After the ceremony concluded, everyone moved to the banquet hall — and the atmosphere there was something else entirely.
Hundreds of crystals glittered from the chandeliers overhead, and on the massive screen behind the stage, the words 50th Anniversary Founding Gala Dinner shone out in grand lettering.
On a small stage to one side of the hall, a violinist and cellist wove together a beautiful melody, while at the center, an ice sculpture and a champagne tower built from stacked flutes caught the eye.
People moved between tables, exchanging greetings and working the room with practiced ease.
Kang Heesin sat at a round table with Yun Sena and her half-siblings, and the mood was already uneasy.
“Father really blindsided us. I had a bad feeling the moment they said Im Gyeong was coming.”
“Don’t make a scene. He only gave a toast.”
“Only? You’re really going to say only? This isn’t just any day — it’s the fiftieth anniversary. You know how significant that is. I organized this event. So what do you think it means that he brought Im Gyeong without telling me?”
“Calm down. I’m sure there’s no hidden agenda.”
“Sena, what do you think? Do you agree with our oldest?”
Yun Sena kept her mouth firmly shut and gave a small shrug.
She was maintaining her position to the last — the youngest, who knows nothing, who wants no part of power struggles.
But Kang Heesin clearly remembered the expression on Yun Sena’s face as she stared up at Im Gyeong standing on the podium.
What burned in her eyes was jealousy — and hunger for power.
“Stop it. Father’s coming.”
When Chairman Yun entered the banquet hall, everyone rose to welcome him.
Im Gyeong and the executives followed in behind.
The children switched their expressions without missing a beat, falling over themselves to please their father.
Chairman Yun made his rounds greeting each table, then walked over to where the family had gathered.
As everyone stood, Im Gyeong leaned close and murmured something in Chairman Yun’s ear.
The second sibling’s eyes darkened watching that.
Then Chairman Yun’s gaze shifted and settled on Kang Heesin.
Ah… why hadn’t he realized sooner. The invitation here hadn’t come from Chairman Yun at all — it had been Im Gyeong’s doing.
He quickly composed himself, smoothed his jacket, and went to greet Chairman Yun with proper courtesy.
He worked to project something that was neither too servile nor too stiff.
“It’s an honor to meet you, Chairman. I’m Kang Heesin.”
Chairman Yun extended his hand, and Heesin took it with a respectful bow.
“I heard Gyeong had made a friend here in Korea — I was curious who it might be.”
“……”
“He’s such a particular young man, I wondered what the occasion was. So it was you.”
What do you say in a moment like this. We’ve joined hands for now over shared interests, but we’re not friends. And by the way, sir — did you know your son is a strange one? I once had to stop myself from calling the police on him. There was plenty he wanted to say, but he swallowed every word. He’d barely managed to set foot inside the fortress Chairman Yun had built — he wasn’t about to squander the chance.
“He tends to feel lonely more than people realize, so I’ve always worried. It’s a relief. At least he has somewhere to turn while he’s in Korea.”
Chairman Yun laughed warmly.
The executives and siblings kept their smiles up, playing along.
“I expect we’ll be seeing each other from time to time.”
Heesin bowed his head.
“I look forward to it.”
Chairman Yun received the bow, then led the executives on to the next table.
Watching an employee who’d received a merit award tear up with joy, Heesin thought the gossip about the man — that his personal life was complicated but he looked after his people well — might not have been idle talk after all.
But Im Gyeong didn’t follow Chairman Yun.
He stayed right by Heesin’s side.
Heesin looked at him, puzzled — and sure enough, Im Gyeong got to his point.
“Step outside the banquet hall with me for a moment. It’s important.”
Then he turned to Yun Sena.
“I’m borrowing him.”
Borrowing — not taking — and said as a one-sided announcement at that.
Yun Sena couldn’t find grounds to refuse.
She forced a smile and said a short sure — and Im Gyeong made a show of it, reaching out and pulling Heesin by the arm.
Let’s go.
Dragged out of the banquet hall against his will, Heesin found himself in an elevator riding all the way up to the top floor.
At the very top of the building was a rooftop garden — landscaped trees dotted throughout, with benches placed here and there.
It was a far cry from the bleak rooftop of the prosecutor’s office.
The moment they arrived, Im Gyeong reached up without hesitation and loosened his necktie.
It hung slack around his neck, caught by the wind.
He walked to the edge of the rooftop and leaned against the railing, taking in the view.
Heesin followed and looked out at the night skyline spread before them.
Not that there was much of a view — the fine dust was thick tonight. Honestly, just standing here and breathing felt like it was rotting his lungs.
“What’s the important matter?”
“I thought that since your goal’s been accomplished, there’s no need to stay seated any longer.”
