Chapter 45
***
When Hajin arrived at the company, he quickly tackled the tasks he’d been putting off while waiting for Director Seo. Every time he flipped through a document, the wounded area throbbed. Looking down at the tightly wrapped bandage, he remembered Juwon staring at it with worry in his eyes.
He doesn’t seem completely indifferent to me…
Still, his suspicion that Juwon had stronger feelings for Hahyun remained as solid as ever.
After finishing his work, time slipped away as he lost himself in thoughts of Juwon. Director Seo had just texted saying he’d arrive in about ten minutes.
“He should be here any moment now…”
Right then, he heard the door open. When he looked up, Director Seo was walking in.
“Director, you’re here?”
Hajin immediately stood and greeted him respectfully.
Director Seo Sanghyun was the second most important person to Hajin after Hahyun. Partly because of his position in the company, but more importantly because he was the only person who hadn’t turned a blind eye to the danger the brothers faced. That was why Hajin had come today despite knowing Director Seo’s summons was part of Hahyun’s scheme.
“I’ve told you to call me uncle. How many years have we been family, and you’re still so formal with me?”
Sanghyun sat down on the sofa with a kind expression.
“Since you look busy, I’ll cut to the chase. You probably already know about this from Hahyun.”
“Yes, you’re here about Secretary Kim, right?”
“Are you worried?”
“Honestly? A little. If you join forces with Secretary Kim, it’ll be difficult for me to keep my position.”
Sanghyun gave the serious-faced Hajin a light-hearted response.
“You think I might take your seat?”
“If you were to take it, I’d gladly step aside. Just thinking about it makes me feel lighter.”
“Hey now, you shouldn’t tease your elders like that.”
Thanks to Sanghyun’s banter, the tension in the air eased.
“Don’t worry. How could I possibly side with Secretary Kim over my own nephew? Even if I had to give up all my shares, I wouldn’t join hands with that man.”
Hajin found himself curious. While Sanghyun wasn’t a greedy person, at this point it would clearly be more advantageous for him to side with Secretary Kim—who was drawing in Chairman Seo’s people—rather than with Hajin, who only had practical experience.
“Would you feel the same way if I weren’t your nephew but a complete stranger?”
Sanghyun nodded without a moment’s hesitation.
“Secretary Kim is like a snake. Your father always suspected him. He kept him around only because he was the only one who’d put up with his nasty personality, not because he trusted him.”
This was the first time Hajin had heard this. Chairman Seo went everywhere with Secretary Kim and shared business secrets with him.
When Hajin’s face showed surprise, Sanghyun continued.
“If he’d trusted him, he would’ve put Hahyun in the owner’s position with Secretary Kim supporting him. There would’ve been no need to ad—”
Sanghyun stopped mid-sentence. He seemed uncomfortable saying the word “adoption” in front of Hajin.
“It’s alright.”
“Good.”
An awkward silence briefly settled over them. Sanghyun’s lips twitched as if he had something more to say.
“Is there something else you wanted to tell me? Uncle.”
“Ha ha, you sly fox! The moment I say I won’t side with Secretary Kim, you start calling me uncle?”
“It’s not like that… though I certainly don’t mind having your support.”
Sanghyun’s smiling face turned serious again.
“Hajin. I asked to see you partly for business reasons, but I also wanted to discuss something with you without Hahyun around.”
“Yes, please go ahead.”
After a moment’s consideration, Sanghyun spoke with difficulty.
“This might be awkward to say, but… no matter how terrible Chairman Seo was, he was still my brother, so I can’t just let this go.”
Hajin blinked slowly. Sanghyun was talking about Chairman Seo’s death. With Yoon Juwon’s disappearance, the chairman’s death remained an unsolved case, so naturally his family would be concerned.
Hajin concealed his inner thoughts and responded calmly.
“Of course. I’ve been getting regular updates on the investigation whenever I can.”
“Thank you for that. But no matter how I think about it, I don’t believe that missing model is the culprit.”
Hajin’s eyes widened at Sanghyun’s completely unexpected words.
“What? What do you mean all of a sudden…?”
“You’ve seen that model too, so you know. He was ambitious. Chairman Seo brought him in and groomed him. Thanks to that, he made a name for himself. But in the industry, he was labeled as Chairman Seo’s model, so he couldn’t move to another agency. Why would he kill Chairman Seo? There’d be no advantage in it for him…”
This had been bothering Hajin as well. It didn’t make sense that a man who’d normally overpower big guys like Hajin and Hahyun with a golf club would be pushed down and killed by someone with Juwon’s weak strength. He’d been quietly looking into it, and now that Sanghyun had the same doubts, Hajin became even more convinced of his suspicions.
