98.
All the men around him had good physiques. Choi Mujin was like that, and so was Jeong Heejun. Because of this, sometimes Haseo resented his own scrawny body.
“Haha, sorry, sorry.”
Jeong Heejun apologized with his usual playful attitude.
“It’s fine.”
Haseo shook his head with a smile. He belatedly realized that Heejun was trying to cheer him up.
“All of you just happen to have good bodies.”
“So that’s what’s making Haseo upset. That’s unfortunate. There’s no way to share height.”
Heejun patted Haseo’s head again and stood up from his seat.
“Are you leaving?”
“I think I need to start moving around diligently from now on.”
“…Thank you.”
“Yeah, be very grateful. I’ll be going now.”
Jeong Heejun gathered the leftover sushi containers and left the convenience store. Even though Haseo said he would clean up the trash, Heejun insisted on doing it himself. Unlike some people, he had an overflowing sense of consideration.
After leaving the convenience store, Jeong Heejun walked a few steps and looked back. Haseo was still looking in his direction. When their eyes met, Haseo waved his hand gently. The sight made his heart pound. Although he had already given up on his feelings, they apparently hadn’t completely disappeared yet.
“Let’s be good friends.”
He didn’t want to trouble Haseo more, who was already having a hard time. Jeong Heejun waved back and headed to his car. Even after his father, Chairman Jang Deokman, stepped down from his position, Heejun kept watching him. After all, he had come to Seoul to avenge his mother, who had lived a sorrowful life because of Jang Deokman.
Even after stepping down from the chairman position, Jang Deokman still had a lot of wealth. He had stepped down on the condition that his accumulated wealth would not be touched.
‘I heard that recently he’s been troubled by divorce issues with his wife.’
Yet it seems he still had the leisure to mess with Haseo. Baek Sira, who had acquired Isaac Finance, wanted to divorce Jang Deokman. But Heejun heard that Jang Deokman was refusing. He probably thought he shouldn’t cut off his last connection with Baek Sira. He was a man with many lingering attachments.
This situation made it easier for Jeong Heejun to move. Although Heejun was already affiliated with Toho Construction, Jang Deokman actually wanted to meet him because of that. Like a drowning man clutching at straws.
It took less than a day for Jeong Heejun and Jang Deokman to meet.
The mansion where Jang Deokman was staying was different from before, but still splendid. The floor was covered with marble, and elegant paintings hung on the walls.
“Oh, Heejun!”
With an artificial smile, a thick hand extended forward. As if he was about to embrace him, Jeong Heejun unconsciously took a step back.
“It’s been a while.”
“Yes, how long has it been? I prepared a meal because I heard you were coming. I recently hired a chef who worked at a luxury hotel. You’ll like it.”
“Oh my, I’d like to dine with you, but unfortunately, I already ate before coming.”
Jang Deokman’s eyebrows twitched at Heejun’s words.
“I’m full.”
Still, Jeong Heejun didn’t correct his statement.
“Alright. Then tea would be fine, right?”
“Yes, that’s fine.”
“Let’s go in.”
The two sat facing each other on a sofa in the large living room. Soon after, a young woman dressed neatly brought in tea.
“This tea was directly imported from abroad. I don’t know much about tea, but everyone says it’s good. Try it.”
“Thank you.”
Jeong Heejun picked up the teacup placed in front of him and then put it back down. He pretended to drink it but didn’t actually do so. At this point, how could he trust anything Jang Deokman gave him? Just as Heejun didn’t think of him as a father, Jang Deokman probably felt the same.
“Tsk.”
Jang Deokman clicked his tongue but didn’t reproach Heejun for his behavior. He recognized that the situation was different from before. He ostentatiously slurped his tea and then spoke.
“It’s bitter.”
After emptying half of his tea, Jang Deokman leaned back comfortably on the sofa.
“I think it’s about time you tell me why you came.”
“I just dropped by to see how Father was doing.”
“Ah, what a filial son. I raised at least one good son.”
Jang Deokman’s snake-like eyes scanned Jeong Heejun.
“So, how do you think I’m doing?”
“You seem to be living just as before.”
They say people don’t change. Even after losing everything, Jang Deokman’s nature hadn’t changed. No, it wasn’t just that. He was full of venom, like a snake that had risen up.
