The Textbook of a Lover - Chapter 4

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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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4.
“……What?”
Do A’s eyes widened into perfect circles, her gaze wavering slightly.
She needed to confirm that her ears had heard him correctly.
But the man before her was remarkably earnest and expressionless. Without a hint of humor in his voice, he repeated himself.
“If you’ll engage in a contract dating arrangement with me for six months, I’ll overlook the substantial damages you’ve caused our company.”
But why……?
Even scrutinized feature by feature, the man’s face was flawless. And he was an Executive Director at Hyunsin Department Store, no less—surely a person of considerable ability.
Why would someone like that propose a contract dating arrangement with her? It made no sense.
Do A gripped her bag’s strap tighter as she asked carefully.
“Why me, specifically? Could you tell me the reason?”
“Of course, understand that I’m not making this proposal because I’m attracted to you.”
Right, yes. She understood that much. But she wanted to know why he was proposing contract dating in the first place.
“Since it’ll be over in six months anyway, do I really need to open up my circumstances to you?”
The man looked at Do A with an arrogant gleam in his eyes as he spoke.
“Right now, I’m in the position of strength, and you’re in the position of weakness.”
This guy was absolutely insufferable.
Despite her dire and disadvantageous situation, his tone was so devoid of courtesy that she momentarily forgot her predicament entirely.
“Even so, I’m a party to this contract. Shouldn’t I at least know why I need to agree to contract dating?”
“Does it matter? In six months it’ll end clean, and since I have no interest in you whatsoever, you just need to pretend to be in a relationship with me.”
His casual certainty that she would accept such an outrageous proposal scraped against every ounce of her pride.
If he was going to make such an absurd request, the least he could do was—
He should explain everything from beginning to end in detail and ask courteously, and even that wouldn’t be enough!
But to compel her with such contemptuous disregard—did he think she was someone who’d agree so easily?
“If you refuse, there’s nothing we can do. Perhaps you’d prefer the two-hundred-and-thirty-billion-won lawsuit instead.”
“No, no! I never said I wouldn’t do it! You’re awfully quick to rush things, aren’t you? Ha.”
The man asked in a flat tone.
“So you’re agreeing to do this?”
“I mean, just give me a little time to think it over! It’s not easy to make a decision on contract dating so hastily.”
Fortunately, the man gave a short nod.
“Fine. I’ll give you time to think.”
Having said that, he added one final, irritating remark.
“But not much time. Decide within three weeks. If it takes any longer, I might feel compelled to call in the legal team.”
Do A nodded and hastily left the Executive Director’s office.
The moment she stood before the elevator, her shoulders dropped heavily.
* * *
The next day, Do A came to work as usual. Her expression seemed composed, but her heart was thundering wildly within her chest.
There was the self-recrimination of failing to properly take revenge on Gyeong Jun, and the confusion of suddenly being proposed a contract dating arrangement.
Her mind was a complete mess.
“Hey, you actually came to work.”
As the elevator doors opened, Na Hui, who happened to be passing by, spotted Do A and greeted her.
“Why? Is there a reason I shouldn’t come to work?”
“Gyeong Jun was saying yesterday that you caused a scene at his company and totally humiliated yourself. He said the security guards even dragged you away. So I thought you might be too embarrassed to show up today.”
Do A felt her insides churning.
If Gyeong Jun had dealt her a wound regarding love, Na Hui had given her a distrust of people itself.
For Do A, who had grown up without parents, a friend meant “like family,” and Na Hui had been the most special among them.
The friend she had trusted most in the world had not only stolen her boyfriend, but had also conspired in a plan to embezzle her bride price. The betrayal and hurt Do A felt were beyond expression.
“What would I be embarrassed about? Did you steal my boyfriend, or did I steal yours?”
At that, Na Hui let out a contemptuous laugh and replied.
“Don’t you realize how pathetic you look right now? Still can’t let go of your feelings for Gyeong Jun?”
How was it that people who did such terrible things could be so shamelessly brazen?
Do A gave Na Hui an incredulous look and said.
“You’ve always loved copying me since way back, haven’t you? You joined the same clubs because I did, and you practically begged me to let you into my competitions. Don’t you remember? Looks like this time you wanted my boyfriend too, but don’t worry—I’m not keeping him. He’s all yours!”
“This is ridiculous! Did Gyeong Jun come crawling back to you or something?”
“That’s exactly why it doesn’t matter if he didn’t. I don’t care about either of you anymore once I get my money back. So just return my bride price!”
In that moment, Na Hui’s brows twisted, and an absurd statement spilled from her lips.
“What bride price? That was something you gave me willingly, wasn’t it? Why are you asking me to give it back? Stop using that as an excuse to bother us!”
With that, Na Hui turned on her heel and walked away.
A small spark ignited inside Do A’s heart with a sharp snap.
Just you wait. If I don’t get that money back from both of you, I’ll change my name out of shame.
* * *
Abe Headquarters Conference Room.
The sudden morning summons had created a peculiar tension in the air.
Do A too had taken her seat with notebook and pen in hand.
Employees murmured to one another here and there, bewildered by the unexpected meeting.
“What’s this meeting about all of a sudden?”
“Right? The team leader just told everyone to come in.”
“Nothing’s wrong, is it? Like a client being unhappy with the ads, or asking us to redo the proposal?”
“Stop! Don’t say things like that—words have power!”
“Oh, I’m sorry.”
Just as everyone was growing anxious, the conference room door swung open with a click.
Do A reflexively lifted her head.
Behind the team leader, who was dressed in a casual shirt and slacks, two men in crisp suits entered in a line.
One appeared to be in his mid-to-late forties with an amiable expression, and beside him stood another man positioned closely at his side.
……Wait, am I too exhausted right now?
What is he doing here?
When the man’s eyes met Do A’s, the corners of his mouth twisted into a diagonal smirk.
At that characteristic venomous smile, she nearly dropped the ballpoint pen she was holding.
‘No way. That’s really Gyeong Jun?’
Her heart plummeted hard—thump.
After all her efforts to meet him, after visiting his company only to miss him, here he was in her workplace of all places!
But the surprises didn’t end there.
“While this is sudden, our company has been contracted to handle Hyunsin Department Store’s brand image advertising campaign for this fiscal year.”
The Hyunsin Department Store project? Wasn’t that contract already lost to a competitor?
As Do A’s expression grew puzzled, the middle-aged man standing beside the team leader turned to address the Abe staff.
“Hello everyone. I’m Park Jung Hwan, Section Chief of the Hyunsin Department Store Marketing Team. I’m overseeing this campaign and handling the main video production. The gentleman beside me is Gyeong Jun, the online division coordinator.”
“Hello. I’m Gyeong Jun, online division coordinator. Looking forward to working with you all.”
As Gyeong Jun bowed in greeting and lifted his head, his eyes met Do A’s again, and this time his gaze was sharp and piercing.
‘Wait, who’s supposed to be glaring at whom here?’
The way Gyeong Jun was acting—as if he were the victim and she the perpetrator—struck her as utterly shameless.
Once the two men finished their greetings, the team leader spoke again.
“Since this is a newly launched project, the timeline is tight, and especially for the online division, we need to get operations moving quickly. So I’ve arbitrarily assigned two of our staff members to work on the online marketing with Gyeong Jun.”
The team leader raised his hand to indicate the two people.
“Do A and Na Hui—you two will be handling the online and social media side of things going forward.”
An ominous foreboding brushed across her chest.

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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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