At the End of That Memory Chapter 68: Boite de Pandore (3)

I knew it too. Human relationships weren’t that simple. It was such an obvious truth, so simple that it was impossible not to know.

But knowing with the head and accepting with the heart were vastly different things. The day the fragile fence of family finally collapsed, I had thought my ties with Mr. Kim were over as well. At the very least, I had concluded on my own that we could never return to the relationship we once had.

“To the young master, I may be just a secretary, but...”

“...No.”

Folding my arms, I covered my mouth with one hand. My feelings were too complicated to express, but my mind was calm. His words about being like a child, and about not pushing him away too much, lingered faintly in my ears.

“That’s not what it is.”

On the day of the engagent, the only one who worried about was Mr. Kim. On the day I entered Kwon Yido’s house, the only one I had gone to greet was also Mr. Kim. It wasn’t because he was a secretary, but because he had always looked after .

“I understand what you ant, Mr. Kim.”

Yido had asked that—whether I was the type to depend heavily on a secretary. I had been so accustod to Mr. Kim that even drunk, I would call out for him. The fact that such daily life had broken apart had left with a sense of loss, but now I felt almost nothing.

“......”

“......”

He didn’t say anything to as I sat in silence. As if giving ti to think, he kept his mouth shut for a while. It wasn’t until the company ca into view in the distance that he finally spoke softly.

“Thank you for understanding.”

By then, the car had entered the parking lot. Even then I was staring endlessly out the window. Mr. Kim stepped out of the driver’s seat, ca to the back, and opened the door for with formal politeness. The movent was chanical, yet the words he added sounded strangely friendly.

“I look forward to working with you, President.”

“......”

The title had changed from young master back to President. It probably wouldn’t change again anyti soon. It didn’t leave particularly disappointed, so I gave a small laugh as I replied.

“Yes, I look forward to it.”

***

The following days passed in a blur of busyness. With the event right around the corner, everything was hectic. These were tasks I had never handled at Haesin Financial, but thanks to all I had learned recently, I didn’t stumble too much.

Ahead of the event, I handed an invitation to Kwon Yido as well. As the largest investor in “Sejin,” he had to be first in line. One had already been sent formally, but I intended to express my thanks again in private.

'Tomorrow, finally.'

Yido had studied the invitation I handed him with a sweet smile. He had lifted the scent strip to his nose, inhaled, then let the corner of his lips curve lazily. The gesture overflowed with his characteristic ease, and I ended up saying sothing unnecessary.

'You don’t have to overdo it.'

I knew well enough how busy he was. There was no real need for him to show his face at a re perfu launch. If it had been business, one of his representatives would have co in his place.

'I should overdo it. This is the event you created, Jung Sejin-ssi.'

But he had said it as if it were obvious. Strictly speaking, it was his event, yet he gave all the credit. I still rembered the playful words he had added, after folding the invitation carefully and setting it on the table.

'I’ll be looking forward to it, President Jung Sejin.'

“President.”

“...Ah.”

I raised my head quickly. In front of , Mr. Kim lowered his gaze to check the ti. A large tablet PC was in his hand.

“Have you reviewed the schedule? If not, I’ll go over it again.”

“No...”

I trailed off and glanced into the mirror before . The staff room next to the Libra Hall banquet venue at the Myeongseong Hotel. In the wide mirror on the wall, I saw my reflection in a formal suit.

“I’ve reviewed it.”

At last, the day of the long-awaited launch event had arrived. The day “Sejin” would be revealed to the world, and the scents I had prepared would be introduced widely. They weren’t perfus I had personally created, but they would be the first products sold under my na, with reservations beginning today.

Normally I dressed as simply as possible, but today I had paid attention to my appearance. I wore a light-colored suit I rarely wore, and a distinctively designed watch I rarely put on. As always on important days, I styled my hair neatly back from my forehead.

“Let’s go.”

