Chapter 165. I Can’t Let Her Go (2)

Her hands moved skillfully as she worked on the slides. Minkyung adjusted the size of the graphs, added key summary points, and pressed the save button. She had been working from home for the company, even after office hours. Stretching her arms forward, she yawned and sighed. Despite the late hour, the night air was still warm. She walked over to the window, opened it, and then returned to her desk.

The slides were done. Now, she just needed to review the report… The overseas plant construction data…

Minkyung double-checked the email Lee Daehyung had sent. The reports and materials were missing crucial details. She let out a soft sigh and opened her email. Attaching the completed slides, she also included a list of additional documents needed from the construction team. After sending the email, she massaged her shoulders before collapsing onto her bed.

‘At least Assistant Lee is handling his role decently now. That’s a relief.’

***

It had been about two weeks since Minkyung had arrived in China. One night, well past working hours, Daehyung called her. Surprised, she answered, only to hear his near-tearful voice.

— Deputy Director Kang, I can’t do this anymore.

His first words were about quitting. She calmed him down and asked what was wrong, and he vented his frustration about how impossible it was to keep up with Tae Lee-Seob’s workload.

— Is the Director a workaholic? He works overtime every day. He comes in early, too. And he even goes to the gym at dawn—why come to work early on top of that? I don’t even know how many hours he sleeps.

“He oversees all TK Group investments and also manages TK Fashion as a director. Of course, he has a lot on his plate. Assistant Lee, are you struggling with all the overtime?”

— No, actually, I don’t handle his morning commute, and I barely work late. He keeps sending me home. And honestly, that’s what’s really getting to me.

Lee Daehyung sniffled.

“Why does that make you feel bad? He’s being considerate.”

— He’s polite about it, but he clearly finds me a nuisance.

“That can’t be true.”

— He barely lets me handle his schedule.

“Maybe once you get more used to things, he’ll start delegating more. He does have perfectionist tendencies, though. He was like that before I worked for him—he mainly managed his schedule himself.”

But Daehyung seemed to think that wasn’t the main issue.

— Snacks, tea, drinks—he doesn’t have any of it. Even when he eats lunch or dinner at the office, he orders delivery himself. He even had a mini fridge installed in his office, but he only stocks it with bottled water or Perrier himself.

“He’s picky about food. I told you what he likes, didn’t I? Just order accordingly.”

— He declines most of the time. He just seems… exhausted.

“What about his herbal medicine?”

As she asked, she instinctively knew the answer. But before she could take back the question, Daehyung spoke, sounding drained.

— I brought it to him once, and he threw it in the trash. Told me never to bring it again.

“What?”

— The cup. The one where you used to pour and warm up the medicine—the one with the straw. I put it on the desk, and he tossed it into the trash.

Minkyung fell silent as if her lips were glued shut. A sharp, stinging pain crawled up her spine like a razor slicing across her skin.

She vividly remembered Lee-Seob sipping the herbal medicine through the straw. The slight hollow in his cheek, his furrowed brow, the way he would pop a piece of candy into his mouth. The soft sound of a kiss. The large hands that playfully grabbed her and refused to let go.

‘He doesn’t want to remember anything about us… He must have grown so sick of me that he threw the cup away.’

— Deputy Director Kang? Deputy Director Kang?

“Ah, yes. Just don’t bring herbal medicine anymore. He doesn’t like it.”

— Fine… but honestly, I feel like he’s trying to push me out. He keeps having back-to-back meetings, then stays late reviewing reports and organizing everything himself. I’ve seen how you work, Deputy Director Kang. That’s not even something the Director should be handling… I must be completely useless…

“Assistant Lee, listen!”

She had taught him everything step by step, like a little child. She didn’t understand why Lee-Seob didn’t accept his assistance. No matter how much effort he put in, how was he supposed to fulfill his duties if Director Tae Lee-Seob was determined to take care of everything himself.

“Soon there will be a secretary to support you, things will gradually improve. I had to come here in a rush, so someone had to fill my position. I’m sorry for putting you in a tough spot.”

She forced herself to suppress the emotions that were surging toward Tae Lee-Seob. She was the one who had left. And when someone leaves, their place is naturally filled.

As she was about to hang up, Lee Daehyung mumbled hesitantly.

— The Director… has lost weight. Executives keep commenting and asking if he’s sick.

“What?”

Minkyung shot up from her seat.

‘How much weight has he lost for the executives to notice? How bad did he look…?’