chapter 26

Se-hyeon pressed his dry lips tightly with his teeth, feeling the tension coursing through him.

His lips turned red from the pressure, but he couldn't maintain his composure in front of Shin Tae-oh.

'What's going on?' se-hyeon pondered while examining such a tense atmosphere, especially when the conversation had  taken an unexpected turn. Se-hyeon felt like his heart was going to burst from nervousness.

'Why is he singling me out when it's not even about Yoo Jin-ha?' In his mind, Se-hyeon wanted to smack Shin Tae-oh on the back of his head and tell him not

to pick a fight. However, in reality, he found himself unable to utter a single word.

Finally, Shin Tae-oh's mouth opened, further intensifying the tension for everyone.

"Since when did Mr. Ha Min-hyuk become so good-looking?"

"..."

'Did I hear it wrong?'  Se-hyeon looked at Shin Tae-oh, the person he should respect as his superior, as if he were insane. Otherwise, he couldn't comprehend the words he had just heard.

But shinn Tae-oh remained oblivious and injected further "Since when did you start emitting such attractive pheromones? Do you happen to like cake?"

"What are you talking about?"

Ha Min-hyuk furrowed his brows and questioned the meaning behind Shin Tae-oh's words.

Until just now, Shin Tae-oh's demeanour had been hostile. But suddenly, he displayed a hint of goodwill, which only sharpened Ha Min-hyuk's gaze.

Shin Tae-oh, on the other hand, shrugged it off nonchalantly, instead of answering he further as Ha min-hyuk

"What's so strange about showing interest?"

"..."

"I was asking because I was interested in Ha Min-hyuk as a person. Of course, I'm willing to follow him closely, very attentively."

Shin Tae-oh's response caused Ha Min-hyuk, Yoo Jin-ha, and even Se-hyeon to fall silent, as if they had made an unspoken agreement.

So, this was the reason behind Shin Tae-oh's hurtful words. It was a way to reflect Ha Min-hyuk's supposed interest in Se-hyeon back at him.

'What a childish person.' se-hyeon muttered internally, the tactic was so childish that it only made the listeners feel uncomfortable.

"Well...h..how about we all just move on from this?"

Yoo Jin-ha, who couldn't bear to listen any longer, opened his mouth to stop Shin Tae-oh.

Although he managed to interrupt the flow for now, seeing Yoo Jin-ha struggling to continue his next words, Se-hyeon silently urged him to speak.

'Yes. Let's get out of here.'

Se-hyeon slightly lifted himself from the chair. He promised himself that once he got away from this place with Shin Tae-oh, he would never interfere again.

"Mr. Ahn Se-hyeon."

However, Ha Min-hyuk grabbed Se-hyeon's arm.

"If we could have a separate conversation."

After discussing his supposed interest in se-hyeon and having an uncomfortable conversation with Shin Tae-oh, to have a private talk... But as Se-hyeon looked into Ha Min-hyuk's eyes, he lowered his head towards Shin Tae-oh.

"Just give me a moment, please."

Se-hyeon, realizing that it was permission, completely stood up from his seat. Ha Min-hyuk also stood up in response.

"Wait here."

Then, as Ha Min-hyuk left the cafe, lightly tapping Yoo Jin-ha's shoulder, who was taken aback, Se-hyeon reluctantly followed him with hesitant steps.

As Ha Min-hyuk turned around not far from there, Se-hyeon kept a distance of two steps.

"Why did you call me?"

"What do you think I'm going to say?"

'that's something you know, how i suppose to know?

As Ha Min-hyuk forcefully initiated the conversation, Se-hyeon held his thoughts inside and eventually let out a sigh.

He opened his mouth before Ha Min-hyuk, who had called him out.

"I won't beat around the bush. You already knew, didn't you?"

From Ha Min-hyuk's gaze, Se-hyeon realized many things. Although introduced by Yoo Jin-ha, Ha Min-hyuk's eyes carried a sense of already knowing him. Especially when he mentioned his name several

times, separate from Shin Tae-oh, it became clear.

Ha Min-hyuk had something to say to him, Ahn Se-hyeon.

"Yes."

"Since when?"

"Well... let's put that aside for now. The reason I called you, Mr. Ahn Se-hyeon..."

Ha Min-hyuk hesitated for a moment before finally making up his mind and spoke.

"I happened to see you having a conversation with Ha Jin-seong."

"So?"

The place where they had the conversation was not crowded, but it wasn't a private space either.

So, Ha Min-hyuk thought someone might have seen them. Was that what seemed

strange to him?

"I felt like Ha Jin-seong was showing interest in you."

"Did you not hear our conversation?"

Se-hyeon asked with curiosity as Ha Min-hyuk spoke in a manner that suggested he thought so. In response, Ha Min-hyuk lowered his head.

"I saw it through the glass window."

As Ha Min-hyuk turned his head to look at something, Se-hyeon followed suit and turned his head, discovering the sight of Shin Tae-oh and Yoo Jin-ha engaged in conversation beyond the glass window.

It occurred to him that while he and Ha Min-hyuk were away, Shin Tae-oh

ended up being alone with Yoo Jin-ha.

'What could they be talking about?'

Every time Shin Tae-oh spoke, Yoo Jin-ha responded with an amused smile. Seeing them exchanging glances and laughing as if they were in a good mood, Se-hyeon couldn't help but think that Yoo Jin-ha and Shin Tae-oh seemed to be a good match.

