“Don’t care.”
Kwon Youngjae replied coldly and stood up first. Business done.
Heewon got up after him, picked up the stamped prescription, and politely bowed to Professor Hong. But only briefly — dragged by Youngjae’s hand, he was forced out of the consultation room.
Professor Hong watched them quietly. She furrowed her brows, uncertain.
“I don’t know, they’ll handle it on their own.”
Worrying about grown adults was laughable. Tossing her pen aside, she called the next patient.
Heewon returned to find a mountain of work piled up waiting for him, even though he’d only been gone two days.
A secretary who had just placed a heap of docunts on Heewon’s desk smiled sheepishly.
“It got... really busy while you were away, Director.”
“I didn’t say anything.”
“You sighed as soon as you saw it.”
She left chocolates to cheer him up. Heewon sat down, unwrapped the foil, and popped a round chocolate in his mouth. His energy was already low, so this was a relief.
Before starting work, he didn’t forget to take the ergency contraception. The pill stuck uncomfortably in his throat. He ntally noted this unpleasant sensation — this was his punishnt.
As he busily worked, Secretary Song quietly approached with her hands full of papers.
“Director, here’s next week’s schedule...”
“Ah, leave it on top. Just need you to review it?”
“Yes...” Song answered softly. She added the files she brought to the neatly arranged stack according to their own system.
“......”
Heewon glanced up from the docunts. Seeing Song lingering at his desk as if unsure, his lips dried up.
“How’s your health... is it okay?”
Song struggled to start the conversation. Despite her cautious tone, her eyes were full of an oppressive intensity directed at Heewon.
Heewon hadn’t expected her to bring up the business trip. He deliberately blocked any chance for conversation. Youngjae had said it wasn’t his problem, and that Heewon just needed to pretend he didn’t rember — but it wasn’t that easy. The bittersweet feeling already pooled in his mouth.
That gaze... the crazed eyes that seed to know everything. It really wasn’t easy.
Heewon leaned back in his chair, wearing a softer smile.
“It’s fine. I heard Secretary Song worked really hard. Thanks to you, the contract finished smoothly.”
“......”
“Good job. Thank you.”
Song’s eyes flicked briefly in response. The glance was clearly directed toward Youngjae’s office.
“No problems... right?”
“Yes. None at all.”
“......”
“What’s wrong? Is sothing going on?”
Pretending not to hear would have been better than faking ignorance. When Heewon asked again, Song looked embarrassed and waved her hands.
“No, it’s fine if you’re okay.”
She hesitated before turning away. Heewon watched her retreat, then hid his face behind the monitor.
Rubbing his chest, he could feel his heart pounding just beyond the thin shirt. It was maddening. He muttered to himself seriously.
After lunch, Kwon Youngjae headed to the chairman’s office on the 29th floor for a business trip report.
While he held a private eting inside, Heewon waited outside as usual. As he idly passed ti, a familiar face ca by and spoke.
“Secretary Kim, don’t just stand there. Have so tea with .”
It was Jung Yongshik, Chairman Kwon’s personal secretary. Seeing his beckoning gesture, Heewon followed him to the reception room.
The Longjing tea that Chairman Kwon often enjoyed was served on the table. Even the smooth teacups looked like masterpieces made by a great artisan.
“......”
Though it was a rare luxury, Heewon hesitated to drink, still shaken from the recent ordeal. He stared blankly at the cup, then lightly touched his lips to the tea.
Fortunately, the Longjing tea caused no problems. As the tension inside him finally eased, Heewon carefully put down the cup and straightened his back.
“Secretary Jung, you look better.”
“? I’m just taking it easy now. The juniors handle the tough stuff, and Chairman Kwon spends more days at ho than the office.”
Jung tapped the armrest of the sofa, smiling contentedly. The man in his mid-sixties radiated calm and ease.
Though he said he was relaxed, serving Chairman Kwon’s needs surely wasn’t easy.
He had worked as the chairman’s secretary for nearly 40 years and was even honored with an outside director title. But he was still active, though he should have retired long ago. Heard he recently had a grandchild too.
Whenever Heewon saw Secretary Jung, he imagined that might be his own future.
“Anything unusual lately?”
“Sa as always.”
“Well, being trouble-free is best.”
