Vol 1 Ch 84

Side 2.

2. The motto of a company

 

Manager Cha clicked his tongue as he shook his head while reading a newspaper article.

 

“Did you see this? This article.”

 

“What is it?”

 

CEO Kim, adjusting his tie, turned his attention to the newspaper, asking repeatedly, “What is it? What is it?”

 

“A couple adopted a child, but the kid turned out to be completely messed up. The child was given up for adoption because their biological parents were murderers, and in the end, the kid killed the adoptive parents.”

 

“Ugh, what the hell? Is this something that actually happened in our country? Not overseas?”

 

“Read the newspaper. It’s right there.”

 

“Ugh, no thanks.”

 

CEO Kim shuddered, grimacing.

 

“That’s why they say you shouldn’t take in someone with black hair too easily.”

 

“…For some reason, I feel like we should adopt that as our company motto.”

 

“Why?”

 

Manager Cha pounded his chest in exasperation at CEO Kim’s clueless response. Just then, the door burst open, and Lee Wooyeon stormed in.

 

“Damn it, I told you not to schedule anything for tonight! Who the hell scheduled something?”

 

Manager Cha felt an odd sense of déjà vu as Wooyeon barged in, swearing from the start.

 

“It’s an important broadcast, so of course I scheduled it.”

 

“I don’t care if it’s important. I’m not going.”

 

“What? Are you saying you’re going to skip the broadcast?”

 

“I clearly told you to clear my schedule from tonight and for the whole day tomorrow.”

 

“Hey, your image isn’t what it used to be. Are you really going to keep acting like this?”

 

After a series of incidents, Wooyeon’s once-dedicated, kind, and friendly image had taken a major hit. Although most people still believed in him, given his former popularity, his detractors had significantly increased.

 

More directors had started sending love calls, noticing that his acting had improved, but CEO Kim was sure it was only a matter of time before this “crazy guy” revealed his true colors.

 

“Forget it. Image or not, I’m heading to the airport now.”

 

“The airport? Why the airport?”

 

“Inseop’s coming.”

 

“What? Choi Inseop is coming? Today? He’s coming to Korea?”

 

“Give me the keys.”

 

“…What keys?”

 

“The fastest car you have. Hurry up.”

 

Wooyeon stretched out his hand as if he had a car reserved just for him. CEO Kim’s cars were all luxury vehicles, each worth at least a billion won.

 

Even after Wooyeon had practically split a Benz in half a few months ago, he had the nerve to ask for another car. CEO Kim stared at him in disbelief.

 

“…Would you give a car to yourself if you were me? To a Benz killer?”

 

“I’m not giving it back.”

 

“Right. Good thinking—”

 

“But you’re not me, CEO. So hand over the fastest one.”

 

“…”

 

CEO Kim turned to Manager Cha with a face that looked like he was on the verge of tears. Fearing he’d be dragged into this, Manager Cha quickly averted his gaze.

 

When CEO Kim refused to hand over the car keys, Wooyeon began rummaging through the desk drawers himself.

 

“No! That’s a Lamborghini! I’ve barely driven it twenty times!”

 

“Then I’ll make it an even twenty.”

 

Wooyeon pocketed the keys.

 

Knowing full well that he couldn’t physically overpower this “crazy guy,” CEO Kim swallowed his tears and reluctantly reminded him to drive carefully.

 

“I’ll drive carefully. Don’t worry.”

 

“…I’m worried.”

 

Lee Wooyeon turned with a satisfied expression. Suddenly, as if something had come to mind, he smiled broadly and asked, “Does this seat recline a lot?”

 

“…”

 

“Even if it just reclines a little, that’s fine. But I’m sure it won’t matter.”

 

There was an unmistakable lust in his gaze. Just before leaving, Wooyeon threw out, “Today, I collapsed from exhaustion,” and disappeared.

 

CEO Kim collapsed onto the sofa. His face was filled with despair.

 

Manager Cha pointed to the gruesome newspaper article they had been reading earlier. CEO Kim glanced at it and muttered weakly, “…That was the black-haired beast.”

 

“You’re only realizing it now?”

 

“Oh no, what am I going to tell the producer… I’m losing my mind. That ungrateful black-haired bastard!”

 

CEO Kim tore at his hair, while Manager Cha clicked his tongue and folded the newspaper neatly.

 

“But why is Inseop suddenly coming back to Korea? Did you hear anything?”

 

After barely composing himself, CEO Kim asked.

 

“No, I’m hearing it for the first time today, too.”

 

“…Surely he’s not coming back to manage Wooyeon again, is he?”

 

“No way. If someone’s got any sense, they wouldn’t run that far only to come back again.”

 

When Inseop left for the U.S., Manager Cha was sad but also relieved. He thought it was better for someone to escape Wooyeon’s clutches, even if just one person. 

 

But now, Choi Inseop, who had gotten away, was returning…

 

“…CEO.”

 

Manager Cha’s voice broke the uneasy silence as a disturbing thought crossed his mind.

 

“What.”

 

“I suddenly had a scary thought. Can you just tell me I’m wrong?”

 

“…Don’t say it. I know what you’re about to say.”

 

“…Is it… that?”

 

“It’s probably that.”

 

The unspoken, terrifying thought made Manager Cha shudder.

 

“If it’s that, then… what do we do?”

 

“I don’t know. I don’t want to think about it. My Lamborghini is ruined.”

 

CEO Kim mumbled dejectedly.

 

Manager Cha’s mood also darkened, recalling Wooyeon’s smug expression when he asked how far the car seat could recline.

 

“…Let’s make it the company motto.”

 

CEO Kim spoke suddenly after a long silence.

 

“Sorry?”

 

“‘Don’t take in black-haired beasts.’ Let’s make it the motto. Get someone who’s good at calligraphy to write it powerfully, frame it, and hang it.”

 

“…CEO.”

 

“It’s all my fault. I took him in… because of his face.”

 

CEO Kim confessed that he still had nightmares about the day he cast Wooyeon. 

 

Knowing the feeling all too well, Manager Cha patted him on the shoulder.

 

CEO Kim, covering his face with his palms, lamented, “His face, damn it. I got fooled by that damn face.”

 

Manager Cha thought about the other person who had also been deceived by that face, and his heart grew heavier. 

 

As he pictured that person, currently flying back to Korea, he muttered softly to himself.

 

…Run away, Inseop.

 

The empty echo of those words piled up in his heart. That night, two middle-aged men shed tears.

 

─The End