Precious Thing

Lee Yesin looked ahead again. A woman sat on the bed in the softly lit room, and a man, whom he had never seen before, stood near the door, waiting for his response.“Does that hurt?”The man had several piercings in his ears. Various gems filling his ear cartilage occasionally caught the light and sparkled.“What?”“The piercings. Do they hurt?”“Not really? Just feels like getting shot for a second?”The man chuckled mischievously, and Lee Yesin smiled at him in return.“Where’d you get it done?”“I did them myself. Want one too?”“Later. Let’s have sex first.”He said this while taking off his light jacket. The man burst into laughter, finding something incredibly amusing. As Lee Yesin listened to his laughter, he undressed piece by piece and approached the woman. She smiled sweetly at him, reaching out her hand. Lee Yesin embraced her and lay down on the bed. He wished he could fall asleep like this—forever.٠ ࣪⭑When Yoon Seokyung left, 12-year-old Lee Yesin couldn’t sleep. He couldn’t forget her final expression. Why had she looked like that and left without saying a word? Had he done something wrong? No one could give him an answer, and Lee Juho, his only connection to her, ignored his pleas to let him speak to her. It was Go Heejeong who occasionally looked after him during that time.‘Honestly, you felt uncomfortable hanging out with Hangyeol because of your mom, right? I heard she’s overseas now. You can come over more often. I’ll treat you to something nice.’Despite her permission, Lee Yesin never went to Go Hangyeol’s house. He lived with a lingering hope in his heart while waiting for Yoon Seokyung, and even though she wasn’t there, he took pride in keeping his promises. Meanwhile, Go Hangyeol was warm and affectionate with his mother, Go Heejeong. Maybe he was a little envious. I have a dad, a mom, an older brother, and an older sister, yet I feel lonely. But you, with only your mom, seem so happy. That’s how it is. A person with ninety-nine things always wants the one they lack. But as Lee Yesin gradually realized that the one thing he longed for was seriously flawed, he found relief. It was a good thing it wasn’t there.‘You know that tall kid in Class 8? His mom owns a bar.’It was a remark he overheard in the cafeteria during the fall of his second year in high school. A male student sitting at a nearby table spoke in a low voice, barely audible to Lee Yesin, who glanced in that direction and strained his ears to listen. The boy, egged on by his friends, continued with a snicker.‘I saw her at the convenience store by chance, and she’s crazy hot. I thought she was pretty when she came to school before, but that day she was wearing this super tight dress. I could see the outline of her butt, like she wasn’t even wearing underwear. Damn, I never thought I’d get turned on by my friend’s mom.’‘You’re not even friends with him.’‘Shut up. That’s not the point. Anyway, there was this old guy who looked like an orc standing next to her. You know, not quite an old man but not really middle-aged either.’‘Yeah, I know, so get to the point already.’‘Geez, you’re so impatient. So, that orc-looking guy slipped his hand between her legs. He didn’t touch her crotch but her inner thigh. I got so turned on, man. I jerked off to it that night.’Naturally, he was angry. But their voices were low, and he hesitated to confront them and cause a scene. At that moment, Kim Hyeonggeon gently tapped the back of his hand.‘Don’t get involved. It’ll just cause trouble.’Everyone knew how close Lee Yesin and Go Hangyeol were. Lee Yesin stared quietly at Kim Hyeonggeon. Kim shrugged and said, with a sigh,‘But it’s true, isn’t it?’‘……’At that moment, Lee Yesin thought how glad he was that Go Heejeong wasn’t his mother. The thought startled him so much he had to cover his mouth, but deep down, his subconscious repeated the sentiment with cold clarity. It’s a relief. I’m glad I’m not Go Heejeong’s son, glad my family is the Yeho Group, glad I’m Lee Yesin. Truly, I’m so fortunate.How many times had he thought this since learning about Go Hangyeol’s existence?“What’s wrong with you these days?”He sluggishly raised himself from where he had been slumped over his desk. Go Hangyeol, seated in front of him, was staring at him with a concerned expression. Lee Yesin narrowed his bleary eyes, running his fingers through his hair.“What?”“…We’re seniors now. Are you not planning on going to college?”“Maybe not.”