They exchanged casual greetings. Jung never pried about Heewon’s Oga status; he was perceptive and had a way of making others comfortable. A man worth learning from.
“Hmm... Director Kwon Youngho seems to have firmly established himself in China.”
Jung ntioned Youngho’s recent news, piquing Heewon’s interest — a rare bit of valuable information.
“Anything specific?”
“He seems determined. Looks like he’s gathered his own people, and there’s talk his second-half performance will be great.”
“...Is that so?”
Heewon let out a small sigh. Hearing that Youngho was thriving was more like bad news. Sent him off hoping he’d fail, yet he was rising. Well, having ability ant he wouldn’t waste it.
Secretary Jung chuckled softly, seeing Heewon’s reaction.
“Worried?”
“A little, yes.”
Jung knew well the family succession struggle. For an ordinary employee, it wouldn’t matter who beca the heir, but for a personal secretary, it was crucial. Nodding quietly as if understanding Heewon’s feelings, Jung responded.
“He probably won’t be back soon.”
“We’ll see.”
“......”
“I’m not sure if I should say this to Secretary Kim, but I support Director Kwon Youngjae.”
Heewon bit his lip slightly. Jung’s words were both a relief and stirred greater curiosity.
“Does the chairman feel the sa?”
Jung smiled with his eyes while sipping tea.
“I hope he serves well by his side.”
A man skilled in keeping secrets, the softness in his smile concealed a strong will. Spending so much ti together, his aura increasingly resembled Chairman Kwon’s.
As they chatted quietly, ti passed quickly. They tidied up and fixed their attire. Waiting at the door, Youngjae soon appeared with a sowhat tired expression after his private eting.
They walked out together, passing through the long corridor and stopping in front of the elevator lobby.
Heewon stepped forward to press the down button. Standing straight and watching the panel, he felt a piercing gaze beside him.
Turning his head, he saw Youngjae staring intently. Wondering if sothing was on his face, he touched his lips. They were dry and cracked, not wet from the tea.
“...Why are you staring?”
“Nothing.”
Youngjae quickly looked away with a stiff face. His unreadable expression made Heewon give up trying to interpret it and face forward. Just then the elevator arrived, doors sliding open.
The executive-only elevator was usually quiet, but today it stopped at many floors. At the 25th, several directors boarded at once. Their voices were loud, faces flushed after a eting.
“Hello, Executive Director Kwon Youngjae.”
“Ha ha, long ti no see.”
Amid the flood of greetings, Youngjae only bowed silently. Knowing his nature, the directors didn’t push for conversation.
The elevator beca crowded with people pressed together.
Heewon tactfully made space. Just in front of him stood the imposing Executive Director Choi. Trying to avoid the crowd pushing inside, Heewon stepped back until he was pressed right beside Youngjae.
Caught in this awkward spot, Heewon twisted his body with difficulty. As he lowered his hand, he accidentally brushed against sothing hard.
“...Sorry.”
“......”
Youngjae’s gaze was sharp and piercing. Was it really worth glaring as if to kill over touching a thigh?
Heewon fixed his gaze on the floor indicator above. The close glare was so intense his cheek felt like it might burst, but all he could do was endure.
An hour later, with quite a pile of docunts to approve, Heewon gathered them all and headed to the office.
Inside, Youngjae stood straight, reviewing papers. Heewon approached and took care of his tasks. Sorting docunts by urgency, he laid out the ones needing imdiate approval clearly.
“Secretary Kim, this...”
At that mont, Youngjae stood up and bumped arms with Heewon. The scattered papers fluttered to the floor, and Heewon instinctively bent down.
He crawled under the desk to pick up the papers deep inside.
His knees nearly touched the floor, sweat forming on his brow from the cramped space. His bent posture tightened the trouser cuffs around his hips. As he stretched his hand, a soft groan escaped him without realizing.
After picking up the last page, he barely pulled his head out.
Facing up, he imdiately saw Youngjae’s tilted chair and widely spread thighs. The lowered eye level led his gaze unknowingly between the legs.
Youngjae removed the pen cap and snapped it onto the nib. The click sound pulled Heewon’s careless gaze upward. The crease between Youngjae’s eyebrows deepened fiercely.
“You’re doing that on purpose, aren’t you?”
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