SMBM 10

Chapter : 10

Don’t Drink an Einspänner Some Other Guy Gives You

Chaekyung felt like a water strider trembling on ripples made by a pebble tossed carelessly into a small pond. Her head was a mess.

She slipped outside, trying to escape Kang-woo’s gaze amid the chaotic team dinner.

Sitting on a bench in the courtyard behind the barbecue place, she stared at the moon, oddly bright and large tonight. Even though she hadn’t drunk much, her cheeks burned.

She rubbed her flushed cheeks over and over when suddenly a paper cup blocked her view.

Startled, she turned her head.

“Deputy Min, you seemed to be drinking quite a bit today. Are you okay?”

“Deputy Chu. I’m fine.”

Jungseok smiled at Chaekyung’s surprised look.

“What’s this?”

When she asked, Jungseok let out a good-natured laugh.

“Coffee. You always buy coffee on your way home after drinking.”

It was a takeaway cup—he’d somehow bought it without her noticing.

She was surprised he even knew her habits.

“How did you…?”

Scratching his head, Jungseok explained to the bewildered Chaekyung.

“You must not remember. Your old team and ours used to go out drinking together pretty often. I was with the staff when we went for coffee afterward a few times.”

“Oh—sorry. I don’t remember.”

“It’s fine. Totally understandable. You’re quiet, and so was I.”

Feeling awkward making him stand, Chaekyung scooted over and offered space.

“Sit, Deputy Chu.”

“Thanks.”

“I’ll enjoy this.”

“Also… try not to take what the vice-president said earlier too much to heart.”

He spoke cautiously, worried Kang-woo’s persistent comments might have gotten to her.

At the sound of Kang-woo’s name, Chaekyung choked mid-sip and coughed violently. Alarmed, Jungseok patted her on the back.

“Deputy Min, you okay?”

“Yes—cough—I’m fine.”

Inside, Kang-woo drank with Manager Yang and a few others orbiting him. He barely spoke—only drank—eyes fixed on Chaekyung. Her every smile and gesture made his expression alternately sour and brighten. Director Kim eventually joined later and managed to lighten the mood a little.

When Kang-woo noticed Chaekyung leaving and tried to follow, Director Kim grabbed him.

“Where are you going? The staff are waiting for their vice president, you know?”

“…”

Forced, Kang-woo sat back down, scowling. The employees tried their best to cheer him up.

At last, unable to bear it, he muttered to Director Kim and stood.

“You deal with them.”

He went to look for Chaekyung, but she was nowhere inside or outside.

His irritation was hitting its peak when he overheard two ladies clearing dishes from the restaurant chatting.

“A couple’s sitting together out in the courtyard—must be on a date. Ah, young love. Pretty girl, handsome fellow.”

“Best time of their lives.”

At the word couple, Kang-woo strode toward the courtyard. Finding Chaekyung there, his expression darkened.

She hadn’t been gone long—yet Jungseok was already with her.

The guy who always got on his nerves.

Watching her choke on his name, and the casual contact that followed, was something he couldn’t stand.

His voice dropped coldly.

“What are you two doing?”

Jungseok shot up to his feet.

Still coughing, Chaekyung stood with him, eyes watering. Even though she was struggling to breathe, Kang-woo only stared down at her coolly.

“Didn’t Deputy Min say she had a boyfriend?”

Chaekyung finally managed to catch her breath and looked up, startled.

“Excuse me? Why would you—?”

“Pretty easy for him to misunderstand what he sees right now.”

“I was only helping—Deputy Min was choking…”

Kang-woo shot Jungseok a hard glare.

Trying to protect her now, are you?

That only irritated him more.

“I don’t want to see employees I hired dragged into gossip.”

“Yes sir. We’ll be careful.”

“We’ll head in then.”

As they bowed and tried to leave together, Kang-woo’s brow twitched. He didn’t want to see them side by side for even a second longer.

