TSG 17

‘How many hours did I sleep? It doesn’t seem like even two…’

Se-hyun rubbed his stiff eyes. He had hardly fallen asleep in the early morning due to drinking a lot of coffee yesterday, so his entire body felt limp and exhausted.

Se-hyun would have liked to curl up somewhere and sleep if he could, but Shin Tae-oh had a lot on his schedule today, so he was destined to follow along.

‘I have to be especially alert today.’

Because today was the day when the characters from the original work gathered together.

Shin Tae-oh and Yoo Jin-ha visited a new product introduction at the company where Ha Min-hyuk works. It will be an exciting moment with the appearance of Ha Jin-seong and Ha Jin-woong, two villains who can never be left out.

‘Ha Jin-seong, Ha Jin-woong.’

The two with the same last name were brothers. So, including Ha Min-hyun, they were three brothers, and the reason why the above two were classified as villains was simple.

Because Ha Min-hyuk was an illegitimate child born to his father from another Omega.

So, although he was always in a position of being bullied, he steadfastly maintained his position and eventually pushed out his two older brothers. Starting with this new product presentation, Ha Min-hyuk will be in charge of a bigger project and will gain the strength to fight Ha Jin-seong.

There was only one thing for Se-hyun to do in the fight between the brothers.

“Defending Taenyang-i in the fight.”

Se-hyun strengthened his will as he adjusted his tie with the reflection in the elevator. Yoo Jin-ha was Ha Min-hyuk’s lover, so it could not be helped, but Shin Tae-oh was not.

Although Shin Tae-oh was just a minor character in the story who was not involved in their conflict, Se-hyun was anxious.

“I have to protect him.”

Since he was the only one who knew the original work.

So, shaking off his sleepiness and sharpening his focus, Se-hyun descended from the elevator with a determined gaze.

“Good morning.”

Shin Tae-oh, who had completed all preparations and was waiting, gave Se-hyun an odd expression when he saw him walk in.

“You’re different than usual.”

“Is that so?”

Usually, if something was different from usual, people would ask if they had trouble sleeping or what specifically felt different. However, Se-hyun casually brushed it off. Each moment of conversation like this had the potential to blur the line between the superior and the secretary. So, he swallowed a different response…

“You look like you’re going off to war somewhere. You look strangely combative?”

Se-hyun was a little embarrassed because Shin Tae-oh was so aware of his condition.

“No.”

Se-hyun, who lied to avoid the situation, hoped that Shin Tae-oh would just let this conversation pass. He couldn’t bring himself to say something like, ‘I’m trying to protect you.’

“Well. If Secretary Ahn says so, then so be it.”

It was more suspicious that he passed on more quickly than expected, but for now, Se-hyun stepped aside. Shin Tae-oh, who entered the room, didn’t just pass by but turned to face Se-hyun.

“Do you feel like I’m lacking something today?”

Implying that it might be good to check before leaving home, Se-hyun took a close look at Shin Tae-oh’s face.

The handsome face he saw every day passed the check. The suit that emphasized his physique and the tie that complemented his personal color were a perfect combination.

“No, there isn’t.”

“How about comparing myself to someone else?”

Why would he want to compare himself to someone else? Although it was a bit cheesy, Se-hyun provided the answer he wanted to hear.

“You are the most coolest, sir.”

“That sounds strange.”

“Yes?”

He gave the answer Sin Tae-oh wanted to hear, so why did it sound strange to him? It was beyond Se-hyun’s understanding.

“You said I was cool last time, but do you have any other compliments?”

Admiration and cool… Well, Se-hyun did give that kind of compliment. But Shin Tae-oh acted as if that wasn’t enough. Now that it had come to this, he needed to come up with a different compliment. What else could he say?

“You are handsome.”

After all, simple compliments were often effective.

“That’s so boring.”

Shin Tae-oh shook his head as if he had heard this too many times.

“Anything else?”

The corners of his mouth lifted and dropped in satisfaction at the boring compliment.

 

⍣⍣⍣

“Hello, Sir.”

Yoo Jin-ha was talking with coworkers when he noticed Shin Tae-oh and approached him. Then, one by one, others followed suit and greeted him, and Shin Tae-oh pointed inside.

“Why are you waiting here instead of going in first?”

“I was waiting for you, sir.”

“Why?”

The office workers stared at each other in confusion when Shin Tae-oh responded dismissively.

If the Chief Secretary was here, he would lighten the mood, but unfortunately, he wasn’t.

“Didn’t the chief secretary come with you?”

Shin Tae-oh answered the team leader’s question as he walked, unable to bear the awkwardness.

“He’s not coming because he’s going to buy sunflowers.”

“Sun…flower?”