“What?”Lee Yesin exhaled deeply and closed his eyes. The smell of alcohol was making his head spin. This had been his routine for days, but no one had confronted him about drinking. It was absurd and bitterly amusing.“Come with me.”Go Hangyeol forcibly pulled Lee Yesin to his feet and led him to an unused classroom. Once they were inside, he cornered Lee Yesin, glaring down at him.“What the hell is going on with you? Why are you acting like this all of a sudden?”“Hangyeol, I’m sorry.”“…Hey.”“I’m just… sorry for everything.”Go Hangyeol’s fierce expression softened as he sighed and hugged Lee Yesin. Lee Yesin buried his face in his friend’s chest.“I did a DNA test. It turns out your mom really did give birth to me.”“…….”“I’ve got all the documents prepared. You’re not involved in this. Just do as I say.”This Saturday, there was a family gathering for the Yeho Group department store’s anniversary celebration. Lee Yesin had chosen that day as his D-day. He had quietly liquidated as much money as possible, consulted with a lawyer, and made arrangements for the evidence to be sent to every TV station and online community across the country. It would be submitted anonymously, with no trace back to him, meticulously disguised as top-tier whistleblower material. In addition, Lee Yesin had already secured a spot on a ship. After the exposé, when Chairman Lee, in his fury, disowned him and accepted Go Hangyeol in his place, Lee Yesin would board that ship. And he would never return.“…What are you planning to do?”“I’ll study abroad after graduation. I’ll call you when I buy a house, so come visit often.”It was a good thing he had buried his face in Hangyeol’s chest, sparing him from seeing his expression. The flimsy lie would have been too obvious if he’d been looking him in the eye. Lee Yesin smiled as he lifted his head.“They say this is how American kids have fun. Yejoon and Yejin told me. Drinking, smoking, even doing drugs.”“Lee Yesin.”“Just… take care of your mom.”“…….”“When everything comes out and the news breaks, she’ll have a hard time…. I know you’ll handle it, but I’m still asking you.”Lee Yesin’s deteriorating health and worn-out face wounded Go Hangyeol deeply. Just like Lee Yesin, Hangyeol was finding it unbearable to cope with the current situation. Couldn’t things just stay as they were? He had believed that’s what he wanted. But now that everything had escalated, a deep, hidden part of Go Hangyeol suddenly erupted, spewing out a flood of suppressed emotions.Why are you acting like such an idiot? You’re just taking what’s yours, so what’s the problem? Even Lee Yesin, who could’ve been a major obstacle, is bowing down to you. So why are you pretending to be some saint? You’ve always been jealous. You’ve always suffered from living in a reality so different from his. You’ve always cried, “Why is it only me?” Just do what Lee Yesin tells you to do. Accept everything he’s handing over to you. It’s only natural. After all, it was always meant to be yours—everything that Lee Yesin has.“…Alright.”Go Hangyeol gently stroked Lee Yesin’s hair. They were young, too young to think about the distant future or realize that adults were smarter than them. If they had known the catastrophe awaiting them, what would they have done? In the dust-covered classroom, Go Hangyeol and Lee Yesin held each other, letting time slip away as they reflected on their brilliant past, their regrettable present, and the tangled future ahead.٠ ࣪⭑“Ah.”“Feels like you got shot, right?”“…It’s not that bad.”The man laughed lightly, toying with Lee Yesin’s ear. He had recently pierced his left earlobe, fitting it with a black gemstone. It was his first piercing, so the accessory choices were limited. Lee Yesin held up a small mirror to inspect his ear. It was red and swollen, but still looked pretty.“Make sure you dry it properly after you shower. And keep applying the ointment. Honestly, you look like the type who’d be covered in tattoos, but you’re surprisingly delicate.”The man from the club, Seong Wonkyung, playfully lifted Lee Yesin’s shirt as he spoke. Lee Yesin swatted his hand away and continued looking in the mirror. The studio apartment, smaller than even his own room, somehow didn’t feel cramped. Sitting on the soft floor, covered with a thin rug, gave him an oddly cozy feeling.“Hey, stop looking at it. It’s not going anywhere. I did a good job piercing it, you know?”As Lee Yesin kept gazing at his reflection, Seong Wonkyung teased from where he was rummaging through a drawer for ointment. Refocusing, Lee Yesin glanced at his ear in the mirror.