Chasing Perfection || Lee Know

The Secret Ingredient for Chaos

Hyejin's POV:

Hyejin leaned against the counter in the company café, her hands clasped around a warm cup of tea. The faint chatter of patrons and the soft hum of a coffee machine served as a perfect backdrop for what was about to unfold. Hana sat across from her, practically vibrating with smug anticipation. Hyejin had to give her credit—Hana was good at hiding her schemes under the guise of camaraderie.

Hyejin let out a shaky sigh, lowering her gaze as though embarrassed. "I don't know what I'd do without you," she murmured. "You've been so supportive, and I really needed that."

Hana's eyes sparkled with thinly veiled triumph. "Of course," she said, her voice dripping with false sympathy. "I only want what's best for you, Hyejin. It's important to stand up for yourself."

"That's exactly it," Hyejin said, her voice trembling slightly. She glanced around, as if to ensure they weren't overheard, then leaned in closer. "I've been thinking about what you said... about showing him I won't just take his arrogance anymore."

Hana's lips curved into a sly smile. "And?"

Hyejin hesitated, lowering her voice. "I'm going to do it. I'm going to humiliate him in front of those clients at the dinner this weekend."

For a moment, Hana looked surprised, but it quickly melted into approval. "That's... bold," she said, a calculating glint in her eyes. "What's your plan?"

Hyejin bit her lip, as though uncertain. "I'm going to cook something I know he'll hate. Something so bad he won't be able to hide it. He'll embarrass himself in front of everyone."

Hana leaned back, a satisfied smirk tugging at her lips. "That'll certainly make an impression," she said. "But are you sure you're ready for something like this?"

"I have to be," Hyejin said, feigning determination. She reached out, placing a hand over Hana's. "You've helped me realize that I deserve better. I owe this confidence to you."

Hana preened under the praise, clearly basking in the illusion of her influence. "Well, I'm glad to see you standing up for yourself," she said. "Just remember—you have my full support."

What Hana didn't notice was the slim, inconspicuous recorder tucked inside Hyejin's coat pocket. It captured every word, every hint of her encouragement. As Hyejin continued to play the role of the grateful, vulnerable underling, she felt a twinge of satisfaction.

She kept her expression appropriately unsure and hesitant, hiding the spark of triumph that threatened to betray her. By the time the conversation ended, Hana was practically glowing with confidence, clearly believing she'd won.

"Thank you again," Hyejin said, her voice soft. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

"Don't mention it," Hana replied, patting Hyejin's hand.

Lee Know's POV:

Meanwhile, Lee Know was in his office, scrolling through the menu for the upcoming dinner. His assistant, Jaeyoung, stood by the desk, watching him with a mix of amusement and exasperation.

"So, let me get this straight," Jaeyoung said. "You want to change the entire menu to your favorites but keep it subtle enough that it doesn't look deliberate?"

"Exactly," Lee Know said, not looking up.

"And you don't think this is just a little bit overkill?" Jaeyoung asked, raising an eyebrow.

Lee Know finally looked up, his lips quirking into a smirk. "It's not overkill. It's strategy."

Jaeyoung sighed, shaking his head. "You're enjoying this way too much."

"I might be," Lee Know admitted, leaning back in his chair. "But it's not just about me. Hyejin's putting in the work. The least I can do is make sure her plan doesn't backfire."

Jaeyoung crossed his arms, giving Lee Know a long look. "You've got it bad, don't you?"

Lee Know shrugged, his smirk widening. "Maybe."

The Dinner~

The dining room was alive with the murmur of conversations and the occasional clink of glassware. It was an evening meant to impress—a gathering of key clients, each holding stakes in Lee Know's ventures. The warm lighting reflected off polished wood, casting a golden glow over the carefully curated setting. Hyejin, however, was the picture of unease, glancing nervously between the kitchen and the table.

Hana smirked from her seat near the center of the action, clearly savoring what she thought would be Lee Minho's imminent downfall. Her confidence radiated as she subtly leaned closer to the clients, planting seeds of doubt with her carefully chosen words.

