TSG 6

Shin Tae-oh’s response came faster than Se-hyun’s contemplation.

“I don’t do one-night stands.”

Seriously. Se-hyun thought Shin Tae-oh was a pervert when he was looking for a hotel, but he had no idea he would hit him from behind like this.

“If it feels right, I want to hug and sleep, but I don’t really understand that order. I can’t imagine it. If I like the person, I consider whether we can have a future together.”

Was Shin Tae-oh like that?

“I think about things like talking and laughing while looking into each other’s eyes, having a meal, and sleeping together. One-night stands don’t have that kind of future.”

You can think that way.

“Considering the emptiness you’ll feel the next morning, it’s better not to do anything at all.”

“Oh…”

He had a different perspective, and considering that it was Shin Tae-oh’s own standard, it wasn’t entirely incomprehensible. So, did he give such a gift to Yoo Jin-ha for the same reason?

If he sent gifts with the expectation of Yoo Jin-ha wearing gloves or eating cake together, then the events unfolded so far were connected.

I thought it was just a stunt, but I was getting more and more confused.

Shin Tae-oh has feelings for Yoo Jin-ha. So, he expressed his feelings to Yoo Jin-ha by sending gifts, and when things weren’t going well with Ha Min-hyuk, he actively revealed his feelings to Yoo Jin-ha, thinking it was an opportunity. And in the end, he acknowledged Yoo Jin-ha and Ha Min-hyuk’s love and left coolly.

“What were you just thinking?”

In response to Shin Tae-oh’s question, Se-hyun quickly raised his head and took a moment to decide what to say before answering.

“I thought it was cool.”

“Cool…?”

To be more precise, it was, ‘Was he this kind of character?’

He felt a little sorry for thinking of Shin Tae-oh as pathetic.

‘You’re really a decent guy.’

At this point, Se-hyun felt even more sorry for Shin Tae-oh. Normally, the idea of keeping someone who had it all as a sub-character was acceptable, but wasn’t this going too far? If he were the author of this novel, he would pick him up and give him to someone, no matter who it was. Everything about him was good, and even the minor flaw of dedicating himself to Yoo Jin-ha didn’t seem so bad now. Se-hyun couldn’t find any faults anymore.

Since he was that kind of guy, it would have been nice to meet someone who loved him, but Se-hyun couldn’t help but feel sorry for him.

Anyway, having asked all the questions he was curious about, Se-hyun drank the wine without any lingering feelings. He didn’t know what kind of stone he had thrown.

“Well… Am I…”

As Shin Tae-oh kept dragging on what he was trying to say, a different atmosphere flowed in.

“Am I not good enough?”

If it was a question about his actions towards Yoo Jin-ha, Se-hyun could proudly shout that it was more than enough.

“…I’m sorry. I don’t know what you mean.”

Se-hyun pretended not to know and lowered his head. I don’t know anything. I have no thoughts about your petty tricks. As he was showing that kind of meaning, he felt Shin Tae-oh’s gaze on him with his mouth closed.

“I think it’s the first time I’ve heard that I’m cool.”

“I’m sorry. It was rude of me.”

“I’m not saying it was rude. It’s a compliment, where would you find someone who doesn’t like to hear compliments? I just thought before that I wasn’t cool.”

He is surprisingly quick-witted.

“I’ve always had more admiration for you. And this is a personal admiration for Shin Tae-oh, not the CEO.”

“CEO? Shin Tae-oh? Oh, I see.”

Shin Tae-oh fiddled with his wine as if understanding, then raised his index finger.

“To Secretary Ahn, I seem respectable and cool.”

No. It’s just that I was surprised that you weren’t just a simple pervert. I don’t admire you that much.

“That’s right.”

“So that’s how you see me.”

As Shin Tae-oh was muttering in amazement, Se-hyun also gave up on answering. If he wants an answer, he’ll have to shape his questions properly.

‘But why is it so cold?’

Despite the temperature being regulated, he had been feeling cold with goosebumps and shivers for some time. Se-hyun noticed the wine and seemed to have found the cause.

He began to feel cold after drinking not long after entering the room. It seems that drinking alcohol was too much for his weakened body, which was about to suffer a heat.

Even though he was a recessive Omega, this was the reason why he left out the dates before and after the day of the heat. This was because his physical condition deteriorated rapidly and his immunity weakened. If not managed well, he could catch a cold or develop inflammation. That’s why he sought to rest his body more throughout this period.

‘The wine smells stronger than I thought.’

He initially considered the first sip quite strong. He thought the aroma had disappeared after drinking, but it subtly lingered. So, Se-hyun, who had been thinking a few times, looked at his phone reflected in the wine glass and stood up.

“Why are you getting up?”

“It’s time.”

Shin Tae-oh was confused by what he was saying until he noticed his phone, which had been flickering for some time. It was only now that he realized it was on silent mode.

Se-hyun stood up as he saw the name on the screen first, so Shin Tae-oh picked up his phone without a second thought.

“You’re here?”

Holding his coat that he had taken off, Shin Tae-oh stopped Se-hyun, who was about to follow him. It was just an outstretched hand, but Se-hyun stopped when he realized what it meant. Shin Tae-oh held his phone up to his ear.

Se-hyun nodded, having received the intended message of a casual farewell, and Shin Tae-oh continued his call as he left the room.

