chapter 40

Se-hyeon raised the hand that had been gripping the steering wheel and scratched his nose.

He still hadn't responded to Shin Tae-oh's words. It was just a thought, but Shin Tae-oh's gaze followed his hand.

"I will do it."

He spoke right after making up his mind. Then, feeling like his explanation was lacking, he quickly added:

"I will treat you to a meal. At that restaurant."

Shin Tae-oh's response came with a smile in his eyes.

"OK..Wait for me in front of your house tomorrow. Let's have lunch together and go to the company."

That means shin tae-oh doesn't have to go to work on time...

"Understood."

Se-hyeon accepted it easily.

"Knowing that..."

Shin Tae-oh got out of the car. Before Se-hyeon's hand could touch the seatbelt, Shin Tae-oh quickly spoke.

"Since it's late, let's take this car. You can take it."

Se-hyeon obediently placed his raised hand on the steering wheel. Finally, with a satisfied expression, Shin Tae-oh closed the car door. Not only that, he tapped on the window, urging Se-hyeon to hurry up and leave. Se-hyeon, who wondered if this was acceptable, started the engine for now.

'This is strange. Feels like I forgot something.'

As Se-hyeon drove out of the underground parking lot, he caught a glimpse of Shin Tae-oh in the side mirror.

"Must be because Tae-nyangi has driven me crazy today."

He pushed aside this uneasiness, attributing the cause to Shin Tae-oh.

[T/N: I think they forgot about the chief secretary (⁠＾⁠▽⁠＾⁠) ]

Meanwhile, Lee Jin-ho who was simply waiting to catch a taxi, hunched his body

"Three times, three times..."

He murmured the promise Shin Tae-oh made about giving him three times the usual allowance for working overtime. Then, feeling bored, he blew a soft breath and suddenly muttered with a face full of regret.

"Should I quit?"

What's the point of earning money like this? My side is numb...

***

Shin Tae-oh insisted that he should house by his car.

"Maybe he brought another car."

That wouldn't be a problem, but there was Shin Tae-oh's car parked in front of Se-hyeon's house. Since it wouldn't be appropriate for Se-hyeon to drive two cars alone on the way there, he had to insist that Shin Tae-oh let him drive one of them and park it.

"Maybe it doesn't matter."

Just the fact that he comfortably came at night was already enough to be grateful for.

Next morning

Se-hyeon adjusted his shirt. It was his usual attire, but today it felt uncomfortable on his body. He absentmindedly touched the collar, tilting his neck from side to side, and suddenly looked at his coat.

'How long has it been since I bought it?'

He remembered buying it hurriedly from a store that caught his eye while working. Since then, he had been wearing it consistently, and the sleeves had worn out quite a bit.

'Should I have worn something else?'

He felt conscious today after wearing whatever he grabbed as usual.

'Should I change into something else now?'

There was still the unwrapped white shirt...

"Ah!"

Se-hyeon, who had sensed someone's presence, looked up and tried to greet Shin Tae-oh with a joyful smile, but quickly composed his expression.

"You're here."

"How long have you been waiting?"

Using informal speech again. Se-hyeon knew that Shin Tae-oh spoke casually, but just now, it felt like a greeting one would

give to a lover, surpassing informal language.

"I've been waiting, matching the time."

The affectionate greeting sounded awkward as he stumbled over his words.

Meanwhile, Shin Tae-oh looked at him, contemplating. As if thoroughly examining his appearance, Se-hyeon felt increasingly uncomfortable, with a sense of unease rising up to his throat.

"Why are you like this,bos.."

"It was wrong of me to come out late when you are waiting while it's still cold."

"But you told me to wait in front of my house."

"What if you catch a cold? You're the secretary I like the most, and I don't want you to suffer."

Just now, the fourth sentence seemed to be cut off abruptly, with added emphasis.

"I'm sorry."

"Then make sure to dress appropriately."

Se-hyeon was also concerned about his own attire as well.

"I'm sorry. I'll go and change."

"Let's go in together."

"Yes? No, it's not necessary. Just wait a moment..."

"Here? Alone? Without a secretary?"

Shin Tae-oh's questions continued, making it impossible for Se-hyeon to leave him behind.

I don't want to bring him inside...

If I let him in, he might not leave.

"Well, in the past..."

Shin Tae-oh took a step closer. Perhaps due to his long legs, his stride was much wider than an average person's.

"When I saw your face, I just thought, as always, you were calm and expressionless, right?"

As Shin Tae-oh stared directly at se-hyeon's face, Se-hyeon covered it with the back of his hand.

"But..."

Did he notice something?

"You're still the same."

Shin tae-oh muttered to himself that even se-hyeon ears turning red were the same.

Why was Shin Tae-oh playing such unnecessary games? And why did it even bother him to the point of...?

"Aren't you coming in?"

"That's why I didn't know. I never thought I would look up from the beginning."

Se-hyeon couldn't understand what Shin Tae-oh was trying to say.

That's why he couldn't move, just staring back into Shin Tae-oh's eyes.

"You two seem close."

Se-hyeon turned his head at the voice coming from the side.

"Ha Jin-seong?"