“Deputy Min Chaekyung.”

“Yes.”

“Talk. Now.”

“…Yes.”

She bit her lip and answered.

When Jungseok left, Kang-woo shoved his hands in his pockets and slowly approached her.

“So. Do you really have a boyfriend?”

Chaekyung hesitated, unable to say yes or no.

“If you do, and you offered me a one-night stand, you’re a real snake. If you don’t, then that was one adorable little lie.”

When she bit her lip again, Kang-woo hooked his thumb under her chin and pulled it free.

“I told you not to do that.”

“Why are you doing this to me, Vice President?”

Before Kang-woo could answer, voices approached.

Hearing people nearby, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her into the shadows between two buildings.

Pressing Chaekyung against the wall, he watched the courtyard.

“Deputy Min here?”

“Not here either?”

“Deputy Chu said she was just here. Thought I heard voices.”

“Where’d she go? We’re heading to round two.”

Manager Jang lit a cigarette.

Woo-kyung and Manager Jang chatted casually, unaware of the pair hidden in the dark. Kang-woo’s chest was so close Chaekyung tried to push him away.

He didn’t budge—one hand braced on the wall. He whispered in her ear.

“Want to get caught?”

When she turned her face, she found his eyes inches away. It was hard to breathe.

His breath brushed her skin.

She couldn’t look away—his gaze pinned her in place, unblinking.

As something darker flickered in his eyes, his face moved closer. Then his lips touched hers—soft, sinking into her in a heartbeat.

While voices outside called her name, the eyes staring at her in the dark were a predator’s—ready to claim prey.

Overwhelmed by the kiss, she squeezed her eyes shut.

The moment she did, Kang-woo twisted his head and deepened the kiss savagely.

Her head tipped back, his arm locked tight around her waist.

She collapsed helplessly into his arms, forced to take the kiss.

Voices receded. Only the wet, invading kiss echoed in her ears.

Unable to stand it, she clutched his arm, but Kang-woo wouldn’t stop.

His soft tongue wrapped around hers, stealing her breath, scraping along her teeth. His free hand gripped her nape, devouring every inch of her mouth. Her knees buckled, and she sagged into him, swept into his rhythm.

Only after a long, relentless assault did his lips part from hers.

His voice, low and intimate, brushed her ear.

“Still uncomfortable around me?”

Breathless, she grimaced.

“Yes.”

“That’s strange. You’re starting to get used to the things I do.”

He lifted his face and smirked—devastatingly seductive.

“Why…?”

As she tried to speak, he pressed a finger to her lips.

“Shh. They haven’t left yet.”

Reality snapped back. Chaekyung slipped out of his arms, scowling.

“If they catch us, you won’t be the one in trouble. I will.”

She checked outside—no one was there. The search party had already left.

Relief gave way to anger.

“Vice President, I don’t understand anything you say or do.”

“Makes me want to make you even more uncomfortable.”

“…What?”

“You’re impossibly distracting.”

He grabbed her wrist and pulled her out from between the buildings.

She shook him off.

“I hate it when you act like this.”

“Then don’t provoke me.”

He lit a cigarette, voice firm.

“When did I provoke you?”

“Situations like tonight provoke me.”

His cool, calm expression made it seem like nothing had happened. The heat from earlier evaporated. Talking felt pointless.

He was clearly playing with her.

Blowing smoke, Kang-woo spotted her coffee on the bench.

He glared at it, then at her.

“What’s that coffee you’re drinking when you’re supposed to be drinking with us?”

“I can’t drink much, so I always get coffee after. Habit.”

She obviously hadn’t bought it herself. Realizing that meant Jungseok, his mood soured.

“What kind?”

“Einspänner.”

Chaekyung turned toward the building, done talking.

He exhaled smoke and stopped her cold.

“Don’t drink Einspänners other guys buy you.”

His curt voice felt strangely unfamiliar.