chapter 48

Shin Tae-oh remained silent, but Se-hyeon was already overwhelmed just imagining what could unfold in the future. After all, watching a fight is enjoyable from a distance, but intervening would only lead to trouble.

"Don't you know about their relationship?"

Feeling frustrated, Se-hyeon ran his fingers through his hair and tugged at his tie from both sides.

No matter how much he loosen his tie, the suffocating feeling didn't go away. It

wasn't something that could be resolved by physically loosening it; it originated from

psychological factors.

"If the boss gets involved in that fight.... Boss, boss?"

While venting his frustration, Se-hyeon belatedly realized that something was off with Shin Tae-oh. Shin tae-oh had been staring absentmindedly, and Se-hyeon waved his hand in front of his face.

"I'm being serious here, and you're lost in your own thoughts?"

"Are you worried... about the harm coming to me?"

Fortunately, they didn't stray too far from the topic.

"Yes. That's why I'm concerned. You know, there might come a moment when you have to take full responsibility."

And that meant it would also have an impact on me.

"My stable life will be shaken."

Se-hyeon wondered why Shin Tae-oh couldn't be worried, knowing that a difficult path lay ahead. He couldn't go into detail about what would happen with Ha Jin-seong, and it would be insane to try.

"I hope nothing happens to the boss."

"Ahh... Se-hyeon~"

With Shin Tae-oh's friendly tone, Se-hyeon quickly looked around. He checked if anyone else had heard and even closed the open door.

Once again, Se-hyeon approached Shin Tae-oh and looked into his eyes intently.

Something seems off about him.

"Boss!"

"Se-hyeon~"

Calling out to Shin Tae-oh, all Se-hyeon heard in response was his own name being called in a hoarse voice.

Taenyang, things are serious right now, why are you acting like that?

"Boss!!"

"Se-hyeon~~"

"Why, Tae-oh?"

When Se-hyeon responded in the same manner, Shin Tae-oh smiled as if it were the correct answer.

Why is he laughing?

With that one smile, serious atmosphere that had been present completely distorted.

"Ah, it's really amusing. It's because this is the real Se-hyeon, it's really funny."

Thinking that he would receive some understanding since his true self had been revealed, Sehyeon tried to react, but Shin Tae-oh was genuinely enjoying the situation.

It's maddening that he's enjoying it at a time like this.

"If you're so worried about me, what can I do? I can't just stay inside all the time. Isn't that right?"

"Tae-oh, don't overdo it."

Why did the atmosphere turn out like this...

In the midst of it all, Se-hyeon expressed his subtle resentment towards Shin Tae-oh.

"Why did you intervene between them?"

After all, Ha Min-hyuk would only grow stronger and improve through such trials. And it would lead to a beautiful ending where Ha min-hyuk becomes an important person in the company and falls in love with Yoo Jin-ha. So why did Shin Tae-oh have to get involved and suffer?

"I understand what our Se-hyeon is worried about..."

Shin Tae-oh raised his hand toward Se-hyeon.

Startled by the sudden movement, Se-hyeon instinctively leaned back, causing Shin Tae-oh to pause. It was as if Shin Tae-oh had no intention of surprising him. He extended his hand forward into the air.

As Se-hyeon remained still, Shin Tae-oh's hand touched Se-hyeon's tie. Soon, his other hand joined in, gently adjusting the tie. Se-hyeon discreetly bit his lip, hiding his inner turmoil.

Even though it was not the warmth touching his skin, his heart strangely trembled. Moreover, he couldn't take his eyes off Shin Tae-oh's face, even as Shin Tae-oh looked down at his tie.

Why does he have to be so attractive that it affects me too?

"I'm worried too."

Shin Tae-oh said while straightening Se-hyeon's tie.

"I'm afraid I might lose it before I can express it properly."

Even as Shin Tae-oh's hand let go of his tie, Se-hyeon couldn't lift his head. He was afraid that if he did, his eyes would meet Shin Tae-oh's. It felt like those ambiguous words held some kind of significance.

"I allowed it with the confidence that I can handle it well. It's not because of Ha Jin-seong."

Shin Tae-oh grabbed and released Se-hyeon's shoulder before turning away.

"Let's go. Don't we have a tight schedule?"

Shin Tae-oh didn't seem to mind that Se-hyeon didn't immediately follow him and left the conference room first.

Lee Jin-ho, who had been waiting outside, followed him.

Left alone, Se-hyeon let out a soft sigh.

"What on earth is going on?"

***

"May I ask why I'm participating in this project too?"

Lee Jin-ho, who had followed Shin Tae-oh after waiting outside the conference room, called out to him.

Shin Tae-oh glanced back at the conference room where Se-hyeon was supposed to be. He recalled how he had naturally assumed that Se-hyeon wouldn't participate in the consortium.

He himself hadn't shown any indication, so why did he think Se-hyeon would refuse?

The old questions he had heard resurfaced in his mind. It felt like Se-hyeon knew him well, but...

"Did you hear everything?"

"No. But I had a guess."

"Well, guess this one too. Why did I make that choice?"

