It was the weekend, and Han-gyeom found himself riding in Seo Won’s car—though, to be honest, he wasn’t thrilled about it.
‘Why the hell do I even have to meet him?’
As the car cruised along, Han-gyeom turned to Seo Won, who was seated beside him in the backseat, and asked directly why he needed to meet his grandfather.
“The old man just wants to chat for a bit, that’s all. Don’t overthink it.”
That’s what Seo Won said, but frankly, it didn’t sound like the kind of thing you’d say when you’re just looking to exchange a few pleasantries. Not if you were deliberately calling someone out like this.
Seo Won’s grandfather, Chairman Seo Gyu-seok, was reportedly recuperating at home. According to rumors, he was actually in a coma due to illness, and they were trying to cover it up. The fact that he’d personally requested a meeting clearly proved that the rumors of a coma were utter nonsense.
Either way, it was obvious that he’d been out of the public eye for a long time—long enough to spark those kinds of rumors.
“His condition really isn’t great. That might be exactly why he wants to see you so badly.”
Seo Won seemed to be well aware of the rumors circulating around his grandfather. He continued, his voice tinged with subtle thoughtfulness.
“You don’t have to answer anything you don’t want to. If you force yourself to respond, he’ll just hate it more. On the flip side, if there’s something you do want to say, don’t hold back. Since you’re my one and only Guide, that old man won’t dare lay a finger on you—no matter what you say.”
Seo Won knew Chairman Seo’s personality inside and out. The man was notoriously difficult to deal with—especially when it came to people. He knew exactly what the old man liked and disliked, what caught his interest, and what made him lose it just as quickly.
‘And he probably knows I’d give you this kind of warning too.’
Chairman Seo was the very definition of a sly old fox.
That cunning mind would already be well aware of what Seo Won would tell his Guide in preparation. And knowing that, he might still go out of his way to corner him, to provoke him, pushing him into breaking that very advice.
Whether Cha Han-gyeom followed those instructions or ended up agitating the Chairman’s temper, either way, there was something to gain.
At the very least, it would reveal what one of them was really thinking—Seo Gyu-seok or Cha Han-gyeom.
“Does the Chairman know? About the Black Vein?”
Han-gyeom asked the question without even turning his head, still staring out the window.
“You and Cha Min-hyung are still the only ones who know about my Black Vein.”
“Then he doesn’t know about the Imprint either.”
Han-gyeom was honestly at a loss. If the Chairman had no clue about Seo Won’s Imprint or the Black Vein, he’d definitely ask why Han-gyeom was always stuck to him like glue.
‘Should I just lie?’
He was just starting to wonder if he should come up with some half-decent excuse when Seo Won, almost like he’d read his mind, spoke up again.
“It’s better not to lie to that old man.”
“Why?”
Feeling slightly caught, Han-gyeom turned to glance at Seo Won—who, for some reason, was wearing a faint smile.
But even as they arrived at the Chairman’s estate, Seo Won never explained exactly what he meant by that.
Which left Han-gyeom with an uneasy knot sitting in his chest.
Chairman Seo’s mansion was truly befitting of a ‘Chairman,’ boasting an immense size and splendor. The grandeur of the building was so overwhelming that it seemed even more magnificent and imposing than Seo Won’s residence.
As Cha Han-gyeom entered, guided by numerous servants, he was immediately separated from Seo Won.
“This way, please, Guide,” a middle-aged butler with an impressive demeanor and a smooth voice attempted to lead Han-gyeom away. Seo Won, however, had no intention of letting Han-gyeom go alone and stood close to him, signaling the butler with a glance.
“We will go together to where the Chairman is. Lead the way,” Seo Won instructed.
“…Very well,” the butler replied, bowing his head after a brief pause.
Following the butler, Seo Won and Han-gyeom walked together, with Lim Du-hyuk and Jung Ah-young trailing behind them. They were not the only ones moving; some of the servants who had lined up at the entrance accompanied Seo Won’s group, closely flanking them on all sides. The corridor was wide, but the number of people was overwhelming.
“Wow, this place is always so complicated,” Ah-young remarked, shaking her head as they navigated the intricate hallways, which were as complex as those in Seo Won’s mansion. Han-gyeom silently agreed with her observation.
