The Country Life Diary of a Gangster's Secretary

Chapter 39

The Country Life Diary of a Gangster's Secretary - c39

This chapter is paid for by Nemuru!

The documents were impressively titled “Product Description”. On the very first page, there was also a fancy phrase saying it was a product for young people who had returned to farming, which Hyeseong felt like he had seen somewhere before.

“You want me to sign up for this?”

“No, well. It’s not a demand, just read it over once. Hmm?”

When Hyeseong picked up the documents, Doo-sung started to look expectant. Honestly, at a glance, there didn’t seem to be much difference between a regular bank loan and this product. Except for the crazy interest rates. The important parts of the description listed the interest at a normal level, but on the next page, at the very bottom in small text, there was a clause.

It stated that if the principal was not repaid within a certain period, the interest would jump to an absurd level. Honestly, it seemed unlikely anyone would fall for such a sloppy trick, but if, as Doo-sung said, there were young people who had enthusiastically moved to farming but had no money coming in and were struggling with daily life, it might be tempting to them.

“How about it?”

If Hyeseong refused outright here, Doo-sung would surely annoy him by following him around. He would come to Hyeseong’s village, cause a scene, and harass the residents. So he maintained this confident attitude of telling Hyeseong to borrow money. Because he had plenty of things to threaten Hyeseong with.

This was actually a tactic sometimes used by thugs who used illegal private loans. Approaching people hesitating about whether to borrow money, or people who seemed like good targets, and forcibly making them sign up for products through threats of violence.

Moreover, Doo-sung probably didn’t have good feelings left towards Hyeseong. Because he thought the person who had ruined his organization was none other than Hyeseong.

“...Give me some time to think about it. Actually, the money I’ve saved is slowly running out.”

Hyeseong’s gaze changed nimbly and he put down the description.

“Sure, sure. You thought well!”

“Then can I take this description home to read?”

“That’s not allowed. It’s a product made by our Capital, so it can’t be taken outside. If you want to see it, come here to read it.”

Well, it was as expected. It was a ridiculous request, but Doo-sung clearly wanted to keep calling Hyeseong here to put psychological pressure on him. In this threatening and filthy place.

“Okay. Well. I understand.”

But that was actually good for Hyeseong too. Just then, a bald employee with tattoos carefully approached Doo-sung.

“Uh, Hyung-nim.”

The employee hesitated and began whispering in Doo-sung’s ear. Hyeseong focused all his senses on his hearing, pretending to be uninterested and drinking coffee.

“From Seohyun... came... to collect... wants to see you...”

That was all he heard. He wasn’t sure exactly, but he clearly heard the words “Seohyun” and “collect”.

“Tsk, suddenly? We weren’t found out, were we?”

“There’s no way that’s the case.”

At the employee’s words, Doo-sung looked anxious. Hyeseong maintained his uninterested appearance and put on his outer coat.

“Hey! Manager Lee!”

“Y-Yes?”

“You’re managing that well, right?”

“Yes, o-of course.”

That?

At Doo-sung’s words, Manager Lee nodded firmly.

“You smell like cigarettes.”

The smell must have stuck from Doo-sung’s office. He had stayed there for a while, and the employees there, including Doo-sung, had been smoking constantly, so it wasn’t strange for the smell to linger. It seemed best to spray something on after going to and from Doo-sung’s office in the future.

“It’s not like that. Why would I smoke? It’s the thing I hate most in the world.”

But Ihyeok’s expression wouldn’t ease up. He had an extremely serious face, like a parent who found a cigarette pack in their student child’s bag. It seemed like there would be big trouble if Hyeseong even lied and said he smoked.

“I went downtown earlier and I think the smell stuck there.”

Then Ihyeok slowly relaxed the tension in his eyes. It didn’t seem like he had completely shed his suspicions yet, but he was nodding at the vague excuse since Hyeseong was steadfast when it came to smoking.

“But you failed at quitting smoking too, so why are you saying I can’t? Of course, I have no intention to anyway.”

It was a true attitude of hypocrisy. In a nutshell, Hyeseong himself could smoke too if he wanted. But Ihyeok shook his head firmly and lowered the side brake.

“Right. You absolutely can’t.”

“Why?”

Ihyeok began to drive smoothly.

“It’s bad for your health.”

Imagining Hyeseong holding a cigarette with those white fingers and pale face didn’t suit him at all. Of course, that sight would be strangely novel, but it was still something that should never happen. Hyeseong with a cigarette in his mouth...

“Do you think you’re the right person to say that?”

Who was the one doing things bad for his health? In reality too. As soon as he got in, the faint scent of cigarette smoke wafted in Ihyeok’s car. Hyeseong knew the smell of the cigarette brand Ihyeok often smoked.

“I’ll try.”

“To do what?”

“Quit smoking.”

“Yeah right.”

“Don’t be cheeky. Always.”

It seemed even Hyeseong’s grumbling was just cute, as Ihyeok lifted the corners of his mouth and lightly pinched Hyeseong’s cheek.

“But. CEO.”

“Yeah.”

“Where are we going now?”

From the bus stop to home was about a 6-7 minute walk. In other words, it would take less than 3 minutes by car. But even after 3 minutes passed, Ihyeok’s car showed no signs of stopping. Hyeseong could even see his house pitifully passing by outside the window.

“My house is over there.”

“Let’s go eat dinner. I haven’t eaten yet.”

Of course, it was the same for Hyeseong. He had eaten lunch early, and after taking care of business and returning, he had planned to go out and have dinner with Dohyun for the first time in a while.

“Without even asking me?”

“We haven’t eaten together in a long time. Let’s go. I’m hungry.”

There were many things he wanted to say. Maybe if he had lied and said he already ate lunch, that would have been the end of it. But strangely, he couldn’t bring himself to say it. Seeing Ihyeok’s face after several days, the faint scent of cigarette smoke mixed with citrus in the car. And that gentle voice and hand lines. It just made his heart pound because of all these things.

He knew he would regret it anyway. After this time passed, he might reproach himself for why he couldn’t cut it off, why he couldn’t end it, despite his resolve. But it couldn’t be helped. For now, he wanted to follow his emotions rather than reason. Rationalizing that he would be greedy just for today, just for this moment, Hyeseong quietly leaned against the seat.

This chapter is paid for by Nemuru!