"Be careful of Ha Jin-seong."

Suddenly, Ha Min-hyuk's voice reached Se-hyeon's ears as he observed Shin Tae-oh's mouth, trying to decipher what he was saying.

Se-hyeon slowly shifted his gaze from Shin Tae-oh to Ha Min-hyuk.

"Ha Jin-seong never lets go of someone once he sets his sights on them. It has always been that way. Whether it's out of interest or...?"

"Or even if it's out of dislike."

Se-hyeon caught the unfinished sentence that Ha Min-hyuk swallowed.

Ha Jin-seong's personality wasn't as extreme as Ha Min-hyuk's, but Se-hyeon knew it well. He wasn't surprised to know how relentless Ha Jin-seong could be.

However, there was something he couldn't understand. Why was Ha Min-hyuk telling him to be cautious? He just an extra character from the beginning to the end...?

Throughout the original work, he was hardly noticeable, just an insignificant extra character...

"If you're trying to appear humble by saying that, please don't." Se-hyeon replied after coming out of his thoughts.

"Mr. Ahn Se-hyeon, you are someone who stands out. So, I hope you didn't think otherwise."

Se-hyeon looked at Ha Min-hyuk with eyes filled with incomprehension.

"Since the time you worked as Shin Tae-oh's secretary, many people would ask about you. I've known you longer than you think."

Ha Min-hyuk closed his mouth again and looked at Se-hyeon's face.

From some point on, whenever Shin Tae-oh appeared, people would look for his secretary, Se-hyeon, with his expressionless face, silently fulfilled his duties, attracting attention with his unique aura.

Because of that, just like Shin Tae-oh, his secretary had become famous, and Ha Min-hyuk had also noticed him a few times. Of course, Ha Min-hyuk wanted to see Se-hyeon for different reasons.

"You're the one who redirected Shin Tae-oh's gaze from Jin-ha to yourself."

Ha Min-hyuk's voice was quiet and hard to hear. Se-hyeon looked at him.

In other words, it meant to ask him to speak, but Ha Min-hyuk changed the subject. "Because you're so good-looking, he noticed you."

Se-hyeon narrowed his eyes. Based on the shape of his mouth, it seemed like Shin Tae-oh was mentioned, but he couldn't be sure.

"Anyway, don't get involved in any small matters with Ha Jin-seong. If that becomes

difficult, use CEO Shin Tae-oh. That would be the easiest and most convenient way to keep Ha Jin-seong at bay."

'means utilize your superior...He's not normal either.'

Se-hyeon treated Ha Min-hyuk as if he were abnormal, even though he himself readily consumed the goods his superior provided.

After their conversation, Ha Min-hyuk and Se-hyeon returned as if nothing had happened, with Se-hyeon resuming his position as Shin Tae-oh's secretary. He didn't share their conversation with Ha Min-hyuk, nor did he inquire about the discussion between Shin Tae-oh and Yoo Jin-ha.

It was an uncomfortable encounter.

***

As Shin Tae-oh stepped outside, he saw the person waiting for him and couldn't hide his disappointment.

"Did you treat Secretary Ahn like that too?"The chief secretary asked after seeing his boss express.

"It's not disappointing towards Secretary Ahn, but..."

Feeling uncertain after parting ways with Se-hyeon yesterday, and hadn't heard about the conversation between Se-hyeon and Ha Min-hyuk.

So today, just as he was considering finding an appropriate opportunity to ask, but the Chief Secretary appeared.

"Secretary Ahn went to the studio first."

As Shin Tae-oh recalled that Secretary Ahn had gone ahead, his expression furrowed even more.

"Why did the Chief Secretary send Secretary Ahn?"

'There's someone who's eager to take a picture with Secretary Ahn over there.'

***

"I didn't expect Se-hyeon to come first."

While people were moving things around for the shooting, Yoo Jin-hyeon approached Sehyeon and greeted him.

"It's been a while."

"Do you have any tasks that I can assist with?"

"Well, there is something."

Seeing Se-hyeon's questioning gaze, Yoo Jin-hyeon brought forward the camera he had concealed and fiddled with it.

"We need to test the camera before the shoot. Will you be willing to be the model?"

"Are you asking me?"

Se-hyeon had never thought about seeking help in that area.

"Do you remember when I offered to take your picture last time?"

"Well, yes, but..."

He said that at the bar, apologizing and offering to take a picture as a form of apology... But at that time, Se-hyeon had thought it was just a passing comment.

[note: Referring to Chapter 3 when Se-hyeon first time meets yoo jin-hyeon at the bar with shin Tae-oh]

"So, why not give it a try without hesitation? Just think of it as going to a studio somewhere. No, let's say we're at a photo studio."

As Se-hyeon started to think as Yoo Jin-hyeon suggested, he realized that getting his picture taken wasn't as unfamiliar as he thought. After all, there would be various reasons to have his

picture taken throughout his life.

With that in mind, Se-hyeon set aside his hesitations and entered the interior. He looked at Yoo Jin-hyeon, standing straight, and adjusted his tie before speaking.

"I'll ask for a passport photo."

"Just a simple profile... What do you mean?"

Yoo Jin-hyeon, who thought about capturing Se-hyeon from various angles with the camera, showed a bewildered expression.