chapter 16

"Did he give this back to me?"

"Yes"

"He accepted a gift for the first time, and even that had to come back like this."

"Yes, that's correct."

As Shin Tae-oh examined the box closely and made his remark, Se-hyeon couldn't help but feel tense. Normally, there was no need to be on edge around Shin Tae-oh, but it was quite unsettling to see the place where he had messed up the box.

What was it that bothered him so much?

As soon as Shin Tae-oh looked away from the box, he should quickly dispose of it in one corner. It was a good thing he didn't throw away the receipt. It's an unused brand-new item, so he can safely get a refund...

"Have you tried using this?"

"Well, I've used the same product before, but…"

"You always drive me every morning."

"Everything in the world gets renewed, so there's no reason for this not to."

What nonsense. It's the same product that he bought.

"That's why I need to check this."

Why check it? If Yoo Jin-ha declined, we should get a refund. Why tear it open?

Se-hyeon clenched his fist, forcibly restraining the finger that wanted to stop him. Otherwise, it felt like he would smack Shin Tae-oh's head.

'Don't. Don't open it. Leave it alone!'

He silently pleaded, but Shin Tae-oh couldn't hear those words, so he confidently opened the box.

It was clear he had no intention of putting it back in the box. The place where se-hyeon had crumpled it with his fingernail was now hardly noticeable...

"At first glance, it doesn't seem any different from what I use. Where could it have changed?"

Shin Tae-oh's muttered words sounded incredibly irritating. He had always made those ridiculous excuses while giving gifts to Yoo Jin-ha, and now he was mocking them... But seeing Shin Tae-oh earnestly examining the device and pleading with it, it seemed like it wasn't just a concept.

The excuses he had always given seemed genuine, and a shiver ran down Se-hyeon's spine.

'It's not my money anyway, so I shouldn't worry about it.'

There was no need to waver. He had simply bought the item in the middle, delivered it, and done his job.

"I'll take care of it."

With a regained composure, Se-hyeon took the coffee machine from Shin Tae-oh's hand. He also took the initiative to bring a new mug to the kitchen and placed it in a suitable spot.

Even though there was already one present, the different colours of the mug seemed to fit perfectly side by side due to the matching design.

Now that he had just opened it, Se-hyeon operated the device without capsules for cleaning purposes. In the meantime, he wiped the mug they had bought together. He repeated the process several times, wiping not only the device but also its exterior, ensuring it was ready to be used. He placed the cleaned mug back and inserted a capsule. Pressing the button, he

waited, and soon the sound of the machine accompanied the spreading aroma of coffee. Listening to that sound, Se-hyeon's previously boiling anger began to calm down.

Engaging in something while disregarding Shin Tae-oh helped him find his composure. Now, no matter what Shin Tae-oh said, Se-hyeon had the confidence not to be shaken.

Pouring the coffee into the mug and offering it, Shin Tae-oh simply stared at it without taking a sip.

"Do you want to try it?"

"I remember having two cups of coffee today."

Se-hyeon understood why Shin Tae-oh didn't drink the coffee. He had his own firm philosophy of limiting himself to only two cups of coffee per day and not consuming any more, regardless of the cup size. It was unclear why he didn't drink based on the total caffeine intake, but regardless, Shin Tae-oh had no intention of drinking coffee at the moment.

"Then why did you want to try this?"

Se-hyeon glared at the mug, feeling a surge of frustration. It would be better to check it tomorrow instead of meddling with it

now.

"Does the secretary want to drink it?"

"No, I don't."

"don't hesitate and have some."

"It's alright."

"How many cups of coffee did you have today?"

"I had four cups."

"Please try it and see if the taste is different for me."

Shin Tae-oh smoothly passed the responsibility, leaving Se-hyeon with no choice but to pick up the mug.

Would drinking this today affect his sleep?

Without even sitting down, Se-hyeon tilted the mug and took a sip. He placed it back down with an expression that was almost unchanged.

"How is it?"

"It's the same."

"Nothing has changed?"

"That's right."

"It seems there hasn't been any renewal."

"Of course, it's obvious."

Se-hyeon struggled to compose himself as he saw his reflection crumbling in the coffee.

"Does it taste bad?"

"No, it's delicious."

"Oh, really? Then the secretary can take it."

As Shin Tae-oh spoke while looking at Se-hyeon's back, Se-hyeon involuntarily turned his head to look at the same thing.

Take that cup of coffee he just poured?

"Well, I don't really like capsule coffee. Is it because the aroma isn't strong enough?"

Is the machine next to it just for

decoration?

"Maybe it's because the beans aren't anything special."

Since when did he start picking coffee beans while enjoying vending machine coffee?

