Impossible Romance - Chapter 19

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

19.

“You’ll handle it well enough on your own. I called you here because I wanted to see your face after so long. As you said, Ahn Joon-hee is someone I’ve known since childhood.”
Han Seon-young concealed her true feelings behind a smile as she spoke.
“Yes, I understand. Going forward, please refrain from doing that. If the Secretary’s Office only looks after Ahn Joon-hee, people will talk. And it would be absurd if our other secretaries took turns visiting the Gallery. If anything comes up, I’ll handle the discipline myself. Ahn Joon-hee will also inform me immediately if you call for her.”
Kwon Seok-ha had clearly defined the relationship between Han Seon-young and Jun-hee.
“Understood.”
“Got it. You’ve barely arrived and already you’re nagging.”
Han Seon-young laughed, her eyes crinkling slightly. Despite the nagging, Kwon Seok-ha was simply too perfect a son in her eyes. Just looking at him made her smile with contentment.
“Ahn Joon-hee, do me a favor.”
“Yes, Executive Director.”
“There’s a document in my office marked with a ‘J’. Find it and bring it to my Officetel. I’ll be reviewing the report when I get there.”
“Yes.”
Jun-hee answered quietly.
But she didn’t know how to interpret why he had deliberately mentioned going to the Officetel in front of Han Seon-young.
Perhaps he was implicitly signaling that he also knew Han Seon-young was aware of where Jun-hee was currently staying.
Despite being closer than anyone else in the world, their relationship remained enigmatic even to those who thought they understood it.
“Don’t misunderstand—it’s work.”
Kwon Seok-ha spoke as if he could read Jun-hee’s mind, his smile mischievous. But his eyes were fixed on Han Seon-young, burning with an intensity that warned her not to touch what had entered his domain.
Han Seon-young avoided his gaze like someone caught stealing and sipped the tea before her.
“I understand.”
Jun-hee answered calmly and stepped back.
“Mother, shall we go out for a while?”
Kwon Seok-ha released the intensity from his gaze and smiled warmly at Han Seon-young.
“Going out with my son on such a beautiful night! How wonderful. Ahn Joon-hee, go meet your boyfriend and have fun. I hear people these days stay out all night.”
Han Seon-young’s words made her intention to separate Kwon Seok-ha and Jun-hee transparently clear.
“Yes.”
Jun-hee gave a brief, courteous reply since it would have been awkward to protest.
“Ahn Joon-hee, finish my task first, then go meet your boyfriend.”
Kwon Seok-ha looked at Jun-hee.
“Yes, I understand.”
“Mother, shall we go?”
“Let’s!”
Han Seon-young rose from her seat with a radiant smile and lightly linked her arm through her son’s. She looked as if she possessed the entire world.

***

After leaving the Gallery and stopping by the Company, I arrived at the Officetel to find it was already late into the night. I let out a soft sigh as I looked at the food in my hands.
When I went to the Company a couple of hours earlier, fortunately Hwang Gang-jik, the Secretary Director, was there. Fortunately, the other employees had finished their overtime and left.
Hwang Gang-jik must have received advance notice from Kwon Seok-ha, as he opened the Executive Office door for me.
“You must be exhausted working so late.”
As I greeted him, Hwang Gang-jik waved his hand dismissively instead.
“You’re the one who’s had it rough, Ahn Joon-hee. Especially running into each other at the Gallery like that.”
Hwang Gang-jik seemed quite close to Kwang Seok-ha, having worked with him for a long time. He nodded as if he understood that my hardship was because of Kwon Seok-ha.
“It just happened to turn out that way.”
“When you go into the Executive Office, there’s an envelope on the desk. If you open it, you’ll find the Executive Director’s instructions inside.”
“Thank you.”
I hadn’t seen Hwang Gang-jik many times, but I thought he was quite a good person.
Entering the Executive Office, I discovered a document envelope placed on Kwon Seok-ha’s desk. Just as he’d said, the front was marked with “J”, and when I opened the envelope and read the instructions, I furrowed my brow slightly.
Inside the envelope was a memo listing the food I needed to purchase.

[Purchase an appropriate amount of late-night snacks and leave them at the Officetel.]