“Does it look good?”“It looks great.”“Will it match a white suit?”“What, are you going to a party?”“Yeah, tomorrow.”It was a large dinner party. Chairman Lee valued this event even more than the anniversaries of other subsidiaries because it was for a department store once managed by his late wife, Lee Yesin’s grandmother.Chairman Lee had a reputation for being a romantic. After his wife passed at a relatively young age, he never remarried, dedicating himself to preserving everything she had touched. The department store, the hotel, the family home, the villa, and their children—he cared for them all with utmost devotion. But due to her early death, Lee Yesin and Go Hangyeol never felt her influence. The only one who had been touched by her presence was their older brother, Lee Yejoon, which made him special to Chairman Lee. It was a strange family, indeed.“So, why do you hang out at our club?”Seong Wonkyung suddenly asked, causing Lee Yesin to turn his head. Seong Wonkyung was still rummaging through drawers.“Why ask that all of a sudden? I heard it was a good place, so I went.”“Rich kids don’t party there. They’re usually on yachts or partying in their own villas. Your brother and sister do stuff like that too, right?”Seong Wonkyung, who had finally found a cotton swab and the ointment, sat behind Lee Yesin, holding up the mirror for him again. He grinned at their reflection before applying the ointment near the piercing. It stung a bit, but it wasn’t painful.“I’m not close with them.”“Yeah, you have a pretty big age gap. They both went abroad early, and after Lee Yejin became a professional model, she started traveling everywhere.”“How do you know so much?”“It’d be weirder not to. In this world, we kill time with conversations like these.”Seong Wonkyung tossed the swab and ointment onto the table and kissed the back of Lee Yesin’s neck.“What the…?”Frowning, Lee Yesin turned to look at him, only to find Seong Wonkyung smiling, his face too close for comfort.“Didn’t like it?”“It’s not about liking or disliking. It’s just uncomfortable.”“You’re really going around in circles to say you didn’t like it.”“What’s your problem?”Lee Yesin shifted away, placing his hands on the floor for support, as he glanced at Seong Wonkyung, who was scanning him with a playful smile.“Have you ever been with a guy?”“What?”Lee Yesin frowned at the sudden question.“There’s this saying… If you do it right, it drives you insane. Not just forgetting reality but to the point where you beg for it to stop.”“You’re really going around in circles to say that.”Lee Yesin’s remark made Seong Wonkyung laugh softly before he playfully flicked Lee Yesin’s earlobe.“If you’re interested, let me know. As you know, I’m an expert at making holes.”“…I don’t think that’s ever going to happen.”Lee Yesin replied slowly, grabbing a pack of cigarettes rolling on the floor. Seong Wonkyung pulled out a lighter from his pocket, lit one for him, and then lit one for himself.“Where’s the party?”Seong Wonkyung wasn’t a talkative person, but he knew how to keep the conversation engaging. Sometimes, he changed topics so suddenly that it was hard to keep up, but Lee Yesin never found it awkward talking to him.“At a hotel. The biggest hall. Wanna come?”“Wow, you’re just inviting me like that?”“So what? No one will notice if there’s one extra person.”Lee Yesin flicked the ash into the ashtray that Seong Wonkyung had pushed toward him. In truth, no one would care who he brought along. Well, maybe his older sister Lee Yejin, who hadn’t seen him in a while, might show some curiosity. She was one of the few people who still paid attention to him.“You’re inviting me just to mess with me, right?”“What are you talking about? If you don’t wanna come, then don’t.”Seong Wonkyung playfully kicked Lee Yesin’s leg. As Lee Yesin inhaled smoke, he stared at him in disbelief, but just as he was about to retaliate by blowing smoke in his face, his phone vibrated. It was a call from Go Hangyeol. Lee Yesin paused and reached for the phone. As soon as he answered, Seong Wonkyung pulled him into a tight embrace from behind, teasing him.“Ugh, cut it out. Hey, Hangyeol, what’s up?”He shook off Seong Wonkyung’s arms and spoke to Go Hangyeol.— Yesin… I think you can stop now.Seong Wonkyung tugged on Lee Yesin’s shirt, kissing his exposed shoulder. Lee Yesin stubbed out his cigarette, then paused as he frowned, sensing something off.