Fearing that he might actually get killed, Goo Daebom, lying on the floor, retreated backward. Despite that, Kwon Taejung remained a person concerned about others. Unlike himself, who didn’t have a good standing within the household, Kwon Taejung was practically a member of the royal family. Saying that killing one person wouldn’t change anything.
Even if the Royal Capital were to disappear, if Daeguk Industrial were to waver, he would be completely finished within the household. As it shouldn’t reach the ears of his grandfather, the chairman of Daeguk Industrial, he had no choice but to keep quiet and flatten himself under Kwon Taejung’s feet.
“Where’s that brat with the scars? No, didn’t I hit you? It’s just my habit, a habit.”
“You expect me to believe that?”
“Hey, Taejung… I’m serious. And today, I got too angry in a moment… You know, when I’ve lent millions, couldn’t contact you, it’s natural to be both furious and confused. Right? Understand?”
“So, you came all the way here after his Grandfather passed away and caused a scene at the funeral? Is this what you’ve learned? Is this your level?”
Having no intention of giving any consideration, Goo Daebom, with nowhere to retreat and leaning against the wall, made a dubious excuse.
“No, I… If I knew you were serious, I wouldn’t have acted this way. It’s not even worth a penny to you… I’m sorry, okay? Keep this a secret from Grandfather, please. If he knows, we’ll all be kicked out.”
“Apologize to Yigyeom.”
Reluctant to do just that, Goo Daebom, with a stern expression, rose from his seat and, as if resolved, slightly bowed his head in apology to Yigyeom, who stood semi-absentmindedly behind Kwon Taejung.
“…I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to come here and do this.”
Yigyeom gazed at Goo Daebom blankly. he seemed to be trying to speak but couldn’t produce any words. No sound came out, and his expression wasn’t visible. To Goo Daebom, Yigyeom was completely unimportant right now.
With a distracted mind, it felt as though the funeral was tilting in all directions, and it seemed as though he was falling below, sinking.
“Just because I got angry for a moment, don’t worry too much…”
Chaebol’s son? Taesung Corporation’s youngest son? What on earth was all this talk about? It was so sudden and confusing that the notion of a chaebol’s son didn’t even register in his mind.
Chaebol… What was a chaebol? Yigyeom continued to stare at Goo Daebom with a dumbfounded expression, lost in foolish thoughts.
His focus blurred, and he felt a cold sweat breaking out. Along with a chill running up his spine, his body started trembling. Just as his legs seemed to give way, Kwon Taejung’s arms came around and embraced him.
“Yigyeom…”
“……”
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
Goo Daebom, who had caused the worst situation, slowly glanced at Kwon Taejung and, stepping back, began to speak.
“Ccskjs… mjiw vbkc…”
Gjwc la, sbe ibnf mjiwlcu vbkc, vbc’a sbe? Dgfjxlcu atf ktbif qijmf jqjga. Bkbc Kjfpecu kjamtfv Xbb Gjfybw rmgjwyilcu jkjs jcv ibbxfv vbkc ja Tlusfbw lc tlr jgwr. Rbk, atf gfrbiealbc bo atlr fcalgf rlaejalbc gfrafv rbifis bc tlw.
“P’ii fzqijlc.”
“…Pr la agef? Pr la agef…Jtlfo lr…”
It was too sudden, too bewildering, and he couldn’t even bring himself to ask if he was indeed the son of the famous Taesung Group.
“I can explain everything.”
“…What explanation?”
“Why I didn’t tell you who I was…”
“…You don’t have to say anything.”
“……”
“…You’ve been hiding all this time…”
His trembling voice sounded pitiful. Kwon Taejung took a step closer toward the distancing Yigyeom. But as Yigyeom retreated, creating the same distance again, his gazes met.
“…If I were a chaebol’s son… Were you afraid I’d stick to you?”
“It’s not like that. When you mistook me for a gangster, I should’ve said it wasn’t the case. Back then… I was only planning to stay for a few months and leave once the demolition was done. I didn’t know I’d come to like you this much. So, no matter how you perceived me or misunderstood me, I didn’t care.”
“…Then why didn’t you tell me afterward?”
The fact was, he had taken it too lightly. he found it cute that Yigyeom disliked gangsters and enjoyed seeing Yigyeom relying on him. he had been too casual, assuming that once Yigyeom knew he weren’t the detested gangster, Yigyeom might feel relieved.
And recently, he had thought that once the issue was resolved, that is, once the demolition was done, he would reveal everything.
