Chapter 130
Translator: penny
Chapter: 130
Chapter Title: Sudden Skinship from Executive Director Kang Tae-hee
After Executive Director Kang Tae-hee introduced her own daughter, it was time to clock out.
"Team Leader Baek. Do you have any plans after work today?"
"Yes. Intern Seo Tae-hu has been promoted, so the whole team is going out for a celebration dinner tonight."
"Oh? Is that so?"
Executive Director Kang Tae-hee looked at me with a peculiar smile.
"Congratulations. Intern Seo Tae-hu."
"Thank you, Executive Director."
"If it wouldn't be rude, could my daughter and I join that dinner as well? Of course, I'd cover the costs."
They say if it's going to be rude, you shouldn't even ask.
"Sure, please join us, Executive Director. And I have the company card anyway, so you don't need to use your personal funds."
"No, let's use mine today. We'll upgrade the menu to Hanwoo beef too. How does that sound?"
Oh-
The team members, who had shown some discomfort at the mention of beef, suddenly widened their eyes.
They say people can only generously treat others to pork or duck.
"Then I won't hold back, Executive Director."
"Great. It's been a while since I've had a drink myself. I'll make the reservation then."
After the Executive Director and Joo Seo-yeon left, the staff all looked stunned.
"The Executive Director is so generous. Treating us to Hanwoo for Tae-hu's promotion."
"Hey, you think it's really because of the intern's promotion? It's a bribe to take good care of her daughter."
"Ah-ha! That makes sense."
"Speaking of which, not just the Executive Director, but her daughter is stunningly pretty. She could be an idol."
"Yeah. That pink hair suits her so well. And her face has this youthful charm."
"Mother and daughter have different hair colors, but they do look similar. Right, Tae-hu?"
"Huh? Yeah, I guess so."
Joo Seo-yeon's beauty really stands out to everyone else too.
While we were chatting, Team Leader Baek finished preparing to leave and came out.
"Is everyone done packing up?"
"Yes!"
"We finished a while ago!"
"Hehe. Alright then, let's go. Drink and have fun to your heart's content tonight."
"Yes!"
"Let's pull out one of the Executive Director's house pillars tonight! Hahaha!"
****
The dinner proceeded smoothly.
Thanks to the Executive Director, Team Leader, and the section chief—the highest rank among us—sitting at one table, the rest of the staff could mix freely and enjoy ourselves.
Chan-woo hyung sat next to me, so we clinked glasses happily, but at some point, Joo Seo-yeon came and sat right across from me, making it a bit awkward.
Chan-woo hyung had called her over.
She sat down across from me without any hesitation and flashed a bright smile, completely winning Chan-woo hyung over.
"How old are you, Seo-yeon?"
"I'm at that lively and cute age of twenty-three."
"Twenty-three. Heh heh."
She just slightly slurred her words, and he was already this smitten.
"Would it be rude to ask if you have a boyfriend?"
"Yes, I do. My boyfriend is Tae-hu oppa's best friend sitting right next to me."
"Huh? Tae-hu oppa? You two know each other?"
"Yes. We recently drank together with my oppa."
"......"
"Why didn't you say anything?"
"She's my friend's girlfriend, Staff Supervisor."
"That's not the point. You didn't say a word, so I thought she was a total stranger."
"There was no reason to advertise our connection."
"Still, she's your friend's girl. You should take extra good care of her."
"Yes, I will."
Joo Seo-yeon had a bit of a queen bee vibe, flitting from table to table beyond ours and receiving a lot of attention.
It wasn't just polite kindness to impress the Executive Director's daughter.
It was more like seeing how far men's courtesy could go toward a pretty girl.
She made another round and sat back down in front of me.
"Staff Supervisor Lee Chan-woo? They were calling you from that table over there."
"Oh, then I'll head over quick. Have fun, Tae-hu."
"......"
As soon as Chan-woo hyung left, Joo Seo-yeon held out her glass.
"Pour me one, Tae-hu oppa."
"Use the proper address."
"Aw, we're not at the office. Don't be so stiff."
"You've been calling everyone else Assistant Manager this and Staff Supervisor that at the other tables."
"Of course, since they're people I barely know. But we have a very deep connection, don't we?"
"That's just what you think."
"That incident must have really hurt your feelings. What to do."
Joo Seo-yeon politely poured liquor into my empty glass with both hands.
I accepted it for now, poured her one back, and asked.
"It feels like it's about time you told me the reason."
"You'll find out in due time."
"I'm warning you upfront: if this is blackmail, it won't work."
"It's not blackmail. More like a small favor?"
She smiled brightly and downed her drink in one go.
She must have a solid tolerance.
That explains why Gwang-hoo got wasted first.
I can't help it. Time to check her info.
I can use points to view it even outside Corruption Space.
"Tae-hu!"
