The Secretary's Power (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 8
Three utterly mismatched people slipped out of the company.
So this is what the royal family eats for company dinners—beef sirloin.
Hye Won sat facing Yang Hoon and Tae Beom. Though they were at a premium Hanwoo omakase restaurant, Yang Hoon insisted on grilling the meat himself, claiming the bustling service made him uncomfortable.
But in the end, the tongs inevitably ended up in Tae Beom’s hands.
Yang Hoon added a kindly explanation while looking at Hye Won.
“Managing Director Ha grills meat really well.”
“Oh, uh, I see.”
“He’s clearly someone who’s tasted good food before.”
“Yes, that seems to be the case.”
Tae Beom flipped the meat with an exaggerated grimace. He really should’ve just gone for sushi instead.
He’d come to the BBQ place hoping to catch that floral scent lingering at the tip of his nose, but now he was stuck grilling meat without even getting a proper sip of alcohol.
“You guys… aren’t saying a word, but eating really well…?”
The meat disappeared the moment it was done grilling.
When Tae Beom made a sharp, amused remark, Hye Won looked guiltily at him.
“Managing Director, I should be the one grilling.”
“It’s fine.”
“Yes. Then I’ll dig in.”
See? You’re all talk! If you don’t even intend to grill, stop pretending!
Tae Beom flipped the meat furiously, half-annoyed. The damned sirloin burned in an instant if he even glanced away, so he couldn’t afford to lose focus.
His glass sat empty while they kept refilling and drinking among themselves.
…It’s pathetic—I’ll just grill everything fast and join them for a drink.
His already busy hands moved even faster. Hye Won was eating like a cow.
The very word “company dinner” had sent chills down her spine and made her hair stand on end—but the moment she arrived and was served Hanwoo, all her petty worries vanished completely.
She’d braced herself to personally endure the antics of this top-tier troublemaker from the front row, but it didn’t seem to be the case after all.
Without much conversation, the top-tier troublemaker simply grilled meat, and Yang Hoon occasionally tossed out some idle chatter about current affairs.
If company dinners are like this… maybe it’s actually manageable…?
Hye Won picked up a piece of meat and chewed quietly.
“Assistant Manager Yoon Hye Won.”
“Yes, Managing Director.”
Or… maybe it’s not manageable at all…
When Tae Beom called her name, Hye Won froze mid-chew, her expression stiffening.
She feared he was about to scold her for mindlessly eating without any tact.
With her mouth still full of meat, she glanced at him anxiously, prompting Tae Beom to sigh softly.
At this point, he was even beginning to doubt whether she truly was the Vice President’s spy.
Why would they send someone like her to me? Do they really think I’m that gullible?
…Could she be a ticking time bomb, too troublesome to handle, sent as a signal for me to deal with her myself?
Chills—goosebumps. Tae Beom’s eyebrows twitched at the thought.
No. He mustn’t be fooled by those innocent eyes.
She could be a master player aiming for a twist within a twist.
“Um… do you have something to say, Managing Director?”
For some reason, whenever he looked at her face, an unintentional smile slipped out.
It probably stemmed from being exasperated by her words and actions—but either way, it wasn’t a pleasant feeling.
“Mul-naeng bi-naeng.”
“Excuse me?”
Tae Beom took a small sip of alcohol.
Don’t forget: the Yoon Hye Won before you belongs to Ha Ji Seok.
“Mul-naeng bi-naeng. I’m asking what you want to eat.”
“Oh! Um, bi-naeng! I’ll have bibim-naengmyeon!”
She’s Ha Ji Seok’s woman.
* * *
Late at night.
Ji Seok reopened the report Hye Won had sent yesterday.
It detailed, hour by hour, who Tae Beom had called and met with throughout the day.
“Hmm.”
Ji Seok skimmed the report with a blank expression and quickly closed it.
Truthfully, he didn’t care who Tae Beom was negotiating with or what they were discussing.
Most of the information Hye Won could uncover was easily accessible to Ji Seok himself—if it were truly confidential, Tae Beom wouldn’t have exposed it to her in the first place.
