chapter 19

[Note: In this chapter 'I' refers to se-hyeon to make it more interesting  ^⁠_⁠^]

"Is it because of your background that just anyone is brought to this position?"

Ha Jin-seong's unpleasant tone stung Ha Min-hyuk.

"That ahjumma appears out of nowhere, sticking her nose where it doesn't belong."

[TL note: Ahjumma refers to married or middle-aged women. Basically what you call someone else's mother or auntie.]

Ha Jin-woong added to Ha Jin-seong's words, probably referring to Ha Min-hyuk's birth mother.

"These clueless bastards are the problem. I wonder if things would improve if we squeeze them out?"

"Oh, Oppa. So, you're saying that the asshole I mentioned earlier wasn't just a metaphorical one?"

Jin Hye-in cleverly added to Ha Jin-seong's sulking.

It was incredibly thrilling.

Se-hyeon's eyes darted busily among the people. What had only existed as text in the original work was now unfolding before their eyes in real time. Thanks to this, Se-hyeon was able to observe everything from the perspective of a spectator.

Ha Jin-seong and Ha Jin-woong were both easy and difficult opponents. While it was

dangerous to have an unpredictable enemy who concealed their hostility and aimed for unexpected moments, these two brothers were different.

They not only exposed everything but also harboured resentment towards Ha Min-hyuk and seized opportunities to throw daggers at him.

They were the ones responsible for the previous incident as well. It's the incident due to which Ha Min-hyuk and yoo Jin-ha almost broke up...

A man had forcefully attempted to kiss Ha Min-hyuk, and Yoo Jin-ha, who happened to witness it, was shocked and ran away. Though Ha Min-hyuk caught up with Yoo Jin-ha in the middle of the road and explained that it was all a misunderstanding, Shin Tae-oh and I

watched as their relationship trembled as Yoo Jin-ha didn't believe him.

The man who tried to kiss Ha Min-hyuk at that time was none other than Ha Jin-woong's accomplice.

They must know they're bad guys, considering how terribly they look. Ha Jin-seong and Ha Ji-woong were identical twins. Perhaps due to their shared bloodline, they both had upturned eyes and wicked lips. However, if we were to find a difference between them, it would be that Ha Jin-seong had a slightly more agile demeanour compared to the bear-like appearance of Ha Ji-woong.

Due to only half of his blood being mixed, Ha Min-hyuk looked more handsome than his brothers in a refined way. Although he was shorter and had a slimmer physique compared to Shin Tae-oh, his facial features were clean and well-defined. Shin Tae-oh is always the exception.

As the male protagonist, Ha Min-hyuk admitted it. Shin Tae-oh, being the second male lead, had to be good-looking, but he was excessively so. No matter what, isn't being this goodlooking a bit too much? How difficult must it be to give up on Shin Tae-oh...?

Unknowingly getting lost in his thoughts about appearances, Se-hyeon calmly tapped on his notepad to organise his thoughts. The screen was filled with explanations about the new product, but his mind was elsewhere, making it difficult for him to focus on the text.

Shin Tae-oh is handsome. Handsome Shin Tae-oh. What would life be like if I looked like Shin Tae-oh?

"It's okay. Stay seated."

In the meantime, Se-hyeon heard a coaxing voice from Ha Min-hyuk, who was trying to make Yoo Jin-ha sit down.

"But that's not right."

Inwardly, Se-hyeon shook his head at Ha Min-hyuk's stubborn action. Se-hyeon also knew why Ha Min-hyuk brought Yoo Jin-ha here. It wasn't to make Yoo Jin-ha uncomfortable but rather to reveal their relationship as a couple through this presentation.

Anyway, Se-hyeon understood the reason behind bringing Yoo Jin-ha here, but it didn't seem like a particularly good idea.

"You're making him uncomfortable."

Ha Jin-seong and Ha Ji-woong were using Yoo Jin-ha to belittle Ha Min-hyuk, making the atmosphere uncomfortable.

"That's why one's background matters. That's why in the old days, noblemen like us..."

"Enough."

Ha Ji-woong, who was happily chattering away, glared at Shin Tae-oh with an annoyed look after being interrupted. Shin Tae-oh, in turn, disregarded Ha Ji-woong's gaze like an annoying fly and showed signs of irritation.

"Why do you talk so much?"

As Shin Tae-oh cut off Ha Ji-woong's sulking towards Ha Min-hyuk.

Se-hyeon's eyes were filled with unspoken words, and his lips twitched.

Why did you intervene? Is it because Jin-ha is upset? Even if it's not you, Ha Min-hyuk... Ah, I see now. I finally understood. If Ha Min-hyuk comforts Yoo Jin-ha, he will make Yoo Jin-ha fall for him even more. That's why. I understand Shin Tae-oh's frustrated feelings, but now that he has intervened in Ha Jin-woong this is bad.

