The Sub-Gong Is Being Rejected Today As Well - Chapter 116

On a sunny weekday afternoon, Se-hyun went out alone for the first time in a while. It was a luxury that came from having less work recently, after always losing track of time working by Shin Tae-oh’s side.

This newfound leisure was largely due to the new event they were organizing. Lately, Assistant Lee, who was in charge of the project, had been accompanying Shin Tae-oh more often.

“I have more free time now.”

Unlike companies that usually have only one accompanying secretary, Shin Tae-oh didn’t set a specific number, saying it was fine as long as the secretaries coordinated well. However, because he was so pleased with Se-hyun’s work, Se-hyun had been given many tasks.

So it was good that Se-hyun had some free time now. But he wasn’t exactly thrilled about it.

Se-hyun thought about why. Was he perhaps a workaholic?

“Ahn Se-hyun.”

While he was pondering if there might be another reason, the person Se-hyun had been waiting for appeared.

“You still haven’t broken up?”

At Ha Jin-seong’s greeting, Se-hyun briefly regretted contacting him. If he’d known it would be like this, maybe he should have just eaten lunch alone.

“Sit down.”

Se-hyun pointed to the chair across from him. Ha Jin-seong seemed to obediently take a seat as Se-hyun suggested but soon twisted his body to sit sideways. He was truly an uncooperative troublemaker.

After becoming friendly enough to speak informally since agreeing to be friends, it seemed he was now even acting younger than his age.

Regardless of how Ha Jin-seong sat, Se-hyun mulled over what he had said.

“How did you know we haven’t broken up yet?”

Ha Jin-seong responded nonchalantly to Se-hyun’s question while looking at the menu.

“I’m close with some people from Janghan Bank.”

“Then why didn’t they know the CEO had a lover?”

“Because I didn’t tell them.”

Ha Jin-seong made no attempt to hide that he had known but kept quiet. To others, it might seem like he still had feelings for Se-hyun, but Se-hyun knew him well.

“You’re still so childish.”

He just wanted to see Shin Tae-oh in a difficult situation.

Ha Jin-seong had managed his feelings better than expected. He could now see Se-hyun without feeling anything and had started building good relationships with others. So the reason he didn’t tell Managing Director Kim Yi-jun about their relationship was likely more about Shin Tae-oh than Se-hyun.

“That’s right. I don’t like Shin Tae-oh.”

It was a spiteful retort, full of determination to never do anything good for Shin Tae-oh.

“Too many people don’t know how pathetic he is. I don’t understand why they’re so obsessed with a guy who was single all his life until he started dating you. He’s been like that since he was young. Acting like he doesn’t care about anything, but…”

While listening to Ha Jin-seong’s stream of complaints, Se-hyun called over a staff member to order food. Afterward, he wiped the condensation under his glass with a napkin and checked if he had any new messages. Having finished his tasks to kill time until Ha Jin-seong finished speaking, Se-hyun finally looked up when the other fell silent.

“Are you done?”

Due to Se-hyun’s neutral reaction, Ha Jin-seong belatedly wondered if he was angry about him badmouthing his boyfriend.

“Then it’s my turn now.”

“…”

“Truly, no one can stop Shin Tae-oh’s eccentricities. How can he praise himself endlessly without saying he’s my boyfriend? Others should have seen Managing Director Kim Yi-jun’s face then. Everyone could tell Shin Tae-oh was the boyfriend, but he kept refusing to say his own name. It was the most bewildering thing since he bought me a car. Now that I think about it, he’s crazy in every way. Even with the car, he just went ahead and filled my garage with every color option, without me ever asking.”

Se-hyun sighed as he spoke at length. It sounded like complaining, but depending on how you heard it, it could also sound like bragging, making Ha Jin-seong frown.

He had forgotten. Ahn Se-hyun was just as abnormal as Shin Tae-oh.

“I planned to live alone forever, but the problem is the boyfriend I ended up with is handsome, capable, and has a good personality. There’s no good reason to break up like this.”

“You just don’t want to break up.”

“They say couples sometimes say they want to break up in the heat of an argument, but I can’t do that. We don’t even have arguments to begin with.”

Now the roles were reversed. While Se-hyun talked on and on, Ha Jin-seong started doing other things.

When the food arrived, he poked at it with his fork, tasted it, and nodded as if it suited his taste. He sprinkled a generous amount of cheese powder on Se-hyun’s gnocchi, which looked rich.

“Fine. Love each other for eternity.”

