TSG 43

After confirming that Shin Tae-oh’s complexion had improved, there was no need to linger any longer. After tidying up the surroundings, Se-hyun stood by the entrance after Shin Tae-oh had taken the coffee he had prepared and drank it.

“I’ve kept my promise.”

He had provided the dishes and even allowed him to eat restaurant food, so he felt he had fulfilled his responsibility for the conversation they had yesterday and today.

“See you tomorrow.”

As always, he gave a neat but not excessive greeting. It was enough to maintain the boundary of being Shin Tae-oh’s secretary without being too distant.

“You’re annoying today.”

However, it seemed Shin Tae-oh’s mood hadn’t improved.

“The good time we had ended with a stiff farewell.”

‘I came because I was worried because he was my boss. Don’t assign any personal emotions to the good time we had.’

Although his duty was to speak as he thought and interpret the meaning accordingly, he found himself feeling unnecessarily defiant now.

“I wish it could be perfect until the end.”

‘It’s a perfect ending.’

Unable to take another step towards the entrance due to Shin Tae-oh’s dissatisfaction, he decided to ignore it and leave, but he could feel Shin Tae-oh’s gaze piercing through him, and it stirred up various frustrations inside him.

That Taenyang-i really…

“Bye. Tae-oh.”

He didn’t forget Shin Tae-oh’s request, and he bid farewell as he wished. Seeing Shin Tae-oh’s expression soften noticeably, he couldn’t help but feel a surge of mischief.

“Brush your teeth before going to bed. Otherwise, it will rot.”

“I told you not to act like my mother.”

As Shin Tae-oh sighed and rubbed his forehead, Se-hyun swiftly opened the entrance door.

“Goodbye.”

And before Shin Tae-oh could say anything, he closed the door. Se-hyun walked quickly and tried to increase the distance from his house in case he followed him.

He rushed to the bus stop and sat down heavily on the chair. As he cooled his heated breath with the chilly wind, he suddenly felt a sense of self-reproach, wondering what he was doing here.

“I came here for nothing. Absolutely nothing.”

Whether he came to detach or to attach.

Perhaps he needed to support Shin Tae-oh more.

“I shouldn’t blame anyone else. It’s my fault.”

Se-hyun leaned his head against the wall and let out a long sigh. As much as he felt a little more comfortable after meeting Shin Tae-oh, someone else got involved.

“Why is Ha Jin-seong like that?”

This wasn’t supposed to happen to him. Ha Jin-seong was supposed to follow Yoo Jin-ha around to obstruct him from taking over the project, as Ha Jin-seong always did when given orders.

But something was off.

It was already the second time he had come to his house.

He tilted his head as he slid off the wall.

“I knew he was a diligent jerk, but something seems off.”

He knew Ha Jin-seong was the type to take the lead instead of just following orders. So, there was nothing strange about whether it sparkled from the east or the west, but there was an uneasy feeling somewhere that Se-hyun couldn’t pinpoint.

Even though he thought he could let it go until later, he felt caught as if he hadn’t brushed his teeth before bed.

“What did I miss?”

He needed to figure out what he had missed before he could fully relax and sleep.

“Oh.”

It dawned on him.

“He’s probably…”

Did he go to Yoo Jin-ha?

⍣⍣⍣

“What’s wrong with you?”

Yoo Jin-hyun looked at Ha Jin-seong with a puzzled expression.

“It’s noisy.”

“It’s my studio. Why are you complaining about it being noisy?”

Ha Jin-seong sat down on the chair and pointed at the liquor, ignoring Yoo Jin-hyun’s shocked reaction.

“That one.”

“…Are you at a bar?”

This was clearly a studio. Yoo Jin-hyun just happened to have some drinks stocked neatly on one side, but Ha Jin-seong was shamelessly ordering as if he owned the place.

“No need for snacks.”

“No, I mean, what’s this place… Never mind, forget it.”

Shin Tae-oh or Ha Jin-seong.

Those who came and drank without permission or someone who just sat there and twiddled their thumbs were all the same. Nuisances.

Yoo Jin-hyun put down the liquor and a glass in front of Ha Jin-seong, thinking that it would be better to feed him quickly and send him off.

“Drink quickly and go.”

Yoo Jin-hyun, who showed that his patience was up to this point, brought out a beer. After opening the cap and taking a refreshing gulp, instead of expressing how refreshing it was, he spat out an annoyed curse.

“Do you have no hands or feet?”

It irritated Yoo Jin-hyun that Ha Jin-seong was just looking at the liquor and not drinking it.

“You have the energy to wander around fidgeting, but you don’t have the strength to open just one of these?”

“Ahn Se-hyun.”

While Yoo Jin-hyun was pouring the liquor roughly and showing off his frustration, Ha Jin-seong brought up a name.

“Who?”

“Shin Tae-oh’s secretary.”

“What’s wrong with him?”

