# Chapter 28
“Just read it quickly.”
After reading the paper Seo Hanryul threw, I let out a hollow laugh. The paper was filled with absurd statements. The content of the paper could be summarized as ‘a festival of ridiculous nonsense’.
- (Cha Jaehyun) shall perform road manager duties for (Seo Hanryul).
- Employment Period
– From 20XX year X month X day to 20XX year X month X day, for a period of (6) months.
- Work Location and Hours
– Between 00:00~24:00, and shall fully comply with the location/time determined by (Seo Hanryul).
– Break times will be flexibly granted according to (Seo Hanryul)’s schedule.
– However, even if break times are not granted, (Cha Jaehyun) cannot raise objections to (Seo Hanryul).
- Miscellaneous
– (Cha Jaehyun) agrees to install GPS (location tracking system) on his phone for the smooth execution of (Seo Hanryul)’s entertainment activities.
– If during work, (Cha Jaehyun) damages (Seo Hanryul)’s reputation through inappropriate language or attitude, it will be considered a violation of work rules without any exceptions.
– If (Cha Jaehyun) fulfills his duties smoothly during the agreed work period, (Seo Hanryul) will not demand anything additional from (Cha Jaehyun) afterwards.
( ) Year ( ) Month ( ) Day / Signature:
What kind of novel demand is this now? It was so ridiculous that even a passing dog would laugh. And what was that about GPS installation?
“Pfft…”
I finally burst out laughing after reading this embarrassing scrap of paper that even an elementary school student would shake their head at after one read.
‘Is this a hidden camera prank?’
It was already hard to believe Seo Hanryul had come to America, but the content of the paper he handed me was even more outrageous.
“Are you joking with me right now?”
To think he came all the way to America for such a shabby request. It’s absurd. Did he seriously think I would sign this? What kind of confidence is that?
‘Is this the protagonist’s baseless self-confidence…?’
Reading this childish play-pretend paper made my tension gradually ease. I also thought Seo Hanryul was smarter than I expected. He knows that material demands would mean nothing to Cha Jaehyun, who has more than enough money.
It seems Seo Hanryul came up with this slave contract to get his revenge on me in his own way, but I could just deny everything and expose him.
“This isn’t the time to just laugh, you know?”
Seo Hanryul spoke in a cold tone, as if he had sensed my thoughts. But he doesn’t stand a chance.
No matter how much you lower your voice like that, the game is over, dude.
“Honestly, wouldn’t you laugh too? Coming all the way to America just to play such a ridiculous prank. You have an unexpectedly humorous side.”
“Humorous, huh. Well, you’re talking as if this is someone else’s business, which is amusing.”
“Stop with the childish pranks. Instead of this nonsense, tell me what you want through Secretary Han. Additionally, I’ll cover all your stay expenses and airfare in America.”
“I don’t need any of that. Will you just sign this?”
Seo Hanryul’s attitude was very firm. Does he really think I’ll sign this absurd paper if he insists? He looked like a little boy who thinks anything is possible if he persists, making him seem almost cute.
“Seo Hanryul, I didn’t take you for someone who can’t understand simple words. Let me say it again, I’ll give you anything you need. Except for these absurd conditions.”
“I knew you’d react like this, of course.”
The crazy guy suddenly lifted his shirt. When he lifted it, his perfectly sculpted abs were revealed. Is he advertising that not only his face but his body is also good-looking? He keeps doing things I can’t understand.
“You must really need attention, huh? Stop with the weird behavior.”
“Look closely if you have eyes.”
As Seo Hanryul lifted his t-shirt a bit more, a clear scar on his abdomen became visible. When I flinched at the sight of the scar, he lowered his shirt again.
I was taken aback. Such a regrettable wound on that beautiful body. But it wasn’t my business.
“So what?”
“Your ass did this. Isn’t it a bit too shameless to stab someone in the stomach and then act like this?”
Right. Now I remember.
The culprit behind the scar is indeed Cha Jaehyun. When Seo Hanryul kept rejecting him, Cha Jaehyun had someone stab him in the stomach with a knife. Saying that a good beating is the medicine for a disobedient bastard.
But there shouldn’t be any evidence. Even in the novel, Seo Hanryul was certain Cha Jaehyun was the culprit, but because he couldn’t find a single piece of evidence, his frustration only worsened.
