Chapter 53
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 53
Chapter Title: The Uninvited Guest
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I spent the entire weekend practically like a corpse.
Ever since Saturday morning, when I'd hastily thrown on my scattered clothes in that motel room and fled.
My mind was a tangled mess of memories from that day, leaving me in utter chaos.
Waves of shame and self-loathing crashed over me.
Yet, amid the hazy fog of drunkenness, flashes of that intense pleasure lingered like afterimages, making me feel even more wretched.
I writhed in denial, but the more I tried to reject it, the sharper that unfamiliar sensation became—I was powerless against it.
"Haa."
A deep sigh escaped me unbidden.
In the end, I'd even postponed the dinner date we'd excitedly planned with my husband last week.
'I'm feeling too unwell; I just can't make it.'
He accepted my lame excuse with a puzzled but understanding nod.
But recalling the faint flicker of disappointment on his face made a heavy guilt choke me breathless.
And today was Monday.
My steps toward the office felt as heavy as if cold lead weights were dragging my feet.
Just standing in front of the company building set my heart pounding anxiously.
I had no idea how to face that man—Assistant Manager Lee Hyun-seong—anymore.
I desperately avoided him all morning, but I couldn't keep turning a blind eye forever.
As lunchtime wound down, I sent him a short message on the company messenger with trembling fingers.
[Kang Joo-young: Assistant Manager Lee Hyun-seong, I need to talk to you briefly. Come to the small meeting room next to the office.]
After sending it, I entered the meeting room first and placed my hands on the cold table.
I took deep breaths, trying to steady my rattled nerves.
Knock knock—
Not long after, a knock sounded at the door. I hid my emotions as best I could and replied in a stiff voice.
"Come in."
The door opened immediately, and Assistant Manager Lee stepped inside.
His face brimmed with the same confidence and composure as last week.
His calm demeanor, as if nothing had happened, twisted my insides, but I forced myself not to show it.
"You called for me, Team Leader?"
"...Yes. Have a seat first."
I nodded toward the chair opposite me, and he sat down without a word.
Staring at him across the table, I straightened my back as rigidly as possible.
"Thanks for making time. What I want to say is about what happened Friday night."
The moment those words left my mouth, I caught a fleeting, subtle shift in his eyes, though his expression remained serene.
That unshakable calm only amplified the anxiety gnawing at me.
"To cut to the chase, what happened that night was a clear 'mistake' caused by alcohol. Neither you nor I were in our right minds."
I emphasized 'mistake' heavily, speaking with the finality of a judge's verdict.
I tensed my abdomen to keep my voice from quivering.
"I don't remember the details of how it all went down. Or rather, I don't want to remember."
I glanced at his face as I continued.
He just stared back with an inscrutable expression, as always.
His silence was unbearable.
"So, what I'm saying is, let's write it off as a simple mishap and never mention it to each other again."
I stripped as much emotion as possible from my voice, adopting the tone of a team leader issuing orders to a subordinate.
"Rumors from something this unseemly won't benefit either of us. You get what I mean, right?"
The last part was practically a command.
I desperately hoped this flimsy defense and show of authority would work.
Only after I finished did Assistant Manager Lee gaze at me steadily.
His eyes seemed to pierce right through me, and I swallowed hard.
"I understand exactly what you mean, Team Leader."
To my surprise, he responded in a calm, gentle voice—far from what I'd expected.
"I was the reckless one that night. Even if we were both drunk, I should have held back more... I'm sorry."
His reaction left me more flustered than him.
I hadn't anticipated him yielding so easily.
"Just as you said, it was a mishap fueled by alcohol. I'll put it behind me completely, so please don't dwell on it either."
He even offered a faint smile, as if to reassure me.
His compliant attitude brought a slight sense of relief.
But at the same time, an indescribable unease began to creep up like mist in a corner of my heart.
'Is this really okay?'
"A-alright, as long as you understand. We're done here, so you can get back to work."
As I awkwardly rose from my seat, he smoothly changed the subject.
"Oh, Team Leader. About next week's Japan business trip."
Business trip?
Oh, right—there was an on-site trip scheduled for the project. I'd completely forgotten amid the mental fog.
"The rough schedule is a 2-night, 3-day from next Wednesday to Friday."
I was briefly thrown by the sudden work talk, but part of me felt relieved.
It was a perfect excuse to escape this suffocating awkwardness and tension.
Maybe that's why he'd brought it up.
"The team is finalized as you, me, and Junior Park Mi-na. I'll report back once the details are coordinated."
Park Mi-na too...
Hearing her name made my stomach churn slightly, but I managed my expression.
"Got it. Thanks for handling it."
With that, our dangerous, uncomfortable conversation drew to a close—for now.
As I left the meeting room, I tried to steady my chaotic mind.
Yeah. This settles it.
Just shake it off. That's the only way.
But could I really forget?
That night's intense sensations and his chilling gaze that seemed to see right through everything.
My brief face-to-face with Kang Joo-young yesterday ended more anticlimactically than expected.
I already knew she was terrified inside, despite her desperate show of strength.
That facade only made it all the more fascinating, revealing how cornered and psychologically shaken she was.
Anyway, I played along and agreed to her "instructions" as if I were complying.
Watching her complex expression—mingled with confusion, shame, and relief—up close was quite enjoyable.
As I sorted documents, I glanced at my smartphone.
The app's status window perfectly reflected her turbulent state of mind.
- Deeply immersed in extreme confusion and self-loathing.
