A Business Proposal, Vol. 7

사내 맞선 [Sanae Matseon] #7

by Haehwa, Narak (artist)

The new executive is the talk of the office—she’s capable, beautiful...and she used to date Taemu?! When Hari learns that Director Suhjin Chae has quite a history with her boyfriend, she’s thrown into panic and insecurity. Is this the beginning of a messy office love triangle, or is it just one big misunderstanding?

Genres: Manhwa, Manga, Romance, Graphic Novels, Fiction, Contemporary, Josei

Kindle Edition

First published August 18, 2021

About the author

Associated Names:
* Haehwa
* 해화 (Korean Profile)
* แฮฮวา (Thai Profile)

Reviews

[jut · Rating 4 out of 5]

it's frustrating to wait so long for their marriage but i'm reading all of that

[richa ⋆.˚★ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5 ✨
Enough already ✋🏻 get married ASAP. 😩

[romancelibrary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chapters 78-89

I love Chae!! 🤣

[penta · Rating 3 out of 5]

A RIVAL TURNING OUT TO BE COOL? IN WEBTOON?? 🤩

[Omnya Ali (Free Palestine) · Rating 2 out of 5]

المانهو دي كانت هتبقى افضل بكتيرر لو مكانش فيها مشاهد زفت 🙂💔🤦🏽‍♀️+ انها مانهو كرنج صراحة

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am completely biased and love this series so much.

[-moonprismpower- · Rating 4 out of 5]

So worried about a love triangle but nooooope none of that! Chae is awesome! She is great.

Hari and Taemu are heating up but waiting for what?? Marriage? Meanwhile, Yeongsuh and Sunghoon are little freaks lol.

I like this series a lot but I’m ready for an ending! Just waiting for everyone to get married already… or don’t. I don’t care either way. Just give us the happy ending. lol

[Celine · Rating 4 out of 5]

episode 78-89

Ik ben eindelijk weer verder gegaan met deze manhwa! Ik wist niet zeker tot hoever ik was gekomen in deze volume, dus nu heb ik een groot deel herlezen. Maar het was niet heel erg want het was zeker leuk :D De personages zijn zo leuk!

Moet wel even zeggen dat Chae Suhjin echt geweldig is en ik het mooi vind dat iedereen een crush op haar heeft (I don't blame them tho)

[Cassandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not as funny, but I like the new director character a lot. Seems like thinking about growth in her relationship which I appreciate! And kisses!!!!!

[Andrée-Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I get why this is rated "older teen" now *insert fire emoji*

[Anastasia · Rating 4 out of 5]

The new director is amazing. Chef's kiss. Love her.

[Bookbringer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm surprised to love the newly introduced character in this one.

[Warda · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐4.5 stars⭐

[nighttime reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

i read it all on tapas and remember my bi panic reading it all. Lol. I need to get the physical version tbh

[Casually Bookish Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this ARC and I’m glad it didn’t turn into toxic competition between the women.

[Cristiana Sequeira Santos · Rating 3 out of 5]

FAVORITE QUOTES:


《- Let's have a seat.
- Sure.
- Were you watching dramas again?
- Ngh, you're nagging me the moment you arrive?》, p. 5

《- Are you doubting your boyfriend right now?
- Isn't that natural in this situation?
- You should trust the person you love!
- What are you? An angel?》, p. 24

《(I wonder what the two of them talked about over coffee.)

- This is for you! ♡
Your morning coffee, Honey.
- You're the best, Babe.
- I missed you.
- Me too, Darling.

