Chapter 101: Because I'm Kim Eun-ha
TL: Aniea
A few days ago.
Having heard the entire situation from Kim Eun-ha, Secretary Yoon wore an expression of disbelief.
- You say you're too embarrassed to kiss!? Just how old are you, seriously! Honestly, I thought you'd already gotten way past that point!
- Past what point!?
- A man and woman in their twenties, in the prime of their youth, living under the same roof. And even if it's only on the surface, you're lovers. But you're telling me nothing really happened!?
- O-of course not! That was the contract from the beginning!
- ...They say empty barrels make the most noise.
Phew-
Shaking her head as if she couldn’t live with this anymore, Secretary Yoon held her forehead, overcome with dizziness, and let out a long sigh.
- CEO-nim, leave the department store to me for a while.
- Huh?
- If we leave things like this, nothing will come of it. It'll just end without going anywhere. So leave everything to my plan.
- ...What plan?
Secretary Yoon’s strategy was simple.
First, maximize the amount of time spent with Kang Woo-ju. For that, Secretary Yoon was willing to make sacrifices herself.
The reason Kim Eun-ha barely had time to participate in rehearsals was ultimately because of the department store. So Secretary Yoon decided to take over that role.
- Will you be able to manage?
It wasn’t a slight against Secretary Yoon’s ability. It was simply a pure question of whether it was possible.
Until now, Kim Eun-ha had been solely responsible for work that far exceeded the scope of a normal person.
Even recently, when she delegated just a portion of her duties, the entire department store had been shaken.
Knowing this, Secretary Yoon continued calmly without showing the slightest sign of offense.
- If we elevate the authority of team leaders, there shouldn't be any problems for the time being. Once it settles in properly, the burden will be significantly reduced when you return later, CEO-nim.
- Well... fine. There may be a few trial-and-error moments, but it's a problem I had to solve eventually anyway. So, what’s the next plan?
- We use the theater.
- The theater?
Kim Eun-ha tilted her head, not quite following. In response, Secretary Yoon pushed up her glasses once and offered a more detailed explanation.
- First, suggest putting the kiss scene back in. If you say it’s essential for the quality of the performance, everyone will agree.
- Uh... That’s exactly the problem right now though?
- I told you. You need to use the theater. The reason CEO-nim can’t kiss is because you see Woo-ju ssi as a ‘man’, right?
- ...Let’s say that’s true, for now.
Heh-
Secretary Yoon, who had been expressionless the entire time, lifted the corners of her mouth. Her face said she had no doubt her plan would work.
- Actually, CEO-nim, you’re not someone who would fall behind in acting, right? It’s a bit different, but you always wear a mask in your everyday life anyway.
- So?
- Then the answer is surprisingly simple. Just act when dealing with Woo-ju ssi too.
Ah?
Kim Eun-ha let out an exclamation, like someone who had just caught on to something. Seeing that, Secretary Yoon’s smile deepened.
- CEO-nim already knows better than anyone how to win someone's favor, and how to use your looks and figure effectively.
- That’s not exactly a compliment I enjoy.
Still, she couldn’t completely deny it either. Compared to other relatives, Kim Eun-ha’s foundation had been weaker, so she had to use the tools she had.
Like Yang Guifei or Cleopatra, regardless of time period or East versus West, ‘beauty’ itself was a powerful advantage.
Of course, she had never crossed the line, but it was clear she could win people’s favor easily, regardless of age or gender.
- So what you’re saying now, Secretary Yoon, is that I should stop seeing Woo-ju ssi as a man and treat him as a ‘target to seduce’?
- Yes. I don't know for sure, but considering your usual self, CEO-nim, you wouldn't have hesitated like this when you made the contract with Woo-ju ssi.
- Hmm.
That’s true.
At the time of the contract, Kim Eun-ha was the one leading. Kang Woo-ju did respond cleverly and smoothly, but the initiative had clearly been hers.
However, at some point, the balance began to tip in the opposite direction. She wasn’t sure exactly when it started, but by now, it was often Kang Woo-ju who initiated mischievous teasing.
- ...Now that I think about it, that’s kind of infuriating.
From watching nearby, it was clear that Kang Woo-ju had a subtle way of flirting with people around him. Though he himself didn’t seem aware of it at all.
That was the same even with Kim Eun-ha, who was currently the closest to him. There were times when she wondered, “Is he trying to seduce me right now?”
It felt like he was skirting the line, trying to test the waters without quite crossing it.
- Hmmm.
Lost in thought, Kim Eun-ha pondered silently. Watching this, Secretary Yoon realized that Kim Eun-ha was nearly convinced, and delivered the final blow.
- CEO-nim, you need to take back the initiative. You can’t let Woo-ju ssi keep leading you around, right? You're not just anyone, you're ‘Kim Eun-ha’.
Initiative.
Being led around.
And finally, even her name.
She had chosen only the words that would stick in Kim Eun-ha’s ears. And it was incredibly effective, Kim Eun-ha’s expression turned noticeably serious.
- Well... fine.
Kim Eun-ha clenched her lips like someone who had made a decision. She pulled her cold rationality to the surface and pushed her emotions to the back.
She didn’t know how Kang Woo-ju felt about her. No, to be precise, it didn’t matter.
Whether he liked the person ‘Kim Eun-ha’ as a woman, or had no interest at all. As long as she seduced him, that was all that mattered.
‘Right, because I’m Kim Eun-ha.’
If she set her mind to it, there wasn’t a man in this world she couldn’t seduce. Thinking that way, the embarrassment that had been shaking her heart up to just a moment ago sharply diminished.
Now that it had come to this, she would make sure Kang Woo-ju confessed first, no matter what.
