Chapter 29: Phone recovery.

Instead of returning home after parting ways with Cosmo, I stopped by a café near my house.

This place has private rooms and tends to be on the pricier side, which means it doesn’t get too crowded, making it a

great spot to use as a personal hideout.

“I’m sorry for making you wait so long, Secretary Kim.”

As I headed to the private room set up for us, I spotted a man waiting for me. It was Secretary Kim, who could be

considered my right-hand man.

The image of him in an apron from the meat restaurant flashed in my mind, causing me to smile unconsciously. Even

now, I feel guilty about what I made Secretary Kim and the bodyguards go through.

I should probably give them a generous bonus later.

“Not at all. By the way, did you take a taxi?”

“Yes, it was difficult to contact Driver Park.”

Nodding at Secretary Kim’s words, I took a seat.

Since Cosmo was next to me, I really had no other option. I had taken the subway a few times long ago, but that was

it, and I didn’t have the confidence to ride it again due to my confusion.

“To see the CEO taking a taxi is quite a rare sight. It’s almost regrettable that I couldn’t witness it in person.”

“I used to take taxis quite often when I was younger. It might be surprising from your perspective, Secretary Kim.”

With that small talk wrapped up, we decided to get into the main topic.

The reason I had called Secretary Kim all the way here, when he would have normally gone straight home from the

meat restaurant, was because of this.

“Anyway, I really appreciate what you did for me. It must have been a sudden request, so thank you for accommodating it.”

“It was quite a refreshing experience for me. It brought back some faint memories of my part-time job during my student days.”

“Secretary Kim, did you have a part-time job when you were a student?”

“Yes, my family wasn’t particularly well-off, so I had to find a way to cover my tuition and living expenses.”

Oh, come to think of it, Secretary Kim was somewhat of a self-made person. On the surface, he seemed to have

smoothly progressed through an elite path thanks to family support, so I sometimes forget this.

It really is hard to judge a person just by their appearance.

Well, Cosmo also gave off an image of a warm-hearted nerd when I first met him, but now he feels more like a

reliable man. That gap might even make him more appealing to me.

“First of all, this is a bonus for you. It’s separate from the company, so just keep it.”

As I handed over the envelope of money I had prepared before stopping by the café, I noticed his eyebrows twitching for a brief moment.

It seemed more like surprise than joy over the unexpected reward.

“It was already enough with what you gave me before…”

“I’m giving this to you because I felt bad for making you clean the grill for three days. Think of it as a separate gesture.”

“Yes, then I’ll gratefully accept it.”

I put on a stern expression as if to insist on the offer again, seeing Secretary Kim showing signs of hesitation. Only

then did he respectfully bow his head and tuck the envelope into his inner pocket.

Despite his appearance, Secretary Kim is someone who is quite strict about money. Even though no one would know

if he simply pocketed the cash I gave him privately, he always reports any amount, no matter how small, to the

company and receives it after taxes as a bonus.

I figured he would handle it that way again, so I just gave him a little more.

“By the way, Secretary Kim, I heard there are some openings at Changseong Planning… Is that right?”

“Yes, that seems to be the case. Apparently, they are looking to hire more staff this time.”

After confirming that he had taken the envelope, I casually asked. Secretary Kim checked a notepad he pulled out

from somewhere and then replied.

Changseong Planning isn’t directly related to our Changseong Corporation, so I wouldn’t expect him to know about

it, but I was impressed he had such detailed information.

“Then please let them know that I can place someone there. I’ll explain the details later.”

“Understood. I’ll give a heads-up to their representative.”

Secretary Kim took out the familiar pen he always used and began writing in his notepad. I appreciated that he didn’t express any doubts.

“Hmm.”

Not long after, the coffee arrived. As I took a sip, I sensed Secretary Kim observing me intently from across the table.

It was a bit surprising that someone with a personality who usually speaks his mind would act this way, and I

couldn’t help but wonder what he was thinking, leading me to break the silence first.

“Do you have something to say? You’re staring at me.”

“Oh, no. I apologize.”

“If you have something to say, please do. It would be more rude to stay quiet in this situation.”

I calmly sipped my coffee again and responded a bit coldly. Secretary Kim’s expression hardened, and he hesitated

but eventually spoke up.

“Uh… you mentioned Cosmo, right?”

“C-Cosmo? Why are you suddenly bringing him up…”

I was taken aback as an unexpected name popped up, and this time, I was the one who felt flustered.

It seemed like the first time I had shown such confusion in front of Secretary Kim, who also appeared quite flustered.

“Actually, since you’ve been showing interest in him, at first I thought it was just a fan’s admiration, but it seems like there’s more to it, so I wanted to cautiously ask.”

“…What do you mean?”

I realized that although I had mentioned watching Cosmo’s broadcasts a few times, it was the first time I had put us

in a situation where I openly discussed it, and I regretted it belatedly.