Someone called me right then, so I couldn't activate the skill.
"Yes, Team Leader."
"Come over here for a sec."
At those words, Joo Seo-yeon pouted her lips.
"Tch. I wanted to hang out more."
Her intentions are so hard to read.
I had no choice but to move, and the Executive Director poured me a drink.
"Congratulations once again on your promotion, Seo Tae-hu."
"Thank you so much, Executive Director."
"Team Leader Baek. Could I have a private word with this intern of yours?"
"Pardon? Oh, yes. Of course."
Once Team Leader Baek stepped away, Executive Director Kang Tae-hee's smile turned overtly seductive.
"Team Leader Baek had nothing but praise for you. You must be great at your job."
"I just work hard."
"Her eyes lit up whenever she talked about you. I was jealous, having such a reliable subordinate."
We clinked glasses, drank, and refilled them.
"I heard you were the one who found Jin Se-ah when she escaped recently?"
"Yes. I got lucky and spotted her in the wild mountains."
"Hehe. It wasn't that you took her somewhere, right, Tae-hu?"
I flinched-
What? Does she know?
Does experience sharpen your instincts at her age?
"No way. Pure luck."
"I just can't believe you were in those mountains for over two hours. Unless someone deliberately hid her."
"As I said, it was just luck."
She's persistent.
She stared at me with the eyes of a predator slowly sizing up defenseless prey.
One wrong flinch, and she'd pounce.
"Haha. Alright, let's drop that. Another drink first?"
Clink-
We exchanged a few more rounds without much talk.
Just enduring her heavy, probing gaze.
In the end, I changed the subject first.
"Could I ask why you called me over?"
"I wanted to take some credit."
"Pardon?"
"Truth is, there were people against your promotion, Tae-hu. You know high school grads don't easily become full-time staff."
"Yes, I know."
"I pushed it through. I used my influence to make your promotion happen."
Why tell me this?
"So you want something from me in return."
"Sharp as ever, I like that. Yes."
"What is it?"
"Let's step out quietly for now. The rooftop here's nice and quiet."
The Executive Director stood first and headed out, with me following behind.
Chan-woo hyung mouthed 'Why?' Everyone's eyes were on us.
I gave a reassuring smile and went up to the rooftop.
"The stars are pretty."
The Executive Director leaned against the wall, gazing up at the sky.
Her tight skirt and black blouse accentuated her side profile to artistic perfection.
Everything that should be prominent was, and everything that shouldn't stuck out was firmly in place.
With her arms crossed under her chest, it looked even more pronounced.
She didn't look 40 at all.
"Aren't they pretty?"
"They are."
"That's a awfully businesslike answer."
"The rank difference makes it hard not to be."
"Still, no need to be so formal."
"I can't treat you like a noona either."
"Noona... It's been ages since I heard that."
The word seemed to please her, as she smiled brightly.
Her mature smile was quite beautiful.
Is this what they mean by a true 'beauty'?
She had a completely different allure from Team Leader Baek or Yoo Eun-joo.
Though both were married, they had a youthful innocence, while the Executive Director exuded pure maturity.
Of course, her looks made her seem in her thirties too.
Full breasts, slim waist, defined jawline, thick yet smooth lines from thighs to legs.
Not a single flaw in her figure.
My gaze traveled up her legs and met the Executive Director's eyes.
Did I stare too obviously?
I braced for a scolding, but she just smiled.
Like she found me cute.
It reminded me of how Team Leader Baek looked at me by that boulder.
No.
'It's a bit different.'
Back then, it was like looking at a cute subordinate. Now, it felt like gazing at an adorable doll.
Even during our chat at that mountain pension cafe, she enjoyed my reactions. Same here.
Does she have a desire to dominate men?
I could kind of understand.
To rise to Executive Director, pushing past all the men, she must have something special.
"......!!!"
Suddenly, the Executive Director wrapped both hands around my neck.
And brought her face close.
Her breath brushed my nose, she was that near.
Flawless skin, perky nose, blue eyes.
Up close, her face was undeniably beautiful.
"What are you doing?"
"You're not flustered?"
"I am. Plenty."
"I thought you'd like it since you were staring at my body so intently."
"......It's overwhelming."
She smirked but didn't release her arms.
Not in Corruption Space, so I can't read her desires.
What the hell is this about?
"Young guys like you supposedly like mature beauties like me."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"What do you think? I take pretty good care of myself."
"Did you bring me to the rooftop for this? Is this your 'favor'? This is straight-up sexual harassment, Executive Director."
"You stared first."
"......"
"So I'm just trying to get a closer look at you too."
"I didn't touch you though."
"So you hate it?"
"......"
"Guess not."
I didn't react, and her arms finally loosened.
Instead, her palm slid across my chest.
What the—? Seriously, why?
This is way too out of nowhere.