PA 37

“…”

Junhyuk faltered for a moment at Sanghyeon’s words, which hit the mark. Seeing Junhyuk’s flustered appearance, Sanghyeon let out a chuckle and continued.

“What’s the reason you’re trying to possess that kid, Lee Yejun, going to such lengths? Don’t tell me you love that kid who sold his body for success?”

“I cannot have my person taken from me. Not by anyone.”

“I feel the same way about not wanting what’s mine to be taken.”

“Father!”

That kid, Lee Yejun, has the type of personality where he wouldn’t be able to bring himself to hold onto Junhyuk, not even out of guilt.

Unable to contain the anger that was boiling up from deep within his gut, Junhyuk’s two fists trembled. Sanghyeon shook his head as if he were tired. It was at that moment. Junhyuk picked up the whiskey bottle on the table and smashed it on the corner.

“Why? Are you going to stab the man you call your father with that?”

Without a word, Junhyuk slashed the back of his arm with the broken glass bottle, and crimson blood trickled down along his veiny forearm.

“Cha Junhyuk!”

“I hope there won’t be a day when I make you like this.”

“Haha!”

For a second, a crazed, unusual glint flashed in Junhyuk’s eyes. After glaring at Sanghyeon for a moment, Junhyuk turned around as if his arm, dripping with blood, was nothing, and left the house.

☂︎

Even though a large amount of blood was dripping from his arm, Junhyuk paid it no mind. As Junhyuk got out of the car, its seat and steering wheel splattered with blood, the servants who had been about to greet him warmly froze in place, their faces stiffening at his precarious state.

“Grandfather is here, right?”

Junhyuk walked right past the butler who was trying to take him to the hospital and roughly opened the door. Chairman Yoon, who had been sitting on a large sofa watching the evening news, saw Junhyuk’s disheveled state and jumped to his feet in surprise.

“Junhyuk.”

“Grandfather.”

The dark red blood that had trickled down to Junhyuk’s fingertips dripped onto the pure white rug.

“What is all this?”

“Grandfather, I came because I have a favor to ask.”

Chairman Yoon urgently shouted at the butler who came running with a first-aid kit.

“Hurry and call Doctor Kim!”

“Grandfather.”

Junhyuk looked at Chairman Yoon with calm eyes and spoke in a low voice. Sensing the unusual atmosphere around Junhyuk, Chairman Yoon also stared blankly at him.

“Go stop the bleeding first, then come and sit.”

After receiving light treatment from the butler, Junhyuk sat across from Chairman Yoon and held his tongue for a moment.

“Alright, what is it?”

“…”

Junhyuk’s always-relaxed demeanor, his eyes that had been indifferent to everything, had changed distinctly. At Junhyuk’s complete transformation, Chairman Yoon’s heart, on the contrary, began to pound.

He’s found something he wants.

Chairman Yoon waited patiently until Junhyuk was ready to speak.

“I want to have everything, not just Taejin Group, but Saeil Group as well.”

“…”

This time, it was Chairman Yoon who was silent.

“I will take Saeil Group from Chairman Cha Sanghyeon. So please, help me.”

“…The reason?”

Chairman Yoon leaned deep into the sofa, pretending to be relaxed as he asked a beat later.

“There’s someone I want.”

“Is it because of the kid named Lee Yejun?”

“…”

He had expected that he would know everything. Junhyuk looked straight into Chairman Yoon’s eyes, which did not ask for clarification.

“Yes.”

Chairman Yoon’s gaze sharpened.

“It’s been ten years since Jeonghee died.”

Chairman Yoon had never once spoken of that day’s events after Junhyuk’s mother committed suicide. However, Junhyuk had a vague inkling. Junhyuk, who resembled Chairman Yoon the most not only in appearance but also in personality, was certain that he couldn’t have forgiven Sanghyeon that easily.

“Do you know why I kept your father alive?”

“…”

“Because he is the father of the only bloodline Jeonghee left behind.”

“I will get revenge for you in his place.”

Chairman Yoon had been waiting for this very moment of Junhyuk’s awakening. However, the reason for it was so absurd. Letting out a faint, wry laugh, Chairman Yoon clicked his tongue.

“Pathetic fool.”

“As long as I don’t make a move, you won’t be able to touch Father rashly either, will you, Grandfather?”

“Cha Junhyuk.”

Chairman Yoon called Junhyuk’s name in a voice filled with anger.

