Chapter 7: The Last Night at Grandfather’s House

Chairman Cheon’s study was frozen like the Antarctic. In the room with only one chair, no one except Chairman Cheon was allowed to sit.

“So, neither of you big shots ever looked into your brother’s whereabouts? Not even once in 17 years?”

“…But Father, didn’t you tell us to consider him non-existent? We were just following your orders.”

Anger blazed in Chairman Cheon’s eyes.

“And now you’re asking if Mu-hyeok is really Mi-suk’s son? Are you even human?”

“…We’re sorry.”

“Do your wives think the same way?”

“No, Father. We’ve never thought that way.”

No one dared to speak up in front of the fuming Chairman Cheon.

“From today on, don’t ever bring this up again. If I hear another word about it, I won’t let it slide. Understand?”

After his thunderous scolding, Chairman Cheon finally calmed down and lowered his voice.

“How’s your father-in-law doing? I’ve been hearing some strange rumors.”

“No, everything’s fine. I’m not sure of the details, but I think the media is just making up stories. You know what kind of person my father is.”

“I know. A tough man without blood or tears. Tell him to come to me if he needs help. He’s family after all, and I should help if I can.”

“Yes, Father. Thank you.”

The eldest daughter-in-law answered politely.

Chairman Cheon’s face, though somewhat calmer now, remained expressionless as he spoke kindly, making him seem even more intimidating.

He turned his gaze to the younger daughter-in-law.

“How’s the congressman doing?”

“My father is carrying out his parliamentary duties without any issues.”

“Always tell him to be careful. If he needs money, tell him to come to me. And warn him not to accept any shady requests.”

“Yes, Father.”

Finally, Chairman Cheon let out a deep sigh and looked at Su-man and Su-han, who were still on edge.

His brow furrowed in displeasure at the mere sight of them.

“And Su-man, Su-han, you useless fools… I hear you’re still chasing after Cheongpung Group? Can’t you let it go?”

“What?”

Chairman Cheon clicked his tongue at the brothers, who looked obviously flustered.

“That’s not how you use money. You should make people come to you, begging on their hands and knees when they’re desperate. That’s what money and power are for. Stop wagging your tails to those animals who don’t even know how to be grateful no matter how much money you give them. Cease all your current activities immediately.”

“…But Father, we’ve already made promises to CEO Lee Hak-su. Breaking them could lead to disadvantages.”

“Disadvantages?”

Su-man nodded with a grim expression.

“Yes, Father. You know what kind of power he wields now, don’t you?”

Chairman Cheon looked at Su-man as if he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

“Haha, you naive fool. You think someone like CEO Lee, who’s not even the President but just the floor leader of the National Party, can disadvantage me? Tell him to try. Let’s see who ends up dead. Make sure to pass that message along.”

“…Father.”

Su-man tried to say something more, but Chairman Cheon cut him off, clearly not wanting to hear it.

“That’s enough. You can all go now. This is Mu-hyeok’s last night staying at home, so I need to talk to him more. Stop everything you’re doing and only do what I’ve told you to do. Understood?”

“Yes…”

Though their faces showed dissatisfaction, the Su-man and Su-han brothers didn’t argue. They knew their father’s stubbornness all too well.

* * *

“This bastard won’t let go?”

Cheon Ji-soo, grabbed by the collar, could only bark uselessly, unable to break free.

“Hey, Cheon Ji-soo, not everything that comes out of your mouth is worth saying. If you want to live a long life, watch that tongue of yours. Keep running it, and you’ll see the name ‘Cheon Ji-soo the Drug Addict’ spread across South Korea tomorrow. You want that?”

“What?”

Whether it was from being choked by the collar or from shock at my words, Cheon Ji-soo’s face turned bright red.

“Why, did you think no one knew? Everyone who needs to know already does. Cheon Ji-soo, the grandson of Il-seong Group, loves marijuana annd meth so much he’s even smuggling drugs.”

“…Where did you hear that?”

“That’s not the point. Aren’t you worried about what might come out of my mouth? I’m confident I could go downstairs right now and spill everything to Grandfather. Want to go together?”

I let go of Cheon Ji-soo’s collar, who had become silent as a mouse.

The more pathetic Cheon Ji-soo looked, the more irritated I felt.

“If you want to be treated like an older brother, act like one. I don’t want to treat my cousins like strangers either. We’re cousins, but we’re practically less than strangers. So let’s just act like we don’t exist to each other. I’ll treat you properly as my older brother at family events, so don’t mess with me. Got it, Brother Ji-soo?”

