# Chapter 230
People continued to enter even as Heesu was talking with Seongchan. There were several hunters with familiar faces in the bustling hall. As Heesu sipped champagne and looked around, his eyes met with a woman surrounded by people in the distance. Recognizing him, the woman seemed to excuse herself from those around her and made her way toward him. Heesu bowed his head slightly.
“Kim Yujeong-ssi. It’s been a while.”
“Director Jin, why are you hiding here so leisurely? You’re usually so popular that I can’t even get near you.”
The woman who delivered the joke with a smile grinned broadly. Her refreshing mouth drew an elegant curve.
Honestly, that wasn’t something she should be saying. The group surrounding her until just now was well over six or seven people at a rough estimate. That was practically at the level of needing to take a number and wait to have a conversation. Of course, if people knew her identity, most would gladly linger around just to exchange a single greeting with her.
Domestic rank 3, gravity control ability user Kim Yujeong. She was the undisputed role model for everyone, having maintained first place for three years straight in the “Most Admired Superhuman” poll conducted by a major portal site.
“Is it all right for you to leave your conversation with others and come here, Yujeong-ssi?”
At Heesu’s words, Yujeong laughed heartily and replied. Her open and cheerful personality was one of the reasons for her popularity.
“I can’t miss an opportunity to chat with the Director. It’s hard to see your face even when visiting the Superpower Management Office these days.”
“If it were you, Yujeong-ssi, my secretary would have cleared my schedule somehow.”
That was sincere. If Yujeong had wanted to meet Heesu, he would have somehow squeezed out time that didn’t exist. A one-on-one meeting with a Mugunghwa Tier 5 could potentially involve truly serious matters.
Yujeong seemed to find it quite amusing that he answered even jokes seriously. She winked and patted Heesu on the shoulder.
“Come on, I can’t make your innocent secretaries cry. Meeting at the Red Void Defense Day events is enough.”
Yujeong was diligent for a Mugunghwa Tier 5, attending most major events like Cho Jeonryeok or Red Void Defense Day if there were no urgent missions. That’s why the two could exchange brief greetings two or three times a year without fail.
“Today, so many rare faces that you’d normally only see at Cho Jeonryeok have shown up. Seongchan is here, Min has come too… Taebin said he couldn’t come because he’s in America, but Jehui unnie said she’d definitely come even if she’s late.”
“I saw Park Seongchan-ssi just now. I didn’t know Heo Min-ssi had already arrived.”
Heo Min, ranked 5th, was very shy and found attending official events extremely burdensome. He was a recluse, though in a different way from Sano. Yujeong shrugged her shoulders.
“He’s probably hiding somewhere given his personality. Most people wouldn’t recognize his face anyway… But since he made the rare effort to come out, we agreed to eat together later. I told him to come greet me, but he absolutely refuses to do so.”
Yujeong grumbled like that, but didn’t seem to have high expectations. Min was reluctant even to go to crowded places, so he was unlikely to approach Yujeong during the event, who literally had clouds of people following her.
“Heo Min-ssi is quite shy.”
Knowing they were already close, Heesu responded casually. Yujeong nodded and said, “That’s true,” before suddenly changing her expression. Having already received a similar look from Seongchan, Heesu could roughly predict what she would say next.
“So, has Lee Taemin arrived? Introduce me to him.”
As expected.
“He hasn’t come.”
When Heesu answered bluntly, Yujeong let out a light complaint about a newbie being so late. After a casual joke about being punctual in her day, she smoothly slipped in her main point.
“It seems like only Teacher Jin and Director Jin know what Taemin looks like here. He didn’t show his face even seven years ago, so why is he being so cautious? I’m dying of curiosity.”
“My mother seems to be planning something, so you’ll probably find out soon.”
At those words, Yujeong’s eyes changed subtly.
“Oh? So the rumors are true?”
“What rumors?”
“There’s a rumor that Teacher Jin is close with Taemin.”
The nuance was strange. When Heesu stared at Yujeong without answering, she grinned and shared what she had heard.
“I heard they’ve known each other for a long time? Even though Taemin hasn’t been evaluated yet and isn’t officially a superhuman so he can’t come here, rumors of his attendance have spread wildly. The source of that was Teacher Jin, wasn’t it?”
