but from contempt at the lowness of Na Hee’s tactics in tearing her down this way.
Then Hye Jeong, Do A’s supervisor, stepped forward.
“Na Hee. Regardless of the facts, there are things you should say and things you shouldn’t.”
Hye Jeong continued in a firm voice.
“Being an orphan isn’t shameful at all, but whether to reveal that is Do A’s decision to make, not yours. You shouldn’t be going around talking about it, should you?”
“Team lead, I didn’t mean anything bad. Why are you twisting my words? I only said it because I find my friend wonderful and admirable.”
At that, Hye Jeong let out a derisive snort.
“Na Hee, didn’t you used to go around spreading rumors that Do A was stalking her boyfriend? If you truly cared about your friend, watch what you say first. If you tell Na Hee a secret, the whole world finds out. Why would anyone tell you anything if they’re scared?”
At Hye Jeong’s sharp retort, Na Hee’s face flushed red and then purple. The surrounding colleagues nodded and stepped away.
Shortly after, as Hye Jeong stepped out of the office, Do A followed.
“Team lead, thank you. That felt so good.”
Hye Jeong spoke to Do A as if it were nothing.
“It wasn’t really for you. I just found what Na Hee was doing irritating.”
Still, Do A thought there was care for her in deliberately making an enemy of Na Hee.
“I’m sorry for misunderstanding and treating you coldly last time.”
“No. If I were in that situation, I would have misunderstood too.”
“No, it was my mistake for judging too hastily.”
As the senior who had stood up for her apologized, Do A didn’t know what to do with herself.

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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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