There was no way Tae Beom would share all his secrets with Hye Won, who’d suddenly appeared out of nowhere.
Watching Ji Seok close Hye Won’s report, his secretary asked,
“Vice President, do you really think Assistant Manager Yoon Hye Won will handle things well?”
“Handle what? What are you talking about?”
“You’d probably be safer not placing too much trust in her.”
Ji Seok leaned back deeply in his chair at his secretary’s concerned advice, laughing lightly as if amused by unnecessary worries.
“I’m worried Assistant Manager Yoon Hye Won, who hasn’t received any special training, won’t be able to skillfully carry out tasks against Managing Director Ha Tae Beom.”
The secretary stepped closer and added,
“She doesn’t seem particularly strong-willed, and since she was deeply attached to her previous role, the sudden department transfer and new duties might leave her dissatisfied—and possibly open to other thoughts…”
“She’s always been sensible. Don’t worry. She’ll understand well enough.”
The secretary tilted her head, baffled by Ji Seok’s nonchalant response.
Hye Won didn’t seem capable of handling such an important task.
“But Vice President, would Managing Director Ha Tae Beom really share highly confidential information with Assistant Manager Yoon Hye Won?”
“That’s simply impossible from the start. Unless they’d recruited Attorney Kim Yang Hoon, the only information Yoon Hye Won brings in is public knowledge.”
Ji Seok stated firmly, making it clear he held no expectations.
He tapped Hye Won’s report lightly with his fingertips, then tossed it aside as if moving something trivial.
“I’m not expecting cheap intel like this.”
“…”
“I just hope Assistant Manager Yoon and Managing Director Ha Tae Beom get along well for a long time.”
Ji Seok shifted his gaze to his secretary.
“Do you think Managing Director Ha doesn’t know I placed Yoon Hye Won there? He probably already figured it out—and then some.”
“Then why…?”
His secretary still looked worried, interpreting his words ambiguously.
She couldn’t grasp what Ji Seok was really thinking.
But Ji Seok ended the conversation vaguely, showing no intention to explain further.
“We’ll see in time—how faithfully Yoon Hye Won fulfills her role.”
“Do you really think Assistant Manager Yoon will hold up? What if she quits halfway…?”
“It’ll be fine. She won’t give up that easily.”
The true reason Ji Seok sent Hye Won to Tae Beom lay elsewhere.
Ji Seok smiled coldly.
* * *
Yang Hoon excused himself, saying he’d take a call.
Tae Beom, sipping his drink, glanced sideways at Hye Won.
When Yang Hoon was present, she’d chime in occasionally to keep the conversation going—but alone with him, Hye Won kept her lips tightly shut, staring only at the table.
Tae Beom refilled his empty glass himself and finally spoke.
“Assistant Manager Yoon, am I making you uncomfortable?”
“Yes.”
“…”
“Huh? Oh—no! No, not at all! Absolutely not!”
Too late… it’s already too late…
Tae Beom emptied his glass again. He wasn’t particularly fond of alcohol, but for some reason, it went down unusually smoothly today.
“I didn’t mean uncomfortable—I meant it feels difficult.”
“Same difference.”
“I think it’s only natural to find one’s superior difficult.”
One’s superior. Clearly, the “superior” she referred to wasn’t him—it was Vice President Ha Ji Seok.
Her calm, composed words irritated him slightly. The grill was gone, dinner was over—he could just send her off, yet the words to end the meeting wouldn’t come easily.
Was it the alcohol? He wanted to drag out the true nature hidden behind her gentle face.
He absolutely had to expose it and make her surrender.
“What’s your dream, Assistant Manager Yoon Hye Won?”
Out of nowhere came talk of dreams. “Dream?” Hye Won paused, her eyes thoughtful.
I don’t have any dreams.
“My dream?”
Right now, I just want to quit my job.
Or better yet, receive a clean one hundred billion in cash, with all tax issues neatly resolved?
“Truthfully, it’s been quite a while since I’ve had dreams or hopes like that.”