When he asked who Ahn Se-hyun was upon hearing the name, it was because Ha Jin-seong was the one who asked about him. Yoo Jin-hyun asked back because he was curious because it was Ha Jin-seong who mentioned it, not Shin Tae-oh.

“How is he?”

“Why do you keep coming and asking about that person?”

Yoo Jin-hyun only looked at Ha Jin-seong as if he couldn’t understand, but didn’t say anything about Se-hyun.

“He seems observant.”

“All secretaries are like that.”

“Calm.”

“All secretaries are like that.”

“Quiet.”

“All secretaries are like that.”

Continuously dismissing Ha Jin-seong’s words, Yoo Jin-hyun unintentionally distanced himself due to the increasingly strange feeling.

“If I have such a person by my side, maybe I can work harder?”

“I guess you’ll have to work hard even if you don’t have a person like that, right? You don’t have to worry about Ha Min-hyuk, you could become the chairman. Therefore…”

Yoo Jin-hyun was frustrated as to why he didn’t seem to be listening. He didn’t think Ha Jin-sung would react to that.

“Why does he work with Shin Tae-oh?”

Having already concluded his thoughts, Ha Jin-seong did not even listen to Yoo Jin-hyun.

“So what if he works with Shin Tae-oh? What’s the big deal?”

“Call me when Shin Tae-oh and Ahn Se-hyun arrive here.”

“Why do I have to do that?”

Yoo Jin-hyun shook his head saying that he would never do that, but Ha Jin-seong stood up.

“I’m going to meet Ahn Se-hyun, so just do it. Ah.”

Ha Jin-seong immediately turned around as if he had forgotten something.

“Don’t put pheromones on Ahn Se-hyun. It stinks.”

Ha Jin-seong, who had said that much, left without even touching the glass. Yoo Jin-hyun, who was left alone, saw the door through which Ha Jin-seong left.

“This guy also treats my pheromones like foot odor.”

He hated both Shin Tae-oh and Ha Jin-seong. He hated them both.

⍣⍣⍣

Se-hyun looked around at the unfamiliar surroundings. It was a weekday, and he had come to the company where Ha Jin-seong worked, slightly earlier than lunchtime.

‘Let me just check.’

It was something he suddenly realized yesterday. So, Se-hyun came here to find out if Ha Jin-seong wanted to attack Yoo Jin-ha as he did, and in the meantime, I wanted to gain additional people.

It was simple to confirm.

“I came to meet Director Ha Jin-seong.”

“Have you made an appointment?”

“Please tell him it’s Ahn Se-hyun.”

He was thinking of asking Ha Jin-seong.

‘Because I can’t go to Yoo Jin-ha and ask if Ha Jin-seong visiting him.’

On the other hand, asking Ha Jin-seong if he was going to meet Yoo Jin-ha was somewhat strange, but it seemed like it could lead to a conversation a little easier.

In response to Se-hyun’s request, the receptionist picked up the receiver. After chatting with the other person a few times, the receptionist handed over an access card.

“If you turn right here, you’ll find the elevator. It’ll take you to the 16th floor.”

“Thank you.”

Se-hyun received the pass with a businesslike smile upon hearing the friendly explanation. Ha Jin-seong would be waiting for him, so he thought about what kind of conversation they would have in his head.

As Se-hyun was thinking about how he could sway Ha Jin-seong to get information from him, Shin Tae-oh came to mind.

He might still be in a meeting, but it would soon be lunchtime, so who knows. Se-hyun took out his phone and sent a message to Sin Tae-oh.

[Enjoy your meal.]

He made it clear by saying that he would not be having lunch with him. Satisfied with his decision, he was about to put his phone away when it buzzed with an incoming call.

“Hello, Chief.”

He thought it was Shin Tae-oh.

– Where are you?

“I’m outside. I’ll take care of something nearby and then go back.”

– Nearby? Ah, that’s… Great timing. I was just about to head over there… Let’s have lunch together.

Se-hyun half-turned to look outside when Lee Jin-ho said that he was usually too busy to eat together. It was nearby, but he didn’t know when the conversation with Ha Jin-seong would end. So instead of asking him to wait, Se-hyun thought it might be better to suggest eating together tomorrow.

“I might be short on time today.”

– Really? Then… Oh, right. How about we at least have coffee together? Tell me what you want, and I’ll order in advance.

“Sure. I’ll go for iced Americano then.”

– How long will it take for you to get here?

“Hmm… This is the intersection of GangX Station, so it’s not far.”

– I see.

Se-hyun ended the call with the chief secretary telling him to come slowly and looked down at his phone.

“Something feels off.”

While it was not unusual for him to ask various things, today felt different. There was no way the chief secretary asked this unless there was a reason why they had to eat together.

“Could it be the CEO who ordered it?”

If it was Sin Tae-oh who intervened, then this nonsensical situation would make sense all at once. But Sin Tae-oh’s reply that popped up in the message window made Se-hyun feel even more puzzled.

[I will eat deliciously.]

Seeing this, it didn’t seem likely.