The Textbook of a Lover - Chapter 75

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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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75.
If he could just pull off one major deal in the next few days, he wouldn’t just make two billion — he could make twenty billion.
A lifetime’s worth of money falling into his hands.
‘Just one deal. If just one deal really hits, I can quit the company and everything else, start fresh.’
Excitement and madness flickered across Kyung-jun’s eyes.
* * *
Monday morning, Na Hee arrived at the office with an elated expression.
A Chanel Classic bag draped over her shoulder gleamed under the fluorescent lights.
“Oh my. Na Hee, is that Chanel?”
“Where did you get it?”
Hye-ji, who fancied herself a luxury brand expert, lit up at the sight of Na Hee’s bag.
“Wow, I’ve been wanting that forever, but I gave up because of the waiting list.”
“Got lucky, I guess.”
Na Hee leaned back in her chair, savoring the envious glances.
Meanwhile, Seong Do-ah at the next desk stared at her monitor as though the world around her didn’t exist.
Since breaking up with Cha Kyung, her world had drained of color.
That’s when the Team Lead walked in.
“Hyunsin just called — they want to confirm the draft at two o’clock this afternoon. Grab a quick lunch and be ready to head to Headquarters by then.”
Do-ah’s heart gave a violent lurch, then stopped.
‘What are the odds an executive at a major corporation would run into a freelance Agency worker in the hallway anyway. Why am I even nervous.’
Do-ah tried to calm herself.
She felt pathetic, her pulse quickening at the mere mention of going to Hyunsin Headquarters.
“Do-ah, you’re going to Hyunsin?”
Yun-mi’s eyes gleamed beside her.
“While we’re there, could you call Director Yoon out and get him to buy us lunch?”
“Come to think of it, Director Yoon’s been pretty scarce lately. Do-ah, since we’re all going anyway, let’s mooch a free meal.”
“Cut it out. Why would you try to freeload off a client?”
“He’s Do-ah’s boyfriend in private, isn’t he!”
Do-ah tried to smile, but her lips wouldn’t cooperate.
She wondered what would happen if they kept working with Hyunsin. Sooner or later, everyone would learn she and Cha Kyung had broken up.
Accepting the inevitable, Do-ah opened her mouth.
“We broke up.”
The office fell silent. Do-ah forced her lips into the most natural smile she could manage.
“So I won’t be able to join you for lunch.”
“Really?”
“Come on, I really thought you two were perfect together.”
She finished what she needed to say and turned back to her monitor. Whispers erupted behind her.
“Told you so. I said it wouldn’t last.”
“A chaebol with an orphan office worker — he must be crazy.”
Do-ah felt the text on her screen blur as she drew a deep breath.
There was nothing she could do but trust that time would heal everything.
Meanwhile, Na Hee, watching it all unfold, could barely contain her joy.
‘Is my luck finally turning around? What is this? Two billion suddenly falls into my hands, and then Do-ah — that bitch I can’t stand — breaks up with Director Yoon.’
Stupid Seong Do-ah. Meeting someone like that was a miracle, and she threw it away.
‘Maybe this fortune that’s rolled my way is meant for me.’
Na Hee’s eyes sparkled with delight.
* * *
The door to the Hyunsin Department Store Headquarters 12th Floor Conference Room closed behind Do-ah.
She exhaled the breath she’d been holding and stepped into the hallway. The draft confirmation had gone smoothly, and the feared encounter hadn’t happened.
She told herself how fortunate that was, but her steps grew heavier with each stride.
If it had truly been fortunate, her heart wouldn’t ache this way.
It was then, overcome by a sudden pang of lingering attachment, that she stopped and turned back.
From the far end of the hallway she’d believed empty, a group of people appeared. Do-ah’s breath caught.
Even surrounded by multiple employees, Cha Kyung arrested her gaze instantly.
His suit fit without a single misaligned seam; his tie was immaculate.
He was a man whose mere presence froze the air around him into something cold and austere.
Do-ah’s heart plummeted, and she instinctively stepped back.
