Private Secretary - Chapter 50

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

Private Secretary Episode 50

Last night, Lee Seol had stopped by her home after a long time to pack her things, and departed early in the morning with Tae-san.

The camping site in Chungcheong Province was a place where Ryu Hwa-pyeong had made a long-term accommodation reservation.

Since they had agreed to arrive by 11 AM, Tae-san had been busy moving around since dawn.

“You said this was your first time camping?”

“Yes.”

If it was her first camping trip, she should have been filled with anticipation and curiosity, but Lee Seol remained emotionless.

Rather, she just hoped that everything would pass by safely without any major incidents.

“Are you tired?”

“Yes, a little.”

Even though they hadn’t been intimate last night, Lee Seol looked particularly tired as she only stared out the window.

It was natural since she had cried quietly all night and couldn’t sleep a wink from beating her chest in frustration.

Since she didn’t like Tae-san because she wanted to like him, even when she thought she should stop liking him, it didn’t work out as she wished.

Moreover, today she would have to watch Kang Tae-san smile happily toward another woman – how could she possibly be okay?

So Lee Seol decided to let go of everything, just for today.

She resolved never to expect anything again.

As soon as Tae-san heard Lee Seol’s short response, he looked at her face, but thought it was probably because it was early dawn.

Instead of continuing the conversation, he turned up the audio volume.

“Then get some sleep for a bit.”

“No, I’m fine.”

“It’s okay, so sleep if you’re drowsy.”

“…Yes.”

Clearly, Tae-san was no longer the same Kang Tae-san as before. He was considerate of Lee Seol, tried to understand her, and attempted to care for her to some degree.

If only she could have been satisfied with just the kindness he showed her, she wouldn’t have been this unhappy.

In the end, it was clear that the one who had driven herself to this state was not Kang Tae-san, but Han Lee Seol herself.

“Tell me if you want to stop at a rest area.”

“I’m fine.”

“Are you in a bad mood?”

“I’m just a little tired, that’s all.”

“You went to bed earlier than usual yesterday, so why are you tired?”

“I had restless dreams so I couldn’t sleep well.”

“What kind of dreams did you have?”

“I can’t remember right now.”

Of course, it was all lies. How could she have dreams when she never slept?

“Is meeting Kim Se-na that uncomfortable for you?”

“No. We’re not even close enough for that. It’s just awkward. I’m thinking of it as work, but it won’t be comfortable, so I’m worried.”

“Se-na just wants to hang out together. She doesn’t expect anything from you.”

“Yes. I know that well, but the three of you know each other well while I don’t. I’m the only one awkwardly butting in, so how could I be comfortable?”

“That’s why I’m saying you don’t need to think of it as awkward.”

She didn’t want to argue with him. Just as Lee Seol was swallowing the sigh that was about to burst out and closing her mouth,

Her phone vibrated long in her bag. Her heart sank at the call from Chairman.

“It’s a call from Chairman.”

“…Put it on speaker phone.”

Tae-san lowered the audio volume, and Lee Seol switched to speaker phone while politely answering the call.

“Yes, Chairman.”

[Did I call too early in the morning?]

“No, sir. We’re traveling for work.”

[Really? Well, it’s nothing else. I was wondering how Tae-san’s blind date is progressing.]

“…Ah.”

[Is there any progress? I called because there’s been no news no matter how long I wait.]

Chairman Kang was referring to the blind date he had personally arranged last time.

Although Lee Seol had given a brief report, it seemed he was waiting for new updates as time had passed.

Lee Seol briefly glanced at Tae-san.

“Father. This is Tae-san.”

[Why are you with Secretary Han so early on a weekend morning?]

“It’s for work.”

[Do you handle all the world’s affairs by yourself? Never mind. Good. This works out well. Tell me yourself. What happened with the blind date? You’re really going to make your father ask first, aren’t you?]

“It wasn’t worth meeting a second time. I expressed my intentions at that meeting, and she also said she wasn’t ready for marriage yet, so it ended well.”

