RB 69

After finishing the cleaning, Eunho sprawled out on the sofa for a moment. He’d just finished scrubbing the grease-covered countertop and floor with detergent, then tackled the remaining dishes.

Physical labor was definitely the best kind. Right now, he was so exhausted he couldn’t think about anything else.

He needed to shower… But maybe because he’d cleaned so intensely, everything felt unbearably tedious, he couldn’t even be bothered to lift a finger. Just ten more minutes, five more minutes. He kept pushing the limits of his laziness like that.

Beep-beep-

The sound of someone entering the door lock code reached his ears. Eunho’s slumped back immediately straightened. The sound of the front door opening and closing followed by rustling footsteps reached his ears. Eunho instinctively knew Secretary Hong had arrived.

He ran to the entrance just as Secretary Hong gave him a slight nod. Eunho returned the gesture, bowing his waist in a reciprocal gesture. His gaze drifted down naturally. As always, Secretary Hong held a lunch bag in his hand.

“My apologies for being late. You must have been hungry.”

“No, it’s fine.”

It was true he was about two hours later than usual, but Eunho wasn’t in a position to complain. In fact, he should be grateful just for the meal itself. He must have troubled him. On weekdays, in the middle of the week, volunteering to be the delivery driver every single time.

Then he noticed Secretary Hong had brought two lunch bags. Before Eunho could ask, Secretary Hong explained in his usual calm tone.

“This one is best eaten right away. It’s meant to be eaten before it gets cold.”

“…What’s this one?”

“Sim Eunho-ssi’s unch.”

Hong replied as if he were answering an obvious question. Who wouldn’t know it was a lunch box? Eunho tried to grasp the meaning behind his words but still seemed confused, tilting his head.

“It’s from a famous restaurant. They said the wait alone takes over an hour.”

“You mean you had to wait an hour just to get takeout?”

“Yes. They said that’s the only way to get it.”

Secretary Hong, who usually spoke only when necessary, elaborated at length this time. He seemed determined to convey the effort he’d put into waiting so long.

Eunho felt momentarily flustered by his kindness. But he was genuinely grateful and bowed his head again.

“Thank… you. I’ll enjoy it.”

“It’s nothing to thank me for. I was just following orders.”

“Ah.”

The realization that Yeorok had personally gone out of his way to pick up lunch from a famous restaurant made Eunho’s cheeks flush. The weight of the bag suddenly felt heavier.

Meanwhile, Secretary Hong was preparing to leave. He hadn’t even taken off his shoes; he could simply turn and go. He was the type who always just handed over the lunch box and hurried off.

Eunho suddenly called out to him as he had just thought of something.

“Secretary Hong. Are you busy?”

“Not particularly. Is there something you need?”

“Then would you like to come in for a cup of coffee?”

Secretary Hong arched one brow. His surprise was palpable.

“Well… if you’re offering, I’ll have some.”

Eunho bustled about preparing the coffee. While the kettle boiled on the stove, he set out a teacup and retrieved coffee capsules from a drawer.

He was carefully reviewing what Yeorok had taught him earlier. He needed to practice so he could serve Yeorok perfect coffee later. So, in a way, Secretary Hong was his practice partner.

Eunho operated the coffee machine, piecing together his memory. Of course, it didn’t go smoothly. He opened and closed the lid several times and turned the power off and on again. After trial and error, coffee liquid finally trickled out of the spout. Fascinated by the sight, Eunho pressed his face close to the machine, watching the extraction process unfold.

Just as he stepped aside to grab a paper towel after some coffee splashed, he stumbled on the slippery floor.

“Whoa!”

Had Secretary Hong, standing a few steps away, not grabbed him, Eunho would have slammed face-first into the floor. Secretary Hong had nearly had his own heart stop too.

He caught Eunho by a hair’s breadth, but grabbing him by the back of the neck instead of his body caused the collar of his T-shirt to stretch out long and thin. Unintentionally, his nape and shoulder blades were now fully exposed.

Eunho’s pale skin was covered in bruises. The extent of the biting and sucking made him look like he had a skin disease. There was only one person who could have reduced Sim Eunho to this state.

All this time, Yeorok had been visiting the officetel daily, yet he had refrained from sharing what he was doing even with his closest aide, Secretary Hong. Secretary Hong could only guess at the situation, but seeing it with his own eyes now left him with a peculiar feeling.

“Thank… you.”

Meanwhile, Eunho stiffened and straightened his posture. Looking flustered, he kept wiping the area under his nose.

“It’s slippery here. Be careful.”

At those words, Secretary Hong scraped the sole of his slipper across the floor. Sure enough, the surface was so slick it seemed inevitable someone would fall.

“Why is the floor like this?”

“I spilled oil this morning.”

“How much oil did you spill to make the floor this bad…”

“……”

It wasn’t particularly embarrassing, but he couldn’t answer and just stammered. Even his earlobes flushed crimson. It was incomprehensible to Secretary Hong.

