when the phone rings novel
After the other interviewers showed little concern for whether Hong Hee-joo could speak, it became clear: only Baek Sa-eon was making a fuss.
So... if she could just shut Baek Sa-eon up, that would suffice, right?
Hong Hee-joo's eyes shifted slightly before she signed with a bright expression:
"If you hire me, I'll be even more passionate about studying!"
Seizing the moment, she flashed a radiant smile.
At that instant, Baek Sa-eon covered his jaw with his hand, his fingers brushing his lips.
Does he think I'm being too arrogant?
She wondered, noticing the subtle crease between his brows. But when he sat upright again, his expression reverted to its usual aloofness.
"...Alright then, let's do this. I'll improvise a passage you've never seen before. Can you translate it?"
"Yes...!"
"Quite confident, aren't you?" he murmured, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.
Hee-joo unclenched her fists, her gaze locking onto him with unwavering focus. In this moment, she set aside all thoughts of him as her husband or the man she'd tried to threaten. This was solely about proving her skill in this task before her.
Though her life had always been one of restraint and struggle, there was one thing she took pride in: her meticulous dedication to Baek Sa-eon.
His voice, his breathing, his expressions—even the smallest details.
She could not rely on him as her pillar, so she had chosen to study and emulate every fragment of him she could collect. Through constant imitation, practice, and repetition, she synchronized herself to Baek Sa-eon's every breath.
Without that relentless effort, she might have crumbled long ago.
With fierce determination, her deep eyes locked onto him like a magnet to steel.
"..."
"..."
Their gazes clashed, sharp and electric.
"Alright, let's begin."
When his voice rang out like a signal flare, commanding and assured, she momentarily forgot she was in an interview room.
This was no longer just an audition—it was a testament to how she had endured, adapted, and survived.
The clear resonance of his voice filled the room:
"Couples Day is a statutory commemoration established to remind people of the importance of marriage and to foster harmonious families."
Baek Sa-eon's gaze bore into Hee-joo as he continued improvising:
"Here we have a married couple."
"Here we have a married couple," her hands followed in seamless synchronization.
"This couple has been together for a long time but harbors untold secrets."
Suddenly, his eyes sharpened.
"On this special day, they rewrite the Ten Commandments of Marriage together."
Hee-joo's hands caught every word with unwavering precision, her focus entirely on capturing his voice and meaning. Her heart pounded with exhilaration. Faster, more accurate—she craved to match him perfectly.
Her eyes burned with a fierce desire.
She wanted to emulate this resilient man, to reach his level. For someone as inherently fragile as her, she instinctively sought something solid to hold on to.
But then—
"One, complain incessantly about work."
...Wait, what?
Her hands faltered slightly before regaining their rhythm.
"Two, yell unnecessarily during conversations."
"..."
"Three, compare your partner to others when talking."
"..."
"Four, stubbornly insist on your own views."
Hee-joo's expression grew increasingly perplexed.
"Five, whine like a spoiled child."
"..."
"Six, cling endlessly—"
Abruptly, Baek Sae-on's voice halted.
Their eyes met in mid-air, locked in a charged confrontation. For a moment, neither moved, as if frozen in the intensity of their silent exchange.
It was Baek Sa-eon who eventually broke first, his jaw clenching as though he had realized something profound.
"...Alright, that's enough."
He tugged at his tie, seeming slightly out of breath.
With a loud bang, the door to the interview room was flung open and slammed shut.
Baek Sa-eon strode down the empty corridor with heavy steps, his pace brisk, almost as if he were fleeing.
"—Sir, are you alright? Is something wrong?"
Park, his assistant, hurriedly caught up, panting as he called out with concern. But Baek Sa-eon remained unresponsive, his focus scattered.
It wasn't until Park nearly grabbed his arm that Baek Sa-eon came to his senses, realizing how off-kilter he was.
"Uh—Senior, what's wrong?" Park asked, his face slick with sweat and worry.
"Get to the point," Baek Sa-eon's cold response made Park Do-jae scratch his head awkwardly. Though it was Park who had chased after him, it was Baek Sa-eon's chest that heaved with heavy breaths. Despite his initial concern, the assistant began addressing the matter at hand.
"It's about some strange posts appearing online," Park cautiously continued, studying Baek Sa-eon's reaction.
Baek frowned, signaling for him to proceed.
"Well... it's about a scandal involving you," Park said hesitantly. "Fortunately, before we took action, the posts were automatically deleted. We're currently dealing with the parts that were shared or screenshotted. But the content is quite... problematic."