“Goal accomplished?”
“Didn’t you want to make a good impression on my father?”
His pride bristled at that — but he acknowledged it, because it was true.
And it wasn’t only because the man was Yun Sena’s father.
It was the power he held. The desire to get even a little closer to that power.
Feeling as though his real intentions had been seen through, he dropped his gaze.
“It was you who invited me here?”
“Disappointed?”
“By any chance — was tracking down Finance Director Gwak also something Chairman Yun ordered?”
“You picked up on it. The one who made Guyeong Construction’s finance director resign and flee overseas — that was my father. More precisely, it was Executive Vice President Park, who works under him. You saw him earlier, right? The weasel-looking one. Isn’t it funny? Not long ago he and Representative Choi were tearing each other apart — and now they’re thick as thieves.”
“Is it alright to be telling me all of this?”
“Why not. If there’s anything I can do to help, just say the word. We’re in the same boat now.”
Im Gyeong gestured back and forth between them.
You and me. That’s what he seemed to be saying — partners from here on out.
When you looked at it that way, it wasn’t as though they were manufacturing crimes that didn’t exist. Chairman Shim Eunseop of Guyeong Construction had committed countless wrongs, known and unknown, and the fact that he’d funneled illegal campaign funds to a sitting assemblyman was real. But was it only Chairman Shim? Chairman Yun, if you dug deep enough, would be no different. There just wasn’t hard evidence — not yet.
“The investigation will proceed according to proper procedure, and if anything looks dirty on your end, I’ll drop it.”
“Fine. There’s nothing wrong with the materials I handed over.”
Even in the face of Im Gyeong’s self-assured attitude, he couldn’t bring himself to fully set aside his suspicion.
Just then the wind picked up, and a chill crept through him.
He didn’t let it show — he simply turned toward the entrance.
“Let’s head back down. There are people waiting.”
But Im Gyeong stepped in front of him without warning.
“That’s it?”
“Pardon?”
“I’m asking if that’s really it.”
“What else is there. Should I thank you for getting me an invitation?”
Oh, why thank you so much. Im Gyeong. He said it with exaggerated flair, and Im Gyeong’s brow creased.
“I didn’t need thanks, but I thought you’d at least seem pleased.”
“I am pleased. Thrilled. Can’t you tell from my face?”
“Was this pointless on my part?”
“I said I’m pleased.”
“Maybe I should have given you a heads-up.”
“……”
When Heesin finally went quiet at the end, Im Gyeong’s face shifted into a frown.
“Actually, thinking about it now — I’m annoyed. Why am I the one watching your reactions?”
“When did I ever tell you to watch my reactions?”
“Because you keep making that face — it makes me watch.”
You? Hardly. He laughed in disbelief — and Im Gyeong leaned his face in close.
Heesin scowled and stepped back, and this time Im Gyeong was the one who smiled.
“They say people with a mole under their eye tend to cry a lot.”
“I don’t believe in superstitions like that.”
“Why not. Seems like you’ve had plenty to cry about.”
“I was more the type to grit my teeth and endure instead of crying.”
“That makes me curious. What does your face look like when you’re holding back tears?”
“Are you a pervert? Why would that make you curious?”
“I guess I am one, like you said.”
The conversation was getting increasingly ridiculous.
He shook his head.
He hadn’t said anything out loud, but the incident at Im Gyeong’s house was making it uncomfortable to be around him. How many people did he kill — the thought kept resurfacing.
Just then a strong gust swept through, and goosebumps rose across his back.
When he shivered, Im Gyeong stepped closer and studied his face.
“Are you not feeling well?”
“…It’s cold.”
“A cold?”
Not a cold exactly, but he had been feeling chilled since morning. He’d taken an expired medicine from his desk drawer, and it seemed to have done nothing. He’d have to pick up some proper cold medicine on the way home…
“Let’s go down. You shouldn’t be getting sick.”
The whole way to the elevator, Im Gyeong wore an expression of quiet amusement.
Is he actually picturing me crying. Pervert…
But Heesin realized — he was curious about Im Gyeong’s crying face too.
What would it look like, that face in tears. Well. Not something he’d ever likely see in this lifetime.
They stepped back into the banquet hall, and Yun Sena came over, looping her arm through his with a smile.
“What were you two doing?”
Im Gyeong’s gaze dropped briefly to where her hand linked through Heesin’s arm, then moved away.
“Getting some air.”
Yun Sena said oh really and turned Heesin around by the arm.
Come on. People are waiting over there.
He followed Yun Sena — and glanced back once.
People had already begun to gather around Im Gyeong.
And yet his gaze held on Kang Heesin for a long, long time, unwilling to let go.
