Hidden Vice 18

After passing through a narrow hallway, as if entering a house, a large hall appeared. It was more like a slightly oversized living room. There was a long bar on one side, along with tables and sofas. The space was filled with people whose faces I had never seen before.

As I hesitantly stepped forward, eyes began to gather on me, one by one, starting from those nearby. I could see people clustered in small groups covering their mouths and whispering.

Feeling like a monkey in a zoo being observed, I too examined their faces one by one.

I couldn’t see Cha Baekju, the one who had asked me to come. Thinking I should at least show my face to him to let him know I’d arrived, regardless of whether I maintained a low profile or not, I looked around, but the people nearby stepped back one by one, as if afraid I might speak to them.

Hey, I don’t want to talk to you either.

I don’t know where their confidence comes from. I clicked my tongue and frowned at the irritation slowly rising in me.

Where the hell is this bastard Cha Baekju? I was about to take out my phone to call him when I saw him coming from one side. I quickly walked over to him.

“I’m a little late, aren’t I? Sorry.”

“…I didn’t know you’d arrived. Have you greeted everyone?”

Who do I know here to greet? I don’t recognize anyone, and no one approaches me—am I supposed to greet the air? When I just smiled instead of answering, Cha Baekju clicked his tongue as if wanting me to hear it.

“Who is this, Baekju-ssi?”

It sounded almost like “Mr. Bachelor,” and I barely held back my laughter. I wonder if they tried saying his name out loud before deciding on it. They probably paid money to get it from a name shop that claimed it was a good name.

“Cha Sukyung.”

“Ah, that brother?”

I’m not sure if I was famous enough to be known by name alone or if he simply didn’t want to introduce me further, but fortunately, the woman beside Cha Baekju recognized who I was without additional introduction. At the woman’s words, I quickly caught a flash of irritation that appeared and disappeared on Cha Baekju’s face.

You don’t even want to call me your brother in public? Then you shouldn’t have asked me to come here.

“I heard something bad happened to him, but he looks fine.”

“That’s fortunate. If he were to become the subject of unnecessary rumors, it would have been embarrassing to face grandfather. He’s already displeased about bringing a new person into the family.”

Hey, revealing your grandfather’s private thoughts in front of everyone is more embarrassing. If you wanted to let me know, you could have told me face to face when we were alone.

“Oh my, he’s still like that? Well, I understand the chairman’s feelings. One needs to be careful even when hiring employees, let alone bringing someone into the family. It’s troublesome in various ways if you bring in someone without proper background. They might not adapt and bring shame to the family. Those who come for money always cause problems, even after having children. I suppose bad blood will always show itself.”

As she said this, the woman glanced at me. It was as if she was saying, “Like you,” and I briefly considered confronting her.

“Come over here. I’ll introduce you.”

“There’s really no need…”

“If you’re going to be part of our family, you need to participate in these public activities too. How long do you plan to hide behind your father?”

I was about to say there was really no need, but Cha Baekju cut me off with a cold voice.

I have no intention of hiding behind my father, nor do I want to build connections here and there. I just want to live quietly and comfortably. I don’t get money for knowing these people, and I won’t need any help from them, so why should I know them? I really wondered.

Besides, didn’t father tell me to keep a low profile before coming here? But Cha Baekju seemed to have different ideas, as he led me to the center of the hall.

“Honey, what about me?”

“I’ll talk with you later, so find a way to pass the time.”

“That’s too much. Weren’t you going to be with me today?”

“Later.”

Excuse me, I’m still here, you know? You should have such private conversations when you’re alone. No matter how insignificant my presence might be, like a roadside stone, they were having an excessively personal conversation right in front of me.

That woman definitely didn’t seem to be the sister-in-law I’d seen at home. Is this something that the sister-in-law wouldn’t mind knowing, or does he trust that I won’t relay his words?

“Oh, Dr. Cha. Who’s this next to you? Did you change your partner already?”

“Cha Sukyung. My… youngest brother. This is Baek Gilyong, the second son of Ilshin Motors. Say hello.”

“I’m Cha Sukyung.”

“Is this the much-talked-about Dr. Cha’s brother? Is this our first time meeting?”

His gaze, colored more with curiosity than welcome, fixed on me. I lightly shook his extended hand and just smiled. I had no way of knowing whether we were truly meeting for the first time or if we had met before. When it’s difficult to answer, just smiling is the best option.

“I heard you were in an accident. Are you alright?”

“Yes, as you can see, I’m perfectly fine.”

When did we meet for you to speak informally to me? Though he certainly ranks higher than Cha Sukyung, he should still have some manners for a first meeting.

“Dr. Cha must have been very worried. His youngest brother getting involved in such a… unfortunate accident. I heard someone even died?”

