The Secretary's Power (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 7
“Tae Beom!”
Ji Seok’s resonant voice echoed through the air.
Hye Won instinctively pressed closer to Tae Beom, and Tae Beom slightly spread his arms as if to shield her.
There was no time to reassess the situation—it was an instinctive reaction, not something his mind had consciously decided.
“Well, well! Look who’s here—our Tae Beom!”
People’s eyes turned toward them at Ji Seok’s loud, emphatic call of his name.
A faint crease appeared between Tae Beom’s eyebrows.
It wasn’t casual male camaraderie—it was intentional. By repeatedly calling him by his first name, Ji Seok was clearly trying to plant the idea in everyone’s mind that Tae Beom was merely his cousin.
“The main character’s already here? Shouldn’t you make a grand entrance at the end? Looks like we’re not even fully ready yet.”
At Ji Seok’s booming voice and approach, Hye Won snapped back to her senses and tried to step behind Tae Beom.
Seeing Ji Seok here was far more awkward than her torn skirt revealing her blouse.
But Tae Beom grabbed her forearm and pulled her forward, gripping tightly as if to say “Don’t move,” then released her.
Ji Seok stared blankly at Hye Won for a moment before shifting his gaze to Tae Beom.
“Tae Beom. How are you feeling? All right?”
“My mood? Same as always.”
“Same as always? That won’t do. You should be feeling great—it’s your inauguration day!”
“With an inauguration like this, I’ve still got a long way to go before I can feel celebratory.”
Ji Seok paused briefly at Tae Beom’s remark, then smiled again.
“I told you I’d put in the effort to prepare, but I guess it’s still a bit lacking, huh? Even Grandfather’s not showing up. It’s his grandson’s inauguration—couldn’t he at least make an appearance?”
“…”
“Honestly, the old man’s really heartless. He’s not even unwell—it’s just that once he takes a dislike to someone, it sticks for ages. Right, Tae Beom?”
Ji Seok drove the point home, highlighting the absence of their grandfather, Chairman Ha Baek Seung, the company’s largest shareholder.
Watching Tae Beom’s brows twitch slightly with irritation, Ji Seok turned to look at Hye Won.
“Tae Beom. Who’s this?”
Ji Seok acted as though he’d never seen her before.
Tae Beom calmly opened his lips.
“Assistant Manager Yoon Hye Won—she was in the Finance Department and just got transferred to the Managing Director’s office.”
“Ah. Assistant Manager Yoon Hye Won.”
“You two are always glued together, day or night.”
Hye Won flinched inwardly and clenched her eyes shut for a brief moment before opening them again.
Ji Seok glanced back and forth between her and Tae Beom with a strange expression, then grinned—a deep dimple forming on his cheek.
“Anyway, our Assistant Manager sure stands boldly. Are you his human shield?”
His tone was sarcastic, mocking her for standing so confidently right in front.
Hye Won, whose face had gone as pale as paper, moved again—but Tae Beom grabbed her firmly once more.
Ji Seok observed them both with an odd look in his eyes, shifting his gaze between them.
No one could have guessed that her torn skirt was the culprit.
“Let’s just call her my shield, then.”
Tae Beom shot back, and Ji Seok burst into loud laughter. Though nobody frowned, a strange tension lingered in the air.
Standing between them, Hye Won genuinely wanted to cry. Only now, seeing Ji Seok treat her as a complete stranger, did she truly feel the weight of deceiving Tae Beom.
“Did you say her name was Assistant Manager Yoon Hye Won?”
When Ji Seok asked, Hye Won lifted her gaze.
“She might not be easy to work with, but I’m counting on you to take good care of our Tae Beom.”
“Yes, Vice President. I understand.”
Hye Won replied with a stiff face, and Tae Beom let out a small, quiet breath.
“Now then, Tae Beom—I mean, Managing Director Ha—let’s head out together. It seems Assistant Manager Yoon has fulfilled her role, so we’ll send her back to her seat.”
