Chapter 26
On top of that, Chief Kwon was diligent and smart.
Jaekyung looked at him with genuine admiration.
“Haha. Getting praised by Secretary Seo feels really good.”
Chief Kwon grinned.
“I grew up on a KE Group scholarship, you know.”
He let out a breath.
“So even though Yugam hyung is ridiculously picky, I signed myself into a lifetime contract and stayed by his side without betraying him.”
“You even had a scholarship?”
Jaekyung had attended the international high school through a Uitae Foundation scholarship herself.
The discovery made her feel an unexpected sense of closeness.
When Jaekyung looked at him with obvious approval, Chief Kwon seemed even more excited.
“Loyalty! Loyalty!”
He clenched a firm fist.
“Take loyalty away from Kwon Woobin and there's nothing left!”
Jaekyung burst out laughing.
She didn't know how Kim Juyoung felt, but she was glad Juyoung had someone as good as Chief Kwon beside her.
“Oh, by the way.”
Jaekyung hesitated.
“Do you know anything about the vice principal?”
Several times, she had heard about his suspicious behavior through Teacher Kim.
Donations for permanent teaching positions.
Endless rumors spreading through the group chat.
And after reviewing ten years of vendor contracts, Jaekyung already suspected the vice principal was involved in corruption.
But she couldn't recklessly reveal that.
“The reason I've been away from the office lately is because I've been investigating him.”
Chief Kwon lowered his voice as though someone might overhear.
So that's what it was.
Jaekyung nodded while watching the traffic jam ahead.
“The school's reputation is involved, and the students shouldn't be harmed.”
She continued carefully,
“So you have to handle it cautiously.”
They couldn't cover up corruption simply because the school demanded authority and high moral standards.
Misusing the school budget was clearly something that deserved punishment.
Even so, corruption involving a school was sensitive.
The students and parents had to come first.
She remembered Yugam's words.
“Whether it's a company, a school, or a person, I like things transparent.”
Jaekyung wanted to help him.
But she was only a secretary on a three-month contract.
To punish someone legally, they needed solid evidence.
And three months wasn't much time to uncover everything the vice principal had done.
“As expected of a teacher.”
Chief Kwon smiled.
“Secretary Seo understands this well.”
Then he explained,
“I've been collecting materials from outside the school.”
That explained why Chief Kwon had been going out so often lately.
Yugam probably already knew, but Jaekyung was preparing to hand over the documents she had organized regarding the vice principal's suspicious activities.
While stopped at a light, she checked her phone.
The partner meeting should have been ending around now.
[Where are you? I'm waiting.]
Jaekyung stared at Yugam's message.
For some reason, she didn't dislike being rushed.
The word waiting made something inside her chest ache strangely.
The entrance to the parking lot took less than a minute to reach, but it suddenly felt long.
“Looks like the chairman's meeting ended.”
Chief Kwon had apparently received the same message.
He checked the time and reviewed Yugam's next schedule.
“He can go home after this today.”
Then he added,
“There's a breakfast meeting tomorrow. Secretary Seo, you'll be moving early too, right?”
“A breakfast meeting?”
Jaekyung glanced at him.
“Where?”
“With Director Jin and the executives.”
Chief Kwon flipped through the schedule.
“The chairman doesn't involve himself in headquarters operations, but he still meets them once every quarter.”
Director Jin Heeyeon.
Jaekyung's mouth went dry.
“Chief Kwon...”
She hesitated.
“Could you accompany him tomorrow instead?”
“I can take public transportation to the school.”
Chief Kwon looked apologetic.
“I need to pick up the rental car tomorrow.”
“I'll pick it up.”
Jaekyung answered immediately.
Chief Kwon brightened.
“That would actually help a lot.”
“I have some headquarters work to handle anyway while the chairman attends the meeting.”
Jaekyung quietly exhaled in relief.
She had no idea how long she could keep avoiding Director Jin.
But she wanted to delay meeting her for as long as possible.
Every day felt like a survival game where she had to constantly watch her surroundings.
She couldn't relax for even a moment.
Jaekyung stopped the car in front of the executive elevator.
The glass doors opened.
“Why are you so late?”
Yugam stepped out wearing a perfectly fitted suit.
A classic watch worth more than three hundred million won sat on his wrist.
He tapped it impatiently with one finger, his brows furrowed.
Even his annoyed expression looked good.
He's just objectively handsome and noticeable.
Jaekyung quickly reminded herself that her reaction didn't mean anything.
Chief Kwon jumped out of the car in a hurry.
“Our poor chairman had to suffer waiting an entire minute.”
He practically wagged his tail like a puppy.
“We should've arrived at exactly the right second.”
Yugam's expression darkened.
“I waited five minutes.”
He looked at Chief Kwon coldly.
“Don't you know it's common sense to be waiting beforehand?”
Then he added,
“Do you need to get fired before you understand?”
“I'll serve you properly from now on.”
Chief Kwon straightened dramatically.
“Loyalty!”
His joking expression disappeared at Yugam's icy face.
He hurried to open the rear door.
Yugam looked at both of them.
“Chief Kwon and Secretary Seo will travel in separate cars.”