“…Fine.”

Leaving the deflated Cheon Ji-soo behind, I flopped back onto the bed.

“Brother, could you please leave now? I need to rest because I’m heading to Busan tomorrow.”

I waved my hand dismissively, and Cheon Ji-soo gritted his teeth, clearly annoyed.

“Don’t you dare tell anyone else what you know. If you do, it’s you dead or me dead. You get what I’m saying?”

“I got it, now get out.”

He seemed to have more to say, but Cheon Ji-soo just glared at me before turning and leaving.

With the door closed, the room fell silent again.

Lying on the bed, I thought about my cousins.

Besides Ji-soo, Su-man had a daughter named Cheon Ji-soo.

Ji-soo was a prodigy studying Business Administration at Korea University. She was also destined to be a talent who would later participate in the management of Il-seong Group..

The man I didn’t even want to call my younger uncle, Su-han, also had a child.

‘Ji-young is… a cute little sister.’

Thinking of Ji-young, a smile unconsciously spread across my face.

The only one in this family who approached me without reservations.

She must be in middle school now. A cute sister four years younger than me.

Knock knock.

At the sound of knocking, I looked towards the door.

When I didn’t answer, there was another knock.

I got up from the bed and opened the door to find a young girl looking up at me.

“Um…”

It was Cheon Ji-young.

“Yeah?”

“Um…”

“What is it? If you have something to say, say it.”

“You’re my brother, right?”

“Huh?”

I felt a strange sense of déjà vu. This was the exact same conversation as in my previous life.

Back then, I had been in a bad mood after Cheon Ji-soo’s rampage, so I had been curt with Ji-young when she came in.

“I guess so. I’m eighteen now. How old are you?”

“I’m 14. I’m starting middle school.”

“Then yeah, I’m your brother.”

“Hehe, nice to meet you. I’m Cheon Ji-young. I came to say hello because I heard you’re leaving. Earlier, the atmosphere wasn’t right for introductions…”

“Yeah, it wasn’t. I’m Kim Mu-hyeok.”

“Mu-hyeok brother!”

Seeing Ji-young’s cute expression, I realized this place wasn’t all bad.

“Well, see you next time, Brother Mu-hyeok.”

“Yeah, see you next time, Ji-young.”

After Ji-young went downstairs, Chief Ha called for me, so I went down to the first floor too.

The Su-man and Su-han families seemed to have left, and Chairman Cheon was waiting in the living room, which had fallen silent again.

“How did you find your uncles?”

“Just… okay, I guess.”

“They probably don’t mean any harm. Try to understand them, okay?”

Chairman Cheon was a father after all.

In the end, unable to let go of that denial, Grandfather left them a lot.

But it was those very uncles and Cheongpung Group that had me killed.

Of course, I couldn’t tell him about these circumstances.

I could only nod and say I understood.

“You’re leaving early tomorrow morning?”

“Yes.”

“Why not stay a bit longer? This big house is so lonely without you.”

“I’ve left Grandmother alone for too long. I’ll stay longer next time.”

At that, Chairman Cheon’s expression turned a bit bitter.

I thought he was made of iron, but to see this side of him…

…Maybe I could be a bit more comfortable with him?

“I’ll stay longer next time. I’m sorry, Grandfather. In two years, when I enter a university in Seoul, we’ll be able to see each other often.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“It’s getting late. You should go to bed.”

“Have breakfast with me tomorrow before you leave.”

“Of course. I’ll head up now.”

“Alright.”

After saying goodnight, I went back to my room.

The reality that had changed from my memories was both welcome and a bit tiring.

The next morning.

I woke up early and tidied up the room. They say you might not notice how a place looks when you enter, but you always notice how it looks when you leave. Even though I had only stayed for a few days, I wanted to leave the room neat. The housekeeper would clean it later anyway, but still…

After packing my bags, I went downstairs.

Grandfather was already sitting in the living room, reading the newspaper.

“Did you sleep well?”

“Yes, did you sleep well? Let’s eat.”

Putting down the newspaper, he got up and went to sit at the dining table. I followed him.

The last breakfast, which passed in silence, was over quickly. It was time for me to go home.

“Grandfather, I’ll come again next time.”

“Yes… come often.”

“I will.”

Without saying much else, I turned my back.

After a few hours in Chief Ha’s car, familiar sights of Busan began to appear outside the window.

As I was about to get out of the car and say goodbye, Chief Ha handed me a bankbook.

“The password is the date of your moth… I mean, Mu-hyeok’s mother’s death anniversary.”