Secretary Kim, who had been gazing at me, spoke again in a cautious tone.

“Do you have romantic feelings for him?”

“…!”

Considering my actions today, there was no way he wouldn’t know, but being pointed out directly by Secretary Kim

made my face feel warm, as if I were a child caught doing something wrong.

“If this topic makes you uncomfortable, I won’t bring it up anymore…”

“N-No, it’s true.”

As I hesitated to respond, Secretary Kim, who had been trying to retract his words, was stopped by my nodding.

There’s nothing uncomfortable about it. That’s just how it is.

“Before seeing him in person, I thought it was just a fan’s admiration. But as I learned more about him, I couldn’t help it. Is this how first love feels?”

“It may not be solely because it’s first love. It means that your feelings for him are genuine.”

Secretary Kim quickly refuted my words, which could sound like a momentary whim, and affirmed them with sincere words.

I was left momentarily speechless, then smiled with gratitude and jokingly commented.

“I’ve always felt this way, but you really know how to speak, Secretary Kim. Will this be the end of the bonuses?”

“I don’t expect more. What you’re giving me now is already more than enough for raising children.”

“Didn’t you say that no amount is ever enough for raising children?”

I didn’t return home after parting with Cosmo; instead, I stopped by a cafe near my house.

This place has private rooms available, and since the prices are generally high, it doesn’t attract many people, making

it a good spot to use as a personal hideout.

“I’m sorry for keeping you waiting, Secretary Kim.”

As I headed to the private room, I saw the man who was waiting for me. It was Secretary Kim, who could be

considered my right-hand man.

The image of him in an apron from the barbecue restaurant flashed in my mind, and I couldn’t help but smile.

Looking back, I really felt sorry for Secretary Kim and the bodyguards.

I should definitely give them a decent bonus later.

“No, it’s fine. By the way, did you take a taxi?”

“Yes, it was difficult to contact driver Park.”

I nodded at Secretary Kim’s words and took a seat.

With Cosmo next to me, I had no choice but to take a taxi. I had taken the subway a few times long ago, but that was

all, so I was too confused to consider it.

“It’s quite a rare sight to see the director taking a taxi. I almost wish I had seen it in person.”

“I used to take taxis often when I was younger. It might be surprising for you, Secretary Kim.”

That was enough small talk, so I decided to get into the main topic.

The reason I had called Secretary Kim here instead of going straight home from the barbecue restaurant was also because of this.

“Anyway, I really appreciate your help this time. It must have been a sudden request, so thank you for accommodating it.”

“It was a refreshing experience, so I enjoyed it. It even reminded me of my part-time job during my student days.”

“Did you work part-time during your student days, Secretary Kim?”

“Yes, my family wasn’t particularly well-off, so I had no choice but to find ways to pay for my tuition and living expenses.”

Ah, thinking about it now, Secretary Kim was a prime example of someone who succeeded through hard work. From

the outside, he seemed to have smoothly followed an elite course thanks to family support, and I often forgot that.

Indeed, it’s hard to judge a person just by their appearance.

It was the same with Cosmo; when I first saw him, he had the image of a typical, nerdy guy, but now he feels more

like someone I can rely on. That gap may even be more attractive to me.

“First, this is a bonus. It’s separate from the company, so please accept it.”

I handed a money envelope I had prepared before stopping by the cafe to Secretary Kim, and I noticed his eyebrows twitch slightly.

It seemed more like surprise than joy over an unexpected reward.

“Just what you gave me before was enough…”

“I’m giving this to you because I feel sorry for having you scrub the grill for three days. Consider it a separate gift.”

“Yes, then I will gratefully accept it.”

Seeing Secretary Kim momentarily hesitating to refuse, I feigned a stern expression and urged him again, and only

then did he politely bow his head and put the envelope into his pocket.

Despite his appearance, Secretary Kim is quite strict when it comes to money. Even when given money personally, he

usually reports it to the company first and receives it as a bonus after tax deductions.

I assumed he would do the same this time and considered it just a little extra.

“By the way, Secretary Kim, I heard there are some open positions at Changsung Planning… is that right?”

“Yes, that seems to be the case. They’re apparently looking to hire more staff this time.”

Confirming that he had received the money envelope, I casually asked, and Secretary Kim immediately checked a

notepad he had taken out from somewhere before answering.

Changsung Planning isn’t officially related to our company, Changsung Industries, so it was impressive that he knew

such detailed information.

“Well then, please let them know that we can recommend someone to Changsung Planning. I’ll explain the details later.”

“Understood. I will inform the representative over there.”

With his usual pen in hand, Secretary Kim quickly finished writing in his notepad. I appreciated that he didn’t

express any doubts.

“Hmm.”

After a while, when the coffee arrived, I took a sip and noticed Secretary Kim watching me closely.

It was a bit surprising to see someone who usually speaks their mind acting this way, and I couldn’t help but wonder

what topic would prompt such behavior, so I decided to break the silence.