Please! Please just leave me here!
Hye Won looked at Tae Beom with pleading eyes—but his gaze landed just beyond her.
“My apologies for the late greeting, Vice President.”
Attorney Kim Yang Hoon had arrived like a cavalry of ten thousand.
“Kimbyeon, you rascal, how could a person be so…”
“Attorney Kim Yang Hoon.”
Just as Ji Seok turned toward Yang Hoon, ready to scold him, Tae Beom spoke first.
“Yes, Managing Director?”
“Assistant Manager Yoon says she’s cold—please take off your jacket for her.”
“Huh?” Yang Hoon blinked in surprise and looked at Hye Won. The moment he saw her face—paler than white, almost blue—he quickly shrugged off his jacket.
Tae Beom looked at Hye Won with dry, unreadable eyes.
“Assistant Manager Yoon Hye Won.”
“Yes, Managing Director?”
“Go back and resolve that issue, then return.”
“Understood, Managing Director.”
Hye Won nodded, now wrapped in Yang Hoon’s jacket.
Only after quickly glancing at the area near her thighs did Tae Beom finally walk off with Ji Seok.
Yang Hoon’s jacket was long enough to fully cover Hye Won’s torn skirt.
She’d been so mortified in front of Tae Beom she thought she’d die of shame, yet with Yang Hoon, the words about her torn skirt spilled out so easily.
After wrapping herself in the jacket and waiting briefly, Yang Hoon borrowed a long cardigan from another employee and handed it to her.
Exchanging his jacket for the cardigan like a barter trade, Hye Won quickly slipped into it.
“Thank you, Attorney.”
“Not at all. Managing Director Ha had great timing. Honestly, I could really tell you were freezing—your face was completely blue.”
“I was so overwhelmed earlier I almost fainted.”
They looked at each other and burst into laughter. Yang Hoon nodded as if he understood exactly how she felt—he had a mysterious knack for putting people at ease.
Maybe it was just that everyone else around here was such a pain, making Yang Hoon seem especially warm by comparison.
As Hye Won looked down at the long cardigan sleeves, her thoughts drifted back to Tae Beom.
He’d shown her no mercy or regard before—but when a real crisis struck, he’d been more considerate than anyone else.
She’d been too flustered at the time to notice, but looking back now, it was genuinely touching.
Who’d have thought she’d ever be moved by that top-tier jerk.
“Is this your first time meeting the Vice President, Hye Won?”
Startled by the sudden question, Hye Won lifted her head and reflexively nodded vigorously.
“Yes! Yes! It’s my first time—truly the first time!”
Her voice always got louder when she was flustered—it was a chronic habit.
Yang Hoon smiled gently and added,
“I only recently learned this myself, but Vice President Ha Ji Seok’s nickname is ‘Unstepped Mine.’”
“Oh—I’ve vaguely heard that too. Today really drove it home.”
Yang Hoon turned his body slightly to face her.
“Do you know what Managing Director Ha Tae Beom’s nickname is?”
Nickname? What could it be? Troublemaker?
“No, I haven’t heard it.”
“Stepped Mine.”
“Ah…”
“Once you’ve stepped on it, pulling your foot away recklessly would be… unwise.”
So if she pulled away from that top-tier jerk, would her body go flying?!
Hye Won shuddered, and Yang Hoon laughed.
“So don’t even think about pulling away—just stick close. It might get even more dangerous otherwise.”
“Oh no… oh no…” Hye Won groaned at the “stepped mine” comment, and Yang Hoon laughed even harder.
“Shall we head back up, then?”
“Attorney—won’t we be late for the inauguration? It’s probably already started.”
“Don’t worry—it’s a gathering of high-ups. No one will care if we’re a little late.”
His calming explanation helped Hye Won exhale steadily. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d taken such a deep breath.
“You really seem kind and thoughtful, Attorney.”
