TSG 71

Was I fooled?

Thinking about how he got hooked on Shin Tae-oh’s bait, just like a sunflower fish, Se-hyun looked at the dish in front of him.

He didn’t even realize when the main course had been served.

Mechanically cutting and eating his steak, he pondered why things had turned out this way.

On the day he had looked around Shin Tae-oh’s house, he had been so focused on thinking about the safe behind the frame that he had only glanced at what the picture actually was. That’s why he had fallen for Shin Tae-oh’s words so easily. He only realized now because the similar style of painting had brought back his hazy memories from that day more clearly.

Two questions arose in his mind.

What was it that Shin Tae-oh wanted to know from him, and why didn’t he say anything even though he knew Se-hyun had lied?

“Then I’ll select the designs to participate in this consortium.”

As the conversation between the two seemed to be wrapping up, Se-hyun quietly got up and went outside. While handing his card to the employee to pay for the meal, he became somewhat dazed, engulfed by the question of ‘why’ floating around in his head.

Without knowing what kind of conversation Park Ha-seong and Shin Tae-oh, or rather Taenyang, would have.

⍣⍣⍣

As soon as Se-hyun left the spot, Shin Tae-oh’s eyes followed him. Shin Tae-oh kept silent, lost in thought about Se-hyun, while Park Ha-seong observed him.

“Um…”

Park Ha-seong, having organized his thoughts, scratched his nose and began to speak. Having drawn Shin Tae-oh’s attention, which had been fixed on Se-hyun, Park Ha-seong swallowed, his throat feeling dry. Even though he was today’s meeting partner and it was natural for Shin Tae-oh to address him now, he suddenly felt like an uninvited guest.

“May I ask a personal question?”

“If it’s about Secretary Ahn, I won’t answer.”

“Then I can’t ask my question…”

Shin Tae-oh frowned at Park Ha-seong’s awkward response.

He didn’t like that Park Ha-seong was interested in Se-hyun, following Ha Jin-seong. Ah, there was also Ha Min-hyuk. Anyway, he pondered how to deal with Park Ha-seong, who had unnecessarily good eyes.

They would be meeting frequently for work in the future. What if he expressed his interest in Se-hyun every time? The thought alone made him irritated.

Park Ha-seong’s facial expression was also not very good. His seemingly naive yet sensitive personality seemed likely to easily lower Se-hyun’s guard.

Wondering if he should have acted like that too, Shin Tae-oh suppressed a sigh, knowing it wouldn’t work for him.

“Go ahead, ask your question.”

First, he needed to know what Park Ha-seong was going to ask so he could understand how to approach and block him from Se-hyun.

“By any chance is there a second trait?”

Shin Tae-oh’s eyebrows twitched at Park Ha-seong’s sudden question. What was he trying to do by knowing that Se-hyun was an omega?

“Since it’s publicly known, there’s no need to hide it. Yes, I’m an alpha.”

So he pretended to misunderstand the question and brought up his own second trait.

“I see, as expected. Then, as a colleague…”

Park Ha-seong stroked his chin and looked Shin Tae-oh over.

“Do you like rice porridge?”

Shin Tae-oh treated Park Ha-seong like a strange person when the talk about rice porridge appeared out of nowhere. Dealing with someone like him was tiresome.

“I don’t like it.”

“Really? But if someone you like enjoys it, you’d make it for them, right? You’d buy them coffee too.”

“That’s…”

Shin Tae-oh was about to answer casually, as he had done all those things for Se-hyun, but he stopped mid-sentence. Thinking over Park Ha-seong’s questions so far, something felt off. What was wrong?

“Were all these questions have been about me?”

“Yes. You have a second trait, a colleague, and there are about rice porridge and coffee. Hmm… Those were the things I was curious about, Sir.”

As Shin Tae-oh applied each of the conditions Park Ha-seong listed to himself, his expression softened and he leaned forward. His instincts told him this was a conversation he absolutely couldn’t miss.

“Is there anything else?”

“Hmm… I’m not sure if I should ask this as I couldn’t understand it myself, but are you the third?”

At Park Ha-seong’s mumbling about being saved as the third, Shin Tae-oh’s heart raced. He was at the end of questions related to Se-hyun. This was good, even without jumping to conclusions.

Because he was Se-hyun’s Alpha, a colleague, and there was rice porridge.

“You seem quite close to Secretary Ahn…”

Park Ha-seong, having finished his deduction, was about to speak when he flinched at the sight of Shin Tae-oh. A bright smile had spread across his face.

“Why are you…”

Smiling like that?

“Ah, no. This is just my muscles tensing up, making it look like I’m smiling. Yes, I’m the third. And?”

Shin Tae-oh massaged his cheek in a circular motion as if it was no big deal and looked at Park Ha-seong. Could his facial muscles really be so tense that his entire face, even his eyes, appeared to be smiling? It just looked like he was genuinely smiling.

Anyway, Park Ha-seong had no more questions so he shook his head.

