Chapter 6.1

Lee Seop was anxious, whereas Min-kyung was calm. Time passed quickly, with his ailment getting stronger and being set off again and again. Lee Seop wanted to spend as little time alone with her as possible, so he organized several off-sites and met with outside officials often. 

Which also garnered generous praise from Min-kyung. "The response from the Director since being promoted has been very enthusiastic, making the transition very smooth."

Min-kyung kept pushing forward each task one by one as if she had them in a queue. She also seemed excited to get the next two or three months of work to fill their current workload, leaving no gaps. She scheduled copious meetings with internal product divisions and external meetings and created thorough preparation materials for every single one.

Although his body was weak, fatigued, and overworked, Lee Seop still had trouble sleeping well for over a week. Because of this, he could get down to the parking lot 5 minutes early in the morning, and he was always met with a cheerful and energetic greeting.

"Good Morning!"

He had to get rid of her quickly.

Lee Seop made a promise to himself every morning as he sat in the back seat. Even with him being extremely picky and paying attention to every small thing, to the point that most people would've gotten tired and quit. But TK's artificial intelligence robot, Kang-Min-kyung, didn't care. She seemed hell-bent on sticking around all day and subtly making Lee Seop work at 120 percent.

Today, his schedule included work and lunch appointments. Even when he complained he didn't like the schedule or felt sick eating fast between appointments, he couldn't win the argument against AI. It's wrong to keep his mouth shut about this all and allow it. Lee Seop pressed his lips together and determinedly said, "I need to exercise this evening. After that, I'm going to the spa, so I've made a reservation. It's important that I work on my physical strength, take care of my skin since the season is changing, and get a good night's sleep. So I need to have exercise added to my schedule 2 or 3 times a week, and the spa once a week."

Making it about his health and skin, it would be impolite for her to reply and refute his request. Lee Seop clapped his hands then focused down on his tablet. He rest his cheek on his hand, then touched it more, 'Has my skin gotten rough?'

"Do you like going to the spa? I've been feeling a little tired these past few days."

"Look ahead, Deputy Director Kang," he commanded without taking his eyes off his tablet.

"I am looking ahead, Sir."

Their eyes met in the rearview mirror, and her dark eyes smiled. This means that she can look at him through the mirror. Lee Seop grumbled and gritted his teeth. "Deputy Director Kang, please prepare the data analysis on product sales trends and fashion sales trends. Be specific and thorough. Because I'm tired too."

"Yes, Sir."

"By the end of the work day." Min-kyung and his gazes collided in battle through the mirror.

Min-kyung smiled brightly, "I will prepare it without a hitch."

Even though there already was a mountain of work assigned to her throughout the past week, there was no wavering in her response or expression.

‘I hate you, Kang Min-kyung.’ 

*    *    *

The meeting with the construction directors was scheduled right before the work day ended. It went over for 30 minutes longer than planned. Now it was 6:30 p.m. Lee Seop sat with his back straight the entire time, spoke softly, nodded, and kept his head turned to the directors. If he listened closely, knowing he wouldn't be able to do things he wasn't good at or be persuaded to do them, he could hear the sweet blueprint mapping out his future.

"Yes, I understand, It is reliable. But I think I missed something, so let me confirm. The construction period is 40 months, costing 800 billion won. What is the profitability, then, considering the local logistics, procurement, and manpower distribution? There is no data here on the road or port infrastructure in Bangladesh."

Lee Seop's questions were always like that: behind a soft smile was a knife that would hit the only part of the other person who was trying desperately to hide. Min-kyung's meticulous prep work was, as always, a great help. The construction directors wiped the sweat from their brows.

"Thank you for the effort. Let's end this conversation today and discuss further developments at our next scheduled meeting. But before that, Director Kim Seong-cheol…" Lee Seop gave them a homework assignment before ending the meeting. He also didn't forget to deliver it with his gentle smile and words of gratitude and encouragement.

