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It was a peaceful dinner time. All family members had gathered, except for Madam Kang who had been hospitalized for several weeks after her chronic illness worsened from repeatedly fainting and collapsing upon hearing the news of her grandson’s accident.
The table was set with perfectly cooked braised short ribs with potatoes and slightly salted yellow croaker. The crisp white kimchi and the refreshing beef soup completed the elegant meal prepared to the Chairman’s taste.
Chairman Noh came downstairs right on time and sat at the table. After silently taking a spoonful of soup, he nodded with a satisfied “hmm.” It was his way of showing approval.
Though his health had deteriorated, his domineering personality remained unchanged. Only after confirming that the Chairman had begun eating without complaint did the Vice Chairman breathe a sigh of relief and focus on his own meal. He secretly found it pathetic how checking his father’s mood had become almost second nature to him.
The dinner table was surprisingly quiet. Normally, conversation would have flourished around Jang Yeonhu, but tonight was different.
For whatever reason, though Jang Yeonhu was keeping his words to himself, his behavior remained unchanged as his eyes busily followed Han Jaekyung’s every move. He paid more attention to Han Jaekyung than one would to a three-year-old child. Whether he had lost his memory or not, the Chairman’s son was remarkably consistent—he had always been this way toward Han Jaekyung.
As dinner was coming to an end, Han Jaekyung gave Jang Yeonhu a small nod. It seemed they were ready to speak now. The Vice Chairman and Madam Yu, who had been forewarned by the Chairman, simultaneously put down their utensils as if on cue. Jang Yeonhu took a light breath and slowly raised his eyes to speak.
“Grandfather, I… have something to tell you.”
His tense expression and excited voice had a certain resolve to them. Whether it was because of his bangs or because of his memory loss, his son’s face looked unusually young. The Vice Chairman had thought his son was already grown up since he had surpassed his own height after graduating from middle school.
Even though he knew this was essentially a coordinated performance for the sake of one person’s stability, the Vice Chairman couldn’t shake the feeling that what was inevitable had finally arrived.
“Go ahead, tell me.”
“I… I’ve been seeing Jaekyung.”
Jang Yeonhu’s voice trembled slightly. It wasn’t from fear. Judging by the blush on his radiant face and the subtle smile in his eyes, joy and excitement seemed to be the culprits making his voice tremble. The Vice Chairman heard his wife gasp beside him. He reached under the table and firmly held her hand.
“Just to clarify, in case you misunderstand—I mean I’m in love. We’re in love with each other. We’ve been together for a long time already.”
Despite having no memories. His son clearly couldn’t imagine that he and Han Jaekyung had broken up. It was almost comical. Their childlike romance had ended in less than six months.
“I know this might be difficult for you to accept right away. But I’m not saying this lightly.”
That would be true. Even after they broke up, Jang Yeonhu seemed unable to get over Han Jaekyung for a long time—at least until Choi Eunseong, his new lover, appeared.
After Jang Yeonhu’s accident, the Vice Chairman and his father occasionally discussed such matters. They would say that if they had known it would come to this, perhaps they should have allowed him to continue seeing Han Jaekyung back then. If fate decreed that a man should be by Yeonhu’s side, they couldn’t find anyone better than Han Jaekyung—whether in terms of appearance or ability.
“…Alright.”
The Chairman nodded once as if he’d heard something completely unremarkable, then picked up his spoon again. It was Jang Yeonhu who seemed more surprised by his grandfather’s reaction. With wide eyes, he immediately asked if his grandfather had properly understood what he’d just said.
“Of course I understood. Your grandfather hasn’t gone senile yet.”
“What? But how…?”
“I’ve been suspecting it. As you said, it’s not like you’ve only been together for a day or two.”
In truth, even before they were caught kissing during a break in their tutoring session, the family had already noticed the relationship between the two. It would have been stranger not to notice, given how Jang Yeonhu followed Han Jaekyung around like an excited puppy.
Madam Kang, the Vice Chairman’s mother, had sighed heavily, blaming herself for giving her grandson the wrong “toy” to play with.
“Grandfather…”
A completely different moment was unfolding before them compared to the past. Thirteen years ago, when the two broke up, the Vice Chairman had left all responsibility to his wife and father, waiting outside the study without entering, despite hearing the sorrowful crying from inside. He had felt suffocated. He was reminded of his younger days when he had rebelled against his father, insisting he wouldn’t take over the business and would instead play the piano.
“Chairman… I, I love Yeonhu… *sob*… I love him. I can’t live without Yeonhu. Chairman, you used to like me. You used to pity me…”
Han Jaekyung had clung to the Chairman, crying as if he would pass out. The Vice Chairman had stood in the hallway outside the study alongside his son, listening. As Han Jaekyung’s voice grew more pitiful, his son’s expression became increasingly grim.
