chapter 30

It was at that moment when se-hyeon lifted his head to get a closer look at the approaching figure.

As soon as he saw the person's head tilt towards him, he quickly stepped back and tensed his body.

Various thoughts raced through my mind as I observed the face of the person who seemed impolite.

Why is Ha Jin-seong in front of me? Why is he standing in front of my house? What's the reason for blocking my path? Could

it be that he saw Shin Tae-oh drop me off?

"Do you remember my face?"

Whether it was the question Ha jin-seong sought from Se-hyeon's expression or not, Ha Jin-seong slowly straightened up their posture and asked. Even though there was enough distance between them to breathe easily, for some reason, se-hyeon chest felt constricted.

Unlike when I was with Shin Tae-oh, I found myself becoming increasingly tense. I swallowed the saliva that pooled in my mouth. I couldn't help but wonder why I felt so entangled in Ha Jin-seong's gaze, even though it wasn't the first time we had met. And then I realized the reason. It's different.

Unlike the previous encounter where Ha jin-seong observed and prodded him, this time there was a clear purpose. Se-hyeon instincts, unwilling to be swayed by it, recoiled. He had suspected it, and it turned out that Ha Jin-seong had been waiting here to see Se-hyeon.

Se-hyeon composed his expression, pretending to be nonchalant, and faced Ha Jin-seong. There was nothing to gain from showing any wavering here, so he suppressed his voice and asked, "What

is it?"

"You didn't answer my question."

Their words annoyed se-hyeon out of the blue. It was as if Ha jin-seong had shamelessly come here as if they had recently met and engaged in conversation. given that he stated it was a question.

In such situations, se-hyeon usually had to recall the past to grasp and asked who are you.

"I do remember and I don't care to know."

Ha Jin-seong listened attentively and se-hyeon pretended to remember, but they weren't the kind of person he needed to jot down notes for fear of forgetting.

Ha Jin-seong was interpreting his response however he was pleased, whether se-hyeon was pretending not to care or genuinely not interested.

Ha Jin-seong tapped his lips thoughtfully. remained calm and composed from

beginning to end. It was enough to make anyone around them feel restless.

"I told you to come to me and be my secretary"

"If that's the case, I did answer at that time, but..."

"You were given time to think."

"Well, you see..."

Why was it so difficult to have a conversation?

"Tell me what you want."Ha jin-seong asked again about his proposal to se-hyeon to be his secretary.

It was at that moment, se-hyeon was contemplating how much more bluntly he needed to refuse without showing frustration. Among everything said so far, it was the most normal thing to say.

But Ha jin-seong asked what he wanted in order to scout him."I'll give you a house and a car."

"Even if you say that, my answer remains the same."

It was a proposal that didn't require any consideration from the start. When I first became Sehyeon, I could have chosen Ha Jin-seong for the thoughts of a nice house, a car, and a lot of money. Driven by emotions, there might have been a chance to receive a house or a generous sum of money that I couldn't earn in a lifetime.

However, what I wanted was stability.

I had simply sought the safest person in this novel and wanted to live honestly on a regular salary, not relying on hazard pay.

In that regard, Ha Jin-seong was someone I had to push away without a second thought.

"I decline."

"Is that because of loyalty? Or was my offer insufficient?"

Ha Jin-seong asked as if genuinely curious, then suddenly smirked. As his eyes creased with the smile, it resembled the smile of a fox.

So when asked if it bothered me, it meant that their dubious impression had softened, indicating that it was fine. At this point, I gave up on taking Ha Jin-seong's words seriously. I reached into my pocket and pulled out something I had kept handy, although it wasn't something I usually carried around. I had taken it with me while tidying up earlier.

"Think about it carefully. It's better to come in peace..."

I placed a candy in Ha Jin-seong's mouth, interrupting his continuous rambling.

With the sudden candy in his mouth, Ha Jin-seong's eyes rolled around. Blocking his mouth that had been spouting nonsense seemed to have had a positive effect.

In the tranquility of the alley, just like any other day, I released my tension. I had heard why Ha Jin-seong had come, so there was no need to remain on guard.

"It reminded me of something sweet when you mentioned it. Enjoy the candy and have a good day. As for me, I have to prepare to welcome our capable CEO Shin Tae-oh tomorrow, so I'll be heading in."

Se-hyeon summed it up, telling him to stop since he had no intention of going with him, and walked past him.

"I'll come again, so be prepared with a different answer next time."

Se-hyeon don't like it.

***

Se-hyeon changed into comfortable clothes and lay down on the bed. As he stared at the ceiling, he wondered what had happened today.

