# Chapter 110
Setting foot in his family home for the first time in a while, Dojin quickly scanned the unchanged surroundings.
“My son is here.”
Dojin handed over his luggage to the person who approached him and turned his head in the direction of the familiar voice.
“You even sent Secretary Lee.”
“Otherwise, you would have come late.”
Dojin pretended not to hear the same criticism that Secretary Lee had given him. It was true, but there was no benefit in agreeing.
“I heard you weren’t in a good mood today, but you look better than I expected.”
“I wonder when you heard that—”
“Just now from Secretary Lee. Well, it’s fine if you’re okay. More importantly, would you attend a party on my behalf?”
She tilted her chin and continued with her request, disregarding Dojin’s frowning response. Dojin, likewise, accepted her attitude as something familiar.
“I don’t think I’m in a position to take your place, Mother.”
“The pretext is a child’s birthday party, so it’s sufficient.”
Having roughly grasped the situation, Dojin sighed. So, it was a party that didn’t necessarily require his presence as vice president, but his mother intended to send him considering their usual acquaintance.
“If that was all, you could have just called me.”
“Check the suit you’ll wear to the party before you leave. It’s still at the fitting stage, so it would be good to try it on. It’s been a long time since you’ve had a new suit made.”
“…When is the party?”
“Three nights from now.”
Dojin laughed bitterly at the fact that the suit he was to wear to a party three nights away was still at the fitting stage. This urgent schedule was clearly the result of his mother belatedly remembering the party schedule. She was someone who erased what she considered unimportant matters from her mind.
“Alright. I’ll get the details from Secretary Lee, so you can go. You must have come from work.”
“My son, but so cold.”
“Should I detain you?”
In response to Dojin’s indifferent question, she revealed a neat smile and turned around to leave. She had probably intended to just see his face briefly from the beginning. If Dojin hadn’t come to the family home after so long, she might not have shown her face at all.
Already familiar with this, Dojin headed to his dressing room on the third floor. And at some point, Secretary Lee appeared and followed behind him.
“At this time of year, it’s probably a yacht party.”
“Yes, that’s correct. You know well.”
References used to subtly display wealth at parties were usually predetermined. Dismissing the small exclamation, Dojin racked his brain trying to guess which child his mother had mentioned.
Thinking carefully, there seemed to be a party that was regularly held during this season. The problem was that since he hadn’t attended parties for the past few years, his memory was hazy.
The sensation of almost remembering, yet not quite, was not very pleasant.
“…Don’t tell me.”
Kwon Dojin stopped as a name emerged in his mind, as if to taunt him, when he stood in front of the dressing room. Secretary Lee, following behind, called out to him with puzzlement.
“Secretary Lee.”
“Yes.”
“Is this party being held for Ji Haecheon’s birthday?”
“Did you just now realize?”
When surprise, not denial, was returned, Kwon Dojin’s brow furrowed. The fact that he had to attend a suit fitting on a day like today just to attend that bastard’s birthday party irritated him immensely.
“Is there another—”
“You have to go, even if you don’t want to. I’ve already conveyed that you will attend in place of the Vice President.”
His eyebrow twitched at the action that quickly cut off his words and blocked any escape route. Perhaps because they had faced each other for a long time, he knew Dojin too well.
Sighing, he first entered. It was because he knew that hidden in the words “try on the fitted clothes” was the fact that a designer was waiting.
Knowing this, it would be impolite to keep the other person waiting any longer. As expected, several people, including the designer, were waiting in the dressing room.
After skipping greetings with a slight bow, Dojin examined the prepared clothes and realized they had been made according to his taste. He always preferred a formal yet not too heavy style that highlighted aspects fitting his age group, and clothes meeting those criteria were right in front of him.
“Mother was involved, I see.”
“I thought you would notice. The Vice President put a lot of effort into it, saying it was a gift she was giving after a long time.”
As Dojin murmured quietly while touching the jacket, Secretary Lee smiled, curving the corners of his eyes. Not only him, but most of those present displayed warm smiles.
They seemed to feel a sense of warmth at the fact that Dojin immediately recognized his mother’s efforts. Yet it was only because he had glimpsed her stubbornness in the single and two buttons.
Nevertheless, Dojin displayed a formal smile without showing it. There was no need to spoil the moment, and he had no intention of acting like a fool in front of others.