“Please think of it as charity to a beggar… just once… can’t you let us be together just this once? I promise I’ll live quietly, without even breathing loudly. I just want to be by Yeonhu’s side, that’s all I need…”
Though he was a poor parent who had never been a proper support for his son, having been pushed aside by his stern father, the Vice Chairman had made a significant decision that day. He knew all too well that his son, despite his seemingly gentle demeanor and constant smiles, had inherited the Chairman’s cruel tendencies. If the situation worsened, either his father or his son would surely cause a scene.
“Jaekyung won’t be able to hold out to the end. When he comes out and says he wants to break up first… just accept it without argument.”
“Why should I do that?”
He had shown his left hand to his son, whose eyes were blazing with fresh anger. His pinky and ring fingers remained partially bent, unable to straighten completely.
“I was about your age. I told your grandfather I wanted to play the piano and attend music school, and that he should choose his successor from among his nephews.”
“…”
“Your grandfather personally broke his only son’s fingers. He said two fingers on the left hand wouldn’t interfere with daily life. Think about it. My fingers or Han Jaekyung. Which do you think would be easier for the Chairman to break?”
The sound of teeth grinding could be heard, and shortly after, Jang Yeonhu slowly walked to his room. The Vice Chairman remained frozen in place until Han Jaekyung, his small face filled with sorrowful tears, came out of the room sobbing.
Jaekyung probably didn’t know that after that, the Chairman tried several times to get rid of him. He wasn’t generous enough to look kindly upon an orphan who freely commanded his precious grandson under the guise of friendship. The relatively mild solution of sending him to study abroad was only chosen because the Vice Chairman and Madam Yu had vehemently opposed any harsher measures, warning that if anything happened to Jaekyung, Jang Yeonhu’s relationship with the family would be irreparably damaged.
After the college entrance exams, the Chairman had booked a plane ticket and sent Han Jaekyung to England, even before he had applied to any universities. A plan was already in place for him to attend a language school there for a year while preparing for university entrance. To this day, Jaekyung probably still believed it was the Chairman’s goodwill, encouraging him to broaden his horizons and create memories before graduation.
Jang Yeonhu had gone berserk. He threatened to expose various evidence of corruption to journalists, claiming that while he might not be able to take over the company yet, he could certainly ruin it.
Though appearing calm, the Chairman must have felt a chill in his heart. There’s a saying that even wealthy families can fall within three generations; while Yeonhu’s tantrum might not truly bankrupt the company, it could certainly cause economically significant damage.
After all, Jang Yeonhu himself knew that his cards could only inflict damage, not threaten the company’s very existence. That’s why he hadn’t used them to prevent his breakup with Jaekyung or to block the numerous marriage proposals that came his way. His son wanted to protect Han Jaekyung, completely and in every aspect.
“Yes, Yeonhu. Do as you like. It’s Jaekyung after all, not someone else. It’s fine.”
Madam Yu whispered to her son in an affectionate voice, completely contrary to her past behavior when she had urged Han Jaekyung to step aside, saying she couldn’t give up her son’s future. What an absurd performance. The face of Jang Yeonhu, the sole audience member, blossomed with unexpected hope, while Han Jaekyung sitting beside him grew even paler. What must it feel like to be an actor who can’t treat the play as just a play?
The Vice Chairman tried to gauge his feelings but decided to give up. Just as his own life couldn’t truly be his alone, neither could Jang Yeonhu’s life or Han Jaekyung’s be truly theirs. This was the price they paid for staying under the Chairman’s shadow, whether they liked it or not.
“Thank you, everyone. I didn’t expect to get permission so easily. If I’d known, I would have told you earlier. Right, Jaekyung?”
“…”
“Hm?”
“…Yes. Thank you.”
The son who had once tried to leave after driving a stake through his parents’ hearts now smiled brightly without a care in the world. The Vice Chairman relaxed his tightly held lips. It wasn’t quite a smile, but it was the best effort he could manage. Yes, as long as he was alive. As long as he was alive.
The Chairman, too, had solemnly promised to do whatever Jang Yeonhu wanted if only he would live, if only he would open his eyes again. Ironically… Jang Yeonhu had truly regained his life only after coming close to death.
The Vice Chairman, who lacked the courage to die and thus failed to achieve what he truly wanted, was grateful to have at least saved his son’s life.
Perhaps when Jang Yeonhu regained his memories, he would bring Choi Eunseong and create a similar situation again. Today’s rehearsal would be sufficient for that future scene.
“Jaekyung, Yeonhu, if you’ve finished eating, go up and rest. We adults still have things to discuss.”
“Yes. Then we’ll go up first. Let’s go, Jaekyung.”
“…Thank you for the meal.”
His pale complexion looked as if he might collapse at any moment. The Vice Chairman quickly averted his eyes from that pretty face.
The cowardly lifestyle of pretending not to know and stepping back had been deeply ingrained in him for a long time, so this situation was not his concern either.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