“What are you talking about?”— Chairman invited me to the party tomorrow. He… he said if I want, I can rejoin the family registry. If I want to be a Lee Hangyeol again… he’s willing to do that.Seong Wonkyung slipped his hand under Lee Yesin’s T-shirt, his large palm brushing against Lee Yesin’s chest. Thump, thump, his awkwardly beating heart was felt as Seong Wonkyung tugged him closer with a strong pull on his shoulder.“You said… you’re going?”— …Yeah. He promised to handle everything so Mom wouldn’t be affected.Seong Wonkyung’s lips moved to Lee Yesin’s neck, planting small kisses. Lee Yesin swallowed hard, replaying Go Hangyeol’s words in his mind. This was good news. If Chairman Lee truly decided to accept Go Hangyeol, then everything was as good as settled.— You don’t need to go abroad either. It’s just that there will officially be one more grandchild.“What…?”— I asked what would happen to you. I said I didn’t want to do anything without you, and he said you could keep living here with me. If that’s what you want, you don’t have to go abroad.No one was supposed to know that Lee Yesin was planning to leave by boat. It wasn’t studying abroad; it was an escape, practically illegal emigration.— So, I want to go shopping with you… do you have time now?“Ah!”Bite. Seong Wonkyung nipped at Lee Yesin’s collarbone and then licked the skin with his tongue. Lee Yesin looked at him with a mixture of disbelief. Seong Wonkyung, lifting his head, licked his lips, eyes narrowing.“Are you crazy?”— Huh?“No, Hangyeol, let’s go. Let’s go right now. Where are you? Where should we meet?”Go Hangyeol tried to hide the excitement in his voice as he suggested they meet at the department store in an hour. Lee Yesin agreed and hung up. His mind was in a whirl. He couldn’t quite grasp what was happening. Eventually, Lee Yesin picked up his phone and found Chairman Lee’s private number. Just as he was about to press the call button—click—the buckle was undone.“…What have you been doing all this time? Why are you slobbering all over me?”“You’re making a scary call, aren’t you?”“…Why?”“If your cock shrinks, it means you’re scared. I’ll help keep it up. You make the call.”Seong Wonkyung, now comfortably lying on the floor, unzipped Lee Yesin’s pants and pulled out his member. Lee Yesin, frowning down at him, pressed the call button.“Take it easy.”“As you wish.”It was a strange feeling. It was like meeting a villain while fully exposing your vulnerabilities, or like animals building up euphoria just before a hunt. Or maybe, he thought, he had just gone mad.— It takes something like this for you to call me.“What are you thinking?”His voice came out slower than usual. The voice on the other end seemed clearer than ever, and he didn’t feel impatient about what came next. Slurp, slurp. Seong Wonkyung was sucking on Lee Yesin’s cock.— I know all about what you’ve been stirring up. I even heard you booked a ticket from a smuggler. I understand what you want, but let’s end this with Hangyeol being properly brought into the family.“…Are you serious?”— Yes. After the party wraps up on Saturday, when the family gathers, I’ll introduce him formally. Let’s make a big announcement that even though he’s from a different branch, he carries the family’s blood.“Hmph…”By now, his cock was fully erect, responding sensitively. It wasn’t just because of Seong Wonkyung’s tongue. The entire situation was setting his head ablaze, more than his body.— No parent can win against their child. Especially since you’re my grandchild. Juho thinks so too. What happened back then is long in the past, and sometimes ignorance is bliss. Let’s figure out the details amongst ourselves. So stop causing trouble. Come home, okay?A soft moan escaped him. Lee Yesin gripped Seong Wonkyung’s hair tightly and murmured, “Yes,” in a small voice.— Good. I’ll see you tomorrow. Bring Hangyeol with you.“Yes…”He pressed his lips together, waiting until Chairman Lee hung up. As soon as the call disconnected, he threw his phone and shouted. He thrust his hips, pushing his cock deep into Seong Wonkyung’s mouth.“Aah, ah!”With a tight grip on his lips, Seong Wonkyung took in the entire load of semen. His hips quivered, and his body nearly collapsed as he slid down to the floor. Breathing heavily, Lee Yesin slowly ran his fingers through Seong Wonkyung’s hair, still attached to his lower half. After thoroughly cleaning up the mess, Seong Wonkyung licked his lips and looked up at him. Then, crawling over, he placed his hands beside Lee Yesin’s face and looked down at him.