Se-hyun let out a relieved sigh and loosened his tie as the door closed.

“Let’s soak in warm water first.”

He will then rest for a while before leaving when Shin Tae-oh returns with Yoo Jin-ha. It was a perfect plan considering his physical condition and the time Shin Tae-oh would arrive.

⍣⍣⍣

Shin Tae-oh had walked down first and was so immersed in his thoughts that he didn’t notice who was approaching.

“Huh? It’s Tae-oh.”

Yoo Jin-hyun awkwardly called Shin Tae-oh first, pretending to be a coincidence, and squeezed his shoulder as if to make him come to his senses.

“Yoo Jin-hyun?”

“What’s going on here?”

“I came here for a meeting… Jin-ha is here too.”

Shin Tae-oh greeted Yoo Jin-ha with a smile as he followed.

“Hello, sir.”

“Calling me ‘sir’ even outside?”

“Because I’m used to calling you sir…”

Yoo Jin-ha smiled awkwardly and stopped talking, and Shin Tae-o got up and made room for the two of them to sit.

“You had a drink alone? You should have called me too.”

Yoo Jin-hyun said as he looked at the alcohol on the table. It was a carefully orchestrated script to create an atmosphere as if something was wrong, guiding the conversation to express concern for each other’s feelings, especially between Yoo Jin-ha and Shin Tae-oh.

“It… just happened.”

Shin Tae-oh responded to Yoo Jin-hyun’s cues as they had practiced. However, Yoo Jin-ha sensed something strange and scrutinized Shin Tae-oh’s expression. It seemed as if something was genuinely wrong, and Yoo Jin-ha felt like he might be deceived by Shin Tae-oh’s acting.

“What happened?”

“There’s someone bothering me.”

“Someone bothering you?”

“Hyung, what happened?”

While Yoo Jin-hyun was taking it in moderation, Yoo Jin-ha put down the glass he had received from the employee and filled it with alcohol. He also showed interest in Shin Tae-oh as he filled his glass with alcohol. The situation was unfolding exactly as Shin Tae-oh desired.

“I saw him before I came out, and he looked somewhat tired. He’s someone who needs to rest, and I wondered why I brought him out for no reason…

“Tell me so I can understand.”

Suddenly, he seemed to be muttering something to himself, Yoo Jin-hyun noticed and patted his leg. It was a signal that Yoo Jin-ha was listening and that he should work on his own.

As if he understood the signal, Shin Tae-oh looked at Yoo Jin-ha and said.

“I’ll go to my room for a moment.”

“Your room?”

“Yeah. I left something behind.”

Shin Tae-oh got up before hearing Yoo Jin-ha’s answer. And as he was walking quickly, Yoo Jin-hyun pressed his forehead. He guessed that Shin Tae-oh prepared a gift for his younger brother. He needs to ease the atmosphere first.

“Leave Shin Tae-oh alone, how are you these days?”

“I’m always the same. What more could an office worker do.”

“I’m asking because your expression seems like there’s something more.”

First, he worked hard to bring out the loneliness in Yoo Jin-ha’s heart. Yoo Jin-hyun was on Shin Tae-oh’s side.

⍣⍣⍣

Even after pressing the elevator’s close button, Shin Tae-oh’s eyes showed a hint of nervousness as he looked at the machine moving slowly.

“It was different from the usual Secretary Ahn.”

He was a person who never faltered even after drinking. But Secretary Ahn was definitely different when he left him. The room seemed hot for him because he was sweating and his face was extremely pale.

He said that he always took regular breaks to see his parents. Maybe he’s relieving his fatigue by meeting his parents… Shin Tae-oh’s heart was heavy because he felt like he had done something terrible to such a person.

Shin Tae-oh rushed to his room and searched his pockets as soon as the elevator door opened. He wondered where he’d put his card key, then realized he just come out. He missed it because he was used to the secretary handling everything. He wondered if he should call the hotelier and get a card right now.

Those worries faded as he approached the door. Something was blocking the small open door from closing.

Shin Tae-oh pushed it away with his foot and opened the door, hurrying inside to find Secretary Ahn. He intended to tell him to go home and rest.

“Secretary Ahn. Where are you?”

It seemed like he was there somewhere, but he didn’t show himself. Shin Tae-oh wondered if he thought he was coming with Jin-ha and leaving first. If it were Secretary Ahn, he would check and leave after confirming…

“Did he really go first?”

Shin Tae-oh looked around lightly, listening for any signs of Secretary Ahn. There were no signs of someone approaching him…

“Sound of water?”

The sound of water was coming.

“Secretary Ahn?”

Shin Tae-oh was filled with doubts and approached the bathroom. If Secretary Ahn was actually having a shower, he shouldn’t be seeing it, but he couldn’t shake the feeling of discomfort that had been gnawing at his head earlier.

The bathroom door was also slightly open. Was Secretary Ahn the kind of person who leaves the door open like this? Thinking about what to do, Shin Tae-oh slightly pushed the door open and saw what had happened in the bathroom.

“What kind of situation is this?”

Shin Tae-oh muttered as he tilted his head. He couldn’t recognize the situation when he came across the unexpected scene. So, he asked Se-hyun.

“Secretary Ahn, can you explain to me without panting?”

The fully clothed Se-hyun was crouched under a stream of water.