Chapter 63: Only That Guy Is Different
After returning home straight from work, Dohyuk called Director Choi to his study while Yeon was taking a shower.
“Get all the CCTV footage from around Kang Sunhyuk’s house at the time of Kim Yumin’s death.”
“The police would have already investigated it.”
“Great. Then we just need to hack into one of the police computers.”
Director Choi swallowed a groan at the casual order to hack into the police station.
“If you’re concerned about the consequences falling on you, Managing Director…”
“No,” Dohyuk cut off Director Choi.
“The police can’t move anyway since there’s no solid evidence against me. I’m not worried about being framed for murder. I just need to find out who the bastard is.”
Dohyuk’s eyes darkened. He had suspected Kang Chahyuk, but after meeting and talking with him that morning, he felt he should consider the possibility that it might not be him. Kim Seonuk was likely instigated by Kang Chahyuk—on that point, Kim Seonuk was telling the truth and Kang Chahyuk was lying. But the identity of Kim Yumin’s killer was a bit ambiguous.
It seemed there could be someone else besides Kang Chahyuk—someone trying to shake up Kang Mansik’s children, including himself.
For what purpose? Who would benefit from Kang Mansik’s children tearing each other apart?
He narrowed his eyes and pondered deeply, but no one came to mind. Or perhaps there were too many who would benefit from Dragon Holdings’ downfall to specify.
Dragon Holdings falling? Would Chairman Kang Mansik just sit back and watch that happen? Dohyuk didn’t think the chairman was unaware of the series of events. He was either observing everything while knowing or was making his own moves.
Should he perhaps consult with Kang Mansik? After thinking that far, he let out a dry laugh. Going to Kang Mansik for help was no different from allowing him to grasp a weakness. Though he was his father on paper, Kang Mansik was not someone Dohyuk could trust either.
He would have to find the culprit with his own hands after all.
“While you’re at it, dig up everything on Kang Chahyuk too.”
He had planted spies on Kang Chahyuk before, but given the current situation, it was clear that either those spies had been bought by Chahyuk, or Chahyuk had noticed them and was evading them. When people couldn’t be utilized, digging up evidence was faster.
Though Dohyuk’s instructions were finished, Director Choi didn’t immediately withdraw, hesitating as if he had something he wanted to say.
“If you have something to say, say it.”
“What are you planning to do about Director Baek Hyeri from Kangsan Construction?”
Dohyuk’s brow furrowed at the sudden mention of Baek Hyeri.
“You haven’t contacted her once outside of work-related meetings for the past two weeks.”
Seeing Dohyuk’s expression that seemed to ask what the problem was, Director Choi continued, sounding frustrated.
“I’ve reported that she has had several personal meetings with Executive Director Kang Sunhyuk during that time.”
“So? Are you saying Baek Hyeri has gone over to Kang Sunhyuk’s side?”
Dohyuk had strictly classified his relationship with her as purely professional. Since Baek Hyeri was similar, he had never considered anything beyond work-related meetings.
“No one can guarantee another person’s heart.”
Director Choi exhaled a short sigh.
“Just look at Lee Seojin.”
Director Choi had trusted Lee Seojin. Knowing his feelings toward Kang Dohyuk, he had firmly believed that Lee Seojin would never betray Dohyuk. But that affection had turned into poison, causing him to deceive various people, resulting in Dohyuk being identified as a suspect in Kim Yumin’s death.
Dohyuk understood what Director Choi was trying to say. But he felt no particular emotion about it. As long as the collaboration with Kangsan Construction proceeded normally, he didn’t care whether Baek Hyeri married Kang Sunhyuk or himself.
“If she’s meeting with Kang Sunhyuk, just leave her be. What’s important is that we secure the strategic marriage with Kangsan Construction.”
“But that could be disadvantageous to you, Managing Director.”
Marriage with Baek Hyeri was not only to solidify the collaboration with Kangsan Construction but also to gain an advantage in the power struggle within Dragon Holdings. But now Dohyuk wasn’t considering the latter at all.
‘You probably won’t be able to get married.’
He laughed dryly, recalling what Yeon had said once. If Yeon could read his current thoughts, he’d probably say, “See? Didn’t I tell you that you wouldn’t get married?” Of course, the real Yeon would never say such a thing.
“I won’t lose to Kang Sunhyuk over something that trivial.”
Not only would he not lose to Kang Sunhyuk even if he had Kangsan Construction behind him, but even if Sunhyuk’s power grew, if Baek Hyeri chose Sunhyuk, Dohyuk had no intention of making any effort to make her choose him instead.
Dohyuk had turned down people who wanted him. Whether for work purposes or not, if the other party said no, there was no reason for him to cling to them.
“But I don’t understand why only that guy is different.”
At his mumble, Director Choi looked at him with an expression that didn’t understand what he meant. Dohyuk shook his head, saying it was nothing, and told him to go.
As Director Choi left the study, he paused at the sight of Yeon standing right in front.
“I was waiting because I have something to tell Kang Dohyuk-ssi.”
Yeon answered as if making an excuse.
