The Secretary's Power (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 4
Hye Won let out a low sigh as she arrived home and dropped her bag with a thud.
She hastily tied up her long, loose hair and changed into comfortable clothes. Trudging into the living room, she sat down on the floor beneath the sofa and looked up.
It was already well past eleven at night.
“I don’t have an ounce of energy left.”
Was she hungry or not? She rubbed her numb stomach—she knew she needed to eat something since she’d had nothing since lunch, but her exhausted mind refused to think about food.
After fretting over her dry lips for a while, she slowly closed her eyes. Moments later, Hye Won flinched unconsciously and furrowed her brow.
The first image to sharpen in the darkness was Managing Director Ha Tae Beom’s face.
His well-proportioned features were strikingly handsome for a man, instantly drawing the eye. Despite his seemingly relaxed demeanor, his eyes radiated sharp focus.
The slightest crease in his brow was enough to convey his thoughts; the slightest lift of his chin made his intentions clear.
Each time his long legs crossed, a subtle air of superiority emanated from him.
“God really went all-in on the Managing Director. Seriously, all-in.”
It was as if decades of authority and dignified presence had accumulated within his very being.
She exhaled quietly and lifted her eyelids.
Thinking about Tae Beom, Assistant Manager Yoon Hye Won suddenly seemed to hear Vice President Ji Seok’s voice.
“Assistant Manager Yoon, the foundation has supported you this far—it’s time you started giving something back. What do you say? To me, this seems like the perfect moment.”
At six years old, Hye Won became an orphan.
Afterward, she drifted between relatives with her older brother, who was three years her senior. She never once voiced her wants or desires throughout her childhood.
No one ever explained her parents’ absence to her. Then, at eighteen, she learned the truth: her mother had run off with a factory worker, and her father, who claimed he was heading overseas, never returned.
Even after learning the full story, Hye Won remained calm. Having never had anyone to confide in or vent her frustrations to, she’d grown accustomed to bottling everything inside.
“Why does my head feel so heavy…?”
Pressing her temples firmly with her fingers, Hye Won closed her eyes again.
Her older brother, three years her senior, had grown rebellious and bitter.
It wasn’t easy for him to find honest, stable work after dropping out of school so young in order to earn money.
Her only remaining family member, her brother, became a criminal.
Calls from the police came more frequently than calls from him. Officers visited their home far more often than her brother did.
For Hye Won, Yusun Airlines’ scholarship had been a lifeline that helped her endure those difficult years.
She studied relentlessly and clung fiercely to life. Young as she was, she understood better than anyone what her future would look like if she lost this opportunity.
Defiantly, Hye Won graduated university with top honors and landed a job at Yusun Airlines headquarters.
It might seem like an ordinary career start for a young person, but for Hye Won, it was a triumph of the human spirit.
She erased her entire past as if she’d been reborn—moved quietly without telling anyone and changed her contact information.
All she wanted was to live an ordinary life.
“Assistant Manager Yoon, the foundation has supported you this far—it’s time you started giving something back. What do you say? To me, this seems like the perfect moment.”
Vice President Ha Ji Seok’s voice echoed in her ears. Hye Won dropped her head in resignation.
Tae Beom’s face and Ji Seok’s voice kept overlapping, cluttering her thoughts.
“I have to hold on. I have to stay strong.”
She whispered it softly, like a mantra to herself.
There was something Tae Beom, so intent on pushing her out, didn’t know.
For someone who’d never dared speak her desires aloud, her greatest skill in the world was—
“How could I possibly leave this company? What Yusun Airlines means to me—no, I absolutely have to hold on.”
Enduring and persevering through hardship.
★
5:00 A.M.
Seongbuk-dong, nestled between Baegak Mountain and Samgak Mountain, had long been renowned for its favorable geography.
Driving smoothly along the well-paved road, one would eventually reach Seongbuk-dong’s distinctive alleyways, where climbing vines hanging from every fence signaled the arrival of spring.
Tae Beom exited the parking lot and headed toward the main house. Neatly laid gravel lined the path from the gate, adding some distance between the newly built parking area and the residence itself.
Though it was spring, the early morning air carried a sharp chill. The heavy sound of a man’s dress shoes echoed on the deserted sidewalk.
He arrived before the grand front gate, a place that exuded elegance in any season—but especially in spring, when the layered, blooming plum blossoms created a rare and breathtaking spectacle.
Until three years ago—before the walls were heightened and everything was converted to a standing-style layout—this site had preserved every detail of its traditional hanok heritage.
