chapter 51

"CEO?"

Se-hyeon called out to Shin Tae-oh as he noticed his unfocused gaze.

"Ah, what did you say?"

Shin Tae-oh lifted his head, and their eyes met. Shin Tae-oh focus still wasn't sharp. He had a tendency to be unpredictable, but he rarely got so lost in his thoughts like this.

"I'm talking about the venue for today's party. Seongha did the interior design."

Se-hyeon remembered seeing the photos when he was researching about it after receiving the invitation. He wanted to bring up this topic to schedule another meeting with Seongha and also casually mention today's charity party.

"Ah, Seongha."

Shin Tae-oh muttered Seongha's name a few times while Se-hyeon carefully observed his face. Was Tae-oh still...?

Until now, Shin Tae-oh had been consistently ignoring Yoo Jin-ha. But after receiving the surprise gift, he seemed shaken.

It seemed like the feelings of liking Yoo Jin-ha had resurfaced in Shin Tae-oh. If that was the case, the affectionate demeanour he had shown Se-hyeon all this time would probably disappear.

As I pressed the buttons in the elevator, I cautiously placed my hand over my heart, which was pounding in response to the thought that had just crossed my mind. What was this?...Anyway, it wasn't genuine to begin with.

Shin Tae-oh had shown two instances of showing interested reactions towards me. The first time was when he claimed to have fallen for me due to my heat cycle, displaying quite an emotional response.

The second time seemed to have no specific reason; his behaviour just seemed slightly different. But I didn't seriously consider it as genuine.

Moreover, I believed that my own wavering feelings were simply a natural occurrence that happened while being around Shin Tae-oh.

Come to think of it, I didn't say to Shin Tae-oh that yoo jin-ha also gave a gift to me I placed it aside without showing it to him. I wonder if he opened it and looked inside?

I'm not sure if he bought the same thing, but the gift from Yoo Jin-ha was a fountain pen. Despite mainly using my phone and tablet, I found it enjoyable to write with a fountain pen from time to time. The grip and writing experience were good.

I should do something in return. As I pondered on what to do, I noticed something in Shin Tae-oh's reflection in the elevator doors.

Se-hyeon's gaze was fixed on that spot, and Shin Tae-oh noticed it and adjusted his tie.

"Not bad."

It was the gift Se-hyeon had given him at the department store. Shin Tae-oh's expression softened slightly as he ran his hand over the tie. It seemed like he was reminiscing about the memory of buying the tie.

Until just now, he was lost in his own thoughts, appearing absent-minded. But now, he seemed to be back in the present, his emotions fluctuating.

Why are his emotions so turbulent like this?

Se-hyeon simply averted his gaze.

***

"Have a great time."

Se-hyeon bid farewell to Shin Tae-oh at the entrance. The attendant accompanying him stopped here. Unless there was something special, he wouldn't enter the party venue.

"You can come in with me if you want."

"It's alright. I'll wait here."

Se-hyeon replied, choosing to wait outside.

There was a separate waiting room arranged for the attendants. Se-hyeon intended to stay there and only sneak in to observe when the grand party was in full swing.

I shouldn't get caught up with Ha Jin-seong like I did last time when I said I would get a closer look.

This time, Se-hyeon planned to secretly watch from the sidelines, hiding among the crowd.

"If you need anything, please don't hesitate to contact me."

"Sure."

Se-hyeon emphasized once again to Shin Tae-oh that he wouldn't be accompanying him, and Shin Tae-oh turned away, seemingly helpless.

Se-hyeon frowned as he watched until Shin Tae-oh was no longer in sight.

You don't look well.

Shin Tae-oh's expression as he turned away appeared paler than usual.

'His lips are pale, and his breathing doesn't sound good... Is he feeling unwell?'

Se-hyeon realized belatedly that Shin Tae-oh didn't look good due to the subdued atmosphere compared to usual.

Se-hyeon, who was about to head to the waiting room, paused and looked at the spot where Shin Tae-oh had been. Even though he wasn't there now, it felt like his pheromones lingered in the air...

***

"Why are you alone?"

In response to Ha Jin-seong's question, Shin Tae-oh handed the donation amount he had written down to the staff member who was waiting. That was the format for today's party.

They would take the paper placed in the center of the table and write down their donation amount. Then they could give it to any staff member they saw around. They could do it once or multiple times.

"Why are you two together then?"

As Shin Tae-oh tucked the fountain pen into his pocket, he retorted with a hint of annoyance.

"Us?"

Ha Jin-seong smiled as he looked at the person sitting next to him, Ha Min-hyuk.

"We get along well these days."

"It would be awkward if your other younger sibling heard. What was his name again? Bear, I think."

[TL note: Because Ha Jin-woong (Ha jin-seong's biological younger brother) looks like a bear.]

Ha Jin-woong was not a bear, but Shin Tae-oh interpreted it differently.

"You're so kind, taking care of my brother. So where's the secretary?"

Ha Jin-seong got straight to the point. The fact that Shin Tae-oh was present meant that Sehyeon was likely nearby, but he couldn't see him.

"Now I'm getting curious."

As Shin Tae-oh spoke, Ha Jin-seong, who was taking out the donation paper, met his gaze.

"Do you really like him?"

At first, Shin Tae-oh thought it was a scheme to bring Se-hyeon along because he happened to be next to him. But as he observed Ha Jin-seong, he got the impression that he was quite serious.