For someone who’s not family, he knows a lot of details. Though he called it an “unfortunate accident,” he seemed to know it was Cha Sukyung’s suicide attempt.

“Well, yes. My eldest brother was very concerned. Even though he was so busy that I never saw his face once while I was hospitalized. I was actually worried about my brother because he seemed too busy. Since we were in the same hospital, normally he would have at least shown his face briefly, but if he’s too busy to even visit his hospitalized brother, just how busy must he be? Right?”

At my retort, Baek Gilyong looked at Cha Baekju, and Cha Baekju frowned and pulled my shoulder.

“You don’t need to say such unnecessary things.”

“It’s not unnecessary. It’s true that you were extremely busy, right? That’s why you couldn’t see me once while I was in the hospital. This brother is worried you might collapse from overwork. Yet here you are, looking after me and bringing me to this gathering. There’s truly no brother like you. I was a little hurt that you didn’t visit me in the hospital even once.”

He never spoke to me at home, but if he wants to talk about family matters in front of all these people, I have plenty to say too. Let’s have a mud fight today. My fighting spirit was slowly being activated.

“Your brother has quite an interesting personality. Have a good time. Will we be able to see you again?”

“If my eldest brother brings me, I suppose I could come again. Right, eldest brother?”

“We have many more introductions to make, so we’ll be going now.”

“Oh, join us again after you’ve made your rounds. This is quite entertaining for a change, and I’d like to talk more with your brother.”

At Baek Gilyong’s words, my brother’s face crumpled. His hand gripping my shoulder tightened.

“You talk too much at an introductory meeting. Just greet people.”

“You’re introducing me so they’ll know who I am, right? To know someone, you have to talk. I think it’s more friendly for me to speak for myself rather than having you talk for me. Don’t you think?”

Moving to another location, Cha Baekju spoke in a lowered voice, almost whispering.

No, why? I was planning to hit rock bottom today, so why are you trying to stop me from speaking?

I roughly understand what position Cha Baekju wants me to take, but today Cha Sukyung was going to be a fighting cock, contrary to Cha Baekju’s expectations. Not just today, but from now on. I intended to engrave in his mind that messing with me would get him fucked.

After that, Cha Baekju introduced me to several more people, but each time, my chattering mouth caused his public smile to fade from his lips.

“There are many problems with your attitude today.”

“If you tell me what the problem is, I’ll try to fix it. But I don’t really know what I did wrong. Was I talking too much? I couldn’t help it because people kept asking me questions. You said you brought me here to clear up strange rumors, right? So I need to show them that I’m fine. If I stay silent like a social outcast, it might create actual misunderstandings. That would tarnish your face, wouldn’t it?”

Yes, whether I keep my mouth shut or open it, I’m going to tarnish your face anyway.

I initially came with some expectations, but after hearing the conversation between Cha Baekju and that woman, I immediately changed my approach. I decided to completely ignore father’s advice to stay quiet and keep a low profile.

“Well, don’t you have more people to introduce me to? There are so many people here, but it seems my eldest brother doesn’t know many of them. Don’t you know that person? He keeps looking over here. Should I go over and pretend to know him?”

As I enthusiastically suggested talking to everyone here at least once, Cha Baekju released his grip on me.

“I’m… feeling a bit tired. I think I need to rest for a while, so find a way to pass the time. Just don’t do anything that would disgrace the family.”

“Don’t worry. It’s not like I’m going to jump off something again here. But are you resting alone? Are you going to rest with that person from before? Why didn’t your wife come? She seemed to be from a good family too. Is your wife busy? Should I call her? Right, I don’t have your wife’s contact information.”

“Cha Sukyung.”

I blinked my eyes, looking up at Cha Baekju with an innocent ‘I know nothing’ face. He clenched his jaw with a deeply furrowed brow.

“I would appreciate if you didn’t say anything more.”

“Yes… That’s what you wanted me to say, right? Did you want to see me crumple up and shrink when I came here? You know, I think my depression turned into bipolar disorder after my near-death experience. I think I’m having a manic episode right now. My energy is really high. I feel like I could even dance here. Would you like to see?”

At my words, Cha Baekju’s face went pale. He looked like he’d stepped in shit.

I don’t actually have bipolar disorder, but it’s true that my energy is higher than the previous Cha Sukyung, so from Cha Baekju’s perspective, it would really look like a manic episode.

My esteemed eldest brother, who only knows how to crush others with elegance, doesn’t seem to know how to handle a mad dog who attacks with a do-or-die attitude.

In situations like this, you’re supposed to take off your pants and charge in too, but he lacks that courage. He likes crushing others but wants to remain flawless himself. Isn’t that too opportunistic?

Cha Baekju turned his back on me without giving a proper response and staggered away. Left in the center of the hall, I looked around. The glances directed at me had become even more intense than before.