“Do you think you’re all grown up?”
“…”
“Of course, you’re over twenty, so technically you’re an adult, but in my eyes, you’re still a baby. But Munbeom is well over thirty. There’s a whole cycle between your ages. Your family backgrounds, situations, everything is different. How do you think people would see the two of you together?”
“I don’t plan to go around publicly with the Director. I’ve been careful to avoid being noticed by people until now, and in the future…”
Yeonwoo wanted to be with Munbeom for as long as possible. He wanted to, but wondered if he should speak so honestly in front of the Chairman. Eventually, he stopped mid-sentence and closed his mouth, which made Ho Jaejung shake his head.
“I’m not saying this because of Munbeom, but because I’m worried about you. Who would dare point fingers or curse at my grandson if you two were seen together? People choose carefully who they spit on.”
“…”
“When you two are together, the one who will get hurt more, have a harder time, and suffer more is you. Child.”
Unlike before, the term “child” sounded different now, and Yeonwoo’s eyes quickly reddened.
Looking at Yeonwoo, who still found him intimidating but was trying to meet his gaze, Ho Jaejung continued.
“They say if people don’t know, they don’t know at all, but once they start to notice, rumors spread instantly. People will soon be talking about you two, and when that happens, what will you do?”
Surely many false rumors would be created and spread. Having already experienced the supermarket incident, Yeonwoo hesitated before speaking.
“We aren’t seeing each other for long, and we’re not that kind of relationship. I, I signed a contract. We agreed to meet for a specified period…”
“Yes. I hear nowadays people set everything by contract before meeting and breaking up. I know. I’m not ignorant about these things. But, do you really have confidence that you’ll be able to forget my grandson even after that time passes? Regardless of how you sort out your feelings, how will your family understand and accept this?”
“…”
“They say keep the ignorant beside you but don’t associate with the cunning. I don’t like that man you call your father. That guy has no qualifications as a father or a husband. And such men will rush to grab their share at any opportunity. I can’t stand the sight of your father acting like a father-in-law in front of our Munbeom. I hate it. I might understand you and your ill father somehow, but not your father.”
Ah, so that’s it.
Yeonwoo thought he understood what Chairman Ho Jaejung was concerned about.
Though he said Yeonwoo and his father were fine, from the beginning, Yeonwoo’s very existence wasn’t suitable for Munbeom. Even without Lee Jonghoon being an issue, he shouldn’t be greedy for Ho Munbeom or try to stay by his side.
If their relationship continued, rumors would inevitably spread.
Even if people pointed more fingers at him, Ho Munbeom couldn’t completely avoid hearing unpleasant things. Eventually, strange rumors would circulate because of him.
And thinking of Lee Jonghoon—his other father who was always angry and greedy—along with his wife and Seongho, Yeonwoo found it hard to breathe. It was a mess. Those mentioned earlier, and even himself, were truly a disaster compared to Munbeom.
With his increasingly cold fingertips clenched, Yeonwoo opened his mouth with difficulty.
“I’m currently seeing the Director, but we’re not really a serious couple. We’re only meeting for a set period, and if any problems arise during that time, we’ll break up immediately… and after that, I won’t seek out the Director or cling to him.”
And he wouldn’t tell anyone about what happened during the time they were together. Absolutely not.
“I’ve never told anyone about the Director. Never. I’m confident in keeping my promises, so I’ll follow the contract.”
“…”
“I may seem like a child to you, sir, but I’m still an adult. I can take responsibility for my actions.”
So, couldn’t he meet with Munbeom, even if just for the predetermined period?
He was ashamed of himself for not being able to let go of his lingering attachments despite knowing he shouldn’t be more greedy. Biting his lower lip, Yeonwoo lowered his head further, embarrassed by the shameless greed he had revealed in front of Ho Jaejung. Then he heard him call, “Child.”
Wondering if his ears were playing tricks on him, Yeonwoo raised his head at the seemingly affectionate voice and saw Ho Jaejung smiling benevolently. With his hands behind his back, he carefully looked at Yeonwoo, whose face was beginning to flush with tension, and took a deep breath. As he exhaled, he opened his mouth, saying, “My child.”
“Even adults can’t properly take care of their own bowls. That’s why you shouldn’t carelessly say that you’ll take responsibility. Especially when there are those who know and want to take advantage of someone as young, pretty, and desperate as you.”
