Winter Season - Chapter 25

“What are you talking about?”

“He’s the type of person who can’t rest easy unless he takes away whatever is in my hands, be it an object or a person.”

Seunghyuk tilted his head and let out a small chuckle.
“Gu Jinhyuk doesn’t discriminate between men and women. But it seems like he has a thing for people who look like you—pale, skinny, but with a spark in their eyes.”

“His hobby is playing with those kinds of people until he gets bored and throws them away. So, there’s no way he’ll leave you alone when you’re by my side.”

Seunghyuk pulled out a cigarette, clicked the lighter, and brought the flame to the tip. Holding the cigarette between his lips, he spoke in a muffled voice.
“Seduce him, whether it’s with your body or your face—whichever you’re better at.”

“……”

“If you get the password out of him properly, I’ll make sure your debt disappears.”

For a moment, hesitation crossed Yi-hyeon’s mind, thinking it was beyond his capability. But the promise of clearing his debt made him lift his head. Seunghyuk crossed his arms, watching him intently as if assessing him. Yi-hyeon met his gaze without looking away.

Gu Jinhyuk, whom Yi-hyeon had seen in the executive office storage and at Taesung Group headquarters, seemed like an impeccable businessman, not leaving the slightest opening for others. He was nothing like Seunghyuk, who exuded a gangster-like vibe with his flashy outfits and rough behavior. It was hard to believe they were brothers, with no resemblance at all.

Yi-hyeon didn’t know why he had to get the password from him, but one thing was clear—it was a good opportunity for him. Staring at the file folder in front of him, Yi-hyeon slowly reached out and gripped it firmly.

“…What do I need to do?”

“I’ve set up a short-term intern position in Gu Jinhyuk’s secretary’s office for you. The details will be passed along through my people, so start reporting there next week.”

The sudden turn of events made Yi-hyeon’s brow furrow. He had already broken his savings to scrape together money, and now he was on the verge of quitting his job at the sundae soup restaurant due to this plan.

I guess I’ll have to look for an evening part-time job. Should I check with the bar I used to work at and see if they have an opening?

Yi-hyeon swallowed a sigh and nodded. Somehow, it seemed like he was about to get even busier than before. When the voice stopped, Yi-hyeon raised his head and met Seunghyuk’s gaze. Seunghyuk was leaning back on the sofa with an expressionless face, tapping the tip of his shoe.

Was there more to say, or did it have another meaning?
Yi-hyeon couldn’t figure out why Seunghyuk kept staring at him. Just as he was holding his gaze, a knock broke the silence. Despite Seunghyuk not responding, the door opened, and someone peeked inside.

“Hyung-nim, the food’s here.”

The man glanced at Yi-hyeon briefly before closing the door and leaving. Silence returned. Seunghyuk lowered his legs first and stood up.

“I don’t have to tell you to stay and eat, do I?”

“We’re not exactly close enough to sit face-to-face and share a meal,” Yi-hyeon said, a self-deprecating smile flickering across his handsome face. He stared at Seunghyuk with an unreadable expression before standing up as well.
“Good. I wasn’t planning on it anyway.”

“…….”

“Don’t forget—you promised to erase my debt if I succeed in this job.”

Someone who holds a director position at a company as big as Taesung wouldn’t be an easy target. The fact that Seunghyuk didn’t mention what would happen if Yi-hyeon failed bothered him, but it was still a deal worth taking.

Yi-hyeon stared at Seunghyuk for a moment before reaching out his hand. The slight smile at the corner of Seunghyuk’s lips slowly disappeared as his large hand clasped around Yi-hyeon’s.

The warmth from Seunghyuk’s firm grip felt unfamiliar. But what felt even stranger was the look in Seunghyuk’s eyes as he gazed at him. Flustered, Yi-hyeon quickly pulled his hand back and turned around. He could feel Seunghyuk’s burning gaze on his back as he walked away.

****

To think I’d come back here on my own two feet.

Yi-hyeon clenched his fist as he looked up at the gleaming glass high-rise building. The monument at the entrance engraved with the Taesung logo looked bigger than before.

Even if it was all part of a pre-arranged plan, it was still his first time walking into such a respectable company as an employee. Beneath his calm exterior, tension and unease lurked at the thought of having to deceive others.

He stood in front of the building for a moment, which drew glances from neatly dressed people passing by. Realizing how odd he must have looked, Yi-hyeon snapped out of it and quickly moved forward.

When he entered the lobby and handed over his ID card at the desk, the staff member who recognized him gave a faint smile. This time, the gate opened right away, unlike the last time—probably because they had been informed in advance.

He followed the other employees into the elevator and arrived in front of the secretary’s office. Suddenly, the reality of what he was about to do hit him, and the nerves set in. He had less than two weeks to get close to Gu Jinhyuk while staying nearby. Yi-hyeon took a deep breath before lightly knocking on the door.