"Claiming I toyed with sisters?" Baek responded impassively, picking up the thread of the conversation.
"What?! No, of course not! I would never believe that...!" Park stammered, clearly flustered. "It's so absurd that it hasn't spread widely. Plus, the posts disappeared quickly. But it's definitely a damaging rumor..."
"It's a warning."
"A warning?"
"It's meant for me, to make it clear that I should know." Baek's lips curved into a faintly amused smile. "406 knows how to create drama."
"..."
"...What a theatrical little creature," he murmured with a tone that mixed derision and intrigue.
"What?"
Despite reviewing the guest list from the event all night, nothing out of the ordinary had been found. They had even tried investigating connections to Hong In-ya, Hee-joo's acquaintances, alumni ties, and their parents' histories for possible links. Still, they came up empty.
It was as if 406 were a ghost.
"It seems we lack sufficient data. We need more information on the blackmailer."
"A born thief, truly despicable," Baek muttered with a click of his tongue.
"...Excuse me?"
"If it wasn't school or work, then where could someone like this have been met?" He clicked his tongue again in frustration.
"Ah...! We're also cross-referencing violent offenders and dating app memberships for any overlaps," Park added.
"Start by checking for cases where only fines were imposed without a criminal record."
"Understood, but bringing this matter directly to Madam...?" Park hesitated, recalling the recording they had already analyzed.
A cold refusal cut him off.
"My wife must never know about this."
Park looked at Baek with a confused expression, but before he could say more, a steely glint flickered across Baek's profile.
"Of course, given the sensitive nature, it might be awkward to discuss such things between spouses... but asking Madam could resolve this quickly—"
"It doesn't matter how long it takes." Baek interrupted sharply. "Even if my offices are set ablaze or my father is harmed, frankly, I couldn't care less. I have no emotional investment."
"...!"
"So long as Hee-joo isn't touched—" Baek's voice suddenly carried a deep, uncharacteristic intensity that left Park wide-eyed in shock.
"I can make that call a hundred times over." Baek sighed, loosening his tie. The day spent at the interview site had been suffocating.
Hee-joo's hands, moving like a dance in the distance—what was it about that sight that made it hard to breathe?
"I will continue to leave her be," Baek said, gazing out at the gloomy sky with a heavy expression.
"I can't let her feel cornered enough to run."
The interview was finally over. Exhausted, Hee-joo had dinner with her center director before returning home, collapsing into a deep sleep until nearly 10 p.m.
"Ugh..."
Though she had deftly handled the absurd questions, the blackmailer had yet to contact her.
Just then, the door lock beeped, and the sound of it unlocking echoed through the apartment.
"...!"
Ten minutes before the phone call.
'Why is he home so early today?!'
The person who wasn't supposed to come home had returned. The man who should have been at the office to receive the blackmailer's call suddenly appeared.
Wait, wait...! Can I even make the threat under the same roof? Won't he hear me? How good is the soundproofing?
Panic surged through her.
Hee-joo's face turned pale as she rushed back to her room. She stuffed the timer, negotiation phone, scribbled notes, and scattered materials into her bag. Then, she carefully composed herself and walked out, trying to appear calm.
"So late—where are you going?"
"...!"
Her eyes met Baek Sa-eon's as he walked toward her with a briefcase in hand. He glanced at her outfit and raised an eyebrow slightly.
Busted.
Hee-joo's eyes darted nervously before she pointed toward the front door, mouthing silently, "The supermarket."
Hee-joo quickly lowered her head and rushed toward the door.
"...!"
Baek Sa-eon grabbed her bag, halting her in her tracks. The strap slipped from her shoulder, and the hastily stuffed contents spilled onto the floor with a clatter.
Clicking his tongue in frustration, he bent down to pick up the items.
The frequently used timer, impacted by the fall, began to beep noisily.
"...Hong Hee-joo, what is this?"
Baek Sa-eon picked up the device, his face hardening into a cold expression.
Hearing the unusual tone in his voice, Hee-joo froze in place.
Did he recognize the timer's sound?!
She swiftly turned off the beeping timer, frantically snatching up the negotiation phone and shoving it back into her bag.
Am I doomed?
Her eyes shut tightly, bracing for his reaction.
But then, a low voice broke the tense silence.
"Your Honor, I'm a crazy woman. I enjoy handcuffs and collars."
"...!"
What he was looking at wasn't the incriminating timer or the negotiation phone—it was the lyrics sheet given to her by Han Joon, her center director.