Translator: Nox

Chapter 73

73. Confession

2023.07.12.

Heejin's every word stung like a dagger, but Han So-eun calmly picked up on the clues. When So-eun pointed it out, Heejin stammered, seemingly flustered, "Wh-what."

"I've recorded the call. I'm blocking your number too. If you contact me like this again, I'll sue you."

[Hey. My brother's a lawyer. What's with all this talk about suing?]

"And I haven't done anything except post my side of the story on the 'Blahblah' board. I have nothing to do with your picture circulating. You were the one who posted the initial post, so you dug your own grave. I have nothing more to say, so I'll hang up now."

So-eun hung up with a heavy sigh. She had finally seen the true colors of Yang Hee-wook's sister.

'When I was dating Yang Hee-wook, she at least treated me like a human being.'

Yeah, I know. I revealed my entire past with my own mouth, so now people's prejudices against me will be solidified. Even if they praise me to my face for doing a great job, they'll still be reluctant to have someone like me as part of their family.

So-eun rubbed her chest as if to soothe her bitter feelings and trudged back to the office. Chief Jang Eun-pyo was still there.

"Chief Jang, you haven't left yet?"

"No. I was waiting. I was going to leave with Chief Han."

"I have some things to do. I was going to sit here a little longer before leaving."

"Ah..."

At So-eun's reply, Chief Jang Eun-pyo hesitated for a moment before speaking as if he had made up his mind.

"Chief Han So-eun, do you happen to be free this weekend?"

"Pardon? Is something the matter?"

"I'd like to go on a date with you."

So-eun blinked her eyes.

"I like Chief Han."

Never before had she received such a direct confession from someone with whom she only had a casual acquaintance. And to hear these words right after hearing the curse, 'Who would like someone like you?'

So-eun didn't know how to respond and froze.

It would be best to say that she had a boyfriend, but she couldn't say anything about that boyfriend.

"...I don't know when it started. I think I've liked you for a long time."

"..."

"You're so pretty, kind, and diligent..."

Just as So-eun was standing still like a flower vase, listening to flowery words, the office door burst open. It was Tae-joon.

"Chief Jang Eun-pyo?"

Eun-pyo's confession was cut short.

"Yes, Director."

"You haven't left work yet. I had something to tell you. Shall we talk for a moment?"

So-eun was the one who had been waiting for Tae-joon all this time, but Tae-joon seemed to have urgent business with Eun-pyo. As So-eun stared blankly at the two of them, Tae-joon casually gestured with his chin.

"Chief Han So-eun should go home. It's been a while since working hours ended."

"Ah, yes."

"Go home safely."

"Yes. See you tomorrow."

There's something to do, so there's nothing I can do.

So-eun left the office alone. She desperately wanted to talk to Tae-joon, but as they had agreed, work came first on weekdays.

After So-eun left, Tae-joon led Eun-pyo to his office.

"Chief Jang, shall we go to my office for a moment?"

Eun-pyo didn't know why but dryly replied, "Yes," and followed Tae-joon. Even though Tae-joon's footsteps ahead were quite slow, they echoed heavily in his ears.

Eun-pyo also worked out every day, so he could vaguely guess at the muscles hidden beneath this man's Suit. He seemed to be working out separately, and his physique itself was like that of a foreigner. Even though his face was handsome, his shoulders were broad and his body was sturdy, so his back naturally exuded a sense of intimidation.

Eun-pyo couldn't say anything and crossed the threshold of the office as he was led.

"What did you want to see me about, Director?"

A polite and friendly evaluation followed the businesslike question.

"Chief Jang Eun-pyo, you are serious, righteous, and diligent, so I have been keeping an eye on you. Thank you for taking on the TF Team work as well."

"It's my job. I will work hard."

"I was very lost when I first came to Korea, but Chief Jang's presence has been a great help. Chief Jang is much more comfortable to be around than even my longtime friends."

"...Thank you for thinking of me that way."

He felt awkward hearing the constant praise.

He stretched his lips into a friendly smile. Eun-pyo wanted to smile along with Tae-joon, but his face was completely stiff and wouldn't relax. It was as if there was an anesthetic in his words, and he couldn't move.

He wanted to ask, 'Is that what you called me here to say?' but his lips wouldn't part. He could only wait for his superior to bring up the matter first.

Tae-joon stopped speaking there and suddenly took out his cell phone and fiddled with it. After a while, Tae-joon's cell phone vibrated, and Tae-joon looked at the phone and chuckled, then fiddled with it again and put it in his pocket.

Tae-joon's gaze, now free from his cell phone, fell back on Eun-pyo.

"So, can I think of you as a friend now?"

Eun-pyo was even more flustered than when he was being praised. How many people could make such a healthy suggestion of friendship while exuding such an ominous aura? It was a little chilling that he could smile and say nice things while harboring a gaze like a well-honed blade.

"Uh... what? Why would you..."

"I just want to be friends with Chief Jang."

"...Think of it as you wish."

"Thank you."

"..."

"Then, since we're friends, can I share a secret with you?"

