50.
“I know to some extent. My mother told me a lot about my father.”
Jeong Heejun brought up the story of his deceased mother with a sad expression. But it looked so artificial. Choi Mujin simply didn’t like Jeong Heejun at all.
“Is that so?”
“She said that while it appears to be a normal company on the surface, inside it’s different. She mentioned that you sometimes engage in illegal activities.”
“Let me correct you on that point. Not sometimes, but frequently.”
Choi Mujin approached Jeong Heejun.
“You’ve likely lived righteously all your life. I wonder if you can endure this.”
“I can endure it.”
Jeong Heejun spoke with a firm voice.
“Good. I’ll believe you for now. Since you’ll be working under me from now on, I’ll address you casually.”
“Yes.”
“Then, Jeong Heejun.”
“Yes.”
Choi Mujin nodded and said:
“Follow me. I’ll show you what you need to learn first.”
Of course, Choi Mujin had no intention of teaching him personally with any real effort. Since Chairman Jang had entrusted him with this guy, he’d have to check in occasionally, but for this kind of thing, there was someone who was particularly good at it.
Kim Chunbong, a guy who had wormed his way in out of admiration for the gangster world. He had a talent for molding young rookies. Among other talents, that is.
“Please handle him with care.”
Secretary Ahn, who was nearby, warned as if he had guessed Choi Mujin’s thoughts. What a rookie. Being close to Chairman Jang seemed to have given him delusions of grandeur. But since there was no use in showing such emotions right now, Choi Mujin just smiled pleasantly.
“I’ll be careful.”
When Choi Mujin called, Kim Chunbong came running immediately. It seemed he had already been at the company.
“You called for me?”
“Manager Kim. Do you know this person?”
“Of course I do. Isn’t this the young master?”
Having seen Jeong Heejun near the chairman’s office, he seemed to have guessed what had happened. That’s why he boldly addressed him as “young master.”
“No. Just call him by his name. He’ll be learning from us for a while.”
“The young master?”
“Yes, Chairman Jang wants us to teach him from the bottom up.”
“Ah, I understand. Yes.”
Teaching from the bottom up meant revealing the darker side of the company to some extent.
“Then I’ll take him with me.”
“How long will it take to teach him the basics?”
“It varies by person, but usually a month resolves everything.”
Whether they adapt or run away, that is. Usually, those with no way out would grit their teeth and endure, but would Jeong Heejun do that too? Choi Mujin was newly curious.
“Come this way, young master.”
At Kim Chunbong’s words, Jeong Heejun replied:
“You can address me casually.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll only call you ‘young master’ inside the building.”
Having said that, Kim Chunbong smiled, his eyes curving.
“Is that so?”
Jeong Heejun looked somewhat bewildered but didn’t act foolishly. He turned his body toward Kim Chunbong. After all, he would need to listen to him and follow.
‘Well, at least the annoying part is dealt with.’
Kim Chunbong would handle him for a few days, so there was no need to worry about Jeong Heejun. As he was thinking this, suddenly Jeong Heejun asked Choi Mujin a question.
“About the person I met at Director Choi’s house.”
“Who are you talking about?”
He briefly thought of Park Dongsu, but somehow felt it wasn’t him. But what connection could Haseo have with this rookie? All the men Haseo had been involved with so far were people who seemed to have weaknesses and money. Jeong Heejun had been a nobody until now, so how could they be related?
“Lee Haseo. That person, it was Haseo, right?”
Choi Mujin looked at Jeong Heejun without any change in expression.
“I’m hearing the name Lee Haseo for the first time.”
“Please don’t pretend not to know. The person I saw was definitely Haseo.”
“How can you be so sure when you just briefly met?”
“Because Haseo and I have known each other since childhood.”
Come to think of it, Haseo had attended Geumseo Elementary School, and so had Jeong Heejun. Recalling this, Choi Mujin looked at Jeong Heejun with a peculiar gaze.
“We were close friends. So please don’t lie.”
“If I am lying, can you find out the truth?”
Choi Mujin said with a smirk.
“I am certain that the person I met was Haseo.”
As he spoke, Jeong Heejun pulled out a photograph from his pocket. In the old photo was a child who bore a striking resemblance to someone.
“I found this photo in the guest room.”
When he had told Haseo to pack his belongings, he must have accidentally dropped this photo. But so what? Did showing a photo and insisting mean that he should arrange a meeting between them? Choi Mujin had no such obligation.
