No Longer Needing Me

Chapter 2

"The only thing I could say to you..."

"It's finally over," Dong-hyuck said.

He heaved a sigh in relief. He didn't like sitting quietly for more than an hour, let alone to listen to a welcoming speech - slash lecture - from the chairman. You've heard it once, you've heard it a thousand times.

Once was enough for Dong Hyuck. If it was inspirational the first time, it was boring the second. In short, experiencing something repeatedly makes it less memorable.

"Easy for you to say. I have to meet Chairman Lee," Hwa-young said, but she didn't lose her composure. The way she carried herself always appeared dignified in front of her superiors.

Nothing near what she is like when we're alone. Dong Hyuck thought.

"Ah, Hwa-young is in trouble," he teased.

"You don't know that," she shot back.

Dong Hyuck shrugged, indifferent and not a tense muscle visibly in sight.

"Anyway, see you at lunch," he said, "It's really a shame that were not in the same group though. We're under Taeyong Hyung's division, but you are in Changwon Min's group."

He shook his head, feigning sympathy. His act was for naught, because his smile gave him away. If Hwa-young didn't pick up on that, she could tell by his sarcastic tone.

She scowled. "Yeah, yeah."

"Anyway, if you really didn't like the speech, then why clap? You gave an applause," she said, looking at him with narrowed eyes.

Dong-hyuck looked at her as if she were crazy, "Hwa-young."

"Yeah, what are going to say this time?" She sighed, already knowing that nothing good came from him when he called her name in that tone.

Dong Hyuck leaned down to face her; both did not dare to flinch.

"How can you say that? You should know by now, I clapped because it was over. Not because I liked it," he said as if this were an obvious fact.

They stayed in that position for a brief moment. They were not necessarily glaring at each other, but that was a close description.

"Miss Lee? Mister Lee?" They heard someone call and immediately looked over there shoulders. Their confused expressions changed once recognising the person who called them.

"Glad to see the both of you still get along," he remarked.

Hwa-young bowed sightly and chuckled, "Mister Qian, I have no choice but to get along with him."

"Is that so? I think it's comes to you naturally." Qian Kun smiled.

"Naturally? No, no. He's very stressful to be with and always messing with me," Hwa-young responded with a scowl.

Kun laughed. "You say so, but you're exactly the same!"

They had a short conversation, while Dong Hyuck stood aside.