The Textbook of a Lover - Chapter 70

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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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70.
“Senior, Hyunsin really does have thorough security for a major corporation. So many guards, and the security gates are top-notch.”
“Don’t even mention it. You know why it got like that? Some woman came barging through here with a megaphone, screaming her lungs out. Caused absolute chaos.”
Do-ah turned her bag to the front and held it against her body. She bowed her head as if searching for something inside, then angled her body toward the potted plant.
“She’s got some nerve, that woman.”
“I thought she was out of her mind.”
I had my reasons, you know. There was no need to put it like that.
Do-ah exhaled softly and began walking carefully, but Na Hee, who had already gone several steps ahead, turned and called out.
“Seong Do-ah! Come on, hurry up! What are you dawdling for?”
This whole dark chapter in my history was created because of you and Kyung-jun.
Do-ah muttered inwardly as she walked toward Na Hee.
“You lost all your work sense while you were hospitalized? Do you even understand how important today’s briefing is?”
“I know. I’ve prepared well, so stop worrying about me.”
Na Hee snorted.
“As if I want to worry about you. I’m stuck on the same team as you, that’s why. Just don’t jump in and wreck the mood.”
Do-ah closed her mouth. She wanted to protest further, but she held back, afraid of drawing attention from the people around them.
* * *
12th Floor Conference Room. Through the floor-to-ceiling windows, the forest of office buildings stretched out below.
Across from the long rectangular table sat Manager Park from the Hyunsin Department Store Marketing Team, along with Kyung-jun and several other employees.
“There are three directions Abe proposes for the year-end promotion.”
Na Hee advanced the slide and began her presentation.
Her voice was clear, her gestures crisp. She was communicating the prepared materials effectively.
‘Not bad.’
Do-ah was listening with mild admiration when the problem erupted on the second slide.
“The average transaction value rise compared to target is 12 percent―”
“Isn’t it 8 percent?”
Manager Park pointed at the slide. The screen clearly showed 8. Na Hee’s laser pointer trembled.
“That’s based on the overall figures, but if you look at it seasonal―”
The explanation began to unravel. The more she tried to recover, the further her words drifted from the slide. Manager Park set down his pen audibly.
“Let me provide additional explanation.”
Do-ah pulled out her backup materials—quarterly comparison data she’d printed separately the night before, just in case.
“The 8 percent is the average across all age groups. If we isolate just the 25 to 34 target demographic, it’s 11.7. The slide shows the average, while Na Hee’s verbal commentary referenced the target figure, which caused the confusion.”
Manager Park nodded.
“That checks out then.”
Mercifully, the mood shifted. Do-ah handled the supporting remarks for the remaining slides, and the presentation concluded without incident.
The moment they stepped out of the conference room, Na Hee got into the elevator alone, saying nothing.
Their eyes met just before the doors closed, and Do-ah caught a glimpse of her face—twisted with anger and resentment—before the door shut.
Do-ah was waiting for the next elevator when it arrived.
From the opposite corridor, three or four people were walking toward her. One of them moved differently.
His footsteps were steady, striking the floor with measured certainty, his shoulders never wavering. Do-ah recognized that gait.
As he drew closer, the outline became sharper. Broad shoulders, short hair swept back behind his ears, and that angular jawline.
It was him—not the Cha Kyung from her dreams when she slept, but the real one.
“Cha…”
Do-ah began to call out but stopped herself.
This was his workplace, and she was an employee of an external company. She didn’t want to call out to him in such a public space and create an awkward situation.
But Cha Kyung drew closer. Before Do-ah could decide what to do, their eyes met.
Her heart thudded deep in her chest. Her gaze locked onto his and wouldn’t release.
It was the face she’d wanted to see every single night.
Yet Cha Kyung turned his gaze away coldly. The movement was natural, as if he hadn’t seen her at all.
“Kim, double-check the materials for the 3 p.m. buyer meeting.”