However, he needed to shut down other people’s doubts. The more people thought Yoon Juwon wasn’t the killer while the real culprit remained undiscovered, the more frantically they’d search for him.
“I’m also troubled by the Chairman’s death… but there was testimony from the secretarial office that Yoon Juwon was there when the Chairman died. So I think it’s best not to entertain other theories. In any case, I’m getting updates on the investigation, so we’ll likely find a lead soon.”
“I suppose if no one else was there at the time, there’s no room for doubt.”
Sanghyun stood up looking dissatisfied.
“I’m sorry for taking up so much of your busy time. I should get going.”
Hajin stood as well and bowed.
“Goodbye, Uncle.”
Sanghyun patted Hajin’s shoulder a few times and left.
Secretary Kim beginning to reveal his true intentions, Director Seo questioning Chairman Seo’s death…
And…
Yoon Juwon no longer resenting Hahyun.
All these circumstances were tightening like a noose around Hajin’s neck.
***
I stared intently at the white Go stone on the board, focusing all my attention. If I could just flick it right and knock Hahyun’s black stone off, I might actually win this round.
“Why are you taking so long to flick one stone?”
“Just wait a second. Can’t you see I’m taking aim?”
I lowered my head almost to the floor, aligning my angle horizontally. After taking a deep breath, I put strength into my finger and flicked it with a sharp tap.
“Ugh… seriously, why!”
Once again, the stone flew off course, leaving Hahyun’s black stone untouched while taking my well-positioned white stone with it. In the end, only black stones remained on the board.
I ruffled my hair in frustration and glared at Hahyun. It wasn’t his fault, but I felt inexplicably angry.
We’d been playing games for three hours already, and I hadn’t won against him once. How good do you have to be at games to actually win? How does Hahyun hit his mark every single time?
Hahyun grabbed my hand and lowered it, smiling.
“Hyung, let’s stop now.”
Having to remove one piece of clothing each time I lost, the only things left on my body were my pants and underwear. Since I just lost, I should take off my pants, but if we stop now, does that mean I don’t have to?
It was a sweet offer, but it would mean ending the game in defeat. It wasn’t the Olympics or some life-changing exam, and nothing serious would happen if I lost a game of stone-flicking with Hahyun at home, but I didn’t want to lose.
I boldly took off my pants right in front of Hahyun. His eyes widened.
“You want to keep going?”
“Yes! Just one more round.”
Hahyun looked at me with a strange expression.
“Are you sure? If you lose again, you’ll have to take that off too.”
I knew he was saying this out of concern, but it oddly made me more defiant.
“I know that! Let’s just play one more round. Hurry up and set the board.”
Hahyun started gathering the scattered Go stones.
“Alright. But why are you getting so worked up? It’s not like I’m not… whatever.”
Hahyun put the white stones he’d carefully collected into my container, pouting.
“I’m only doing this because I like you, otherwise… Hah… isn’t this tear-jerking devotion?”
“Who said what? I appreciate it, so stop talking and set up the board.”
“Wow, look at that temper…”
Hahyun set up the Go board and placed his stones first. Positioning stones was strategic—it was advantageous to place yours after seeing where your opponent put theirs—but Hahyun always placed his first and let me place mine after. That’s right, this much is true love. You really do love me.
“Place yours now.”
I carefully studied the position of Hahyun’s stones one by one as I placed mine. After placing the last stone, I raised my hand to play rock-paper-scissors. Hahyun said with a smirk:
“You can go first.”
“…No take-backs?”
“No.”
I concentrated again and aimed at the black stone with my white one. Just as I was about to flick my finger after taking a deep breath, Hahyun grabbed my wrist.
“What!”
“Stop being so irritable. My ears are about to fall off.”
“Why did you grab me?!”
“I wanted to give you a tip.”
“A tip?”
A tip in the middle of a bet?
“When you flick the stone, you’re using too much force. The stone will still move if you use less strength, so try doing it more gently.”
I narrowed my eyes at Hahyun. It was strange that he’d give me a tip during a bet.
“Don’t be suspicious. I just prefer seeing you happy over watching you take off your clothes. I want you to win this time.”
It was odd that Hahyun, who’d been desperate to get his hands on me, would suddenly change his attitude. I glared at him suspiciously, but he didn’t seem to be lying.
“Alright. You better not be tricking me.”
