chapter 33

Se-hyeon saw the salmon salad that came as an appetizer. It was lightly cooked on the outside, looking tender just by the sight of it, and the sauce embraced the salmon. The decorative garnish on top was perfect as well.

It looked beautiful and delicious... It was exactly Shin Tae-oh personified. A dish that was so splendid, yet it couldn't become the main attraction and only served to whet the appetite.

"What are you thinking?"

"Ah... I thought it was too pretty to touch."It wasn't entirely accurate, but it wasn't a wrong statement either, considering se-hyeon was thinking about Shin Tae-oh.

"Is it good?" Se-hyeon paused for a moment, then nodded. There were hardly any moments when he dined with Shin Tae-oh and simply admired. King crab needs to be dipped in sauce, and ramen should be eaten before it gets cold.

But as he looked at the appetizer, thoughts of Shin Tae-oh came to mind, and he silently observed it.

"Do you know what will happen if you don't eat it before the next course comes...?"

In response to Shin Tae-oh's question, Se-hyeon looked at the salmon salad in front of him.

What would happen?

"It will be thrown away."

"You mean... throw it away?"

Following Shin Tae-oh's words, Se-hyeon quickly understood the meaning.

"I mean, just admire the beauty and... don't eat it."

Shin Tae-oh cut a piece of Se-hyeon's salmon. He scooped it up with a fork, coated it in sauce, and brought it close to Se-hyeon's mouth.

"You have to eat it. Perhaps it will become a more memorable dish than the main course."

Reacting reflexively to the gesture that practically said, "Open your mouth," Se-hyeon obediently opened his mouth. He was half dazed by the shock that admiring the beauty of the appetizer wasn't enough.

The feeder was beautiful.

Therefore, Is Shin Tae-oh delicious?

Thinking aloud while eating the salmon, Se-hyeon rambled on and arrived at a strange conclusion.

"Secretary Ahn?"

"I apologize."

"Why are you suddenly apologizing for?"

"...No reason."

Unable to bring forth the words in his mind, se-hyeon picked up the fork and ate the salmon salad that he had unknowingly touched, but it was still beautiful.

'Damn, get a grip se-hyeon he is your boss for pit stake'

***

After confidently finishing the last dessert, the remaining impression was...

'The appetizer was the most delicious.'

The main dish he had was so rich that it overwhelmed the scent of the salmon. However, strangely enough, it was the salmon salad that remained memorable in his mind.

"Well, since we've enjoyed our meal, let's settle the bill..."

Se-hyeon was taken aback when he mentioned the bill, and he quickly took out his wallet.

"I'll take care of it."

Although se-hyeon suggested that he would pay, unlike shin tae-oh, who hadn't eaten much, Se-hyeon had emptied every plate brought to him. Even though he felt full from the mention that anything left in the kitchen would be wasted, he ended up eating more.

"Alright then, if you insist."

Se-hyeon hesitated for a moment and stood up. Se-hyeon's actions show a hint  of disappearing after taking advantage of shin tae-oh all this time, but shin tae-oh didn't notice a thing in the end se-hyeon reluctantly took out his card.

In opposite shin tae-oh was quite pleased,

It's shameless for a person, even if they're a secretary. How can they only think about taking advantage of others? That's why I think Se-hyeon likes me so much That's why he insists on buying it's almost like a date.

Feeling a bit short-sighted in his thoughts today, shin tae-oh followed Se-hyeon to the cashier's counter.

[T/N: if only he could read se-hyeon mind :)]

"I want to come again next time."

Although the prices are a bit steep, se-hyeon has some meal vouchers received as a gift, and he wants to bring his parents along at least once...

As he walked, looking around his surroundings, Shin Tae-oh suddenly grabbed his wrist. He held it so tightly that se-hyeon almost dropped his card.

"Why are you doing this?"

Se-hyeon looked at Shin Tae-oh, who was examining his card, and realized belatedly why he was acting like this.

"This is my card."

It seemed like shin tae-oh mistook that it's  Shin Tae-oh's card that he always carries. So he raised it to make sure that his name was clearly visible on the card.

Seeing that Shin Tae-oh had confirmed it, Se-hyeon was about to ask him to let go of his wrist, but he still held onto it tightly.

"I'll take care of the payment..."

Se-hyeon's words trailed off as he absentmindedly looked past Shin Tae-oh.

Ha Jin-seong appeared out of nowhere, seemingly unnoticed. They didn't make eye contact. It was just that Se-hyeon happened to spot a familiar face. But the reason he couldn't take his eyes off Ha Jin-seong was because of the faintly weary expression on his face.

'Why is he acting like that?'

As Se-hyeon continued to gaze at Ha Jin-seong, Shin Tae-oh belatedly turned his head to confirm the person he was referring to.

"Why is that troublemaker here?"

"It seems like he came here to have a meal."

"With a face that looks like he'll collapse any moment?"

Shin Tae-oh also noticed that Ha Jin-seong seemed different from usual.

"He looks pale, as if he's been through something."

Having said that much, Shin Tae-oh quickly lost interest. He didn't feel the need to worry about Ha Jin-seong in particular.

"Don't pay attention to him."

Shin Tae-oh gestured towards Se-hyeon. Even if they coincidentally bumped into Ha Jinseong, there was no need for Se-hyeon to go over and pretend to know him.