“I see. Extremely pragmatic, then.”
The conversation lapsed briefly. Without either party making an effort, the silence would continue.
Tae Beom, his face flushed, opened his mouth again.
“I’d prefer if you didn’t find me so intimidating—just treat me more casually.”
“Ah… how could I possibly…”
“I’m someone who prefers horizontal relationships over vertical ones. As you may know, I come from the heart of the global economy, the financial mecca, the city that never sleeps.”
“Yes—the city of New York.”
“Exactly. New York. After living in such a flat structure, receiving this excessive deference from you, Assistant Manager Yoon Hye Won, feels rather uncomfortable.”
“…”
“There’s no basis at all in how you’re treating me.”
Hye Won flinched. Tae Beom gestured with his hand and continued slowly,
“Be at ease. Be open and honest. You can do it.”
“I’ll try my best.”
At her reply, Tae Beom gave a vague nod.
He had to find her weakness somehow—and breaking down her guard would be the first step.
He’d let her dig her own grave.
“Managing Director… may I ask you something in return?”
“What is it?”
“You didn’t have any family members with you today—not even your parents.”
“Are you cracking jokes about my family now? Out of the blue?”
“Oh—no! No, no!”
Hye Won flailed her hands in panic. The root of her mistake was having found it odd all evening that none of the top-tier troublemaker’s family had shown up.
She’d gone mad—how could she ask something like that!
Hye Won bit her lip anxiously. Wasn’t she the one person who hated talking about family more than anyone?
“Well… let’s just say we don’t get along.”
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine. It’s already common knowledge—people would find it stranger not to know.”
He emptied his glass once more and looked at Hye Won.
Was he getting tipsy? His eyes seemed slightly moist.
“But why did you wonder about that, Assistant Manager Yoon?”
Was she finally planning to pry something out?
“It’s just… I thought you might feel a bit sad.”
Hye Won swept her hair back and spoke softly, causing Tae Beom to freeze.
“Today’s inauguration ceremony was so grand and dazzling—everything was impressive. I’m sure your family would’ve loved seeing it.”
“…”
“I’m sorry. That was far too presumptuous of me. I’ll be more careful from now on.”
His grip tightened on his glass.
It felt as if the enormous shadow of Ji Seok loomed behind Hye Won.
“You thought I’d be sad because my family didn’t come.”
He repeated her exact words back to her.
The absurdity reached its peak, and a hollow laugh escaped him.
It felt like stepping on a landmine—Hye Won lowered her head deeply. She’d gone insane. What had she just said?
What unnecessary nosiness was this?
“You’re far more sentimental than you appear, Assistant Manager Yoon Hye Won.”
“…”
“Is that your nature—or trained behavior?”
When Hye Won lifted her head, Tae Beom’s brow furrowed. The unpleasant memory of Ji Seok pretending not to know Hye Won during the inauguration ceremony overlapped in his mind, stirring an inexplicable irritation.
A fierce glint flickered around his eyebrows—it didn’t seem like it would fade anytime soon.
“Hey, Assistant Manager Yoon Hye Won.”
Tae Beom suddenly leaned forward. In an instant, the distance between him and Hye Won—who sat perfectly upright—narrowed sharply.
“Looks like you have a lot of questions about me.”
“Ah—no. Not at all.”
“Ask away. I’ll explain kindly—whatever it is.”
Unlike his slightly moist, gentle eyes moments ago, his gaze now pressed down on her with unmistakable intensity.
Hye Won exhaled a trapped breath, unable to move. Though they weren’t extremely close, she found it hard to even breathe properly.
“I told you to ask—today might be your last chance to meet me, fully prepared to answer anything.”
Her mind went blank—no thoughts at all.
If she didn’t ask something right now, she felt she’d be devoured immediately by this man with the eyes of an enraged beast.
“A moment ago, you were so bold—but now, have you finally figured things out?”
Tae Beom gave a mocking smile.
Ji Seok and Hye Won kept overlapping in his mind, endlessly grating on his nerves. His mood refused to settle.