‘Cha Jaehyun, you son of a bitch…’
What did he do to such a handsome guy’s body? Even though I didn’t do it, I felt sorry for Seo Hanryul.
But of course, I couldn’t agree to such an absurd demand. I had to reluctantly play the villain in this situation.
“Seo Hanryul, you’ve been spouting nonsense since earlier. Do you have evidence? I don’t want to play along with your ridiculous tune anymore. What have you been doing with me since earlier? I’m sure I clearly said I’d give you anything you want. But that doesn’t mean I’m so free as to play these pathetic childish games with you.”
“Fine. I never thought a nasty guy like you would agree right away anyway. I wonder what kind of powerful people you have backing you to be this confident. Would you still maintain such a confident attitude if I made this matter public? I’m curious.”
Public? What does that guy think he can make public without evidence? But his excessively confident demeanor made me suspect he might know something.
“What?”
I composed my unrefined emotions and answered Seo Hanryul.
“Ah, feeling a bit guilty, are we?”
“What are you talking about right now?”
I approached closer to where he was sitting and questioned him. I needed to find out how much he knew. I needed to judge whether he really knew something or was just bluffing with nothing.
“Going to pretend you don’t know until the end? Well, I have nothing more to say to someone who insists on denying it. Too bad. Can’t be helped. Oh, and you even installed GPS on my phone?”
‘GPS?’
How much about Cha Jaehyun does Seo Hanryul know? I clearly remember that in the early parts of the novel, Seo Hanryul didn’t notice the GPS. Seeing him grinning while mentioning GPS made me think this wasn’t something I could just ignore.
‘Damn it…’
“What do you really want?”
Just three minutes ago, I thought the game was perfectly over. But the tide was slowly turning in an unexpected direction.
“So even the great Cha Jaehyun has something to fear? Seeing how quickly you’re backing down.”
Seo Hanryul made an ambiguous expression somewhere between a frown and a sneer, as if feeling great disappointment.
Cha Taehan probably already knows about Seo Hanryul. He would also know well that Cha Jaehyun persistently stalked Seo Hanryul. Therefore, even if Seo Hanryul knows about Cha Taehan, he wouldn’t gain as much as he wants.
The problem is not this, but that unlike the original story, Seo Hanryul has started to notice new facts. Has Seo Hanryul started investigating Cha Jaehyun? I’m not sure if this development makes sense, but Seo Hanryul’s behavior has also started to change.
He also mentioned making it public. The reason Chairman Cha Taesan turned a blind eye to Cha Jaehyun being a complete asshole is because he’s been good at preventing his dirty deeds from leaking out to the world. But causing an uproar in the outside world is another story.
Right now, Seo Hanryul doesn’t seem to have any particular evidence, but he’s started to latch onto Cha Jaehyun and won’t let go. If I simply ignore and dismiss this behavior now, who knows what variables might arise in the future.
“You seem to be in a good mood? Seeing you smile since earlier. More malicious than you look.”
“Malicious, aren’t you embarrassed saying that? Well, you’re a psychopath, so you probably don’t feel such emotions.”
Finally, with a sigh, I sat down in front of Seo Hanryul again.
“Fine, you’re so great. Let’s hear what you have to say.”
“What have you been trying to hear since earlier? You seem to be misunderstanding something. I didn’t come all the way here just to explain things. If you’ve caught on, just sign it quickly, will you? My patience is reaching its limit.”
The game was over. Seo Hanryul seemed determined not to let Cha Jaehyun go in the future. Seeing his firm attitude, as if he would immediately concoct something else if I refused, my resolve began to waver.
No matter how much I tried to break away from the character, I keenly realized at this moment that the karma accumulated by the original Cha Jaehyun was too great for me to do anything about it.
“Fine. Whatever. I’ll sign it. But I think it needs some modifications?”
Though I was boiling with rage inside, I continued to answer while pretending to be cool on the outside. I didn’t want to show Seo Hanryul that I had completely fallen for his trap.
“What?”
“First, the GPS-related content doesn’t seem right. How about removing this?”
GPS, really. Even slaves wouldn’t be treated like this.
“Cha Jaehyun. You seem to be misunderstanding something, but you don’t have the freedom to modify this. You just have to follow it as it is. You said earlier you don’t have time to play childish games with me, right? I also don’t have time to argue with you. Either sign it or don’t. That’s the only thing you can decide.”
Seo Hanryul tossed a pen in front of me and openly sneered.
