Translator: Nox

Chapter 97

97. Resignation Processing

2023.08.05.

Monday morning.

Jaepil delayed his preparations for work a little, waiting for his grandson, Kim Tae-joon.

Since he had come to the house yesterday, he would visit early this morning to fit his grandfather's schedule.

As soon as he heard from Yang Hee-wook that Han So-eun and his grandson were dating, Jaepil quickly dug into Han So-eun's past and present. He hoped it wasn't true, but Han So-eun was indeed Han Hong-gyu's only daughter.

At first, he was shocked that Han So-eun had entered K Group. He wondered what kind of nerve she had to crawl in here, knowing that her father had cut off the waist of K Group, and he suspected her intentions.

He also wondered if Han So-eun and his grandson had been in contact all along. He was suspicious that his grandson, who had said he would return at the age of thirty-one, had returned a year early and volunteered for the position of head of the central headquarters of K Electronic Service, where Han So-eun worked. He felt that he could not forgive her if Han So-eun had lured his grandson and made him set foot on Korean soil early.

However, everything went against Jaepil's expectations. It was Tae-joon who approached, not Han So-eun. Tae-joon had been looking for Han So-eun for a year before returning to Korea.

For some reason, Han So-eun didn't know anything about what her father had done, and Tae-joon had been constantly approaching her. Creating the TF Team, breaking her up with Yang Hee-wook, following her around. Han So-eun seemed to have given up in the face of his aggressive drive.

That's why his heart ached even more. He felt sorry for and resentful of his grandson, who was still trapped in the vain affection of the past 20 years.

Fortunately, Han So-eun was not a child who couldn't be reasoned with. She had the stamina and tenacity to endure criticism, but she didn't have the stubbornness to go against adults. The work was completed safely.

However, the trace Han So-eun left behind as she left Korea was embarrassing.

[I took a few watches from Director Kim Tae-joon's house. Much later, after a lot of time has passed, you can say that you found them after they were stolen and return them. Please keep them safe.]

The day before yesterday, So-eun made such a brazen request as she was about to hang up the phone. A few hours after the call, a few watches came into Jaepil's hands, just as So-eun had said.

She was a very cheeky kid to the end.

She could have just said that her heart had cooled and left, but she created this trouble, leaving a clue for his grandson. If it was his tenacious grandson, he would do anything to get Han So-eun back. He was the kind of guy who would report Han So-eun as a thief and request an international investigation.

He had no choice but to face fate and see what happened.

When he was having a leisurely meal, his grandson burst in as expected.

"Grandfather."

"Oh. Yes. What's wrong? I heard you've been looking for me since yesterday."

Jaepil was very surprised that his grandson had suddenly come, but he softened his eyes with a welcoming look.

Tae-joon did not give Jaepil a polite smile. It was as if a turbid darkness was holding onto his grandson's eyes.

"I came to ask you something."

"Yes. Tell me. Tell me. I have something to say too."

"Then please speak first."

"Are you preparing well for the board meeting? I'll check it too, but keep an eye on Kim Sang-deok's movements. He's a sly guy, so you never know how he'll try to get you into trouble."

"……."

"That's what I wanted to say, so, why were you looking for your grandfather so much?"

Tae-joon's face showed that he hadn't slept properly for two days after Han So-eun disappeared. Jaepil felt like slapping his grandson on the back. He wanted to tell him to please come to his senses. But he had to pretend not to know, so he had to swallow his frustrated feelings.

"Don't you have anything to hide from me, Grandfather?"

"Hide something?"

"……."

"Of course, there are quite a few company secrets that I can't tell you. But you'll find out someday. They'll all be your secrets."

"No. Not that."

"……."

"Don't you really have anything to hide about my personal affairs? Even if you've investigated me."

Tae-joon didn't even mention Han So-eun's name. He knew that it was a name that his grandfather shouldn't hear. He was still grasping at straws. He could see a foolish determination to hide her existence again if he found Han So-eun again. It meant that he would continue that tragic meeting.

"In-seok."

Jaepil did his best to maintain his composure.

"Don't you know how busy your grandfather is? I haven't even been able to spend a day with you since I called you to Korea."

"……."

"Did you get into some kind of accident? Then you should tell me quickly. I need to fix it right away."

At that moment, Tae-joon's eyes wavered in the darkness. His eyes, like moonlight in a sky full of dark clouds, were pitiful. Nevertheless, Tae-joon stubbornly said nothing.

*

On Monday morning, Bobae was struck by lightning as soon as she came to work. She heard from her team leader that So-eun had resigned.

"Did she really quit? Her things are still in her place, aren't they?"

Come to think of it, So-eun's desk was clean. The only things left on the desk were things that could be thrown away, and common items.

The senior she liked and respected the most in the company had resigned without saying a word to her.

"I don't know what happened either. It seems she quit after sending a letter of resignation by scheduled email. She said she would give up her severance pay too. Did you hear anything, Bobae?"

