Our Glamorous Time( A Vsoo adaptation novel by Ding Mo)

Chapter 23(Master Sun's The Art of War)

What did he even need her for?

Glancing up, Jisoo kept muttering to herself. She could see those long legs of his slightly crossed as he sat comfortably against the couch next to her, one of his arms resting on the arm rest behind her and the other one on the knee. She could still feel his gaze without looking up. It was like air, everywhere, shrouding her.

Immediately her face turned red.

This guy...

It quickly flashed in her head that he was a man with clear goals.

Her face was getting redder and redder just by thinking about it. Putting down the magazine quickly, she wanted to dash out of there. “President Kim, that is all I know.”

After a brief silence, in his low voice right next to her he said, “You look red.”

She remained quiet for a little while, then looked up at him. “Yeah, maybe the flu is still lingering. I’ll sit further away so I don’t pass it on.” She was ready to leave immediately so as to avoid his unpredictable arms.

Surprisingly, her shoulder started to feel heavy the moment she moved. His hand was on it, pressing her down.

Jisoo’s pulse pounded—this time she really was held under his arm.

The two gazed at each other. His handsome face was very close to hers, and the same hand still gripped her should tightly, making her unable to move around. Her small panicky image was reflected in his dark but distant eyes.

They didn’t talk. The heated air in the room steamed almost as much as his fingertips, leaving her face feeling burned. He just stared at her; she was surrounded by the couch and his figure, tall and slender.

Jisoo’s heart pounded harder and harder. A voice emerged in her head, Why is he acting like this? Who courts this way? Quiet but intense. Why are you sure I’ll surrender?

The other voice in her head was cold and smirking. Jisoo, are you sure he’s into you? It’s only the tip of the iceberg he’s shown you. You don’t even know what he’s up to. Aren’t you afraid of the consequences?

...

Jisoo calmed down, looking at him sitting next to her. “President Kim, I think this incident was Layover’s darkest hour before the dawn.”

Glancing at her, his eyes seemed to get heavier.

With her loud pulse, Jisoo felt this was slightly unfair; there was panic in her but strange courage as well. She continued, “Although we’ve lost Ming Sheng, on the plus side, the outlook for SMG’s mid-range bag marketing is bright. God helps those who help themselves—it appears we’re still blessed.”

She felt calm telling Taehyung this, and then she looked straight into his eyes.

He stared back without any change in emotion. The staring lasted for a while.

All of a sudden, Jisoo started to feel like she was being absurd. He must have understood what she had said since he was so smart. Even though he might’ve figured out the hidden meaning, it didn’t mean she’d have to clarify anything. But today, for some reason, with her shoulder held down, she felt she had to.

With all the emotions she felt between her struggles, regrets, and impulses, the last thing she expected was Taehyung to continue staring at her without revealing any emotion.

“Are you upset?” he quietly asked.

Jisoo remained silent.

He considered her deeply for a moment, then quickly let go of her shoulder as well as shifted backwards, creating some distance between them for now.

Jisoo was instantly relieved. But there was a touching sensation that seemed to linger in the shoulder he had just grabbed. She glared at him, unsure what to say.

Calm, he opened a book on the left corner of the desk. Jisoo realized it was Master Sun’s The Art of War.

She was shocked.

He took out a piece of white paper from the book. He turned and then placed it in front of her. Jisoo glanced at him—wasn’t this the piece of paper he had recorded his tactics on? The same powerful handwriting, just like before, that included, Pay someone back in his own coin, and Killing with a borrowed knife...

“I’ve never meant to hide anything from you,” he slowly said. “It was the situation.”

Jisoo didn’t respond.

What was he doing? Offering her some explanation?

As such a complicated person, why was he being this honest?

Hmm...

As she was still silent, Taehyung remained quiet for a little while. Looking straight at Master Sun’s The Art of War, he opened it quickly and steadily, taking out a folded note and turning to her.

“I wrote three copies. This is the second one.” Keeping the note in between his slender fingers, gazing at her with his clear eyes, he asked, “Wanna look?”