Chapter 200: Cheontae Tae-san and Ha Myung-hoon 3

Months had passed since Ha Myung-hoon entered Cheon Tae-san’s home.

Contrary to what he had expected, he wasn’t put through tough tasks.

Instead, he was instructed to focus solely on learning the general operations of the loan business.

And for reasons unknown to him, they treated him like their real son.

“Big brother!”

Ha Myung-hoon turned at the sound of Cheon Mi-sook’s voice. She lookedfilled with anticipation.

“You said you had a lot of friends, right?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“I’m excited! Let’s hurry!”

Ha Myung-hoon smiled slightly at Cheon Mi-sook’s cheerful reaction

After a while of walking, they arrived at the new home for the orphans.

“Wow, this is great!”

“Isn’t it awesome?”

“Yeah! You guys, come on, hurry!”

In the hands of Manager Paeng’s subordinates were the gifts that Cheon Mi-sook had picked out.

They accompanied her to protect her but found themselves acting as porters as well and hastened to keep up the pace.

Thanks to Cheon Tae-san’s support, the orphlived in much better conditions than before.

But Cheon Mi-sook insisted they could’t visit empty-handed, so she brought a pile of gifts for the orphanage.

In a small open area within the orphanage grounds, the kids were playing energetically.

“Hyung!”

“Big brother!”

Upon seeing Ha Myung-hoon pass through the front gate, the children stopped what they were doing and dashed toward him.

Ha Myung-hoon was older and taller, but they were much younger and smaller.

“Don’t cling on like that! It’s hard for me!”

“Hyung, Hyung!”

Cheon Mi-sook, lively as ever, heitated, waiting for her chance to join in.

Noticing this, Ha Myung-hoon pried the kids off him.

“Alright, that’s enough. I have someone to introduce.”

The children, who had been playing around, let go of him.

A few quick-witted kids dashed off to gather others from inside the orphanage.

Once they were all there, Ha Myung-hoon took Cheon Mi-sook’s small hand and moed forward.

“This is the daughter of Chairman Cheon, who supports us.”

All the kids turned their attention to Cheon Mi-sook.

“Hi, everyone! I’m Cheon Mi-sook! I’ll come to play ften, so I hope you take care of me!”

Instead of feeling shy under the kids’ gazes, Cheon Mi-sook beamed even brighte.

“Let’s not stand apart! I want us to be friends like I said!”

Finally, the kids made their way toward Cheon Mi-sook, letting go of Ha Mung-hoon’s hand.

“Give the things you brought to the uncles.”

Cheon Mi-sook was laughing as shesurrounded herself with the kids.

She didn’t look at all pitying or condescending toward the orphaned children.

Pointing at the box filled with toys, Cheon Mi-sook smiled brightly.

“These toys are what I prepared because I want to be friends with you all. Let’s play together!”

The innocence of the children was easily infectious.

The kids cheered for the toys and started running around the open space with Cheon Mi-sook.

Seeing this, Ha Myung-hoon found a smile creeping onto his face.

However, their happiness was short-lived as an incident unfolded.

Ha Myung-hoon’s face twisted at the sight of a group approaching the orphanage.

“Hey, Seok-dae! You need to slip out through the back and rush to the office in Myeong-dong immediately. Tell Manager Paeng that the girl is in danger. Hurry!”

Desperately switching his gaze between the ominous-looking group and Ma Seok-dae, Ha Myung-hoon spoke quickly.

Sensing the trouble brewing, Ma Seok-dae darted toward the wall with the back hole.

“Uncles!”

The subordinates watching over Cheon Mi-sook turned at Ha Myung-oon’s gesture toward the orphanage’s front gate.

Having also recognized the approaching group, they cursed under their breath.

“Damn it! You, stay close to the girl. Lock the door and don’t come out for anything!”

“If a fight breaks out, protect the girl at all costs, got it?”

“Yes, understood.”

The subordinates barricaded the entrance, their bodies creating an obstacle in the doorway.

“Young lady, you need to go inside now!”

Cheon Mi-sook, who had been playig joyfully, tilted her head in confusion.

Ha Myung-hoon urged the children.

“Let’s all go inside together!”

“Okay, big brother!”

“Got it, hyung!”

Cheon Mi-sook cast an odd look toard the front gate, which Ha Myung-hoon blocked with his body.

Gently pushing her along with a smile, Ha Myung-hoon guided her steps inside.

“Come on! You can play more inside!”

“Okay! Let’s go inside, everyone!”

Once he confirmed Cheon Mi-sook had entered the buiding, Ha Myung-hoon shifted his gaze back toward the front gate.

It was evident to him that their numbers were too few. They definitely wouldn’t hold out for long.

Locking the entrance, Ha Myung-hoon called the oldest kids together.

