Chairman Cheon’s study was frozen over like the South Pole. Inside the room, there was only a single chair—one that no one but Chairman Cheon was allowed to sit on.
“The eldest one, the younger one. You're seriously telling not a single one of you ever tried to find out about your brother? Not once in seventeen years?”
“······Well, Father told us to think of him as soone who doesn’t exist. So we just did as he said.”
Fire burned in Chairman Cheon’s eyes.
“And yet now you ask if Muhyuk is really Misook’s son? Are you even human?”
“······We’re sorry.”
“Do your wives think the sa way?”
“No, Father. We’ve never thought like that.”
In the face of Chairman Cheon’s furious, ragged breathing, no one dared to utter a word.
“From today on, do not ever let such talk pass your lips again. If I hear even a whisper of it, I won’t let it go. Understood?”
After his thunderous shout, it took a long mont for Chairman Cheon to calm down and lower his voice.
“How’s the in-law’s business going? I’ve been hearing strange things.”
“There’s no issue. I don’t know the details, but I think it’s just the dia making things up. You know how my father is, don’t you?”
“I do. He’s a ruthless man, without a drop of pity or tears. If he ever needs my help, tell him he’s always welco. He’s still family, after all. If I can help, I will.”
“Yes, Father. Thank you.”
The eldest daughter-in-law responded politely.
Though his rage had sowhat subsided, Chairman Cheon’s expression remained emotionless as he offered words of goodwill—making it even more frightening.
Now he turned to the younger daughter-in-law.
“How’s the assemblyman doing?”
“My father is continuing his work in the National Assembly without issue.”
“Tell him to always be cautious. If he needs money, have him co to . And tell him not to get involved in any shady requests.”
“Yes, Father.”
At last, Chairman Cheon let out a long sigh and looked at Cheon Sooman and Cheon Suhan, who were still watching him warily.
Just looking at them seed to displease him, his brow furrowing deeply.
“And you two, Sooman, Suhan... useless fools. I heard you’re still sniffing around Cheongpunghoe? You still can’t let go?”
“What?”
The confusion was plain on their faces as they stamred, and Chairman Cheon clicked his tongue in disgust.
“That’s not how you use money. When they’re desperate, those people should co crawling to you, begging on their hands and knees. That’s what money is. That’s what power is. Yet you wag your tails for ungrateful beasts who don’t know a thing about gratitude. Stop everything you’re doing right now.”
“······But Father, we’ve already made a deal with Director Lee Haksoo. If we break it, there could be consequences.”
“Consequences?”
Cheon Sooman nodded with a dark look on his face.
“Yes, Father. You know the kind of influence he has right now.”
Chairman Cheon looked at him as if he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
“Ha! You ignorant fool. Director Lee? He’s not even the president—just the floor leader of the People’s Party. He’s going to cause trouble? Let him try. Tell him this exactly: we’ll see who ends up dead.”
“······Father.”
Cheon Sooman tried to say more, but Chairman Cheon cut him off, clearly not wanting to hear another word.
“That’s enough. You can all go now. Tonight’s the last night Muhyuk will be staying here, so I need to talk with him a bit more. Drop everything else and only do what I tell you. Understood?”
“Yes······.”
Though their faces were filled with dissatisfaction, neither Sooman nor Suhan dared to argue. They knew all too well how stubborn Chairman Cheon could be.
* * *
“You bastard, let go!”
Cheon Jiwon shouted, full of bluster, even though he couldn’t escape the grip on his collar.
“Hey, Cheon Jiwon. Just because it cos out of your mouth doesn’t an it’s okay to say. If you want to live a long life, watch what you say. Go on, keep running that mouth. I dare you. If you want to see your na plastered all over Korea tomorrow as ‘Cheon Jiwon, the drug addict,’ just try . Got it?”
“What?”
Maybe it was because he couldn’t breathe with his collar grabbed—or maybe it was because of my words—but Cheon Jiwon’s face turned bright red.
“What, you thought no one knew? Everyone who needs to know already does. Cheon Jiwon, grandson of Ilseong Group. Loves weed, th, and anything he can get his hands on so much he even started smuggling.”
“······Where did you hear that?”
“That’s not what matters, is it? Aren’t you more worried about what might co out of my mouth next? I could go down there right now and spill everything to Grandpa. Want to co with ?”
I let go of his collar. Watching him—this pathetic excuse of a human being—made my blood boil.
“If you want to be treated like a hyung, then act like one. I don’t want to treat my cousins like strangers either. But let’s face it—we’re worse than strangers. So let’s just stay out of each other’s way. At family gatherings, I’ll show you proper respect, so don’t ss with . Understood, Jiwon hyung?”