He spoke briefly to the employee beside him and passed Do-ah without a glance. His eyes never turned back toward her, not once.
The faint trace of his cologne lingered in the corridor, then vanished as the ventilation blew it away.
‘He definitely saw me.’
Do-ah remained standing in that spot until his figure disappeared around the corner of the hallway.
‘…Right. This is his workplace. Expecting him to acknowledge me or greet me would be selfish, wouldn’t it?’
Do-ah comforted herself and pressed the elevator button. Her fingertips felt bitterly cold.
* * *
After returning to Abe, Do-ah couldn’t concentrate on her work for hours.
She couldn’t shake the image of Cha Kyung’s profile as he passed her by.
When she unlocked her phone and opened her messages, only her own outgoing texts filled the screen.
Do-ah hesitated, then began typing a message on the keypad.
[Cha Kyung, would you have time to meet briefly today if you’re free?]
Writing each character felt unbearably difficult.
Countless worries raced through her mind—was she offending him, did it sound like she was being pushy?
“Kang Na Hee, why are you so late? Do-ah arrived two hours ago.”
“I went to headquarters to pick up the printed sample materials.”
“Does it really take that long to pick something up? Come back right after your business is done.”
The conversation between the team lead and Na Hee drifted across the office.
Several hours passed after Na Hee’s arrival, but Do-ah still couldn’t focus on her work, just fidgeting with her phone.
That was when Hye-jung passed by Do-ah’s desk and asked.
“Do-ah, are you waiting for something? You keep checking your phone.”
“Oh, I was expecting a delivery that hasn’t arrived yet.”
“Tell me about it—those delivery services drive you crazy. Sometimes it says completed but still hasn’t shown up.”
Another hour slipped by. Soon it was nearly quitting time.
‘He must be really busy.’
She was tidying her desk to leave, swallowing her disappointment that they wouldn’t meet today, when her phone vibrated.
Do-ah’s heart jumped as she picked it up.
[Executive Director Cha Kyung: Let’s meet at 6. At Anxon Café near the office.]
It was a message from Cha Kyung.
Her heart began to race.
Her hands moved several times faster as she grabbed her bag.
Before heading out, Do-ah went to the restroom.
She applied tint to her lips, fixed her hair, and looking in the mirror, her reflection shone with excitement and joy.
Yet deep in her chest, a heavy emotion settled. Do-ah didn’t bother defining what it was and headed out.
* * *
As Do-ah pushed open the café door, the aroma of roasted beans reached her nose. Cha Kyung was already seated by the window in the corner.
He wore a navy suit with a cashmere coat draped over it.
Do-ah approached him with trembling anticipation. As she got closer, his face became clear.
What she hadn’t noticed at the office was now visible—his cheekbones were sharp and pronounced, and short stubble had grown along his jaw.
Cha Kyung was not the type to skip shaving, no matter how busy. Even on business trips, he’d wake before dawn to shave first.
He must be truly overwhelmed with work.
“Please, sit.”
“Okay.”
Including the days she’d spent in the hospital, it had been a week since she’d seen him.
Though they sat close across the table, the air between them felt strained and heavy.
“It’s been a while.”
“Yes, it has.”
“Have you been very busy? Your complexion looks quite poor.”
“Not any worse than someone who’s been ill.”
His tone was businesslike.
Until before the incident, he’d been mischievous and full of playfulness, but now he seemed like a completely different person wearing the same body.
“I went to Hyunsin Department Store headquarters today. For the year-end promotion briefing.”
Cha Kyung nodded. Whether it meant he already knew or was simply listening, she couldn’t tell.
“I saw you in the hallway too. Did you happen to see me?”
“I did.”
“I was about to greet you, but I thought it wouldn’t be right to acknowledge each other there. But seeing you like that—you really did have that executive air about you.”
She tried to lighten the oppressive mood, but Cha Kyung didn’t smile.

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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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