PA 30

“It’s exactly as it seems.”

But Yejun brushed off Junhyuk’s hand and replied coldly.

“Lee Yejun…”

“I said it’s exactly as it seems.”

“Lee Yejun!”

At the sight of Yejun readily admitting the fact he had been denying with his entire being, Junhyuk could no longer hold back. The moment he thought his sincere feelings had been trampled on, Junhyuk went in front of Yejun, who had his back to him, roughly grabbed his shoulders, and shouted loudly.

“Did you want to succeed in the entertainment industry so badly you’d go this far?”

“……”

“Even by seducing a man your father’s age?”

“……”

“Say something!”

“……”

Yejun desperately avoided Junhyuk’s gaze. He bit his lower lip hard, trying not to let the overwhelming emotions that were rising to his throat burst out.

“Lee Yejun, were all the moments we had together a lie to you?”

Seeing Junhyuk looking at him with such a despairing face, Yejun took a deep breath and spat out in a low voice, as if chewing on the words.

“That’s right. Because I wanted to succeed as a celebrity, I seduced your father.”

“Hah!”

Junhyuk let out a hollow laugh at Yejun’s behavior, finding it absurd. Yejun’s forced words didn’t stop there. Clear tears began to well up in Yejun’s large eyes, and Yejun’s voice, speaking to Junhyuk as if in defiance, grew louder and louder.

“So what? What’s wrong with that?”

“Lee Yejun!”

“It’s true that I’ll stop at nothing for success. This is who I am!”

Yejun shouted loudly at Junhyuk, pouring out his intense emotions. Junhyuk clenched both fists and pulled the trembling Yejun, who was shaking like an aspen leaf, into his arms.

“I don’t care.”

I can’t let go.

“…Junhyuk.”

The moment he thought Yejun was leaving his side, it felt as if someone was tearing at his heart. Junhyuk’s mind became a mess, and he clung to Yejun.

“Do you want to leave? If you’re okay with it, I can throw everything away and leave.”

“……”

At Junhyuk’s completely unexpected behavior, Yejun collapsed on the spot. Junhyuk knelt on one knee in front of Yejun and began to ramble.

“Yes, Yejun. Let’s leave together.”

Junhyuk’s pupils were unfocused, making him look like a madman. The moment Yejun saw Junhyuk’s true feelings, his own heart grew calm.

Yes, that’s enough.

“…No.”

“Lee Yejun…”

“I really want to succeed in the entertainment industry. No, I’m going to. So, in my current situation, I can’t just throw everything away and leave with you. Your father not only has immense wealth but also powerful influence in the entertainment industry. But you? Can you do that for me?”

Yejun gritted his teeth and plunged a dagger into Junhyuk’s heart.

I, I can only do this. I’m sorry…

Junhyuk’s two hands, which had been holding Yejun’s shoulders, dropped limply. Yejun barely managed to put strength into his trembling legs, got up, and picked up the clothes on the bed bench.

“Junhyuk.”

“……”

“I think I need some time to sort out my thoughts right now.”

“……”

This time, Junhyuk did not answer. After putting on the clothes he was holding, Yejun opened the door, stood still for a moment, and then managed to speak in a trembling voice.

“I’ll understand now if I don’t hear from you anymore.”

Yejun quietly left the hotel room like that. The moment he did, the tears he had been desperately holding back burst forth.

☂︎

Junhyuk, who had been standing still for a long time with a dazed look, finally moved. There was nothing Junhyuk could do right now. He was truly as helpless as a newborn child, a completely incompetent person who couldn’t even protect his own.

“Well, did you finish your talk?”

Sanghyeon asked indifferently as he entered the hotel room. Instead of answering Sanghyeon, Junhyuk glared at him as if he could kill him. Sanghyeon let out a smirk, as if finding his son’s behavior pathetic.

“Let Yejun go.”

“Why should I?”

Sanghyeon asked Junhyuk back with a look of disbelief. In that moment, Junhyuk felt the leisurely composure that Sanghyeon possessed.

“Hah…”

The composure that emanated from him was due to the immense power he held. Junhyuk realized that he was losing his mind from the endless feelings of defeat and helplessness. He didn’t yet have what it took to overcome the wall that was Sanghyeon.

“I won’t give up on Yejun either.”

“As you wish.”

