‘This place again.’
Upon entering, a uniformed staff member guided me to the same room as last time.
The room I stayed in for 2 weeks before going to America. Nothing had changed except the scenery outside the window. Back then it was summer, so a lush and clear view greeted me. Now only bare tree branches were visible.
‘But spring is coming soon.’
To think I can return to America again. I felt deeply moved. Although it’s less than a year, even that is something. Fortunately, while working as a manager, the worst situation I had imagined didn’t happen.
Seo Hanryul. It was a fact anyone could see that the attitude and gaze of the guy who used to tremble with rage just seeing Cha Jaehyun had softened considerably, so I felt at ease.
When I first saw that absurd contract, I wanted to burn the paper. Now I even thought it was good that I complied with that demand. Now I can end my relationship with Seo Hanryul without any problems.
I also proudly kept my promise with Cha Taesan not to cause any incidents in Korea. This is a situation where I can confidently go to America.
‘But how do I go back?’
I suddenly became curious about the method of returning. I fell asleep at home dead drunk and suddenly opened my eyes at Cha Jaehyun’s house. When the time comes, will I close my eyes here and open them again at home?
‘There’s still quite a bit of time left, so there’s no need to think about it already.’
“Young Master, lunch is ready.”
A staff member’s voice was heard outside the door. I quickly got up and headed toward the kitchen, where a familiar scene appeared.
Except for the fact that Cha Taehan’s wife was absent from the meal, it wasn’t much different from the last breakfast. Unlike the last meal, I picked up my chopsticks with a dignified attitude. There was no reason for me not to be confident.
‘Why is it so quiet?’
The meal time was frighteningly silent. Last time they had various conversations among themselves, excluding me.
‘Well, it’s not bad for me if it passes quietly.’
“I’ll live long enough to see everything. What’s gotten into you to be living quietly?”
As soon as I thought it was good that it was quiet, the Chairman spoke to me. What does he mean why am I living quietly? He slapped my cheek and acted like he’d kick me out immediately. Even if it were the real Cha Jaehyun, if he had seen that momentum, he would have lived quietly as a mouse for a while.
Looking carefully at the Chairman’s eyes, it didn’t seem to contain malice, and it seemed like a question thrown out without much meaning out of pure curiosity.
“Haha, it’s the last chance you’ve given me, Chairman-nim, so how could I waste that opportunity? From now on, there will be nothing at all that will make you uncomfortable.”
“So this day comes too. …To think even you would mature. Yes, I know well that you haven’t caused any incidents since returning to Korea. I’ll continue to watch you closely.”
“Thank you for believing in me.”
I smiled brightly at the Chairman’s words and then started eating again. Although the Chairman spoke in a warning tone, his eyes weren’t particularly fierce.
‘Why is Cha Taehan acting like that?’
Normally around now Cha Taehan should be shooting lasers at me. But he was examining me thoroughly as if observing. Rather, that gaze was more burdensome.
‘Ha… Cute kid.’
Cha Taeha was fixing his gaze on my face and sending sparkling eyes. Kid, he’s still cute as ever.
With this kind of atmosphere, maybe I could have time alone with the Chairman tomorrow before leaving? I should tell him the rough plan then.
* * *
“Uncle!”
After the meal ended, I quietly returned to my room, but Cha Taeha followed me.
Since nothing good would come from Cha Taehan seeing this, I looked around. Fortunately, it seemed no one saw this, so I gently closed the door.
“Taeha! Have you been well?”
When I lifted Cha Taeha up, innocent laughter spread out. It was a sound that made me happy just hearing it, but even in the midst of that, I worried that the laughter might leak outside. In short, it’s a sad situation where I have to be extremely careful.
“Uncle, I hate you!”
Just a moment ago he was laughing happily. But as soon as I put him down on the floor, he suddenly made a pouty expression and started shaking his head. As expected, a child’s heart is like a reed.
“Taeha, what’s wrong? Uncle is so, so happy to see our Taeha after so long.”
“…Did you really miss me? How could you not call even once?”
An unexpected answer came out. Now that I hear it, it is something reasonable to think from his perspective. If there’s no contact for several months, he could feel hurt.
But I was also in a difficult situation, so making contact first was something I couldn’t even imagine. Because it was something entangled with Cha Taehan. Since Cha Taehan’s affection for his only son was very deep, I didn’t dare call.
