TSG 70

“Nice to meet you. I’m Park Ha-seong.”

“I’m Shin Tae-oh.”

Seeing Shin Tae-oh and Park Ha-seong exchanging greetings, Se-hyun quietly stepped back holding the menu. When meeting for business, his job was to not rush and prepare a course meal.

“Se-hyun-ssi.”

It was just before Se-hyun left the room. At Park Ha-seong’s call, Shin Tae-oh and Se-hyun saw him almost at the same time.

“Can’t you join us for the meal?”

“With my Secretary?”

Shin Tae-oh looked at Park Ha-seong and Se-hyun alternately. In his drawn-out voice, it was clear that he was curious about Park Ha-seong’s intentions in dragging his secretary, Ahn Se-hyun, into this meeting.

“I thought since he seems knowledgeable about interior design, it would be good for him to join our conversation.”

Shin Tae-oh fixed his gaze on Se-hyun as if asking “So, do you want to sit with us?” with that look. Se-hyun shook his head.

“I’m fine, thank you.”

If he really had to, he could just stand in the back. Making it clear he had no desire to unnecessarily insert himself between the two, Park Ha-seong also didn’t press further.

“That’s too bad. Then we can take a look together another time.”

“Together…?”

Se-hyun hesitated as he asked, unable to look toward Shin Tae-oh.

“Yes. We can discuss interior design, and I’d also like to hear more about the conversation we had last time. You said you would treat me to coffee, remember?”

At Park Ha-seong’s bright smile, Se-hyun tried to recall what conversation they had last time.
What was it again?

Porridge, coworker, man. Pervert. …Personality.

But if that’s what they were going to talk about… then he definitely couldn’t stay. With Shin Tae-oh present, who knows what might come up. What if the conversation takes a wrong turn?

Just thinking about it sent shivers down his spine.

‘Rejecting is the right choice, as this would be like throwing bait to Taenyang-i.’

Park Ha-seong was not a character who appeared in the original work. In other words, he had no connection to people like Ha Min-hyuk or Yoo Jin-ha, which is why Se-hyun had felt comfortable talking to him about Shin Tae-oh before.

But now that was coming back to bite him.

‘I can’t sit with them.’

“I’ll treat you to coffee next time.”

When Se-hyun refused again, Park Ha-seong weighed his options before brightening up.

“Okay, I’ll wait for your contact.”

He really was a reasonable person. Se-hyun sent Park Ha-seong a grateful look and was about to leave happily when he failed to consider one other thing.

“But I didn’t give permission.”

“…Sir.”

He should not have overlooked that Shin Tae-oh had been quietly observing. Se-hyun hid his “ah crap” feeling and looked at Shin Tae-oh. His expressionless face seemed no different from usual at first glance, but Se-hyun had been serving him for more than just a year or two.

“Secretary Ahn also needs to eat… Just sit here without going far.”

“Understood.”

It was too late to refuse now.

Se-hyun immediately sat down next to Shin Tae-oh. Since he was seated, he opened the menu to order, prompting Park Ha-seong to give him an inquisitive look.

‘Don’t look at me like that.’

It wasn’t like Se-hyun wanted to sit here either. But the sensibilities he had cultivated as Shin Tae-oh’s secretary told him he couldn’t avoid taking this seat now.

Se-hyun buried his head in the menu to avoid Park Ha-seong’s dumbfounded gaze.

“There’s no salmon salad here.”

“Ah, you’re right.”

At Se-hyun’s agreement, having reviewed today’s course menu, Shin Tae-oh calmly sipped his water as if he had expected it.

“Secretary Ahn likes salmon salad.”

“Huh? Ah, yes.”

Park Ha-seong, who had not asked and had no intention of asking, gave an awkward answer.

“But when did you see my secretary’s excellent abilities?”

“Excellent…well, we did converse when he visited my office before, and I also saw him at the charity party…”

Recalling the time Park Ha-seong mentioned, Se-hyun inwardly cringed and only looked at the glass of water Shin Tae-oh had served him, unable to face Shin Tae-oh.

Se-hyun wondered what kind of expression Shin Tae-oh would make since he was caught visiting the place alone without his instructions.

“You went to the charity party?”

Fortunately, Shin Tae-oh ignored the fact that he visited without his instructions. Se-hyun exhaled inwardly and glanced at him, only to immediately meet his gaze.

Seeing Shin Tae-oh’s meaningful look of already knowing everything, and his smile suggesting he would let it go just this once, Se-hyun gave up and drank his water.

Se-hyun had intended to schedule another meeting since he liked the interior design, but feeling wronged wouldn’t help, as it was largely his own fault for acting without permission.

“Yes. I didn’t know I would meet Secretary Ahn there. If I had known, I would have had a deeper conversation. Actually, the hallway where I met with Secretary Ahn at that time was the part I paid the most attention to at the time.”

As Park Ha-seong spoke excitedly, Se-hyun lightly pressed his lips to the glass to take a sip of water. Since Shin Tae-oh was staying quiet for now, it seemed Se-hyun could chime in with a word or two.

“I was grateful that day. Thanks to you, I received a lot of help.”

“Help?”

At Park Ha-seong’s confused query, Se-hyun glanced at Shin Tae-oh. If Park Ha-seong hadn’t engaged Se-hyun in conversation that day, many people could have witnessed Shin Tae-oh going into a rut.