“Lock all the windows at the entrance and tell the kids not to come out of their rooms!”

“Hyung…”

“It’ll be fine. Just do as I say!”

Though Ha Myung-hoon was also anxious for the first time in this situation, he couldn’t show it in front of the kids.

They believed in him more than anyone, so he maintained the image of a dependable older brother.

Ha Myung-hoon entered the room where kids of similar age to Cheon Mi-sook were gathered, shuting and locking the door behind him.

Leaning against the door, he watched as Cheon Mi-sook and the children plyed with air.

‘I wonder if Seok-dae will make it to the office safely.’

It wasn’t that there were too few people protecting Cheon Mi-sook, but the group appraching the orphanage was evidently far greater.

Someone must have deliberately targeted her.

Otherwise, there was absolutely no reason for that many people to come to such a rundown orphanage.

Watching Cheon Mi-sook playing air games, a Myung-hoon made a firm resolution. He would protect her no matter what.

How long had passed? The cheerful chatter of the children, who were playing without a care, abruptly ceased.

A loud crash echoed from outside, breaking the tension.

“Hyung…”

Realizing her discomfort, Cheon Mi-sook stopped playing andlooked at Ha Myung-hoon.

The anxiety was shared by other children as well.

To reassure them, Ha Myung-hoon flashed a small smile.

“Everyone, huddle together in the corner.”

Taking Cheon Mi-sook’s trembling hand, H Myung-hoon locked eyes with her.

“Young lady, don’t worry. Trust me, okay?”

“…”

Stepping back from the door, Ha Myung-hoon hid Cheon Mi-sook behind him.

He felt the grip of hands tightly holding his pants behind him.

However, he couldn’t pay attention to that feeling because of the increasingly loud shouts and cries from the kids outside.

Before long, the loud noise reached their door, rattling it violently.

It didn’t take long for the thin door to shatter, and several men surged in. Their faces were familiar.

“Well, well, look what we have here. Boss, it’s him! The brat who ran away and backstabbed you!”

“Oh, is it? What a hell of a surprise!”

Ha Myung-hoon clenched his teeth. The assailants were none other than Heo Sang’s group.

“The kid has the eyes of a survivor. Well, it doesn’t matter. If you bring out that Cheon Mi-sook behind you, I’ll le this slide.”

“Shut up!”

“What did you just say? Damn, you’ve got a sharp tongue!”

Ha Myung-hoon stalled for time, confronting the men as best he could.

“Why are you doing this to us?”

“Us? We only care about that Cheon Mi-sook!”

“Do you think this will just blow over? You know what Chairman Cheon is like!”

Heo Sang burst into laughter. It seemed he recognized Ha Myung-hoon as the boss’s pet.

“Well, look who’s become Chairman Cheon’s dog in just a few months. Obviously, he’ll have no choice but to comply with our demands! Bring her out. This brat is just wasting time.”

“Yes, boss!”

The subordinates entered the room.

Ha Myung-hoon hugged Cheon Mi-sook tightly, turning hi body to shield her.

“Stop messing around! Just what the hell are you talking about?”

As the men attempted to pry him away, they started to hit him.

Kicked and punched, Ha Myung-hoon felt like his body would break apart from the pain.

But he had to protect her. He must protect her. Otherwise, they wouldn’t survive.

Despite taking hits, Ha Myung-hoon clung tightly to Cheon Mi-sook.

The cries of children mixed with shouts from the men echoed throughout the orphanage.

With each brutal blow, Ha Myung-hoon’s eyes blurred.

“Damn, this is quite a mess.”

No matter how hard they hit or kicked him, Ha Myung-hoon held his ground, shielding Cheon Mi-sook.

“Just give him a good stab and take her away. We’ve already wasted too much time.”

Even as his consciousness began to fade, Ha Myung-hoon couldn’t let that go unheeded.

But it was becoming increasingly difficult to endure.

‘Seok-dae…’

With Ma Seok-dae’s name on his lips, Ha Myung-hoon slipped into unconsciousness.

“Ah!”

But soon, a sharp pain driving into his leg jolted him awake.

He felt an intense burning sensation radiating from his left leg.

“What a tough little brat.”

The men, seeing Ha Myung-hoon struggling, clicked their tongues.

Even while fainted, he hadn’t let go of Cheon Mi-sook’s clothes.

Suddenly, it grew loud outside.

“Heo Sang! You…”

It was Manager Paeng’s voice, sounding like a savior.

“Hyung!”

Ma Seok-dae rushed past Heo Sang, sprinting toward Ha Myung-hoon. His voice was filled with desperation and his face wet with tears.

Manager Paeng glared at the battered Ha Myung-hoon through clenched teeth.

“Heo Sang, you won’t leave here unscathed!”

