The lights went off in the CEO's office of G Cosmetics headquarters, known as the lighthouse of Sagyo-dong because it's always lit up 365 days a year. And it happened at exactly 6 PM—a time no one could believe.
Unaware of this shocking fact, the PR team employees were chatting.
"We'll have to work overtime again today, right?"
"The new product launch is right around the corner. There's no other choice."
"That's the problem. Why do we keep releasing new products? The current ones are already selling like crazy."
Manager Hong scratched at the few hairs he had left and let out a deep sigh.
Since the CEO personally led both the planning and PR teams, they worked late every night and stayed up all the time—it was exhausting.
Everyone was tired and overworked, but only CEO Jung-woo stayed as fresh and beautiful as a rose in June.
She never showed signs of exhaustion, not even once throughout the year.
Even though she arrived earlier and left later than everyone else.
"Wow, this is crazy," Manager Hong groaned, twisting in frustration.
The PR team members joined in.
"If only the CEO found something she liked more than work, we wouldn't be suffering like this."
"Will that day ever come? Why doesn't our CEO date anyone?
Then again, with that temper... how could she even date... huh?!"
Manager Hong didn't finish his sentence and dropped flat onto his desk.
CEO Jung-woo's silhouette had appeared in the glass door.
"C-C-CEO!"
At Manager Hong's shout, everyone quickly looked busy and lowered their heads.
The automatic doors slid open, and Jung-woo walked in like a runway model.
With a tall, slender figure—172cm, a small pale face, big eyes, sharp nose, plump lips, and a stylish bob haircut—everything about her was perfectly balanced. If she had become a model, she would've been successful.
Looking at Jung-woo made people wonder if God was truly fair.
She had a brilliant mind, beautiful looks, and a perfect body.
And on top of that, she knew how to style herself perfectly, as if she could shoot a fashion spread anytime.
Not to mention, she had the strong support of G Group behind her.
"What are you all doing?"
Jung-woo's sharp voice echoed through the office.
Right—she had one big flaw.
Her temper was horrible.
Jung-woo's bad temper struck like lightning whenever an employee got lazy or tried to cover up a mistake.
That's why her nickname was "Great Demon King."
Because she rained fire down on people.
It might sound childish, but anyone who experienced it knew: in front of the Great Demon King, they were just weak little creatures.
Jung-woo didn't become successful just because she was pretty and lucky.
She was strong, perfect… and terrifying.
No matter someone's age or position, they shrank in front of her.
Her overwhelming charisma made them feel like they were being strangled.
But today, something was strange.
Why was a workaholic like her holding a handbag and leaving *exactly* at 6 PM?
No one had ever seen Jung-woo leave before the staff, so everyone stared in confusion.
At that moment, Jung-woo said something no one expected.
"Aren't you going home?"
"W-Well, we're preparing for the new product launch, so…"
Before Manager Hong could finish, Jung-woo cut him off.
"There's nothing urgent. Go home early today."
Go home—during the busiest time?
Something had to be going on. Was she planning to fire the whole PR department?
Everyone stopped breathing and stared at Jung-woo.
Then she turned to the secretary's office.
"Secretary Shin."
"Yes, CEO."
Su-hyun, known as the "deer" of G Cosmetics for his delicate beauty, stood up quickly.
"Come with me."
"Huh?"
Su-hyun froze for about 3 seconds but remembered that Jung-woo hated repeating herself and quickly replied.
"Understood. I'll get ready right away."
"Good work, everyone."
Jung-woo walked out of the office with her signature confident stride.
"W-What? Are we really allowed to leave?"
Manager Hong mumbled, confused.
"The CEO told us to go. Are you going to disobey her?"
"Are you crazy?"
If she says jump, you jump.
Complaining meant getting roasted.
And who knew when they'd get another chance like this?
"Ahem! When's the last time we got to leave on time? I'm tearing up.
I'm getting chicken on the way home."
"Feels like a dream!"
"Anyone up for cold beer?"
Now that they accepted it, everyone was happy and even danced a little.
Only Su-hyun looked gloomy, as if a dark cloud hung over him.
"Hey, Secretary Shin."
Manager Hong walked up.
"Yes, sir?" Su-hyun answered, shoving work into his backpack, afraid to lose track of Jung-woo.
"Where are you going? There's nothing on the schedule."
"I-I don't know either."
"Was there a problem at the lab or factory?"
"I wish. That would be easier. I'll be going now."
With a nervous face, Su-hyun rushed after Jung-woo.
Manager Hong tilted his head in confusion.
"Why did he look so pale? Did he mess something up?"
"Honestly, the CEO's gaze toward him was a bit scary."
A staff member, known to be part of Su-hyun's fan club, frowned in worry.
"Oh no… poor Secretary Shin."
"If the CEO left her beloved work behind to take him out, something big is happening."
"Now that I think about it, Secretary Shin was sighing all day today, like something was bothering him."
"Really? He's not thinking of quitting, is he? Seeing his face is the only reason I like coming to work."
Su-hyun was popular among female staff. He had a gentle, warm personality, a tall height, and most of all—he was beautiful.
It might sound strange to call a man beautiful, but he was.
Pale skin, deer-like eyes—Su-hyun was a very pretty man.
And he had survived 3 years as the secretary of the terrifying CEO Jung-woo.
That's why Manager Hong was sure.
"Secretary Shin will hold on. No matter how much the CEO flips out."
"Really?"
"Of course! Secretary Shin is practically a monk by now.
I bet he's got a bag of wisdom hidden inside him."
To Manager Hong, Su-hyun wasn't just a pretty guy.
He was like water—calm and unbreakable, no matter how hard you hit him.
"That's how he survives the CEO's fiery personality."
Confident that Su-hyun would return tomorrow with a bright smile, Manager Hong started packing up.
---
**Meanwhile**
"The traffic's terrible," Jung-woo muttered, frowning as she drove.
Seeing her sharp glare, Su-hyun asked in a trembling voice, "W-Where are we going?"
"Han River."
Su-hyun began to shake uncontrollably.
*No way…*
It couldn't be. It *shouldn't* be.
He shook his head hard to push away the bad thought.
But his mind only got darker and more nervous.
"Sigh… why are there so many people at this hour?"
Jung-woo ran a hand through her hair in frustration.
She had a mountain of work.
But things were going well.
G Cosmetics, the company she founded, was growing fast and becoming a new force in the cosmetics industry.
They had already taken over the Korean market and were now reaching toward North America.
But there was one small problem getting in the way of further growth.
After parking at the Han River Park, Jung-woo turned to look at Su-hyun.
Su-hyun, who had been clinging to the door like he wanted to escape through the window, flinched when she looked at him.
"C-CEO… why are we here?"
"Open the trunk."
"T-The trunk? Why?"
Su-hyun asked with a pale face.
*Are you going to stuff me in the trunk and bury me somewhere?*
It seemed like that's what he was thinking.
"I'm not going to scold you. Just open it."
"O-Okay…"
He nervously walked to the back and pressed the button with shaking hands.
*Click.*
The trunk opened.
"O-Oh my gosh…"
Colorful balloons floated up, and a banner tied to a ribbon unfolded:
**[Shin Su-hyun, will you marry me?]**
Su-hyun's face turned completely white.