Private Secretary - Chapter 28
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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 28
“…What specifically constitutes a wish within the socially acceptable range?”
Tae-san refreshingly drank the iced coffee I had bought and leaned toward Lee Seol.
“For example, whenever you need me, you call and I come running unconditionally regardless of the reason?”
“…Isn’t that what I did for the Department Head yesterday? When you asked me to bring gasoline…”
“So for example, there are things like that. Doing it unconditionally without asking or questioning.”
“…For example, even if I asked you to accompany me to my ex-boyfriend’s wedding pretending to be my boyfriend?”
I don’t know why she gave such an example, but Lee Seol was genuinely curious.
Whether he would willingly comply even if she tried to use Tae-san for such an impudent reason.
“If Woo-won wins.”
“…You’ll really grant it?”
“So if your team wins.”
“Wow… Amazing. No take-backs. If you try to pretend it never happened after losing later, I’ll be really disappointed.”
“Win first, then talk.”
“We’ll definitely win.”
Lee Seol made her pledge again while meeting Tae-san’s gaze with burning eyes.
“We’ll definitely win.”
Tae-san replied with a smile instead, which was also filled with confidence that Hogan would never lose.
* * *
“Please, please… Please…”
Now that the bet was made, Lee Seol’s eyes became earnest as she watched the game.
Unfortunately, Woo-won, who had been overwhelmingly beating Hogan until now, was struggling today.
At first they took the lead with an early score, but soon Hogan tied it up, and whenever Woo-won got ahead, Hogan caught up, making the game tightly contested.
Finally, at the top of the 9th inning, when Woo-won’s last chance to attack in regulation came, the score was tied 9-9.
They needed to score here, but currently there were two outs with no runners on base.
“Thanks. We’ll win with a walk-off. Usually winning with a walk-off is the most thrilling. Though it’s quite humiliating when you lose that way.”
“It’s not over yet. There’s one out count left, you know? If Hogan can’t score in the bottom of the 9th, it goes to extra innings.”
“Our team’s core batting lineup is coming up in the bottom of the 9th?”
“You said it earlier. You have to try long and short to know…”
That’s when it happened.
A crisp crack sound was heard and the ball began flying far, far away.
Lee Seol jumped up from her seat and followed the parabolic trajectory the ball was making with her eyes.
“Kyaak!”
It was a home run.
With a 1-run home run made with two outs, the Woo-won Pansers took a 1-point lead again, and excited Lee Seol even stomped her feet like a child in joy.
Though the expression of Tae-san sitting next to her was souring, Lee Seol patted his shoulder and couldn’t contain her happiness.
“Look! You said you never know what might happen! This is practically a walk-off. If this were our home, the game would end right here.”
“We still have our attack left. If we hit a two-run homer, it’s over.”
“Try hitting one first before talking.”
Lee Seol, so excited that even her cheeks were flushed red, raised both arms when the batter rounded from 1st to 3rd base and stepped on home plate.
She was almost moved to tears.
“Don’t raise your arms. You injured your shoulder.”
“What’s the big deal. Our team hit a home run!”
“Ha, really.”
Tae-san laughed as if dumbfounded while gently pressing down with his hand to prevent Lee Seol from raising her injured shoulder.
“What should I do. We might really win. Ah, win easily. Why are you winning so difficultly?”
“Lee Seol. You haven’t won yet. It’s not over, I’m telling you?”
“Our team’s closer is really national treasure level, so sorry to say, but Hogan probably won’t be able to score even 1 point.”
Lee Seol had a talent for teasing more cunningly than expected, and Tae-san became quite serious as his competitive spirit flared up while saying we’ll see.
After Woo-won scored 1 point, the next batter flew out, and Hogan’s chance to attack in the bottom of the 9th arrived.
Hogan’s 3rd batter who came up first hit a weak fly ball, and the 4th batter reached 1st base due to Woo-won’s error.
However, the 5th batter hit a ground ball, ending the inning with a double play.
Just as Lee Seol had guaranteed, thanks to the elite closer’s fantastic pitching, the game ended quite anticlimactically without any scoring.
“We won. We won!”
“Calm down. This is Hogan’s cheering section. You’ll get hit by stones if you keep that up.”
“…Ah. That was rude of me.”
Lee Seol filmed the Woo-won Pansers players greeting the away section with an excited face.
And she watched until the player who hit the home run in the 9th inning was interviewed.
“Not going?”
“We should go.”
“…Are you that happy?”
“Of course. We even made a bet today, so naturally I’m in a good mood.”
Lee Seol couldn’t hide her excitement even while packing up her scattered belongings.
“Just how greatly are you planning to use me that you’re so happy?”
“Well. I’ll have to think about that… Look forward to it. I might make a really troublesome request.”
“What kind of troublesome request?”
“So within the Department Head’s capabilities, if I ask you to do something, you’ll definitely do it, right?”
“Right. But use it within 3 months.”
“Huh? Where does it say you can suddenly attach an expiration date like that? You didn’t say that earlier.”
“What if you use it 10 years from now.”
“Oh, that doesn’t make sense. There’s no guarantee I’ll still be working with the Department Head 10 years from now, so would I really leave it unused that long?”
“…What kind of talk is that? 10 years from now I’ll still be working, and I’ll need a secretary, but you might not do it? Why?”
“No, you never know what will happen in a person’s life. I could change jobs.”
“Wherever you go, you won’t be able to earn as much money as here, right? Just my incentives alone are how much.”
“That’s what I’m saying. Then 3 months is too short, make it 1 year. I think I’ll be working at the company for at least 1 year.”
“You keep talking about possibly quitting, but just know that you can’t resign as you please.”
“Yes. Of course. I have no intention of quitting right now either. At least I have to use the Department Head well before quitting.”
“Huh. Now there’s nothing you won’t say.”
Instead of answering, Lee Seol tried to shoulder her bag. Of course, this time too Tae-san took it away.
* * *
“Thank you for giving me a ride. Drive safely. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Lee Seol. When the advertising concept we talked about today gets confirmed, I’ll properly reward you then.”
“No. The Department Head came up with the idea, and the wish I gained from today’s bet is enough for me.”
It was when Lee Seol was unbuckling her seatbelt to get out of the car. Tae-san reached out and touched his fingertips to her cheek as if to examine Lee Seol’s wound.
Flustered Lee Seol missed the timing to avoid it and stayed still.
“Apply ointment before sleeping.”
“…Thank you for your concern. I’ll go in now.”
“See you tomorrow.”
“Yes. Drive safely.”
Just like last time, Tae-san brightly illuminated the path Lee Seol was taking this time too.
Lee Seol bowed toward him in greeting and entered her home.
Tae-san, who had been quietly watching Lee Seol’s retreating figure, only turned off the high beams after seeing her enter the villa.
The moment he was about to turn on music and depart out of habit, the idol music Lee Seol had selected during the day blared loudly.
Though it was unfamiliar music that didn’t suit his taste, somehow he didn’t want to change the song.
“So this is what she drives listening to, right?”
Tae-san couldn’t hide his bursting laughter imagining Lee Seol singing along to the idol’s song.
Then suddenly, finding himself laughing brightly felt strange, so he turned off the music.
The car quickly became quiet, but perhaps because he had been in such a noisy place, he could hear ringing – ringing – tinnitus.
Just like a warning sound telling him not to have unnecessary thoughts.
* * *
After the general planning direction was established, Tae-san became busier than ever.
There were countless days when he couldn’t go home, so Lee Seol had to bring him fresh clothes and underwear every day.
Today was no different.
Still, up until now he had been going home late every other day at least, but today marked the third day that Tae-san couldn’t leave work.
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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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