“Manager Kim. Take him away now.”
“Yes! Young master, you must have been mistaken. Let’s go.”
“What are you saying! I clearly—”
Jeong Heejun turned to Secretary Ahn with an indignant face. However, he merely wore an awkward expression and showed no intention of moving on Jeong Heejun’s behalf.
“You can meet your friend later.”
He just uttered these meaningless words.
“…I see.”
Only then did Jeong Heejun realize his position. He had been acknowledged as Chairman Jang’s son, but he hadn’t achieved anything yet. That’s why they were disrespecting him.
‘Then I’ll have to achieve something.’
Jeong Heejun gritted his teeth and nodded.
“Manager Kim, let’s move on.”
He was quicker on the uptake than expected. And that seemed to have impressed Kim Chunbong in his own way. He led the way with light steps, and Jeong Heejun followed behind.
‘Someday.’
He would become someone who stood in front, not behind. With that thought, Jeong Heejun left the place.
“He still seems delicate, so please teach him moderately.”
Secretary Ahn also left with those words, leaving Choi Mujin alone. He checked the time on the wall and thought of a nearby sushi restaurant. The matter had concluded earlier than expected, and as mealtime was approaching, buying sushi seemed like a good idea. Recalling how much it was enjoyed last time, he thought it might be appreciated this time too.
“I should get going soon.”
He was wondering how many portions to buy when suddenly his phone rang. The caller was Park Dongsu.
“Yes.”
As soon as he answered, Park Dongsu spoke urgently.
─ Lee Haseo has left the officetel.
Upon hearing those words, Choi Mujin couldn’t help but frown. Hadn’t he promised to stay quietly at home?
“Where is he going?”
─ I don’t know yet. I’m currently tailing him.
“Don’t lose him and keep following. And report where he’s going.”
─ Yes!
Choi Mujin hung up and went down to the parking lot. As he sat in the car and gripped the steering wheel, he fell into thought. Yes, to tell the truth, he had tested Haseo. In a situation with no guards or surveillance devices, how would he react? Would he stay quietly in the officetel as he said? Or would he run away?
His hand tightened on the steering wheel involuntarily. Haseo had chosen to run away rather than stay by Choi Mujin’s side. It wasn’t hard to guess the reason. Haseo had someone much more precious to him than Choi Mujin. So much so that he was willing to accept punishment for their sake.
‘Blood ties.’
Choi Mujin had no strong feelings about blood ties. This was because neither his parents nor his relatives had been decent human beings. Besides, they hadn’t been of much help in his life. The first thing he did after growing up and gaining power was to deal with them.
Whether it was fortunate or not, his parents had died in a drunk driving accident before Choi Mujin could touch them. But his relatives had survived and troubled him. So what could he do? To live comfortably, they had to be removed. Still, out of whatever remaining kinship he felt, he didn’t kill them.
Although none of them were alive now.
Choi Mujin lightly tapped the steering wheel with his fingers. He hadn’t been able to specifically define the emotions he had been feeling, but one thing became clear. He wanted Haseo to stay by his side and not leave.
‘It’s not particularly difficult.’
Since Haseo was in a weaker position, he had no choice but to follow if Choi Mujin wished it. Now that he had a pretext, he should try what he had only been thinking about. Choi Mujin entrusted the surveillance to Park Dongsu and returned to the officetel.
Indeed, the officetel was completely empty. In the meantime, Park Dongsu called again to ask if he should bring Haseo back, but Choi Mujin told him to leave him be. Haseo had, as expected, visited the hospital where his grandmother was staying, and then returned to the officetel.
The indescribable emotion that had been scratching at his heart all along exploded only after meeting Haseo.
‘Why is he so afraid of me?’
Choi Mujin had never done anything particularly harsh to Haseo. Even after being betrayed, he had employed him as a housekeeper and helped him pay his grandmother’s hospital bills. Yet, his fear was likely because Haseo knew Choi Mujin’s reputation. Even knowing this, he couldn’t control his anger.
‘Should I show him what real fear is?’
He had such thoughts, but seeing Haseo trembling, he didn’t feel like resorting to violence. Instead, Choi Mujin hurt Haseo with words. Even though that was all, this young and fragile man collapsed on the spot.
Without knowing what would happen to him in the future.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
