Chapter 40: Chapter 40

The Country Life Diary of a Gangster's Secretary - c40

This chapter is paid for by Nemuru!

“There was no mention of going this far.”

Hyeseong stared out the window at the completely changed scenery. A wide river could be seen nearby, and trees lined the road along it.

“You didn’t even ask where we were going.”

Ihyeok sometimes had a childlike side. It wasn’t wrong to say that, so Hyeseong kept his mouth shut. After driving a bit further along the river, a luxurious and tall building appeared in the distance. It was a high-end restaurant right in front of the river, also currently popular on social media for its beautiful interior and scenic river views.

Of course, that fame also started gaining immense popularity as a dating course for couples. Hyeseong wondered anew why Ihyeok had brought him here.

“Why here?”

“You complained before that I only fed you soup.”

Ihyeok laughed playfully and entered the restaurant first. Hyeseong muttered a small “I see” and followed behind him.

The store had a cafe on the 1st and 2nd floors, and the restaurant was on the 3rd floor. When they took the elevator up, an employee waiting in front greeted Ihyeok.

“You’ve arrived, CEO. I was informed. Let’s go to the back.”

Perhaps he had contacted them in advance, as the employee led the two to the very back seat. Meanwhile, gazes poured out from other tables where people were dining. They all instinctively recognized the overwhelmingly imposing dominant alpha.

“Please wait a moment, and we will prepare the food right away.”

The employee bowed his head and disappeared.

“This place must be really expensive.”

That was Hyeseong’s impression after looking around. The restaurant hall interior was completely open, making it incredibly spacious. The customers who came here mostly wore formal attire like suits and dresses rather than comfortable clothing. Also, classical melodies played by an orchestra spread faintly from one side.

“I’m not telling you to pay. Don’t worry. Your CEO is loaded.”

“You’re not my CEO anymore.”

If he was going to bring him to a place like this, he should have given a heads up at least. Hyeseong was wearing jeans, a knit top, and a hood zip-up. His only schedule was visiting Doosung’s office, but now he regretted not dressing up more.

Not long after the employee disappeared, the food was prepared right away. First, a savory soup and salad came out as appetizers, followed by a well-grilled steak as the main course.

“Eat a lot. I wanted to bring you here.”

Ihyeok’s words rang in Hyeseong’s ears as he cut the steak weakly. Hyeseong lightly bit his lip and carefully looked at him again.

“Why?”

Wherever he looked, the customers were all couples and families. As if proving this place’s fame as a dating spot, the tables next to Hyeseong and behind him were all filled with couples gazing at each other lovingly.

“I realized that while working, I never properly bought you a meal. It doesn’t make sense that I couldn’t treat my competent secretary to a proper dinner at a place like this.”

During their gang days, they couldn’t even imagine coming to such a luxurious place, and when Ihyeok became the head of Taesung Construction, they were both too busy with work to leisurely have meals together. As the CEO, Ihyeok always had many dinner and drinking appointments, making it even harder to find time.

Moreover, even when they managed to have a meal, they only went to the usual restaurants or bars, so they had never come to a place like this with just the two of them.

“Ah…”

Hyeseong’s gaze turned to the steak with blood oozing out. What was he expecting? No, why did he expect anything in the first place? Hyeseong hated himself for having these feelings emerge despite his resolve not to.

“Please eat too.”

He shouldn’t have followed him after all. Hyeseong resented himself for not being able to refuse getting in, for getting into that car in the first place at the bus stop.

It was when the main course finished and they were waiting for dessert. Hyeseong left his seat under the pretext of going to the restroom.

“Haa.”

Ihyeok’s pheromones subtly kept flowing out, causing a gradual headache. Fortunately, it wasn’t severe, but Hyeseong splashed cold water on his face, thinking he needed to stay alert.

And as he was leaving the restroom to return to his seat, Hyeseong’s steps came to a halt.

“…”

A beautiful woman in an elegant red dress was standing next to Ihyeok. Whoever she was, she wasn’t in Hyeseong’s data, so she seemed to be Ihyeok’s personal acquaintance. The two were talking comfortably with smiles, and the woman lightly tapped Ihyeok’s shoulder while speaking.

Strangely, Hyeseong’s feet wouldn’t move at the sight. His own attire felt extremely shabby as he looked down.

A sudden thought occurred to him. If Hyeseong hadn’t met Ihyeok that day. If they had no connection and Hyeseong hadn’t gone to work under him, could he have been on equal footing with Ihyeok?