"You know," Hana began, her voice just loud enough to catch attention but soft enough to seem confidential, "Lee Minho's recent proposals have been... ambitious. Almost too ambitious, don't you think?"

One of the clients raised an eyebrow. "Too ambitious? In what way?"

"Oh, nothing outright," Hana replied with an air of faux concern. "I just wonder if there's a risk in overextending—especially with how unpredictable things have been in the market."

Her words hung in the air, a carefully crafted insinuation that left room for interpretation. Hyejin, stationed by the kitchen door with plates in hand, heard every word. Her grip on the tray tightened momentarily before she composed herself.

As the main course was served—a perfectly balanced fusion of flavors—Hana saw her opportunity. She turned to one of the clients seated across from her.

"I hope everything is to your taste," she said sweetly, then added, "Though I did hear a rather curious story earlier."

Lee Know, who had been observing quietly, leaned forward slightly, his expression unreadable. "Oh? Do share."

Hana hesitated, feigning reluctance. "Well, it's probably nothing, but I was told there might have been a... disagreement in the kitchen over the menu. Something about certain dishes not aligning with what our esteemed host would prefer."

Hyejin placed the final dish on the table and straightened, forcing herself to look flustered. "I-I'm sorry if there's any confusion," she stammered, her voice deliberately shaky.

The clients exchanged glances, clearly intrigued by the tension.

Hana smiled sympathetically. "Oh, don't worry, dear. These things happen. It's just—well, it's important to ensure everything aligns with expectations, isn't it?"

Taking a deep breath, Hyejin steadied herself and turned to Lee Know. "If it's all right, may I clarify something?"

Lee Know gave her a slight nod, his gaze steady. "Go ahead."

Hyejin reached into her pocket and retrieved the small recorder she had brought with her. She placed it on the table, her hands trembling just enough to sell the act. "I think it's time everyone hears the truth."

As she pressed play, Hana's voice filled the room:

"You should humiliate him. Make him look incompetent in front of everyone."

"Minho's business is overrated. People like him need to learn that the hard way."

The recording continued, exposing Hana's venomous words and her clear intent to turn the clients against Minho. Gasps of shock rippled around the table as the gravity of her manipulation became apparent.

Hana's face drained of color. "This is ridiculous," she stammered, trying to regain her composure. "That's out of context—"

Hyejin cut her off, her voice steady and sharp. "Out of context? You've been trying to sabotage Mr. Lee from the start, using me as your pawn. Do you deny it?"

Hana opened her mouth to respond, but no words came out.

Before Hana could muster a defense, Lee Know leaned back in his chair, his lips curling into a smirk. "Hana," he said calmly, "it's funny how you think I didn't notice. You've been playing this game for weeks, but you underestimated one thing."

"And what's that?" Hana snapped, her facade cracking.

He gestured toward Hyejin. "Her. You thought she was weak, easy to manipulate. But as you can see, she's much smarter than you gave her credit for."

Hana's eyes darted around the room, searching for an ally, but all she found were disapproving stares.

Lee Know stood, his voice taking on a colder edge. "You've embarrassed yourself tonight, Hana. I suggest you leave before you make it worse."

Humiliated, Hana pushed back her chair and stormed out without another word. The clients murmured amongst themselves, the tension in the room slowly dissipating.

As the door closed behind Hana, Hyejin exhaled deeply, her shoulders relaxing for the first time that evening.

Later, in the quiet of the now-empty dining room, Hyejin found herself back in the kitchen, tidying up. Lee Know entered, his hands tucked into his pockets as he leaned against the counter.

"You didn't have to wait so long to step in," Hyejin said, her tone lightly accusatory.

Lee Know chuckled. "You seemed to have everything under control."

She turned to face him, crossing her arms. "You enjoyed watching me squirm, didn't you?"

"Maybe a little," he admitted, his smirk returning. "But only because I knew you'd handle it. You did, after all, manage to outmaneuver Hana perfectly."

Hyejin turned to him, raising an unimpressed eyebrow. "That's nothing, even a dog could outsmart her. If she had just put half as much effort into her job as she did into scheming, she might've actually been useful."

