A case of Transmigrating as a Sick Villain chapter 85

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“Do you know how to use a laptop?”

“….”

“Alright, I’ll show you.”

Seeing no response from Jingyeom, Soohyuk began explaining how to use the laptop in detail.

The necessary programs were already installed, and the operation wasn’t complicated, so Jingyeom shouldn’t have any trouble using it.

“If you’re unsure about anything, just search online. You’ll find everything you need.”

“Yes!”

“But why are you trying to get certifications in word processing and computer skills?”

Soohyuk asked, looking at the book title beside him. It was odd because these certifications were usually required for office jobs.

“Because they’re necessary.”

“For what?”

“For a secretary’s certification.”

Soohyuk tilted his head slightly at the unexpected answer.

“Why suddenly a secretary?”

“Both Jinwoo and Secretary Yang seemed really cool to me.”

Working as a secretary’s assistant for two weeks had given him hope in that career.

Plus, watching a drama about a secretary while learning office work on YouTube had fed into his fantasy of the job.

“Being a secretary… isn’t a bad idea. But you know you have to be really smart to become one, right?”

Jingyeom pouted at Soohyuk’s teasing smile.

“I know. That’s why I bought these books to study.”

“…Well, I don’t want to discourage you if it’s what you really want to do.”

Soohyuk stopped himself from pointing out the harsh realities.

Being a secretary isn’t just about getting a certification.

There are many other requirements. But seeing Jingyeom determined to pursue something, he didn’t want to dampen his spirit.

As he silently observed Jingyeom, Soohyuk glanced around and then gently took his hand. The small hand was soft and tender.

When Jinwoo was around, he kept a close eye on them, making it hard to even touch Jingyeom.

Today, with Jinwoo absent, was a rare opportunity for some physical contact, which might not come again soon.

Besides, Jingyeom didn’t seem to mind being touched, which was both reassuring and concerning. It made Soohyuk worry that someone else might take advantage of his naivety.

Of course, he wouldn’t let that happen.

“There’s so much to teach you.”

The thought of someone else touching Jingyeom soured his mood. So, he kept fidgeting with Jingyeom’s hand.

Jingyeom quietly watched as Soohyuk pressed and squeezed his hand like it was some kind of slime. With his head slightly lowered, Soohyuk’s long eyelashes were clearly visible.

Though I’d seen his face up close before, this was the first time I’d looked down on him like this.

He was undeniably handsome, in a different way than Wonbeom.

While Wonbeom had a more rugged charm, Soohyuk’s features were finer.

Still, “handsome” suited him far better than “pretty.”

“So, where are you planning to apply once you get your secretary certification?”

“…I haven’t really thought about it yet.”

“How about becoming my secretary? Like I said before, I only have one right now.”

“If you need more, you should hire one quickly. Haven’t you done that yet?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“Good question.”

Soohyuk lifted his head to meet Jingyeom’s gaze.

As he looked into those soft, gentle eyes, all the worries that had been swirling in his mind vanished in an instant.

He would soon have to travel abroad again.

Even though he had taken on the role of sales director, he wasn’t sure why these overseas trips kept coming up, but there was no choice but to go when asked.

In the past, he would have approached the trips with the mindset of finishing work quickly so he could enjoy some leisure time.

But now, for some reason, he didn’t want to go at all.

‘It must be because of Baek Jingyeom.’

The reason was painfully obvious. There was no room for doubt.

He didn’t deny that he had grown increasingly interested in Baek Jingyeom since he lost his memory and underwent such a drastic change. But that was all it was—interest.

At least, that’s what he thought…

Though he couldn’t pinpoint the exact moment it happened, he had to admit that his feelings for Jingyeom had deepened.

It wasn’t a feeling he had ever really rejected. But acknowledging it now meant that his attitude would inevitably change. He was willing to do whatever it took to get what he wanted.

And that was how Soohyuk operated.

Soohyuk smiled gently, his eyes curving.

“The reason I haven’t hired anyone yet… must be because of you.”

“…Me?”

“Yeah. You’re going to be my secretary.”

Even if Jingyeom disliked it, Soohyuk was determined to keep him by his side. The best way to do that would be to work at the same company.

Of course, it wasn’t that he wanted to give Jingyeom any actual tasks to do; he just needed a way to keep him close.

But Soohyuk’s hopes were quickly dashed by Jingyeom’s response.

“Just because I want to doesn’t mean I can. I need the certification, I have to submit a resume, and then there’s the interview. …And I’m a high school graduate, so I should go to college, too.”

Soohyuk raised an eyebrow, surprised. He had assumed Jingyeom wanted to be a secretary under Jinwoo’s influence, but it seemed he had looked into it quite seriously.

‘Well, if people are still calling Baek a nepotism hire after a year, it would cause a stir if I brought this one along too.’

He couldn’t guarantee that the rooftop garden incident wouldn’t happen again. It didn’t bother him, but he didn’t want Jingyeom to hear any more unpleasant rumors.

