To the Missing Secretary (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 9
“Out of the blue—why? Associate Seon would be upset if they heard that.”
“They wouldn’t be upset—they’d be thrilled!”
“We shouldn’t talk about someone who isn’t here. And even less so, jump to conclusions.”
“Then I’ll just sit here with you, right?”
“What? How’d the conversation go that way?”
“Well, I’ll take that as your permission!”
What on earth was that about? Watching Yoon Hee laugh gleefully after spouting nonsense she couldn’t understand, Ra Jin just shrugged her shoulders.
She could barely handle Jae Heon alone—let alone deal with Yoon He, too. Yoon Hee was always saying the most random things. This was probably just more of the same.
Brushing it off, Ra Jin glanced at her watch.
For some reason, time seemed to be dragging even slower than usual today.
‘So I’m meeting the director after work, too.’
Just as she was about to return to her office, Ra Jin’s phone buzzed.
[Ra Jin, can we meet for dinner tonight? I’ll come right to your building.]“…….”
The moment she read the message, Ra Jin bit her lip, feeling as if her breath had been cut off.
She already knew what her mother wanted.
It was about an arranged meeting.
“Director, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing. It’s nothing.”
Her mother, who would never suggest such a thing to her own daughter Yoo Jin, was pushing Ra Jin toward a match with a wealthy, much older man.
Ra Jin had been adopted at age nine.
After their elder twin daughter, Yoo Ra, passed away, Sa Young Ho and Kim Suk Young—the CEO and his wife of Sahwal Foods—adopted Ra Jin, the prettiest and brightest girl of similar age at the orphanage.
“Shouldn’t we change her name to Yoo Ra?”
“No! I hate the idea of someone else using Yoo Ra’s name!”
“Alright, if our Yoo Jin doesn’t like it, then it’s better to keep her original name. Besides, it sounds so similar—anyone would think they’re sisters.”
Young Ra Jin was utterly enchanted watching Young Ho and Suk Young hug and comfort Yoo Jin.
Now I’ll have parents who will hold me close and comfort me, too.
She resolved then and there to become exactly what they wanted her to be.
And what they wanted from Ra Jin was just one thing: to become their late daughter, Yoo Ra.
They wanted her quiet, shy, and demure—just like Yoo Ra.
They wanted her to love lace-trimmed dresses and ballet, never throw tantrums or act spoiled, obey her parents faithfully, and take good care of her younger sister, Yoo Jin.
Ra Jin had always been independent and straightforward—someone who spoke her mind clearly. But no matter how strong-willed she was, she was still just a nine-year-old child.
It felt suffocating and lonely, but she couldn’t bear to lose the family she’d fought so hard to gain.
The moment she realized how reassuring and joyful it was to finally have people she could call Mom and Dad, she knew she had no choice but to become a doll.
Thus, “Sa Ra Jin” was born—forced to abandon her true self and live as someone else’s shadow.
[Okay]“…….”
After a brief hesitation, Ra Jin added “Mother” and hit send.
She took a deep breath.
This was precisely why she’d just made that absurd proposal to Jae Heon.
Partly because Chairman Seo Sung Jae had started urging him to get married—
But also because her adoptive parents were pushing her into this arranged meeting.
“Ra Jin, to be honest, Dad’s company is going through a rough patch lately.”
“…….”
“The CEO of TaeSan Distribution, CEO Jo, has visited once before. He’s a very gentle and decent man.”
“He’s that great, huh?”
“Of course! Would I ever introduce some weirdo to my own daughter? He’s generous and straightforward—and his divorce isn’t even a flaw. It wasn’t his fault; it was his ex-wife’s. Plus, he’s still in his thirties—young!”
CEO Jo of TaeSan Distribution was 39; Ra Jin was 28.
Was there any mother who’d introduce her daughter to a divorced man eleven years her senior?
“What if you introduced him to Yoo Jin instead?”
“What—what did you say?”
“You said he was a good man, right?”
Ra Jin knew she’d never forget her mother’s face at that moment.
Suk Young forced a smile, but her expression was twisted with fury.
The look in Suk Young’s eyes—how dare you suggest that sort of man for my real daughter—ripped Ra Jin’s heart apart.
“Yoo Jin… she’s still so childish. She’s just a kid who doesn’t understand anything yet. It’s far too soon to send her to such a meeting. I’d be too ashamed.”
But Yoo Jin and I are the same age.
Ra Jin swallowed the words. If she said them out loud, she feared Suk Young would cast her aside.
“I’ve been incredibly busy lately. I really can’t right now—but maybe I’ll consider it when things settle down.”
“Of course, my daughter’s so busy. I’ll tell them not to wait past this month.”
“……Okay.”
“My good daughter. Mom’s so grateful to you.”
Good daughter. Those words were chains binding Ra Jin tighter than ever.
Each time she confirmed she was truly part of this family, she felt relieved—and at the same time, deeply saddened by her own relief.
‘I’ll have to go to the meeting soon.’
What expression would Jae Heon make if he ever found out?
Would he just give her his usual blank look and say, “Good job,” in that brief, polite way?
Maybe that would be for the best.
