TSRTL 15👻

Episode 15

The door opened, and servers began placing dishes one after another.

From abalone porridge to assorted sashimi, seafood samhap stew, lobster—rare and precious seafood filled the table.

It almost looked as though all the main dishes had been set within easy reach of Yeoreum, but with Hyunjae right beside her, she thought little of it.

“Is food-watching your hobby?”
“No?”
“If not, then why don’t you all eat?”

At Hyunjae’s polite glance toward Myeongjun and the secretaries, the hesitant staff finally picked up their chopsticks.

The food looked so good it was hard to know where to begin.

Yeoreum reached first for the easiest—salad.

But the taste was anything but simple.

With a sauce she had never tried before, the popping caviar, vegetables, and chewy octopus made for a unique, exciting combination.

The secretaries, following her lead, widened their eyes as they tasted it.

Soon, murmurs of appreciation and the quick clatter of chopsticks filled the table.

In the midst of their absorbed eating, champagne was recommended as a perfect pairing for the seafood, and each poured themselves a glass.

There was no special toast—they simply clinked glasses.

Everyone took a sip, but Yeoreum quietly set her glass down.

Myeongjun looked puzzled.
“Ms. Yeoreum, do you not drink?”
“No, it’s not that…”

She couldn’t admit aloud that she avoided alcohol because of a mistake she had once made—especially with the person concerned sitting right next to her.

“If you’re not bad with alcohol, then why not drink? It’s your welcome party after all—just one glass!”

“Exactly. Water feels too plain with food this good!”

Ji-won tried to place the glass into her hand with a grin.

Yeoreum hesitated. With everyone insisting, it seemed rude to refuse outright. Should she give in?

“I asked her to drive for me today.”

“Sorry? Drive?”

The sudden statement made Myeongjun blink.

Yeoreum turned her head. Hyunjae was calmly pouring himself another glass. The bubbles sparkled along the glass as they rose.

“Why didn’t you ask me instead? I could drive her home.”
“But you just drank, Secretary Choi.”
“Oh…”

A flicker of realization crossed Myeongjun’s face, along with guilt for overlooking it.

She couldn’t understand why Hyunjae had asked her of all people to drive when three secretaries were present, but if he said so, then so it was.

“It’s fine. I’m not much of a drinker anyway.”
“Then let’s have a proper drink together another time.”

Sensing the mood sinking, Yeoreum flashed a bright smile. The secretaries quickly followed her lead.

As the champagne dwindled, conversation grew livelier.

It began with work—how she became an interpreter, why she majored in Chinese—but soon turned more personal.

Yeoreum, however, noticed Hyunjae.

He had hardly touched his food, sipping only his drink. His plate remained nearly spotless, and for some reason, that bothered her.

“So, Ms. Yeoreum, are you seeing anyone?”
“Me?”

Startled, she lifted her head.

The secretaries, cheeks flushed with drink, grinned teasingly at her.

“You’ve got talent, and you’re pretty too—no way you don’t have someone.”
“Come on, Secretary Kim here is prettier!”
“Don’t twist it, that’s not why I asked.”

Yeoreum tried to steer the subject away, but the secretaries waved off her attempts. Even Myeongjun was watching her curiously.

She glanced at Hyunjae, then forced a smile and shook her head.

“Really? You don’t? Then how about a blind date, Ms. Yeoreum?”

“A blind date?”

Ji-won clapped excitedly while Yeoreum scratched her cheek awkwardly.

“Actually, there’s Kim Siwoo, the Marketing Team 1 leader. He saw you interpreting at that meeting with the Chinese delegates last time.”
“His specs are crazy—graduated from Korea University, Mensa member, insane IQ, what was it again?”
“He almost never compliments anyone, but when he saw you—”

Thud.

The loud sound made Yeoreum whip her head around.

“Director!”

Myeongjun reacted first.

Hyunjae had collapsed face-first on the table.

The secretaries scrambled in alarm.

Myeongjun hurried to help, but Hyunjae’s head lolled limply—straight onto Yeoreum’s shoulder.

“Mmm…”

Swatting away Myeongjun’s hands, Hyunjae burrowed against her.

His tall, heavy frame weighed on her, forcing Yeoreum to hold him as though embracing him.

“Oh no, the director must be really drunk.”

The secretaries looked on with worried faces.

No matter how much Myeongjun tried to pull him away, Hyunjae only clung to Yeoreum.

“Director, are you all right? Can you stand?”

So that’s why he hadn’t eaten.

Yeoreum shook him gently, but Hyunjae only groaned faintly. Clearly, he was badly intoxicated.

“We’d better get him home.”
“But can you manage? He’s heavy.”

With Hyunjae leaning almost like in an embrace, Yeoreum could hardly move a step.

Seeing her struggle, Myeongjun took his other shoulder and lifted him with ease.

“Looks like I’ll have to. I know the way to his place, so let’s go together.”
“Okay.”

Since Hyunjae’s car was a two-seater, they hailed a taxi.

Myeongjun sat in the front, while Hyunjae and Yeoreum sat in the back.

Hyunjae kept slumping against her. Even when she righted his head, it bobbed back toward her like a weighted doll. Eventually, she gave up and let him rest against her shoulder.

“I’ve never seen the director this drunk.”
“Same here. Maybe his tolerance is low.”
“He usually isn’t this weak. Must be drinking on an empty stomach, like you said.”
“Right…”

Yeoreum looked down at him. His skin was hot with drink, radiating warmth like a heater pack.

This disheveled side of Hyunjae was new to her.

His usually neat hair was a little mussed, yet his striking features still held their beauty—if anything, even more so.

She couldn’t take her eyes off him.

Once out of the taxi, Yeoreum and Myeongjun managed to lay him on his bed.

When his hand finally released her arm, she felt not relief, but emptiness.

Rubbing her tingling shoulder, she accepted the bottle of water Myeongjun handed her.

“Thank you for your help, Ms. Yeoreum.”
“You too, Secretary Choi.”
“I’ll take care of the rest, so please go on home.”

She glanced one last time at Hyunjae lying on the bed. It was already past midnight.

“Then I’ll leave him to you.”
“Of course. Rest well, and we’ll see you the day after tomorrow.”

Myeongjun patted her shoulder reassuringly.

Yes, he was home now. He’d be fine.

Yeoreum gave a small nod, then quietly left.

After calling the secretaries to confirm she’d arrived safely, Myeongjun headed back to the living room.

His drowsiness had long since worn off.

Rubbing his eyes, he thought to check one last time on Hyunjae before bed.

But the sight in the living room made him freeze.

“Director?”

There was Hyunjae, sitting on the sofa.

Myeongjun nearly jumped out of his skin.

Hyunjae slowly lifted his gaze.

In the dim light, his face glowed faintly, sharply defined. In his hand was a glass of dark purple liquid.

“Secretary Choi… care for a drink?”

“Director, are you all right? You seemed very drunk earlier—”

Myeongjun eyed him warily, worried he might be about to cause a scene.

But Hyunjae only let out a quiet, mocking laugh.

“…Drunk, my ass.”

He swirled the glass once, then sipped the wine with calm, deliberate ease.

The disheveled man from earlier was gone—Hyunjae was perfectly composed.