The Country Life Diary of a Gangster's Secretary - c43

This chapter is paid for by Nemuru!

Hyeseong immediately took the bus that arrived and got off at the familiar bus stop. When he turned his phone screen back on, there was a text message from Doo-sung.

 

[Hyeseong, you said you were coming but you didn’t come? You want me to go find your neighborhood again?]

 

That was a message from last night, and below was a reply saying he would go tomorrow since he had been busy lately.

 

Actually, Hyeseong was waiting. For Doo-sung to contact him again. Last time, when he first talked at Myeongpum Capital and came out, Hyeseong said he would come again next time, but after that, he neither contacted nor went to find him first.

 

There was no particular reason. If he actively tried to grab the guy’s tail first, it could rather arouse suspicion. Gangsters were strangely intuitive in weird places. 

 

He felt sorry for Dohyun, but for now, this side was more urgent, so it couldn’t be helped. Hyeseong memorized the geography he had visited once and familiarly passed through the alley to enter the building where Myeongpum Capital was located.

 

As he got close enough to see the office front door, he noticed the door was slightly open, probably because they didn’t lock it properly. 

 

“Ah! Those quick-witted bastards!”

 

Hyeseong grabbed the door handle to open it but stopped for a moment. Doo-sung’s rough voice burst out through the crack.

 

“Did Manager Kim really say that?”

 

“Yes. For the time being, you should lay low a bit and match this month’s goods…”

 

“Hey! There needs to be goods to match them! Why are there so few who brought them this time? Are these guys working or not!”

 

“I will supervise them well.”

 

“Enough, just tell Manager Kim that I understand for now. And also tell him not to worry because we will definitely meet the quota. Manager Lee!”

 

Doo-sung’s loud voice, as if he was boiling with anger, was so loud that it hurt the ears even through the door.

 

“I’m telling you again, but manage the receipts well. If a single number is off in my books, it’s life or death for you and me! Got it?”

 

“Yes…”

 

Even Manager Lee’s feeble voice. Hyeseong took a step back from the door and moved to the side for now. Because if he went in right now, they might notice that he overheard the conversation. 

 

After about 2 minutes passed, Hyeseong opened the door and entered.

 

“Hello.”

 

The first to spot Hyeseong who came in was Manager Lee, who was working at a desk near the door. He awkwardly got up from his seat and glanced at Hyeseong while rolling his eyes. Hyeseong deliberately greeted Manager Lee in a businesslike manner and cast his gaze at the other people in the office.

 

“Oh, Cheon Hyeseong is here?”

 

Doo-sung, who must have gone in and out of the inner room, discovered Hyeseong and came out chuckling.

 

“Is it quite hard to see your face? Last time you said you’d come on your own. I just waited quietly but you really took my trust for granted?”

 

Perhaps because the excitement and anger from the previous conversation had not subsided, Doo-sung’s words were quite intense from the beginning. His slightly flushed face was creepy enough to give goosebumps.

 

“It’s not like that, I was busy with work.”

 

“Bullshit. The guy who ran here like an arrow when I mentioned your villagers. Enough. Sit down. Hey, Manager Lee, what are you doing? A guest is here.”

 

“Ah, yes!”

 

Doo-sung clicked his tongue, saying that Manager Lee, who was rushing to make coffee, never improves his work sense. Around the time the sweet aroma of the instant coffee Manager Lee made filled the office, Doo-sung fake-coughed and looked at Hyeseong.

 

“So did you think about it?”

 

“About what?”

 

Hyeseong nonchalantly asked while sipping the coffee Manager Lee had given him.

 

“No, what else would it be about, kid?” 

 

Doo-sung frowned and scolded Hyeseong.

 

“I’m asking if you thought about the product I recommended to you before. You know all this but you still ask. Seriously.”

 

Doo-sung made a gesture as if he was going to hit him, but Hyeseong didn’t even blink an eye. Manager Lee, who had finished serving coffee, returned to his seat and was glancing at the scene. Despite Doo-sung’s scary force, Hyeseong was just calmly sipping his coffee.

 

“Ah, that. I’m sorry, but could I see the product description one more time?”

 

“Hmm, hey! Manager Lee, bring it here.”

 

Doo-sung held back the urge to swear and gestured to Manager Lee. Doo-sung handed over the brown envelope that Hyeseong had seen last time as well. As Hyeseong reached out his hand, Doo-sung suddenly raised his hand up high.

 

“What are you doing?”

 

“Hey, this is the last time I’m being lenient. If you’re going to sign up, say it clearly, and if not, also say it clearly. Got it?”

 

“Yes.”

 

When Hyeseong nodded, Doo-sung finally handed him the envelope. Hyeseong took out the documents from the envelope and rolled his eyes. To be exact, he was only pretending to read. No matter when he looked at it, it couldn’t be anything but a gangster-like contract. Thinking that they were playing with people’s lives with this made his hands clench involuntarily.