“Does it seem that way?”
“Yes.”
Jang Deokman twisted the corner of his mouth upward.
“Then now it’s my turn to know how my son has been.”
“I’ve been well too.”
“Has the daughter of Toho Construction been good to you?”
“She has.”
“That’s good. Really good. At least I seem to have fulfilled my duty as a father in the end.”
His slick words were disgusting. After all, he had tried to sell off his son. Still, Jeong Heejun didn’t explicitly show his emotions here. Instead, he looked at the watch on his wrist and let out a regretful groan.
“I came to see Father after a long time, but I don’t have much time.”
“You must be busy with work.”
“Yes, I’ll see you next time.”
“Any time. Come visit anytime, son.”
And so their meeting ended. Meanwhile, the collection of information that Jeong Heejun had asked people to gather seemed to have finished. The information wasn’t significantly different from what he had expected.
On the day Haseo’s grandmother passed away, it was Chairman Jang who set fire to the hospital and moved Haseo’s father. He probably wanted to use someone precious to Choi Mujin. And one more person with a grudge against Choi Mujin got involved.
‘The person who handed over the note has no connection.’
It seemed they had hired someone with money. They said they readily accepted the offer of one million won just to hand over a note. However, they didn’t know the identity of the person who commissioned the task. They said they had been randomly connected while looking for a part-time job on a secondhand market platform.
“Being such a bad guy, he’s made a lot of enemies.”
A conclusion was reached, but somehow it didn’t feel clean. If he valued Haseo so much and had people watching him, why did he give others an opportunity that day? Because of that, Haseo was dragged away by his father and even drugged. Although his father failed to properly administer the drug, and Haseo survived due to quick treatment.
That part bothered him.
‘Let me think. If I were Choi Mujin.’
He loves Haseo but has a twisted nature. From collecting and examining what Mujin had done so far, it was clear that Mujin had committed quite a few acts that a normal person couldn’t even imagine.
‘One knows love only after receiving it.’
Jeong Heejun grew up being loved by his mother. Although he heard lamentations about his father, she undoubtedly loved her son. The same was true for Haseo. Even in difficult circumstances, his grandmother had loved her grandson. But what about Choi Mujin?
Considering what Mujin had done to Haseo all this time.
“Maybe he was trying to isolate Haseo.”
The process wouldn’t have been difficult. Haseo’s father was a gambling addict who would do anything for money. So maybe Mujin released him, making it easier for others to approach, and guided the outcome that way.
Jeong Heejun was lost in thought for a moment. Should he tell Haseo about this mere hypothesis? To someone who was trying to learn about normalcy after enduring hardships? No, Heejun couldn’t do that.
So he thought he should meet with Choi Mujin before handing over the collected information to Haseo. By talking, he felt he could reach a conclusion.
Jeong Heejun contacted Choi Mujin. Since it was about Haseo, Mujin easily made time. Although he was displeased that the location was the director’s office at Isaac Finance. But perhaps this was a safer place for conversation. At least, what was said here wouldn’t leak outside.
Choi Mujin welcomed Jeong Heejun while seated.
“So, what do you want to talk about?”
Heejun, who was standing, looked at Mujin with a disgruntled expression.
“Shouldn’t you at least offer me a seat?”
In response, Mujin lazily gestured toward a sofa placed to one side. It seemed like it was brought there for conversations with separate visitors.
“Forget it. I don’t want to look at your face for long anyway.”
“Since our thoughts align well, let’s talk quickly.”
“Alright, Director Choi.”
Jeong Heejun placed the paper he received from Haseo on Mujin’s desk. Mujin picked it up and quickly scanned it with his eyes.
“Do you have nothing to say about this?”
“I’m not sure exactly which part you’re referring to.”
“I’m talking about what happened at the hospital where Haseo’s grandmother was hospitalized.”
“The person involved is no longer here.”
“I know that Jang Deokman was the one who orchestrated it.”
“Still, he’s your father.”
At Mujin’s words, Jeong Heejun snorted.
“I don’t consider him my father. Knowing that, isn’t that why you left me alone?”
“No. Don’t you think it’s because you quickly attached yourself to Toho Construction? Quite cleverly.”
Hearing those words, Jeong Heejun gritted his teeth.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
