The door had barely clicked shut behind the last director when another voice filtered in—
Soft.
Light.
Pretending concern.
"Excuse me… am I interrupting?"
Both Yeon-hwa and Do-yoon turned.
A young woman stepped into the boardroom as if she belonged there.
Choi Yerin.
Silky hair falling past her shoulders.
Clear doe eyes.
Soft pink lips pressed into a polite smile.
Pastel blouse and a pencil skirt.
A small stack of papers clutched against her chest.
She looked like the kind of girl adults praised.
Pretty.
Gentle.
Harmless.
Yeon-hwa knew better.
In the novel, this girl was soft on the outside and steel beneath silk.
But seeing her here — inside a board-only, high-security room — was surprising even for her.
Do-yoon stiffened immediately.
"Who let her in?"
The question wasn't loud.
But every security guard outside flinched.
Yerin bowed politely, her voice sweet like honey warmed too long.
"I'm so sorry… I didn't mean to intrude. I just… thought it would be a good time to apologize."
"Apologize?" Yeon-hwa repeated softly.
"Yes," Yerin said, stepping forward, her eyes shining with soft nervousness. "For the misunderstanding with Min-joon."
At the name, the air in the room shifted.
Do-yoon's expression frosted over.
The directors froze.
Her uncle looked smug.
And Yeon-hwa—
—did not react.
Not even a blink.
Yerin continued, her voice gentle:
"You see… Min-joon and I are very close. You know we are bestfriends.He probably didn't mean any harm that day—"
Yeon-hwa cut in, calm and smooth:
"Who are you again?"
Yerin stopped speaking.
Her lips parted slightly.
The soft eyes blinked once, twice.
As if she couldn't understand why her 'polite apology' wasn't being received with applause.
"I… I'm Choi Yerin," she said, voice catching. "From—"
"I didn't ask for your name."
Yeon-hwa's tone remained polite.
Dead calm.
"I asked," she continued, "who you are — to speak to me about my personal history."
Silence.
Yerin swallowed.
"I just… I thought… Min-joon told me so much about you, so—"
"Oh?"
Yeon-hwa tilted her head slightly.
"Then why did he not come here himself?"
Yerin's eyes trembled.
Perfect.
Yeon-hwa continued:
"And even if he had… the past is irrelevant to today's agenda. You are not part of this meeting."
Yerin's breath hitched.
Do-yoon's eyes lowered in satisfaction.
Her uncle shifted uncomfortably.
Yerin tried again, voice trembling but still soft enough to coax sympathy.
"I only came because… I thought you might still misunderstand that day. Min-joon and I have always been close, so I didn't want you to think—"
"Miss Choi."
Yeon-hwa didn't raise her voice.
She didn't have to.
Yerin looked up at her like a startled fawn.
"This room is for board members only," Yeon-hwa said. "You do understand that?"
"I—I'm sorry," Yerin whispered. "I didn't mean to—"
"And yet here you are."
"I only came to apologize—"
"For a situation nobody asked you to explain."
A sharp inhale escaped Yerin's lips.
Her eyes glistened.
Perfect green tea effect.
The kind that melted men instantly.
But not the man standing beside Yeon-hwa.
Do-yoon's voice cut in, cold enough to frost glass.
"You had no permission to enter this floor."
Yerin flinched.
"I—I was told to deliver documents… so I thought—"
"For which department?" Yeon-hwa asked calmly.
Yerin swallowed.
"…Changwoon Group."
A rival company.
Of course.
"Interesting," Yeon-hwa murmured. "Our rival company sends interns into my boardroom. Bold."
Her uncle coughed.
"Yeon-hwa, this girl is simply—"
"Out of place," Yeon-hwa finished for him. "Dangerously so."
Yerin trembled.
"I'm really sorry… I didn't know—"
"You didn't know the rules of corporate hierarchy?"
Her voice was soft, almost sympathetic.
"It must be very difficult, working for Changwoon."
Yerin's lips parted in shock.
Face-slap delivered.
Clean.
Elegant.
Do-yoon almost smiled.
Almost.
Yeon-hwa continued, hands folded in front of her.
"Regardless of your relationship with Min-joon… this is neither the time nor the place. If you are here professionally, speak now."
Yerin blinked rapidly, overwhelmed.
"I—I came to give this," she whispered, lifting her folder. "A… a draft offer from Changwoon Group regarding… Project Aurora."
A hush fell.
Her uncle stiffened.
Do-yoon's expression darkened instantly.
And Yeon-hwa?
She smiled.
Cold.
Professional.
Perfect.
"Thank you," she said. "I'll review it and send an official response through appropriate channels."
Yerin seemed almost relieved.
"O-of course… I only wanted to help—"
"You've helped enough," Yeon-hwa said. "Now leave."
That broke the girl completely.
She bowed shakily.
"I'm sorry… truly…"
Then she fled the room.
The door shut behind her.
Silence.
Then—
The system chimed.
[New Character Flag: Heroine Detected — Choi Yerin]
[Rival Company Interaction: +4 Business Awareness]
[Face-Slap Bonus: +3 Reputation]
[Aura Control Enhancement: +1]
[Hidden Bonus: Kang Do-yoon Affection +5]
She exhaled slowly.
"Trouble," she murmured.
"Not for you," Do-yoon replied coldly. "For anyone who underestimates you."
Her uncle glared.
"This is exactly why she shouldn't be involved in the company—"
Yeon-hwa turned her head slowly.
"And you should?"
Min-sung stiffened.
Do-yoon's lips twitched — barely — as if he enjoyed watching her dismantle the entire room.
"Uncle," she said softly, "I'll handle Aurora. Professionally. Independently. And without interference."
Her uncle swallowed.
Do-yoon stepped closer to her — not touching, but shielding.
"You'll need allies," he said quietly.
"I don't trust easily."
"Then trust me."
She looked at him, eyes steady.
"That depends," she replied.
"Are you on my side… or simply curious about what I'll do next?"
His jaw flexed.
"Both," he said.
She didn't respond.
She didn't need to.
The board meeting ended with one truth:
The villainess was not weak.
The heroine was not subtle.
And Kang Do-yoon had already chosen a side.