That way, she could leave him without regrets.
It was just after lunch, as afternoon work was about to begin.
Jae Heon called for Ra Jin.
“You called for me, Director?”
“About after work today—”
“I’m sorry—I just remembered I already have plans.”
He paused.
“Plans?”
To Jae Heon’s surprise, the face that popped into his mind was Jeong Seon Woo’s—someone he hadn’t even thought about since graduating college.
A man close enough that Ra Jin called him “older brother”…
“With who?”
For years, Ra Jin had adjusted her schedule entirely around his, never even taking a proper vacation.
She surely never had time to date or even have a boyfriend.
Meeting Jeong Seon Woo at alumni gatherings a few times was probably all they’d done.
Jae Heon had always taken for granted that Ra Jin would be by his side.
Now, for the first time, he realized just how perfectly she’d always accommodated him.
And the few seconds waiting for her answer felt like hours.
“My mother said she’d stop by briefly.”
Ah—mother.
Jae Heon felt immense relief—then immediately couldn’t understand why he felt that way at all.
‘What do I care who Secretary Sa meets?’
Even if they’d fallen asleep together last night…
‘No. I need to make a proposal to Secretary Sa—that’s why I’m concerned. Obviously.’
He planned to bring it up again with Ra Jin when the chance arose.
How about spending more nights—preferably many nights—together?
Despite his conflicted feelings, his body felt strangely light, as if floating.
It was another reminder of just how important a good night’s sleep really was.
“I’m really sorry.”
“How about tomorrow, then?”
“Is it something difficult to discuss right now?”
Jae Heon glanced at his watch and gave a slight nod.
“Alright, then I’ll say it now.”
He stood up, walked around his desk, and stopped right in front of Ra Jin.
The height and build difference between them was enormous.
Looking down at Ra Jin—even in heels—Jae Heon parted his lips.
“I’d like to make you a proposal.”
His scent hit her all at once, and without thinking, Ra Jin instinctively stepped back.
Her heel slipped, her body swayed—
Thud.
A large hand shot out and grabbed her arm, pulling her forward.
In an instant, their faces were so close their noses nearly touched.
“Be careful. You’ll fall.”
His voice, low and husky as if just waking up, sent a shiver down Ra Jin’s spine.
“……Thank you.”
But even after her thanks, Jae Heon didn’t let go.
The spot where he held her burned as if branded—though he wasn’t even gripping her hard, she felt trapped, as though chained in place.
Ra Jin took a deep breath.
His dark eyes held a dangerously dizzying glint—so intense that if she relaxed even slightly, she feared she’d be swallowed whole.
“Director… you can let go now. I can stand—”
“I don’t want last night to be just a one-time thing.”
It felt as if someone had seized her heart and shaken it violently. Her throat burned hot and tight.
She never expected Jae Heon to say something like this.
Under the blazing heat of his gaze—like direct sunlight—her whole body felt like it was melting.
“I…”
Ra Jin started to speak, then immediately fell silent.
They were so close their breaths mingled.
Though their lips weren’t touching, it felt as if they were already kissing.
A sensation like soft, white feathers brushing across her skin kept stirring excitement within her.
“Why stop mid-sentence? You know I hate that.”
His black eyes slowly drifted downward, locking onto her lips as if in slow motion.
He looked ready to lower his head and press his lips to hers at any moment.
Thump. Thump. Thump. Her heartbeat pounded loudly in her ears.
Ra Jin’s whole body tensed.
If she wasn’t careful, she’d throw her arms around his neck, cling to him, and accept his offer.
That she wanted him, too.
That she wanted to stay by his side.
But… she couldn’t.
Meeting her mother after work tonight meant the arranged meeting would be unavoidable.
Because a “good daughter” had to accept her mother’s request.
That was the very reason she’d been accepted into this family.
Her adoptive parents subtly reminded her she owed them for raising her.
“Compared to the kids still stuck in the orphanage, our Ra Jin is so lucky. Look—you live in a warm home, wear pretty clothes, and eat delicious food every day.”
“In the real world, people treat those with families completely differently from those without—like heaven and earth. You understand that now, don’t you?”
“……I’m always grateful. Father, Mother.”
Ra Jin agreed—if she hadn’t been adopted, life would’ve been far harder.
After transferring schools post-adoption, she was never mocked as an orphan living in a care home.
Instead, she was treated as the beautiful, well-behaved, smart daughter of a small-to-mid-sized company’s CEO.
So Ra Jin believed it only natural to repay the kindness of being raised.
She accepted their repeated lessons: without them, she’d be wallowing in filth, unable to endure people’s cold stares.
Therefore, she had to let go—of her feelings for Jae Heon, of the time they’d shared.
Before her heart grew any deeper, before it became impossible to turn back, she had to end it now.
Turns Out He’s Been Secretly in Love with Me
One-line summary: He acts like he doesn’t like her but is actually playing hard to get.
Synopsis:
Xu Muzhou like her. He has liked her for a very long time, and through repeated schemes, he finally closed the distance with her.
But this is still far from enough.
He wants to be the one who stands out among her many suitors, to fight for her attention, and to make her take the initiative to pursue him.
_____
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