The Country Life Diary of a Gangster’s Secretary

This chapter is paid for by Nemuru!

Hyeseong didn’t want to interfere in other people’s business, but he couldn’t just pass by as the noise grew louder. Hyeseong slowly approached the community center with Boksil. There stood a tall, large man confronting the residents.

Hyeseong recognized a few familiar faces – the people who first greeted him when he moved to this neighborhood recently. As he got closer, Hyeseong felt an ominous premonition. 

“So just tell me where that bastard Cheon Hyeseong lives!”

Hearing the familiar voice shout out his name, Hyeseong was surprised to see Kim Doo-sung yelling at the residents.

“What are you doing right now!”

Doo-sung’s eyes widened when he spotted Hyeseong. 

“Wow, speak of the devil and he appears.”

Hyeseong stood firmly in front of Doo-sung who was threatening the residents. 

“Is everyone okay?”

“Hey, it’s not like I assaulted anyone, you know.”

“Verbal threats are also a form of assault. I guess you’re too ignorant to know that.”

“You little punk.”

As Doo-sung approached Hyeseong menacingly, an elderly lady who had been standing in the back stepped forward and shouted.

“What an ill-mannered scoundrel! How dare such a young punk yell and curse here!”

It was the only elder who remembered Hyeseong briefly living here when he was young. When she shouted and pointed her finger, Doo-sung, who was about to confront Hyeseong, took a step back.

“Look, my business is with this guy, okay?”

Doo-sung let out an incredulous laugh. Hyeseong tried to dissuade the grandmother for now. Even if he was only yelling now, there was no telling how he might change if angered. Gangsters tend to resort to fists before reason regardless of who they’re dealing with, and don’t care if the other person is much older.

“Hyeseong, you go inside the house. I’ll call the police.”

It seemed Doo-sung had come to this village looking for Hyeseong and asked the residents about his whereabouts. But the villagers didn’t tell him anything due to his unusual demeanor, and an argument ensued. 

Hyeseong made a mental note that he should properly thank and apologize to the residents later.

“Grandma, I’m okay. Please, everyone, go back inside.”

“What are you saying, young man. He clearly looks like a thug. Mr. Kim! Call 112! Tell them there’s a hooligan causing trouble in the village.”

At the grandmother’s command, Mr. Kim the junk shop owner hurriedly took out his cell phone. That’s when it happened. Doo-sung’s face turned vicious and he quickly approached Mr. Kim, smacking the phone out of his hand.  

A scream broke out among the residents. Mr. Kim’s phone hit the ground, shattering the screen. Hyeseong’s expression hardened even more.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

“Go ahead and report it. Even if I get arrested, I’ll be right out. I’ll get my guys and mess this whole place up, got it? Go on and try.”

Doo-sung was openly making threats now. Honestly, he wasn’t wrong. Even if they called the police now, the only charges against Doo-sung would be causing a disturbance and damaging Mr. Kim’s property. The police, not wanting to escalate things, might push for a settlement. And even without settling, the worst punishment Doo-sung would receive is a fine. 

That’s how the law works in Korea. Moreover, Doo-sung likely had no qualms or fear about being arrested by the police, getting investigated, and paying a fine. 

“Sir, I’m sorry. I’ll compensate you for the phone later.”

Hyeseong picked up the broken phone and handed it to Mr. Kim. Then he entrusted Boksil’s leash to Soon-ae, the owner of the nearby fruit store. 

“Ma’am, sorry but could you please take Boksil to my house? There should be a friend of mine there. Just tell him I had to meet someone I know and I’ll be late.”

After reassuring them repeatedly that it was okay, Hyeseong was able to send the worried residents back.

“Wow, looks like you’re quite loved in this neighborhood. I wonder if they know – that you’ve deceived people without a second thought and ruined lives before.”

It seemed Kim Doo-sung wanted revenge for that day. After all, his organization disappeared after Hyeseong handed an important USB drive to Ihyeok. But how could he blame Hyeseong for that? They were simply incompetent themselves.

“How long are you going to bring up that old story?”

“As long as possible?”

Hyeseong’s brow furrowed deeply. Doo-sung probably knew too. Even if he hated Hyeseong and considered him an enemy, acting this way over one incident was quite excessive. But there could be two reasons he was doing this despite knowing that.

