TPG 6
by Cherry“Are you new here?”
When someone spoke to him, Lee Si-woo turned around and was quite surprised.
He resembled Han Soo-hyeok. But that was just the impression at first glance, and looking closely, Si-woo couldn’t understand why he had thought they looked alike—they were different.
Unlike the static Han Soo-hyeok, he was dynamic.
Unlike the rigid Han Soo-hyeok, he was flexible.
Unlike the aloof Han Soo-hyeok, he had a friendly image.
He was someone who had a similar face to Han Soo-hyeok but with a completely opposite character.
“Hello. I’m Lee Si-woo.”
Moreover, just as he had known who Han Soo-hyeok was, Si-woo also knew who this man was.
Han Jeong-hyeon.
Han Soo-hyeok’s half-brother.
When he had learned that Han Soo-hyeok was getting married, Si-woo had mindlessly searched for articles about him. Back then, there had been quite a few stories about Han Jeong-hyeon, who was scheduled to be appointed as vice chairman at the time.
He had felt puzzled by the fact that the group’s successor was Han Jeong-hyeon, not Han Soo-hyeok. Even though he was the eldest son, their father had arranged meetings with Han Soo-hyeok, saying Jeong-hyeon lacked ability. They had later viewed Han Soo-hyeok as the group’s successor, but as far as Si-woo knew, Han Jeong-hyeon was someone who hadn’t stood out.
“What’s your background?”
“This is my first job.”
“For a newcomer to enter here…”
At his look that said this wouldn’t happen unless it was nepotism, Si-woo acted as if he knew nothing. It wasn’t wrong. Even so, there would be nothing good about openly showing it. So talking with Han Jeong-hyeon would only put him at a disadvantage.
“Do you like americano? Or latte?”
At Han Jeong-hyeon’s question, Si-woo didn’t choose either and just looked at him.
“I was going to buy some next time I come.”
“I like ssanghwa tea.”
Han Jeong-hyeon’s smiling face hardened.
***
“Personal secretary?”
Lee Si-woo asked in surprise as soon as he heard about his job assignment from General Manager Yoo. She rolled her eyes briefly, then shrugged and answered.
“It’s the CEO’s instruction.”
“What about other personal secretaries besides me?”
“There aren’t any.”
He sighed inwardly at her coldly clean response.
“You just need to stay by the CEO’s side and manage his schedule, and we’ll handle the rest of the work here.”
The secretary director spoke as if it was no big deal.
“The most important thing is that you must never take your eyes off the CEO.”
He wondered if it was right for him, a secretary who had just started work, to be entrusted with such weighty duties.
Perhaps sensing his worry, a smile appeared on General Manager Yoo’s lips.
“Don’t trust yourself, trust the CEO.”
“The CEO…”
He could say that Han Soo-hyeok was trustworthy, but he still felt hesitant.
“If you still can’t feel at ease, watch the CEO for today.”
General Manager Yoo seemed to have finished what she wanted to say and got up from her seat. Then she gently patted his shoulder and quickly disappeared.
“Watch the CEO?”
Lee Si-woo repeated General Manager Yoo’s words and found his head tilting without realizing it.
* * *
The more Lee Si-woo looked, the more perfect Han Soo-hyeok seemed. His straight shoulder line, the solid fall of his waist line, even his gaze that looked comfortable yet overflowed with tension.
The veins on his wrist seemed less like traces of rough labor and more like his strong will projected onto his skin. Every time he raised his arm to pick up documents, the movement was flexible only as much as necessary.
Looking at that person, Si-woo didn’t even think he would make a mistake. Then his eyes met with Han Soo-hyeok’s. Along with that, his heart soared and sank, and he quickly lowered his head to hide it. In Han Soo-hyeok’s calm gaze, he newly realized where he was.
“Amazing.”
He had really gotten a job.
Yesterday, he had been too distracted by the fact that he had regressed, but today was different. There was a quiet certainty washing over him. He had died in a traffic accident and returned to the past.
If it hadn’t been that time when he was meeting Han Soo-hyeok for an arranged date, he might have found it hard to suppress his confusion. Even so, to think that he had met Han Soo-hyeok again—who would have been just a passing connection—and requested employment from him, and even proposed an engagement.
“I really wasn’t in my right mind.”
Along with the shame that washed over him, Si-woo also felt a strange sense of relief.
Since meeting him, the world had approached him solidly and clearly. Perhaps the reason he returned was here.
What’s your method for breaking off the engagement?
Han Soo-hyeok’s question passed through his mind.
For him to become that person’s stain—and if that was a good-looking justification…
His eyes met with Han Soo-hyeok as he came out of the CEO’s office. Just as Si-woo felt like he might be sucked into those gray eyes, Han Soo-hyeok’s head slowly turned. He put on his jacket and greeted the secretaries.
“Enjoy your meal.”
As Han Soo-hyeok came out, Si-woo quickly followed him.
