Chapter 5
Chapter 5
The Truth Behind the Rumor (2)
“Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated.”
But after Yang Mi-jung left the house, there was no way to track her whereabouts.
Where she lived.
What she was doing.
There was no way to know, and blindly sending someone after her wasn’t an option.
Judging by how she deleted all articles about her marriage and wiped her past clean, there was no doubt a professional was involved.
If I got caught snooping around, I could end up framed as a stalking ex-husband, even after the divorce.
So, I had to find Yang Mi-jung’s trail as quietly as possible.
Before that vixen came out into the world and started doing her sly deeds.
I decided it was far better to act myself than to send someone.
No one knew her as well as I did, so I was confident I could quickly gather information.
Even if she had cut off her public appearances and disappeared, I reasoned that a shopaholic like her wouldn’t have stopped shopping, so I came here first.
Had my intuition been correct?
I asked the manager again.
“If it’s difficult to answer, it’s fine, but I don’t know if I’ll have a chance to see you again.”
“Sharing information about other customers is against regulations. If the customer finds out, it would put us in a difficult position…”
From the manager’s hesitant attitude, I had already figured out that the vixen had been here.
If she hadn’t, the manager would have flatly said no such customer had visited.
I just pressed the manager to see if they were sympathetic to me.
“Alright then. Just one thing—was there any mention of a major company by that person?”
The manager glanced at the CCTV and subtly nodded, just enough for me to notice.
“Sorry, it’s difficult to answer.”
Judging by the discrepancy between words and actions, the audio of the CCTV must also be recording.
I responded in kind.
“If it’s that difficult, I understand. But who should I contact for after-sales inquiries?”
The manager tore off a page from the notepad on the customer table, scribbled something, and handed it to me.
Two of the characters were instantly familiar.
(Iljin)
Manager Kim Young-ran
010-1220-XXXX
“This is my contact. Reach out, and I’ll guide you in detail.”
I understood the manager’s intention and smiled confidently.
“Alright. You can go now. Thank you for your effort.”
Back home, I contacted Manager Kim Young-ran and got the full story.
A week ago, the Iljin Group’s secretarial office requested the department to restrict general customer access for about three hours.
It was unusual because the Iljin Group’s owners rarely visited Noblesse Department Store, but they took the reservation anyway.
It made sense to be suspicious.
Iljin Group owns the parent company of Jinju Department Store, which competes with Noblesse in sales.
Although Jinju Department Store doesn’t have an Ertes branch, using the flagship store on Dosan-daero avoids boosting the competitor’s sales, so it made sense.
The store couldn’t ignore the request from a major company’s secretarial office.
They prepared for the reservation, and on the day, the person accompanied by the secretary was none other than Yang Mi-jung.
She inspected every item in the store and intended to purchase almost 1 billion won worth of merchandise.
The problem arose because her card limit was only 100 million won.
Even without hearing the details, I could picture the scene—she must have caused a scene as usual.
Still, a card limit of only 100 million won?
Her pride must have taken a serious hit.
That’s why the manager’s expression was complicated when I asked if Yang Mi-jung had been there.
I thanked them and ended the call, saying I’d visit again soon.
It was fortunate to find out the vixen’s background, but my thoughts were conflicted.
‘So she knew I work at Iljin Group and still hid this from me, huh?’
If the information I heard was true,
Yang Mi-jung was planning to thoroughly torment me.
The Future Strategy Office isn’t just a department for discovering new business opportunities like my New Business Discovery Team.
Since the policy comes from the secretarial office, it also includes the planning, strategy, HR, PR, audit, and legal teams.
In other words, it’s a place that functions as the brains and hands of the owner’s family.
The fact that she didn’t mention her being part of the Iljin family meant she was undoubtedly planning to use me as her servant for all kinds of evil deeds.
If I couldn’t endure it, she’d just kick me out.
The more I thought about it, the more infuriating it was.
But just as she was no longer the actress Yang Mi-jung,
I was no longer the pushover Kang Min-hyuk she once knew.
‘Think I’ll fall for it this time? Not a chance.’
Before she revealed herself at work,
I intended to act first.
Even a trivial rumor can gain unstoppable power if it fits the narrative.
For now, I’ll plant mines everywhere,
and trigger them one by one according to her movements.
Sorting my thoughts, I came into the living room and saw the marketing staff who had escorted me from the department store tidying up the last items in the dressing room.
“I can take care of this if you leave it.”
“It’s almost done.”
After generating VIP-level sales in just one hour, the customer service was exceptional.
Since I hadn’t brought a car, they even sent me home in a hotel limousine for customer service, and the shopping bags were delivered directly by the headquarters staff.
Now, everything was organized by color in the wardrobe.
A capitalist country where having money gives you power rivaling even a president.
That’s Korea.
Meanwhile, they hadn’t touched the accessory case.
Likely cautious to avoid any unpleasant incidents.
I handed the departing staff a 1-million-won check, which he politely refused.
“Sorry, sir. Noblesse Department Store’s policy is not to accept service tips. I’d get fired if I took this, even if I wanted to.”
“Is that so?”
I took back the check and handed him a small box.
It was a tie pin I had received as a service.
“Can you take this? I got it for free too.”
“Ah…”
“If you don’t take this, next time I’ll go to Jinju Department Store.”
“Understood. I’ll use it with thanks.”
Luckily, my subtle intimidation worked. The staff bowed multiple times and left.
