Park Jin-hee narrowed her eyes. Sitting across from her were Yoojin and Dongha—faces so flawless they were almost tiring to look at.
So this is why Samho Entertainment is eyeing them.
She clicked her tongue lightly.
"Let me share something with the three of you."
Lee Hyuk, Yoojin, and Dongha all focused on Executive Director Park.
"During Monday's orientation, there was an executive luncheon. Since this is Chairman Yoon Taeyoung's third year, a proposal was raised to produce a new promotional video for Samho Group. And—apparently they suggested casting you two, Yoojin and Dongha."
Lee Hyuk's jaw tightened, and a thick vein bulged on his forehead.
"What? They want them for a promo video when they haven't even begun their actual intern duties?"
Director Park casually sipped her roasted brown-rice tea.
"Their primary assignment is Samho Apparel. Anything related to Samho Entertainment is just supplemental. But yes—an official request for cooperation will come soon."
"That's just in name only. You know how these things go. The side project will end up becoming the main one. I can't accept this."
"That's why I already told them you'll handle it after Apparel tasks are done. But honestly, shouldn't the decision start with the people involved?"
She looked first at Dongha.
"Dongha, you're a dance major and have experience with entertainment projects. Would you be willing to do it?"
Dongha instinctively glanced at Yoojin.
He didn't particularly want it—or hate it. If Yoojin wanted to, he'd do it. If she didn't, there was no reason for him to.
"I'm fine with it."
His strong, foreign-featured face remained expressionless and cool.
"Okay. Then what about you, Yoojin?"
Yoojin paused to think.
"If the video is used internally within the company, I don't mind. But if it goes public externally, then… I'm not comfortable with it."
Director Park and Lee Hyuk both blinked, surprised.
Kids her age usually want fame. Or at least the chance to become a celebrity.
Why is she rejecting it?
Park Jinhee's curiosity toward Yoojin grew.
"Why? You're beautiful—why not give it a shot? You might even become famous, you know."
"No. I prefer working as an employee of Samho Group. I have no interest in being a celebrity."
Her firm answer made Director Park and Lee Hyuk relax.
If Yoojin felt strongly about this, there would be no major issue with the promotional project.
But something still bothered Director Park, so she probed a little deeper.
"You said internal use is fine, but external isn't. What does that mean?"
"Oh—well…"
Yoojin bit down hard on her lower lip.
She had let something slip—something she never wanted revealed.
Because of Choi Hyun-oh.
If he ever saw her face somewhere unexpected—just the thought made her skin crawl.
She hadn't even found her footing at Samho Group yet. Meeting him now would be a disaster.
She chewed her lip again, trying to think of a safe answer.
Director Park watched her hesitation and smiled gently.
"If you don't want to, then you can simply say you don't want to. You don't have to feel pressured. That's true for all of corporate life. If you just do everything you're told without question, you'll end up getting hurt, Yoojin."
Being the "flower of the public"… Being the flower of someone…
Yoojin wanted none of that.
She nodded quickly and repeatedly, grateful for the understanding.
*
They returned to the office right before lunch break.
Some employees had already stepped out for lunch, making the floor unusually quiet.But Team Leader Kim Sehee was rifling through items on Kim Jang-woo's desk with a troubled expression.
His personal belongings were gone. Only piles of order sheets, swatches, and defective fabric samples remained.
"Where did Mr. Kim Jang-woo go?"
Lee Hyuk's voice startled her so much she shook.
"Manager, I… I can't reach him. When we were downstairs earlier, during that argument with the Sales Team, he must've packed his things and left."
"Tsk! Kids these days have no sense of responsibility."
He snorted in disbelief.
"I'll try calling him and convince him to return."
"I'd love to fire him on the spot, but we're understaffed. For now, let's let it go.Talk to HR—until he returns, let his paid leave be deducted."
"Yes, understood."
News of Jang-woo walking out would spread quickly.
Lee Hyuk needed to get ahead of it.
He turned to Yoojin and Dongha, eyes sharp.
Uselessly arrogant newbies.
So young, so full of confidence, completely unaware how brutal real operations are.
People like that needed their wings clipped early.
He made his choice: Yoojin.
"Yoojin, you said you speak Chinese, right? What's your HSK level?"
"Level 5."
"That's pretty high. Can you converse?"
"Not very well."
"Conversation comes naturally with practice. Grammar is what matters."
He smirked, pleased.
"Then Yoojin—you'll take over Mr. Kim Jang-woo's buyer account until he returns."
"…Me?"
Her eyes widened.
Even Dongha scowled instantly beside her.
Without answering, Lee Hyuk walked into his own cubicle and stared out over the Foreign
Trade Department.
This floor was his domain.
The corner of his thick lips curled upward.
He turned back to the two interns. The heavy double eyelids he normally had disappeared under the swelling of anger and control.
"This whole onboarding program is nonsense. Having two interns share tasks? Ridiculous.Everyone should do their own job. From now on, both of you will follow the Foreign Trade Department's regular intern training. Yoojin—move to Kim Jang-woo's desk and begin handling his workload."
Dongha's eyes darkened instantly—almost black.
A curse nearly escaped him as his fists clenched so tight the muscles along his arms swelled.
Was this even allowed? Could a manager override company policy at will?
It didn't matter. Lee Hyuk held absolute authority on this floor. And Dongha—just a 21-year-old intern—had none.
If he pushed back, he'd be fired on the spot, and everything with Yoojin would vanish.The helplessness seeped into his bones.
He turned his head slightly, hiding his expression.
Lee Hyuk noticed and smirked with satisfaction.
"Team Leader Kim Sehee, please teach her how to handle supplemental orders.She graduated from a top university—she'll learn quickly."
"Yes, Manager."
But Kim Sehee's heartbeat was racing.
A bit of stress might be good for the baby, she told herself.
Still—seeing Yoojin standing there, wide-eyed with shock, made her uneasy.
Could a fresh intern really handle sales teams and vendors?
This was FW season—the heaviest workload of the year.
Dozens of orders, shipments, and defects had to be managed daily.
Three more months before the season would lighten.
Her head throbbed.
If Yoojin didn't do the work, who would?
Dongha? Impossible.
Her? Absolutely not—she already oversaw procurement for nine brands.
She had no choice but to rely on the intern.
Meanwhile, fear wrapped itself around Yoojin.
Stacks of swatches, fabric bundles, and order sheets on Jang-woo's desk now belonged to her.
Beside her, Dongha turned slightly away—troubled.
If Yoojin started full operational work, the onboarding program would be broken apart.
They'd return to individual tasks—and he would have almost no time with her.
Park Jinhee's advice echoed in her mind:
"If you really don't want something, say so. You don't have to force yourself."
But what if saying no meant losing future opportunities? Being labeled a weak or unmotivated new hire?
She hated that thought even more.
Yoojin wanted—desperately—to be recognized at Samho Group.
She couldn't say she didn't want to do it.
Not before even trying.
Her stubbornness—bravery reserved only for the inexperienced—won out.
"Yoojin? You can handle it, right?"
Lee Hyuk asked casually, as if it were nothing.
"Yes. I can do it."
She nodded firmly.
At her answer, Dongha's clenched fists slowly loosened… defeated.