"Not at all."

"Oh, what's going on? Did she win the lottery or something...? Well, if that's the case, it's a blessing. It's a blessing."

"……."

"Still, she should have said goodbye, even if it was just a simple one. It's a bit disappointing. I never thought that Han So-eun, who seems to be the kindest person in the world, would do this. You can never know what's in people's hearts."

While the team leader continued to ramble, Bobae was lost in thought. Her respected senior, Chief Han So-eun, would never leave so irresponsibly.

'Ah, come to think of it...'

Last week, she seemed like she was trying to hand over her work. She was desperate to force things into her head, even for tasks that were difficult to take over.

'And she even gave me a gift on Friday.'

Was it a farewell gift?

Still, you can't leave like this.

As she was rubbing her churning chest, she saw Chief Jang Eun-pyo entering the office.

"Chief Jang!"

Bobae ran to Eun-pyo, sobbing.

Eun-pyo, who had just arrived at work, also sensed the heavy atmosphere in the office and looked puzzled.

"Chief Han So-eun has quit the company."

Eun-pyo's eyes widened inside the glass of his glasses.

"Didn't you hear anything, Chief?"

While he was just pursing his lips without saying anything, the HR staff rushed in.

"Is this Chief Han So-eun's desk?"

Bobae hurriedly ran from Eun-pyo's seat.

"Yes, it is. Why?"

"The CEO told us to clean up the desk."

"……."

"The manpower will be replenished next week."

The HR staff member, who had notified them in a businesslike manner, swept the items on the desk into the box they had brought.

While the team members were all confused because they didn't know what was going on, a heavy and firm voice was heard from the entrance.

"Leave it."

It was Director Kim Tae-joon.

The buzzing atmosphere suddenly became as quiet as if cold water had been poured on it.

Tae-joon, who came up with fierce eyes as if he would crush someone, was not his usual kind and gentle self.

"Don't touch anything. Just leave it."

The president told them to clean up the desk, and the director, who is the chairman's grandson, told them to leave the desk alone. The HR staff, who didn't know which beat to respond to, were just sweating.

"Go back. I'll talk to the CEO."

In the end, it was the owner's family who won. Cleaning up the desk can be done at any time, so the HR chief gestured to step back for now. The HR staff awkwardly bowed and left first.

After the HR team left, Tae-joon called Bobae and Eun-pyo.

"Park Bo-bae, Chief Jang Eun-pyo. Can I see you for a moment?"

Bobae, who answered 'Yes' briefly, followed Tae-joon with quick steps.

Eun-pyo also followed Tae-joon from a distance. As he silently moved his steps, Eun-pyo also reviewed the events of last week.

Last Friday, Chief Han So-eun suddenly handed Eun-pyo a vanilla latte gift certificate and asked him to take good care of the director's presentation preparation. She was also supposed to prepare together, but it was as if she was entrusting everything to Eun-pyo.

He thought it was a little strange, but was that what it meant?

'Did they break up?'

But Chief Han So-eun praised Kim Tae-joon a lot.

Could it be that Han So-eun left due to external pressure?

Thoughts continued to pile up, and the three arrived on the 7th floor. Chief Song Mun-gyeong, who had come to work early, got up from his seat.

"Director, you're here."

"Chief, please come in for a moment."

Without answering his greeting, Tae-joon walked over and instructed Mun-gyeong. Mun-gyeong, who only exchanged glances with Bobae and Eun-pyo, followed Tae-joon without knowing what was going on.

When Mun-gyeong, who came into the office last, closed the door, Tae-joon told everyone.

"Chief Han So-eun has suddenly resigned."

Mun-gyeong's eyes widened, not knowing this fact yet.

"Did you hear anything separately from Chief Han So-eun?"

Bobae carefully opened her mouth first.

"I received a gift last Friday. She gave me hand cream when I left work, saying that I had worked hard for a week."

"I also received a gift. It was ten vanilla latte gift certificates. ...I also heard her say to take good care of the director's presentation preparation."

Eun-pyo also confessed in succession. Tae-joon's sigh was long and deep, as if he was calming his boiling insides.

"Isn't there anything else? Anything is fine. Like if she said she wanted to go somewhere after she resigned, or if there was something she originally wanted to do."

"……."

"Park Bo-bae, didn't you hear anything like that?"

When no one answered, Tae-joon pointed at Bobae and asked. Bobae sobbed and answered as she remembered.

"She just, she often talked about wanting to go on trips here and there. There was no special place, and she just responded when I told her about places. Jeju Island, Busan, Jeonju, Pohang, things like that..."

Tae-joon repeatedly clenched and unclenched his empty fist that had fallen to the side.

"If you get any contact from Chief Han So-eun, or if you have any clues as to where she is now, please contact me immediately. Chief Song, please let the two of you know my contact information."

The three of them couldn't say anything to his seemingly desperate request.