When the time came for everything to collapse, he would face Yigyeom with responsibility and love. And now, that moment to speak about everything was only a month and a half away.
“Nothing has been resolved yet.”
“…Resolved?”
“Yeah, resolved. The most important thing is the redevelopment project at Taesung since it’s from there. That’s why I used you.”
The term ‘used’ tore apart Yigyeom’s already shredded heart and crumpled it further. Yigyeom pushed back to prevent himself from sinking.
“…That’s not true?”
“No, it is. At first… Yeah, it’s true… At first, I deliberately approached you. Getting close, I could ask you to leave the slum and befriend you, and also…”
“……”
“Again… because I could prevent you from going on air.”
“Ah… broadcast…”
The moment Yigyeom heard about the broadcast from Kwon Taejung, everything began to make sense. From the day people from the broadcasting station came to the cafe looking for Yigyeom, Kwon Taejung asking who he was at the cafe, to saying that he could do everything the broadcasting station could… stopping the cafe work, leaving the cafe, asking Yigyeom to go to his home, and everything else.
And…
From why Kwon Taejung had come to Yigyeom’s house in the first place, why he deliberately waited outside Yigyeom’s house, helping at the banquet, and even suggesting to hang out for just three months… Now, everything made sense.
Broadcast. It was to prevent Yigyeom from going on air and disturbing the demolition. Yigyeom, with unfocused eyes, closed and opened him.
Ah… That’s what it was. That’s why it happened like that. No wonder… I should have known when someone like me was being treated well. I should have been more suspicious, more guarded. I shouldn’t have let my heart melt at the extending hand and smiling face.
“…Because of the broadcast… to prevent me from going on air… So, you said you’d even give me money if I stayed with you?”
“I’m sorry. There’s no excuse for that. What I had to do was stop you from going on air, and at that time, I thought it was right to keep you by my side and monitor you, even if it meant doing that.”
“……”
“It was more important. I thought it wouldn’t be bad for you. You needed money, and as long as you were in front of me, that was enough for me.”
The more Yigyeom heard Kwon Taejung’s words, the more he didn’t want to listen anymore. He hated himself for trying to understand Kwon Taejung at this moment.
With a ringing in his head as if someone was knocking, Yigyeom closed his eyes and swayed again. Startled by the movement that seemed like he might collapse at any moment, Kwon Taejung quickly approached and supported Yigyeom. Though Yigyeom struggled to free himself from his grip, he couldn’t escape from Kwon Taejung, who was firm and strong.
“It’s not working. Let’s go to the room and lie down for a while.”
“…Let me go.”
“Yigyeom…”
“……Please.”
As Kwon Taejung’s warm hand touched him and that feeling of firm support spread, tears fell from Yigyeom’s eyes. It was as agonizing as his grandfather’s passing.
Placing the death of his lifelong companion and the fabricated time with someone he had known for just over a month on equal footing made no sense at all. He couldn’t comprehend how both could be equally painful.
But regardless of Yigyeom’s understanding, his heart was in pain, and tears continued to flow. I couldn’t figure out how to console myself. There was no advice to stop crying like a fool, no thought to get angry.
“Let’s go to the room together. You might collapse at this rate.”
At this moment, I liked that Kwon Taejung was firmly holding me to prevent me from falling. I couldn’t ignore the gentle voice reaching my head or the affection that made me keep thinking that all this time wasn’t entirely false. I was too weak to push aside and ignore all of that.
Entering the innermost room through the reception hall, Kwon Taejung laid Yigyeom on the bed. When Yigyeom tried to get up again, saying he needed to be at the funeral, Kwon Taejung gently laid him down again, and Yigyeom, completely drained, collapsed.
Kwon Taejung blinked his eyes slowly and gently stroked the tear-stained eyes of Yigyeom, who continued to cry. Yigyeom turned his head away from his touch.
“…I won’t do the broadcast. I promise.”
“……”
“So now… Chief, you don’t have to come anymore.”
“Yigyeom…”
“The money you gave then, I used some to pay off debts and buy some medicine. I’ll give you what’s left, and I’ll work to pay back what I used.”
“What are you saying? Why give that money back to me?”
“…I shouldn’t have taken that money… I’m sorry too. I have no right to say anything to the Chief. Since I took that money…”
From the beginning, it was an unreasonable proposal. When a large sum of money came in, the feeling of receiving money to help was stronger than thinking of it as compensation for the suggestion. He forgot about the initial agreement to just have fun for the first three months. It was my fault.
Oh no.
Oh my baby! 🥹😔
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