Private Secretary - Chapter 51

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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 51

“The cups seem to be for couples? How thoughtful. I was just thinking about buying another lantern, but how did you know exactly what to get? Thank you. I’ll use them well.”

Fortunately, the two of them seemed satisfied and smiled brightly.

“When did you prepare this?”

Tae-san, who didn’t know that Lee Seol had prepared a gift, looked puzzled and then quietly approached to ask.

“I was going to tell you, but I was so busy I forgot.”

“No, you did well.”

Tae-san gently stroked Lee Seol’s head while praising her. His tone and gaze were unusually gentle.

Probably because Kim Se-na was in front of them, everything seemed wonderful to him.

Lee Seol connected every one of Tae-san’s gazes and actions to Kim Se-na in her mind.

“You haven’t had breakfast yet, right? Hwa-pyeong made porridge, so let’s eat together.”

“Se-na. We still need to stay a bit longer, so in the meantime, show these two around the inside of the tent.”

Ryu Hwa-pyeong, sitting in front of the pot, spoke while gently stirring to prevent the porridge from burning. Kim Se-na smiled brightly and gestured for them to come inside.

“We’re staying long-term, so we leave our stuff here when we go. Actually, we keep buying new things every time we come, so our luggage keeps increasing.”

The interior was more spacious than expected. She had only imagined sleeping cramped together in a narrow tent, but it was comfortable enough that there was no need for that.

“This time we bought field beds. Since you two are coming, and ours were getting old too. They’re new, so use them comfortably.”

Four beds were arranged in a circle around a heater placed in the center.

“This puts most studio apartments to shame.”

“It might even be better? Hwa-pyeong is serious about camping. He often invites close friends over to hang out. This is what the inside looks like, want to see outside too? There’s a reservoir fishing spot nearby.”

Excited Kim Se-na was busy guiding the two people. Lee Seol remained indifferent throughout, but since she couldn’t show it, she forced herself to smile by pulling up the corners of her mouth.

“We have fishing rods too, so let me know if you want to try. I’ll lend them to you.”

“Not really.”

“Right. You never had any interest in that kind of thing before. What about you, Secretary? Do you like fishing?”

“No. I don’t particularly enjoy it either.”

“Still, sitting there and staring blankly at the water makes distracting thoughts disappear, which is nice. If you want to rest later, you can come here and relax. Those two chairs on the far left are ours. You can see our names written on them, right?”

Lee Seol half-listened to Kim Se-na’s explanation as she led them to a spot overlooking the reservoir, and looked around at the surrounding scenery.

She wasn’t interested in camping, but she liked being surrounded by the quiet mountains.

“And would it be okay if I called you Lee Seol? Calling you Secretary somehow feels distant.”

“…Yes, please feel comfortable doing so.”

“I’d really like it if Lee Seol would call me sister, but that might be a bit burdensome, right?”

“Ah… that would be a bit difficult.”

Sister?

When Lee Seol firmly smiled and declined, Kim Se-na laughed cheerfully.

“Then let’s get closer. So we can call each other sister and younger sister.”

Lee Seol, who had no intention of doing so at all, forced a smile and got through the situation.

“Everyone, come and have breakfast.”

When Ryu Hwa-pyeong, who had been in front of the tent, called the three people, they all headed there. The porridge Ryu Hwa-pyeong had made was full of abalone and vegetables.

“Thank you for the meal.”

It wasn’t even noon yet, but they had to stay overnight. They would need roughly 24 more hours to escape from here.

Lee Seol ate her porridge silently, only listening to the chirping of mountain birds.

The three people who had known each other from before naturally exchanged stories that only Lee Seol didn’t know. Stories from when they were in school, stories from when they studied abroad, and so on.

“Oh my. We talked too much about things only we know. Lee Seol is here too. She must feel left out.”

Kim Se-na, sitting between Ryu Hwa-pyeong and Kang Tae-san, became conscious of Lee Seol sitting alone across from them like a sack of barley.

“No. You don’t need to worry about me.”

“How can I not worry? Then shall we talk about something Lee Seol knows too? Hmm… Do you have a boyfriend?”

The best she could come up with was an extremely personal question.

“Se-na. That kind of question is rude.”