I felt somewhat exasperated, but I wasn’t angry. At my previous workplace, I was accustomed to running various errands for my superior. And from the moment he specifically pointed out that I was the newest member of the Secretary’s Office, I had anticipated that such errands would become my responsibility.
At the same time, I realized that Kwon Seok-ha had already known I’d gone to the Gallery. He’d naturally extracted that information from Han Seon-young and even created a legitimate pretext to send me to the Officetel.
I asked Director Hwang Gang-jik about a few foods that Kwon Seok-ha liked before heading out. Hwang Gang-jik didn’t seem to find my question strange, as if this happened often.

As I left the Company and made my way to the Officetel, I purchased a sushi set and beverages from among Hwang Gang-jik’s recommendations. Since they were items I could easily buy on the way to the Officetel, there wasn’t much deliberation.
I considered entering through the Underground Parking Garage as usual, but today I went through the Lobby instead. It was because of some strange confidence that made me feel justified, as if it were company business.
Since I had an access card at the Lobby, there were no obstacles. The place was managed with particular attention to privacy protection, so I had to present my access card at the entrance to pass through.
Thus I naturally passed through the entrance, took the Private Elevator, and entered the apartment. Normally I would have showered and gone straight to bed, but today I had work instructions, so I waited in the Living Room for now.

“Review the report while I’m out.”

There were no reports to review after all, but he had told her to wait until he arrived. Glancing at the clock, it was already past eight.
‘Has it really gotten this late?’
I decided that since the hour was growing so late, I should leave a note for Kwon Seok-ha and retire to my room. I was searching for a notepad to jot a message on the Dining Table when I heard the Entrance Door open.
Lifting my head toward the sound, Kwon Seok-ha—whom I had seen just hours before—entered looking as immaculate as ever.
“Good evening, Vice President. I have completed all the tasks you instructed earlier.”
I deliberately addressed him by his title in a stiff, formal tone.
“What did you get for food?”
Kwon Seok-ha seemed indifferent to anything else, asking about the meal first as he walked straight toward me.
“Director Hwang Gang-jik recommended it, so I prepared your favorite sushi. Please enjoy it at your leisure.”
I maintained a respectful tone deliberately, whether at home or at the Workplace, to establish clear boundaries.
“Oh, what a shame? I already ate sushi with my mother earlier, and I’m quite full now. It would be wasteful, so have Secretary Ahn eat it.”
Kwon Seok-ha gazed at me intently, speaking in an unhurried manner.
“That is unnecessary. If there is nothing else you require, I shall take my leave for the day.”
“Leave? Where exactly are you going?”
His thick brows curved gently—a confident assertion that I had nowhere to escape to.
Knowing full well his meaning, I answered with equal boldness.
“My work is complete, so I’m retiring to my room. Surely you’re not an exploitative employer who demands twenty-four-hour service. You’ll respect my free time.”
“Right. Go ahead and leave. It’s your free time now.”
Kwon Seok-ha shrugged and acquiesced without resistance.
“Very well. I’ll rest now.”
“And now we’re neighbors, aren’t we? Have this.”
Just when I thought he had relented, he turned and offered me the sushi.
“Pardon?”
“To be precise, you’re my collateral, and you must be hungry.”
Kwon Seok-ha waved the sushi set before me. In truth, I was indeed hungry.
“…I’ll eat it gratefully.”
If I didn’t eat this, I would have to resort to instant ramen, so ravenous was my appetite. From the moment the transfer was announced this morning until Han Seon-young’s summons after work, I had been rushing about all day, managing only coffee.
“Then, enjoy. Neighbor.”
Kwon Seok-ha winked at me and then retreated to his room.
I frowned at him and unwrapped the sushi packaging.
Indeed, the sushi exceeded expectations, just as Hwang Gang-jik had recommended. From its appetizing appearance to the freshness of each ingredient, it melted delicately on my tongue.
I suddenly recalled how much less self-conscious I had become around Kwon Seok-ha compared to the first day. Here I was, savoring sushi when I should have been on guard.
The feelings I had bound tightly for four years were unraveling within days, my defenses crumbling.
‘I mustn’t grow accustomed to this life.’
Carrying this small worry, I finished the sushi and returned to my room.

Late into the night, as silence settled over everything, I made my way to the Bathroom for a shower.
I had fought off drowsiness and waited until this hour to avoid running into Kwon Seok-ha. It felt somewhat unfair, but compared to my previous apartment, such inconveniences hardly warranted complaint.
“Sigh….”
After showering in hot water, a languid breath escaped my lips of its own accord.
From the moment I arrived at work this morning through Han Seon-young’s summons, it had been a relentless day where I couldn’t afford to let my guard down for even a moment.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————