Until now, his bad luck had usually only affected him and never caused trouble for those around him, so Yeonrok was feeling somewhat dejected. Seeing his gloomy appearance, Lee Seongmyeong waved his hand dismissively.
“Trouble? If it’s because I got hurt, don’t worry about it, Yeonrok-gun.”
Shaking his head, Yeonrok recalled past events. On days when he felt his luck was bad, things would really blow up spectacularly right up until the end of the day. When Yeonrok firmly expressed his intention to go home, Lee Seongmyeong made a suggestion with regret.
“If you really must, let’s at least have a drink before you go. I’m a bit thirsty since we spilled everything earlier…”
“This time I’ll really treat you! Please let me buy it!”
Yeonrok jumped up from his seat and pleaded desperately. After some back and forth, Yeonrok was finally able to get permission to buy the drinks. Actually, there was another purpose to this. Though he said he was fine, Yeonrok was really worried about his hand.
“I think there was a pharmacy nearby.”
After ordering drinks at the counter, Yeonrok went down the stairs while searching for a pharmacy on his phone. That’s when he suddenly felt a creepy feeling again. With an uneasy mind, Yeonrok quickly looked around, following his instincts. And he caught a clue that could have been the start of bad luck. His shoelace was just about to come undone. As he quickly crouched down to tie his shoelace, a sudden sharp shout was heard.
“Whoa! Fuck!”
A shadow suddenly tilted above his bowed head as if someone had extended their arm, then a man brushed past Yeonrok and tumbled forward. Yeonrok, who’d been tying his shoelace, froze. The man who rolled down the stairs noisily groaned, then immediately bent his head down sharply. Yeonrok screamed at the sight of the man losing consciousness while bleeding profusely.
* * *
Through attending various events, Yeonrok had been educated that one should never carelessly touch severely injured people. Afraid he might accidentally harm the nerves, Yeonrok couldn’t even go near the unconscious man. Still, though tearful, he calmly reported to 119. When an ambulance suddenly appeared shortly after, the surprised bodyguards also rushed in from waiting outside.
“Yeonrok-nim! What happened?!”
While trembling and explaining the situation to the paramedics, Yeonrok felt relieved seeing the reliable figures of Park Chungseong and Jeong Boeun. When the two asked what had happened, Yeonrok told them the whole story. Only then did he remember Lee Seongmyeong.
“I’ll quickly go tell my companion and come back.”
“Please go with us.”
The two said firmly. Even when he said it was fine, they showed no sign of backing down. Unable to help it, planning to pass them off as uncles he knew, Yeonrok went up the stairs and became bewildered. Both the owner making drinks and Lee Seongmyeong were nowhere to be found.
“Where did everyone go?”
Behind the bewildered Yeonrok, Jeong Boeun and Park Chungseong looked around the interior of the screen golf course with suspicious eyes. They also exchanged meaningful glances. That’s when Yeonrok received contact.
[Yeonrok-gun, the injured spot hurts quite a bit so I’ll head back first. Let’s meet at the next gathering.]
His hand did seem to hurt a lot. But it was a bit strange that the person who’d suggested having drinks before leaving had rushed off like this without even saying goodbye. In any case, Yeonrok wanted to hurry home today too. As he got in the car, Yeonrok asked with a guilty heart.
“Will the person who fell down the stairs be okay?”
“We’ll contact Director Kim Jeongseong to look into that person’s matter as well.”
“Thank you so much. That will put my mind more at ease.”
Of course, looking at the circumstances, he hadn’t done anything wrong. No matter how you looked at it, it seemed like someone hurrying down from behind had missed their footing and tumbled down, but his heart still felt uneasy.
Returning home like that, Yeonrok got salt from the kitchen and sprinkled it on himself. After washing cleanly, he looked around the house for someone to talk to, but Ms. Park had left work, and of course Yeom Cheonho as well as Moon Gyeonwoo and Choi Hwan weren’t home.
Yeonrok tucked his comfort doll under his arm and peeked around the indoor garden, then shook his head. Like last time, he was afraid that if he wandered around on such an unlucky day, there might even be a fire. Instead, he went up to the rooftop garden. Though it was chilly, it was spring so it was suitable to spend time outside.
“Ah, I want a cigarette.”
Since he was trying to quit smoking, Yeonrok muttered while fumbling his pockets out of habit. On eventful days like today, he especially wanted to smoke.
“I really hope nothing else happens today…”
While earnestly wishing this and leaning on the railing to breathe in the cold air instead, he heard a commotion. Lowering his gaze below, Yeonrok blinked.
“Choi Hwan?”
