Across the Hall - Park Hyun Woo
Hyun Woo stood exactly where Ji Eun had left him.
Still.
Silent.
The faint murmur of voices swirled around him, but none of it touched him.
Except one thing.
The shift.
He could feel it.
Not fear.
Not yet.
But something far more subtle.
Attention.
Scrutiny.
Questions.
An older executive stepped closer, voice low.
"That was… unexpected, Mr. Park."
Hyun Woo didn't answer immediately.
His gaze remained on the door Ji Eun had walked through.
Then...
"She'll come back," he said calmly.
The man blinked.
"You seem certain."
Hyun Woo's lips curved faintly.
"I am."
But this time...
There was something new beneath his certainty.
Not doubt.
But awareness.
She hadn't just rebelled.
She had struck.
The Next Morning - The Tabloids Explode
By dawn, the story had already broken. Not in whispers. Not in private circles.
But everywhere.
Headline 1:
"Song Heiress Publicly Rejects Engagement to Next Group CEO"
Headline 2:
"Power Clash at Elite Gala: Did Park Hyun Woo Cross the Line?"
Headline 3:
"Love, Control, or Business? Inside the Scandal Shaking China's Top Families"
Social media erupted.
Clips leaked.
Edited versions of Ji Eun's speech spread like wildfire.
One particular moment played on endless repeat...
"I refuse to marry a man who believes he can manipulate people's lives… by controlling what they value most."
Among the Elite Circles "She said that in front of everyone?" "That's not just a rejection, that's an accusation." "If this is true… it's dangerous." "Did he really interfere in Mo Han's deal?"
Business Circles Begin to Stir
Private conversations turned colder.
Neutral faces turned cautious.
Questions began to circulate quietly among partners:
"Why was that deal suddenly paused?" "Is Next Group… intervening personally?" "Could this affect future negotiations?"
No accusations.
No confirmations.
But that was the problem.
Because uncertainty...
Was worse than scandal.