“It’s enough.”

Now that he knew who the other party was, further questions were unnecessary.

“Shall we get up then?”

Shin Tae-oh fidgeted before standing up as he was eager to meet Se-hyun, who hadn’t come back even after paying. He had barely gotten outside when he remembered something and turned back to Park Ha-seong as if he had forgotten something.

“I look forward to working with you.”

“Yes, likewise.”

Park Ha-seong shook Shin Tae-oh’s hand, which was extended with clear goodwill. Thinking that all’s well that ends well, Park Ha-seong finished his greeting and watched Shin Tae-oh leave.

Left alone, Park Ha-seong muttered:

“So Secretary Ahn is in an office romance.”

He thought they had been in the flirting stage, but something must have happened at the party, so he assumed they were dating now. Even if they weren’t, their feelings were clearly directed towards each other.

Shin Tae-oh, who came out to find Se-hyun, could not suppress his uncontrollably beating heart.

Having tasted hope through Park Ha-seong that things could work out with Se-hyun, he couldn’t contain his elated feelings.

Shin Tae-oh’s steps gradually became faster and he did not hesitate to run to find Se-hyun. Of course, he should hurry—Se-hyun must be waiting for him.

Spotting Se-hyun standing not far away, Shin Tae-oh stopped running and caught his breath. Although he was always told that his appearance was good by others, he adjusted his tie because he wanted to look his best.

“Secretary Ahn.”

Se-hyun, who had been on the phone, turned around and their eyes met. Staring into Se-hyun’s well-defined features and his strikingly clear eyes, Shin Tae-oh was overwhelmed with the urge to pull him into his arms.

It seemed like they looked at each other for quite a long time.

“I’ll be good to you.”

Come to me.

Shin Tae-oh secretly expressed his feelings while hiding what he was saying, and Se-hyun put his phone in his pocket.

“I’ll escort you.”

Saying he would escort the CEO back to the company after the meeting was all Se-hyun could do at the moment.

⍣⍣⍣

“I am the type of person who likes giving more than receiving.”

At Shin Tae-oh’s sudden remark, while heading to the company, Se-hyun glanced at him through the rearview mirror. Since he couldn’t examine Shin Tae-oh closely while driving, he had to interpret based solely on what he had said.

Judging by how he keeps giving gifts, he does seem to prefer giving.

“But from now on, it’s not like that. The best thing is to both give and receive.”

Se-hyun couldn’t fathom Tae-oh’s sudden assertion of such an obvious fact.

Shin Tae-oh slightly rolled down the window and felt the wind coming in. Even with his eyes closed, his face seemed to be smiling, showing how good he felt.

“Did something good happen?”

“You mean me?”

“Yes. You’re smiling.”

“Ah, this is just my facial muscles tensing up.”

What’s wrong with him?

Spouting such nonsense, it seemed like something was wrong with his head. Anyway, since he was in a good mood, Se-hyun just left it at that and pressed the accelerator diligently. With driver assistant Moon Ha-joon’s position suddenly vacant, he had to take on driving duties until a new hire was found.

As they were heading towards the company, Se-hyun noticed something and called out to Shin Tae-oh.

“I’m sorry, but may I pull over for a moment?”

“Sure.”

When Shin Tae-oh readily gave permission, Se-hyun parked the car on the shoulder of the road, quickly opened the door, and got out. Unable to see Se-hyun as he went to the back of the car, Shin Tae-oh leaned back in his seat, seemingly unconcerned.

Just waiting for Se-hyun made him feel overwhelmed with happiness.

The lunch meeting with Park Ha-seong had been quite productive, so it was considered a good lunch. He hoped to go with Se-hyun next time too. Preferably to a place with salmon salad to feed him well…

Along with the scent of flowers carried by the wind, the back door opened and a large bouquet suddenly appeared.

As Shin Tae-oh just stared at the daffodils without taking them, Se-hyun spoke calmly as if it were nothing.

“I bought it because I saw it. I know daffodils very well.”

“I didn’t know you were so quick to apply things.”

To immediately present flowers just because he said he’d treat him well.

“They’re also called ‘flowers of the snow.'”

Se-hyun cleared his throat as he explained that it meant flowers blooming in the snow. The reason he bought daffodils now was to naturally bring out what Shin Tae-oh said last time.

Only after Shin Tae-oh took the bouquet did Se-hyun quickly move to the driver’s seat and start the car.

“I bought them because they seemed similar to the artwork in your house. I noticed the daffodils last time and thought you liked them.”

In other words, Se-hyun didn’t see sunflowers that time but daffodils.

As Se-hyun expressed this indirectly, Shin Tae-oh just kept staring at the daffodils.

“Sir.”

“…”

“I sometimes confuse sunflowers and daffodils, but that doesn’t mean…”

Despite Se-hyun’s disjointed excuses, Shin Tae-oh showed no reaction and just looked at the flowers. Just the flowers.