She couldn’t tell whether she hoped he’d see her or simply pass by without noticing.
Then Cha Kyung’s footsteps halted before her.
…….
Confusion flickered in his pale, colorless eyes as he registered her presence.
“Seong Do-ah!”
Just then, an employee from the earlier meeting hurried toward her.
“Is something the matter?”
“Oh, ah — you left your wallet behind.”
“Goodness, I’m so sorry you had to come all this way.”
“Not at all — it’s still within the building. I’m just glad I caught you before you went farther.”
Do-ah accepted the wallet with both hands.
As the employee bowed and turned to leave, Do-ah moved to turn as well. She couldn’t bear to linger in this suffocating space.
“Pardon me… aren’t you Do-ah?”
An unfamiliar voice stopped her in her tracks.
It was a middle-aged man standing beside Cha Kyung, beaming at her with surprising warmth despite their first meeting.
“I’m sorry — do we know each other?”
“Ah, forgive me. This is our first meeting. I’m Cha Kyung’s uncle.”
Uncle? Do-ah frowned slightly. She’d never met any of Cha Kyung’s relatives before.
But how does this man know my name? An odd unease crept in alongside her confusion.
‘He seems to think we’re still together.’
Her mind grew tangled.
The man clearly still regarded her as Cha Kyung’s partner.
It was awkward to correct him, yet equally awkward to accept his assumption.
As Do-ah hesitated, biting her lip, Cha Kyung cut in with a voice that had dropped to something darker.
“Uncle.”
His tone was a full octave lower than usual — threatening.
“We should go.”
“What’s the rush? I haven’t even properly greeted my future niece-in-law.”
Myung-sik stepped closer to Do-ah with a playful lilt, effortlessly brushing aside Cha Kyung’s warning. He’d clearly had plenty of practice ignoring such resistance.
“Do-ah, I’ve been wanting to meet you. My sister-in-law just raves about you. I had to see you in person. The Bundle of Luck of the Hyunsin Family, as they say.”
“I’m… sorry?”
“I’ve always been grateful, you see. Thanks to you, our Cha Kyung hasn’t even been injured lately — he’s doing just fine.”
Do-ah’s brow furrowed slightly.
She couldn’t comprehend what he was saying.
It was true that Cha Kyung hadn’t been hurt while they were together. But why would that be because of her?
She was puzzling over whether it was just flattery when he continued.
“You’re our Cha Kyung’s Misfortune Bearer — oh, I almost misspoke. Guardian Spirit, yes, that’s what I meant. So you’re the Bundle of Luck of the Hyunsin Family.”
“Misfortune Bearer? What do you mean by that?”
“Uncle!”
Cha Kyung cut him off explosively. His face had gone dark with rage.
Do-ah’s instincts screamed at her: this wasn’t a joke.
“Don’t worry about it. Just go, Seong Do-ah.”
Cha Kyung urged her to leave, but Do-ah didn’t back down. She stared directly into his eyes.
The usual Cha Kyung would have dismissed such nonsense without deigning to respond.
But now his eyes were dark with fear — the eyes of a man harboring a secret he couldn’t afford to have discovered.
“What do you mean I’m a Misfortune Bearer? A Guardian Spirit? What did I do that warrants you saying such things about me?”
“It’s nothing. You don’t need to know.”
“No, I do. This is about me.”
“I think I just misspoke. I was only trying to say how grateful I am that Do-ah saved Cha Kyung from death’s door.”
Myung-sik added another layer of pretense at reconciliation, but his words only fanned the flames. Cha Kyung’s gaze sharpened dangerously.
“Do-ah.”
“Why should I be the only one left in the dark about something that concerns me?”
Do-ah’s voice was low and steady. Silence fell over the hallway.
Eventually, Cha Kyung postponed his next meeting by thirty minutes and dismissed his staff.
Only after he’d also sent Myung-sik away did silence finally settle in the empty hallway. He opened the door to a nearby conference room.
“Let’s go inside.”

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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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