Chapter 138
“Alright. From now on, I’ll do everything my way without considering your circumstances, whether you’re working or not. I’ll do whatever I want, just as I please.”
“Yes, that’s how it should be from now on. Understand?”
“…Yes.”
“Were you that upset?”
“Yes…”
With a whimper, Eunseong expressed how deeply disappointed he was. It happened to coincide with him becoming busy right after they had paid respects to the family elders, and after Eunseong had taken a DNA test to be recognized as the family successor. He had been anxious and hurt, worrying that perhaps he was distancing himself because he was taking what would have been his position.
It felt as though he had stolen Yoo Siwoon’s place. Even though he had no such intention or desire, he couldn’t help feeling like he had forcibly taken what should have been his, which made him unnecessarily concerned.
People treated Eunseong exactly as Siwoon had described—like a precious treasure—and approached him with deference. They seemed ready to comply with whatever he wanted, regardless of reason, which only made him uncomfortable.
Seeing grown adults being deferential to him, Eunseong began to understand what Siwoon had meant, and the more special treatment he received, the more he felt like he was taking Siwoon’s place.
He couldn’t explain these complicated feelings to him, and worried that it wasn’t just his imagination—that deep down, Siwoon might really feel something had been taken from him, even if he didn’t show it. So he said nothing more.
Despite their agreement to be honest and tell each other everything, there were more and more things he couldn’t bring himself to say.
Siwoon told him not to feel bad about such things and hugged him, patting his back gently. Eunseong rested his cheek against his chest and freely expressed his sadness.
∞ ∞ ∞
Just as he was coming inside, Director Nam saw Eunseong sitting on the edge of the island table with Siwoon standing nearby drinking coffee. He clutched his forehead, looking dazed at the sight.
Eunseong was clinging to him like a koala, with his arms around his neck and legs wrapped around his waist, while Siwoon casually drank his coffee, patting Eunseong’s bottom.
“What am I looking at right now?”
“Just pretend you didn’t see anything,” Siwoon said in a tired tone. Eunseong merely glanced at Director Nam but continued to embrace Siwoon like a child with no manners.
“The elders’ executive officials will be coming in and out.”
“I’ve already told them not to intrude on private spaces.”
“Ah.”
So that’s why the executive official was standing awkwardly outside the door without entering.
Director Nam recalled the official he had just passed in the entrance.
He couldn’t interfere with their bedroom matters, and Siwoon now seemed to have regained his senses, but Director Nam felt anxious every time he saw Eunseong.
Despite thinking it impossible, he feared that his body might actually become pregnant. Coincidentally, the problem was that the couple’s relationship was too harmonious. If one of them disliked the other, the situation would be better, but Eunseong adored Siwoon, and Siwoon cherished him just as much.
“No matter how much I try to ignore it, this is uncomfortable. There must be a reason Eunseong is acting this way.”
This was an adult’s admonishment for him to let go of Siwoon. Eunseong glanced at Director Nam but clung to Siwoon’s neck even tighter, saying:
“Ahjussi said I could do whatever I want.”
“I’m sure what the CEO meant by doing as you please wasn’t that you should make everyone uncomfortable.”
“…Are you uncomfortable, ahjussi?”
“How could I be uncomfortable?”
“I’m uncomfortable. I am.”
Siwoon firmly held Eunseong’s waist and pulled him closer, as if encouraging him to do even more as he pleased. Director Nam retorted that it wasn’t Siwoon who was uncomfortable, but himself.
Eunseong, who had been determined to do as he pleased while ignoring Director Nam, fidgeted and finally detached himself from Siwoon. He also got down from the island table where he had been sitting.
“Is Eunseong really studying English? While others are attending school and keeping busy, is it really okay for you to be like this?”
Siwoon gave an incredulous smile at Director Nam’s nagging. It felt like it had been a long time since he’d heard such practical talk. Eunseong, who hadn’t been studying at all, pushed out his lips in a pout and left the dining area. Director Nam’s persistent gaze followed him until he entered his room, as if urging him on.