Ah. So that's what it is.

His superior wanted to make some kind of secret request. Eun-pyo wasn't very perceptive, but he wasn't so stupid that he couldn't catch on to that much. The TF Team project was also a secret task, so there must be an important issue related to it that he alone needed to know.

Could it be related to K Group's uncertain future? Eun-pyo swallowed hard, fearing what kind of secret story would come out.

Finally, Tae-joon's mouth opened again.

"Chief Han So-eun is my girlfriend."

"..."

"I am Chief Han So-eun's boyfriend."

The saliva he had swallowed was about to go down but suddenly turned into a stone and blocked his esophagus. With the hole blocked, he couldn't breathe.

Eun-pyo, who had been worried about the future of K Group, found Tae-joon's statement shocking, a little out of the blue, and very out of the blue. 'Mom is Dad's wife, but Mom's husband is Dad!'—such an absurd story.

It's the same thing, but why repeat the same words? To emphasize.

This man had called him aside to tell him and emphasize this fact.

"I told you because I thought you might make a mistake if you didn't know. Since we're friends."

He said it as if it were to prevent a mistake, but it was an unmistakable warning.

This man had clearly heard his confession to Chief Han So-eun.

But could this fact be trusted? Why would he bother to tell him this secret only after sending Chief Han So-eun away first?

Perhaps Director Kim Tae-joon was a more terrifying man than he thought. A person who tells lies as if they were the truth. A schemer who uses his authority to manipulate Chief Han So-eun.

He was afraid, but Eun-pyo felt a surge of defiance.

"I'm sorry, but I can't believe it."

"You know Chief Han So-eun's phone number, right?"

But Tae-joon wasn't flustered in the slightest. As if he had already expected that much.

Since he didn't have the phone number memorized, Eun-pyo took out his cell phone from his pocket and looked up So-eun's phone number. As they were about to competitively recite the phone number, Tae-joon took Eun-pyo's cell phone with a murmur of 'excuse me' and placed it on the desk. And he placed his cell phone next to it.

The same phone number and the name 'Han So-eun' were displayed on both cell phone screens.

Kim Seok-hwa, president of the K Electronics Home Appliance Division, finished his regular schedule early and had dinner with his staff in the secretarial office for the first time in a while. The most coveted workplace for the group's secretarial talent was the position of assisting President Kim Seok-hwa. Unlike other executives who only flaunted their authority, Seok-hwa was easygoing with his employees and was sure to give praise, encouragement, and rewards. As a result, Seok-hwa also gained a lot from his employees.

For example, news, gossip, and rumors from the world.

"President, did you happen to see this today?"

Today, the youngest secretary showed Seok-hwa her cell phone screen and updated him on incidents and accidents outside the company. On the youngest secretary's cell phone screen was a story of a tragic situation.

Someone had spread false information defaming a woman who had given a liver transplant to her prospective mother-in-law, and the donor herself had to post on the bulletin board and verify her identity by sending an email to the company to correct the facts.

"It's about an employee in Director Kim Tae-joon's headquarters."

Upon closer inspection, it was a story from the K Electronics Service Center Central Headquarters. The youngest secretary, who knew that it was the company where Seok-hwa's nephew worked, had saved this story for such a moment.

"Ah, it seems Director Kim Tae-joon knows about it too."

Seok-hwa smiled when he found the sentence, 'I am sending this email to the entire company with the permission of Director Kim Tae-joon,' in the email sent by the employee.

"He's doing well. He's handling a big schedule and taking care of his employees. He's growing up well."

The secretary who had delivered the news and the other employees nodded.

"But that employee is a little unfortunate. She's caught up in rumors even after doing such a great job. If she were under our jurisdiction, I would have bought her a meal. I wonder if our Tae-joon took care of her?"

"Director Kim Tae-joon has a good sense, so I'm sure he did."

"What's that employee's title?"

He should have stopped there.

Seok-hwa asked casually.

The attached article had the affiliation and name censored, so it was impossible to know the exact identity of the writer.

The secretary replied.

"I'll find out."

"No, there's no need to find out."

He really should have stopped there. There was no need to hear that employee's name.

"I have a classmate in the Service Central Headquarters."

At Seok-hwa's words, the secretary quickly moved. Thanks to having such a capable secretary, Seok-hwa came to possess information that he didn't need to know.

"Ah, she's telling me right away. Chief Han So-eun. She's a chief."

The surrounding noise faded away, and the secretary's voice echoed. Seok-hwa blinked and asked again what he had heard once.

"What did you just say?"

"She's a chief."

"No, not that, the name."

"Han So-eun. Chief Han So-eun of the Mobile Service Team at the K Electronics Service Central Headquarters."

Seok-hwa couldn't recognize how foolish he looked. In his dazed eyes, he saw not the friendly faces of his hardworking secretaries, but the face of the girl he had been forced to take in at his parents' house 20 years ago.

Dropping tears like pearls, what did that adorable little girl say?

"Auntie, I'm moving. Please give this to my brother..."