“Uncle is sad too. Taeha didn’t contact uncle either.”
I deflected the conversation while hugging the child tightly and patting his back.
“…Dummy. Uncle is a dummy.”
“Why is uncle a dummy?”
“Adults are supposed to do that first. Doesn’t uncle even know that?”
“You’re right. Uncle was wrong. Won’t you forgive me?”
As if to show whose son he is, he only said annoyingly correct things, leaving me speechless. I need to send him out quickly.
“Taeha, you’ve grown a lot while uncle was gone? You’ve become more handsome. How much more handsome are you trying to get?”
“Don’t change the subject. You have to sleep with me tonight.”
The kid seems to have gotten smarter in half a year.
Today is the weekend. Last time it was a weekday when Cha Taehan came home late at night, so we could sleep together, but now Cha Taehan is at home. And there’s a very high possibility he’ll be home at night too. With the contract termination with Seo Hanryul not far off, there must be no conflict with him whatsoever.
“Taeha, uncle is sorry. Uncle has work tonight, so I don’t think we can sleep together. Instead, let’s definitely sleep together next time. Promise!”
I stroked the child’s head while extending my hand first.
“No. I want to sleep with uncle. …I’ll come quietly. Without anyone knowing. Really. …I’ll keep sleeping with uncle a secret.”
Cha Taeha is now 7 years old. And befitting Cha Taehan’s son, he’s already showing his brilliance. To think he knows I’m worried about the situation of sleeping with him. After observing my troubled appearance, he grabbed my hand and started shaking it gently.
“…”
“Uncle, I’m really good at moving quietly. I’m confident I won’t get caught….”
What should I do? With him begging this much, I couldn’t bring myself to tell him to leave.
“You’ll really come quietly? Taeha, last time you also said you’d come quietly but then came running with thumping sounds.”
“Uncle, today I absolutely won’t do that. Promise!”
The child extended his hand while making a cute smile, and I eventually had no choice but to allow it.
‘Phew… I’m complicating my own fate again….’
“Uncle! I’m here.”
When night came, Cha Taeha came to visit. As promised, he snuck in so stealthily that even a mouse or bird wouldn’t know, so even I didn’t know the kid had entered and was startled.
“See, uncle. I kept my promise, right?”
Seeing the child quietly smile as if proud, I felt admirable and a smile leaked out without me knowing.
“Yes, you kept your promise. Should we lie down together?”
“Give me an arm pillow!”
He grabbed my arm and pulled it down to his side, then laid his head on top of it. At first he gave me such a cold reception. It was fascinating to see him act so affectionate that it made that seem meaningless.
As soon as he lay down, he poured out all his stories in detail, and that appearance was very cute. To be a second-generation chaebol with such a handsome and sharp son. Cha Taehan really is blessed.
“Jaehyun uncle.”
After rambling about himself for a while, he suddenly calls my name affectionately.
“Why?”
“…Why does dad hate uncle?”
Cha Taeha hesitated and then suddenly brought up a sensitive topic.
“…”
“…If it’s hard to talk about, you don’t have to.”
“Haha, Taeha has already grown enough to read uncle’s heart? Taeha, you’ve also had misunderstandings with friends and fought, right?”
“…I think so.”
“Uncle and dad are similar. There’s a misunderstanding between us two. Taeha also fights with friends sometimes, but you eventually make up later, right? Uncle and dad are the same. After time passes and the misunderstanding is resolved, everything will be okay later.”
“Really?”
“Of course. Really.”
I stroked the head of the child who asked back with wide eyes.
“I hope dad quickly understands uncle’s heart.”
“Haha, me too. Should we sleep now?”
“Yes, uncle.”
Since Cha Taehan unilaterally despises Cha Jaehyun, it seems there’s no room for this relationship to improve. But I couldn’t tell the child that their relationship was finished, so I listed hopeful words.
When I patted his belly, the child quickly fell asleep. His appearance sleeping soundly was no different from an angel’s.
Just as the child said, I was also curious. Why does Cha Taehan hate Cha Jaehyun to the point of wanting to kill him?
There’s no reason to get along well with an illegitimate child, but I also don’t understand his attitude of trying to completely eliminate Cha Jaehyun. But even in the novel, the reason wasn’t described, so I couldn’t accurately grasp his heart.
‘Only Cha Taehan knows that.’
After letting out a short sigh, I also closed my eyes.
