1979, Manager Kim is Inheriting Dictatorship! - Chapter 23



Only Krnovel

#23. A gift I was going to give to my daughter-in -law
2023.08.18.

　
Fortunately, everyone was hungry, so they put aside their interest in Lee Hyun’s unrequited love and ate.

The secretaries were considerate enough to let Yerin eat in a separate space next to her, so Yerin was able to catch her breath.

While eating, the secretaries were gossiping about what Lee Hyun had said earlier.

“If Director Cha Yi-hyun has a crush on her, then the woman she’s in love with must be really amazing

.” “That’s right. She’s a perfect man who you can fall in love with just by looking at her.”

“Isn’t that woman already having a man?”

“Of course. If not, there’s no way she would reject Director Cha Yi-hyun.”

Yerin, who had been quietly listening to the conversation, was suddenly asked a question.

“Secretary Han, do you know?”

“Yes?”

“The woman who the director is so crazy about. I think Secretary Han would have seen it.”

Yerin swallowed hard.

Hey, that woman you all think is amazing is actually me.

It was impossible to say that.

“How is she? That woman?”

“Isn’t she really beautiful?”

Everyone waited for Yerin’s next words with sparkling eyes.

It was too ambiguous to say yes or no.

If she admitted it was yes, it felt like praising herself.

And if she said no, it felt like it would be degrading Lee Hyun’s dignity.

“I don’t really know either.”

That was the best answer Yerin could give.

At that moment, there

was a knock on the door, indicating that she had finished eating.

“Secretary Han, can I see you for a moment after you finish eating?”

It was just a casual remark, but for some reason, sweat was dripping down her back.

In this situation, she couldn’t eat slowly, so Yerin got up from her seat.

“Madam, I’m done eating.”

Mrs. Yoon shook her head at Yerin’s plate, which had not even a single spoonful of food left.

“Eat that slowly. I have plenty of time.”

Mrs. Yoon smiled kindly and went out first.

The secretaries next to her motioned for her to come in quickly.

“Madam, you’re very picky about what to eat.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. You’re one of the few people who thinks food is more important than work.”

“I mean it when you tell me to eat slowly before leaving.”

“Yes… … .”

She didn’t feel comfortable at all, but this was also Mrs. Yoon’s order, so there was nothing she could do.

Yerin emptied half of her plate and got up first, heading toward the backyard garden where Mrs. Yoon was.

As Yerin approached, Mrs. Yoon smiled brightly and gestured for her to come closer.

There were neatly cut fruits and steaming chamomile tea.

“The men will go into the study and talk about boring things.”

“Yes.”

As Yerin sat down in front of her, Mrs. Yoon quietly looked at her and spoke.

“Secretary Han, what do you think about our Lee Hyun?”

At that question, Yerin quickly and silently put down the teacup she was holding. Yerin

quickly lowered her trembling hands under the table. She

placed them on her lap and clasped them tightly.

And with a sly smile, she asked Mrs. Yoon about a question she had asked.

“I didn’t quite understand what you were saying.”

“That’s exactly right. I’m just curious about what single women think of our Lee Hyun.”

Yerin’s lips were dry.

Was she asking this because Lee Hyun kept his eyes on her in the dining room earlier? She was about to

tell her that we really weren’t related and that if she was worried, she didn’t have to worry, but she kept her mouth shut.

She couldn’t say anything because she wasn’t sure what Mrs. Yoon was thinking.

Mrs. Yoon seemed to think that Yerin was worried because she was trying to figure out an answer.

“Don’t worry. I was just curious about what women in their 20s think of our Lee Hyun.”

“Oh, yes.”

“Secretary Han knew too?”

“What are you talking about…?”

“That Lee Hyun has a crush on her.”

Of course she knew.

And that the woman she was in love with was the woman who had disappeared, herself.

But I decided to pretend not to know because I thought I would get asked too many questions if I said I knew.

“I heard about it for the first time today, too.”

“Really?”

Mrs. Yoon watched Yerin’s expression.

Yerin tried to act calm and answered without hesitation.

“Yes, I never had a private conversation with the director, so I didn’t take care of it. I’m sorry.”

“Oh, no. Why is Secretary Han apologizing?”

Mrs. Yoon waved her hand.

“It’s not Secretary Han’s fault that Lee Hyun has a crush on you.”

Mrs. Yoon must have really said that for Yerin’s sake, but Yerin was dying. It felt

like it was her fault, but

it didn’t.

She was standing on that ambiguous line.

“Maybe because he’s my son, I don’t see any flaws.”

“Yes.”

Of course, objectively speaking, Lee Hyun had no flaws.

“I thought the age of the woman Lee Hyun has a crush on was roughly the same as Secretary Han.”

“… … .”

“As a mother, I was just curious about what women of that age think of men like our Lee Hyun.”