Junhyuk clenched both fists and left the hotel room. Then he picked up his phone and called Director Min. Because he wanted to crush Sanghyeon, using whatever means necessary.

☂︎

At Director Min’s cold gaze, Section Chief Park couldn’t bring himself to hand over the envelope in his hand. The heavy silence that flowed between the two seemed to weigh down on Section Chief Park’s shoulders. He had no choice but to hold out the envelope containing the photos in front of Director Min.

“So this is the kid our Junhyuk is so obsessed with these days?”

Director Min took out dozens of photos from the envelope. She didn’t even look at the photos closely. Then she neurotically flung them into the air. In the photos that fell to the floor one by one were images of a brightly smiling Junhyuk and a youthful Yejun.

“Ha! Of all things to inherit, this kind of…”

Director Min clenched her fists so tightly that her gaunt bones protruded, and she trembled. Unable to easily calm her excitement, she shot up from her seat and approached the window. She opened the window wide and let out a long sigh, calming her furiously beating heart as she looked outside.

From birth until now, Junhyuk had lived a life where he never missed out on anything he wanted. This was because Chairman Yoon and Director Min had supported Junhyuk both materially and emotionally to make it so. In other words, Junhyuk’s abnormal possessiveness was something they had fostered.

Her chest felt tight. Junhyuk would not listen, no matter how fiercely she warned him. It was something that had been foreseeable since her daughter brought home that vermin-like young businessman. Just as the chairman and his wife could not abandon their daughter, they could not abandon Junhyuk.

“Section Chief Park.”

“Yes, please speak.”

“So our Junhyuk had twenty bodyguards working day and night to find this thing?”

“…That is correct.”

Section Chief Park answered a beat late, as if in a difficult position. Director Min crossed her arms and began to pace around the window.

“So is the Saeil Group backing this kid these days?”

“That is…”

Director Min’s distorted gaze, which had been directed out the window, turned toward Section Chief Park.

“What else is there?”

“Th-that is…”

“What are you doing not speaking up quickly?”

Director Min shouted loudly in a sharp voice. Section Chief Park was truly, insanely flustered. How was he supposed to tell her that a father and son were simultaneously playing with the same man? Section Chief Park stood up and knelt before Director Min.

“It is all my fault.”

“Section Chief Park, you can’t control your master. Isn’t that right? I won’t hold you responsible, Section Chief Park, so speak.”

“Th-that is, Chairman Cha is sponsoring Lee Yejun.”

“Wh-what did you say? Ah… damn it.”

It was so absurd that she couldn’t even laugh.

Even if my only grandson is heartbroken because he can’t have one such toy, it can’t be helped.

Director Min turned her body to look out the window again and gestured for Section Chief Park to leave. Just then, Junhyuk’s name appeared on Director Min’s phone screen. She instantly wiped the anger that had spread across her face and, smiling brightly, answered her grandson’s call as usual.

☂︎

“You haven’t left work yet?”

“There’s an exhibition next month… so I’m a little busy?”

Director Min linked arms with Junhyuk, who had gotten out of the car, and led him into the gallery.

“Grandmother.”

“I have something to say first, Junhyuk.”

“…What is it?”

Director Min said, seating Junhyuk on the sofa. Then, Director Min, who sat in the opposite seat, picked up her phone and sent a text message with an article to Junhyuk.

“What is this?”

“Look at it first.”

Junhyuk hesitated for a moment before clicking the link displayed in the message window.

[Serious group member, Lee Yejun! Was at the scene of a drug party held at OO Hotel!]

“Grandmother!”

Junhyuk’s heart sank just from reading the article’s headline. He shot up from his seat and glared at Director Min.

“Sit down, Cha Junhyuk.”

Director Min neither got angry at Junhyuk nor appealed to him with tears. She simply sat with her back straight and looked up at Junhyuk.

“What is this?”

“You decide.”

“Decide what?”

“Let’s move up your study abroad trip, the one you were supposed to go on after finishing your undergraduate studies. Leave for the United States as soon as possible, even a day earlier.”

Director Min pressured Junhyuk in a flat voice. Junhyuk began to get angry at the completely unexpected situation. After barely calming his boiling anger, he asked Director Min for the reason in a faintly trembling voice.

“Why? Why do I suddenly have to go study abroad?”

“Whether or not that article is plastered all over every broadcast media and press tomorrow morning depends entirely on the decision you make.”