(THAT'S NOT EVEN HIS CHARACTER!!! PULL YOURSELF TOGETHER!)》, p. 64 - 65

《(Lunch with just the two of them...)
- I'M HERE TOO! I don't do much in this chapter, though!
(So intimate...)
- YOU CALL THIS INTIMATE?! IN WHAT WAY?!》, p. 67

《- Plus, we don't suit each other at all.
- I don't get why people even thought that...
(I think you are the only ones who don't see it.)
- This guy's the complete opposite of my type! I'm not a narcissist.
- That's my line!
(Seeing them like this, they're not so much like a couple -- more like...)
- YOU TWO ARE LIKE SIBLINGS.
- ?!!!!
- ?
- Ms. Shin...
I told you I've known CEO Kang for over ten years, right?
- Yes.
- I heard those words at least a thousand times during college alone.
I HATE THEM MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE IN THIS WORLD.
- I-I'M SORRY!
(Even that face looks exactly like Taemu's!)
- Then we'll call it even. Now, eat up!
(We're... even?)》, p. 102 - 105

《- Ms. Shin.
You should break up with him.
- WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?!
- What?
- Dump Taemu and go out with me instead. You're too good for him.
Not to mention you're just my type.
I bet you'll like my personality better than his! Hmm?
- Ah-ha-ha, I think I still prefer Taemu...
- Aww, c'mon...
- SUHJIN CHAE!!!》, p. 107 - 108

《- Sounded like she could really use my help.
So... I don't think I can see you on Saturday.
Could we have our date on Sunday instead?
- I'd rather not.
I can't wait until Sunday. I refuse to postpone our date because of Director Chae...!
- Th-Then...
- Please, let me have you for Saturday evening.
You don't need all day to shop, do you?
- OKAY!!
- Call me when you're almost done. I'll come pick you up.
- Sure. I will!》, p. 122 - 123

《Hari: We're at Café Narak right now. Drive safely!
Taemu: I was just about to leave --
Suhjin: We're having a blast without you, so no rush. Or don't come at all if you're busy.
- SUHJIN CHAE...!》, p. 136 - 137

《- LET'S GET MARRIED ALREADY!!
Instead of going home to my Dad, who just gives me more work...

- Let's go over what we missed during the day.
- EEP!

- ... I'd rather come home to your welcoming arms.

- How was your day? ♡
- ♡♡♡

- I want to tell you about my day and...
-Yeongsuh...
- ... exercise together every night...
- Y-YEONGSUH!!》, p.148 - 149

《- Ugh, who is it...?
H-Hello...?
- Are you sleeping?
- This voice is... YEONGSUH?
- Hic-hic... Hari...
- Why're you crying? What's wrong?!!
- Sniff... You know you're the only one I can rely on, right?
- Of course. You can talk to me.
- Well, you see...
Marry Taemu Kang. Now.
- ... I'm hanging up. Go to bed.
WAKING ME UP FOR THIS CRAP...》, p. 152

《She's starting to act like a clingy ex who can't take a hint...
Should I just block her?
But she'd throw an even bigger fit if I did.》, p. 154

《- Is there a Ms. Hari Shin here?
- Yes! That's me.
- These flowers are for you.
- Wow! You didn't get anything for a while, and now it's a whole basket of flowers?
- You definitely have a boyfriend...
But we swore to be singles together...
- N-No. I have no clue who sent this either...
[...]
- You know what? You can have this.
- Huh? Is it from your ex or something?
- ... YES, AN EXTREMELY CLINGY EX.
- Oof...
(YEONGSUH JIIIIIIIN!!)》, p. 155 - 157

《Marrying Taemu...
I'm sure it'd be as nice as Yeongsuh says.
[...]
This comic is rated "Older Teen", but real life is fully adult.
We'd be able to keep going after that.
(PULL YOURSELF TOGETHER! YOU CAN'T GET MARRIED JUST FOR THAT!)
(No, it's Taemu we're talking about. That's a more than sufficiente reason...)
(EARTH TO HARI!)
(But Taemu said he's good at it...)》, p. 188

《- I won't go easy on you.
- Really?
I will, though.》, p. 214

《- Wow! White and Black are off to a great start in the first lap! It's the revenge of the underdogs!
The second runners have already taken their batons.
Oh no! White Team's runner fell down!
- WHO'S THAT?! WHAT DEPARTMENT IS HE IN?!!
I COULD RUN BETTER THAN THAT!
- M-Mr. Chairman... please calm down...》, p. 235