Mrs. Yoon waited silently, wondering if she was really curious about Yerin’s answer.

What should I say?

My head was about to explode because I really didn’t have a set answer.

After thinking for a while, Yerin carefully spoke.

“Director, you’re a great person.”

“You don’t have to give us such empty compliments.”

“Then what… …”

“Isn’t your personality a bit cold?”

“No, I’m not.”

“I know that

too, because I heard it from Secretary Choi.” Yerin unknowingly became nervous when she heard that she knew.

What did she know? That

Lee Hyun was looking for the missing woman? Could it be

that Secretary Choi had been talking about such trivial things?

Her thoughts kept going round and round.

Haa.

I really felt like I wouldn’t be able to live my life to the fullest.

Fortunately, Mrs. Yoon seemed to know nothing about the missing woman.

“You’re so prickly at work.”

“Oh, you say that, but… …”

“Secretary Han is the one I’ve been hanging on to the most these days, so she should know better than anyone else.”

“But that’s really not a nice thing to say.”

“Yeah, tell me. Feel free.”

Although the situation was not comfortable at all, Yerin slowly opened her mouth.

“I’ve never felt that way because the director was so kind to me… … .”

Oh, come to think of it, he wasn’t always this kind.

I think he was so cold on the first day that he didn’t really talk to me.

That’s right.

But when did he start being so nice to me all of a sudden?

Thinking about it, it was after I went to the Brand Cheto office building.

Yes, it seemed like his harsh tone had changed a bit since then.

Why?

Yerin’s eyes were trembling.

Why on earth?

“Secretary Han? What are you thinking?”

“I’m sorry.”

She couldn’t find the answer on her own.

But she couldn’t ask Lee Hyun why he was being so kind to her.

First, she felt like she had to answer the question that Mrs. Yoon, who was sitting in front of her,

had asked. “The director was a little cold at first, but he’s been really nice to me lately.”

“Really?”

Mrs. Yoon tilted her head in confusion.

“I don’t think it’s a personality issue either.” It seemed

like she was falling even deeper into the maze of reasons why her son had a crush on her.

“Secretary Han, can I ask you a favor?”

Mrs. Yoon handed Yerin a shopping bag that was sitting on an empty chair.

“What is this?”

“A gift for Secretary Han.”

“Yes?”

“Open it.”

Yerin opened the neatly wrapped shopping bag with a bewildered expression.

Then, a luxury bag came out inside.

Yerin’s eyes fluttered slightly.

“These are the only three bags that came into our country this time.”

“Yes.”

“I bought two of them.”

Mrs. Yoon smiled and took a sip of tea.

“I was going to keep one for myself and give the other one to my daughter-in-law.”

“Cough.”

Yerin coughed as if the tea she was drinking had spilled over at the sudden mention of daughter-in-law.

“Are you okay?”

“Yes, I was surprised. I’m okay.”

Yerin’s fingertips grew cold again.

As I swallowed hard, Mrs. Yoon quickly continued.

“I think it would be right for Secretary Han to have

it.” “Why did I…?”

She said she was going to give it to her daughter-in-law, so why was she suddenly handing me this bag?

It was really hard to follow the flow of the conversation.

“Secretary Han, please find out who that woman Lee Hyun-yi is chasing.”

Ye-rin was so surprised that she let go of the hand holding the bag.

She thought it was really good that the woman didn’t mention her.

Well, she didn’t really want to do it.

And Mrs. Yoon held out another black card.

“Can you persuade my son, or meet that woman Lee Hyun-yi loves and persuade her?”

Ye-rin stared at the bag that was one of only three that had come into the country, or that Mrs. Yoon had originally intended to give to her daughter-in-law.

“I know Secretary Han is busy, but I’m desperate.”

“… ….”

“Oh, is it not enough? If you don’t like that bag… … .”

“No, ma’am. It’s too much.”

Yerin put the luxury bag back in her shopping bag as if she couldn’t accept it.

Mrs. Yoon made a sullen face.

“I guess it’s a bit much to ask for such a personal thing? Sorry, I was so short-sighted.”

“No! You can give me orders as much as you want, but this gift is too much.”

Mrs. Yoon smiled brightly.

“No. From what I can see, it seems like it will be hard for Lee Hyun to change her mind. In that case, the only way is to persuade that young lady. I think our secretary Han is the perfect person to do that.”

Why on earth would she ask me this when I don’t have any mysterious powers? Just as I was thinking that,

Mrs. Yoon opened her mouth.

“I guess women of similar ages can communicate with each other.” Now

that I hear her, it seems like she has a point.

Yerin slowly began to fall for Mrs. Yoon’s flowery words.

“Especially if I step forward, the young lady will feel very uncomfortable.”

“Yes, that’s true.” Yerin’s face hardened in an instant as she thought about it

.