“I think we should call the cleaning company. I’ll inform the Chairman.”

“No, I’ll just give it another thorough wipe myself.”

Eunho waved his hands emphatically, refusing flatly. His vehement rejection was so intense it made the person who suggested it feel awkward. Secretary Hong nodded understandingly and stepped back a good distance.

Eunho moved around the area, even more cautiously than before. He moved to the table with a freshly brewed cup of coffee. While Secretary Hong sipped his coffee, Eunho sat across from him and opened his lunchbox.

Silence fell as time slipped by. Neither was particularly talkative, so conversation was unlikely. Fortunately, neither felt significantly uncomfortable around the other. It was a quietness far removed from tension.

Eunho scooped rice into his bowl bit by bit, occasionally glancing up with his large eyes. Every now and then, his gaze met Secretary Hong’s. By the third time this happened, Secretary Hong set his teacup down.

“Is there something you need to discuss with me?”

“I have a question.”

“Yes, feel free to ask.”

Eunho also set down his chopsticks. His expression grew decidedly serious.

“Um… May I ask about the Chairman’s preferences?”

“Preferences, huh.”

Eunho slid his lunchbox aside. He’d even pulled out a notebook from somewhere, now spread open before him as he stared intently at Secretary Hong. His posture was so thoroughly prepared that refusing to answer felt awkward.

Secretary Hong scratched the side of his ear, which wasn’t even itchy.

“Which aspect… should I discuss?”

“Shall we start with food?”

Since he was in the middle of eating, Eunho could easily suggest the topic. His eyes sparkled with overflowing curiosity.

Secretary Hong fell into brief contemplation. As a secretary, he couldn’t casually divulge details about Yeorok’s personal life and wanted to be cautious. But perhaps it was okay to tell Eunho. If Eunho could cater to Yeorok’s preferences, it would be advantageous in many ways.

After a long pause, his heavy lips parted.

“His meal portions are generally small. For breakfast, he usually has coffee and a croissant.”

“Ah… yes.”

“If I had to name preferred food types, he leans toward Western or Korean cuisine. He doesn’t care much for noodle dishes. Oh, and sashimi too. He won’t touch raw food.”

Once the floodgates opened, Secretary Hong’s mouth spilled out high-level information.

He mentioned that Yeorok didn’t care for greasy foods like chicken or pizza, nor would he touch fast food like hamburgers. He added that he preferred mild flavors over overly sweet or salty, stimulating tastes. Was this also a family trait? It was clear he had a rather particular palate.

“How much can he drink?”

“I can’t say.”

But he didn’t reveal everything. When it came to potential weaknesses, he drew a firm line. Eunho clamped his mouth shut, swallowing his disappointment. Secretary Hong, observing Eunho’s pouty, wind-chilled lips, offered a piece of information as if granting a favor.

“But he drinks more than Sim Eunho-ssi.”

“I imagine so.”

“He keeps wine for his collection, but his main drink is whiskey. He especially likes it chilled. It’d be wise to keep a bottle in the freezer.”

He even mentioned the brand of whiskey Yeorok preferred. It was an unexpected gain. Eunho meticulously recorded every word, afraid to miss a single detail.

“Does he have any hobbies?”

“Not really these days… He used to ride horses quite often a year ago, but now he’s too busy for that. Even when he rests, he always has work in hand.”

The unexpected hobby made Eunho’s mouth drop open.

“The Chairman owns horses?”

“…The horses are at the riding stable.”

Ah, right. Feeling foolish for asking such a question, he sniffed dryly.

But ever since asking Secretary Hong about Choi Yeorok’s preferences, he’d resolved to cast aside embarrassment. Undeterred, Eunho fired off his next question.

“What time does he usually go to bed and wake up?”

“Around two or three in the morning. When he’s got a lot on his plate, sometimes four or five.”

Secretary Hong crossed his arms casually. He too had, at some point, let down much of his guard. Information only his closest confidants would know kept flowing.

“Regardless of when he sleeps, he makes a point to get up by eight in the morning.”

“He must be sleep-deprived.”

“Yes, that’s why he always seeks caffeine in the morning.”

With that, Secretary Hong picked up the coffee cup before him. The coffee had cooled slightly, becoming lukewarm. Eunho paused his note-taking and glanced up.

“How does the coffee taste?”

“It’s not bad. But when serving it to the Chairman, you should use less water than this.”

Less water… Eunho murmured, jotting down Secretary Hong’s advice.

At that, a rare smile appeared on Hong Namyeong’s lips. Of course, it was subtle, so Eunho didn’t notice.

“Um… I have one last question. Since you’re closest to the Chairman and have observed him for so long, I thought you might know.”

Eunho scribbled meaningless circles on his notebook. Hong Namyeong grew curious about what Eunho was preparing to ask, wondering why he was taking so long to speak.

“…Well.”

“Go ahead and ask. If not now, I doubt you’ll get another chance.”

Eunho’s eyes flashed as he drew courage from the casual remark.

“What is the Chairman’s ideal type?”