Noblesse Department Store.
Well-trained staff.
There’s a reason for a good reputation.
I’ll make sure to use it often.
I was ready to go to work.
But would people even recognize me?
The office of Hong Yu-na, CEO of Noblesse Department Store
The staff who had escorted Kang Min-hyuk was called to the CEO’s office.
“Did you escort the customer comfortably?”
“Yes.”
“Home?”
“Recently purchased a new River Palace, 70-pyeong unit in Cheongdam-dong.”
“Not rented?”
“Checked with real estate. Purchased just two days ago.”
“Looks like they have money. Keep monitoring—they seem like an important client.”
“Yes.”
‘Fortunately, doesn’t seem like a scammer.’
Hong Yu-na and Jung Ji-hyun had been inseparable friends since childhood.
Jung Ji-hyun’s father had been Hong Yu-na’s family lawyer before starting his own office, so they often met and had grown up together, practically like twin sisters.
Jung Ji-hyun, who usually dismissed men as beneath notice, naturally cared about the man she had her eyes on.
But scammers don’t announce themselves as scammers.
Better to check in person to be sure.
Just as the staff was about to leave the CEO’s office, Hong Yu-na called him back.
“Manager Kim, when that client comes, contact the secretarial office immediately.”
“Yes, understood.”
Before heading to work, I was restless with excitement, as if it were my first day at Iljin Group.
I woke up earlier than usual and left the house before 8 a.m.
The office was a 10-minute taxi ride—far better than the hour-long commute on buses and subways.
A little past 8, I arrived at the office.
I poured a cup of coffee and sat at my desk, enjoying the quiet.
Then someone suddenly tapped my back.
“Hey, Kang Min-hyuk. You’re early.”
It was a colleague from the New Business Discovery Team 3, Woo Jung-hwan.
He looked at his palm with a puzzled expression.
“Huh? Weird. This isn’t the right feel. Should be more… squishy.”
Seeing my face late, his expression contorted. He sensed something was off.
“Ah, sorry! I thought you were Kang Dae-rin.”
Backing away, he looked around in confusion and asked again.
“But this is Kang Dae-ri’s seat… who are you?”
I figured he wouldn’t recognize me immediately, but not at all? My appearance must have changed that much.
“Seriously? A few days gone, and you don’t recognize your colleague?”
“N-no, that can’t be! No way!”
Woo Jung-hwan realized my voice, then tore at his hair in despair.
“The only thing I had over you was my figure! Give it back! Make me the chubby Kang Min-hyuk I used to be!”
He clung to me again and asked.
“This isn’t real, right? It’s not reality? I’m still sleeping on the subway, right?”
I pinched his cheek hard and said:
“Sorry, it’s real.”
“Owww! It hurts! But it can’t be real! I won’t accept it!”
“Stop overreacting. Let’s grab a coffee in the break room.”
I grabbed him by the nape and led him to a corner seat in the break room.
At 172cm and 65kg, the lanky guy couldn’t resist my grip.
We used to be called Tom and Jerry back in training due to the size difference.
“Seriously, what happened? Did your actress wife put you through some Spartan training during the vacation?”
“My wife? Sheesh.”
“Why? What happened?”
“I got divorced.”
“What?!”
I sipped my coffee silently, leaving him to draw his own conclusions.
“Well, I heard many couples divorce after the holidays. Did your mom pressure you?”
“I didn’t even visit my in-laws for Chuseok.”
“Then why?”
“She didn’t like me because I was poor.”
“What? You became poor because of her? All because of supporting your wife?”
Indeed.
Everyone in the Future Strategy Office knew how hard I had it because of her.
Seven years of unrequited love.
Exhausting and grueling.
I survived on just two suits and two workout sets while covering her designer goods.
Lunch and dinner were strictly the school cafeteria or company cafeteria, sometimes borrowing money from colleagues when short.
‘Ha… why did I live like that?’
When Yang Mi-jung asked for a relationship leading to marriage, my colleagues were the first to congratulate me.
Yet, in just three months, three dating rumors circulated.
Through all the scandals, I defended her as just a fellow actor.
Sigh.
I thought I had repented enough on the plane.
Seven years and six months of atonement can’t be condensed into twelve hours, apparently.
“I didn’t expect the divorce notice the day before Chuseok. Haven’t told my parents yet.”
“Good. You need to get yourself together first.”
Woo Jung-hwan looked me over incredulously.
“Wow… you can get a body like this in ten days?”
I flinched but explained I trained obsessively to forget heartbreak. He immediately understood.
“Anyway, don’t mention that woman in front of me anymore.”
He nodded emphatically.
“Thanks for that. I’ll protect you so your heart won’t get hurt.”
“Thanks for saying that.”
“It’s what colleagues do. Congrats on being single.”
“Single? I never even registered the marriage. Legally, I’m a perfect bachelor.”
“Oh! Even better.”
Indeed.
At first, not registering the marriage shocked me.
Now, I’m grateful.
I’ll live single forever.
One life, no regrets.
Enjoy it fully.
“Ah! By the way, you probably don’t know yet?”
“What?”
“The manager of our department is changing next month.”
“Changing? Why all of a sudden?”
“Not sure, but seems like a parachute appointment.”
“Parachute?”
A bad premonition swept through me.
I narrowed my eyes and asked Woo Jung-hwan:
“Please tell me it’s not a woman.”