The team leader asked in confusion, but Shin Tae-oh walked away as if he had nothing more to say.

Se-hyun just looked at Shin Tae-oh’s back without any particular thoughts. There were many times when the chief secretary was away to get a piece of artwork, so Se-hyun thought it would be the same this time.

The change in space became apparent as they walked on the floor. Se-hyun realized they had reached a hall when he passed through the marble and then stepped on a carpet with considerable cushioning.

The floor had softened with the cushioning, but Se-hyun’s body tensed like thorns. As Se-hyun was looking around to see if there were any characters from the original, he suddenly felt someone grabbed his arm.

“Excuse me… ”

“What’s the matter?”

Se-hyun asked while looking down at Yoo Jin-ha, who was holding his arm. Yoo Jin-ha’s pupils became darker than usual for a brief while when they entered the hall and the lights dimmed.

“About that item…”

Se-hyun leaned towards Yoo Jin-ha as he was muttering in a low voice so that others could not hear.

“Did you return it well?”

“If you mean the coffee machine, I already informed the CEO.”

And it’s at my house.

Se-hyun refrained from saying that he had brewed a cup as soon as he woke up in the morning because there was no reason to disclose that information.

“Did he happen to say anything else?”

“Do you have any concerns?”

“No. It’s not like that… This is my first time receiving something and giving it back, so I feel sorry.”

“It would be best to tell the CEO directly about that.”

Se-hyun didn’t think it was appropriate for him to intervene and convey that part.

“I’m sorry.”

Se-hyun stood up without saying anything as Yoo Jin-ha realized his mistake and apologized. He did that since he was not Yoo Jin-ha’s secretary and had no obligation to consider Yoo Jin-ha’s feelings.

“And thank you.”

However, Se-hyun couldn’t simply let the expression of gratitude pass. Yoo Jin-ha glanced briefly in another direction as Se-hyun looked at him with questioning eyes. He seemed to be trying to hide his embarrassment.

Se-hyun took a step back as he noticed a tinge of blush on Yoo Jin-ha’s cheeks. Se-hyun was taken aback by the warmth on his back, while Yoo Jin-ha continued speaking without noticing the approaching figure as he looked elsewhere.

“I ate the porridge and medicine you bought that day… ”

“Mr. Yoo Jin-ha.”

Shin Tae-oh was standing behind Se-hyun when he heard the voice reverberating down his back.

“Your team is waiting over there.”

“I’m sorry.”

“No need to apologize. I’m telling you to go because everyone seemed to be waiting for you.”

Shin Tae-oh suddenly lost his businesslike expression and comforted Yoo Jin-ha with a friendly tone. As expected, his voice sounded gentler when directed at Yoo Jin-ha. Se-hyun straightened up, moving his body away from the warmth against his back.

“I’ll buy you coffee later.”

Yoo Jin-ha hurriedly said to Se-hyun and rushed over to where the team members were waiting. Se-hyun felt curious about Shin Tae-oh’s intentions as he looked at him. Why did he send Yoo Jin-ha ahead if they were going to sit together anyway?

“Did you buy Jin-ha some porridge and medicine?”

“Yes. I gave them to him when I went to pick up the coffee machine.”

“How kind. My secretary is very kind.”

When he saw Shin Tae-oh’s face, which seemed to have some strange meaning, Shin Tae-oh turned his gaze away in a different direction.

“We are this way.”

The spot he pointed to was not the one Se-hyun had expected. Se-hyun hadn’t even fully understood when the positions changed when Shin Tae-oh moved hastily, so Se-hyun picked up his phone and followed him. He hurriedly sent a message to the chief secretary saying that their position had changed, but there was no reply.

Meanwhile, it was clear that the plane had entered the clouds… The chief secretary’s vision was blurry as he looked at the hazy surroundings, which seemed like fog inside the clouds.

He was flying to another country because his superior suddenly ordered him to buy sunflowers.

“Why do I have to go all the way to the Netherlands to buy sunflowers?”

Lee Jin-ho, the chief secretary, frowned in frustration as he remembered the instruction to buy a sunflower painting and take down the painting that covered the safe.

An overseas business trip? Going there and taking some time to explore? It wouldn’t be so unfair if there were such plans. However, he had to fly in, purchase the reserved artwork, and then fly back. The chief secretary was writhing in pain due to the tight schedule and the shortage of time for meals other than in-flight meals.

He picked up his cell phone, which was on airplane mode and couldn’t receive any communication, and wrote down a message for Shin Tae-oh.

“You sunflower-like human. Shiver in the clear night while the stars shine and live alone for the rest of your life.”

He expressed his frustration by repeating the same curse with an unhappy heart.