“Don’t be fooled—it’s all an act.”
As she took small steps forward, Yang Hoon matched her pace slowly.
The inauguration had already begun.
Contrary to Yang Hoon’s claim that no one would notice their absence, Tae Beom was visibly irritated by their delay.
The carefully prepared inauguration ceremony had ended.
Being the sole focus of everyone’s attention wasn’t easy. He’d had to constantly craft expressions and suppress his true emotions.
With the real battle for control over the Yusun Family looming, rumors were swirling. The rivalry between Ji Seok and Tae Beom had become the hottest topic among employees.
Everyone needed to choose their side carefully—but time was running short.
Executives were wracking their brains over which lifeline to grab, while junior staff prayed their bosses would make wise choices.
“Phew…”
Tae Beom slumped into his chair with a long sigh.
After enduring constant demands all day from people busier than calculators, he felt more exhausted than usual.
Yang Hoon knocked and entered. His condition looked peak—clearly he’d spent the entire ceremony watching from the sidelines like a spectator across a river.
“Hey, Tae Beom. You okay?”
“Don’t talk to me. I’m tired.”
Noticing Yang Hoon holding what looked like a women’s cardigan, Tae Beom raised an eyebrow.
“What’s that?”
“Oh—this is the cardigan I lent to Hye Won. She asked me to bring it back.”
Tae Beom sat silently for a moment, then straightened his upper body.
Then what’s she wearing now?
“She went out and bought clothes earlier. Hye Won’s changed into pants now.”
“…I didn’t ask.”
Tae Beom leaned back in his chair again. His expression—transparent as crystal-clear water—made Yang Hoon snort in amusement.
They briefly discussed the day’s events, especially noting which executives had lingered close to Ji Seok.
“Well, in summary, people are still half-convinced about you.”
“Half-believing me is enough for now, isn’t it?”
While he’d been away at overseas branches, Ji Seok had tightened his grip on Yusun Airlines.
Dislodging an entrenched stone with a rolling one wouldn’t be easy.
“Chairman’s absence today was pretty damaging—you’ll need to factor that in.”
At Yang Hoon’s words, Tae Beom closed his eyes tightly. Grandfather had skipped the ceremony, citing indigestion as an excuse.
He’d been forewarned, so it wasn’t exactly unfair—but the fact that his inauguration was treated as less important than mild indigestion made him want to laugh.
Grandfather himself, as the largest shareholder, surely understood better than anyone how his absence would affect the staff.
“Tae Beom. Tired?”
“A little.”
Seeing his friend look unusually exhausted, Yang Hoon perched himself on the edge of the desk.
“It’s only just begun—don’t burn out already.”
“No time to recharge. Gotta stay sharp.”
“Wanna go drink after work?”
“What for?”
Tae Beom opened his eyes, furrowing his brows as if the word “drinking” was unbelievable.
Right now, he only had two employees—Hye Won and Kim Yang—and he was suggesting company drinks?
“Just the two of us?”
“Why not?”
“Then… all three of us?”
“Might as well—it’s the complete set.”
Just then—knock, knock—the door sounded.
Tae Beom tensed instantly, but Yang Hoon grinned.
A moment later, Hye Won entered, wearing wide-cut dress pants. Yang Hoon, who’d been sitting on the desk, stood up.
“Alright, I’ll leave you two to talk. I’ll wait outside.”
Yang Hoon left as if passing a baton, and Hye Won shuffled forward hesitantly.
Tae Beom stared silently at her as she approached, fingers interlocked, then let out a short, sharp breath.
The moment he looked at her—like a dog salivating at a bell—a faint floral scent tickled his nose.
“What is it?”
“Ah… um, Managing Director… about…”
Her heart began pounding wildly, like an excited drumbeat.
“Back at the inauguration… I wanted to thank you… um…”
Thump-thump. Thump-thump.
Thump-thump-thump-thump.