Is he genuinely interested in Se-hyeon?

In response to Shin Tae-oh's question, Ha Jin-seong looked at Ha Min-hyuk, who was

standing up, and replied.

"I don't know how I ended up next to you, but I like him."

With Ha Jin-seong's answer, Shin Tae-oh's attention towards Se-hyeon went beyond a casual interest, paying attention to every little reaction from him.

"What can you gain from Se-hyeon?" Shin Tae-oh suddenly asked.

"What?"

"I can't understand, that's why."

Shin Tae-oh wondered if Se-hyeon was someone Ha Jin-seong could assign such significance to, even though Se-hyeon was more than just a secretary to Shin Tae-oh.

Ha Jin-seong looked at Shin Tae-oh, who wanted to see his true intentions, and chuckled softly.

"People...,"

Ha Jin-seong began, his words flowing at a pace neither fast nor slow.

In the silence that enveloped the table after Ha Min-hyuk disappeared, only the two of them remaining, Ha Jin-seong continued, "For someone who sees you and understands you better, your heartbeats gradually beat for them with without any thought of gain."

Ha Jin-seong's words resonated with Shin Tae-oh, who thought of Se-hyeon. Now that being together with him felt as natural as breathing, Ha Jin-seong found himself wanting to bring Se-hyeon along more and more. Now that Shin Tae-oh had already melted into Se-hyeon.

As thoughts of Se-hyeon crossed his mind, Ha Jin-seong's heart raced. The blood rushed through his body at an accelerated pace, causing his fingertips to tremble.

Feeling his body heating up, Ha Jin-seong couldn't bear it any longer and yearned to see Sehyeon.

"In that case, there's nothing I wouldn't do for that person. When they touch my heart, who cares about a different younger brother or step younger brother?"

Ha Jin-seong's laughter seemed contagious as Shin Tae-oh's lips curved up softly.

"That's what i don't understand" Shin Tae-oh said.

"If you're curious, ask Se-hyeon."

Ha Jin-seong got up from his seat.

"As always, spill it out this time too. You know, we're born to live alone in this world."

Ha Jin-seong lightly patted Shin Tae-oh's shoulder, showing a friend-like reaction for the first time, and soon made his way slowly into the party venue.

"I miss him when I talk about him."

Thirsty for Se-hyeon, Shin Tae-oh grabbed a visible bottle of champagne and started

drinking.

***

'At this point, I think I can sneak in for a moment.'

Se-hyeon, who had been wandering around the waiting room and various places, turned his steps towards the party venue.

'It's probably... the day that became an irreparable rift between Ha Jin-seong and Ha Minhyuk.' It was a day when Ha Min-hyuk accidentally discovered that Ha Jin-seong doesn't emit pheromones.

According to the original novel plot, Ha Min-hyuk must have seen Ha jin-seong spraying perfume in the restroom.

Since Ha Min-hyuk discovered his secret, Ha Jin-seong's feelings escalated from mere

jealousy and dislike to outright hatred. It was as if he wanted to kill Ha Min-hyuk, erase any evidence, and hide his flaws.

From that moment on, Ha Jin-seong went to great lengths beyond his previous tormenting methods to bring Ha Min-hyuk down. He didn't hesitate to employ dirty tactics that would tarnish the owner's name.

All for the sole purpose of destroying Ha Min-hyuk.

'I'll observe until just before that.' Se-hyeon couldn't help but imagine the plot written in the original novel unfolding.

The moment Ha Jin-seong turns serious is off-limits even from this side. However, until then, it might be quite a spectacle to behold.

'They'll probably growl at each other with Yoo Jin-ha caught in between. And our Taenyang is the original opportunist...'

Could Tae-oh’s heart have been swayed towards Yoo Jin-ha again because of the gift from last time?

Se-hyeon, who had found Jin-ha, who was undoubtedly separately invited by Ha Min-hyuk, hid his face behind someone else and looked for a suitable place to observe. As he turned his head to find a good vantage point...

"CEO Shin Tae-oh."

The moment Se-hyeon saw Shin Tae-oh, who appeared to be in an unusual state, he didn't hesitate and ran towards him. He had always watched over Shin Tae-oh, observing everything about him beyond his role as a secretary. Therefore, he immediately sensed that something

was different this time.

"Boss."

As he approached Shin Tae-oh, he knelt down on one knee. He looked at Shin Tae-oh's face, with sweat-drenched hair, and then glanced at his cheek. As Se-hyeon covertly touched the sweat flowing down Shin Tae-oh's cheek with the back of his hand, he flinched.

"It's hot."

His skin was radiating heat.

Se-hyeon placed his hand on Shin Tae-oh's stooped shoulder. The pheromones emanating from him were as unusual as the simmering heat. The pheromones that were currently emanating from him were still faint, but Se-hyeon didn't know when they might explode.

As soon as Se-hyeon noticed Shin Tae-oh's condition, he looked around his surroundings.

After identifying the location of the exit, he called out to Shin Tae-oh.

"Boss, it's me, your secretary."

Shin Tae-oh turned his head at Se-hyeon's low voice. It was just that his face had become slightly flushed, but even that small change felt overwhelming to Se-hyeon, causing his heart to race.

Shin Tae-oh's lips parted, revealing a breath filled with heat, and his wet, red tongue became visible.

"I'm thirsty."

Thirsty... You're saying you're thirsty. Your mouth is wet right now.