“······Got it.”
Leaving behind the now-crushed Cheon Jiwon, I returned to the bed and collapsed onto it.
“Hyung, can you leave now? I have to go back to Busan tomorrow, and I need to rest.”
Waving him off like he was a fly, Cheon Jiwon ground his teeth in frustration.
“Don’t go blabbing about what you know. If you do, we both go down. Got it?”
“Yeah, yeah. Now get out.”
He looked like he had more to say, but in the end, he just glared at and left.
Once the door closed, silence returned to the room.
Lying back down, I thought about my cousins.
Aside from Cheon Jiwon, Cheon Sooman also had a daughter nad Cheon Jisoo.
Cheon Jisoo... she was a gifted student majoring in business at Korea University. Later on, she would even participate in managing Ilseong Group.
And that bastard Cheon Suhan—who I hated calling “uncle”—also had a child.
‘Cheon Jiyoung... she’s a sweet kid.’
Just thinking of Jiyoung made smile without realizing it.
She was the only one in this family who had ever approached with warmth.
She must be in middle school now. My little cousin, four years younger than .
Knock knock.
I turned toward the door at the sound.
When I didn’t answer, the knock ca again.
I got up from the bed and opened the door. A young girl looked up at with wide eyes.
“Um······.”
It was Cheon Jiyoung.
“Yeah?”
“Um······.”
“What is it? Do you want to say sothing?”
“You’re... my oppa, right?”
“Huh?”
I felt a strange sense of déjà vu. It was the exact sa conversation from my previous life.
Back then, Jiyoung had co in after a whole scene with Cheon Jiwon. I’d been in a foul mood and acted cold toward her—I rembered that clearly.
“Probably. I’m eighteen now. You?”
“I just turned fourteen. I’m in middle school now.”
“Then yeah, I’m your oppa.”
“Hehe, nice to et you. I’m Cheon Jiyoung. I just ca to say goodbye since you’re leaving. Earlier, it didn’t feel like the right ti...”
“Yeah, it didn’t. I’m Kim Muhyuk.”
“Muhyuk oppa!”
Seeing Jiyoung smile with that cute expression made feel like maybe this place wasn’t so bad after all.
“See you next ti, Muhyuk oppa.”
“Yeah. See you next ti, Jiyoung.”
Jiyoung went downstairs, and a short while later, Manager Ha called down as well.
The families of Cheon Sooman and Cheon Suhan had already left. In the now quiet living room, Chairman Cheon was waiting.
“So, what did you think of your uncles?”
“Just... whatever.”
“They don’t an harm. Try to understand them, alright?”
Chairman Cheon was still, at his core, a father.
In the end, he could never let go of his attachnts. That’s why he left so much behind for those n.
But it was those very uncles—and Cheongpunghoe—that killed .
Not that I could explain all that.
All I could do was nod silently.
“You’re going back to Busan early tomorrow?”
“Yes.”
“Why don’t you stay a bit longer? This big house feels too empty.”
“I’ve left Grandma alone for too long. I’ll stay longer next ti.”
Chairman Cheon looked slightly disappointed.
So he’s not made of steel after all... I never expected to see this side of him.
······Maybe I could be a little warr toward him?
“I’ll stay longer next ti, I promise. Sorry, Grandpa. Once I get into a university in Seoul in two years, I’ll visit often.”
“Right. That’s good.”
“It’s really late. You should get so sleep.”
“Make sure you eat breakfast with before you leave.”
“Of course. I’ll head up now.”
“Okay.”
I said my goodbyes and went back up to my room.
This changed reality—so different from what I rembered—was both welco and a bit exhausting.
The next morning.
I woke up early and tidied up the room. They say no one rembers where you ca from, but they always notice when you leave. Even though I had only stayed for a few days, I wanted to leave the room neat. Of course, the housekeeper would clean it later anyway...
I packed my things and went downstairs.
Grandfather was already sitting in the living room, reading the newspaper.
“Did you sleep well?”
“Yes. Did you sleep well, Grandfather? Let’s eat.”
He folded the newspaper and stood up, walking to the dining table, and I followed.
Our final breakfast, eaten in silence, ended quickly. It was ti to go ho.
“Grandfather, I’ll visit again.”
“Yes... Co often.”
“I will.”
Without saying more, I turned and walked away.
After riding in Manager Ha’s car for several hours, familiar scenes of Busan began to appear outside the window.