With a click, the door opened, and four employees sitting at their desks looked up. Avoiding their curious and wary gazes, Yi-hyeon gave a small bow. A woman sitting at a desk on the right stood up and approached him.

“Are you Kwon Yi-hyeon?”

“Yes.”

“Nice to meet you. I’m Yoon Ji-yeon, the chief secretary. Everyone, say hello. This is Kwon Yi-hyeon, who will be working as an intern for the next month.”

“Hello. I look forward to working with you.”

As he bowed again, a soft round of applause followed. Ji-yeon smiled and led Yi-hyeon to a desk in the corner.

“You can use this desk. Since you’re only here for a month, I hope you don’t mind if it’s a bit uncomfortable. This isn’t where the usual desk is placed.”

As she mentioned, the desk was quite messy. It was clear that it had been used to store various items. Yi-hyeon sat down in front of the hastily placed laptop. His face reflected on the dark screen looked more tired and worn-out than usual.

“Ah, and…”
Her vaguely trailing voice made him instinctively look up. He was met with the uncomfortable expression of the chief secretary. She brushed her hand near her eyebrow before speaking.

“We have a dress code here.”
“Sorry?”
“Our company’s regulations are pretty strict, especially for the secretary’s office, since image matters.”

At her words, Yi-hyeon glanced down at his outfit—a casual suit he often wore while working at the club.

He belatedly observed the male employee seated nearby, who was dressed neatly in a tie and vest. Thinking back, he realized that most of the people he passed on his way in were dressed similarly.

“Ah…”
No wonder he stood out so much among these conservatively dressed people. The stares he received on his way in now made perfect sense.

Feeling his face heat up in embarrassment, Yi-hyeon pulled an awkward expression. The chief secretary smiled gently.

“It’s your first day, so it’s understandable. Just be mindful starting tomorrow.”
“Yes, understood.”

He answered confidently, but in truth, Yi-hyeon didn’t own a formal suit like the ones they were wearing. He’d have to go straight to a department store after work. His mental calculator spun rapidly, calculating the cost. He couldn’t help but sigh.

“And here, take this.”

The woman handed him a thick, bound book while Yi-hyeon bit his lower lip. When he looked up at her, she checked her watch and motioned to the book.

“It’s a manual summarizing the basic things you need to know. Read it until it’s time to go greet the director.”
“Thank you.”

Opening the heavy book to the first page, he saw a table of contents with over ten chapters. It covered topics like the proper mindset and behavior of a secretary, how to secure dining venues, and appropriate communication skills. Just reading the detailed explanations made him realize how out of place he was in this role.

The chief secretary returned to her desk and resumed her busy work. The other employees around him were equally occupied, making calls and typing on their computers. Watching these people skillfully manage their tasks while mastering this thick manual made Yi-hyeon feel a bit ridiculous sitting there with his hidden agenda. He pressed down a wry smile and lowered his gaze back to the manual.

He wasn’t sure how much time had passed when someone lightly tapped on his desk.

“Yi-hyeon, you’ll need to step in and greet the director for a moment. Please stand up.”
“Ah… Yes.”

As he approached the office door, his mouth felt dry. Even though their meeting had been coincidental, he couldn’t help but wonder—would the man remember him? And if he did, would he find it strange that Yi-hyeon was here?

Knock, knock.

The door opened to reveal a well-decorated interior in dark tones. It was a stark contrast to the desolate atmosphere of Gu Seung-hyuk’s office. Yi-hyeon’s gaze was momentarily drawn to the golf clubs standing in one corner.

Before he could take in more of the room, the secretary next to him spoke first.

“Director, this is Kwon Yi-hyeon, who started as an intern today. Yi-hyeon, please introduce yourself.”

Ah. Realizing he had zoned out, Yi-hyeon quickly turned his head. The man sitting at the desk slowly lifted his gaze toward him. Yi-hyeon bit his lower lip and gave a quick bow.

“Hello, I’m Kwon Yi-hyeon. I’ll do my best.”

When he raised his head, his eyes met the director’s. It was hard to tell if the man was smiling or expressionless—his expression was somewhere in between.

“Kwon Yi-hyeon… Kwon Yi-hyeon…”

The director rolled his name on his tongue as if testing how it sounded, a playful smile forming on his lips. He set down the document he was holding and leaned back in his chair.

“Yi-hyeon.”
“Yes.”
“Gu’s office is on the floor below. Are you sure you’re in the right place?”
“…Yes, I am.”

So, he remembers.

His eyes scrutinized Yi-hyeon’s face with an intense, almost calculating gaze. That strange look slowly trailed downwards, stopping at the suit Yi-hyeon often wore at the club in place of his uniform.

A quiet puff of air escaped the man’s lips, followed by a soft chuckle.

“Interesting.”