Se-hyeon found himself in a position where he couldn't just stand by and watch.

Although it may seem pitiful to see Ha Min-hyuk and Yoo Jin-ha being treated this way, Se-hyeon was actually feeling at ease, knowing that he would eventually repay them multiple times over.

"What a waste." Shin Tae-oh commented

"Shin Tae-oh."

Taking the place of Ha Jin-woong, who couldn't speak up to Shin Tae-oh despite being the same age, Ha Jin-seong stepped forward.

"Don't interfere."

As Ha Jin-seong clearly drew a line when it came to Ha Min-hyuk, Shin Tae-oh nodded his head. It seemed like a sign of understanding, but...

"It's fine for brothers to joke and play around. You can deal with it later. but It's getting noisy here."

"You..."

Ha Jin-seong glared at Shin Tae-oh, feeling displeased with being lumped together with Ha Min-hyuk as brothers. However, Shin Tae-oh murmured without any trace of impact on his face.

"Do whatever you want but later on"

As Ha Jin-seong's sulking, it seems he can sit with being treated like this by shin Tae-oh' and evidently his eyes fall on se-hyeon...

"As a secretary who even takes care of drinks... Now that I think about it, you seem familiar."

As Ha Jin-seong narrowed his eyes, deep in thought, Jin Hye-in leaned closer and whispered to him, all the while not

diverting her gaze from se-hyeon.

"Are you feeling uneasy?"shin Tae-oh asked to se-hyeon.

I couldn't help but glance at Shin Tae-oh, sensing that something unexpected might happen. It's all because of Shin Tae-oh.

Why did he have to interfere in the fight between the Ha brothers? And amidst all this, Shin Tae-oh had a faint smile as if he found it amusing. Saying he's fallen for me was truly an impulsive remark.

It seemed like sacrificing myself and protecting Yoo Jin-ha worked out well. Yes, I'm glad  but for some reasons I couldn't find myself accepting it.

"To think you went to the hotel together. You two must be really close."

Finding a means to attack through Jin Hye-in, Ha Jin-seong immediately spoke up, and Se-hyeon clenched his fist tightly, forcing himself to turn his head.

'Why does it boil inside me like this when I should just ignore his immaturity?'

Until now, I had laughed at the cheesy dialogue of villains in novels, calling them one-dimensional characters. I had said they were too simplistic, but now that I experienced it firsthand, it was different.

When they speak simply, it seems to hit closer.

'Your eyes and nose are out of proportion, and your lips are quite thick. How does it feel to look like that?' se-hyeon cursed Ha internally..

'You're so damn ugly!' It was that kind of feeling quite satisfing even if it's internally.

But aside from mentioning the hotel, it seems like he's asking if they have that kind of relationship. What should I do?

It was a moment when I wondered how to handle the situation, setting aside the unpleasant feelings.

"Jin-seong."

Shin Tae-oh's affectionate voice calling out to Ha Jin-seong captured everyone's attention. As if mesmerized, Ha Min-hyuk and Yoo Jin-ha were also looking at him. Shin Tae-oh spoke so kindly.

"I can't stand those bastards who judge and expose others based on their background. Do you understand what I mean?"

Ha Jin-seong's face stiffened at the venomous threat hidden in Shin Tae-oh's gentle tone.

'It means I won't just sit back and watch if anyone messes with what's mine.'

Ha Jin-seong closed his mouth. Faced with the threat that Shin Tae-oh wouldn't just sit back if he mentioned Se-hyeon or using his matters attack to Ha Min-hyuk, he couldn't help but snort in disbelief.

'What should I do?'

When he touched Yoo Jin-ha, Ha Min-hyuk was present, so Shin Tae-oh remained silent. But the moment Se-hyeon was mentioned, Shin Tae-oh immediately stepped forward. How should this be interpreted?

It was when Se-hyeon looked around with a complicated gaze.

Ha Min-hyuk's expression was strange. He seemed to be waiting for something, constantly looking somewhere. Se-hyeon was pondering why Ha Min-hyuk was behaving like that when he realized it belatedly.

The reason why Ha Min-hyuk didn't protect Yoo Jin-ha. He was observing the situation.

This was a moment arranged in the story, akin to a twist or revelation, but why did it only occur to him now...

When Se-hyeon turned his head following Ha Min-hyuk glaze, a legion led by elderly individuals whom he hadn't seen until now was entering. It included Chairman Ha Cheol-kyu, Ha Minhyuk's grandfather, along with Jin Myung Group's chairman and his wife, as well as the chairman of SR Group, Jeong Mi-jeong.

"Ah."

Se-hyeon, who thought it was fortunate that people who could mediate this situation had arrived, looked at Shin Tae-oh's perplexed reaction and focused on his face. Shin Tae-oh had been furrowing his brows, giving off an impression that seemed that he had been

controlling the atmosphere as he pleased until just now.