Just as I got out of the car and was about to say goodbye, Manager Ha held out a bankbook.
“The password is the anniversary of your mother’s passing.”
The account showed a deposit of 100 million won. I glanced at him, silently asking for an explanation, and he added:
“The Chairman said to buy whatever you want. Your living expenses will be handled separately. This money is for you to use however you’d like. Well then... I’ll be off. I’ll see you next ti.”
“Please tell Grandfather thank you.”
“Call him yourself. I’m sure he’s waiting.”
I nodded silently.
After Manager Ha’s car disappeared down the road, I took my bag and rang the doorbell.
“Who is it?”
“Grandma!”
The door opened, and Grandma greeted warmly.
“My baby’s ho?”
“Yeah, Grandma.”
“You hungry? Didn’t eat yet, right? I made bulgogi ‘cause my baby was coming. Hurry up and co in.”
As I hugged her, it truly hit —I was ho.
Sure, Chairman Cheon’s house was technically my ho too... but it never felt like it.
A ho-cooked al after a week away. It tasted better than anything I’d had in Seoul.
“What did your grandfather say?”
“Just... told to visit often.”
“Be good to him. He’s one of the few family mbers you’ve got left. Even if you’re too busy during the school year, go up [N O V E L I G H T] and say hello during vacations. Got it?”
“Got it. Aren’t you eating?”
“I already ate while waiting for you. You eat lots. I’m just happy watching my baby eat.”
Her eyes were filled with love.
The house I had returned to after so long was warm. Her words, the food she made, the warmth of her hug—everything was good.
Chairman Cheon’s house may have been bigger and fancier, but it was cold, distant.
Ti always flows quickly.
Now in my second year of high school, I ended up in a different class from Myungsoo, just like before.
But this ti, we went to and from school together, ate lunch together, and even hit the snack shop together.
Myungsoo was studying hard, and Hyunseong had joined the judo club again—the one he was in as a kid. We were once a trio of troublemakers, but now we were working hard toward the goal of all ending up at universities in the Seoul area.
And then...
The bastard who had crushed Myungsoo’s leg in the past transferred into our school. He ended up in the sa class as Myungsoo. That hadn’t changed.
“The transfer kid talks in this stuck-up Seoul accent, and it pissed off so bad I almost died. He’s got this pretty face, and then opens his mouth in Seoul speak and it gives goosebumps.”
“Myungsoo, don’t get involved with that bastard.”
“Why would I? I’ve got nothing to do with him. Hey, I guess Hyunseong’s at practice again today?”
“Yeah, he skipped a few tis before, but now he’s going all in. Says he’s even watching his diet.”
“Damn, Hyunseong got his act together!”
More than anything, I just hoped Myungsoo would stay out of it this ti.
Just to be sure, I said it again.
“I an it. Don’t get involved with that transfer kid. Please.”
“Okay, okay. You’re seriously worried, huh? What, does he have sothing on you? Why are you so anxious?”
“I’m not anxious. Just... worried.”
“Alright, I’m off.”
“See you tomorrow.”
I stood for a while, watching Myungsoo walk away.
* * *
But just because Muhyuk wanted it, and just because Myungsoo avoided it, didn’t an it wouldn’t happen.
Maybe it was his father’s influence—but the transfer student, Hong Jinpyo, quickly beca the leader of the school’s delinquents.
“Kim Muhyuk?”
“Yeah, that guy’s the top dog among the second-years. He’s quiet these days, focused on studying, but when he was a freshman he fought the second-year boss. Guy’s got no backers.”
“Really?”
“The guy he’s closest to is in your class—Lee Myungsoo, right? That guy’s been tailing Muhyuk since middle school. No one sses with him.”
A crooked smile curled on the transfer student’s lips.
“Sounds fun. Quiet and studious, huh? Those are the best types to ss with. Don’t you think?”
“You’re not thinking of going after Kim Muhyuk, are you? Dude, that’s on a whole other level. Don’t ss with him.”
The others around him tried to talk him down, as if horrified.
But as always, in these monts, people never listened to reason.
“Being good in a fight doesn’t an you win. You guys didn’t end up with ‘cause I beat you in a fight, right? What does that kid’s dad do?”
“No parents. Lives with his grandma. Myungsoo’s dad runs a big bar down in Nampo-dong, I think.”
The transfer kid crossed his arms smugly, like he’d found a weakness.
“If I ss with that Myungsoo kid, that Muhyuk guy will react, won’t he?”
“Probably?”
The future I had so desperately hoped wouldn’t co was now approaching Muhyuk once again.
End
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