“…….”
A group of men came barging in. They wore business suits like company employees, and every one of them had stern expressions. It was clear they hadn’t entered by mistake. Kang Siwon put down his chopsticks and raised his guard.
“Were you leisurely eating a meal?”
The man standing in the center opened his mouth. Judging by the atmosphere, he seemed to be the leader. He looked to be in his mid-thirties. He had a somewhat sharp impression.
Ray Jun responded with a snicker.
“I thought this was a restaurant that prided itself on refinement, but it lacks basic etiquette. To allow uninvited guests to barge in while customers are dining in a private room.”
“Maybe they didn’t want to treat a lowlife like you as a customer.”
“True, what power would the manager have when a troublemaker forces their way in.”
Ray Jun, wearing a sneer, cut into the lobster. He hadn’t eaten a single bite until just now, so why he was picking up the knife at this timing was anyone’s guess. The man ground his teeth at that composed appearance.
“When you give your name and demand a private room, naturally a report comes up to me. Wasn’t this all a ploy to call me out in the end?”
“You have delusions of grandeur. I just came to have a meal. If I wanted to meet you, I would have contacted you separately.”
“Ha, the delusion that I’d accept a call from the likes of you is pitiful.”
“Yeah. You’re so determined not to answer, so I didn’t even call, yet you came all the way here yourself, right? Or did the COO-nim also want Chinese food for dinner?”
COO-nim.
At those words, Kang Siwon stole a glance at the man. If he was Sovereign’s COO, he would be Li Hou, the son of Chairman Li Yong. Perhaps because he knew the information that he was Ray Jun’s half-brother, he seemed strangely similar to him as well. Of course, Ray Jun was far more handsome.
“I came to clean up the trash rolling around the resort. I can’t allow a con artist like you to walk around openly.”
“Haa, it’s really hard to eat a meal in peace here.”
Ray Jun grumbled as he put down his knife. To be so brazen even in front of a group glaring at him like they’d kill him—at this point, it was even admirable.
But then Ray Jun turned his head toward Kang Siwon and spoke to him.
“Let’s go somewhere better next time. Got it?”
At those words, Li Hou also looked at Kang Siwon. The men standing behind him did the same. Suddenly becoming the center of everyone’s attention, Kang Siwon clenched his fists under the table.
Ray Jun, this unhelpful bastard. He’d wanted to remain as inconspicuous as possible, but because of his one remark, he’d attracted unnecessary attention.
“What’s this now? Were you fooling around with a friend?”
“Since you know, why don’t you leave now.”
“Wait. You, by any chance…….”
Li Hou’s eyes narrowed. He scanned Kang Siwon as if examining him. Soon, as if he’d gotten his answer, Li Hou frowned.
“Is that person the lover you’ve been keeping around? Not even a woman but hanging around with a man—you do all sorts of things. Just as filthy as your origins.”
“…….”
Li Hou also knew that he was staying with Ray Jun? Kang Siwon’s face grew hot as if a shameful secret had been discovered.
But when he thought about it carefully, it wasn’t really surprising. Li Hou was the one who helped Ray Jun stay in the penthouse—though judging by the atmosphere, it was questionable whether that was truly a pure ‘help’ arising from his own will—so naturally he would have known who was staying with him. However, humiliation welled up inside at the attitude that seemed to treat him like a call boy or something.
“I’m not that kind of person.”
Kang Siwon spat out coldly. He couldn’t not correct at least this. But perhaps displeased that he’d interjected into the conversation, this time Ray Jun gently furrowed his brow.
“Let’s stop with the useless talk and state your business. If it’s important enough to interrupt my dinner, it must be a significant matter, right?”
“I’ll speak bluntly. Stop causing trouble. If you don’t want to see blood, stop while I’m still going easy on you.”
“Trouble? What did I do?”
“How shameless. You think I don’t know about your scheme to divide the board of directors with the Financial Services Bureau matter? Who else but an idle person like you would pull something like this?”
“Ha……. How wronged I feel.”
Ray Jun said, leaning deeply back in his chair.
“I’ve heard rumors that the Financial Services Bureau will make a move soon, but it’s troublesome if you question me about that. So you should have just lived without doing bad things, right? Don’t lash out at the wrong place because you’re already feeling guilty and anxious.”
