75.
After returning to his quarters, Park Dongsu unfolded a small folding table from the corner and laid out the food. Though it was a simple spread, it looked appetizing enough to make one’s mouth water.
‘I’ve been eating nothing but convenience store lunch boxes.’
With home-cooked rice available, it was impossible not to feel hungry. Lee Jeongin glanced at Park Dongsu before picking up his spoon. He tasted the kimchi stew first and unconsciously furrowed his brow.
‘It’s tuna.’
When he was young, the old woman always put tuna in kimchi stew. Lee Jeongin much preferred pork and had thrown tantrums about it several times. Once, he even flipped the table, throwing away all the food. Somehow, after that, meat would appear in the next meal.
“Tsk.”
Perhaps because he’d lived such a squalid life, he couldn’t even properly take advantage of having a wealthy lover. Unconsciously clicking his tongue, Lee Jeongin belatedly closed his mouth and glanced at Park Dongsu. However, he didn’t seem to care what Lee Jeongin was doing. He was calmly eating white rice topped with soy sauce-braised meat. Only then did Lee Jeongin silently swallow a sigh of relief.
‘Damn it all!’
He couldn’t understand why life was so miserable. After meeting Ryu Jiho at the gambling den, Lee Jeongin began to suspect everything might be part of some conspiracy. He felt even more strongly about this after meeting Mr. Yoon, who was supposedly sent by Chairman Jang. But so what? Even if he knew, could he escape this situation of his own free will?
‘That’s impossible.’
Trapped in a concrete building with his neck in the hands of gangsters, with nothing to his name. How could he possibly fend off similar types latching onto him? Lee Jeongin thought as he picked out only the meat from the soy sauce braise. Still, their offer was quite tempting. Ryu Jiho said he would create a situation and Lee Jeongin should use it to smuggle Haseo out. He wasn’t sure what kind of situation would be created, but Ryu Jiho whispered that if he succeeded in extracting Haseo, he would give him money in the hundreds of millions of won.
Hundreds of millions. Though he had gotten 200 million won at the gambling den, it wasn’t enough to satisfy him. He needed more, much more money. Who knows? If he really succeeded and got his hands on more money, he might be able to go to a casino in Las Vegas. Or any other country would do. If he fled far across the ocean, how could mere gangsters ever find him?
‘But Mr. Yoon’s offer is also tempting.’
His side offered even more money than Ryu Jiho. But the task was more dangerous.
“All you need to do is feed the drug we provide to Choi Mujin.”
“Huh, is that even possible?”
No, were these guys confused about something? How could someone forcibly detained manage to drug a gangster boss? Even though his son was getting along with that man, he wouldn’t simply accept and consume something offered. Dumbfounded, he glared at Mr. Yoon, who smiled slickly and spoke again.
“Then what about your son?”
“What? You think he would listen to my request?”
“He wouldn’t, would he? With a father like you.”
Even knowing oneself to be a bad person, having someone else point it out still twisted one’s insides. Lee Jeongin’s expression crumpled, but Mr. Yoon continued regardless.
“Feed it to your son.”
Only then did Lee Jeongin ask his first question.
“What kind of drug is it?”
“Do you need to know? When just feeding it will put 300 million won in your hands?”
“300 million. Can’t you offer more?”
“Such greed. Fine. If you succeed, I’ll add another 200 million.”
“Is that for real?”
“Of course.”
“But will I be safe after feeding it to him?”
“That depends on you. If you let us know the date, we can offer a little help.”
“Hmm.”
This was more dangerous than what Ryu Jiho had proposed. But the reason he couldn’t say he wouldn’t do it was because of the money. Money—what had tormented Lee Jeongin severely since childhood.
‘I don’t know what kind of drug it is.’
But feeding it would put his son in danger. He might even die. Despite never having properly acted as a father, this time he might end up killing his son with his own hands. Lee Jeongin slowly blinked.
‘So what?’
His son hated him intensely anyway. They only shared blood, having a relationship worse than strangers—would feeding him some drug change anything? Lee Jeongin nodded at Mr. Yoon.
“I’ll do it.”
People don’t change easily.
His son Haseo resembled his grandmother more than his father Lee Jeongin. Like that woman who could never become truly hardened until the end, he had a soft side. Even though he had spat out harsh words refusing to accept an apology, he was gradually opening his heart to Lee Jeongin.
‘Good, good.’
Far from feeling guilty, Lee Jeongin was delighted at the thought of the money he’d soon receive.
* * *
“Is it okay to leave things like this?”