“So please, leave it to me.”

“…”

It seemed like sparks flew from their gazes as they clashed in mid-air. However, Chairman Yoon was inwardly pleased with Junhyuk’s change. Chairman Yoon had been worried about Junhyuk, who, until now, had no greed precisely because he lacked nothing. And now, that same Junhyuk was showing ambition.

That’s good enough.

Chairman Yoon took a sip of the warm tea placed before him. As long as it could awaken Junhyuk, he didn’t care what it was. He showed a faint smile.

“Alright. Come back to Korea.”

☂︎

After his mother’s funeral, Yejun took about a month off. The ones who kept contacting Yejun, who was just lying in the empty house where he had lived alone with his mother, were the members.

[Yejun, it’s fine if you don’t do anything, so just come hang out at the practice room.]

[We ordered delicious food. We’ll be waiting, so hurry up and come eat with us.]

[Don’t be alone. Even if you’re resting, rest at the dorm.]

Yejun checked the piled-up text messages, then with difficulty, he pushed himself up and made a call somewhere.

“Wooju hyung.”

— Yeah, Yejun.

“Where are you now?”

— Where do you think? The practice room, of course.

The Serious members, having successfully completed their second album promotions, had begun to pick up the pace in preparing for their next activities. He couldn’t be a burden to those members.

“I’m going to buy some food and head over now.”

— Okay, okay. Good thinking.

“Yes.”

— You don’t have to participate in practice, so just come out and be with us.

“…Okay.”

Wooju and the other members didn’t tell Yejun to hurry up and get over it. He thought that he had to overcome his current difficult situation, if only for the members’ sake, but it wasn’t as easy as he’d hoped.

Let’s get moving.

Although his whole body felt as heavy as water-logged cotton, Yejun slowly moved his body.

A short while later, Yejun swung open the practice room door with his hands full of food. The moment he did, a wave of sweltering heat leaked out of the practice room.

“I’m here.”

“Yejun’s here?”

“I was just getting hungry. There’s really no one like Yejun.”

The leader, Suho, took the large bags from Yejun’s hands. At the same time, Taeyi and Yul, who followed behind, messed up Yejun’s hair and gave him a playful smile. Wooju, drenched in sweat, also lay spread-eagled on the practice room floor and waved his hand in welcome.

“Aren’t you guys practicing too hard?”

“We might be having a concert.”

Wooju sat up, moved closer to Yejun, and whispered in a small voice as if sharing a secret. Yejun’s eyes widened. He stared at the members, unable to close his mouth.

“…R-Really?”

“Looks like it.”

“If it’s a concert, where and when are we doing it?”

Yejun’s heart pounded at the thought of being able to hold the concert he had dreamed of. Growing impatient, Yejun kept pressing the members with questions. Pleased by the lively glint in Yejun’s eyes, Taeyi put his elbow on his shoulder, grinned, and continued.

“Let’s eat first. We can talk slowly while we eat.”

“Yeah, yeah. Yejun, come and sit here. Let’s eat first.”

Wooju, who had taken out all the food Yejun had bought in abundance, including chicken and pizza, said in a placating tone. They all sat in a circle and started eating the food Yejun had brought.

“Hyungs, I really feel like I’m going to die. Where are we having the concert?”

“KSPO. The Olympic Gymnastics Arena.”

“Really?”

“Let’s promote even harder and try to have our next concert at Jamsil Sports Complex.”

“That’s seriously insane.”

Seeing Yejun smile brightly for the first time in a long while, the members let out a sigh of relief without even realizing it.

“I’m going to practice today too before I go.”

“Don’t overdo it. Nothing’s been decided yet.”

“Okay, I won’t.”

It was then. The practice room door opened, and Yeongsik cautiously called out to Yejun.

“Yejun, can I see you for a moment?”

“Ah… Yes.”

“CEO, what is it? Yejun hasn’t finished eating yet. I’ll send him to your office in a little bit.”

“Oh, is that so? Then come upstairs later.”

“…Yes.”

Yejun wanted to avoid Yeongsik somehow. But Serious’s first concert depended on Yeongsik’s decision. Yejun put down the food he was eating and rose awkwardly from his spot.

“What? Not eating more?”

“Ah… I’ll eat more after I get back.”

“Really? Okay.”

The members then started to get fired up talking about the concert, and among them, only Wooju stared blankly at Yejun’s slumped shoulders.