- Confused, recalling sexual relations and pleasure with Hyun-seong.
- Increased wariness toward Hyun-seong, with deepening subtle dependency.
As expected.
She's thrashing about on the surface, pretending to be strong and forget it all, but deep down, she's still trapped in that night.
Just a little more prodding, and she'll fall completely.
How should I go about it?
With the hypnosis app, my options were endless.
I organized my thoughts as I picked up the sorted documents and headed to Joo-young's desk.
"Team Leader."
At my call, her shoulders twitched slightly, as if startled.
She quickly schooled her expression and looked up at me.
"Yes, Assistant Manager Lee. What is it?"
"I'm coordinating next week's trip details. Any days or times this week that are tough for you personally?"
With the trip approaching, confirming schedules early makes it easier for meetings or prep requests.
"One moment."
She checked her scheduler briefly before replying.
"Nothing special other days, but Wednesday evening, I have a personal commitment, so I'll need to leave on time."
Wednesday evening.
A personal commitment, huh.
My ears perked up, but I focused on work for now.
"Everything else is fine."
"Understood. Then for Wednesday..."
I asked and confirmed a few more trip details.
Even amid the conversation, that 'Wednesday evening commitment' nagged at me.
What could it be?
A date with her husband?
'Ah.'
No need to guess.
I could just ask her directly.
"If it's not too rude, could I ask what exactly the Wednesday evening plans are?"
I added a polite, professional reason.
"There might be urgent matters needing contact late evening, and if it's important, I'd rather not intrude—better to know ahead."
Prying into personal plans when we're not that close could raise flags.
Especially given our current relationship.
But Joo-young hesitated only briefly before answering without suspicion.
"Oh, nothing big. My husband has an important interview next week, so we're having dinner at home to cheer him on."
Aha.
Dinner at home, just the two of them.
The moment I heard it, an impromptu, amusing plan sparked in my mind.
This was practically served on a platter.
"I see. That's important. We'll make sure not to bother you Wednesday—handle everything beforehand."
I said with a light smile.
"Y-yeah... Thanks, Assistant Manager Lee."
Did she belatedly realize she'd spilled such personal details—intimate plans with her husband—to a subordinate?
She tilted her head slightly, a puzzled expression flickering across her face.
But the confusion passed quickly.
"I'll coordinate as discussed and report back."
I gave a crisp bow and returned to my desk.
A cozy dinner for the couple.
Crashing such a rare occasion as an uninvited guest might be rude.
But I'll join you anyway, Team Leader.
Sizzle, sizzle—the steak cooked temptingly on the frying pan, filling the air with a cheerful sound.
It was a meal I'd put some real effort into for our rare dinner together.
Beside me, my husband Min-cheol struggled with the wine cork, grunting away.
His comical effort brought a swell of ordinary, heartfelt happiness to my chest—how long had it been?
I'd shoved the horrific memories of Friday night to the back of my mind by force.
Yeah, it was just an accident that shouldn't have happened, fueled by booze.
I'd nailed it down firmly with Assistant Manager Lee on Monday, so it should be fine.
Now I just had to forget and move forward.
His interview would go well, and we'd return to how things used to be.
I wanted to believe that.
"Food's almost ready. Got the wine open?"
"Y-yeah... Almost!"
Min-cheol finally popped the cork with a grin.
I smiled back, about to plate the steak.
Ding-dong—
The sudden doorbell made our eyes snap toward the entrance.
"Who's that? No one's coming this late."
Min-cheol muttered puzzledly.
I felt the same.
We hadn't ordered delivery.
"I'll check."
I turned off the stove, untied my apron, and headed to the door.
Without checking the intercom screen, I absentmindedly opened it.
The instant I saw who stood there, I froze solid.
My heart plummeted.
"Assistant Manager Lee?"
Why was he here?
At our house?
Friday night's memories and Monday's talk surged through my mind, chilling my blood.
Oblivious to my turmoil, he gave a light nod with his usual calm, polite expression.
"Good evening, Team Leader. In the middle of dinner?"
"Y-yes. Just about to eat... But what brings you here?"
I tried to sound casual and professional, but couldn't hide the faint tremor.
My mind raced desperately for his reason.
"What brings me? You invited me, Team Leader."
He answered my obvious question as if I'd asked something absurd, completely at ease.
"What?"
I doubted my ears. Invited him? When?
It made no sense after that incident.
"What nonsense is that? When did I ever invite you? Must be a misunderstanding."
I aimed for sharp rebuke, but my voice shook with anxiety.
He didn't flinch at my retort, instead looking mildly hurt.
"You invited me to express separate thanks for the project success. Forgot already?"
His cool, confident tone and unwavering gaze plunged me into extreme confusion.
I had no memory of inviting him, yet hearing it stirred a vague 'Did I?' and an eerie sense of agreement.
My head felt like a jumbled wreck.
"Well... I don't remember at all..."
As I mumbled in bewilderment,
"Honey, who's there?"
Unable to respond, frozen at the door, Min-cheol approached curiously from the living room.
"Uh...?"
He blinked wide-eyed at Assistant Manager Lee Hyun-seong, puzzled.
Makes sense—first time seeing him.
"Who might you be...?"
Min-cheol asked awkwardly.
At that moment, Assistant Manager Lee pulled out his phone from his pocket with perfect timing, flashing a smooth smile.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Assistant Manager Lee Hyun-seong, working under Team Leader Kang Joo-young."