TSG 68

Why was he being so desperate about giving him a gift?

That was Se-hyun’s first question.

If he had chosen a gift as a means to gain someone’s affection, it would be understandable. That was the context when he tried giving gifts to Yoo Jin-ha too.

But now, things were a bit confusing.

Wasn’t this a bit excessive?

‘He’s not even making up some lousy excuse…’

He was just making a fuss about wanting to give it to him. That’s why he was saying such things.

“What if I refuse?”

“You’ll have to think carefully about that.”

Shin Tae-oh pointed at the coat with the tip of his eye.

“If you refuse this, no one else can wear it. I threw away the receipt.”

“If you just give me the card, I can go get a refund. I’m a regular at the store and familiar with the staff. They’ll probably do it.”

“It’s possible for… a refund?”

“That’s right.”

“What if they replace all the staff there?”

“I can still do it.”

It was nothing new for Se-hyun to get refunds on items Shin Tae-oh bought over the years, including some that were too excessive for Se-hyun to take. He’d just ask an employee he knew to process the refund.

“It’s perfectly possible.”

Se-hyun was about to pick up the coat when Shin Tae-oh spoke again.

“What about my heart?”

“…”

Se-hyun, who had been looking at the coat, turned to Tae-oh. Their eyes met as Tae-oh also shifted his gaze.

“My heart can’t be refunded.”

Se-hyun rubbed his arm. Shin Tae-oh had said it with a serious expression, but it felt a bit cheesy.

As soon as the cringe subsided, Se-hyun saw the hurt in Shin Tae-oh’s eyes and realized what he had done.

He knew, yet still…

Whenever Shin Tae-oh’s gifts were rejected, he had brushed it off lightly, but Se-hyun knew it wasn’t really nothing to him, yet he still hurt him.

Despite wanting to be kind, he had pushed him away even more harshly.

Se-hyun averted his gaze, pretending to look at the coat. It was silly to keep recalling the past, but his thoughts kept wandering. When Yoo Jin-ha rejected gifts, he processed them. If Shin Tae-oh told him to use them, he did, otherwise he handled the refund process.

This time it was a gift for him, so he assumed he wouldn’t be the one to deal with it, but…

“Sir.”

In the heavy atmosphere, Se-hyun called out to Shin Tae-oh. He looked into Shin Tae-oh’s eyes that were looking at him. If it had been filled with disappointment before, now it was filled with resignation.

“Thank you.”

He accepted the coat and put it on right there. He ignored the breeze ruffling his hair and the warm sunlight enveloping him.

He recognized it as the coat he had examined last time as soon as he saw it. He had quite liked it then but couldn’t bring himself to buy it because of the high price, yet now that he wore it…

“It’s light and warm.”

It was lighter and softer than any other coat he wore. They said the cashmere quality was good, but it exceeded his expectations from just looking at it.

He had only just put it on, but his body already felt flushed with warmth. The light gray color made it stand out, but that made it all prettier.

“It suits you well.”

“Thank you.”

He even took off the brand tag and pocketed it. Feeling he had fully expressed his gratitude for accepting the gift, Se-hyun composed his expression.

Now it was his turn to get what he wanted.

“I’d also like to give you a gift. That’s my condition for accepting this coat.”

“A gift?”

Shin Tae-oh asked curiously and caressed his tie.

“I got this last time.”

He mentioned the tie he always wore, even when he didn’t need to.

“I know. And I also know this coat is far more expensive.”

“You shouldn’t include a price in a gift. Then, it becomes burdensome between giving and receiving.”

Shin Tae-oh’s lecturing tone made Se-hyun smile outwardly while inwardly he tried to suppress his exasperation.

Ah, so this was why he casually bought and gave such an expensive gift.

“I understand. And I also know my legs would be torn apart if I tried to keep up with you, sir.”

Given Se-hyun’s circumstances, he couldn’t even follow in Shin Tae-oh’s footsteps.

“So I’ll give it to you in 12 months.”

“That… hmm… You could just say a year, but something feels strange.”

“If you choose to accept it then, I will accept it too.”

Ignoring Shin Tae-oh’s hesitant reaction, Se-hyun brought over a blank piece of paper.

“I’d like you to write something here. I want to assure you that I’m serious and not just saying this.”

“You’re more proactive than me?”

“Since we’re at it, let’s consider this a contract for the promise I made to repay you.”

Shin Tae-oh, who had taken out a fountain pen to write whatever, paused.

“This is my repayment for the favor of moving my father’s private room.”

“Isn’t that a separate matter?”

“Since you didn’t write up a separate document, I thought I’d include it here. If you write it down, I’ll formalize it.”

Shin Tae-oh seemed to consider how to take Se-hyun’s suggestion to settle our relationship right here and then nodded.