“…”
“My legs are getting sore from standing. Let’s sit down first. Hey, bring that over.”
Ho Jaejung gestured somewhere and sat down on the sofa first. Making an “aigo” groan, he looked at Yeonwoo as if telling him to sit too, so Yeonwoo went over. There were too many places to sit, and he didn’t know where to sit. At that moment, Ho Jaejung patted the seat next to him, saying come here.
After hesitating, Yeonwoo sat down leaving about two hand spans of distance, and a neatly dressed middle-aged man in a suit handed an envelope to Ho Jaejung. Not knowing who he was, Yeonwoo just stared, and the man met his eyes and greeted him politely first. Although flustered, Yeonwoo bowed his head in return, and Ho Jaejung shook the envelope and spoke.
“I don’t know if you’re aware, but your father’s company is a complete mess. It wouldn’t be surprising if it went bankrupt right now. Yet he’s stubbornly hanging on, which is foolish. That’s why he probably had the audacity to resort to this.”
Ho Jaejung took out a thick document from the envelope and placed it in front of Yeonwoo.
Feeling anxiety wash over him even before confirming the contents, Yeonwoo picked up the topmost one. Haewon Industries, Representative Lee Jonghoon, Financial Statement, below which were difficult words and numbers lined up. After looking at this, Yeonwoo picked up another document. This one was a bit easier to understand.
Party A and Party B, repayment deadline, interest rate accruing on the principal until then were written, and after turning several pages, there was a number with a long string of zeros that couldn’t help but make Yeonwoo’s eyes widen. At first, he thought it was 300 million, but it wasn’t. It was 3 billion. The number itself was shocking, but the seal at the very bottom looked strangely familiar, and upon closer inspection, he realized it was his.
Only then did Yeonwoo confirm that the name written next to the seal was Lee Yeonwoo, his own.
Suddenly feeling a tightness in his chest, Yeonwoo gripped the paper tightly. Otherwise, he felt like he might drop what he was holding.
No matter how many times he looked, nothing changed. Nevertheless, looking back and forth between the 3 billion and his name multiple times, Yeonwoo moved his trembling lips.
“…I don’t understand what this is.”
“It’s a certificate showing that your father borrowed money in your name.”
“…”
“He used private loans. He probably used it to manage urgent business funds and used the rest for your father’s hospital bills and your living expenses. As if he earned it himself.”
Feeling like everything was going dark before his eyes, Yeonwoo tightly closed them. Suddenly his head felt numb, and it seemed like a sharp sound was coming from one ear.
A truly, utterly, indescribably desperate feeling overcame him. The moment he thought of the man who was always brazenly angry in front of him, it felt like his vision was turning red, and Yeonwoo clenched his molars and tried to steady his breathing.
At least he wasn’t alone, which was fortunate.
Thinking about what he might have done if he had found this out while alone, he muttered weakly.
“Private loans…shouldn’t be used.”
“That’s right, they shouldn’t. The scariest things in the world are those who play with money.”
“…”
At the cold, indifferent response, Yeonwoo nodded, saying, “I see.” Even one of the richest men in Korea knows how scary private loans are, yet what was Lee Jonghoon thinking… why in my name…
It was so confusing that his thoughts couldn’t connect properly. In the midst of this, Yeonwoo asked as if entranced.
“…Does the Director know too?”
“He probably doesn’t. He wouldn’t have thought to investigate this far. In his eyes, he only saw you.”
Not all of what Ho Jaejung was saying was sinking into Yeonwoo’s mind. He just nodded blankly at the fact that Munbeom didn’t know.
“Even as we sit here now, the debt in your name is probably accumulating. When you come to your senses, the interest will exceed the principal. Then no matter what you do in your lifetime, you won’t be able to repay it all.”
Ho Jaejung took the document from Yeonwoo’s hand.
Gathering everything on the table and putting it into the envelope, he said indifferently.
“In movies or dramas, they might say something like ‘I’ll pay off your debt, but break up with my grandson,’ but I don’t intend to go that far. From the beginning, this isn’t our problem, but an issue between your father and you.”
“…”
“But since you seem to like my grandson a lot, I can help clear your breathing space somewhat. Of course, that doesn’t mean your hardships will completely go away…”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