I adjusted my attire once more, then left the staff room with Mr. Kim. At the entrance, Lee Taeseong silently fell in behind . With Mr. Kim reinstated as secretary, Taeseong had returned to his role as driver and guard.

“...Are you nervous?”

As we walked down the hall toward the banquet hall, Mr. Kim asked softly. Perhaps my stiff expression had been visible to him. It wasn’t enough to warrant worry, but instead of denying it, I simply shrugged.

“I’ve lived too quietly for too long.”

The dia had been curiously silent about . They had reported Chairman Jung Cheol-ho’s arrest and divorce, but nothing about what beca of his oga foster son. I vaguely assud Yido had intervened.

But after today, articles about would inevitably appear. Supplying Seonho in secret and officially launching a brand were two different matters. It would be formally declared that Jung Sejin, forr Haesin division head, had started a new business.

“I do worry about how people will react.”

Even if Yido had told not to think about profit margins, this was still business. At the very least, I had to save face with Seonho as an investor. Even if it didn’t make a huge success, it couldn’t be a failure. There was too much at stake.

“In that case, I don’t think you need to worry.”

Mr. Kim replied lightly, as if it were needless. And he wasn’t wrong. With the Myeongseong Hotel venue, imdiate distribution through major departnt stores, failure would be difficult. Starting far ahead of others—perhaps worry was a luxury.

“Well... let’s just say it’s a matter of mood.”

I fiddled with my watch, turning my gaze aside. The tension wasn’t just from those concerns. After this launch, once the weekend ca, I would have to finally deal with the last task I had been putting off.

“It’d be best if things start smoothly.”

Call it the first button. If I fastened it right, the rest would go well. To do that, today’s event had to be flawless. The result of what Yido had prepared, and what I had willingly embraced and cultivated with my own hands.

***

The hall we had rented for the event was smaller than that of Seonho’s anniversary. A designer from the Myeongseong Hotel had handled the interior, and I had discussed perfu placent with the staff. We separated the flagship products from the more divisive ones, decorating them according to the flow of the hall.

Since it was a perfu launch, the atmosphere inside was carefully scented. Diffusers were placed discreetly around the entrance and hall, and small candles were lit near displays. Sample bottles and scent strips were laid out, with spacing adjusted to keep scents from mixing.

I checked the guest gifts—perfu samples and car diffusers—carefully for packaging defects. On the walls, postcards were hung at intervals for guests to choose and include in their gift packaging.

“President, it’s ti to get ready.”

After one last look around, I headed to the stage as the guests began to arrive. The hall was fuller than expected. Out of habit, I searched for familiar faces before quickly steadying myself.

'We may not speak.'

He had said he would co, but not that he would speak to . I no longer wore the ring, and there was nothing outside to mark our connection. Even if he did co, he might simply shake hands like a stranger.

“Please watch your step, President.”

I thanked Mr. Kim with a look and climbed the stairs. The host, holding the microphone, bowed to . I walked over, looked once around the hall, and accepted the microphone. The host cleared his throat and began.

“Honored guests, may I have your attention for a mont.”

All eyes turned toward . The event had been designed for a relaxed atmosphere, but it still had to begin with the basics: a greeting, a brief product explanation. With a prepared script, it wasn’t difficult.

“First of all...”

I began slowly, wearing the practiced smile I had long used. I raised the corners of my mouth lightly, eyes smiling without excess. It had to be appropriately businesslike, as when eting clients or employees.

“Thank you for coming to the launch of ‘Sejin.’”

The mont I began to speak, my mind cald. Addressing people wasn’t difficult, and this wasn’t a stage where I was being judged. I didn’t need to act like soone’s good son, or like a humble heir raised with love.

“I am Jung Sejin, President.”

Applause thundered imdiately. Half the faces familiar, half not. Eyes that might once have judged now looked only peaceful, filled with expectation and interest.

“Today, taking this opportunity...”