Even though it was natural for an Alpha to experience a rut, it was generally considered indecent to lose control and have your cycle hit in a place full of people.

Se-hyun wondered if he had met Park Ha-seong that day to protect Shin Tae-oh from his rut…

“By any chance, was that porridge at the time…”

“Similar yet different.”

Se-hyun swiftly cut him off.

Now, just the syllable “po” from “porridge” was enough to make his heart race to the point of going crazy. He couldn’t keep tossing bait at Shin Tae-oh. Fortunately, it seemed Shin Tae-oh didn’t catch it this time.

“For now, I’m just expressing my gratitude.”

“While gratitude is good, I’d like to hear more details. I also want to know how helpful my interior design can be to others.”

Shin Tae-oh naturally joined in Park Ha-seong’s excited voice.

“Stylish yet practical design, a sophisticated atmosphere that endures over time, while also featuring special functions considerate of the user – those are the hallmarks of Seongha’s interior design.”

Shin Tae-oh looked back at Se-hyun with his arms crossed.

“That’s why our Secretary Ahn recommended Seongha Interior.”

Shin Tae-oh’s gaze was fixed on Se-hyun as he spoke to Park Ha-seong, leaving Se-hyun unable to open his mouth.

“One of Secretary Ahn’s excellent skills is not bringing personal feelings into professional matters.”

Seeing Shin Tae-oh’s gaze asking if that was not the case, Se-hyun took a deep breath and whispered in a quiet voice.

“You’re correct, sir.”

He was not choosing to say he received help to protect him.

“Does the water not suit your taste? Should I have them bring a different water?”

“It’s fine.”

Se-hyun told the employee who had just brought the appetizers that nothing was needed. He absolutely couldn’t let Park Ha-seong find out that Shin Tae-oh was currently being grumpy.

As long as things don’t go further than this.

“Thank you for the positive feedback on my interior design.”

Unlike a typical meeting to gauge the other party’s intentions, Park Ha-seong was unable to maintain his composure, repeatedly flashing smiles at the words Shin Tae-oh had said while mulling them over.

“I also like my own interior design. As long as the newly renovated space bearing my name can leave special memories for those using it, that’s good enough for me. Ah, that person who donated the most at the charity party this time too! What was their name again?”

Innocently revealing his joy at the praise, Park Ha-seong rambled on whatever came to mind.

Even so, why would the conversation shift to donations…

“Ha… Ha Jin-seong. That person went up on the stage, you wouldn’t believe how dazzling he looked.”

Ha Jin-seong.

Se-hyun paused eating his chicken soup and looked up.

“The lighting shone like a halo, illuminating that person’s face. It was so impressive. It’s a pity I couldn’t see more since he suddenly went down midway.”

“Went down midway?”

As Se-hyun asked, wanting to hear more, he felt Shin Tae-oh’s gaze turn towards him.

“Yes yes. He was looking around, not sure if just observing or searching for someone, but anyway, he went down after that. Then immediately left the hall, so I’m not sure what happened.”

As Park Ha-seong lightly dismissed it since he didn’t know the reason and started eating his soup, Se-hyun’s movements slowed in contrast.

That day, Ha Jin-seong approached Se-hyun as if he had been waiting for him. He noticed the pheromones on Se-hyun and frowned. His reaction wasn’t something Se-hyun paid attention to at the time. So he had firmly made it clear he didn’t want to get involved with Ha Jin-seong, but failed to hear what Ha Jin-seong was actually trying to say.

He should have realized when Yoo Jin-ha mentioned the donation at the hospital. Perhaps Ha Jin-seong had intended to talk about that.

“Excellent skills.”

Shin Tae-oh’s appropriately timed voice interrupted Se-hyun’s thoughts. As Se-hyun turned his head, their gazes crossed paths when Shin Tae-oh glanced at Park Ha-seong.

Did Shin Tae-oh just deliberately avoid his gaze, or was that his imagination?

“Let’s go back to discussing Secretary Ahn’s excellent skills.”

“Sounds good. Did you see the picture frames in that hallway?”

At Park Ha-seong’s question, Se-hyun could no longer look at Shin Tae-oh as he searched for an answer.

“That…”

Thanks to Shin Tae-oh, he had used that hallway efficiently, so he didn’t remember everything. However, he did look around beforehand, so he wasn’t entirely clueless.

“The daffodil painting was the most beautiful. I only saw it briefly, but it left an impression since it blended well with the surroundings.”

In fact, something else left an impression. Having recently appreciated artworks quite a bit and seen it elsewhere too, it seemed to stick in his memory better.

‘Where had I seen that painting before…’

He tried to retrace his memories. It felt like a very familiar art style, so if he thought a bit more, he could probably grasp it.

‘I saw it at Shin Tae-oh’s house…’

…Shin Tae-oh’s house.

The picture frame that was hanging to cover the safe came to mind. Realizing it was the same daffodil painting, he recalled something Shin Tae-oh had said.

Se-hyun turned his head toward Shin Tae-oh as if entranced. Shin Tae-oh met his gaze and smiled.

‘By the way, have you heard that sunflowers are said to bring wealth?’

Had Shin Tae-oh known back then that Se-hyun was looking at something other than the painting?