With that, Manager Paeng and his subordinates confronted Heo Sang’s group.

“Hyung! Hyung!”

Through the haze of faintness, Ma Seok-dae’s voice barely broke through.

“You protected the young lady. You can rest now. I’ll take care of everything!”

In truth, he had been hoping someone would help him all along.

Finally hearing what he wanted, a faint smile spread across Ha Myung-hoon’s face as he let everything go and closed his eyes.

“Hah!”

Ha Myung-hoon opened his eyes, glancing around the room.

Seeing the needle stuck in his arm and the bandages wrapped around his body, he let out a sigh of relief.

“Hah…”

Only after seeing the evening sunset filling the hospital room did he fully realize he was alive.

Gently brushing Ma Seok-dae’s hair, who was sleeping against the bed, Ha Myung-hoon fell into thought.

‘They must all be safe, right?’

Concern gnawed at him for the kids left behind at the orphanage.

In that moment, he could think of nothing but protecting Cheon Mi-sook.

Only after the situation was settled could he worry about whether the kids were alright.

“Don’t die… Myung-hoon…”

Seeing Ma Seok-dae mumble his name in his sleep, he made a firm decision.

“Hey, Seok-dae!”

At the sound of Ha Myung-hoon’s call, Ma Seok-dae’s eyes shot open.

When he looked up at Ha Myung-hoon, he began to sob.

“Hyung!”

Ma Seok-dae suddenly hugged him tightly, causing waves of pain to surge through him.

“Ah, that hurts! You little brat!”

“Hyung!”

The hospital room quickly filled with noise.

A nurse opened the door, and upon seeing Ha Myung-hoon awake, rushed to call for a doctor.

“That’s a relief. I couldn’t even promise you’d pull through, but it seems the heavens have smiled down on you.”

This was the doctor checking on Ha Myung-hoon.

His rib had punctured his lung, and the knife embedded in his left leg caused significant bleeding.

They had managed to stem the urgent situation through emergency surgery, but even the doctor couldn’t guarantee his recovery.

“You’ll need to stay in the hospital for about six months. It’s a miracle you’re alive.”

With that, the doctor and nurse left the room.

The hospital once again fell into silence.

‘A miracle, huh…’

As if the doctor’s words had reached him, Cheon Tae-san visited.

Approaching Ha Myung-hoon, he grasped his hand tightly. The tips of his fingers trembled slightly.

“Thank you, Myung-hoon. I truly appreciate it.”

Cheon Tae-san repeated his gratitinstead of saying anything else.

“From today on, you are my son.”

“Chairman!”

“Go ahead, speak up.”

The screams of the orphaned kids, Cheon Mi-sook tightly gripping hi pants, and Ha Myung-hoon’s cries all flooded his memory.

Recalling everything, Ha Myung-hoon’s eyes glistened.

He never wanted to experience such things again. He hated feeling helpless while taking the hits.

Clenching his bruised hand into a fist, he lowered his head.

“I want to be stronger.”

“…”

“I don’t want to go through this again.”

“Myung-hoon.”

When Ha Myung-hoon raised his head again, a resolute expression lined his face.

“I’ve decided to live in your shadow, Chairman. But I must have been very lazy up until now. For the sake of my siblings, I must grow stronger.”

“…”

“You can help me become stronger, right, Chairman?”

Cheon Tae-san saw the sincerity i Myung-hoon’s eyes.

After a brief silence, he nodded.

“Alright. If it’s what you want, Myung-hoon.”

“Yes, I want it.”

“Very well. I will grant your request, but it won’t be easy. You might even risk your life.”

“That’s fine. I almost died already.”

Seeing Ha Myung-hoon joke despite being bandaged from head to toe, Cheon Tae-san couldn’t help but s.

His instincts had not failed him. Ha Myung-hoon was sharper than any blade.

“Thank you, Myung-hoon.”

“I’m just repaying the kindness you’ve shown me. Thanks to you, my siblings and I are surviving instead of starving to death.”

Cheon Tae-san kept his promise.

Immediately after being discharged from the hospital, Ha Myung-hoon left Korea with Ma Seok-dae.

Three years later, Ha Myung-hoon and Ma Seok-dae set foot on Korean soil once again.

“Chairman, thank you for keeping your promise.”

Using his money and influence, Cheon Tae-san sent Ha Myung-hoon Ma Seok-dae to elite units.

While they trained, he didn’t spare any support for the Hope Orphanage.

Whenever she could, Cheon Mi-sook visited the orphanae, playing with the kids like friends without any hesitation.

To the orphan children, Cheon Tae-san was a father, and C Mi-sook was an angel.

“Now it’s my turn to repay you, Chairman Cheontae.”

It was from that time on that Ha Myung-hoon began working as Cheon Tae-san’s blade and shadow.