Kim Chunbong shook his head as he looked at the documents detailing Lee Jeongin’s every move.
“He seems like he’s going to try something.”
“I’m letting him try.”
“Hmm. The Ryu Jiho side is moving on family’s request, so that should be fine, but the other side seems dangerous.”
“It will be dangerous. But I’ll intervene at the appropriate time.”
It didn’t matter if Lee Jeongin was determined to kill his son. Because he would intervene before Haseo died. Of course, things might go wrong and Haseo might swallow the drug. But most drugs don’t kill just from taking one sip.
“He’ll probably mix it in a drink anyway.”
At this cold statement, Kim Chunbong made a strange expression.
“Hyung.”
“Director.”
“Yes, Director. I… despite how I look, I’ve had quite a few relationships.”
Despite his funny name, Kim Chunbong was quite popular with women. Apparently, it was because he was gentlemanly and affectionate during relationships. But why he was bringing this up now was unclear.
“So I know. No matter how much you like someone, if they’re disappointed and their heart turns away, it’s not easy to reverse that. Even if you regret it later, it’s too late.”
“Is there anything to regret?”
Choi Mujin replied this way while looking down at his tablet PC. He seemed determined not to change his mind no matter how Kim Chunbong tried to persuade him. This was the kind of person he was. That’s why he had been able to rise this far despite numerous dangers. But love was different from such things. Kim Chunbong smacked his lips regretfully and closed the document.
As for Kim Chunbong, it didn’t matter to him whether Haseo collapsed after consuming poison or not. He was only concerned that Choi Mujin might fall apart because of it. Even knowing he wasn’t that kind of person, emotions are unpredictable.
“Then I’ll proceed as planned.”
“Yes.”
That was their last conversation before everything unfolded.
In the early dawn, Haseo woke to the sudden sound of his phone ringing. It seemed he had fallen asleep sitting on the sofa since Choi Mujin wasn’t coming today. As he fumbled for his phone, a familiar number appeared on the screen. It was the hospital. Flustered, he quickly answered, and an urgent voice came from the other end.
His grandmother was in critical condition, and he needed to rush to the hospital immediately. At those words, he jumped up, just as the door outside opened.
“Lee Haseo-ssi!”
Park Dongsu called out Haseo’s name. Haseo didn’t have time to answer and rushed to put on his shoes. As usual, his father was clinging to Park Dongsu from behind. Only after getting into the car could he somewhat regain his composure.
“Hospital, to the hospital!”
“Calm down. We’re heading to the hospital now.”
Haseo’s hand, tightly gripping his phone, trembled. Lee Jeongin, watching him, awkwardly patted Haseo’s shoulder.
“It’s okay. It’ll be okay.”
It had to be okay. Haseo rubbed his watering eyes, trying hard to hold back tears. Crying now wouldn’t solve anything. Rather, he might miss an important moment because of tears. A heavy silence filled the car. Park Dongsu drove rapidly, even running red lights. Despite it being dawn with few cars around, it was dangerous behavior, but Haseo didn’t stop him.
Thanks to this, they arrived at the hospital faster than usual. Haseo jumped out of the car and immediately ran into the hospital. Lee Jeongin followed, panting as he ran.
“Grandmother!”
He couldn’t remember how he had made it to the hospital room. Inside the open hospital room door, a doctor and nurses were surrounding his grandmother. Seeing their serious faces, Haseo’s heart dropped.
“The guardian is here!”
At someone’s shout, the doctor turned to look at Haseo. A nurse made way and brought Haseo to the bedside. His grandmother, who usually slept with a peaceful expression, was gasping for breath and in pain.
“Grandmother!”
“Her condition suddenly deteriorated in the middle of the night. You should prepare yourself.”
At the doctor’s words, Haseo shed the tears he had been holding back.
“Grandmother, Grandmother!”
Don’t die. You can’t die. If you do, I’ll truly be alone in this world. Even though his father was trying to get closer to Haseo, his grandmother was still his most precious person. Haseo wiped away the flowing tears with the back of his hand. If this might be the last time, he wanted to look at his grandmother as much as possible.
“Grandmother. Please.”
Haseo prayed desperately.
“Doctor, please, please save my grandmother.”
He begged the doctor as he prayed, but the doctor just shook his head.
“She’s already held on for a long time. No further treatment would have any meaning.”
“You’re lying! That thing, you know! The thing that makes the heart beat!”
“Lee Haseo-ssi!”
A flustered nurse grabbed Haseo’s arm.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