If he hadn’t gotten involved with Ihyeok and had just graduated college normally and started working at an average company, could he have become someone who could talk comfortably with Ihyeok without reservation like that woman?

Hyeseong shook his head and only returned to his seat after the woman left.

“The dessert here is delicious. They serve short cake, but it’s not too sweet. You don’t like sweet things.”

“Yes.”

As Ihyeok said, the cake was really soft. It was delicious because it wasn’t sweet, and the strawberries used as the main ingredient were very fresh and tart.

After paying and leaving, Hyeseong flatly refused Ihyeok’s suggestion to go to the cafe downstairs and stay for a bit.

“Dohyun is waiting.”

“He’s not a little kid. Do you have to take care of him like that?”

Ihyeok retorted as if displeased, but Hyeseong didn’t even meet his eyes.

“You said you have to go back to Seoul for work. Let’s go.”

With Hyeseong’s adamant attitude, Ihyeok had no choice but to get in the car. By the time they finished eating and came out, the sky had completely darkened. Hyeseong remained silent during the drive to his house. Ihyeok occasionally glanced at him from the corner of his eye as he drove.

“Hyeseong-ah.”

“Yes.”

“Are you unwell?”

“No.”

This was all there was even when trying to make conversation. Since he only responded with yes or no, the conversation didn’t flow easily, and Ihyeok didn’t try to talk anymore, thinking Hyeseong must be tired.

After driving for several tens of minutes, they arrived in front of Hyeseong’s house.

“Go in safely.”

Hyeseong unbuckled his seatbelt but didn’t get out right away. After pondering something deeply for a moment, he eventually looked at Ihyeok.

“CEO.”

“Yeah?”

“Even if you do this, I’m not going back to Taesung.”

“…”

“Even if you say you’re not doing this to me because you want that, honestly, it makes me uncomfortable from my perspective.”

Hyeseong’s voice was low and his expression serious. Before long, Ihyeok’s face also turned cold.

“Think about it. If the CEO keeps hanging around an employee who quit, does that seem normal?”

“Cheon Hyeseong.”

Ihyeok’s deeply lowered voice and calling him by his full name. Hyeseong’s body flinched for a moment at the chilling tone.

“In the first place, even if there are other reasons for you taking the TF team leader position and moving here, I’m uncomfortable with all of it.”

Hyeseong tightly gripped his clasped hands. Who knew it would be this hard to say things he didn’t mean? Hyeseong realized anew. But he couldn’t delay any longer. It was time to let go of thoughts like indulging just this once or that it was okay once in a while.

When it came to solving any problem, Hyeseong’s preferred method was to completely cut off the root cause. So he had to quickly sort out his feelings for Ihyeok, and these words were necessary for that.

“I didn’t get a chance to tell you all this time, but I thought I should say it.”

Suddenly, the image of Ihyeok together with the woman adorned in a luxurious dress and accessories at the restaurant earlier came to mind. Ihyeok might also end up with someone lovely like that who could be of help to Taesung.

Although arranged marriages sound outdated these days, it was still rampant in their world. In fact, even when Hyeseong was a secretary, marriage meetings would pour in for Ihyeok like a flood. Back then, Ihyeok turned them all down without looking back, but how long could he keep doing that?

Anyway, one thing was certain – the person by his side would not be Hyeseong. It was an unattainable heart and feeling. Perhaps manifesting as an omega was just an excuse. Hyeseong had run away. Because he didn’t want to get hurt by unrequited feelings.

“Cheon Hyeseong, do you mean that? That I make you uncomfortable?”

“…”

“Answer me.”

“Yes.”

So Hyeseong was desperately running away even now.

“Look me in the eye and answer.”

Hyeseong slowly raised his head and met Ihyeok’s gaze. Anger, disappointment, and a hurt emotion were embedded in those pitch-black eyes. Hyeseong gripped his hands even tighter. Why did he have such a look in his eyes? It was Hyeseong who was hurt just by his existence.

“I’ll get off. Have a safe trip back to Seoul.”

Hyeseong got out of the car and went into the house without looking back.

“Haa.”

Ihyeok let out a sigh, making a wry face as he watched Hyeseong’s retreating back.

“Why are you releasing pheromones while saying things like that?”

The sweet pheromones Hyeseong had faintly emitted lingered in the car.

This chapter is paid for by Nemuru!@@novelbin@@