Private Secretary - Chapter 17

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Private Secretary Episode 17

It was a proposal that was difficult to readily accept, but there was no justification to refuse it either. Lee Seol pondered for a moment before nodding her head.

“Then I’ll go and come back.”

Instead of answering, Tae-san turned his gaze to the monitor. It meant he understood.

Lee Seol, who went outside, decided on Western food, wanting to fill her stomach with hearty meat.

While waiting for her takeout order of hamburg steak set meal, Lee Seol took out the bundle of resumes that Chairman Kang had given her.

It was to select the blind date candidates to show Tae-san later.

* * *

“Then I’ll try calling this person first, and if she says she doesn’t have time, I’ll try this person.”

Lee Seol, who unexpectedly ended up having lunch with Tae-san, talked only about the blind date even while eating.

“Then let me go make a quick phone call.”

“Eat first. It’s not that urgent.”

“Asking someone to go on a blind date just four days from now is rather impolite, so I need to contact them as soon as possible.”

Lee Seol, who was feeling rushed, eventually stopped eating and went outside to call Tae-san’s first choice candidate.

“Yes, thank you for understanding. Then we’ll meet this Saturday at 3 PM at the location you mentioned.”

Fortunately, the other party readily accepted the blind date.

The proposed location was a hotel lounge in Gwanghwamun, which Lee Seol also accepted immediately.

“Oh yes.”

With a sense of accomplishment as if she had solved overdue homework, Lee Seol smiled broadly and returned to the department head’s office.

“I’ve made the appointment. 3 PM at Aethra Hotel Lounge in Gwanghwamun.”

“Will you accompany me this time too?”

“Yes. So if Kim Se-na asks where you’re going on the blind date later, you can answer like that.”

With a relieved mind, Lee Seol picked up her lunch box and continued eating.

Meanwhile, Tae-san, who seemed to have finished his meal, just sat quietly watching Lee Seol.

Finding that gaze quite burdensome, Lee Seol glanced sideways and after some consideration, asked Tae-san.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“You look so happy. Is it that fun for you that I’m going on a blind date?”

“Because I finally have something to tell the chairman. Actually, I thought about suggesting it several times before, but I couldn’t bring it up in those situations, so I was just feeling tremendous pressure. But now that it’s resolved like this, I feel relieved.”

“….”

“You should hurry and finish that busy work too.”

“Then on Sunday….”

“Wait a moment. I’m getting a call.”

Though it was a call from an unknown number, Lee Seol asked Tae-san for understanding and answered the phone immediately.

“Yes, this is Han Lee Seol.”

[This is Kim Se-na.]

Kim Se-na? How did she get my number?

Lee Seol looked at Tae-san with a puzzled expression, and he sent her an indifferent gaze as if asking why.

[I got your number from Tae-san before. To call when I can’t reach Tae-san.]

“…Ah, yes. But may I ask what you’re calling about?”

[What is Tae-san doing this Saturday?]

Lee Seol clenched her fist and quietly cheered in triumph.

Tae-san, who didn’t know who she was talking to or what the conversation was about, watched Lee Seol’s behavior with bewilderment.

“He’s going on a blind date. At 3 PM, at Aethra Hotel Lounge in Gwanghwamun.”

Only then did Tae-san seem to intuitively realize that the caller was Kim Se-na, as slight bewilderment spread across his face.

[…Ah, yes. But can I ask what kind of person it is?]

“I’m sorry. It’s private information, so it’s difficult to share.”

[Yes. Then take care.]

Kim Se-na answered curtly and hung up before even hearing Lee Seol’s goodbye.

“Department Head. It was Kim Se-na.”

“….”

“Listen to this.”

Lee Seol played the automatically recorded call, and Tae-san looked at her as if surprised.

“See this? What did I tell you? I said there would be a reaction, right? Why would Kim Se-na call me? She must have wanted to confirm whether that appointment you mentioned was real or not.”

“….”

“That means she’s concerned about you, Department Head.”

Thrilled that her prediction was exactly right, Lee Seol continued with a slightly excited voice.