Ryu Hwa-pyeong tried to stop her, but Kim Se-na’s eyes sparkled with an excited expression.

“This is the kind of talk we need to have to get closer. Otherwise, would we be talking politics and social issues all the way out here?”

“Still, Se-na…”

“Do you have a boyfriend?”

“No.”

“Oh my. That’s great. Then shall I introduce you to someone? Just tell me what type you like. I can introduce you to someone who fits perfectly.”

“No, it’s fine. I’m not thinking about dating.”

“Oh my, what are you saying? You should date a lot when you’re young. It’s not something I should say as someone about to get married, but you need to meet many people to know what kind of man is a good man.”

Kim Se-na spoke with an innocent face without malice, but Lee Seol became deliberately displeased and smiled while answering instead.

“So be honest and tell us just among ourselves.”

“Se-na. Stop it. You’re making her uncomfortable.”

Even when Ryu Hwa-pyeong tried to stop her, Kim Se-na paid no attention.

Since it seemed like it would only end if she spoke up, Lee Seol finally opened her mouth.

“I like someone who is kind and gentle. Preferably someone who only looks at me.”

Tae-san, who had been sitting indifferently, finally turned his eyes toward Lee Seol. Lee Seol felt his gaze but didn’t bother to meet it.

“That’s too vague? Be more specific. What about appearance?”

“Appearance doesn’t matter. Just someone who listens to me well, shows sufficient interest, and only likes me.”

Though it wasn’t aimed at Tae-san, this was also Lee Seol’s honest feelings.

Having been hurt by Tae-san many times, she listed exactly the opposite behaviors from his.

“Then honey, what about Jin-hyeong? Jin-hyeong is really gentle when he dates. He accommodates everything for his partner.”

Kim Se-na spoke seriously to Ryu Hwa-pyeong, as if she really intended to introduce a man to Lee Seol.

He tried to change the subject by suggesting they talk about it later while gauging Lee Seol’s reaction, but Kim Se-na acted like someone who had no intention of talking about anything else.

“Anyway, if I introduce you to a good person, would you be willing to meet them?”

“Se-na. Why do you keep pressuring someone who doesn’t want it?”

This time Tae-san intervened. Suddenly, a strange rebellious feeling arose in Lee Seol’s heart.

Why are you so sure I wouldn’t want it?

Does he think that since we have that kind of relationship, I wouldn’t meet other men?

“Hmm, yes. I’d be grateful if you introduced me to a good person. It’s been quite a while since I’ve dated.”

So Lee Seol answered impulsively with a mind to provoke Tae-san.

As soon as Lee Seol finished speaking, Tae-san’s face turned cold, but Lee Seol paid no attention and only looked at Kim Se-na.

“Oh my, really? Then I’ll actively get involved?”

“Se-na.”

“Why? Lee Seol said she’d accept an introduction. I should talk to Jin-hyeong once. He’s not seeing anyone these days, right?”

As if trapped in her own world, Kim Se-na was unstoppable even when Ryu Hwa-pyeong tried to dissuade her.

Lee Seol noticed Tae-san’s intense gaze that made her right cheek sting, but didn’t look at him until the end.

Actually, Kim Se-na’s words weren’t entirely wrong.

To forget Kang Tae-san, meeting someone better than him might be the way.

She couldn’t just keep staring endlessly at Kang Tae-san’s back when he had someone else in his heart.

* * *

After finishing breakfast, the four people went fishing at the reservoir together.

Of course, for Lee Seol who wasn’t interested, the fishing time was extremely boring, but the other three seemed to become more absorbed each time they caught a fish.

Evening came that way, and the three people except Lee Seol enthusiastically prepared dinner.

Lee Seol also felt uncomfortable just sitting still and wanted to help, but Kim Se-na stopped her every time.

“Tae-san. Can you get some baby cabbage from the ice box over there?”

“Sure.”

“I’ll do it.”

“No, Lee Seol. You came as a guest, so just sit there. We’ll take care of you.”

“I’d prefer to make it together and eat together.”

“No, I said no. And Tae-san usually makes you work so hard. This time it’s Lee Seol’s turn to just receive. Lee Seol should have at least one day like this, shouldn’t she?”

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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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