“Do you have something to say? You’re staring at me.”

“Oh, no. I apologize for that.”

“If you have something to say, go ahead. Not saying anything in this situation is more rude.”

As I calmly sipped my coffee, I noticed Secretary Kim’s expression harden as he hesitated before finally speaking up.

“Um… you mentioned Cosmo, right?”

“C-Cosmo? Why are you suddenly asking about him…”

I was caught off guard by the unexpected name, and this time, I was the one who was surprised.

I felt like it was the first time I’d shown such flustered behavior in front of Secretary Kim, and he seemed quite

bewildered as well.

“Actually, since you seem to be interested in him, I initially thought it was just a fan thing, but now it seems like it’s something more, and I wanted to ask carefully.”

“…What do you mean?”

Then I realized that although I had mentioned a few times that I watched Cosmo’s broadcasts, it was the first time I

had openly shared that information in front of both of us, which made me feel regretful.

As I was contemplating that, Secretary Kim, who had been looking at me intently, opened his mouth again in a cautious tone.

“Do you, in fact, have romantic feelings for him?”

“…!”

Considering my actions today, it would have been hard for him not to notice. When Secretary Kim pointed it out, my

face inexplicably felt hot, as if I were a child caught doing something wrong.

“If this topic makes you uncomfortable, I won’t bring it up again…”

“Y-Yes, that’s true.”

As I hesitated to respond, I nodded to stop Secretary Kim from retracting his words.

There was no reason to feel uncomfortable. After all, it was true.

“Until I saw him in person, I thought it was just a fan thing. But as I learned more about him, I found it uncontrollable. Is this what first love feels like?”

“It’s not just because it’s your first love. It means that your feelings for him are genuine.”

Secretary Kim instantly refuted my words, which could sound like a fleeting moment of passion, and affirmed them with sincerity.

I was taken aback for a moment, then smiled with gratitude and jokingly said,

“I always feel that you have a way with words, Secretary Kim. So, does this mean that this bonus will be the last one?”

“I don’t want anything more. What you’re giving me now is already more than enough to raise kids.”

“Didn’t you once say that no matter how much you had for the kids, it was never enough?”

“Cough… that was just representing what the mother said.”

That didn’t seem right. No matter how I thought about it, I felt the sincerity behind those words back then.

But since he said it that way, I nodded along to let it go.

Secretary Kim didn’t seem to want to ask more questions about Cosmo, so he didn’t say anything further.

“In any case, I’ll support you. I secretly hoped you could have a youthful love with someone around that age.”

His last words were all he said.

Hearing that made me a bit curious.

I wasn’t particularly desperate for love, nor had I ever thought about wanting a youthful romance with someone.

It was just that as I walked the path I chose, as he had said back then, I experienced love and met someone I wanted to give my all to.

“Thank you for your words. But please don’t tell my father or mother about this yet.”

“While I don’t think the chairman will know, I think the madam will be very happy…”

“That’s exactly why. She’ll probably start fussing and ask when the ceremony will be held, or something along those lines.”

I could easily picture her sharing her own love stories with me, saying, “When I was with him…” in front of her

daughter who hadn’t even started dating yet.

That future must never come.

“…I see I overlooked that point. I will keep it confidential. You can count on me.”

Secretary Kim, who knew my mother well, seemed to realize this point late and bowed his head in apology.

But I trusted Secretary Kim to keep it to himself. If it reached my mother’s ears, I would have no choice but to

assume it leaked from him and take special measures.

“In any case, you can go back now. I’ll be going back to work the day after tomorrow, so please take a day to rest.”

“Yes, understood.”

I declared that Secretary Kim could leave first since I wanted to stay a bit longer, and he got up to greet me.

“Oh, wait a moment, Secretary Kim.”

“Yes, is there something you forgot to mention?”

As I nodded while gulping down the remaining coffee, I suddenly remembered something I hadn’t asked, so I

stopped Secretary Kim from leaving.

As he turned his body to ask what it was, I fidgeted with my fingers, knowing I was being unreasonable, and brought up another request.

“I-I was wondering if you could find a man around here who is good at video editing?”

“Video editing… is that what you’re asking? What’s the purpose?”

“Uh? Well, that…”

I couldn’t honestly explain the reason behind the absurd theater I had put on at the barbecue restaurant, so I hesitated to respond.

How could I say it! I want to recommend someone to the guy I like, and preferably not a woman?

“I’ll tell you more once you bring someone. But it has to be a man.”

“…Understood. I will find someone as soon as possible.”

As I mumbled an appropriate excuse, Secretary Kim seemed to notice that I was reluctant to continue the

conversation and turned to exit the private room.

Alright, this is perfect.

I can help Nayeon find a good job, and in return, I can recommend a capable editor to Cosmo, who has just lost an employee.

I’ll have to contact him as soon as I find someone.

I might be able to use that as an excuse to meet him.