Chapter 170. I Can’t Let Her Go (7)

“Director.”

Kim spoke hesitantly,

“Your phone is vibrating.”

“Ah.”

Lee-Seob, lost in thought, pulled his phone from his pocket.

For a moment, he thought Seonae had already found out he had canceled the meeting and was calling to scold him.

But the caller ID showed Assistant Lee Daehyung.

“Yes, Assistant Lee. I was reviewing the documents you sent.”

— Sorry, sir. That’s not the final version. I attached the wrong file. I’ve just sent the correct version in a new email.

“Really? Alright. I’ll look at the updated one. Good work.”

Daehyung, who had once been too hesitant to take initiative, had suddenly become so eager that he now prepared materials without being asked.

Before high-stakes meetings, he anticipated key topics and prepared cleanly organized slides.

If Lee-Seob pointed out areas that needed deeper analysis, Daehyung would come back with precisely what was needed.

Minkyung had taught him well before leaving.

Even the formatting of his reports was eerily similar to hers—it made them easy to read.

When Lee-Seob reopened his tablet, it still displayed the same report he had struggled to focus on earlier. The graph had been enlarged, left exactly where he had stopped.

Lee-Seob narrowed his eyes.

“What is this?”

There was a small note in the graph’s section.

— Supplementary data needed. I built this graph using last year’s figures only, but you’ll need to check the raw data. With the provided material, the annual trend can’t be explained. It’s likely a data error. Confirm the first-half results with the relevant department.

Lee-Seob shook his head, blinking hard.

‘No way.’

He quickly scrolled down, scanning the document.

Another tiny note appeared in a different section.

— If you meet with Director Kim Eungoo from the construction division, he’ll definitely bring this up. Cross-check the redevelopment lawsuit with the law firm directly. It would also help to skim news articles and online forums for additional insights.

‘Ah…’

Lee-Seob pressed his hand against his forehead.

‘Kang Minkyung, you…’

His hand trembled as he picked up his phone and hit call.

“Assistant Lee Daehyung.”

— Yes, sir?

“Who wrote the incorrect file?”

— Ah… I’m sorry, sir.

Daehyung apologized before Lee-Seob could even ask again.

“Was it Kang Minkyung?”

This time, he was silent.

Like a mute, Daehyung said nothing.

“Was it Deputy Director Kang from the China branch?”

— Sir, I really just wanted to assist you properly…

“So?”

— I wanted to do well, but I didn’t know how. So I called Deputy Director Kang for advice. She said she had left too suddenly to train me properly, so she offered to teach me remotely.

Lee Seop clenched his fist.

“Teach you how?”

— She said she’d prepare reports and meeting materials so I could learn from them. She told me to copy her process going forward.

‘Haa… How did I not realize? How did I not see it?’

It was so unmistakably Kang Minkyung.

Lee-Seob shut his eyes, then reopened them.

— I’ve gotten better at handling the simpler tasks myself. But this…

“I never asked you to do this. So why go this far?”

— Deputy Director Kang heard people saying that even when you had dinner plans, you’d come back to the office to work late into the night. That you were leaving for work at dawn. That everyone was worried about your health…

Lee Daehyung let out a shaky breath.

— She got pretty upset, sir… She said we needed to save you time. That you couldn’t do everything alone. She insisted on handling it herself.

Lee-Seob forcefully swallowed down the lump rising in his throat and pushed his voice out through his dry throat.

“Does Deputy Director Kang Minkyung have extra time to spare over there? She should just focus on her own work.”

— No, sir. You’re really misunderstanding. Please, don’t think that way. She never does head office work during office hours. She always waits until after she’s gone home… Late at night… I can show you the timestamps on all the emails. They were all sent in the middle of the night or on weekends.

“Exactly!”

Lee-Seob raised his voice.

“She’s already swamped with work at the China branch. She should be resting when she’s home! Why, Assistant Lee, are you making Kang Minkyung work for you?!”

Without waiting for Daehyung’s response, Lee Seop ended the call.

Kim flinched and glanced at him through the rearview mirror,

“Kim.”

“Yes, sir?”

“Where are we headed right now?”

“Aren’t we going to your family home? It’s the usual day for that.”

“No. Somewhere else.”

Lee-Seob pressed his fingers against his throbbing temple.

“Do you want me to take you to your apartment? We’re close by right now.”

When Lee-Seob didn’t reply, Mr. Kim hesitated,

“… Shall I take you to your apartment?”

He repeated the destination as if to confirm it to himself, his voice unnatural—perhaps regretting even mentioning the apartment.

“Yes, take me to the apartment.”

“As you wish, sir. Heading to the apartment.”

Mr. Kim responded with clear relief.

***

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