The words I had morized flowed naturally. I thanked the investors, praised the employees who had worked hard. Before introducing the package story, I presented the small gifts “Sejin” had prepared.

“At ‘Sejin,’ we...”

The distant sense of reality gradually returned as I spoke. I was standing here, and all eyes were on . Realizing that fact, a sudden thought struck .

“...I recomnd you begin by sampling the products.”

I wanted to see Yido. For whatever reason, I wanted him in front of . I wanted another confirmation that this mont wasn’t a dream.

But no matter how I scanned the hall, he wasn’t there. He had said he would co. Had he not arrived yet? Soone like him would be noticeable, yet not even a glimpse of his hair could be seen.

“I hope you enjoy yourselves.”

The speech ended, and applause rose again. Guests smiled warmly, staff gave secret thumbs-ups. But still, among them all, Yido was nowhere to be found.

***

“Great work!”

“Thank you for your efforts, President!”

“Get ho safe!”

The noisy voices sounded like a drunken haze. So slurred, others shouted too loudly. I smiled as kindly as I could at the staff bowing and swaying unsteadily.

“Go ho safe, and co in late tomorrow.”

The launch was a success, followed by a company dinner. In place of the usual barbecue, we had a Japanese restaurant with a course al. Staff ate their fill of seafood and sashimi, drank sake until flushed, and left the restaurant cheerfully drunk.

“I’ll drive you ho.”

I got into the car where Lee Taeseong was waiting, pressing my sore eyes. Mr. Kim had been dismissed early, so Taeseong had stayed until the end. He glanced at once, then slowly started the car.

“......”

Dark scenery swept past. Signboard lights left streaks on my vision. After all the noise earlier, the car felt unusually silent.

“...Taeseong-ssi.”

“Yes.”

I blinked slowly, calling him. The launch had gone well, and reservations exceeded expectations. The reception of the new scents wasn’t bad—no one had said anything unkind, not even in jest.

“It’s nothing really...”

Then why this heaviness? Why the emptiness, the futility pressing in? The reason was clear.

“Did you see Kwon Yido today?”

'I should overdo it. This is the event you created, Jung Sejin-ssi.'

He had promised, but in the end he hadn’t co. I had thought at least he would show his face, even if we didn’t speak. But until the very last mont, he hadn’t appeared.

It was impossible I had simply missed him. He was a man of imnse presence—if he had walked in, all eyes would have followed. I had greeted every guest, and he hadn’t been among them.

“No, I didn’t see him today.”

Taeseong’s voice was calm. So it wasn’t just °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° . Hearing confirmation from soone else, my mind went cold.

“...I see.”

When had disappointnt beco so easy for ? My voice dropped without my aning it to. Childish or not, I felt a surge of resentnt. He shouldn’t have said he’d overdo it. If not that, then he shouldn’t have smiled so sweetly. One thought led to another, dragging my mood lower.

Perhaps Yido had spoiled too much. That I could feel such entitlent without knowing the circumstances. That I could feel this much regret when I had told him myself not to push himself.

The car carried ho as my thoughts tangled. I tried to shake them off, but nothing changed. By the ti I arrived, my mood was only worse, and I couldn’t even manage my expression as I got out.

“See you tomorrow, President.”

I returned Taeseong’s bow and headed for the elevator. I kept running through what I might say if I saw Yido.

But the mont I opened the door, all those carefully rehearsed words vanished.

“You’re late.”

That elegant voice greeted . Though it was late, he was still in a suit, his hair set as in the morning. Had he been working until now? I wondered, even as the words slipped out.

“...You must have been busy.”

His sharp eyes blinked slowly. His dark pupils gazed straight into mine without wavering. Then his lips parted.

“I was.”

He said it, then tilted his head slightly. Why did it feel like the downward glance was lying? Without even knowing what I was asking, Yido added calmly.

“Sothing ca up suddenly.”