It was 8:45 a.m. at Kang Corporation's sleek marble lobby, and the morning rush was in full swing. Employees flooded in from all directions, crowding around the elevators. Some fidgeted nervously, others adjusted their collars or glanced at their reflections in the chrome panels.
A digital chime signaled the arrival of the executive lift.
Clack. Clack. Clack.
Everyone heard it before they saw him.
Kang Jungho entered with his usual cold, god-tier elegance. Today, he wore a charcoal grey suit with a crisp white shirt and a silk black tie—flawless from head to toe. His glasses sat perfectly in place. His aura? Sharp enough to cut steel.
Beside him, his secretary Daejin walked silently, tablet in hand, like a knight beside a prince.
The crowd in front of the lift parted instinctively, as if swept aside by invisible command.
"Oh my god, he looks even more expensive today," someone whispered. "Is that imported? Or handmade?" "I'd get fired just to hear him say my name once."
Even Im Seri, standing quietly among the employees, raised an eyebrow,then calmly took a step back like the rest. She pulled out her phone, pretending to look busy.
I could break his wrist in under two seconds. But sure. Let's pretend I'm intimidated by jawlines.
At the back of the crowd, Kim Bora frantically reapplied lip gloss using her phone camera as a mirror. She tiptoed forward like a cartoon ninja. "Today's the day, Kang Jungho. You'll notice this eyeliner if it kills me," she muttered under her breath.
She adjusted her skirt slightly, fluffed her hair, then turned toward Seri. "You're in my light."
"There's no light in here. It's a lobby," Seri replied without even glancing her way.
Ding.
The elevator doors opened. Jungho stepped in first, expression unreadable. Everyone bowed just a little too dramatically. The doors began to close around Kang Jungho and Daejin. The crowd began to relax, until Jungho raised his hand. The doors halted.
He tilted his head slightly, scanning the floor. "Im Seri."
A hush fell over the lobby. Mid-step with her phone still up, Seri froze…Okay. That's new. What's happening? Did he… see me last night?
All eyes turned to her. Whispers erupted. "Wait, did he just call her?" "Wasn't she just hired?" Kim Bora did a double take, lips parting in disbelief. "W-Wait, her? Why her?"
Seri lowered her phone and took a cautious step forward. She approached slowly, chin lifted, scanning his face for any hint but he gave her nothing.
"Just her," Jungho said firmly to the others.
Kim Bora immediately stepped forward, trying to act casual. "Oh! I can join too, CEO. I mean, if it's work-related, I could—"
"I said just her."
Bora froze mid-step, stunned. The crowd behind her watched the tension unfold with wide eyes. "That's it. She's doomed. Or promoted."
Seri stepped into the elevator. The doors slid closed. Jungho stood with his arms folded. Seri kept her expression neutral, hands behind her back. But in her mind
He's either confronting me… or this is a trap. Either way… I'm not blinking first.
"Did you finish the task?" Jungho asked flatly, without looking at her.
"Yes," Seri answered without hesitation.
"Already?"
"I sent the legal confirmation at 7:30 a.m., and followed up with the analytics team. The report's already in your inbox."
Daejin glanced down at his tablet, checking. He raised an eyebrow. "…She's right. Everything's cleared."
Jungho said nothing, but the slight lift of his chin suggested quiet approval.
Then came a pause.
"You work fast," he said, finally turning his head slightly.
"You asked for it fast."
There. Now you owe me exactly zero expressions.
The elevator doors opened. Jungho stepped out, walking with silent authority. Seri followed close behind, composed as ever. "I reviewed the report. It was clean. Efficient," he said as he walked.
"I was told to deliver results, not noise."
"Most people make noise first. You didn't."
A beat of silence followed as he continued walking, seeming to study her without turning around.
"You don't seem bothered by pressure."
"Pressure's easy. It's trust that's complicated."
He slowed his pace—just slightly.
"You lead like someone who's used to fixing everything alone. Not because you enjoy it… but because you don't trust anyone not to mess it up."
Jungho stopped. He turned halfway and looked at her. Something flickered in his eyes. "Excuse me?"
Seri didn't flinch. "Just an observation. From someone who used to work with men like you."
She began to walk past him—then paused. "Anyway, your girlfriend might disagree…"
Jungho froze.
"What?"
Seri gave a quick save, "GirlfriendS. Plural. The rumors fly faster than elevator doors here, sir. I'm just trying to keep up with the office fiction section." She kept her face straight, maybe even gave a fake little smile. "I didn't realize fiction held so much weight here."