“Promise me. I’m the one who’s going to break you in.”“…That’s not going to happen.”“If it does, it’ll be me. No matter what.”Lee Yesin gazed up at Seong Wonkyung, then slowly nodded.“Fine, whatever.”He answered lightly, smiling.٠ ࣪⭑Alcohol, cigarettes, prostitution, violence, running away, theft, and wasting money. Those were the acts of rebellion Lee Yesin had indulged in over the past few weeks. Through these, he had secured the safety of Go Hangyeol and Go Heejeong. If he had known it would turn out this way, he would have let loose long ago. He laughed at the thought.“Should I just go with a simple black one? What do you think?”“Go with navy or something in a blue tone. You like blue, don’t you?”“…Do I?”Go Hangyeol, standing in front of the full-length mirror, examined his reflection from various angles. Standing beside him, Lee Yesin looked at the mirror too, then began browsing the nearby racks.“Is tomorrow’s party just for family?”“The department store staff will be there too. But they’re practically family. Most of the managers at the luxury boutiques are parachutes. They’re like cousins to us, really.”It was all the same. Those without academic ambitions or future goals, tired of lazing around at home, were pushed by their parents into roles at the family’s department stores or hotels. The abuse of power was notorious. These so-called parachutes didn’t just torment the staff under them but even took pleasure in aggravating customers who didn’t dress in designer clothes. That’s why Lee Yesin avoided the Yeho Group department stores altogether.“Try this on. I think it’ll look good on you.”It was a luxurious navy suit, with light stripes that weren’t overdone, giving off a refined and sophisticated feel. As Lee Yesin had expected, the suit looked incredibly good on Go Hangyeol. While Go Hangyeol was changing, Lee Yesin picked out a tie and personally tied it for him. Seeing the gentle smile on Go Hangyeol’s face, Lee Yesin smiled back.“Stay over at my place tonight, Yesin.”“Sure.”Having nothing more to lose, Lee Yesin nodded, and the two went to Go Hangyeol’s house, arms full of clothes and accessories. Just like when they were younger, they washed up and lay down side by side on the bed. Though the bed was smaller than Lee Yesin’s, and they were now too big to fit comfortably, the closeness didn’t feel uncomfortable.“I’m nervous,” Go Hangyeol said softly to Lee Yesin, who was staring up at the dark ceiling. Lee Yesin turned onto his side and hugged him. Back when they were younger, Lee Yesin was the taller one, but now, Go Hangyeol had grown much bigger.“You’ll get used to it if you go often.”“Will I really? I’m not going to inherit the company or anything. My dream is just to make clothes.”“Then you’ll get even more used to it. You’ll be successful and throw lots of parties.”For some reason, that made Go Hangyeol laugh. His body shook with laughter, causing the arm Lee Yesin had draped over him to move up and down. The laughter was contagious, and a small smile spread across Lee Yesin’s face.“The clothes I make, and the accessories you make.”After calming down, Go Hangyeol turned his head and spoke to the top of Lee Yesin’s head. Lee Yesin nodded. Satisfied with the answer, Go Hangyeol grinned.“I’m really looking forward to the fashion show. Just imagine—models wearing the clothes I designed, walking down the runway. No matter how busy you are, you have to come to my first show.”“Your graduation show?”“Yeah, the graduation show. Remember that accessory design you showed me before? The one with the birthstones? Lend me those. I’ll make clothes that match them and put them on the runway.”Lee Yesin playfully replied, It would be an honor, and let out a small giggle. Go Hangyeol had always said he wanted to become a fashion designer, asking Lee Yesin to promise to attend his first show with a big bouquet of flowers. It was his dream.“I’m looking forward to it.”Lee Yesin imagined Go Hangyeol after the finale, coming out to greet the crowd with a bright smile on his face. In his mind, he handed him the bouquet. The thought filled him with warmth.٠ ࣪⭑The chauffeur who hadn’t been seen in a while was waiting outside the shop. Looking sharp in their outfits, Lee Yesin and Go Hangyeol, both having had their hair professionally done, got into the car.“How have you been?”