The bankbook showed a balance of 100 million won. When I looked at him questioningly, Chief Ha added:

“The Chairman said to buy whatever you want. Your living expenses will be provided separately. You can use this money however you like. Well then, I’ll be going… I’ll see you next time.”

“Please tell Grandfather I said thank you.”

“Call him yourself. He’s probably waiting.”

I nodded silently.

After Chief Ha’s car left, I pressed the doorbell, holding my luggage.

“Who is it?”

“Grandma!”

The door opened, and Grandmother greeted me happily.

“My baby is home?”

“Yes, Grandma.”

“Have you eaten? Are you hungry? I made bulgogi because my baby was coming home today. Come in quickly.”

As I hugged Grandmother, I finally felt like I was truly home.

Chairman Cheon’s house might be called our house too, but it seems I wasn’t comfortable there after all.

The home-cooked meal by Grandmother after a week away was more delicious than anything I had eaten in Seoul.

“What did your in-law say?”

“Just… told me to visit often.”

“Be good to them. They’re some of the few family you have left. Even if you can’t go during school, visit and pay your respects during holidays. You understand?”

“I got it, Grandma. Aren’t you eating?”

“I already ate before you came. You eat a lot. I’m happy just watching my baby eat.”

Love shone in Grandmother’s eyes.

The home I returned to after a long time was warm. Grandmother’s warm words, the warm food she made, the warmth of her embrace – everything was good.

Chairman Cheon’s house was much bigger and nicer than here, but it was colder and more desolate than this place.

Time always flows quickly.

Now in my second year, I was in a different class from Myeong-su, just like before.

But this time, we always went to and from school together and visited the school store together during lunch breaks.

Myeong-su studied hard too, and Hyeon-seong joined the judo club he had been in when he was younger. The trio that used to always cause trouble was now each working hard on their own paths, hoping to meet often at universities in the capital region.

And…

The bastard who had shattered Myeong-su’s leg transferred to our school. He was in the same class as Myeong-su – that hadn’t changed.

“That transfer student speaks like he’s from Seoul, and it’s so annoying I could die. He’s got a pretty face too, but hearing him speak Seoul dialect just gives me the creeps.”

“Myeong-su, don’t get involved with that guy.”

“Why would I get involved with him? No way. Looks like Hyeon-seong went to his sports club again today.”

“Yeah, he took a long break from exercising, so he’s working harder now. I heard he’s even managing his diet.”

“Wow, Hyeon-seong~ He’s got his act together now.”

I hoped that nothing would happen between Myeong-su and that guy, that everything would pass without incident.

I said once more, just in case:

“Really, don’t get involved with that transfer student. I’m begging you.”

“I got it. Why are you so worried? Did he get some dirt on you or something? Why are you so concerned?”

“It’s not that I’m concerned, I’m just worried.”

“Alright, I’m heading off first.”

“Okay, see you tomorrow.”

I watched Myeong-su’s retreating back for a long time.

* * *

But it seems that no matter how much Mu-hyeok wished for it or how much Myeong-su tried to avoid it, they couldn’t prevent what was bound to happen.

Whether it was because of his father’s power or not, Hong Jin-pyo, the transfer student, quickly became the leader of the school’s troublemakers.

“Kim Mu-hyeok?”

“Oh, that bastard’s the toughest in the second year. He’s laying low now saying he’s studying, but that bastard fought with a second-year right after entering as a first-year. He’s got no one backing him.”

“Really?”

“The guy he’s closest with is that Lee Myeong-su in your class, right? That Myeong-su guy has been following Mu-hyeok around since middle school, so no one messes with him.”

A crooked smile appeared on his face.

“Sounds interesting. He’s keeping quiet because he’s studying, you say? It’s most fun to mess with guys like that. Don’t you think?”

“You’re not thinking of going after Kim Mu-hyeok, are you? Hey, thats a whole different level. Don’t mess with him.”

The guys crowded around tried to dissuade him, looking horrified.

But as always in these situations, surrounding voices tend to go unheard.

“Being good at fighting doesn’t mean you’ll win. You guys stick with me because you lost to me in a fight? No, right? What does that guy’s father do?”

“He doesn’t have parents. He lives with just his grandmother. Myeong-su’s father probably runs a big bar down in Nampo-dong.”

The transfer student crossed his arms as if to say ‘See?’

“If we mess with this Myeong-su guy, will that Mu-hyeok guy make a move?”

“Probably?”

Once again, a future Mu-hyeok had hoped wouldn’t come was approaching him.