Pretending not to know, Se-hyeon saw Ha Jin-seong raising his hand to greet him.

"I wasn't just passing by. I came to see you."

With Ha Jin-seong's friendly explanation, Se-hyeon briefly glanced at Shin Tae-oh. He hadn't mentioned what happened earlier when Ha Jin-seong was in front of his house. So now, he had no explanation to give Shin Tae-oh about the current visit.

"What business does Jin-seong have with my secretary?"

Shin Tae-oh turned his body and crossed his arms. It was just a slight turn, but it was enough to create a barrier between Se-hyeon and Ha Jin-seong.

"I have nothing to say to you. Step aside."

"No, I said he's my secretary."

Shin Tae-oh shook his head as if denying it, but Ha Jin-seong wasn't backing down either.

"To hell with your secretary. I have something to discuss with Ahn Se-hyeon."

Ha Jin-seong, who insisted on being called by his name, didn't even spare a glance at Shin Tae-oh. He was the type of person who showed up on his own terms in the first place.

"I have something to ask first."

He didn't even care if Shin Tae-oh was listening.

"How did you find out?"

"What are you talking about?"

"How... did you find out about my 'condition'?"

When the words seemed to be omitted in the middle, Se-hyeon knew what Ha Jin-seong was asking. He was referring to the incident where wine was spilled on him last time.

Se-hyeon had already decided what to say if he asked if he knew his secret.

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

From the beginning to the end, Se-hyeon wants to pretend to know his secret. He didn't want to get involved by admitting he knew.

"You don't know?"

Ha Jin-seong's  words echoed with a smirk. This time, his eyes didn't narrow. It

wasn't a smile of joy.

"That shouldn't be the case."

Ha Jin-seong took a step closer. His gaze, which had been completely indifferent to Shin Tae-oh's attempts to stop him, shifted. Not towards Se-hyeon, but towards Shin Tae-oh.

"If that's the case, it makes me even more curious."

He openly revealed his desire to snatch him away from Shin Tae-oh.

"Our Jin-seong is quite greedy, coveting what belongs to others."

"Because it seems valuable enough."

Ha Jin-seong continued to smile without backing down. He wasn't the same person who got excited over childish wordplay with Shin Tae-oh before.

And while he was undoubtedly coveting as a secretary, Se-hyeon, caught between the two men, let out a sigh.

"What are you coveting?"

What did I do? If Ha Jin-seong was showing such an abnormal obsession towards me, I would understand if I had done something significant, but all I did was spill some wine. Why is his character so one-dimensional?

Dealing with the suddenly complicated Shin Tae-oh these days made Ha Jin-seong seem too transparent.

"Ahn Se-hyeon."

Ha Jin-seong shouted while facing off against Shin Tae-oh.

"Shouldn't you pay for reimbursement for the shirt ruined by the wine?"

Wow... This is getting ridiculous.

I clearly mentioned reimbursing for the laundry expenses, but now it's about the shirt?

Se-hyeon took a deep breath, considering his financial situation.

"I'll cover the laundry expenses."

"I already threw it away."

"..."

What a forced situation.

Ha Jin-seong looked at Se-hyeon and chuckled.

"Paying for the shirt is not about the money, it's about becoming my secretary."

Se-hyeon saved him, and now he's asking...

You're really shameless.

At least it's a relief that Se-hyeon didn't have to bear this alone, thanks to Shin Tae-oh, who listened to the whole conversation. He openly expressed his disbelief.

"I can't believe this nonsense... Attaching my valuable secretary to some insignificant shirt."

Ha Jin-seong smiled while looking at Shin Tae-oh. He was genuinely enjoying the situation now.

"You... How well do you really know Ahn Se-hyeon? You just hired him based on his resume and his ability to work. But would you feel regretful if I took him away?"

Ha Jin-seong spoke with the same sly smile in his eyes.

"Go ahead and hire another secretary. You're good at that."

Not content with his words, he poked Shin Tae-oh's shoulder.

"Why are you clinging onto him, thinking he'll stay by your side forever? Just let him go."

With Ha jin-seong significant words, Shin Tae-oh's face hardened. Watching Shin Tae-oh gradually lose his composure, Se-hyeon bit his lip.

"It's enough."

Se-hyeon didn't fully understand what Ha Jin-seong was saying at the moment. But once he realized that it was something that affected Shin Tae-oh, he couldn't remain quiet.

"Boss, let me explain..."

"Jin-seong."

It was the moment Se-hyeon grabbed Shin Tae-oh's arm. A faint emotion slowly spread across Shin Tae-oh's expressionless face.

It manifested as a pleasant smile, which not only surprised Se-hyeon but also Ha Jin-seong.

"Why wouldn't I know Ahn Se-hyeon?"

Shin Tae-oh regained his usual calmness. No, it seemed even more serene than usual.

Se-hyeon was taken aback as he watched Shin Tae-oh turn towards him.

What's with his gaze?

"How close are we? Se-hyeon calls me a cunning cat. I'm his cat."

"!"

What should I do?

Being treated like a cunning cat has happened too many times... I have no clue when he found out and what the heck he is talking.