TSG 40

Se-hyun lifted the hand that had been on 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’ll buy it.”

He spoke decisively when he made up his mind. Then, feeling that his explanation was lacking, he quickly added:

“I’ll treat you to a meal. At that restaurant.”

Shin Tae-oh’s answer was heard with laughter.

“Wait for me in front of your house tomorrow. Let’s have lunch together and then head to the office.”

That meant he didn’t have to come to work on time…

“Alright.”

He accepted it coolly.

“Okay then, that’s how it is…”

Shin Tae-oh got out of the car. Before Se-hyun’s hand reached the seatbelt, he quickly said:

“Since it’s getting late, take this car.”

Se-hyun obediently placed his hand, which was left hanging in the air, on the steering wheel. Only then did Shin Tae-oh seem to be satisfied and closed the car door. Not only that, he tapped on the window, urging him to leave quickly. Se-hyun, feeling a bit uneasy about it, started the engine anyway.

“That’s strange.”

He felt like he had forgotten something.

As Se-hyun drove out of the underground parking lot, he glanced at Shin Tae-oh reflected in the side mirror.

“I must be feeling uneasy because of Taenyang-i.”

The cause of this discomfort was put off to Shin Tae-oh.

Meanwhile, Lee Jin-ho, who was waiting to catch a taxi, hunched over.

“Triple, triple…”

He muttered about Shin Tae-oh’s promise to triple his usual overtime pay. Then, feeling bored, he blew on his hands with his white breath, but suddenly realized his situation and muttered with a self-deprecating expression on his face.

“Shall I quit?”

What’s the point of making money like this? His side is freezing…

⍣⍣⍣

Se-hyun waited for Shin Tae-oh in front of the parked car. He said he was going to Shin Tae-oh’s house, but Shin Tae-oh inevitably told him to stay at home.

“Is he bringing another car?”

That wouldn’t be a problem, but there was already Shin Tae-oh’s car parked in front of Se-hyun’s house. It wouldn’t be right for him to drive two cars alone, so had to drive and park one of them.

“I guess it doesn’t matter.”

Just coming here comfortably at night was already enough to be thankful for.

Se-hyun adjusted his shirt. It was his usual attire, but today it felt uncomfortable. He absentmindedly touched the collar and then suddenly glanced at his coat.

“How long ago did I buy this?”

He remembered hastily buying it while working. Perhaps because he had been wearing it since then, the sleeves were quite worn.

“Maybe I should have worn something else.”

He usually wore whatever he grabbed at home, but today he felt self-conscious about it.

“Should I change now?”

The white shirt, still unopened…

“Oh!”

He felt a presence and looked up, intending to give Shin Tae-oh a warm smile, but quickly composed himself.

“You’re here.”

“How long have you been waiting?”

Speaking informally again.

Knowing that they were speaking casually, but just now it felt like the kind of greeting you would give to a lover, rather than using informal language.

“I was waiting for you to come out on time.”

He was conscious of the friendly greeting, so his words came out in a stutter. Meanwhile, Shin Tae-oh looked at him, seemingly pondering. As he scrutinized Se-hyun from head to toe, Se-hyun felt increasingly uncomfortable.

“Why are you doing that?”

“It’s not right for you to come out and wait when it’s still cold.”

“But…”

You told me to wait in front of the house.

“What if you catch a cold? Yeah. Again. You’ll give your fourth favorite person, the chief secretary a hard time.”

The last sentence seemed to strain with added force.

“I’m sorry. I thought I would have to wait outside.”

“Then dress warmly.”

He seemed concerned about clothes too, just like Se-hyun.

“I’m sorry. I’ll go inside and change.”

“Let’s go in together.”

“What? No. Just wait a moment…”

“Here? Alone? Without a secretary?”

As Shin Tae-oh’s questions continued, Se-hyun couldn’t bear to leave him behind.

He didn’t want to bring him home…

If he did, it felt like he might not come out.

“It’s like old times.”

Shin Tae-oh took a step closer. Perhaps because of his long legs, each step was much longer than that of an average person.

“I used to think that whenever I looked at secretary Ahn’s face, it was just, as usual, calm and expressionless.”

As Shin Tae-oh stared intently at his face, Se-hyun covered his face with the back of his hand.

“However… ”

Did he perhaps notice something?

“It’s still the same.”

He muttered about his ears turning red being the same. Why was he playing such unnecessary tricks? And why even grab him like that…

“Aren’t you going in?”

“That’s why I didn’t know. I couldn’t even think of looking into your eyes from the beginning.”

Se-hyun couldn’t understand what Shin Tae-oh was trying to say.

So he couldn’t move, just staring directly into Shin Tae-oh’s eyes.

“You two seem close.”

Se-hyun turned his head at the voice from beside him.

“Mr. Ha Jin-seong?”

Pretending not to know, Se-hyun greeted Ha Jin-seong, who raised his hand in greeting.