《- HARI, YOU'VE FINALLY MADE FOOD THAT'S SAFE FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION!
- GOODNESS... TO THINK A DAY WOULD COME WHEN I COULD EAT MY DAUGHTER'S COOKING WITHOUT RISKING MY LIFE!!
(I know they're praising me... but I'm kinda sad.)
- Anyway, why were you practicing so hard to make this? Is it for someone? For days now...
- Oh, u-um...
My coworker is having a housewarming party... and we're each supposed to bring a dish...
- I see. Well, we don't want anyone to get food poisoning.
- HEY! IT WASN'T THAT BAD!!
- Maybe not food poisoning, but it'll send 'em to the hospital.》, p. 276 - 277

[S.Q. Eries · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Summary
A charismatic new executive arrives to shake the boat known as Hari and Taemu’s relationship. Suhjin Chae’s not your standard rival-type character, but she is certainly a catalyst for sparking jealousy in Hari and Taemu both! Hari’s stance on the topic of marriage/going public about dating Taemu hasn’t yet changed, but it’s crumbling fast.

The Review
Now that Secretary Yoon has been scared off from pursuing Hari, a new arrival starts causing tension between Hari and Taemu. Meet Suhjin Chae. Characters describe her as the female version of Taemu, and she pretty much is Taemu with long hair and slightly thinner eyebrows. Because she’s nearly as tall as the CEO and only wears pants and button-down shirts, she gives off a very masculine vibe. Thus, when she appears as a new director in the office, both men and women – Hari included – go nuts over her. However, Hari’s feelings get complicated when she hears a rumor that Taemu and Suhjin used to date.

It’s pretty clear from Taemu’s prickly attitude toward Suhjin and Suhjin’s affectionate attitude toward Hari that Suhjin is never a real threat to the Taemu-Hari relationship. However, Suhjin does like to tease. In doing so, she pushes both halves of our main couple along. Hari, who’s still unwilling to tell people she’s dating the CEO, takes a firm stance when Suhjin’s antics go too far. Then Suhjin gets Taemu jealous by hanging out with Hari in a way he can’t because their dating relationship isn’t yet public knowledge.

Overall, Suhjin is a fine addition to the cast. She’s as intense and capable as Taemu but not nearly as grumpy, and she’s much better at interpersonal relationships. And though nothing’s official yet, her interactions with the heartbroken Mr. Yoon hints that sparks may soon fly between them.

The volume wraps up with the Sungwoon company sports tournament. In other words, it’s an opportunity for our characters to get out of their usual business wear and get physical in sports attire. It is also a chance for them to get competitive about more things than one.

Extras include translation notes.

For more manga and book reviews, drop by my blog Keeping It In Canon!

[Carla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just ignore me giving every single volume 5 stars because I love how incredibly dramatic and cheesy every single one of these is.
To keep it short (and sweet): I still adore both couples. And I do feel sorry for Yeongsuh and Sunghoon having to wait for Hari to finally accept Taemu's proposal, but it's just so funny to me. Also, let's not pretend like they couldn't just get married if they really wanted to.
Bonus points for Suhjin Chae as the best character addition this late in a series. She is charismatic, she is charming, she is funny! I love her using Hari to annoy Taemu and the result just being them becoming friends. I might be obsessed with her... just a tiny bit. She's the coolest. Also, her reaction to the rumours about her and Taemu had me in stitches.
Savouring these volumes in the slowest possible way because I don't want this series to end.

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Series plot: After Ha-ri goes on a blind date for a friend, she ends up pursued by said date, CEO Taemu Kang, who won't take "no" for an answer to a marriage proposal.

Hijinks and hilarity, romance and sweetness. I loved the whole series deeply. It was a light treat to read, that left me feeling warm and fuzzy. No high stakes or saving the world. No major conflicts, just popcorn for an overworked brain. The art was a gorgeous treat, to boot. I loved how the characters were drawn. Every character was fun and unique (Grandpa, in particular, always made me grin).