I had a fairly busy day, but the most memorable moment was: "Do you... like gifts?"

The vivid memory of Taenyang's flickering eyes came to mind. "Is it true?"

I turned my head and looked at the sink. Expensive dishes were stacked neatly in a pitiful cabinet, making a clinking sound.

Of course, they were bought by Shin Tae-oh, but I ended up bringing them to my own house instead of leaving them at his place. I had quietly brought quite a lot of things to my own home. Usually, secretaries wouldn't place such things in their own homes. Well, they wouldn't

even consider going to a secretary's home.

In novels or dramas, secretaries always handle everything at their boss's house and disappear like shadows.

"Maybe I should stop."

I was truly grateful when Shin Tae-oh didn't demand my resignation, even though he knew my true identity. But now, I hesitated, wondering if it would be better to stay.

It seemed like Shin Tae-oh was genuinely interested in him.

"But that's not normal."

I shouldn't deviate from the original storyline. And what hesitated me even more... was that I didn't think I could accept his feelings.

"I... can't."

I quickly got up and picked up the phone I had thrown to the side.

"Should I look for a new job?"

I had some savings, and I could take a few months off without working. Impulsively, I opened a job recruitment site and started browsing, but then my phone vibrated, and suddenly, my mother came to mind.

"Hello. Mom?..Yes, what's the matter?"

- What's the matter? It's been so long since we last spoke, so I wanted to hear your voice too, son.

Has it been that long? Se-hyeon thought to himself as he aimlessly looked around the room, absentmindedly touching the buttons on the coffee machine, he remembered Shin Tae-oh's bewildered expression when he saw him during his heat.

He smiled and then realized he was still on the call, so he refocused on his mother's voice. He thought the call had been disconnected because she didn't say anything after a while.

- By any chance, do you have some money?

There's something going on.

"Why... are you asking that?"

He knew it was difficult for her to bring it up, so he asked.

- Well, your father said he would go up the mountain despite the bad weather, and he slipped in the rain.

As soon as she mentioned that his father slipped, se-hyeon stood up from his seat.

"Is it serious? I'll come right away."

- Huh? No, it's not necessary. It's just that his ligament stretched a bit when he slipped, but it's not serious. However, during the examination, they found a very small lump, so they want to perform surgery.

"A lump?"

- Yes. It's bothering him, so he thought he could have surgery while he was at it... But, well, the cost is not insignificant. I should have gotten insurance or something, knowing this could happen.

As her words became longer, se-hyeon could sense her hesitation she doesn't want to burden him.

"I actually received a bonus this time, which I was planning to send anyway. Don't worry and get the surgery. I'll find time to come and see you."

He quickly delivered his words and ended the call. In the atmosphere that had become heavier, as if accompanied by a renewed silence, he lay back on the bed without even having a chance to let out a sigh.

It seemed like I had to send the savings to my parents, and as for me...

"I will serve diligently."

I spoke politely while looking at the coffee machine. Considering the money I had to send to my parents next month, I decided to continue working without a break.

***

"Good morning."

Shin Tae-oh, who was about to leave the house, stopped in his tracks at Se-hyeon's greeting and nodded his head.

"What is it? I feel like you are quite different today secretary Ahn."

Shin Tae-oh's gaze swept over Sehyun from head to toe, and then he stroked his chin.

"You were diligent before, but now you seem even more diligent and quick-witted. Did you make some kind of resolution yesterday?"

It was because se-hyeon didn't want to quit, but he pretended not to know and tightly held onto his tablet.

"It's because I had a hearty breakfast."

He skipped breakfast due to his uneasiness, but it was a suitable excuse to throw around.

"Oh, the power of food. It's the power of rice, huh."

Shin Tae-oh nodded casually and then thrust a paper bag he was holding in one hand towards se-hyeon.

"Take this."

It's more like he was telling se-hyeon to receive it rather than bringing it to him.

"Is this... a gift?"

"Yes."

Even though se-hyeon said he wouldn't accept it. Shin Tae-oh extended the item he had been holding in his hand towards him.

"You are not planning to reject it without even looking at it, are you?"

"Ah..."

Is that so?

Come to think of it, I rejected it without even knowing what it was.

Se-hyeon obediently examined the contents inside the paper bag. A tumbler?

"What is this?"

"It's a nutritional powder."

Why is he giving me that?

"Because it's hard to work on an empty stomach. Eat it." And with that he left.

What is this?

What should I correct?

Is it that I have an empty stomach? Or is it that I think I can't refuse because it's a nutritional powder?