“Fine, young master. Hangyeol, you’re looking good.”“Hello, sir.”Up until just before high school, Lee Yesin had a chauffeur wherever he went. At the elementary and middle schools he attended, this was considered normal, and he thought so too. But once he started high school, he realized that most students took public transportation. From then on, he tried to avoid using the chauffeured car.“Hangyeol, you look so dashing. I bet you’ll be getting lots of marriage proposals soon.”The chauffeur caught Go Hangyeol’s eyes in the rearview mirror as he complimented him. Already feeling awkward in his outfit, Go Hangyeol became even more embarrassed by the praise and lowered his gaze.“Sir, I’m still a high schooler.”Seeing Go Hangyeol’s reddening face, Lee Yesin teased him with a subtle expression. Flustered, Go Hangyeol whispered for him to stop. With a mischievous grin, Lee Yesin wrinkled his nose.The car maneuvered through the crowded weekend evening traffic and stopped in front of a tall hotel. After stepping out of the car, Lee Yesin and Go Hangyeol entered the spacious hall where the party was being held. Servers carrying trays of luxurious food and drinks walked around beneath the warm lighting, flowers arranged beautifully throughout the space filled the air with a delicate fragrance, and soft classical music created a serene and peaceful atmosphere.The hall was already full of people. Most were standing, enjoying appetizers and chatting, rather than sitting at the round tables waiting for the meal. While all the faces were familiar to Lee Yesin, they weren’t to Go Hangyeol. Lee Yesin was about to tell him to ask if he had any questions—he was about to do just that—until he noticed the looks everyone was giving Go Hangyeol, as if judging him.“Oh… Is that him? He does kind of look like President Lee Juho.”“I heard his mother was a barmaid. They say she had him just to squeeze money out of him.”“Doesn’t even know where he should or shouldn’t be.”“And he showed up all dressed up… with Lee Yesin of all people.”What is going on? According to Lee Yesin’s expectations, aside from the immediate family, most people shouldn’t care too much about Go Hangyeol. Even if his face was somewhat known in these circles, even if they had misconceptions about his background, there was no reason for them to sneer so openly.“This is too much. Doesn’t fit in here at all. There’s no one like him among us, right?”What do you mean by “someone like him”?“Of course not. Everyone here is an elite who’s made it big.”And you’re just a nepotism hire at the department store.“Is he trying to cozy up to Yeho Group? Even if he stands at the back of the line, he could live off it for life.”Stop it.“Keep your voice down. Kids like that have sharp ears from always being on edge.”Just stop.“To be honest, I think Lee Yesin is the worst.”…What?“Why? Isn’t he at least taking care of him?”“By keeping him by his side? It’s a comparison, right? Showing the real deal versus the fake one. Just making it clear that the half-blood doesn’t belong.”No, no, that’s not true.“You guys didn’t hear? Lee Yesin totally deserves this. Lately, that guy’s been going around bars pretending to be Yesin. He even got involved in a violent incident and solicited prostitution. Every time the cops show up, he’s like, ‘Do you know who I am?’ and drops Yesin’s name.”“What? Seriously? That’s crazy.”“Totally deserves revenge!”Hahaha! It was loud enough to hear clearly, but quiet enough to avoid being called out for shouting. Walking deeper into the room, Lee Yesin had to stop before reaching Chairman Lee at the head table.“Oh, this is what it’s like, huh? Life’s a battlefield. No one’s going to deal with trash when the real deal is standing right next to you.”Lee Yesin turned his head. Go Hangyeol had stopped walking, his head hanging low.“No, it’s not,” Lee Yesin said.Go Hangyeol didn’t respond. Attention shifted toward them, but Lee Yesin only saw Go Hangyeol.“It’s not right. Something’s wrong here. I’ll go talk to the chairman right now…”“I’ve been meaning to tell you…”“…”“The piercing… it looks good. I’ll go first.”Go Hangyeol turned around and walked toward the exit. As he walked away, the people with champagne glasses followed him with their eyes, whispering again.“Sometimes people need a harsh reality check to snap out of it. Lee Yesin must have it tough.”“Yeah, Yesin is kind-hearted, despite how he looks.”