Chapter 37. An Unpredictable Ticking Time Bomb (1)

Translator: Lili

She was pleased that her efforts were being recognized, but there was no time to relax and celebrate. No matter how much she scoured the memories of the original Shin Sera, she found no useful knowledge about business. So she had no choice but to learn everything firsthand, crashing into challenges head-on.

“Being a chaebol isn’t as glamorous as I thought…”

Sera sighed, but she couldn’t deny the sweet satisfaction that came with achievement. The heavy burden of responsibility that came with her position was daunting, yet at the same time, the ability to see immediate results was addictively rewarding.

‘Maybe I was meant to be a chaebol all along, and I was just born with the wrong background?’

It was a ridiculous thought, but life had become stable enough that such musings crossed her mind.

That was when an unexpected figure barged into her life.

“Hey there.”

Sera’s face crumpled the moment she stepped back into her office after a meeting. To her displeasure, Seo Jungwon had made himself comfortable in her space. Ignoring his greeting, she turned to her assistant, Lee Jiyoung, who was just outside the door.

“I forgot to mention earlier—if Director Seo Jungwon ever requests a meeting, ignore it. All of them. Understood?”

“Y-Yes, Vice President.”

Lee Jiyoung looked bewildered but nodded obediently. It was meant for Jungwon to hear anyway, so Sera didn’t bother explaining further. Instead, she slammed the door shut.

“What’s with you all of a sudden?”

Jungwon spoke with a sweet and affectionate tone, but his sharp gaze was at complete odds with his smile.

“If you ignore all my calls, what am I supposed to do, Sera? You leave me no choice but to keep crossing into your professional space.”

“What, Sera?!”

Sera shuddered in disgust.

“Don’t call my name so casually.”

“Would you prefer I call you ‘darling’ instead?”

This shameless bastard.

It was the first time she’d seen Seo Jungwon since the Raum Group party. Among the three men who had been present that day, the only one who showed even a sliver of guilt for not helping her was Lee Rowoon. Jungwon, on the other hand, had laughed as she stood there humiliated.

And now, after all that, he had the audacity to play these games? He was truly vile.

“Are you alright after what happened at the party? I was really worried when you didn’t answer my calls.”

Jungwon put on a sorrowful expression, as if reading her thoughts. Sera nearly lost her temper but quickly composed herself. She wasn’t about to let this lunatic manipulate her.

She reminded herself of her survival strategy.

Win over Lee Rowoon. Cut off Cha Jaeheon. Reject Seo Jungwon.

As for Lee Seonkyung… well, whether she lived or died wasn’t Sera’s problem.

To survive in Sungwon, she needed Rowoon’s support. She was planning to break off her engagement with Jaeheon, but keeping business ties with him wasn’t a bad idea.

And Jungwon?

He was utterly useless—a walking disaster. Worse, he was the man Lee Seonkyung had chosen. Getting involved with him was the same as signing her own death warrant.

“I think you’re misunderstanding something. I have no intention of getting involved with you. So don’t bother wasting your time dropping by like this.”

“I’m actually very busy, you know.”

Jungwon tilted his head with mock innocence, as if deliberately missing the point. His ability to look so pure while being so insidious irritated her.

“I’m cutting into my precious time just to see you. Not that I expect you to be moved or anything.”

He was impossible to talk to. Fed up, Sera abandoned the forced politeness she had been clinging to.

“What do you want from me?”

Jungwon’s eyes curved in amusement, as if he found her anger delightful. To an outsider, his smile might have seemed affectionate.

“Would you listen if I told you?”

“Are you insane? Get out before I call security.”

Jungwon chuckled, completely unbothered.

“You were cute when you were pretending to be all proper, but you’re most charming when you’re honest.”

“If you enjoy being insulted, go find someone else. Judging by your behavior, that shouldn’t be hard.”

“I don’t have such a hobby, but if that’s what you want, feel free.”

‘God, she despised him.’

Thinking back, Seo Jungwon had always been like this. From the very beginning, he had done nothing but disgust her. He had put her in danger, blackmailed her, and treated her like a plaything. He never once respected her feelings or boundaries.

Since he had no decency, Sera saw no reason to be polite. With a cold, expressionless face, she pointed at the window.

“If you really want my attention, why don’t you try jumping? If you’re still alive after smashing into the ground, maybe—just maybe—I’ll consider acknowledging you.”

Jungwon read the sincerity in her gaze and let out a faint laugh.

“A few months ago, I might’ve done just that. But now… not so much.”

“What?”

“Thanks to you, I actually want to live. It’d be a shame to die before I get to do anything with you.”

‘…What the hell? Was he saying he actually thought about dying?’

Seeing her startled expression, Jungwon playfully reassured her.

“Don’t worry. I’ll probably want to die again soon. Just play along with me for a little while, and after that, I’ll die however you want me to.”

“…”

“Here, let’s promise.”

He held out his pinky finger, as if expecting her to make a childish vow.

She didn’t entirely believe his nonsense, but…

The unsettling feeling lingered.

The way he spoke so casually, wrapping such grave words in a lighthearted tone, made her uneasy.

Seo Jungwon was an unpredictable ticking time bomb. Learning that he struggled with suicidal thoughts changed nothing. If anything, it only strengthened her resolve to stay far, far away from him.