Having resolved herself, Kim Eun-ha began planning in earnest with Secretary Yoon.
.
.
.
And back to the present.
Kim Eun-ha was flustered by the unfamiliar sensation lingering on her lips. She froze, not knowing how to react.
Her eyes, wide open despite her will, could see nothing but Kang Woo-ju.
Her nose had long gone numb and stopped functioning altogether, and her ears could hear no sound at all.
‘Huh? Eh? Ah?’
It took her quite a while to understand the situation. To grasp the fact that Kang Woo-ju had suddenly kissed her.
‘Eeeeeeeek-!?’
A young scream burst out from deep inside her heart. Without a doubt, it was the most shocking thing she had ever experienced in her life.
‘...Why!? Why on earth!? So suddenly!?’
In the blink of an eye, countless question marks tangled up in her head. Naturally, her reaction was further delayed.
‘O-o-of course! I was the one who did it first, but!?’
Shall we kiss.
When she first heard those words, she had been extremely flustered. But her quick mind soon caught the hidden meaning behind them, and her fluster quickly turned into indignation.
The conversations she had with Secretary Yoon a few days ago flashed through her mind, and she assumed Kang Woo-ju had deliberately clipped the context to tease her.
At that moment, Kim Eun-ha made up her mind.
She would teach him a proper lesson.
Smooch-
To this day, she still wasn’t sure where the courage had come from, but in the end, she succeeded in stealing Kang Woo-ju’s lips.
As a bonus, she got to see a genuinely flustered Kang Woo-ju for the first time. Watching him stammer and fidget with his lips was absolutely adorable.
Of course, she herself had been overwhelmed with embarrassment too. But following Secretary Yoon’s advice and telling herself it was all part of the play made the rest fall into place naturally.
- Was it bad?
Even she couldn’t tell if her words were serious or a joke, but they flowed out smoothly.
And the more she said, the redder Kang Woo-ju’s face became. Kim Eun-ha secretly found that both satisfying and amusing, so she began to raise the stakes little by little.
She had planned to tease him just enough and then smoothly shift the topic to the play when the timing was right. That was, until Kang Woo-ju suddenly leaned in.
“......”
Despite the unexpected move, Kang Woo-ju pressed his lips softly against Kim Eun-ha’s like a gentle knock. No sound came from the action.
Kim Eun-ha, along with the others watching them, all held their breath at once, and the auditorium fell into a silence so heavy it felt as if time had stopped.
Hoo-
In that stillness, the only thing moving was the soft breath of Kang Woo-ju.
The warm breath he exhaled slipped between their lips and stirred the inside of Kim Eun-ha’s mouth.
It was faint, yet hotter than anything else, a handful of air that roamed through Kim Eun-ha’s entire body.
Meanwhile, Kang Woo-ju very carefully pulled his lips away. Then, with his usual mischievous smile, he continued speaking.
“I think I might need a bit of ‘practice’ too.”
“......”
Kim Eun-ha glared silently at Kang Woo-ju. He seemed to realize how flimsy his excuse sounded, and looked away awkwardly.
Kim Eun-ha had no way of knowing whether he truly did this under the name of ‘practice’.
She wanted to press him for a clear answer, but the justification was too weak.
After all, the one who had initiated the kiss under the pretense of practice had been none other than herself. A perfect counterpunch.
“Why don’t you finish the rest at home?”
As the awkward silence dragged on, Seo Jun-woo suddenly stepped forward and raised his voice.
He looked at Kang Woo-ju and Kim Eun-ha with an expression that said he was completely dumbfounded.
“That’s not what this is.”
“What’s not what? You were kissing in front of everyone like it was some kind of show. How are us singles supposed to survive in this cruel world?”
“This was just practice...”
“Practice? That randomly? And a kiss scene that’s not even in the play? Come on, even elementary school kids wouldn’t use that excuse.”
“......”
Seo Jun-woo’s harsh words prompted the others to nod in agreement one after another.
With no logical rebuttal coming to mind, the two of them quietly averted their eyes toward the ceiling. Their ears, without exception, had turned bright red.
Just as they were wondering how to get out of this mess, a shadow came running toward them in quick steps.
“Kyaaaaa-! Amazing! This is incredible! Woo-ju ssi, and CEO-nim! So now we can put the kiss scene back in, right? You staged this performance on purpose just to show us, didn’t you!?”
“Uh... well. Yeah, something like that?”
“I knew it! I knew it!”
Writer Jung Ha-rin shouted in excitement, nodding vigorously. She was so moved, her eyes were glistening.
“A prince and princess kiss scene is absolutely essential in a fairy tale! Honestly, I’d been feeling so unsettled, but you really went all out for us like this!”
She had always been a bit unusual, but Jung Ha-rin had a particularly strong habit of interpreting others' actions however she pleased.
Her behavior was often hard for normal people to understand and sometimes led to misunderstandings, but today, her eccentricity was incredibly appreciated.
“I’m glad it made you happy.”
“...Oh, really?”
“Yes-!!”
Now that her switch had been flipped, Jung Ha-rin grabbed both of their hands and shook them up and down energetically.
‘Why are you blaming me for this?’
‘Then who else should I blame?’
‘You were the one who kissed me first.’
‘But you threw the finishing blow...’
Though they appeared to be listening to Jung Ha-rin’s words attentively on the outside, the two of them continued exchanging glances, conversing silently with their eyes so no one else would notice.
“Are you listening to me?”
“Yes, of course.”
“We’re listening.”
“That’s a relief. From here on is the real highlight...”
Haa-
As Jung Ha-rin continued her endless explanation, the two of them let out a simultaneous sigh in their hearts.
*****
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