After everyone left, Lee Seop slumped into the chair alone, grimacing due to a headache. A gentle knock came from the door without fail.

‘Kang Min-kyung, why again? Can't you see I'm resting!' he wanted to scream but answered calmly, "Yes?"

The door opened, and the animated sound of heels sounded about ten times, getting closer. Lee Seop slowly removed his hand from his forehead and looked up. His eyes widened at the fragrant smell.

"It's truffle mushroom risotto."

"Ok, but what is this gross green thing?" He pointed to a cup on the tray that looked like it was filled with green mossy water. Min-kyung quickly responded as if she had anticipated his reaction.

"It's wheatgrass juice. I prepared it for you because I thought it would be easier than having a salad. Since you're going to the gym, I didn't want to give you too much food. Your car will also be waiting for you in 20 minutes." Min-kyung smiled sweetly but also pointed out that Lee Seop was terrible when it came to eating vegetables.

Was she making fun of him, saying he had the palette of an elementary school student? Anyway, she always had a knack for exploiting his weakness.

Beside the risotto, Min-kyung sat down a printout, "And here is the data you requested." 

How can she not push back or fail when she has given so much work?

He flipped through the papers with one hand and then put them down. What story was it that the evil stepmother kept adding work to prevent the heroine from going to the ball? Cinderella or Snow White? Anyway, he adopted the personality of the stepmother and said. "This is too much for me to read right now, and I'll have to look at it thoroughly. So, can you please summarize it. Let's brief before the meeting tomorrow. And we will need slides, too, please."

'Why don't you just do it if you think you could!' Unable to get angry at the request, she calmed her bulging eyes full of anger and grinned. Sounding as if she was speaking through gritted teeth, she answered, "Yes I will prepare it within the day."

Lee Seop smiled triumphantly and lifted his spoon. He swallowed a large mouthful of the hot, soft, and savory risotto. The temperature and texture were exactly to his taste, but something was off. "Where's the risotto from?"

"It's from F restaurant."

"It was sent here? It has such an odd simple texture like it's not risotto, but homemade mushroom porridge."

"Sorry, I just ordered it."

"Ahh.. well." Lee Seop sarcastically said slowly. He put his spoon down with a thump. "I guess this is to Director Kang's taste. So you can have it, even that gross green monster."

Min-kyung looked between Lee Seop's cold face and the warm risotto. "I will get you something new."

"Is there time? I have to go to the gym."

Min-kyung just bowed her head and left the office, returning in two minutes with a bowl of abalone porridge in her hand. "I ordered this just in case. It's abalone porridge made by the company's restaurant just as the Executive Director likes it."

She placed the bowl in front of Lee Seop, took the risotto and wheatgrass, and set them on the empty tray. Lee Seop glared at Min-kyung for a long time while she turned around and walked out with a sedate look on her face.

She then took off her jacket, fully exposing her slim waistline. He couldn't take his eyes off of the round and plump curves below. As he watched the movement shaking up and down, his pants started feeling tight for no apparent reason.

Soon, the fragrance of the abalone porridge wafted into his nose, and he was distracted by his stomach grumbling. It felt like his stomach was refusing since he had a spoonful of the delicious risotto which he actually wanted. Lee Seop took a spoon and scooped up the porridge. 

"Later…" Hot steam spread across his face as he blew on the spoon to cool it. He worked hard at cooling the spoon and blowing on it repeatedly. Lee Seop was so irritated that his stomach didn't even notice, and he took bites of the porridge. He must've been so exhausted from the meeting and day that he ate until he was full without stopping. He finished the bowl given to him, which was precisely the amount he could eat, and then refreshed himself with the black tea that was also provided.

Min-kyung stood when she heard him come out of his office. "Are you leaving work, Sir?"

"Did you call the car? Is it on standby?"

"Yes, I also called the gym's personal trainer and the spa. Have a great time."

"Oh, I will." As he walked out, giving a half-hearted farewell, he stopped. Looking displeased at Min-kyung, she started to stand back up, but he motioned her to stop. One of Lee Seop's eyes narrowed.

