Cha Jaehyun. What on earth is he thinking?
After ordering Woojin to monitor Jaehyun’s daily life, Woojin sent photos of his daily activities to Taehan every day. However, there was nothing to glean from them.
‘He must be scheming something.’
Seo Hanryul’s suspicious attitude when he visited that bastard’s house last night. In the photos, that bastard called Seo Hanryul was steadily working Jaehyun to the bone.
Jaehyun in the photos was working all day like someone who’d signed a slave contract—driving all day, carrying heavy boxes. He never showed signs of difficulty and always had a smile on his face, which was even more suspicious. That bastard can do this kind of work? With his temperament, he absolutely couldn’t endure such work.
Jaehyun’s appearance was unbelievable, and he couldn’t understand why Seo Hanryul, who had hated Jaehyun, was using him as a manager. Just looking at the photos, Hanryul, who was working Jaehyun, seemed like a villain.
He was well aware that Jaehyun had once had impure interest in Seo Hanryul, but his current state was that of a slave itself. No matter how much he liked that celebrity, what was the reason for being dragged around and working to this extent? He must have had some major weakness seized by Hanryul.
‘I need to catch that weakness.’
Though he knew full well that Jaehyun was doing hard work every day, his complexion while eating lunch was very bright. The appearance of living steeped in alcohol and drugs couldn’t be found anywhere.
Seeing him smile brightly while eating made him wonder if that foolish appearance he’d shown when drunk wasn’t an act, and his confusion intensified.
‘Why on earth?’
The questions grew, but the unpleasant feelings he felt toward him remained. It was clear that Cha Jaehyun had changed his mindset.
‘He changed his strategy. He seems to be planning to stick around for a long time while playing the fool, but not a chance.’
Taehan ridiculed Jaehyun’s changed attitude to his heart’s content. While thinking that for the time being, he should quietly watch that idiot’s actions. In any case, the ending of that bastard being kicked out of Daejin couldn’t be avoided.
‘Son of a bitch. I’ll kill him.’
Eventually, when night came, Taehan’s eyes flipped. Taehan completely forgot his plan to quietly observe Jaehyun’s attitude.
Late at night, while returning to the bedroom after finishing work in the study, he witnessed his son sneaking into Jaehyun’s room.
The sight of his son walking on tiptoes while being as cautious as possible set fire to Taehan’s heart. That filthy bastard must have urged him to come in quietly without being caught.
‘How dare you, bastard…’
The most precious being to him. That bastard was trying to use even his son. It didn’t matter what kind of dirty trick it was. If he just beat him half to death right now so he could never do such a thing again, that would be enough.
Taehan, with his fists clenched tight, strode right up to the door and observed the two through the crack.
A strange scene entered his eyes. Jaehyun and Taeha lying side by side on the bed. Moreover, his son was stuck to Jaehyun and had no intention of separating.
A bright, childlike appearance he’d never shown in front of him. Jaehyun was affectionately playing with the child, and not a trace of malice could be found on his face. With Taeha’s happy appearance, he couldn’t bring himself to enter the room.
Though he wanted to go in right away and separate the two, he suppressed this and began to carefully observe Jaehyun’s actions.
“…Why does Dad hate Uncle?”
“It’ll all be okay later.”
Even with the sensitive question, his appearance of naturally explaining at the child’s eye level, his appearance of skillfully putting the child to sleep. He couldn’t believe the sight before his eyes.
After putting the child to sleep, Jaehyun alone pondered something deeply before sighing. His expression as he stared into space before lying down to sleep looked somehow dark and even lonely.
Once both of them had fallen asleep, Taehan approached the bed.
Jaehyun and Taeha were sleeping in the same position. Even the fact that their clothes had ridden up to slightly show their stomachs was the same. At a glance, even their sleeping faces looked similar, which brought an uncomfortable feeling.
“Ha…”
Taehan gently stroked his sleeping son’s face, then pulled the child’s clothes down below his stomach. Then he looked down coldly at Cha Jaehyun’s face before leaving the room.
“No…”
‘Why is he doing that again?’
Jaehyun suddenly began muttering incomprehensible sleep talk as if having a nightmare. That voice was very urgent, drawing Taehan’s interest. When he returned to the bed, Jaehyun was tossing in his sleep, even breaking out in cold sweat.
“I did well… Let me go… Please…”
‘What nonsense is he talking?’
“Ha, impressive sleep habits.”
Not only was he breaking out in cold sweat, but now tears were beginning to well up in his eyes. What dream was that bastard having now? Just earlier he’d been laughing happily with his son, yet when sleeping he was shedding tears. Could this appearance also be an act? Which appearance was real, indeed?