"Anyway, then you can take it."

As if knowing what Se-hyeon was thinking, he stood up from his seat, passed by Sehyeon, and lightly tapped the coffee machine.

He even picked it up and placed it in Sehyeon's arms. In a sudden turn of events, Se-hyeon found himself staring at Shin Tae-oh's face, and their gazes met for a moment.

"Oh, I didn't give you a cup."

Interpreting Se-hyeon's expression, Shin Tae-oh handed him the mug as well.

"Take it all. It's difficult to use public transportation while carrying this, so let's go in my car."

Shin Tae-oh bid farewell, saying they would meet again tomorrow, and left for the kitchen.

Se-hyeon couldn't shake off the strange feeling as he watched his retreating figure. How did things flow so naturally?

"Did he open it and then decide to return it? Could it be...?"

The trick with Yoo Jin-ha was so obvious that se-hyeon could see it, but this was a little confusing.

In the end, Se-hyeon returned home, carrying the coffee machine close to him, and let out a sigh as he looked around his room. As a one-room apartment, everything was visible at a glance, and it was filled with items he had acquired during his time as Shin Tae-oh's

secretary.

A round, silver coffee table that seemed commonly seen in markets would have come from Italy, and a sleek stylist stood proudly next to a simple wardrobe. A large monitor and computer tower, which would be visible from anywhere in the small room, occupied a better spot than where Se-hyeon slept. These were just the things that caught his eye at a glance; there were more if one were to look around.

"Where should I put this?"

There was no place to put the newly arrived family member. The kitchen was small, and the length of the sink had its limits. In the end, the coffee machine found its place on the console table next to the bed.

"Not bad."

Se-hyeon nodded satisfactorily, thinking that it would be nice to sleep while smelling the aroma of coffee. Of course, he was forcing himself to ignore the fact that not doing so might trigger a sense of emptiness.

Now, Se-hyeon picked up the towel with a relieved heart. The towel, with "Sports

Competition" written on it, was given as a gift from the company and brought by Shin Taeoh. He had been using it well until now.

"The towels I used in hotels seemed thinner..."

***

A party was happening in a luxurious club room. Just like the women in small bikinis

standing by the pool, the men were wearing swim trunks that barely covered their palms.

Everyone, dressed up to the nines, enjoyed the party. The spacious table in the VIP area was no different. Two men sitting in the centre drank their alcohol amidst the attention of others.

One of the men looked at his phone and then stood up, straightening his slouched posture.

"Hey, I heard Shin Tae-oh has a

girlfriend?"

Upon hearing this, the other man who was drinking with a woman by his side looked at his twin brother with an intrigued gaze.

"What kind of girlfriend does that bastard have?"

"Hye-in apparently cheated on him, and he's going crazy. Look at this."

The man, Ha Jin-woong, who was conveying the news about Shin Tae-oh, showed his twin brother, Ha Jin-seong, the phone he had placed on the table. The incessant vibrations, previously unnoticed amidst the music, were coming from a KakaoTalk message sent by Jinmyeong Group's wealthy heir.

[TL note: KakaoTalk is like WhatsApp but more popular in South Korea.]

As Ha Jin-seong remained still, the woman picked up the phone and thrust it in front of his face.

"This guy is absolutely insane. Can't you see how infuriating it is?"

Ha Jin-woong grumbled as he read the KakaoTalk message. The content Jin Hye-in posted in the group chat was quite aggressive, causing resentment. He couldn't understand why Shin Tae-oh would belittle him, despite previously saying that he would accept it if they were the first to bring up the topic of marriage.

"Damn it. Turn off the music."

In response to Ha Jin-seong's outburst, the woman quickly raised her hand, and soon the music stopped. The previously noisy atmosphere quieted down as if the commotion had been a lie, and the partygoers turned their attention to Ha Jin-seong.

Unaware of the gazes around him, Ha Jin-seong looked at his phone and dialled Jin Hye-in's number.

"Jin Hye-in, have you been drinking? You keep crossing the line."

-- You said you would accept it. But now you're saying I cheated.

Upon hearing Jin Hye-in's tearful words, Ha Jin-seong let out a sigh. After playing around a few times, she acted as if they had a serious relationship.

"What should I do with this?"

-- I even planned to go with Shin Tae-oh this time. I wanted to leave a proper impression, but...

As Ha Jin-seong's half-covered eyes contemplated overturning everything, the image of Yi Chae came to mind.

[TL note: The Portrait of Yi Chae, a work of art depicting a dignified scholar. Yi used this portrait to engage in intense self-contemplation, pondering his beliefs and identity and navigating his path into the future.]

"If you want to go, then go."