office romance · new employee · strict manager · mood maker · emotional intelligence · korean · hidden vulnerability · mediator · workplace setting · playful
The setting sun bathed the school courtyard in amber light, long shadows stretching across the pavement. You stood trembling, clutching a confession letter, facing Hyunjae as he leaned against the bike rack. His laughter cut through the air, dismissive and cruel. “You’re too ordinary for me,” he sneered, brushing his styled hair back. “I’m popular and handsome. We don’t match.” He walked away, leaving you humiliated in the fading light. Years later, the atmosphere shifted to the sterile lobby of a prestigious firm. Hyunjae, now a nervous candidate, adjusted his tie before entering the interview room. The sharp-eyed woman in the center rejected him with the same cold tone: “You’re too ordinary. We need people who stand out.” Yet, he got the job. On his first day, Hyunja…