“Right? Honestly, how many years has it been? He was still in elementary school when he showed up holding his mom’s hand. For all those years, Yesin’s been looking out for him, only to get slapped with a rumor like this? Yesin got stabbed in the back, big time.”As Go Hangyeol walked, he started running. People murmured behind him as he fled.“Ugh, smells like semen.”“Dude, seriously, watch your mouth.”“What? Who cares? He knew what he was walking into. Did he expect applause? Come on.”The jacket Lee Yesin picked out for Go Hangyeol flapped as he ran. The shoes Lee Yesin chose for him slammed into the ground, and their carefully styled hair came undone. The sight of Go Hangyeol disappearing beyond the exit stayed like a lingering afterimage in front of Lee Yesin’s eyes. He swallowed dryly and slowly followed the footprints Go Hangyeol left behind. Just then, someone grabbed his arm tightly.“Grandfather is asking for you.”It was Lee Yejun, looking down at Yesin as if they hadn’t seen each other in ages. Lee Yesin yanked his arm free and started walking again. Yejun stopped him once more.“Let go. I’m going after him.”“Where? To that bastard?”“Don’t you dare call him a bastard…”“Yesin.”As Lee Yesin was about to grab Yejun by the collar, Lee Juho approached them. With an embrace that resembled a welcoming greeting, Juho pulled Yesin into his arms.“Come inside quietly. You won’t get another chance.”Chance for what? Go Hangyeol was already shattered, and Yesin was on the verge of losing it too. Lee Yesin’s body trembled slightly. Lee Juho, with an indifferent expression, wrapped his arm around Yesin’s back and guided him into the hall. Chairman Lee, sitting alone at the large table, set his glass down and smiled at Yesin.“You’re here.”“…The story… seems different.”“Yes, the story is different. I was planning to officially introduce him when the party was over, but Hangyeol ran off.”Lee Juho sat near Chairman Lee and motioned for Yesin to join them. Yesin shook his head.“Explain. What is going on?”“Yesin, why dig up your father’s dirty laundry? I was going to let this blow over quietly, but you went too far. Meeting lawyers and trying to involve the media? Really? Still, I’ll give you credit. You didn’t tell them everything. Smart. Yes, you were smart.”Lee Yesin had been meeting lawyers not because he trusted the police or prosecution—they were all in Yeho Group’s pockets—but because he needed people to help spread the word. He’d visited various law firms, from small local offices to major ones in the heart of Seoul.Tonight, he’d given those lawyers files, offering large sums for them to act according to the contents. While they had the files, they couldn’t access them yet because Yesin hadn’t provided the passwords. After the conversation with Chairman Lee yesterday, Yesin had contemplated calling the lawyers to order the destruction of the files but had kept one last card, just in case. Now, it seemed everything had been exposed before he even made a move.“Hand over your phone. Before Hangyeol’s solicitation story hits the news.”“…”This wasn’t a fight anymore. Everything Lee Yesin had done was pinned on Hangyeol, and they knew the password to the files was in Yesin’s phone. Chairman Lee demanded the phone, but his real message was clear: You can’t beat me.“So, let’s discuss terms. You’ll listen to me then, won’t you?”Chairman Lee took a sip from his glass. Then, Lee Juho took over the conversation.“Yesin, just live your life as you are. You make accessories, Hangyeol makes clothes, and the two of you live quietly. No one’s asking you to take over the company. I won’t demand anything from you. Just keep living like you are.”“But…”“This will all pass. Maybe in school, he’ll face some teasing, but once you both settle into adulthood, no one will say anything to Hangyeol.”They just did, though. Right now. In that hall, full of grown adults, they spit on Hangyeol without hesitation.“Unless… you want to take it all? The harsh insults that made Hangyeol run after 19 years of enduring?”The sentence that flew through Yesin’s mind in response to Juho’s words didn’t even make sense. He stood there, staring at Juho, mouth slightly agape.“I guarantee it’ll be worse. If you don’t listen, I’ll get irritated.”“Tsk, watch your tone. Yesin, your father is telling you to keep your head down. Just put the phone down, and don’t stir things up any further.”“…Why? Why not just do what you said yesterday—bring Hangyeol into the family? Then it can stay between us… We’ll take care of our mothers… just like that…”