Since they had been intimate on the day of the blind date, Lee Seol couldn’t ask deeply about that matter either.

This was the first time she heard that it had ended that way, so Lee Seol pretended not to care while focusing on his words.

[I heard you were quite attentive to her. So didn’t you have some interest?]

“Since it was a meeting you personally arranged, I had to be more kind and gentle than usual, because someone nagged me to death about it.”

Tae-san glanced at Lee Seol sitting beside him as he spoke.

Hey, when did I ever go that far…

Lee Seol pouted her lips, and Tae-san chuckled.

[Then when exactly are you going to get married?]

Suddenly, Chairman Kang’s voice became calmly subdued.

“You said it was just a show-off blind date anyway. To restore the pride of a father with a pathetic son who only clings to Kim Se-na.”

[What? Kang Tae-san.]

“Marriage isn’t a competition. There has to be a decent person. Blind dates don’t suit me.”

[You have to meet various people to choose a decent one among them. When are you going to meet people when you only work all the time?]

“Since we’re talking, let me be clear. I’m not going on blind dates anymore.”

[Kang Tae-san!]

“I’ve been playing along until now because I respect your wishes, and I think I’ve done enough. So don’t pressure Han Lee Seol anymore to make me go on blind dates.”

[Kang Tae-san.]

“I have to work now, so I’ll hang up. I’ll see you at the company.”

Tae-san, who spoke businesslike and firmly, gestured to hang up the phone. But Lee Seol, who couldn’t hang up like this, brought her mouth close to the microphone.

“Chairman. This is Han Lee Seol.”

[Yes.]

“I’ll come to give you a final report on this matter soon.”

[Well, really. I can’t give up like this. Can’t you really change Tae-san’s mind?]

“I’m hanging up.”

[Hey. Kang Tae-san!]

Tae-san directly pressed the call end button.

“I was going to contact him anyway, so this worked out well.”

“But did you really settle it like that on the spot that day? I thought from the atmosphere that you would meet again.”

“Not really. She didn’t come with marriage in mind either. It was fortunate that we both felt the same way.”

Normally, she would have been relieved at the thought that she wouldn’t have to watch him go on blind dates with other women anymore, but now she didn’t feel much about it.

Either way, his heart only had Kim Se-na in it, so what use were blind dates?

“When you go to report to Father, make sure to get all the incentive money.”

At first, she was motivated by the incentive and worked hard, but at some point she had forgotten about it.

In the end, she hadn’t properly accomplished what the chairman had asked for, so while she would accept it if he gave it, she didn’t have the nerve to ask for it first.

“It’s good that one task is reduced.”

“…Still, I feel bad that I seem to have disappointed the Chairman.”

“I’ve told you repeatedly. The person you need to focus on is me, not the Chairman.”

“…”

“What do you think Father would have said if he knew I was on my way to meet Kim Se-na right now?”

“He would have told me to arrange a blind date immediately.”

“Exactly right.”

Tae-san laughed lightly, and Lee Seol smiled bitterly.

* * *

“You’re here? You arrived earlier than I expected?”

When they arrived at the camping site, Kim Se-na and Ryu Hwa-pyeong were already there unpacking their luggage.

“Hello.”

When Lee Seol greeted the two, Kim Se-na approached with a bright smile and gave her a light hug.

Weren’t they not close enough for this?

Feeling uncomfortable, Lee Seol subtly pulled her body back.

“We’ve met before, right?”

Then Ryu Hwa-pyeong approached and offered a handshake.

Lee Seol thanked him for the invitation and took out a small gift she had prepared from her bag.

“This is nothing special, but I couldn’t come empty-handed so I prepared this.”

“Oh my, you didn’t have to do this. You could have just come.”

“Still, since I was invited.”

Although this gathering wasn’t particularly welcome to Lee Seol, she thought she should maintain proper etiquette since they were Tae-san’s friends.

When she handed over the camping cup and lantern she had bought from a prop store near the company, Kim Se-na opened them right there and smiled with satisfaction.

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