Soon, he let out a low chuckle beneath his breath. The sound carried amusement, yet there was something firm and measured underneath it. A quiet weight that made the atmosphere feel heavier instead of lighter.
Originally, Chairman Je had intended to reveal the unpleasant truth to the young secretary himself. But after hearing Kiyonari speak so sincerely about wanting to remain by Soo-hyun's side, even he found reconsidering things.
Slowly, he rose from the seat. The chair scraped faintly against the floor as stood with calm, deliberate movements, one palm resting gently atop the table.
"You've grown into quite the man," he said steadily, eyes fixed on his grandson. "Someone capable of standing on his own feet and speaking his mind freely."
A faint smile lingered on his lips.
"You even have the nerve to raise your voice at me now, Soo-hyun. Something I wouldn't expect you'd do."
Soo-hyun visibly flinched.
Chairman Je noticed immediately. His smile deepened ever so slightly.
"You used to be timid," he continued. "You followed everything your mother told you without question." His gaze sharpened subtly. "Now... I can finally start to see all that woman's work finally paying off."
Silence swallowed the room whole. It stretched across the spacious dining area like an invisible pressure pressing against everyone present.
Kiyonari instinctively glanced sideways toward Soo-hyun. For a brief second, he caught the faint glint in those dark eyes, something low and unreadable buried deep underneath them. The grip around his arm had tightened at some point as well.
Director Je...
"Even so," Chairman Je added calmly, "you've also proven yourself useful to the company's growth."
His tone remained composed, but the praise carried undeniable weight.
"Far more than what that woman was capable of accomplishing." A grim smile crossed his face.
A grim smile crossed his face. "And finally have someone who will remain loyal to your side."
He clearly didn't want to argue further with the boy. The look on his face had already said what was on mind, and if Chairman Je tries to push through then it will only cause more riff between them.
Joon quietly stepped closer from behind and leaned down slightly, whispering something into the Chairman's ear. The old man listened before giving a small nod in acknowledgement as though catching up on important information.
Then he straightened once more. "As much as I would've liked to continue this conversation," he said smoothly. "I still have business matters to attend to."
His gaze shifted toward Kiyonari.
"I apologize, Mr. Soo. It seems we won't he able to enjoy dinner together after all."
"On no," Kiyonari replied quickly, shaking his head. "It's alright, mister Chairman."
"We're leaving," Soo-hyun cut in immediately, voice edged with restrained irritation as he pulled Kiyonari toward the exit once again.
Neither he nor Joon attempted to stop them this time. Just before the door fully closed behind them, Chairman Je spoke one last time.
"I'll see you again soon, Mr. Soo."
The words lingered in Kiyonari's mind long after they left the room. There had been no threat nor warning in his voice, no matter large it seemed, the world could become unexpectedly small. And that another encounter between them was invetable.
*****
The moment they stepped out of the building, the cold night air immediately greeted them. A sharp breeze swept across the front entrance, rustling the black coats of the guards stationed nearby. The city below glowed with endless lights, cars passing through distant roads, towering buildings flickering against the dark sky, and the faint hum of Seoul's nightlife stretching endlessly around them.
Soo-hyun said nothing.
His grip around Kiyonari's wrist remained firm—almost painfully tight—dragging him down the marble steps and onto the pavement outside. Only the sharp sound of shoes clicking against marble steps echoed between them.
"Director Je...!"
Kiyonari stumbled slightly behind him, struggling to keep pace.
Still, Soo-hyun did not respond.
"Director..." His voice cracked faintly from both confusion and nervousness. "Wait a moment—"
"Why did you come?"
The sudden question cut through the night like a blade. Their footsteps halted. Streetlights cast pale shadows across his face as he slowly turned around. The anger from earlier still lingered clearly in the eyes.
Kiyonari slowly lifted his gaze toward the man standing ahead of him. Under the pale glow, Soo-hyun's expression appeared colder than usual, sharp eyes shadowed with restrained hostility and jaw tense.
"Why did you come here?" He repeated, firmer this time.
Kiyonari froze.
A moment where he genuinely did not know what answer Soo-hyun wanted from him.
Was he angry because Kiyonari met with his grandfather without permission? Because the Chairman invited him to dinner behind his back?
Or was it simply because Soo-hyun was clearly worried about what will happen that pushed him this far?
Whatever the reason was, the anger radiating from him now felt suffocating.
Kiyonari lowered his eyes briefly, fingers curling slightly at his side. A heavy discomfort settled deep inside his chest. He hated this atmosphere between them. The tension, distance, and the way Soo-hyun looked at him now as though he had crossed a line without realizing it.
"I..." Kiyonari hesitated quietly before speaking again. "I didn't want to cause trouble for you."
The wind passed between them once more.
But Soo-hyun only stared at him silently, expression unreadable beneath the city lights.