Hye Won stared silently at Tae Beom, then moved her small, red lips faintly.
Tae Beom’s gaze had already settled on her lips.
“Well, since you said to treat you casually, I’ll ask honestly.”
Staring at those lips, even though he’d had plenty to drink, a thirst rose inside him.
“There’s actually been one thing I’ve been curious about all along.”
It was an unnatural thirst—
one that no amount of alcohol seemed capable of quenching: thick, deep, and overwhelming.
Male lead Asks for a Divorce Every Day
It’s not often you come across a plot like this in the female-dominant genre — make sure to check it out!
This is a novel I’m planning to reread as well.
The male lead is strong, skilled in martial arts, and not the usual fragile type you often see in matriarchal novels.
Meanwhile, the female lead is a scientist—rational and logical. Even when she falls for the male lead, she doesn’t let her emotions cloud her decisions.
If you push through the first few chapters, you’ll gradually find the story really intriguing.
It has a mix of mystery, detective elements, and romance.
The author’s writing style is like crafting a puzzle—except they deliberately leave out a few pieces, making it hard to predict what happens next, yet keeping you hooked.
In the end, everything will come together and be explained.
One-sentence summary: Wife, stop playing with beakers and look at me!
In a laboratory accident, research scientist Zhu Wansheng accidentally travels to a matriarchal world. The original owner of the body is an eighteen-year-old only daughter of a wealthy rouge merchant, already married with a handsome young man.
Zhu Wansheng grins: Nice! She always said she was heaven’s favorite granddaughter. After a life of toil in her previous life, she can enjoy blessings in this one.
However, her joy lasts no more than three seconds as bad news arrives: the original owner’s family is about to go bankrupt, and her husband wants a divorce.
Even worse, she’s stuck with a research system full of restrictions.
Zhu Wansheng: ? Is this the destiny of a research dog?
——
Faced with this mess, Zhu Wansheng pours herself a bowl of wine to drown her sorrows. In her drunken haze, her husband arrives.
His figure is imposing, holding a long sword, with a dignified air that captivates Zhu Wansheng.
Gu Yingqing, however, looks at the alcohol-reeking Zhu Wansheng with undisguised disgust and coldly asks, “Divorce or not?” The intoxicated Zhu Wansheng mumbles vaguely, “I think… it’s not… it’s not… impossible!”
——
The next day, after sobering up, Zhu Wansheng is full of energy, rolling up her sleeves ready to make a big move. As for yesterday? She has no memory of it.
Zhu Wansheng is ambitious; a research dog fears nothing!
Upgrading rouge, extracting fragrances, producing perfumes, researching lipsticks… all shall bow to the power of modern technology!
The original owner’s dying rouge shop is revitalized. Her mother is pleased and with a wave of her hand, passes on the family business to her. As she takes control and her experimental results gain popularity, it’s the pinnacle of her life…
——
But there are always those who can’t stand to see her doing well. Jealousy, scheming, assassination attempts – they want nothing less than her life.
The person who has always kept his distance from her suddenly holds her tightly in his arms, eyes full of concern.
She is unharmed, but he falls into a pool of blood…
Zhu Wansheng feels guilty, “I can grant you one wish.”
Gu Yingqing tentatively circles his arms around her, carefully resting his head in the crook of her neck, pleading softly, “I regret it. Can we not divorce?”
Zhu Wansheng: ? When did I agree to a divorce?
[Small Theater]
The newly developed rouge is beautifully packaged, and Zhu Wansheng is eager to try it.
Gu Yingqing suddenly appears: “My lady, may I apply it for you?”
Cool fingertips lightly brush her lips. His Adam’s apple bobs as he leans in for a light bite.
Zhu Wansheng: ?
Gu Yingqing: It smells so good, I wanted to taste it…
On a warm spring day, Zhu Wansheng tries a new perfume: “Spring Night.” Gu Yingqing corners her against a wall.
Warm breath lingers on her neck.
“My lady, from now on, may I test the fragrances for you?”
[Humorous female scientist vs scheming live-in son-in-law male lead]
[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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