Recalling that incident, Soohyuk’s brow furrowed slightly.

Back then, worried that Jingyeom’s rumors would spread even further, he had sent the three employees who witnessed the scene back to their posts.

He even had Secretary Yang investigate them in case they started gossiping, ready to crush them if necessary.

The reports were still stashed in the corner of his drawer.

“At least you graduated high school, huh?”

“Of course!”

Jingyeom frowned as if wondering what Soohyuk took him for and yanked his hand away.

“But… if you want to go to college, you’ll have to take the entrance exam, right?”

“I heard you can get into cyber universities with just a high school diploma.”

“Oh, cyber university.”

Jingyeom hadn’t just been idly wasting time while hospitalized. He had been doing his best to figure out what he could do.

He still wasn’t sure if he could spend his whole life here. So he kept a daily diary on an app.

Every time he wrote, the reality that he was living in a different world hit him, making him wonder if he should just lay low.

After all, he had no idea when the real Baek Jingyeom would return.

When that happened, he would disappear, but the real Baek Jingyeom would have to adjust to the new reality.

And the confusion wouldn’t be limited to Baek Jingyeom alone.

‘Jinwoo will probably have the hardest time.’

If the returned Baek Jingyeom couldn’t accept the changes in their relationship… Maybe… just maybe…

‘They might end up growing further apart.’

It was obvious that Jinwoo was happy with their current relationship—so much so that anyone could see it.

Perhaps it was because he had read ‘Gray’ and knew the nature of the relationship between Baek Jingyeom and Baek Jinwoo.

Moreover, he had also grown closer to Soohyuk and Wonbeom in this world, which was something he could use to his advantage. But he didn’t want to live passively, doing nothing because of such worries. That’s why he had been doing his best, day by day.

‘As long as I keep recording everything, it’ll be okay.’

He comforted himself with those words.

Besides, if he ended up living here for the rest of his life, he felt he might regret not making the most of the present.

Jingyeom quietly watched Soohyuk, who was lost in thought.

‘I never expected to get this close…’

At first, he was intrigued by the idea of seeing the main characters from the book in real life.

Most of all, his interest had naturally grown because the body he possessed was a minor villain and was always near the main character, Jinwoo.

It wasn’t as if he had done anything special; his connection with Soohyuk and Wonbeom had formed on its own.

After the peach allergy incident, Soohyuk had even started seeking him out.

‘Oh, speaking of which…’

Thinking back to that time, Jingyeom suddenly spoke up.

“Pictures!”

“Huh?”

“You took a picture of me back then!”

“Why are you suddenly bringing that up? What are you talking about?”

Surprised by Jingyeom’s outburst, Soohyuk blinked before letting out a small laugh.

“…Oh, that?”

There was indeed one thing that came to mind when he mentioned taking pictures.

“You still haven’t deleted it, have you? Have you?”

“I haven’t. How could I?”

“Ah…! Please delete it!”

It had only been shortly after he woke up, so he didn’t even remember how the picture turned out.

He had just thought, ‘Wow, I still look pretty even like this.’ Honestly, he was so out of it at the time that he couldn’t recall the details.

“What will you do for me if I delete it?”

Soohyuk’s face filled with mischief as he asked, his eyes curving with amusement.

He had looked at the photo again during a business trip abroad. He had remembered taking it when he suddenly wanted to see Jingyeom’s face.

But when he saw how sickly he looked in his hospital gown, he couldn’t bring himself to delete it. The photo was still safely stored on his phone.

‘Maybe I should’ve taken more pictures when I had the chance?’

Back then, he hadn’t even thought about taking photos.

That wasn’t what mattered. Jingyeom had been floating in and out of his mind, and eventually, he just wanted to see him, so he sought him out.

There was no particular reason—he just wanted to see Baek Jingyeom.

Even now, when Jingyeom stiffened his expression and stared at him, he still got scared.

Yet, it was amusing how Jingyeom would still speak his mind despite being cautious.

Everything was just so fun and enjoyable these days.

Soohyuk lightly reached out and placed his fingers on Jingyeom’s thin arm. Like pressing piano keys, he gently tapped his fingers one by one.

“I asked, what will you do for me?”

Jingyeom was so stunned by Soohyuk’s question that his mouth gaped open.

“Why should I do anything? You’re the one who took the picture without permission!”

“But I have it now. So it’s mine.”

“There’s no such thing! That’s a violation of my portrait rights!”

When Jingyeom protested indignantly, Soohyuk’s smile deepened.

Despite his small frame, Jingyeom had a fiery temper and got angry easily.

But he also laughed a lot. His emotions shifted rapidly, and his expressions were so diverse. Watching him was endlessly entertaining.

“You even know about portrait rights? You’re full of surprises. Sometimes you seem knowledgeable, and other times you don’t. You’re… quite unique.”

At the mention of lacking common sense, Jingyeom’s face crumpled.

He wondered if Soohyuk had come by in Jinwoo’s absence just to mess with him.

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