"Trouble?" Soo-hyun let out a sharp scoff, almost incredulous.
"You didn't refuse him because you thought it would be rude," he said coldly, stepping closer. "But somehow ignoring what I told you is acceptable? I already warned you not to involve yourself with the Je Group."
Kiyonari lowered his head slightly, lips pressing together before he finally forced himself to answer.
"No, Director... I know you warned me to stay low." His voice came out quiter than before. "But I just thought it might be really important... I...."
"Enough."
Soo-hyun's voice rose suddenly, harsh enough to make Kiyonari freeze.
"Stop acting like everything was your fault," he snapped. "For God's sake, you're my secretary. The least you could do is act like one and don't blame yourself for what happened to me."
The words struck harder than Kiyonari expected.
"Stop showing your weakness to those bastards."
He bit down on his lower lip, swallowing whatever defense tried to rise inside his throat. A painful sting crawled through his chest, because part of him believed he deserved it.
Maybe Soo-hyun was right.
Ever since entering the company, he had been careful to avoid mistakes, yet somehow kept failing to do so. That same caution kept making him look weak in front of people who thrived on power, or what others exactly make of him.
Soo-hyun exhaled heavily and dragged a frustrated hand through his hair, fingers combing harshly through the dark strands before resting briefly against the back of the neck.
"The Je Group are not the type to make friendly negotiations with anyone and everyone," he muttered more quietly, though irritation still lingered heavily in his tone. "Once they already made up their decision, the company will act out on their own with or without the other side agreeing. And they want you out, Mr. Soo."
Kiyonari's eyes lifted instantly.
Soo-hyun continued before he could even react.
"And if you agree to whatever they're planning to tonight, then it's over."
The Director's expression darkened beneath the streetlights, exhaustion finally beginning to show through the anger.
"Everyone in the council already agreed to it," he explained carefully. "That's why the Chairman wanted to meet you personally. He wanted to see if he could persuade you himself without making it look humiliating."
Kiyonari stared at him silently, stunned.
"They don't want to start a scandal of directly firing you over one mistake," Soo-hyun continued. "So instead, they'll make it appear like resigning was your own decision."
The weight of those words settled slowly. Kiyonari's pupils widened faintly as realization finally struck him.
None of it had been genuine hospitality.
Soo-hyun looked at him steadily, his gaze sharp beneath the pale city lights.
"This dinner thing," he said quietly, "is not for a mere formality." He tilted his head, sharp gaze settling directly on the boy's face as though trying to read through every expression made.
"So did you say anything else to him?"
"Eh?" Kiyonari blinked, caught off guard by the sudden question.
Soo-hyun clarified impatiently, "It's better if you don't say unnecessary things to him. That old geezer has a habit of sticking his nose into other people's business. He would take advantage of you and your weakness, if it means he'll gain something."
"..."
"For him, you were just an easy target and you almost fell for his trap."
The cold wind brushed past them again, carrying the distant sounds of traffic from the city below. Under the dim streetlights, Soo-hyun's eyes remained fixed on him, observant and almost suspicious.
Kiyonari straightened slightly before quickly shaking his head.
"No," he answered honestly. "I didn't tell him anything."
For a moment, Soo-hyun simply stared at him as if weighing the truth behind those words. Then at last, gave a faint nod.
"Good."
The response came out quiter this time, almost muttered beneath his breath. Gaze flickered once more toward Kiyonari's face before he finally turned away, he spun around his heel scraping lightly against the pavement. Kiyonari remained standing, eyes following Soo-hyun's retreating figure in silence as lips curling into a faintly wry expression.
The tension from moments ago still lingered heavily in the air between them, yet beneath all the irritation and harsh words, he could not ignore the uncomfortable truth slowly settling inside him. Soo-hyun had not dragged the man outside out of hatred.
Perhaps, it was a way to protect his secretary... or at least, that's how Kiyonari would like to think.
*****
For several moments, neither of them spoke. The argument that had burned to fiercely only moments ago seemed to lose its momentum, leaving behind an awkward silence that stretched between them.
Kiyonari kept his head lowered, staring at the pair of worn sneakers beneath the feet. Under the glow of the streetlights, his shoes suddenly looked older than he remembered—scuffed at the edges, the white rubber slightly faded from constant use.
Oddly enough, he didn't feel embarrassed by that. What weighed on him was something else entirely.
Disappointment at himself. At how easily he had walked into the Chairman's invitation without realizing what was happening behind those polite smile and courteous words. And ignored Soo-hyun's warning despite being told repeatedly to stay away from the Je family.
The thought sat heavily in his chest.
Growl...!
The sound cut through the silence loudly with brutal timing, coming from his starving stomach.
Both men froze.
Kiyonari's eye widened. While Soo-hyun slowly turned his head toward him.