Before Min-kyung could ask, 'What's wrong?' Lee Seop questioned. "You are going to eat that?"

His eyes were peering at her desk beyond her monitor, which displayed a half-finished slide. On Min-kyung's desk, beside the data reports spread out, sat the bowl of risotto and wheatgrass juice…

Min-kyung followed his gaze to the bowl and nodded. "Ah, yes… Were you still wanting to eat this? Shall I order another?"

"No, I ate abalone porridge!"

Min-kyung made eye contact with him, and again, before she could ask, 'Why?'

"Why are you eating that?"

"I think I'll be working overtime tonight." Min-kyung swallowed her angry words and quickly responded as a diligent office worker. Lee Seop was the one who had just given her extra work. "It's difficult to leave and grab food, then come back, and since food delivery within the building is prohibited… You know…"

She hesitated whether she should further explain that only a special executive like him can have food delivered.

Lee Seop looked confused at her answer and asked, "You don't mind that I had a bite?" 

Sometimes, he seems so juvenile, which makes sense since he is the Crown Prince. But in no way was Min-kyung that squeamish. If she thought about it, the executive director only ate a spoonful of risotto and didn't even put the spoon in his mouth a second time. He hardly ate any, so there was no issue with hygiene, and since the mail was so expensive, it would be such a waste to throw out. Min-kyung was hungry since she only had a chocolate bar for lunch while working. If she went down and bought a decent dinner and then came back up, she wouldn't be home until after 11 o'clock again tonight.

After her conclusion, she said, "You only had one spoonful, so I didn't care. I'm a little hungry too."

Lee Seop looked as if he was about to say something but then just sighed and shook his head as if he was tired. Then, suddenly, he stretched out his arm and grabbed the wheatgrass juice.

"I had just taken a sip…" Without listening to Min-kyung countering, He picked up the juice he had criticized as a gross, green monster and chugged it without hesitation. 

He finished over half of the juice in one go and set the glass down with a third remaining. Wiping his wet lips, he spoke to Min-kyung as if he was talking to himself. "Why are you gawking at me with your mouth open like that?"

"Ah." Min-kyung covered her mouth with her hand without realizing it, then tightly closed her parted lips.

Lee Seop leaned forward and tapped her monitor screen with his index finger. "Alright then, make these slides well and carefully review them."

"Ah.. yes, Sir."

"You look a little upset, are you?"

"No."

'If you're angry and frustrated, just quit… Or ask for more secretaries to be hired, admit failing.' As he was thinking this, the corners of his mouth went up and twitched happily.

Min-kyung clenched her fists and glared at her monitor screen to avoid eye contact.

Instead of speaking, Lee Seop just tapped the top of the monitor with his long fingers as if he were playing piano. He then tilted his upper body towards Min-kyung to make eye contact with her, who was trying to focus only on his fingers. He looked more into her wide, shaking eyes and smiled; even with that, his smile was still amazingly pretty.

He lightly laughed out loud, satisfied with Min-kyung's tense look. As she lowered her gaze from the monitor and him, Lee Seop tilted his head further towards her. He put his lips close to her ears and seemed to stop breathing. A low, small voice passed over and tickled her ears: "Then… concentrate… and smile."

Her cheek twitched, and her ears were tingling. As soon as Lee Seop left, Min-kyung slammed her clenched fist on the desk.

He shut the office door and stood for a moment before he started chuckling. Lee Seop could hear a low groaning sound emanating through the door he hadn't closed tightly on purpose. His palms itched as her reddened ears and clenched cheeks came to his mind. Lee Seop clenched his fists, covering his mouth as his shoulder shook, and he burst out laughing.

'She's probably cursing me and clenching her fists, then will stamp her feet in frustration.' It was an image that didn't seem like Min-kyung, but he imagined the scene. Lee Seop kept laughing, covering his mouth occasionally as he walked out.