Shin Tae-oh didn't readily provide an answer to Lee Jin-ho. Instead, he playfully continued without revealing anything.

Ironically, Shin Tae-oh's expression remained stoic, as if he were colder than ice.

In his mind, Ha Min-hyuk's words had left no trace. It was filled entirely with Se-hyeon, leaving no room for anything else. The suspicion that Se-hyeon knew him well, the gentle gaze of Ha Jin-seong as he looked at Se-hyeon, and everything else.

To understand all of it at once, this consortium was the perfect opportunity.

"It's just catching two rabbits. We'll make money and have a chance to observe closely."

The consortium would be successful on its own, and he intended to keep a close eye on Ha Jin-seong while keeping Se-hyeon by his side. Although he had come as an observer this time, in the future, he didn't know in what capacity Ha Jin-seong would appear.

Shin Tae-oh said to Lee Jin-ho, "So we should keep him close enough to observe."

"What do you mean? What on earth are you... thinking?"

Lee Jin-ho muttered as he watched Shin Tae-oh leave without paying attention to his words.

***

Se-hyeon, who was finally able to leave work on time after a long time, walked through the lobby with a satisfied stride. It had been days of not knowing when he would leave work because he was always stuck to Shin Tae-oh, so he couldn't make separate plans for the evening. But today, he had some free time.

As soon as he got home, he planned to take a hot shower and crack open a can of beer.

I'll think about how to handle the mess Taenyang caused while stretching my legs at home.

If things don't go exactly according to the original plan, there's a slight detour he can take. And if the story can get back on track...

"Secretary Ahn."

"Assistant Manager Yoo Jin-ha?"

As Se-hyeon turned to see who was calling him, he felt a strange sensation when he saw Yoo Jin-ha approaching.

Why does it feel like it's been so long since I've seen them?

"It's been a while," Se-hyeon said.

Yoo Jin-ha seemed to share the same thought, as he greeted him with a faint smile.

"Yeah, it has. I didn't realize how hard it was to see Assistant Ahn. Sometimes I wondered if you were actually working at the same company."

They used to see each other every day when Shin Tae-oh was constantly delivering gifts to Yoo jin-ha. That's probably why even though they hadn't been apart for long in reality, it felt

like it had been a while.

"I have something to talk about. Do you have a moment?" Yoo Jin-ha looked around and pointed to a nearby cafe. Se-hyeon sighed and nodded. It seemed like his evening plans had gone down the drain.

***

"I've been carrying it with me, wondering when I could give it to you."

Yoo Jin-ha took a long box out of their bag and pushed it towards Se-hyeon.

"Should I give it to the CEO?"

So that's why they called me. Se-hyeon didn't think much of it and tried to gauge when it would be the best time to give it to Shin Tae-oh. Since they didn't see each other today, tomorrow morning would be the earliest.

"Yes? No? this is not for CEO" Se-hyeon replied.

However, when Yoo Jin-ha vigorously nodded, Se-hyeon's expression slightly wrinkled. He expressed his confusion right away, saying that it was for me, not Shin Tae-oh? He couldn't understand why Yoo jin-ha were giving it to him. Yoo Jin-ha hid a slightly awkward smile.

"And I also brought something to give to the CEO as well."

He took out a similar but different-coloured box. Two elongated boxes that seemed to be a perfect fit for pens.

"I've always been rejecting Tae-oh hyung's feelings. At least when he bought this, he must have thought of me... So, as a way to thank him, I bought this and wanted to greet him."

Yoo Jin-ha fiddled with the box and added a subtle comment.

"Will you reject it?"

Yoo Jin-ha had always rejected Shin Tae-oh's gifts. The reason was that it felt burdensome.

So, in reverse, perhaps Shin Tae-oh was doing the same. But that would only be known if Yoo jin-ha were given to the person in question.

Se-hyeon looked at the two boxes and remembered that the navy blue one was meant for Shin Tae-oh.

"I will deliver it."

Having acted as a bridge between the two of them in the past, if not a mediator, Se-hyeon accepted this situation similarly

And...

'I should return to Shin Tae-oh, who teased Yoo Jin-ha.'

Come to think of it, it seemed that this consortium was not the only thing tangled up. Shin Tae-oh was not yet at a point where his feelings for Yoo Jin-ha had cooled off. He had been making efforts to hold onto Yoo Jin-ha's heart, but lately, he hadn't seen that kind of behaviour from him.

Se-hyeon couldn't say for sure why that was. But it wasn't without reason.

'I have no intention of shaking up the original work.'

So, Se-hyeon hoped that Shin Tae-oh would playfully tease Yoo Jin-ha again, just like before.

'How nice... it would be.'

Se-hyeon couldn't understand why he felt a tinge of bitterness despite knowing all of this.

'I mustn't waver.'

If he could return everything to its original place, he could continue to live as an extra, an observer of this world. Then he could lead a stable life like he does now.

...That thought shattered into pieces the next morning, precisely with Shin Tae-oh's piercing gaze.

"Whose decision is it to accept the gift?"