A horrifying realization struck Kiyonari a split second later. His face instantly flushed crimson.
Due to being dragged out of the dining room halfway through the meal, he head barely eaten anything. In fact, he only managed a single spoonful before Soo-hyun arrived. Even then, he hadn't truly tasted the food be since the Chairman's presence alone kept the boy too nervous to focus on what was in front of him.
Now his stomach had apparently decided to announce that fact to the entire busy street. The silence that followed felt even worse.
Moreover, there was no amount of confidence, dignity, or professionalism capable of recovering this situation. Kiyonari wished the pavement would crack and swallow him whole
Shit! This is so embarrassing!
He screamed internally while desperately avoiding eye contact.
Across from him, Soo-hyun stared for a moment.
The irritation that dominated his face earlier seemed to disappear completely, replaced by something far more unexpected.
The Director quickly cleared his throat and looked away. "Let's get something to eat."
The suggestion came so casually that it took Kiyonari several seconds to process it.
"I... I'm sorry, Director."
His voice emerged small and strained, weighed down by an unbearable amount of embarrassment.
Soo-hyun simply exhaled through his nose.
Without another comment, he turned and started walking toward the black sedan parked along the curb.
Kiyonari hurried after him, still red from ear to ear. The tension from earlier had not completely disappeared but somehow the atmosphere felt differently light now. Instead, the only urgent matter left was the secretary's loudly protesting stomach.
*****
After leaving the restaurant, Kiyonari found himself sinking deeper into a sense of dismay.
The luxurious meal sat pleasantly in his stomach, yet rather than satisfaction, all he could feel was a lot of guilt.
The restaurant had been far beyond anything he would normally allow himself to visit. One dish after another had arrived at their table; appetizers, side dishes, premium cuts of meat, seafood, soups, and specialties he couldn't even pronounce properly. Every time the thought of meal was finally served, another plate appeared.
Then came the desserts.
That had been the final blow to his self-control.
The sweet pastries and carefully plated treats had been impossible to resist after spending the entire evening stressed out of his mind.
And despite all of that, Soo-hyun had paid for everything. Every single won.
Kiyonari had insisted multiple times that he would cover the bill himself, only for Soo-hyun to completely ignore him and hand over his card without a second thought.
Now, seated in the passenger seat as the city lights drifted past the windows, Kiyonari felt his shoulders droop looking all gloomy.
I feel so bad...
Gaze remained fixed on his lap.
I ate all of the food, each and every dish that waiter laid down the table. Then letting him pay for everything!
[...]
Just how many times am I going to disappoint the Director with my actions?!
The atmosphere around him seemed dark enough to rival the night outside.
Soo-hyun, who had been driving quietly noticed the dramatic slump in his posture almost immediately.
"Stop worrying about it, Mr. Soo."
The words startled Kiyonari out of his thoughts.
He slightly whipped his head over the shoulder.
"But still, sir..." Kiyonari muttered. "You really didn't have to pay for everything."
His expression tightened with embarrassment.
"No matter the reason, how can I let my boss pay for that much food?"
Soo-hyun kept his eyes on the road. "Then would you have paid for it instead?"
The question arrived so casually that Kiyonari answered without thinking.
"... Yes, I think." His tone came with a hint of hesitation.
Then he paused.
A second later, memories of the menu resurfaced. His face slowly stiffened.
Can really... pay for all those? No wait, how much was it? The prices...
Several dishes alone had cost over eighty thousand won each. The premium beef selections had been closer to the price of a luxury car per serving, and that was before counting the wine pairings, side courses, and desserts.
Kiyonari suddenly stared blankly ahead.
"..."
His confidence evaporated immediately.
A painful calculation began running through his head:
Hospital bills.
Medication.
Post-operation treatment.
Monthly expenses.
I don't think my bank account can handle it. I'm penniless...!
The almost laughable amount remaining cents in the bank account that made a heavy sigh escaped Kiyonari's lips. If the Je Group hadn't refused to shoulder most of his treatment expenses, he wouldn't be living so close to financial ruin right now.
The thought alone made his chest tighten.
Soo-hyun glanced at him briefly before speaking. "You can't afford it."
Kiyonari froze.
"Let alone buy your own car. So it's alright, don't worry about the bill."
The Director's tone wasn't mocking. It was merely factual.
Unfortunately, facts could still hurt a lot. Kiyonari felt something inside his soul crack.
You don't have to say it out loud! He screamed internally. I know I'm broke.
His pride took critical damage.
Meanwhile, Soo-hyun simply continued completely unaware or perhaps fully noticed the devastation he had just inflicted.
Kiyonari slowly turned toward the window, staring at the passing city lights with the expression of a man who had just been reminded of every financial mistake in his life. For several reasons, he seriously considered opening the car door and rolling into traffic out of pure shame.