“Since you seem to have heard everything, may I say something to you?”
When Director Choi asked politely, Yeon nodded.
“I still don’t know how to accept your existence. Your inexplicable ability…”
Director Choi frowned, trailing off as if unsure how to explain.
“I no longer think it’s a scam. There have clearly been moments when it helped. But your existence…”
He took another deep breath.
“I’m not sure whether you’ll be poison or benefit to the Managing Director.”
Yeon just listened to Director Choi’s words without opening his mouth. Though Director Choi was being careful and choosing his words, Yeon understood what he wanted to say. There had been a similar incident in the past. The day his right-hand man had pointed a knife at Yeon, he had said Yeon would be poison to him, that he would block his path and cloud his vision.
“I understand your concerns, Director Choi.”
Director Choi looked at him incredulously at his answer.
“But please don’t do anything. If you try to harm me, your life might be in danger too. I’m asking not for my sake, but for yours.”
Director Choi exhaled in disbelief at Yeon’s request. He would find it ridiculous. Using the excuse of “for your sake” when asking not to be harmed would only seem brazen. But it was the truth. If Director Choi tried to separate him from Dohyuk for Dohyuk’s sake, Dohyuk would strike down Director Choi. In the worst case, he might even try to kill him. Yeon didn’t want another bloodbath.
“You know Kang Dohyuk-ssi well.”
Yeon added with a bitter smile. Director Choi frowned but didn’t deny Yeon’s words.
“I’m trying not to become poison.”
Yeon himself was the most concerned and cautious about Dohyuk’s surroundings being stained with blood because of him. Director Choi, who had been silently looking at Yeon, slightly bowed his head.
“Please take care of the Managing Director.”
Even after Director Choi left, Yeon stood in the corridor for a moment, just staring at the study door. He felt more tense being alone with Dohyuk than before. It was because he realized that the way Dohyuk looked at him was changing from before. Since he himself could no longer treat Dohyuk merely as a client, all sorts of emotions became entangled when facing him.
Hiding emotions wasn’t working well. Even what he had thought was his only talent kept becoming useless in front of Dohyuk.
Taking a deep breath, he knocked on the door, and a response to come in came from inside. As he opened the door and entered, Dohyuk’s gaze fixed directly on Yeon’s face. Yeon stood by the door and looked around Dohyuk.
Various colored threads were tangled messily. Trying to find the threads connecting Kang Sunhyuk and Lee Seojin among them made him want to sigh first. Though he had already checked directly with his eyes, since Dohyuk’s human relationships were so numerous, every time he turned away and tried to find them again, he would have to search for quite a while.
At least Lee Seojin’s thread was visible first. Compared to the mostly dark and murky colored threads, Lee Seojin’s clear crimson thread stood out. He had worried that evil emotions might have seeped into it because of what had happened earlier, but fortunately, it remained as before. However, the crimson had faded slightly.
It seems closer to resignation than resentment or anger. Yeon felt sorry for Lee Seojin’s feelings toward Dohyuk. There was nothing he could do about that thread. As Lee Seojin gradually sorted out his feelings himself, the color of the thread would fade more and more. It was better to leave this as it was.
The thread connecting Kang Sunhyuk was, unexpectedly, not black but closer to gray. Despite his outward grumbling, Kang Sunhyuk didn’t hate Dohyuk that much. Similarly, Dohyuk’s feeling toward Kang Sunhyuk was closer to indifference than malice.
Now that he thought about it, most of these numerous threads connected to Dohyuk extended from others to him. Dohyuk rarely took the initiative to show interest in others or harbor hatred toward them.
“What are you looking for?”
Dohyuk frowned, noticing that Yeon’s gaze was wandering in the air rather than at him.
“The fate connecting you with Kang Sunhyuk-ssi.”
“You said it wasn’t a bad fate.”
“Still, you never know. It might have changed after what happened earlier.”
Though he had been in the car, they were close enough that he could hear their conversation when the window was opened. Since Sunhyuk now knew that Lee Seojin was a spy planted by Dohyuk, he would feel even more betrayed, and Yeon was concerned that those feelings might have turned the thread black.
“And if it’s turned black? Are you going to try to cut it off on your own again?”
“Family connections aren’t so easily broken. Even if they’re bad fates.”
Yeon casually replied while focusing his senses to find the thread connecting to Kang Sunhyuk. He didn’t notice that Dohyuk’s expression was hardening as he watched him.
“Are you saying you can’t break it, or that you’d force yourself to break it anyway?”
His voice sounded so close that when Yeon looked, Dohyuk had approached right up to his face. It felt like if he said he would break it, Dohyuk might forcibly kiss him again like he had in the car earlier. Yeon turned his head away and stepped back slightly.
“Fortunately, there’s no need for that. The thread connecting with Kang Sunhyuk-ssi remains the same.”
At Yeon’s implication that Dohyuk wouldn’t need to do what he’d been told not to do, Dohyuk smirked and went back to his seat. As he backed off, Yeon’s pent-up tension released, and a long breath escaped.