Since people were desperate to talk with Yujeong, she was always surrounded by them. Naturally, she came to know all sorts of information. It was one of the reasons why she consistently attended hunter events.
“But isn’t Teacher Jin’s personality a bit conservative? There’s no way the head of a founding family of Chohosi would stay quiet about a civil servant developer who fled in the middle of the night. Yet there must be a reason for her to care enough to spread such rumors. So people are saying…”
Yujeong’s expression became playful. Lowering her voice significantly, she whispered to Heesu.
“Director Jin might get a brother.”
At this outrageous nonsense, Heesu’s pupils shook violently for a moment, but he endured with the inner strength of a socially adept professional built over many years.
“I don’t know much about my mother’s personal relationships.”
Perhaps annoyed that Heesu rarely divulged information, Yujeong muttered mischievously.
“You know it too, Director. Your family likes high-ranking superhumans, right? If you were a woman, they probably would have tried to marry you to Mr. Taemin.”
“…Please don’t say such horrible things.”
The very thought disgusted him. As Heesu’s face turned pale, Yujeong finally laughed heartily and changed the subject.
“Then, do you know what the special program is this year? Surely you wouldn’t say you don’t know this too. Use your host advantage a little.”
Unfortunately, he didn’t know. Heesu responded glumly.
“I’ve been so busy lately that I’ve barely visited the main house.”
“Oh come on, why would they hide such a big secret even from their son? Everyone will know soon enough anyway. Wait, are you deceiving me now? Afraid I’ll spread it around the neighborhood? Director Jin, how disappointing! As if I would tell anyone if you told me.”
Yujeong probably wouldn’t tell others easily, but there were several people perking up their ears to listen to their conversation, so as soon as he opened his mouth, it would spread to everyone.
Of course, he couldn’t open his mouth. He didn’t know. Heesu needlessly avoided Yujeong’s eyes and scanned the hall, as if playing along with her words. As expected, Yujeong chattered about not pretending not to know, but Heesu firmly turned his gaze away.
Then he discovered something by chance.
His aimlessly moving eyes fixed on a spot. The iris, gleaming under the bright lights, reflected a man who had just entered through the doorway.
A deep navy suit. Neatly swept-back hair. Though it was his first time seeing him dressed up like this, he could recognize him immediately.
“Director?”
As Heesu’s gaze became fixed, Yujeong asked curiously from beside him. Heesu turned his head toward her voice.
“Yes.”
He thought he hadn’t shown any reaction, but the perceptive Yujeong seemed to have already noticed. Her eyes also moved toward the man. Damn it. Heesu took a breath to smooth out his expression that had instinctively frowned. Even though he knew he was coming, seeing his brazenness in person was infuriating.
Taejin, who had just entered the hall, was leisurely crossing the center, taking a glass of champagne.
His attitude was as adept as if he’d been here many times before. Something metallic occasionally flashed under his sleeve as it shifted with his natural movements.
Then Heesu turned, and his eyes met with Taejin’s. In a sensation like time had frozen, Heesu remained there for a very long time.
Taejin, who had been staring steadily without breaking eye contact, suddenly raised the corner of his mouth.
And then he began approaching them.
“So that’s him?”
Yujeong whispered from beside him. Her voice already contained certainty. Heesu just blinked once or twice and nodded. His mother would make a big announcement later anyway, so there was no particular reason to hide it now. There was no reason, but…
Why is he coming this way?
“Hello, Director Jin.”
While Heesu was bewildered, Taejin arrived in front of them. With his gentle smile and slight nod, he looked quite normal.
“…Hello.”
Heesu reluctantly greeted him. It was the minimum courtesy as a functioning member of society.
“Oh my, you two know each other?”
Seizing the opportunity, Yujeong jumped in with an obvious question. She had been openly curious since earlier, and now the person had appeared on his own—there was no way she would miss this chance. Her gaze alternated between the two men before settling on Heesu, with a posture that clearly conveyed her intention. Heesu sighed inwardly and introduced him.
“You’ve probably heard his name already. This is Lee Tae, min-ssi. This is Kim Yujeong-ssi.”
“As I thought. Hello! I’m Kim Yujeong.”
Yujeong brightened up and extended her hand with a friendly smile. Taejin also readily reached out and shook hands lightly.