“It’s not like I was passing by. I came to see you.”

At Ha Jin-seong’s kind explanation, Se-hyun glanced at Shin Tae-oh. He hadn’t mentioned that Ha Jin-seong had been at the front of the house before. So, Se-hyun had no explanation to give Shin Tae-oh about Ha Jin-seong ‘s current visit.

“Does Jin-sang-i have anything to do with my secretary?”

Shin Tae-oh turned his body, crossing his arms. Though it was only a slight turn of his body, it was enough to block the space between Se-hyun and Ha Jin-seong.

“I have nothing to say to you. Move.”

“No, I said he is my secretary.”

Shin Tae-oh shook his head as if that wasn’t the case, but Ha Jin-seong was no slouch either.

“A secretary, my ass. I have something to discuss with Ahn Se-hyun.

So, Ha Jin-seong, who was told to move aside, didn’t even spare a glance at Shin Tae-oh. From the beginning, he was a man who showed up on his own terms.

“I have something to ask first.”

He didn’t even care if Shin Tae-oh heard it.

“How did you know?”

“What are you talking about?”

“How did you… know about me?”

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

His question was about whether Se-hyun knew his secret, and he already knew what to say.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

From the beginning to the end, Se-hyun didn’t want to pretend to know his secret. He didn’t want to be involved by admitting he knew.

“You don’t know?”

Following Se-hyun’s words, Ha Jin-seong smirked. This time his eyes didn’t narrow. It wasn’t a joyful smile.

“It shouldn’t come out like that.”

Ha Jin-seong came one step closer. Ha Jin-seong’s gaze, unconcerned that Shin Tae-oh was blocking him, shifted. Not to Se-hyun but to Shin Taeoh.

“Then I’ll want you even more.”

He openly revealed his intention to steal Se-hyun from Shin Tae-oh.

“Our Jin-sang is quite greedy. Coveting what belongs to others.”

“Because it seems worth it.”

Ha Jin-seong smiled and did not push back even a bit. He wasn’t excited about the childish wordplay he had previously shared with Shin Tae-oh.

And even though he was technically the wanted secretary, Se-hyun sighed as he was caught between the two men.

‘What’s there to covet?’

What did I do?

Se-hyun would understand if Ha Jin-seong was acting abnormally obsessed with him for something, but all he did was spill the wine.

‘Why is this character so one-dimensional?

Dealing with the suddenly complex Shin Tae-oh these days, Ha Jin-seong seemed too transparent.

“Ahn Se-hyun.”

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

“Do you want reimbursement for the shirt you spilled wine on?”

Wah… This was so cheesy.

He clearly said he would pay for the laundry, but the cost of the shirt?

Se-hyun held his breath, considering his financial situation.

“I will pay for the laundry.”

“I threw it away.”

“…”

What kind of nonsense?

Ha Jin-seong smirked at Se-hyun.

“You don’t have to pay for the shirt, but become my secretary.”

After saving him, now he’s asking Se-hyun to take responsibility…

You will be taking responsibility from now on.

Still, Se-hyun was glad that he wasn’t the only one who heard it like before. Shin Tae-oh, who listened along with him, openly expressed his disbelief.

“That’s a lot of bullshit… Putting my precious secretary on some insignificant shirt.”

Ha Jin-seong smiled at Shin Tae-oh. He seemed genuinely happy now.

“You… How well do you know Ahn Se-hyun? You just hired him based on his resume, expecting him to work well. But would you regret it if I brought him along?”

Ha Jin-seong spoke while maintaining his crooked smile.

“Hire another secretary. You’re good at that kind of thing.”

Not content with just that, Ha Jin-seong poked Shin Tae-oh’s shoulder.

“How much longer do you think you can hold onto him by your side? Just let him go.”

Shin Tae-oh’s face hardened at his meaningful words. Se-hyun bit his lip as he watched Shin Tae-oh gradually lose his composure.

‘I can’t allow this anymore.’

He didn’t fully understand what Ha Jin-seong was saying now. But realizing that it was a provocative remark towards Shin Tae-oh, he couldn’t stay silent.

“Sir, let me explain…”

“Jin-sang-ah.”

It was the moment when Se-hyun grabbed Shin Tae-oh’s arm.

Little by little, an emotion spread across Shin Tae-oh’s expressionless face.

Since it was a pleasant smile, both Se-hyun and Ha Jin-seong stared at Shin Tae-oh strangely.

“Why wouldn’t I know Ahn Se-hyun?”

Shin Tae-oh regained his usual calmness. No, he seemed even calmer than usual?

Se-hyun was taken aback when Shin Tae-oh turned towards him.

Why was this guy’s gaze like that?

“How close are we? I heard Se-hyun call me Seung-nyang-i1?”

“!”

What to do?

There have been too many instances of him calling Shin Tae-oh Seung-nyang-i… Se-hyun had no idea when he got caught.