However, Han-gyeom couldn’t respond to Ah-young’s comment. He had realized that all the servants guiding them were Espers, and he instinctively tensed up.
Subduing Espers wasn’t particularly challenging for him. Although he couldn’t guarantee victory against a high-ranking Ability User like Seo Won, who could simultaneously use multiple ice-based abilities, Han-gyeom was confident he could overpower these Espers.
The real issue was the environment. This wasn’t a place where he could subdue them and escape if something went wrong. Moreover, any action against the Espers would raise significant suspicions, given their connection to Seo Won.
Surrounded by unfamiliar Espers in a space where he couldn’t afford to act, Han-gyeom felt a dark, unsettling presence lurking in the depths of his mind, mocking him.
Noticing Han-gyeom’s discomfort, Seo Won gently rubbed his shoulder.
“It’s okay,” Seo Won whispered, his voice soothing Han-gyeom’s anxieties. “As long as I’m here, no one can harm you.”
A profound sense of relief washed over Han-gyeom. Whether it was due to the subtle resonance emanating from Seo Won’s heart or his reassuring words, Han-gyeom felt calmer. He looked down, his eyes regaining their composure.
Before long, they arrived at the lounge where Chairman Seo was waiting.
“Only the Guide may enter. Mr. Seo and the others will wait in the adjacent lounge,” the butler instructed.
“Fine. I’ll wait here,” Seo Won replied, unwilling to leave the door despite the uncertainty of how long the conversation would last.
The butler looked troubled. “I apologize, but it’s the Chairman’s order. Mr. Seo must wait in the adjacent lounge.”
Seo Won frowned, clearly displeased. He had intended to wait right outside the door until the conversation ended.
Han-gyeom gently removed Seo Won’s arm from his shoulder. “Go ahead. I’ll call you when I’m done,” he said calmly.
Seo Won looked at him with a hint of concern before turning a sharp gaze toward the butler. “Leave the original guards and Ah-young at the door. The rest can follow me or have tea in the lounge.”
Seo Won seemed worried about the servants who had accompanied them, fearing they might remain at the door. Having seen Han-gyeom’s tense expression amidst the Espers, his concern was understandable.
The butler’s gentle eyes lingered on Han-gyeom for a moment before he nodded to Seo Won. “As you wish.”
With that, Seo Won had no choice but to retreat. After a brief, quiet commotion, the area outside the lounge was deserted, leaving only two Esper bodyguards, Cha Han-gyeom, and Jung Ah-young.
The Esper bodyguards did not knock on the door. Instead, one of them turned to Han-gyeom and said stiffly, “The Chairman has instructed you to enter immediately.”
Han-gyeom deduced that the Chairman had communicated this through telepathy with one of the Espers.
‘So the other one must be a combat-specialized Esper,’ Han-gyeom thought, recalling the pairing standards used in research facilities or the Esper Association.
The heavy door opened silently, revealing a lounge filled with various plants and flowers. A pleasant floral scent mixed with the fresh smell of greenery enveloped Han-gyeom as he stepped inside.
“Please, come in,” one of the Espers said.
Han-gyeom walked forward, taking in the lounge that resembled a miniature garden or arboretum. Ah-young’s worried gaze followed him.
As Han-gyeom fully entered the lounge, a voice from behind a partition called out, “Do you like flowers?”
The voice was gentle yet raspy. Han-gyeom stopped and replied, “No, I don’t like them.”
“Just like me,” the voice responded.
Han-gyeom found the response quite puzzling. Despite the Chairman’s dislike for flowers, the spacious lounge was meticulously adorned with a variety of plants.
As if sensing Han-gyeom’s confusion, a soft laugh echoed from behind the partition. “The things we dislike are the ones we must keep closest. To nurture with our own hands and then to pluck with our own hands.”
The old man emerged slowly from behind the partition, his words laden with meaning. “If you had a very beautiful flower in your possession, what would you do?”
The Chairman, seated in a wheelchair, wore a faint smile on his gaunt face. Although he appeared frail, as if he might pass away at any moment, his eyes held a lively spark.