As Tae Beom stepped through the main gate, four doors automatically opened in sequence with his footsteps. When the final door opened, a staff member from the main house greeted him.
“Welcome back, Managing Director Ha.”
“Is the Chairman here?”
“He’s having breakfast. Shall I prepare a meal for you as well, sir?”
“No, thank you. Go attend to your duties.”
“Yes, Managing Director.”
Inside the centuries-old mansion, steeped in the refined atmosphere of a Joseon-era noble family, lived Tae Beom’s grandfather—Chairman Ha Baek Seung, who had founded Yusun Airlines fifty years ago.
Five in the morning. It was their first meeting in five years, as his grandfather never slept past dawn.
Tae Beom adjusted his clothes and walked toward the dining area where Chairman Ha Baek Seung was eating. The main beams supporting the wooden floor exuded majestic grandeur.
“So, Beomi’s here?”
“Yes. I’ve arrived.”
Mother-of-pearl inlay—thinly sliced abalone and clam shells arranged into delicate patterns—glistened elegantly on the furniture. As they say, lacquerware lasts a thousand years. On the exquisitely crafted mother-of-pearl dining table, specially made by a master artisan, a neat breakfast was laid out.
“Sit down. Now that you’re here, have a bite.”
“No, thank you. I’m not hungry.”
“Really? You came all this way with no appetite? A young man like you should eat well.”
The household chef had planned to serve abalone-and-mushroom rice cooked in soy sauce, but upon hearing Chairman Ha Baek Seung complain of indigestion, quickly replaced it with cod porridge and watery kimchi.
After eating a few spoonfuls of porridge, Chairman Ha Baek Seung gulped down the watery kimchi served in a glossy white porcelain bowl.
“Ah, better than any digestif! Hey, Yoon Ga! Bring another bowl of this kimchi broth!”
“Yes, Chairman.”
Unsatisfied with the porridge, Chairman Ha Baek Seung pushed the bowl aside and glanced at Tae Beom.
He watched Tae Beom standing stiffly like a totem pole—refusing to sit, saying nothing—and finally spoke.
“Beom-ah, how long has it been?”
“Five years.”
“Has it really been that long already? Feels like just the other day.”
Peering over his glasses, Chairman Ha Baek Seung looked genuinely surprised.
For a grandfather and grandson meeting after five years, their exchange was remarkably restrained.
“Time truly is heartless. It feels like just yesterday you wore your school uniform and came to say goodbye before heading off to class. Really.”
As he spoke, another bowl of watery kimchi was placed on the table—its bright red hue deepened by the rich broth pooled at the bottom.
“Yoon Ga, if the cabbage pieces are too thick, the broth turns cloudy. Remember that.”
“Yes, Chairman. I’ll pass that along.”
Tae Beom closed his eyes for a long moment before opening them again. The sound of gulping kimchi broth filled the room, followed by a soft belch.
For the first time, Tae Beom and Chairman Ha Baek Seung locked eyes. The Chairman lifted his chin slightly and spoke.
“Beom-ah.”
“Yes.”
“But why did you come back?”
His molars clenched involuntarily. Tae Beom slowly closed and then opened his eyes.
“I thought you ought to know whether or not I’ve been thinking about returning.”
“…”
“You left last time grinding your teeth like you’d never see us again—so what’s changed? What made you come back now?”
…Five years ago.
Tae Beom had lost the woman he loved due to his grandfather’s fierce opposition.
“Have you come back sharpening your claws like a blade, or with all your claws ripped out? You’ve got to tell me so I know…”
“I got the feeling you’d forgotten I’m also part of Yusun Airlines.”
“And so?”
“I need to find my own place. I can’t just stand by and watch forever.”
Without hesitation, Tae Beom spoke plainly—and Chairman Ha Baek Seung burst into hearty laughter.
Having finished the remaining kimchi broth, the Chairman rocked slightly in his seat as he chuckled.
“Did you know the government just approved a 1.5-trillion-won support package due to the Euro shock?”
“I heard it’s still under evaluation.”
“That’s what the news says. But I spoke with Park Gu Moon, Chief of Staff at Cheong Wa Dae, just recently—and he hinted it’s practically a done deal.”
As the empty bowl was set down, several staff members rushed over to refill his water glass, clear the dishes, and quickly place two slices of pear topped with pine nuts on the table.
Chairman Ha Baek Seung pressed a bronze fork into the pear and spoke.
“When someone offers help, you grab it without hesitation. The decision on purchasing perpetual bonds is next week. Bring me a solid proposal.”