“Thank you. Thanks to you, I avoided a crisis.”
Thump! Thump! Thump…!
“Enough.”
Flustered by his own racing heart, Tae Beom cut her off. Hye Won, who’d been bowing, slowly raised her head.
“Well, I’m glad it worked out. You didn’t need to thank me.”
“Yes—but I really am grateful.”
“Just be more careful. Lucky I saw it—if some other guy had seen it, what would you have…”
He trailed off mid-sentence, realizing he’d spoken without thinking.
From Hye Won’s perspective, this whole situation was mortifying either way.
“No—I mean, people aren’t usually as quick-thinking as I am. That’s all I meant.”
“Yes…”
“Your voice.”
“Yes.”
“No—louder.”
“Yes!”
When Hye Won spoke with more force from her diaphragm, Tae Beom let out a quiet chuckle.
He bit back the urge to ask what report Ji Seok was planning to deliver today.
“Assistant Manager Yoon Hye Won—do you have a lot of work left?”
“Oh—no, not really.”
Tae Beom stared at the closed door for a long moment before standing up.
“Let’s go drink after work.”
“What?”
Seeing Hye Won’s horrified expression, Tae Beom lifted his chin slightly.
He needed to replace that lingering floral scent near his nose with the smell of grilled meat.
“Let’s go. We should celebrate. We can’t just let Ha Tae Beom’s inauguration pass without marking it.”
Hye Won, having no idea what he truly meant, looked utterly dismayed.
My Arch-enemy Sealed My Memory and Said That He is My Husband
This is an incredibly captivating story that you absolutely shouldn’t miss! I’ll give a brief introduction here, and below you’ll find a detailed synopsis of the plot.
The female lead is a fierce and powerful demon king. The male lead is a once-in-a-millennium celestial lord, admired by the entire cultivation world.
They are equally matched, legendary rivals who have battled for centuries.
In the final duel, the female lead is gravely injured. The male lead saves her, seals her memories, and hides her true identity. He tells her that he is her fiancé. His entire life has been flawless—except for the one thing he never expected, never controlled, and never wanted to control: falling for his greatest enemy. She is his inner demon, his obsession.
When the female lead regains her memories, she is furious at his deception.
She makes his life a living hell.
And somehow, the male lead—possibly a total masochist—doesn’t mind at all. In fact, he’s happy she’s paying attention to him.
Yep, we’re back to my favorite trope: male lead suffering. If you love this kind of story, jump into the pit with me now!!!
Intro
Dong Xia lost her memory.
Her handsome and extremely powerful fiancé Li Qing comforted her: “It’s okay if you can’t remember. I’ll always be with you.”
Everyone thought Dong Xia’s ancestors must have burned incense to get such a perfect fiancé. He was the number one person in the immortal realm, yet he remained chaste and only loved her.
…
The day before marrying her fiancé, Dong Xia finally remembered everything.
She wasn’t suffering from memory loss at all.
Her arch-enemy had made her fake her death, destroyed her cultivation, replaced her memories, and pretended to be her deeply in love fiancé.
No wonder he said, “It’s okay if you can’t remember”!
Dong Xia laughed coldly as she pulled out her long knife: Li Qing, prepare to die 🙂
*
Li Qing, as the supreme being of the immortal realm, was the people’s shining beacon.
The only unknown stain in his life was his affection for Dong Xia, the ruler of the demon realm.
In the final battle of the war between immortals and demons, the sky collapsed and the earth shattered. The ruler of the demon realm was finally slain under the sword of the supreme being of the immortal realm, and everyone in the immortal realm applauded.
The cultivation world lost a ruler of the demon realm.
And in the back mountain of Li Qing’s cave dwelling, he secretly hid away a fiancée.
Notes:
1. The female lead is white on the outside, black on the inside, and the queen of flattery; the male lead repeatedly tests the edge of darkness, a VIP guest at the crematorium.
2. Fantasy cultivation world setting.
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
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