He had started with a simple greeting asking if they hadn’t broken up yet, and now he was getting it back in full.

Only after Ha Jin-seong admitted defeat did Se-hyun return to normal.

“Shin Tae-oh aside, you act like a lunatic when you’re unpredictable.”

Se-hyun was about to retort but closed his mouth. He had a lot to say about the breakup question, but he agreed that Shin Tae-oh was crazy.

“So, where’s this boyfriend you’re so crazy about?”

“He’s busy these days.”

“And you’re not?”

Se-hyun didn’t bother to answer Ha Jin-seong’s question. It had been natural for him to be busy when Shin Tae-oh was busy, so this current leisure felt awkward.

“I used to be confident that I could match him best, you know?”

As the original story’s supporting character, having Shin Tae-oh’s information in hand, Se-hyun could easily blend into his daily life.

“But for the first time, I’ve been pushed back.”

Though it’s temporary. Recently, due to new events, Manager Lee has been by Shin Tae-oh’s side more often. When all this is over, will things go back to normal?

Se-hyun realized as he spoke to Ha Jin-seong. It wasn’t because he was a workaholic. Se-hyun felt left out.

“No one knows Shin Tae-oh like I do.”

Se-hyun, talking to himself and becoming gloomy, poked at his gnocchi. If Shin Tae-oh were here, he would have already scooped one up and put it in Se-hyun’s mouth.

Meanwhile, Ha Jin-seong, who had been observing Se-hyun’s emotional changes in real-time, was speechless with disbelief. He wondered why Se-hyun had unusually invited him to eat together first. It turns out he just wanted to vent.

“It’s not like your feelings have cooled. Is it your trust that’s faltering?”

Unlike his usual self, Se-hyun was now just stirring the cream sauce on his plate with his fork, barely eating. Then he briefly explained to Ha Jin-seong what had happened.

“Of course, if Assistant Lee does the job better than me, he should take it. It’s not like they’re firing me…”

“What’s with this back and forth?”

“Has my work ability declined?”

Ha Jin-seong made a strange face. If it were concerns about a lover’s affection cooling, it might have been a bit easier. But bringing up a different issue made him feel pathetic for continuing to deal with this.

“Then come to me.”

Ha Jin-seong offered a very simple solution. When Se-hyun looked up and met his eyes, Ha Jin-seong leaned back in his chair and crossed his legs.

“Did you forget that I tried to scout you?”

“It was flirting disguised as scouting.”

Se-hyun clearly defined what could have been an ambiguous statement. Even that carefulness in not letting a simple word pass by could be seen as proof that his ability as a secretary was still more than sufficient.

Ha Jin-seong clicked his tongue and straightened up.

“Anyway, if Shin Tae-oh lets you down, you can always come to me.”

“I already refused that, didn’t I?”

“I said I’m always open. You’re a desirable talent, not just as a lover but as a secretary too.”

Se-hyun washed down Ha Jin-seong’s words, as cheesy as the gnocchi, with cola.

“It’s reassuring to hear you say that. At least I don’t have to worry about starving.”

“You talk well for someone who’s not even going to come…”

No matter how much he invites and whispers sweet nothings about being a desirable talent, Se-hyun won’t budge an inch, like a pine tree.
Ha Jin-seong looked at Se-hyun, who showed no consideration for his scouting offer, with a grumpy gaze.

“If you’re really that anxious, maybe you should just push harder.”

He meant to say work harder, but the expression didn’t come out quite right. It was a result of confusion between relationship advice and work advice.

“Don’t wait until your trust is completely gone to regret it. Do your best now while you still can.”

“Ah…”

Se-hyun’s eyes glazed over as if he had a realization. In reality, since he started living a stable life by Shin Tae-oh’s side, he had only focused on supporting his schedule, not putting in any extra effort.

“You’re right.”

To avoid becoming obsolete, one must keep making efforts. Se-hyun, having found a clue to solve his worries while talking with Ha Jin-seong, stood up abruptly.

“I’ll call you.”

Before Ha Jin-seong could stop him, Se-hyun hurriedly left the restaurant. He didn’t want to waste a single moment of this rare free time he had.

Seeing Se-hyun’s passionate expression, Ha Jin-seong picked up his fork again.

“It’s good to work hard.”

In both love and work.

Feeling oddly proud, Ha Jin-seong was blissfully unaware that the “firewood” he’d just added might lead to Shin Tae-oh being rejected more often than not

“So this is why people give advice on worries.”