Unfortunately, since I read this episodically through the Tapas app (in English), I can't review each individual volume on its own plot and merits, so I'm doing one review to cover the whole thing.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series. I finished this volume in one sitting. I wonder if the new director will be a permanent main character now 🤔 I love how sweet the romance is between Taemu and Hari as always 🥰 and how obsessed Taemu is with the woman he loves, even sharing a quick kiss during the sports festival when Hari hurt her ankle.

I also really enjoyed the budding friendship between the new director and Hari 👯‍♀️ and how Taemu is now feeling the jealousy there 😈 lol.

What can I say, I just adore this series. It quickly became one of my favorite mangas. Already started on the next volume and looking forward to watching the drama series when I’m done 😊

[LadyRemy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed Suhjin Chae's entrance. It was funny to see her interactions with Taemu and Hari, especially when she was like, "Maybe I should steal your girl?" And suddenly I was shipping Hari and Suhjin and I had to stop myself because Taemu has worked so hard. I do hope Chae and Yoon end up together because she deserves her own partner with puppy tendencies.

It is starting to get steamy between Hari and Taemu and I'm like... could ya'll just hit it? Make history like everyone else.

And for the love of god let Sunghoon and Yeongsuh just get married. A wedding is the perfect place to set the stage for Taemu and Hari to think about commitment. I just want that couple to get married.

[Danielle Booey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another solid entry in this series. The art is spectacular, beautiful, and hilarious in turn. Like always. And the addition of Director Chae’s character is perfect. I thought they might play up the jealousy angle more and I was worried, but no they shut that down quickly. Thankfully.

Standouts from the volume are Hari shopping with Director Chae and the work sports competition at the end made me laugh out loud. All in the name of Hawaii!

Director Shaw really is a less serious version of Taemu and we love it.

[DJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know the next one isn't coming out until next year and I still read it! Why do I keep doing this to myself! I still love these characters, and Hari and Mr. CEO are still very cute. I cannot see what happens for his birthday. I am super curious to see what Mr. CEO Twin has going on. It seems like she is flirting with Hari but also the secretary. Her end game is uncleared so far and I am scared and excited for the next book.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did have a really good time with this and there were some really fun moments. However, it's getting to a point where I am starting to feel the series is falling flat. I think I am starting to need a bit more progress when it comes to the relationship between Taemu and Hari as it just feels like we are stuck in this on going cycle and conversations between characters are starting to repeat. I will still pick up the next volume but after that I am not so sure yet.

[Nalu]

I'm going to leave the star-rating for the last volume, seeing as I read this episodically, so I can't really separate for each one. Just wanted to leave off here that the hot lesbian (I don't remember if that was canon but look at her for 2 seconds, I swear she tried taking Hari out on a date) on the cover was an addition I wish we had seen more of bc 🔥🔥🔥.

[HaileyAnne · Rating 3 out of 5]

You know, if Taemu hadn't traumatized poor Hari by demanding she marry him from the beginning, they'd probably be married by now. Instead, they're tiptoeing around the topic while poor Sunghoon and Yeongsuh wait impatiently. I LOVE the addition of the new director, who is just female Taemu. She's perfect.

[Yan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story is full of fluff and very fun to read. I can say that the main story was dragged too much with chasing and pulling and I enjoyed the story of the second lead more than the main leads. There are also a lot of plot holes, but I understand that it was part of the storyline. Still, I enjoyed reading this manhwa.

[Othy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A bit more fun than the previous volume.Chae adds a bit to the community of characters and may act well to spur some relationships on. Her friendship with Hari is sweet, and it's nice that the conflict is with each character's feelings about when deepening a relationship is right rather than against some antagonist trying to make things unnecessarily difficult.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy every volume of this series. It makes me happy...but I'm really ready for things to move forward and I just felt like nothing happened in this one. Still cute...I still love the characters...but I just want more development with the relationship...more scenes of them together, etc.

[Kenedie Hesseling · Rating 5 out of 5]

they really tricked me into thinking this was gonna be a classic add a woman villain to create a nemesis and love triangle and pit women against each other kinda situation but no chae suhjin is a goddess and one of my new favorite characters and her friendship with hari is soo cutee