“Parachute,” as in “parachute hire.”
On his first day at work, Tae-hong was brutally frank with Haegin. Haegin tried hard to hide his irritation, but inadvertently, a battle of stares unfolded.
“I heard from the chairman. You’ve been assigned to mark me.”
Tae-hong’s sarcastic tone was irksome. But what he didn’t know was that he missed a crucial adjective in front of the task.
Dedicated mark for the rugby ball. More precisely, one that could bounce anywhere unpredictably.
Haegin suppressed the words he was about to retort like a machine gun and forced a generous smile.
He was the underdog in this situation. Tae-hong was his lifeline, the rope he needed to cling to. Within the company, Tae-hong was a team leader, and he was just an assistant manager. In a hierarchical society, rank equated to power and authority.
Moreover, Tae-hong was none other than the heir to Yeonchang Group.
Haegin had a salary to receive regularly in the future, and now was not the time to let loose his inner thoughts. It was a moment to act prudently.
Unaware of what she was muttering internally, Tae-hong just looked Haegin up and down.
The start was not promising. The counterpart was unfriendly from the beginning, even blatantly showing annoyance.
Although Haegin imagined this scenario and thought he had become resilient through continuous mental training, the direct provocation still hurt helplessly.
The arrival tone for another elevator rang out. One by one, the Strategic Planning Team members started to get off. Tae-hong, noticing the employees hesitating upon seeing him and Haegin, began to move first.
“Follow me, Ms. Jeong Haegin.”
The employees, greeting them, looked at the two curiously. Tae-hong started walking ahead.
Not to be a blockhead, he didn’t even receive greetings from the employees.
Following him, Haegin casually observed the employees. From those of a similar age to older ones, the Strategic Planning Team was larger than expected.
Despite resolving thousands of times not to be intimidated, Haegin couldn’t help feeling overwhelmed by the stares clinging to him as he followed Tae-hong.
After all, everyone except him was already part of a team. Facing each of them would be like one against many.
A person in need digs a well. For now, Haegin saved his gaze and gestures. He needed to grasp the company’s atmosphere and be the one to approach them first.
Haegin walked, focusing only on Tae-hong’s shoulders, not to bow his head. The team leader’s office was at the very end of the 28th-floor corridor. He scanned the office size, ambiance, and desk arrangement as he walked towards the room.
Compared to Zion, it was definitely larger. There were many employees’ desks and several meeting rooms.
Even the break room, the flower of rest, caught his eye. From years of working experience, it seemed like a free environment, but with a strict hierarchy.
Lost in thought, Haegin found himself in front of the team leader’s office.
The team leader’s office resembled Moon Tae-hong’s first impression: neat but cold, like its owner. The dust-free desk lacked a human touch.
Tae-hong took off his jacket in a routine manner and put down his phone. Then he unbuttoned his cuffs and rolled them up a few times. He motioned towards the sofa mechanically.
“Sit down.”
Haegin noticed him preparing a teacup, possibly as a courtesy for a newcomer. Tae-hong picked one of the various types of tea.
His voice, minus the sarcasm, was a pleasant baritone. Haegin’s eyes narrowed, seeing a different side from the one in the elevator.
Calling him a blockhead.
For a moment, he reflected on his prejudice. Although Tae-hong had called him a parachute hire, could it be because Haegin had blocked the elevator with his foot first?
For a brief moment, a fleeting thought passed through Haegin’s mind. Tae-hong set down their cups and sat facing him.
“Drink it. It’s good for waking up your mind in the morning.”
Tae-hong sipped from his cup first, prompting Haegin to follow suit. After setting down his cup, Tae-hong stretched out his long legs and crossed them, leisurely observing Haegin as he sipped his tea.
“What’s your relationship with the chairman?”
At that sudden, conversation-halting question, Haegin froze mid-motion, unsure of the intent behind the question and choosing silence over a response.
“Ahh, you won’t answer if it’s a difficult question?”
Tae-hong rhetorically questioned, scrutinizing Haegin with a steady gaze.
Haegin knew. In a disadvantageous moment or when something could become a weakness, it’s best to keep silent and assess the situation.
“You know that not answering won’t solve anything. Well, go ahead, keep not answering.”
Choosing silence didn’t mean it was the best option. Anxiety crept in, but Haegin didn’t rush. He hadn’t figured out Tae-hong yet.
Tae-hong, reclining in his chair and crossing his legs, picked up his cup again. After a silent tug-of-war, Tae-hong broke the stillness.
“Are you some kind of private investigator or something? Here for undercover employment because of the chairman?”
When scheming men desperately battle for her favor in the male harem
This one’s also on my reread list! The rivalry, scheming between the men in the imperial harem are just as intense and thrilling as in classic palace drama novels, where concubines fight to the death. Give it a read, girls! I promise you won’t be disappointed.
Synopsis:
“I am not worthy of her… but I still want to be by her side, even if only as a loyal dog…”
Those were the painful whispers of Yue Guanyi – the proud Crown Prince of the Great Qi, who was torn between deep love and a guilty conscience. Despite holding the supreme power of the Imperial Guard, he still could not forget the dark past when he was sold into a brothel.
Fate played a cruel twist when Qiu Shuzhi – a young female official who had just passed the imperial examinations with top honors – stepped into his life. She did not know that she was the one who had saved him from a tragic fate many years ago. And now, her heart was the target of pursuit for both Yue Guanyi and the powerful Empress Dowager Qin Qing.
While Yue Guanyi only dared to silently care for and protect the one he loved from afar, the Empress Dowager Qin Qing openly expressed his feelings and did not hesitate to take advantage of his power to approach Qiu Shuzhi. The covert struggle between the two most powerful forces in the imperial court began…
Trigger warning: All men in this novel are yandere style.
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