Pursing his lips, he craned his neck long. Choi Hwan wasn’t alone. A middle-aged man and woman stood in front, shrilly shouting something. Since it wasn’t that far a distance, when he listened carefully he could understand what they were saying.
“You can’t do this! How can you do this to your mother!”
“You rotten bastard. Did your company teach you to act like this?”
“The family’s in a tough spot financially so we’re asking to borrow some money, and you humiliate people like this! What? How did we find out where you live? There are so many bastards around you selling your information. I told you to be careful with your words and actions!”
“Still, between parent and child there should be affection, we raised you, but you’re so ungrateful! We should have just thrown you away. Oh my! This is unbelievable! Calling something like this a son.”
Choi Hwan, who normally acted so arrogant, couldn’t respond at all and just kept his head down, only listening to the abuse. Yeonrok suddenly recalled the incident at the club before. How Choi Hwan had been enjoying himself so much but hardened his expression as soon as he got a call from “mom.” And what he’d said about not having any money saved up.
“This! This! We fed and raised you and your head just got big! Huh?!”
Yeonrok came to his senses when he saw the man unpleasantly smack Choi Hwan’s head hard enough to make it sway. Though he didn’t like Choi Hwan that much, seeing that made an indescribable emotion surge up from his chest.
“Is today really cursed with bad luck? It just won’t end nicely!”
Gritting his teeth, Yeonrok came down from the rooftop and practically threw Yeondoo on the floor before rushing outside.
“What are you doing right now?!”
Yeonrok pointed at those presumed to be Choi Hwan’s parents and shouted. At the sudden appearance of a third party, the middle-aged man and woman flinched. Choi Hwan’s head snapped up to look at Yeonrok. His eyes widened as if he couldn’t believe it, then his face flushed red. Though he couldn’t say anything to his parents, he raised his voice at Yeonrok.
“This isn’t something for you to butt into! Go inside!”
He scolded the innocent Yeonrok, seemingly very embarrassed that his unfortunate family affairs had been exposed. Then Choi Hwan’s parents became triumphant. This seemed not to be the first or second time this had happened.
“That’s right! It’s a family matter so outsiders stay out!”
“Aren’t you extorting him right now?! So how can I not butt in?!”
The furious Yeonrok didn’t back down one bit. What on earth were Choi Hwan’s bodyguards doing at a moment like this? Looking around, they were hesitantly waiting nearby looking very troubled. There must have been restraint from their security target.
Anyway, right now Yeonrok didn’t care about the bodyguards’ circumstances. As soon as Yeonrok intervened, the parents acted even more viciously as if to show off.
“What’s what? Extorting? Choi Hwan, you tell me. Did you say your aging parents asking you to send some living expenses is extortion? Huh? You rotten bastard!”
Choi Hwan bit his lip. As if unable to endure this situation, he squeezed his eyes shut and spoke to Yeonrok in a suppressed voice. His whole face already showed a resigned emotion of wanting to take some abuse and quickly end this situation.
“Hey, please, just go…! You’re making things worse!”
An expression of wanting to die from embarrassment flashed across Choi Hwan’s face. Seeing him, Yeonrok clenched his fists and shouted at the top of his lungs.
“Why can’t I butt in! All his money is mine! You’re taking my money, so why can’t I butt in!”
Silence flowed for a moment. Everyone doubted their ears. Choi Hwan stupidly opened his eyes wide and his mouth wide too, then stammered.
“Wh-what?”
Yeonrok threw off his outer garment. In front of the hesitating people, he roughly and wildly threw off the top he was wearing too. As Choi Hwan’s eyes widened as if they’d pop out, he pointed at the Name on his chest and shouted.
“See it! I’m his Name Partner! You know Name Partners, right? Legally first in line for inheritance! Considered common-law marriage! Try taking even one more penny of my money from now on! I’ll sue you!”
While everyone had lost their words at this completely unexpected turn of events, Yeonrok whirled around toward Choi Hwan. When he called out “Hey!” sharply and fiercely, Choi Hwan flinched.
“Y-yes?”
It was the first time hearing formal speech from Choi Hwan. It seemed to be an answer he’d given inadvertently without realizing. Yeonrok bared his teeth and swung his fist threateningly.
“You know I’m your Name Partner, right? From now on, if you send money to anyone else, you’re really dead, got it? All your money is my money!”
Yeonrok’s heart sank, wondering if he’d treated him too much like a pushover. However, as if still unable to grasp the situation, unexpectedly Choi Hwan didn’t get angry at all but just nodded blankly with entranced eyes. Belatedly, Choi Hwan’s parents came to their senses.