“What thick skin. If you didn’t instigate it, why would that false rumor have spread?”
“Seeing you speak so confidently, I suppose you have evidence?”
Looking at that grinning face, honestly even Kang Siwon found Ray Jun suspicious. To be able to look so vicious with such a cheerful appearance. That was quite a talent too. Should he call it a flower with poison? Anyway, though he didn’t know the detailed circumstances, it seemed something was happening at Sovereign.
“Your lowly origins are the evidence. Do you need any other evidence? Acting like you’re trying to squeeze out anything more you can get…….”
“Haha, stupid bastards always insist like this without a shred of evidence. I suppose that’s all they know how to do?”
“Watch your mouth. You unrestrained brat.”
“Li Hou, if you came all the way here so imposingly, don’t just tremble but speak properly. What’s the problem? Did one of the directors by any chance betray everyone to save their own skin? And because of that, the board was turned upside down and they’re having a dogfight among themselves?”
“It was your doing after all. Why is someone who claimed to know nothing so well-informed about internal affairs?”
“I have ears to hear. Of course, I also have a mouth to speak……. Even if I did shake things up, what are you going to do about it? Have you never played poker?”
“What are you suddenly…….”
“When you play poker, even if it seems like your opponent is using tricks, if you can’t prove it, you just have to take it. If you have complaints, either expose their methods, give up the game, or crush them with overwhelming skill. There are several options, right?”
“……You shameless lowborn. No wonder you’re someone who used to be just a dealer!”
“I’m advising you out of the affection of half-blood kinship, Li Hou. You don’t have the guts to give up the game, and you don’t seem to have the brains to beat me……. How about at least bringing some plausible evidence? Otherwise, how are you different from a sucker who just fiddles with cards and gets fleeced? Right?”
Ray Jun looked at Kang Siwon again, seeking agreement. He seemed to need someone to chime in, but it was only troublesome for Kang Siwon. Fortunately or unfortunately, Li Hou was glaring as if he’d kill only Ray Jun.
“Right. Your pathetic methods are obvious. You would have cowardly stayed behind while pushing the dirty work onto a broker.”
“I’m telling you I never did that. This much is really true.”
Ray Jun raised both hands as if proving his innocence. Of course, there was no way Li Hou would believe him at face value. Even though he was pretending to be composed on the outside, he couldn’t hide his flushed complexion. If Ray Jun had decided to send his half-brother off with high blood pressure, he was already halfway successful.
“You dare act arrogant toward me inside this Sovereign? I could twist your neck right here and now and you couldn’t do anything about it. Go ahead, keep spouting that nonsense. Let’s see if you can still act so arrogant when you’re beaten until your bones break. Don’t worry. I’ll take care of your lover too.”
When Li Hou raised his hand to signal, the men standing behind him approached threateningly. Kang Siwon inwardly prepared to be beaten. It was an enclosed room, and if it came to it, it would be easy for Li Hou to manipulate the CCTV, so it wouldn’t be surprising whatever happened to them. But at that moment, Ray Jun spoke coldly.
“Li Hou, I guess you only play networking games and don’t know how the world works……. As a former dealer, let me teach you something. When your weak hand has been exposed, you shouldn’t recklessly make a scene. Especially the bigger the pot at stake.”
“…….”
Kang Siwon didn’t miss Li Hou flinching for a moment. Li Hou seemed to understand Ray Jun’s meaning exactly, but stubbornly maintained his pride to the end.
“It would be best to back down quietly while I’m warning you. I can’t stand to watch a bastard of unknown origins stirring up muddy waters any longer.”
After unilaterally snapping at him, Li Hou turned around and two men quickly opened the door. The men rushed to follow Li Hou as he left in a huff. It was a sight that naturally brought to mind a prince and his eunuchs.
“…….”
In the room that became desolate in an instant, Kang Siwon swallowed a sigh. It had already been an uncomfortable situation, but now he really didn’t know what to say. Yet Ray Jun calmly picked up his chopsticks and poked at the chili lobster.
“It’s all cold. Really no manners, right? Interrupting someone’s date like that.”