One was that he simply wanted to harass Hyeseong. The other was that he wanted something. Perhaps it was both. 

“Anyway, are you going to keep me standing here? I came all this way to see you, and you won’t even treat me to coffee?”

“I’m not sure why I should treat an uninvited guest, but let’s go. Don’t make a scene in the neighborhood.”

So Hyeseong headed to a nearby cafe with Doo-sung. It was run by a young male owner and Hyeseong had come to drink coffee here a few times since moving, so he was somewhat acquainted with the owner.

“Welcome…”

The owner’s face brightened upon seeing Hyeseong, but he flinched when he saw the large man following behind. Hyeseong felt very sorry for bringing such a person here, but this was the closest cafe in the neighborhood.

“We’ll leave as soon as possible.”

Feeling the owner’s gaze, Hyeseong roughly ordered an Americano and went to the most secluded seat.

“So, what is it? No, before that, how did you know I live in this neighborhood?”

“Well, I looked into it a bit. Oh, I have a small office in Haewon City too. I had the guys look into it.”

In other words, he had illegally investigated Hyeseong as he pleased, and was openly stating it in front of the person concerned.  

“Then why were you looking for me?”

“Let me ask you first. Did you block my number?”

“Yes.”

When Hyeseong answered without hesitation, Doo-sung let out an absurd snort.

“The way you talk… Well, I figured you would. A prick like you wouldn’t meekly take my calls.”

“I don’t feel so great hearing you call me a prick.”

“You little…”

Doo-sung raised his hand as if to hit him. But Hyeseong didn’t even blink an eye. He’d rather get hit. At least then he could sue for assault or injury. But Doo-sung must know that too. If the reason he came to find Hyeseong was because he had an ulterior motive, he definitely wouldn’t do anything to harm himself. 

“Anyway. You living here for good?” 

“I have no obligation to disclose my personal information. Enough, just quickly tell me why you came to see me. You want something, right?”

“Eh, I don’t want anything. Like I said, I have a small office in Haewon City.”

Doo-sung took out his wallet from his back pocket and held out a business card.

Luxury Capital

Below that, next to the title of president, was the name Kim Doo-sung.

“Isn’t this fate too? You and I meeting again in Haewon City.”

Anyone listening would think it sounded like a cheesy line from a drama. Of course, given that it was Doo-sung saying it, Hyeseong couldn’t help but make a face.

“Come visit sometime. My office.”

Doo-sung slid the business card in front of Hyeseong and tapped it with his finger.

“Come reminisce about the old days, hmm?”

It was getting more and more ridiculous. There weren’t any particularly memorable times to reminisce about. They had just briefly crossed paths at the part-time job office. 

“Well, I’m done here so I’m going. Oh, right.”

Doo-sung scraped back his chair and stood up. His huge shadow loomed over Hyeseong. 

“You won’t ignore me again, will you? Or act up in front of anyone? Hmm? You won’t pull that damn reporting or whatever nonsense again, right? Your village seems really small and quiet.”

“……”

When Hyeseong glared up at him, Doo-sung cackled unpleasantly. He was openly making threats, having become quite skilled at it. And using the peacefully coexisting residents of this small village as hostages for his threats at that.

“And unblock my number while I’m asking nicely. If you don’t, I’ll come find you again tomorrow.”

Leaving those words behind, Doo-sung downed the rest of his coffee in one gulp and left the store. As soon as he left, the cafe owner came over to ask if Hyeseong was okay, but Hyeseong brushed it off, saying it was a personal matter and not to worry.

Hyeseong took the business card and went straight home. As expected, Dohyun interrogated him about who he met, so Hyeseong just made up an excuse that he had coffee with a resident his parents were close with when he was young. 

The excuse must have been quite plausible, because Dohyun didn’t ask any more questions. He just whined cutely, asking Hyeseong to introduce them later.

For now, Hyeseong asked the residents who witnessed today’s incident to keep it to themselves as much as possible to prevent rumors from spreading. He didn’t want to worry Dohyun, and above all, he didn’t want it to reach Ihyeok’s ears.

[Hyeseong, let me know beforehand when you come to the office, got it?]

As soon as he unblocked the number, a text came from Doo-sung. Hyeseong’s expression changed oddly as he read the message in his room.

TN: Thank you so much, Nemuru! for the chapters. Have a nice day!