Lee Know chuckled, his smirk deepening. "You really don't hold back, do you?"

"Why should I?" she shot back, crossing her arms. "She deserved worse than what she got."

"I can't argue with that," he admitted, his tone tinged with amusement. "Still, I have to give you credit. Not many people could pull off what you just did."

Hyejin waved a dismissive hand. "Please. I've dealt with bigger problems. Middle child syndrome practically makes you a professional manipulator by birth."

Lee Know tilted his head, feigning contemplation. "Interesting. Should I be worried about what other schemes you might have up your sleeve?"

"Only if you give me a reason," she quipped, her lips curving into a sly smile.

He laughed softly, pushing off the counter. "You know, you're surprisingly fun when you're not glaring at me."

"And you're surprisingly tolerable when you're not micromanaging," she retorted.

Lee Know's expression shifted slightly, his playful smirk softening into something more sincere. "It's late. Let me drop you home."

Hyejin blinked, caught off guard. "What? No. I'm perfectly capable of getting home on my own."

"It wasn't a question," he said smoothly.

She frowned. "I don't need a chauffeur. I can call a cab."

"Why bother when I'm already here?" he countered, his tone infuriatingly logical.

Hyejin crossed her arms. "Because I don't want to owe you anything."

Lee Know leaned in slightly, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "Oh, don't worry. I'll come up with a way for you to repay me."

Her jaw dropped slightly before she narrowed her eyes. "You're impossible."

"And yet, here we are," he replied with a grin.

She sighed dramatically, throwing her hands up in defeat. "Fine. But if you even think about lecturing me on how I should've handled tonight differently, I'm getting out of the car mid-drive."

"Noted," he said, his tone brimming with amusement.

As they walked toward the parking lot, the cool night air brushing against their skin, the sound of hurried footsteps made Hyejin freeze. From the shadows, Hana emerged, her face twisted in a mix of anger and desperation.

"This isn't over," Hana spat, her voice sharp and venomous. "You think you've won? You're nothing, Hyejin. Just a desperate little puppet dancing to his tune."

Lee Know stepped protectively in front of Hyejin, his posture calm but his eyes dangerously cold. "I'd choose your next words carefully, Hana. You're already walking on thin ice."

Hana ignored him, her gaze fixed on Hyejin. "You're a fool if you think he cares about you. He's just using you—just like he uses everyone else. And when he's done, he'll toss you aside like trash."

Hyejin squared her shoulders, her voice steady despite the tremor in her hands. "You're wrong. And honestly, Hana, your obsession with him is starting to look more like projection than anything else. Maybe you should focus on fixing your own life instead of trying to ruin someone else's."

Hana took a step closer, but Lee Know's voice cut through the tension like a blade.

"Leave. Now." His tone was low and icy, a stark contrast to his usual playful demeanor.

Hana hesitated, her bravado faltering under his glare. With a final sneer, she turned on her heel and disappeared into the night.

As they got into Lee Know's car, the silence between them was heavy but not uncomfortable. Hyejin stared out the window, her thoughts swirling.

"Do you think she'll come back?" she asked quietly.

Lee Know's hands tightened slightly on the steering wheel. "Not if she knows what's good for her."

Hyejin glanced at him, her expression unreadable. "You didn't have to step in back there. I could've handled her."

He smirked, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "I know. But sometimes, it's nice to have backup, isn't it?"

She huffed a soft laugh, shaking her head. "You're full of surprises, Lee Know."

"And you're full of talent," he replied, his tone sincere. "Tonight proved that."

Hyejin felt a small smile tug at her lips as she turned back to the window, her reflection catching the faintest hint of admiration in his gaze.

For the first time, she allowed herself to believe that maybe, just maybe, she had truly found her place in this strange, unexpected partnership.

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OMGGGG I JUST SAW THAT I GOT 100 READS ON THIS BOOK!!! THANK YOU SO SO SO SO SO SO MUCH!!!!!. HERE ARE SOME LEE KNOW PICS TO BLESS YOUR EYES ;))

(The way I would let him gladly punch me and say thank you)