Kiss the Scumbag

It was nothing special, Yu-jin thought as he opened his mouth.

“Where’s the bathroom? I’d like to wash up.”

The mansion had numerous rooms and bathrooms. Instead of answering Yu-jin’s question about which one he should use, the butler said something else.

“There’s someone you need to meet first. Please follow me.”

“Wait a moment.”

Yu-jin quickly spoke and carefully laid Angela down on the bed. Thankfully, his daughter was fast asleep, letting out a small snore. After telling the butler he’d be out soon, he closed the door, removed Angela’s shoes and clothes, and dressed her in pajamas. She needed a bath, but she was sleeping so soundly, and given the situation, he decided to let it slide just for tonight.

One day wouldn’t hurt.

After roughly organizing their belongings, he opened Angela’s sketchbook and wrote a large message on a blank page, placing it beside her pillow in case she woke up while he was gone. Angela was already able to read and write, and she was surprisingly good at simple arithmetic. Moments like these made him appreciate her intelligence. With a grateful heart, Yu-jin kissed his daughter’s forehead.

When he stepped outside, the butler was still standing in the same spot, his posture rigidly straight. Now empty-handed, Yu-jin faced him and asked without preamble,

“Who am I supposed to meet?”

It was already close to midnight. What could be so important that they’d kept him waiting until now? Anxiety crept in as the butler stopped walking and turned his head slightly.

“Madam Campbell.”

Ah. He almost let out a sigh. In this house, there was only one person addressed as “Madam Campbell.” The eldest daughter, who had once been briefly married to a British noble, insisted on being called “Lady,” while the only daughter-in-law, despite taking the Campbell name, was never referred to as “Madam Campbell.” That title belonged solely to her—since the time Yu-jin first came to this house as a child, and even now.

Without another word, the butler turned away and resumed walking. Yu-jin followed in silence.

The only sounds echoing through the still house were their footsteps, eerie in the vast emptiness. The grand mansion, once filled with laughter, seemed to hold its breath in the absence of its master. The weight of the atmosphere pressed against Yu-jin’s chest, but he walked on without a word.

Retracing the path they had taken earlier, the butler led him to another small door—this time, heading downward.

They descended what felt like an endless stretch of stairs. When a door finally opened before them, Yu-jin suppressed a sigh at the sight of yet another long corridor. He barely resisted the urge to yell, Enough already.

As he walked, he gradually noticed something different about this hallway compared to the one above. The paintings lining the walls all depicted either landscapes of the estate or portraits of what appeared to be the family’s ancestors. When he spotted a portrait of a woman in an old-fashioned dress—likely a former mistress of the house—the butler suddenly stopped.

Yu-jin watched as the butler knocked lightly, paused for a moment, then turned the handle and opened the door.

“I’ve brought the guest, Madam Campbell,” he announced, his voice as dry as if he were reading an instruction manual.

Then, he stepped aside, extending one arm toward the entrance as if gesturing Yu-jin to go in. Yu-jin barely stopped himself from taking a deep breath and, without sparing the butler a glance, strode forward.

As he stepped inside, he found himself in a reception room designed to welcome guests.

As expected, Madam Campbell was seated inside, along with another man—Gordon, the eldest son. The moment Yu-jin faced them, he felt his expression stiffen. This time, however, there was nothing he could do about it.

Unlike Madam Campbell, who sat upright with impeccable posture, Gordon sprawled in his chair with his legs spread wide, resting an arm lazily on one thigh. His posture was more befitting of a thug than a man of nobility, and he stared at Yu-jin with that same arrogant gaze as always.

Yu-jin clenched his hands slightly, forcing himself to stay calm. It’s fine, he told himself. Things are different now. I have Angela. For my child, I can be stronger than anyone in the world.

So it’s fine.

Just as he convinced himself of that, the butler spoke.

“Shall I prepare something to drink?”

“No need.”

Yu-jin declined immediately. He wasn’t even the one being asked, anyway. But the message was clear—he had no intention of wasting time here. The butler, standing stiffly, shifted his gaze slightly, as if waiting for instructions. At his expectant look, Madam Campbell gave a dismissive wave of her hand.

A moment later, the sound of the door closing echoed behind him as the butler exited the room. Yu-jin remained standing in place, motionless, save for his hands, which he slowly clasped behind his back.

The tense silence was finally broken by Madam Campbell. She furrowed her brows before clicking her tongue in disapproval.

“You haven’t changed. Still don’t know how to greet your elders?”

Her voice was laced with sharp thorns, but Yu-jin simply stared at her with a blank expression. In the past, he had been so timid that he often missed the right moment to speak, earning himself unwarranted scoldings. But now, it wasn’t that he didn’t know how—it was that he simply didn’t want to.

The boy who used to shrink under their cold disdain was gone. No matter what they said, no matter what they did, they would never hurt him again. Not anymore. Not ever.

Seeing no reaction from him, Gordon let out a scoff and muttered loud enough for everyone to hear,

“What do you expect from a whore? You think a guy who made a living selling his body learned any manners?”

Yu-jin was secretly relieved that he had left Angela in her room. Letting out a quiet breath of relief, he finally spoke, his voice hard and unyielding.

“Is that all you have to say? It’s late. I’d rather get some rest.”

At his response, both Madam Campbell and Gordon hesitated. Neither of them had expected him to speak so insolently. Of course they wouldn’t. Yu-jin smirked internally.

The old Yu-jin would have never dared. Back then, he had been exactly what they wanted—timid, small, constantly on the verge of tears, groveling as if he had committed some terrible crime.

You expected me to feed your sense of superiority again, didn’t you?

But it had been nearly five years. And in that time, Yu-jin had changed. He had no reason to beg for their approval anymore.

As he held his ground and met her gaze directly, Madam Campbell looked momentarily stunned, unable to respond right away. Instead, she took a sip of her tea, using the moment to compose herself.

When she finally spoke, her voice was calm, back to its usual practiced tone.

“Is there really a need to make this more complicated than it has to be?”

She set down her teacup and lifted her gaze. Her reptilian-like eyes locked onto Yu-jin, cold and predatory.

“How about you just leave the estate? Disappear as if you were never here.” She dragged out the last words, and as if on cue, Gordon pulled something from the inner pocket of his suit and placed it on the table.

Yu-jin’s eyes fell to the white envelope. Madam Campbell spoke again.

“You’re not stupid. I trust you understand what this means. I’ve made sure it’s a fair amount, so just take it and go. No one here welcomes you.”

Taking the envelope, walking out of this house, and disappearing forever—it wouldn’t be a bad choice.

After all, money was the reason he came here. A will with unclear terms was far less reliable than cold, hard cash. From the moment he decided to return, he had prepared himself for everything—prepared to endure whatever humiliation or disgrace it took, as long as he could secure the money.

And now, here it was. Handed to him so easily. Compared to what he had braced himself for, this was absurdly simple. There was absolutely no reason to refuse.

Absolutely none.

And yet…

Yu-jin couldn’t bring himself to reach for the envelope. It wasn’t pride that stopped him. That had been shattered long ago.

Then why?

He didn’t understand his own hesitation. He simply stood there, staring at the envelope as if trying to bore a hole through it with his gaze.

Seeing this, Gordon sneered.

“Don’t waste your time scheming for more. Get greedy, and you might walk away with nothing. You should think carefully.” He chuckled, leaning back in his chair. “It’s not like your pathetic body will ever earn you this much, no matter how hard you sell it.”

Then he laughed outright.

“Besides, now that our dear old father’s dead, who the hell would pay for trash like you? No one, unless they’re blind.”