“How should I write it down?”

“Please write that you won’t give me any gifts over one million won in the future.”

“Am I writing a pledge now?”

Shin Tae-oh took the fountain pen off the paper. Se-hyun was making it clear that he didn’t like it, but she also had a lot to say.

“The private room and this coat are more than enough. Anything more would burden me too.”

“Of course it’s a burden when you think about the price. And I haven’t just given you material things…”

“Thank you for the rice porridge. Anyway, please write that you will not give it to me in the future.”

“You say you want to draw up a contract to repay me, but this is like putting a noose around my neck. Should I really write this?”

“Yes. By writing this, you’ll be doing something good for your future spouse.”

“…Spouse?”

“Being financially prudent is a big advantage.”

Swayed by Se-hyun’s coaxing words, Shin Tae-oh obediently began writing. Seeing him nearing the end, Se-hyun revealed his true feelings.

“A gift that burdens the recipient isn’t a real gift.”

“…”

“A gift should make both the giver and receiver happy. Please understand that’s the intent behind my request.”

Se-hyun took the paper and put it between the empty files. This prevented Shin Tae-oh from bringing him this or that.

Feeling secretly proud yet not showing it, he turned away, biting his inner cheek.

‘How should I handle this pesky cat?’

I’m not going down without a fight. Taenyang.

Ignoring Shin Tae-oh’s gaze on his back, Se-hyun came out of the CEO’s office and put down the tablet on the desk. He gathered the approval files to hand-deliver later and went to find Lee Jin-ho. Perhaps because he wore an overcoat indoors, Lee Jin-ho’s eyes were on Se-hyun’s coat.

“I’ll be stepping out for a bit.”

“Something comes up?”

Se-hyun shook his head at Lee Jin-ho’s concerned inquiry about a potential issue. No, nothing serious.

“I’m going to open a 12-month installment savings account.”

Se-hyun might as well test the performance of the coat he received from Shin Tae-oh.

⍣⍣⍣

Ha Min-hyuk saw Ha Jin-seong during the process of taking over the team leader position. Since being asked to hand over the project, Ha Jin-seong hadn’t rushed Ha Min-hyuk and patiently waited for his decision.

He acted indifferent as if it didn’t matter whether the project was handed over or not.

This was the same half-brother who always looked down on him for being born out of wedlock. The same Ha Jin-seong who was on high alert, ready to seize the company’s shares from Ha Min-hyuk and kick him out at any opportunity…yet he was so calm now.

‘The world has become quiet.’

For the first time in his life, Ha Min-hyuk experienced peace.

Is this how people live? Not being constantly guarded, not agonizing over meeting others, and leading such a comfortable life. Having tasted that kind of life lately, Ha Min-hyuk felt an odd greed.

He wanted to prolong this tranquil moment. To spend an ordinary day working during the day and going on dates with Yoo Jin-ha in the evening.

To do so…

“If you haven’t decided yet, just leave.”

Ha Jin-seong spoke in a strained voice as if he had no major regrets about the project. It seemed like he had lost some strength, and his usual sensitive temperament was greatly reduced.

“What if I don’t hand it over?”

“Then you keep doing it, dumbass. Why are you even asking?”

“What if I do hand it over?”

Ha Min-hyuk’s indifferent question made Ha Jin-seong fall silent. He frowned, evidently deep in thought.

“What are you trying to gain from this?”

“If you’re going to talk nonsense, just take it and leave.”

Ha Jin-seong waved his hand and turned his chair. He turned his back on Ha Min-hyuk and did not show his face.

“It doesn’t matter whether this complex is built well or not. But why do you want to take it?”

“Why should I tell you?”

Ha Jin-seong responded irritatedly.

“I think I know.”

Ha Min-hyuk knew the impact he would have by handing this over to Ha Jin-seong.

Two men liked Ahn Se-hyun. One openly displayed his feelings, while the other seemed unaware of his own.

Who could Ha Min-hyuk support here?

Shin Tae-oh? Or Ha Jin-seong?

Even setting aside his own feelings, he could only lean towards Shin Tae-oh. Shin Tae-oh was a far better man than the vile Ha Jin-seong.

Therefore, keeping Ha Jin-seong away from Se-hyun would also be good for Shin Tae-oh.

Having organized his thoughts, Min-hyuk spoke.

“I’ll hand it over.”

This gave Ha Jin-seong the opportunity to be around Ahn Se-hyun.

Ha Min-hyuk wrote his name in the signature line. This project was now handed over to Ha Jin-seong.

Even though he considered Shin Tae-oh the better choice, the reason he gave Ha Jin-seong this opportunity was simple:

‘It may lead to a quicker resolution.’

Perhaps Ahn Se-hyun would completely turn the situation around.