Watching Jaehyun whimpering, Taehan had no choice but to wipe his eyes and pull down his clothes. It was work he didn’t feel like doing at all, so a sigh came out, but his appearance was too pitiful to just leave and go.
* * *
“He already left.”
When I opened my eyes, Cha Taeha was gone. He must have woken up earlier than me and returned to his room.
“Ha…”
I felt like I’d slept well, but my body wasn’t as refreshed as I thought. Did I toss in my sleep…
[Come to the study when you wake up.]
When I opened my phone, there was a text from Chairman Cha Taesan. For the Chairman to call me first. There was no time to dawdle. I quickly washed up, put on neat clothes, and rushed to the Chairman’s room.
“Chairman, I’m here.”
“Yes, the promised six months are almost up. What are your plans going forward?”
“I…”
‘No.’
I was about to say I’d go back to America as originally planned, but an inexplicable worry arose. Hadn’t I boldly declared it last time only to unexpectedly return home urgently and get slapped by the Chairman?
‘There’s no need to rush.’
I thought I should convey my plan after the six months had completely passed. Of course, nothing should happen within the six months, but just in case some variable might occur.
“Why do you stop mid-sentence?”
“I haven’t made concrete plans yet. However… I want to study more. Since the six months haven’t fully passed yet, I’ll organize my plans and tell you in detail after that period passes.”
“Ho, so you’re saying the promised period still remains? Fine, do as you wish. This is truly remarkable. …Did you really change your mindset?”
“…Chairman. I’m very well aware that you’re looking after me a great deal. I won’t cause you worry going forward. I’m always grateful.”
“I don’t know what happened, but seeing your changed appearance isn’t bad. …Yes, let’s talk again after six months pass. You may leave.”
“Yes, Chairman. Thank you.”
“Spend the remaining time well. And keep your promise.”
The Chairman tapped my shoulder as if encouraging me.
‘It ended more harmoniously than I thought.’
To be able to have a conversation with the Chairman in this atmosphere. I don’t know Chairman Cha Taesan’s true intentions, but my thoughts about the Chairman changed. Looking at the Chairman’s eyes, I could vaguely tell that he didn’t only hate Cha Jaehyun.
Otherwise, he couldn’t look at Cha Jaehyun with eyes like today’s. Did Cha Jaehyun know Cha Taesan’s heart? No, he didn’t know, so he must have met the worst ending while having such a twisted heart.
‘How good it would have been if he knew.’
I came out of the Chairman’s room feeling complex emotions—pity for Cha Jaehyun, relief that the conversation went well, and reassurance.
* * *
“Young Master, have you been well?”
When I came out of the main gate, Han Woojin’s car was waiting.
‘I didn’t call him.’
I hadn’t called Han Woojin to go back. I’d casually mentioned last time that I’d probably leave the main house around Sunday morning, and he must not have missed those words.
“Yeah. Did Secretary Han spend Saturday well too?”
“Yes, Young Master. I also spent it well. Your complexion looks very good. Since you look well, Young Master, I’m also in a good mood.”
It feels like there are a lot of extra words attached to his speech. Han Woojin also seems to have become quite gentle, perhaps because Cha Jaehyun changed. At our first meeting, he was more robotic than a robot. To think the day would come when Han Woojin would express emotions freely.
Suddenly I was curious about Han Woojin’s true feelings. What is Han Woojin, who’s smiling in front of me now, thinking inside?
‘Still… isn’t this a result satisfactory enough for Cha Jaehyun?’
“Hearing Secretary Han say he’s in a good mood makes me feel good too. …I’m always grateful in many ways.”
Han Woojin is truly remarkable. He detests Cha Jaehyun and is probably still tailing him, yet he smiles so brightly while lying. Looking at him, I thought this is how one should conduct themselves in society. Though I don’t know if I can manage my expressions this skillfully.
“…Thank you, Young Master.”
Han Woojin was at a loss for words. Was it because I suddenly thanked him? Or perhaps he felt sudden self-loathing at his situation of having to act with a smiling face.
‘This is the extent of our relationship.’
Maintaining this kind of relationship to the end. A relationship that’s neither distant nor close. As long as Cha Taehan is his backing, Han Woojin remains a burdensome figure to me. I’ve thought about it a lot, but even if I interrogated Han Woojin, I had no confidence I could beat Cha Taehan. I’ll just maintain a parallel relationship like this, pretending not to know.
Han Woojin, who for some unknown reason needs to earn a lot of money. And Cha Jaehyun, who has nothing but money. If the two hadn’t met like this, they might have had a different relationship.