Once Eunseong disappeared, Director Nam turned to Siwoon and said:
“No matter how much we tell them to treat him normally, the elders’ council members can’t change their attitude. I don’t think it’s good for Eunseong to be close with the council’s executive officials.”
Director Nam was worried about the officials’ behavior—treating every strand of Eunseong’s hair as precious, sometimes even secretly keeping it—and asked whether it might be better to prevent them from coming altogether.
“They won’t just leave such a significant gap solely to my side. And there’s no justifiable reason to keep them away.”
While Siwoon pondered, Director Nam prepared coffee for himself. He chose a capsule, inserted it into the machine, pressed the button, and added frothed milk to the espresso.
Standing beside Siwoon and drinking latte for once felt like returning to their old routine. Come to think of it, Siwoon only had drip coffee equipment nearby and no Jeokdan tea. He used to be obsessed with Jeokdan, saying tea was better for him, and consumed it frequently. Noting that Siwoon had even stopped drinking Jeokdan, Director Nam was inwardly relieved that he had truly returned to his senses.
“Chairman Yoo and Yoo Seongil will be dealt with soon. Now we need to fill the vacancies with our people.”
Director Nam put down his coffee mid-sip at Siwoon’s words.
“…How about assigning that task to Team Leader Lee Joon-seung?”
“…”
Director Nam cautiously suggested. Siwoon merely shifted his eyes to glare at him. He seemed disgusted that the man was being mentioned again.
It was a chilling gaze. The resentful look of someone who hadn’t forgotten how Lee Joon-seung had insulted Eunseong, keeping the grudge etched in his bones. He gave Director Nam a warning glance, indicating he wouldn’t tolerate it.
“While it’s certainly important for you to retain authority over personnel, Chairman Yoo has too many people in the prosecution and police. We need to identify them and their connections, and Team Leader Lee Joon-seung probably already has suspects in mind. You should also use this opportunity to reopen and settle buried cases. Despite having justification, Chairman Yoo has manipulated the group as its head for decades. Now that Director Kim is also gone, if you sweep away all of Chairman Yoo’s people, there might be resistance from within.”
“…”
“I’ll meet with Team Leader Lee Joon-seung to discuss this. He wants revenge for Seongha more than anyone, so he’ll be helpful for your work.”
“No. Don’t do that.”
“…CEO.”
“I can handle such matters without his help. Chairman Yoo has been dealt with, so now we need to operate on the elders’ council. Do you remember what I said before about cult money still being money?”
“…”
“There will be embezzlement. Start investigating the apostles, but discreetly. The executive officials’ loyalty to the apostles will be stronger than their loyalty to Chairman Yoo. Let’s start by tarnishing their reputation.”
Chairman Yoo had already tried to deceive the elders’ council and the family by presenting a fake “great gap” in an attempt to make his son the successor, so there could be no resistance to removing him, and his influence would obviously weaken gradually.
The truly important target now was the elders’ council. Controlling the council meant essentially taking over Seongha; it would be in his grasp.
Director Nam checked the surroundings to ensure no one was following him and entered the café. He was uneasy because Siwoon was doing something he had explicitly told him not to do.
Team Leader Lee Joon-seung was sitting in a corner of the café. Looking haggard, Joon-seung showed no pleasure upon seeing Director Nam. There was no reason for him to be happy to see him. Director Nam wasn’t particularly glad to see him after so long either. Moreover, he looked rather disheveled, which was unpleasant.
“First you tell me to lay low, now you call me in. Aren’t we supposed to avoid meeting?”
“Have you been well?”
“Not at all. The inside of my mouth was torn and inflamed; I couldn’t eat anything and lost weight. Director, have you ever tried chewing a lit cigarette?”
Joon-seung grimaced, rubbing the already healed mucous membrane inside his mouth with his tongue, as if still shuddering at the memory.
“Back then, it was clearly Team Leader Lee Joon-seung’s mistake.”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