Jungho narrowed his eyes, trying to read her. But she stood perfectly still. Innocent. Too innocent. "…Return to work," he said.
He walked off, every emotion tucked behind glass, though clearly unsettled. Each step was smooth and controlled, but his focus wavered.
He reached his desk, set down the file he had been holding, and didn't open it. Instead, he slowly removed his glasses. The custom pair that suppressed everything and placed them beside his monitor.
Girlfriend.
His frown deepened slightly. He replayed the moment in his mind. She said it casually. But not carelessly. Did she hear something last night? Or was it just a guess? He leaned back in his chair, fingers tapping against the armrest, then leaned forward again and clicked his screen, pulling up Seri's file.
Basic HR info. Nothing special. Too clean. Too normal. No one this efficient is this quiet.
He stared at the screen in silence. "Who are you… Im Seri?"
He leaned back, but the doubt was already set. The man who trusted no one but himself now had a new target. And he didn't like not knowing.
At a busy broadcast station, inside the hair and makeup room, Hanna sat in front of a brightly lit mirror. Stylists fluttered around her, powdering her face, fixing her hair, adjusting her mic. She looked flawless in a red dress, with her signature earrings and that cool, untouchable smile. But her eyes were distant, locked on her own reflection.
"You look extra gorgeous today, unnie," one stylist said.
"I always do," Hanna replied with a soft smile. Everyone laughed, but her gaze never wavered.
While the stylists continued curling her hair and adjusting her collar, she casually scrolled through her phone…until her fingers stopped
Entertainment Buzz — On-Screen Chemistry Turns Real? Actor Lee Ryun and Shin Yura Spark Dating Rumors
Her expression shifted, just barely. She stared at the headline, then zoomed in on the photo…Lee Ryun smiling, relaxed, head bent close to Shin Yura. Coffee cups in hand. Intimate.
"Have you seen this?" Hanna asked coolly without looking up.
"Ah! That rumor's everywhere this morning," a stylist replied. "They do look cute together, don't they?"
"Lee Ryun's cute with everyone… for two weeks."
"Well… he and Shin Yura have been really close on set lately. People say she even waits for him after his scenes."
Hanna said nothing. She just stared at the photo, cold and unreadable. Then she locked her phone. Unlocked it again. Started typing.
She typed a message to Lee Ryun.
We need to talk.
She sent it. Calm. Set the phone down.
"Unnie, lip color?"
"Let's keep it neutral today. I'm already saying too much."
The stylist nodded, unaware of the tension bubbling beneath her calm exterior. Hanna smiled faintly. But her eyes were steel.
Back at Kang Corporation's lobby, the lighting was warm. Most staff had gone for the day, but a few lingered, chatting or scrolling through their phones. Im Seri walked calmly toward the exit. Tailored blazer. Pencil skirt. Tablet in hand. Composed as ever.
Suddenly—"Help! My bag!"
A man in dark clothes tried to snatch a purse from a junior employee. Security fumbled. People screamed.
Seri didn't hesitate. She dropped her tablet, kicked off her heels and ran. A curious intern near the incident immediately began recording on their phone.
Seri reached the thief and elbowed him hard in the side, twisted his arm and swept his legs out. He landed flat on the floor, stunned and groaning. She pressed her knee to his back, controlling him with minimal force.
"You might want to cuff him before he wakes up angry," she said to the security guards. Then she stood, calmly adjusted her cuffs, and nodded at the girl who was now holding her bag tearfully.
Applause spread quietly across the lobby.
The intern who had been recording was still grinning at their phone…until Seri walked up.
"Thank you for trying to make me go viral," she said, smiling as she gently took the phone from his hand. Within seconds, she deleted the video. Found the backup. Deleted that too. Then handed the phone back.
"Let's keep this moment between us. Deal?" The intern nodded, stunned. Seri slipped her heels back on like nothing had happened and walked toward the elevator.
From the side entrance, someone had just arrived. Briefcase in hand, Kang Jungho stopped mid-step.
His eyes widened slightly as he watched Im Seri…in heels and a blazer…take down a full-grown man with ease, then delete the footage like she had done it many times before.
He stood frozen. Speechless. She kicked his ass… in heels? That wasn't luck. That was muscle memory. Who the hell are you, Im Seri? Because no way in hell you're just a PR fixer.
His jaw tightened slightly as he watched her walk into the elevator, calm as ever.