“The party starts at 7 PM. It’s planned to sail at 7:30 PM and cruise for about 3 hours.”
Dojin maintained silence as much as possible while listening to a general explanation of the party. Occasionally nodding to indicate he was listening, he carefully examined the fitted clothes.
“I’ll stay at the family home until the party.”
“I’ll prepare accordingly.”
Only after deciding on matters for the finishing work over a not-so-short time, and after everyone except Secretary Lee had left, did he bring up the postponed words.
“Secretary Lee.”
“Yes, young master.”
“Children grow up fighting, don’t they?”
Despite the sudden words, Secretary Lee’s expression hardened as he quickly grasped the underlying meaning. Dojin was anxious, thinking “surely not,” while knowing full well that he was the kind of person who would make that “surely not” a reality.
“That’s just a saying. No one actually wants children to grow up fighting.”
He answered firmly, clearly not wanting his workload to increase, but Dojin lowered his gaze and contemplated something. Since he showed no signs of listening, only Secretary Lee grew anxious.
“I believe you know he’s the son of the host.”
“Yes, well. But he’s a friend, right?”
“Yes. But first and foremost, he’s the son of the host.”
Sensing that the conversation would drag on, Dojin shrugged and cut it off. At his gesture, which conveyed the intent not to bend his thoughts, Secretary Lee let out a silent sigh.
“You’re attending on behalf of the Vice President. Please exercise restraint.”
“I will.”
“Don’t provoke the other party first, either.”
“Hmm.”
“…Even if it’s a lie, at least pretend to affirm—”
“Should I?”
Dojin, who had been refraining from making empty promises for the sake of Secretary Lee who would have to clean up afterward, eagerly asked. In contrast, Secretary Lee became serious and immediately corrected his words. He realized that, thanks to Dojin’s response, he had said something he shouldn’t have.
“I would appreciate it if you continued to refrain from lying, as you have been.”
“Your words change too quickly.”
“In order to minimize work—no, for swift task processing, I ask for your understanding that your transparent cooperation is needed.”
Dojin nodded half-heartedly at Secretary Lee’s smoothly flowing response. Although he showed a tempted reaction, he had no intention of lying anyway. He had only planned to omit words.
“Young master.”
“Yes.”
“It’s been a while since you attended a party, hasn’t it?”
“It has.”
“You know without me saying, right?”
Dojin nodded sluggishly and then rested his chin on his hand. Silence descended, making Secretary Lee anxious, but out of concern that he might inadvertently provoke him, he deliberately kept his mouth shut.
“Mother is lenient about children’s fights, right?”
“Would she be lenient about fighting with the host’s son?”
“You know we don’t get along, don’t you?”
“Yes, that is true. But didn’t you just call him a friend a moment ago?”
Secretary Lee’s expression faltered as Dojin changed his words in less than ten minutes. Glancing at the slightly distorted face, Dojin pretended not to notice and raised the corners of his lips in a faint smile.
Secretary Lee finally sighed at the behavior that closely resembled the Vice President. Having been together for a long time, occasionally the boundary created by the employer-employee relationship would crumble.
“Mother will know too.”
“Yes. It’s something she already knows—”
There was no way the Vice President wouldn’t know what Secretary Lee knew. That meant she was sending Dojin despite knowing. So, wouldn’t it be okay no matter what he did?
Having reached his own conclusion, Dojin smiled like a mischievous child. He usually didn’t like causing disruptions in places where formality and ceremony were important, but this time was different.
Since the main character of the event was someone who had consistently provoked him using Habin for half a year, he decided to ruin it as spectacularly as possible. Until now, he had held back because there was someone he needed to protect, but on that day, there would be no such constraint.
In other words, it was the perfect day to punch that obnoxious jerk in the face.
“You originally ignored him, didn’t you? How about doing the same this time?”
“I confessed for the first time in my life and got rejected, today.”
“Yes, that’s right?”
Secretary Lee trailed off, wondering why Dojin was bringing up that fact. Dojin had too much pride to be the first to mention the fact that he had been rejected.
“So I’d like to vent a little. This is perfect timing, isn’t it?”
“No. It’s not perfect at all.”
This time, Secretary Lee became genuinely serious, but Dojin smiled, saying it still seemed good even upon reconsideration. He looked determined to ruin someone else’s celebration day.
LMAOOO
Deserved