Se-hyeon nodded his head. Ever since the almost threatening scout offer from Ha Jin-seong they had encountered not long ago, he had been feeling uneasy about him.

If Ha Jin-seong hadn't seen him, it was obvious that nothing would happen if they just ignored each other and left. He's the antagonist, after all. The less he associates with him, the better. He's not the kind of person se-hyeon wants to be involved with.

That's why it would be best for him to leave this place with Shin Tae-oh now.

"I didn't mean for you to pay with the secretary's card. I can't take advantage of your paycheck."

As Shin Tae-oh's hand traced up, he took Se-hyeon's companys card. Then, with a gaze that instructed him to take out his own card, Se-hyeon tightly closed his wallet.

"Well... alright."

Shin Tae-oh resumed his steps, and Se-hyeon followed him.

As for Ha Jin-seong...

he don't know why he's acting like this right now, but he'll figure it out soon enough.

There's no one as tenacious as him. So don't torment about Ha Min-hyuk any further. If you hate someone, do it like Ha Jin-seong. So this momentary difficulty will pass soon.

It will pass...

"Haa.."

Se-hyeon stopped walking and let out a sigh.

I can't just ignore it. I know that Ha Jin-seong is a bastard... I know it in my head, but my body doesn't listen.

'I should just let it go, but my feet won't move.'

If I don't help Ha Jin-seong, I felt like I would regret it. He might come home and pull off the blanket, asking why I turned a blind eye. It felt like I would suffocate under the blanket if I turned away.

To be precise, the heavy weight of guilt followed me because I knew why Ha Jin-seong was acting like this and yet I still followed him.

I looked at Ha Jin-seong again. Now, even his lips trembled as if they couldn't even breathe. Right now, we can't let the secret be revealed. That's Ha Min-hyuk's responsibility.

So, Se-hyeon rationalized his efforts not to deviate from the original work and turned towards Ha Jin-seong. Ha Jin-seong was sitting among other people but appeared to be engulfed in panic all by himself. As se-hyeon approached him, he noticed that his face had turned pale and had

beads of cold sweat on his forehead.

"Oppa! Why are you acting like this for real?"

A woman who seemed familiar from somewhere urged Ha Jin-seong in frustration.

"Hey, calm down. Jin-seong, are you okay?"

Another man, realizing that something was off with Ha Jin-seong's face, asked. As se-hyeon approached Ha Jin-seong, he could sense the pheromones of several people. The sweet pheromones of omegas and the refreshing pheromones of alphas, but se-hyeon couldn't sense any pheromones from Ha Jin-seong at all.

"If you're in pain, you should... Who are you?" Se-hyeon recalled that the woman might be Jin Hye-in from Jinmyeong Group, but he didn't answer.

Instead, he approached closer to Ha Jin-seong and lightly tapped the wine glass on the table.

Splash! The wine spilled onto Ha Jin-seong's clothes and dripped onto the floor. Fortunately, there was a rug on the floor, so the glass didn't shatter.

"Kyaa!"

Jin Hye-in, who saw Ha Jin-seong's clothes, screamed.

"What do you think you're doing? Who?"

Jin Hye-in shouted when she saw Se-hyeon, then seemed to realize who it was and pointed her index finger at him.

Ignoring her, se-hyeon spoke to Ha Jin-seong.

"I'm sorry. I came here to greet you and accidentally bumped the glass. But... you should go upstairs and change."

Ha Jin-seong's pupils looked at his clothes.

"The scent of wine is overpowering."

Seeing Ha Jin-seong's wavering gaze, se-hyeon quickly continued speaking.

"You can send me the dry cleaning bill."

After all, since he already knows his address and came looking for him, Ha jin-seong probably has that much information already.

Se-hyeon handed him his business card and walked away without looking back.

Fortunately, Shin Tae-oh was not far away. He looked at Se-hyeon, holding a receipt in his hand. It was actually directed at Ha Jin-seong.

"I thought you went to help....you spilt wine?"

Se-hyeon looked back and forth between Ha Jin-seong and Shin Tae-oh.

He was aware that he had seen everything, yet he didn't seem surprised. He didn't think it would be hidden anyway, so there was no need to manage his expressions separately.

"It was an accident."

Se-hyeon said to Shin Tae-oh, just as he had told Ha Jin-seong. Shin Tae-oh didn't have a trusting gaze, but...

"Well, if you say it was an accident, then it must be."

He didn't say anything more.

"Let's go. The Chief Secretary keeps calling me."

Shin Tae-oh showed him the ringing cellphone. Se-hyeon nodded his head.

"I don't even sign anything, why do I have to bother showing documents?"

Should I just let them handle the paperwork and do the drumming and percussion downstairs?

"Even if it's just a report, the CEO needs to know everything."

"Well... since I'm someone who takes direct action."

Shin Tae-oh quickly accepted and walked alongside Se-hyeon. He diverted Se-hyeon's attention by talking about something else, standing side by side.

It was a clever way to distract him.

Meanwhile, there was a pair of eyes watching the two of them as they left the restaurant.

Ha Jinseong, who had somehow recovered from the shock, couldn't take his eyes off the two, or more precisely, Se-hyeon's back.