This World is too Cruel to Men – Chapter 524

Who could it be?

Who on earth is knocking on my door this early in the morning?

I was about to find out soon enough.

“Dogun, are you awake?”

It was none other than Chae-rim’s voice, a sound so familiar that it practically rang in my ears.

That was the very reason I couldn’t help but snap awake, even though I had just barely opened my eyes.

I mean, of all times for someone to come knocking, it had to be Chae-rim and not my Senior or Bora, right?

This is what you call the worst timing.

‘Uh, what should I do…?’

If I didn’t respond, it was obvious she’d see me in this state.

Knowing I had to answer Chae-rim but hesitating to do so was a real pickle.

Chae-rim wasn’t clueless about the relationship between me and Yoonseo, and considering we had already seen everything of each other, what harm could it do to show a little more?

Well, that’s a naive thought.

Even if we’d seen each other completely, there are still lines that shouldn’t be crossed.

But seriously, I had just been discharged a day ago and here I was, about to be seen looking like I’d spent the night rolling around with another woman! In Chae-rim’s perspective, wouldn’t that make her want to smack me upside the head?

But if I delayed my answer, she might just barge right in to wake me up—

“…Ah, yes. I’m just about to wash up, sis.”

I answered Chae-rim’s call in a sleepy voice, playing the part of someone who had just woken up.

Honestly, it wasn’t that hard.

Pretending to be groggy wasn’t a stretch, considering I had just been asleep, despite my mind being sharp as a tack from the surprise.

Thanks to that, my voice was a little raspy.

So, I took advantage of that and responded, and thankfully, it seemed to work.

“Okay, I’ll be waiting in the living room, so hurry up and wash up.”

With her words, I could hear Chae-rim’s footsteps leaving the door, and it felt a million times sharper in my ears than usual.

I let out a cautious sigh of relief, but then I glanced over at Yoonseo lying next to me.

“I know you’re awake, you know?”

“Ah… Hehe…”

Seriously, where did she learn such odd habits…?

Was she really that embarrassed to find out I’d been faking sleep?

I couldn’t help but chuckle slightly at Yoonseo’s sheepish smile, giving her a look that said, ‘What can I do?’

“Gonna wash up?”

“Um, you should head back to your room.”

“Wanna wash up together?”

“Hey… seriously…”

Did just sleeping next to each other not cut it?

After giving her a proper smack on the back to send her out of the room, I headed straight to the bathroom.

I quickly finished my shower, picked a suitable suit, and stepped out of the room.

Once I did, I saw Chae-rim, who had already finished getting ready for work, waiting for me in the living room.

“Done?”

“Yes, have you been waiting long?”

“Nope, I just stepped out of my room too.”

She scanned me from head to toe for a moment, before narrowing her eyes slightly as if she noticed something off.

“Where’s your tie?”

“Uh? The tie?”

“Yeah.”

“Do I really have to wear one?”

Thinking back to when I worked as a manager, I often had to run around a lot, so I dressed up but rarely wore a tie unless it was some special event.

Though I was a manager back then, my current role starting today would be more like a secretary, so I figured I need to dress formally.

Curious, I asked, and the response I got was almost a perfect example of “a foolish question gets a wise answer.”

“People tend to care about appearances, you know? Especially today being your first day at work, they might be more sensitive to such things.”

Right, it makes sense that I should present a perfect image, at least on my first day.

With that thought in mind, I rushed back to my room and rummaged through the drawer holding my ties.

Just as I was about to pick one that looked suitable—

“Let me help. I’ll tie it for you.”

Before I could react to pulling one out, Chae-rim had already swooped in, snatching it from my hands.

Without even letting me say anything, she started tying it for me, and maybe it was just me, but she smelled amazing.

A scent that reminded me of ripe plums, something that no perfume could ever replicate.

I couldn’t help but swallow hard.

While she was tying my tie, she leaned in closer, making eye contact.

“Remember? You don’t need to care about what people say, right?”

“I know.”

“Good. Don’t let them get to you.”

Thinking that if I answered half-heartedly, it might worry Chae-rim, I replied confidently.

It seemed my confident tone pleased her, as a bright smile spread across her face.

Then, with an expression that couldn’t wait any longer, she planted a quick peck on my lips.

Thanks to Chae-rim’s surprise kiss, my morning nearly caught fire, but I managed to exercise superhuman patience and held back.

I really had no choice.

I couldn’t be late on my first day, right?

Given the atmosphere around me, it wouldn’t be surprising if reporters were out here snapping shots of me on my way to my first day at work.

So I kept it simple and finished the kiss before it could get heated, perhaps that snapped Chae-rim back to reality.

“Jeez… Dogun, your lips need a wipe.”

Chae-rim stepped back awkwardly, chuckling as she said that.

“And you should reapply your lipstick, sis.”

“Ah… um… won’t this be a disaster?”

“Probably.”

Not knowing how things would turn out, I left some room for uncertainty in my answer, but it was bound to end like that.

After all, Chae-rim was someone who’d maintained a distance from scandals in her fame so far.

There had been plenty of articles about people expressing interest in Chae-rim, but there were never any mutual interest articles.

And now, Chae-rim was stepping out with someone who looked like she’d just kissed me, right next to the reporters?

It was clear my first day’s work news would get wiped from their minds immediately.

That would definitely be juicy gossip, but compared to Chae-rim’s first scandal article, it wouldn’t even be a drop in the ocean, especially for those chasing hits.

“Are you having any strange thoughts or something?”

“Strange thoughts, you say?”

“Like, what if we steal all the attention by facing the reporters like this, or something?”

“Is that a bad idea?”

Is that really what she’s asking?

Of course she knows!

Though, I could tell it was likely out of concern for me that she thought that.

I mean, I had gained some notoriety from the last press conference, but compared to Chae-rim, who had built up a massive fan base from her time as a hero, I was practically a blip.

So, if Chae-rim stepped in front and attracted attention, most people’s eyes would naturally be on her.

‘Sure, the scandalous partner like me would get some attention…’

But it was clear that all the spotlight would end up on Chae-rim.

And with that, the burdens I had to shoulder would reduce.

Thinking about that, it seemed logical for me to hide behind Chae-rim for the time being but—

‘That’s not the right way to go.’

As a man, I shouldn’t be hiding when I should be protecting my girl.

That’s just wrong.

“Don’t worry about it. You know I have a strong mental state.”

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Just a few dozen minutes ago, I had told Chae-rim those words—

“Wow…”

Now, with the situation unfolding this way, I couldn’t help but accept it, good or bad.

Click, click—

Click, click, click—

“Dogun!”

“Please, just look here for a moment! Dogun!”

I see… I had been underestimating those pesky reporters.