“Yes. Understood.”
“Also prepare a plan for raising liquid assets.”
“Understood.”
Chairman Ha Baek Seung, who had unexpectedly started discussing business matters, now stood up after handing Tae Beom his assignment.
Tae Beom had braced for a thunderous scolding—but this surprisingly gentle reunion after five years concluded without incident.
“You’re probably busy, so you should head out now. Yoon Ga! Beomi’s leaving! See him out properly!”
Tae Beom bowed respectfully.
“I’ll take my leave now.”
“Alright, then. I think my indigestion will last longer than expected, so I likely won’t make it to your inauguration. Consider this meeting as my attendance.”
Chairman Ha Baek Seung turned and walked away.
★
After leaving the main house, Tae Beom arrived at the office earlier than intended and immediately began working on his assignment.
Ji Seok had probably already prepared more than enough, but this wasn’t the time to sit back and watch someone else’s show.
With only a week until the deadline, every minute mattered—time was too tight even just for analysis, let alone drafting alternatives, so his nerves were on edge.
Having buried himself in documents since the moment he arrived, Tae Beom leaned back in his chair and exhaled the breath he’d been holding.
“Phew…”
But why did you come back?
His grandfather’s question suddenly felt pointed—it carried the unspoken rebuke: “Didn’t you abandon everything when you left Korea?”
Yes. He hadn’t planned to return. He’d felt nothing but disillusionment toward everything he’d left behind in Korea.
But that was only true as long as all his resentment was directed solely at his grandfather.
Five years ago, he’d learned that Ji Seok had been involved in the pivotal incident that cost him the woman he loved—Ji Seok had actively worked to push him out of Yusun Airlines headquarters.
While Tae Beom walked away, abandoning everything he had and leaving Korea behind, Ji Seok had likely raised a toast in celebration.
When Tae Beom accidentally learned the full story, he made the decision to return.
There was no grand strategy behind his years of silent endurance—just one burning resolve:
Someday, he would push Ha Ji Seok—the man who ruined his life for corporate power—off the highest cliff imaginable.
So Tae Beom lowered his profile and held his breath, waiting patiently for the right moment.
“Good morning, Managing Director!”
And now, he’d gladly accepted the “gift” Ji Seok had sent his way.
At the sound of Hye Won’s bright, cheerful greeting as she entered, Tae Beom opened his eyes.
“You’re here early, Managing Director! The air’s clear today—no fine dust—the sky’s beautifully blue, and the breeze isn’t even cold. Perfect morning for commuting!”
She sounded like a toy with fresh batteries—energetic and lively from the moment she woke up.
“Managing Director, have you had coffee yet? Should I bring you a cup? Or perhaps some fragrant herbal tea instead?”
Her deliberately perky tone grated on him.
Memories of Hye Won’s complex, troubled expression from yesterday flashed in his mind—along with a surge of irritation.
A woman sent by the Vice President. A woman on the Vice President’s side.
Pretending she knew nothing, acting as if it were all just a coincidence.
“How about a warm bagel with soup? Or maybe a vegan sandwich packed with romaine lettuce? It’s the most popular breakfast item in the cafeteria.”
Tae Beom silently stared at Hye Won.
…A woman planted by the Vice President.
Instead of dismissing her outright, he decided he might as well take a closer look.
“Let’s start with the meeting.”
“Oh! Yes, Managing Director! Understood—I’ll get everything ready right away!”
He wanted to find out just how remarkable she must be for the Vice President to have placed her directly in Ha Tae Beom’s path.
In other words—he was curious.
When the male lead is punished by carrying the female lead’s child and having periods like a woman
“I’ve given birth to two children for you, yet you still think about him.
Was I nothing but his substitute to you from beginning to end?”
Synopsis:
Meng Huan, a scumbag who has dated countless girlfriends, transmigrates to a female-dominated country.
Day 1: Whether it’s female dominance or not doesn’t matter. The beauties here are passionate and amorous. Isn’t it easier to date them than in modern times?
Day 2: After a night, Meng Huan discovers the differences in the female-dominated world. Men here actually have chastity locks and menstrual cycles. This hinders his ability to perform, damn it!
Day 3: What’s wrong with sleeping around? I don’t want you to marry me. I’m meant to be a playboy. I don’t care about male virtues… What? You want to drown me in a pig cage? Marry, I’ll marry!
Day N: Meng Huan inexplicably vomits and receives the shocking news of his life… He’s pregnant.
_____
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