***
Upon entering the Korean restaurant, a subtle ginkgo tree fragrance and tranquil atmosphere enveloped them. The floor was a glossy lacquered wooden floor, and the low ceiling exposed the rafters of a traditional hanok.
On the warm ondol floor, heated floor-sitting tables were placed, topped with neatly arranged lacquered trays that had an elegant yet refined glow without being flashy.
“How is this place?”
“It’s nice.”
It overflowed with a different charm from the snack bar they had visited in the morning.
“I knew you’d like it.”
A little later, a staff member slightly opened the sliding door and came out, carefully placing seasonal side dishes in mother-of-pearl patterned bowls, ttukbaegi bulgogi, and dried yellow croaker. The savory steam from the soybean paste soup slowly danced upward.
Si-woo had picked up his spoon but wasn’t really eating, so Han Soo-hyeok said:
“You ate fine this morning. Why aren’t you eating? Should I put some side dishes on your rice?”
“…Is this really a conversation between a CEO and secretary?”
“We were CEO and secretary this morning too. Give me your spoon.”
When Han Soo-hyeok moved to put side dishes on his rice himself, Si-woo unconsciously extended his spoon. He looked at him as he placed dried yellow croaker on it.
“Should I add rice too?”
“Would this really be appropriate between a CEO and secretary?”
“Do you know why I made you my only personal secretary?”
It was a question that had been worrying and puzzling him all along.
“Because I don’t want to worry about others.”
Lee Si-woo put the dried yellow croaker in his mouth.
“If you have something to say, speak comfortably. I won’t stop you from doing that much.”
“You’re saying to eat comfortably in a roundabout way.”
“If you know, then eat.”
Even without Han Soo-hyeok saying it, once Si-woo tasted it, it became hard to resist. As his appetite returned and he started eating, Han Soo-hyeok ate along with him. Just as the mushroom fragrance rose from the rice and he was about to smile naturally—
“Let’s date.”
“Cough“
Rice grains flew out.
“I’m sorry.”
While sweeping the scattered rice grains to one side, Si-woo glanced at Han Soo-hyeok. He wasn’t frowning, but his expressionless eyes looking at the bowl made Si-woo even more embarrassed. So he hurriedly moved his hands.
He could somehow pick out just the parts with side dishes on them, but what about the soup Han Soo-hyeok was drinking?
“We’ll proceed as slowly as possible. That way, those around us won’t rush either.”
Now Si-woo understood what Han Soo-hyeok meant. They would develop feelings for each other and start dating, then bring up engagement. After that, if they talked about marriage, they could buy plenty of time.
“Just this morning I thought you wouldn’t accept.”
But he was curious about why Han Soo-hyeok’s thoughts had changed in just half a day.
“I didn’t say let’s get engaged.”
“You said let’s date.”
“Engagement is different.”
“I thought it was the same thing.”
He was someone Si-woo felt like he understood, yet didn’t understand.
While watching his mood, Si-woo picked up his spoon, and only the occasional sound of utensils clinking rang out.
“I’ve been thinking.”
He has someone to marry. But if Si-woo brought up engagement and prevented him from meeting that person, that would be wrong. He subtly presented a method that wouldn’t cause Han Soo-hyeok any harm.
“I’m going to act badly.”
Han Soo-hyeok’s chopsticks stopped in mid-air.
“What are you thinking this time?”
“A method to break off the engagement.”
Instead of the perfect Han Soo-hyeok, they could find the cause in Si-woo. Rather than focusing on his family circumstances, it was simpler to focus on himself as justification.
“I’m going to try being the villain.”
“Let’s eat.”
It would probably take time to persuade Han Soo-hyeok.
***
When Han Soo-hyeok returned to his office, there was a man waiting. That man with particularly broad shoulders caught the eye with his angular jawline. While Si-woo was trying to remember where he’d seen this man—with his strong impression due to his thick eyebrows—he held out a paper bag to Han Soo-hyeok.
“I brought lunch.”
While he was taking out whatever was inside, Han Soo-hyeok took off his coat. And the moment Si-woo saw the sandwich taken from the paper bag, he remembered who the man was.
It’s CEO Kim Tae-shin.
He had seen an article about him. In a business interview article where he was introduced as a department store CEO.
Department store CEO… Then where was Han Soo-hyeok at that time?
“You should know that only the general manager takes care of the CEO.”
“I ate.”
“What?”
Kim Tae-shin raised his voice in surprise, then quickly closed his mouth. After briefly checking outside and confirming that no one was looking this way, he looked at the sandwich regretfully.
“If I’d known you’d eaten, I wouldn’t have bought this separately. Oh, you have eaten?”
When Kim Tae-shin noticed Si-woo, he held out the sandwich.
“I’m Lee Si-woo, who started working today. Please call me Secretary Lee. And thank you for the sandwich…”
Just as Lee Si-woo was about to quickly accept it, since it would be awkward to refuse, a hand came in the middle and took the sandwich.
“We ate together.”
While watching the sandwich fly through the air, Si-woo made direct eye contact with Kim Tae-shin.