But Tae-san showed no particular reaction.

“If you go on a few more blind dates like this, Kim Se-na might feel a sense of crisis and show a different reaction. She might even tell you not to go on blind dates. Then it would really be done.”

Even though it was clearly a positive sign for Tae-san, he neither looked happy nor bad.

With that ambiguous attitude, Lee Seol couldn’t gauge his intentions and just carefully observed his expression.

“Department Head? This is really a good sign.”

“Right. You did well.”

Tae-san’s reaction was still lukewarm.

Why is he showing no emotion? Even though Kim Se-na is gradually taking the bait?

“Aren’t you happy?”

“Just this much isn’t really enough.”

“Just wait and see. Now the initiative between you two will be in your hands, Department Head. If you just trust what I say….”

“Right. I said you did well.”

It was clearly praise, but why didn’t it feel refreshing?

Feeling somehow uncomfortable for unknown reasons, Lee Seol awkwardly scratched her cheek and stepped back.

Tae-san, who had returned to his desk, was ready to enter work mode again, and Lee Seol quietly began clearing away the lunch box.

“Han Lee Seol.”

“Yes?”

When she was about to leave after organizing the empty containers, Tae-san called her name while tapping something on his desk with his hand.

Curious about what it was, she approached, and he handed her a small envelope.

It wasn’t the right size for gift certificates or cash, so Lee Seol looked at him uncertainly and opened the envelope.

It was tickets for this Sunday’s baseball game between Woon Pansers and Hogen Otters in Seoul.

Since there were two tickets, it seemed to mean she should go with a friend.

He even takes care of things like this just because we talked a few words about liking baseball last time.

Even though his expressions were stingy, she could feel that he cared thoughtfully, and Lee Seol smiled broadly, newly moved.

“I’ll have a good time. Thank you.”

“You’re going with me.”

“…What?”

“Professional baseball is popular these days, so I’m thinking of incorporating our new car promotion with that. Of course, it’s still just in the planning stage. Since it’s for work, you’ll accompany me.”

She wondered how long it had been since she directly watched a baseball game, but if Tae-san was her companion, that was different.

That would be an extension of work, not going for enjoyment.

“Yes. I understand. Should I come pick you up at the hotel?”

But Lee Seol had no right to refuse. If Tae-san said he would do it, she had to follow as his secretary.

“Be ready by twelve. I’ll come pick you up.”

“…Yes. I understand.”

If he wanted to incorporate new car promotion with baseball, shouldn’t he go with Strategic Planning Department staff or Hogan Motors personnel?

Various questions arose, but she didn’t ask at length. Tae-san must have his own reasons for this.

‘He must be curious about a general baseball fan’s perspective.’

Lee Seol, who came out of the department head’s office, stopped by the Management Support Team and discussed Tae-san’s afternoon schedule with Yang Secretary who had returned.

While they were busily talking.

“Chairman, have you arrived?”

Yang Secretary suddenly stood up and greeted someone.

The person was none other than Kang Shin-jae, Chairman of Hogan Group. Lee Seol also belatedly stood up and bowed.

“Is Department Head Kang inside?”

“Yes. Please wait just a moment.”

While Secretary Yang went into the director’s office to announce the chairman’s visit, Lee Seol stood there awkwardly.

“Secretary Han.”

“Yes, Chairman.”

“How are the blind dates going? There’s been no news since we met that time?”

“Ah, we actually confirmed the date for the second blind date today. This Saturday at 3 PM.”

“Really? There’s no way Kang Tae-san would go along so obediently. Even if the first one was understandable, he would have strongly resisted the second one. Was it okay?”

Unable to reveal that Tae-san had agreed to the blind date to win back Kim Se-na’s heart, Lee Seol smiled awkwardly.

“I can’t know his true intentions, but I dare to speculate that he has the will to meet new people.”

“Good. Well done. What does his intentions matter? The important thing is that he’s willing to meet various people instead of just thinking about Kim Se-na. Well done. It really couldn’t have been easy. Our Lee Seol, you’re truly capable.”

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