 

“Does the text change the more you keep looking at it? What, is there something you’re concerned about?”

 

“Well, actually, all the money I had for the cost of returning to farming, moving expenses, and house renovation expenses has run out.”

 

Hyeseong was now telling a blatant lie without any hesitation. In reality, Hyeseong had a considerable amount of money he had saved up steadily, and he hadn’t touched his severance pay either. Plus, he was doing some small-scale stock trading, so he didn’t have to worry much about making a living for the time being.

 

“Yeah. Young people like you are all like that these days, right? They show documentaries on TV about returning to farming and stuff, instilling dreams, but that all costs money too. Our product is what can save such young people.”

 

“But I’m a bit worried if I can pay back the money I borrow by the deadline…”

 

Hyeseong pretended to be troubled and stroked his chin. If he took the bait too quickly, it could arouse suspicion and seem unnatural.

 

“Hey, hey, don’t worry about that. I’ll adjust the deadline generously for you. And you see the interest rate there? We don’t mess around with that stuff just because we have an office like this. The interest rates are all at normal levels too. This is absolutely not some scary private loan or anything like that.”

 

What a joke. Hyeseong looked at Doo-sung, who was lying through his teeth without batting an eye, and thought it was really pathetic. He wanted to shout that this was exactly what private loans and fraud were.

 

“Then I’ll sign up.”

 

“What? Really? Hey, did you really say you’ll do it?”

 

“Yes.”

 

At Hyeseong’s answer, Doo-sung briefly made eye contact with an employee in the back and nodded. It was the same person who had been getting an earful from Doo-sung just before Hyeseong entered the office. It was a momentary action, but Hyeseong didn’t miss it and took it all in.

 

“Hey, hey, you made a really good decision. We have a past connection, so I’ll treat you especially well. There are a few things needed to sign up. Your physical ID card and your seal stamp. Go home now and bring them. We’ll have everything ready for your registration by then.”

 

Doo-sung looked thrilled, his mouth stretched to his ears.

 

“Ah, but I just remembered there’s a bit of a problem.”

 

“Huh? What is it?”

 

Doo-sung’s joyful expression crumpled in an instant.

 

“I lost my resident registration card a few days ago. I applied for reissuance but haven’t received it yet…”

 

“Shit, what?”

 

“I think it will probably arrive within a week though. Can I come back then and sign up?”

 

Ha, Doo-sung let out an exasperated sigh that could sink the ground. From his perspective, it was frustrating to not be able to reel in the fish he had almost caught.

 

“That… how long will it take?”

 

“I applied last week, so I should be able to get it within this week.”

 

“You don’t have a driver’s license?”

 

“No. I don’t drive.”

 

Hyeseong applied pressure so that the wallet he had put in his back pocket wouldn’t slip out. Inside it, his resident registration card and driver’s license were neatly inserted.

 

“Then why did you lose your ID card?”

 

Doo-sung’s voice became sharp again. Anyway, he needed an excuse to buy time. Hyeseong turned his head and glanced at Manager Lee once. He had been pretending to work while sneaking glances this way, and startled when Hyeseong looked at him, averting his eyes.

 

“Are you sure it’s coming this week?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Doo-sung grabbed the desk calendar on the table and started looking at it. Then he muttered that he could probably make it work.

 

“Then let’s do that. As soon as you get your ID card, rush over here. Got it?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Why did he have to hear that when he was the one signing up for the product? Hyeseong said he would get going and got up from his seat.

 

“Hey, Cheon Hyeseong.”

 

Doo-sung leaned back on the sofa and looked up at Hyeseong.

 

“You better keep your word. If you act coy and do useless things like in the past, you’re really dead this time.”

 

“…I won’t. My situation has changed a lot since then.”

 

Doo-sung, who had been glaring at him with narrowed eyes, waved his hand as if satisfied with Hyeseong’s answer. It meant he could go now.

 

“Ah, goodbye.”

 

Hyeseong passed by Manager Lee, who was saying goodbye, and went outside. He deliberately walked slowly after leaving the building. And that’s when it happened.

 

“Excuse me, wait!”

 

He heard someone running behind him and calling for him. When he turned his head, Manager Lee was running towards Hyeseong.

 

“Huff… You, you left this behind.”

 

Manager Lee, who arrived in front of Hyeseong, handed him a transit card. It was Hyeseong’s.

 

“Yes. Thank you.”

 

“…Then take care on your way.”

 

“Do you still have no intention of talking to me?”

 

At Hyeseong’s words, Manager Lee’s feet froze in place.

 

“Did you perhaps leave that transit card behind on purpose?”

 

“You’re quite quick-witted.”

 

Hyeseong took out his wallet and put the transit card inside. Manager Lee’s eyes slightly widened upon glancing at the ID card neatly inserted there.

 

“I need your help a bit, Team Leader Lee.”

 

Hyeseong’s nonchalant gaze and Manager Lee’s uneasy eyes intersected in midair.

This chapter is paid for by Nemuru!