NOVEL NEXT #034
#034
“Based on the angle of this photo, it was clearly taken by someone at the gathering. If we investigate the families that are at odds with the Supreme Party among the group members, we should quickly find the person who took the photo.”
“That’s right. By the way, Young Master Ha Jin, once the news breaks out, you’ll likely need to lay low for a while.”
“You know I don’t hang out with those kids anymore.”
At my answer, Secretary Kim finally relaxed his expression and laughed slightly.
“Right. It’s ironic that a strange photo has surfaced precisely because you don’t associate with them.”
“Don’t worry. It’s not the truth anyway.”
“Yes. But only we know that…”
Secretary Kim finished his words bitterly and left after saying goodbye. Left alone in the room, I looked down at the photo in my hand again.
“How exquisite.”
Since we refused the deal, the photo will probably spread by tomorrow morning.
Then I’ll have to release what I’ve prepared as well. I had it ready just in case Jung Woo approached me again, but I guess I’ll use it like this?
I should turn this crisis into an opportunity. Let’s try to boost Ha Jin’s image while we’re at it. Damn you Ha Jin, look at how much I’m suffering for you.
By the way, how will I be able to show my face at school tomorrow? How thick-skinned was Ha Jin to be able to shamelessly go around while handling these social issues?
As I was organizing my thoughts about the future, Sun Woo entered the room. He seemed to have noticed, but when I hurriedly hid the photo in my pocket, he didn’t ask about it.
“What’s going on?”
“Nothing. It’s no big deal.”
“Really?”
I smiled awkwardly at his gaze staring at me intently.
“Let’s go study.”
Even after being dragged by me to the study, Sun Woo quietly looked at me for a long time. When I didn’t bring up anything despite his gaze, he simply let out a shallow sigh. He seemed frustrated, and finally Sun Woo spoke first.
“Is it really nothing?”
“Yeah.”
At my answer, Sun Woo’s eyes momentarily took on a cold light. After looking at me like that for a while, Sun Woo eventually averted his gaze and continued studying.
And the next day, my photo appeared in an online news article. At least they seemed to have blocked it from broadcasting. But these days, everyone reads online news articles anyway…
Statistics show that assault cases that shock the entire nation are typically caused by chaebol heirs. How should the public accept their lack of morality?
It’s been 10 years since the so-called “compensation for beating” incident occurred. The voices of the public demanding them to come to their senses back then don’t seem to have reached the chaebol yet. There was a chaebol heir who beat someone and paid money as compensation, and recently there was an incident where a chaebol heir assaulted someone while wielding a dangerous firearm.
On XX month, XX year, at a shooting range near Seoul.
A gathering of chaebol heirs whose names everyone would recognize. Among them, the heir of the Eunha Group, who plays the most pivotal role, Yoo XX (21), is the person who reigns as their king. He has caused various incidents in the past, but everyone kept quiet about it, so it couldn’t be properly verified. At this time, a single photo caused a huge stir. In the photo, he is holding a gun in one hand and relentlessly striking down at the other person… (omitted)
– Wow, the scale is different. The compensation beating used an aluminum bat, but now it’s a gun?
– He took the gun that was supposed to be used for shooting clay pigeons and beat someone up with it. Crazy.
– Let’s require a mental evaluation when issuing firearm licenses.
– Look at the scale of chaebol heirs, lol
– Yoo XX, 21 years old, a chaebol heir. Damn, I’m jealous.
└ Wow, I searched him and his face shows up. He’s freaking handsome. Damn, damn, damn.
– How much do you get paid if you get hit by a gun? The compensation beating back then was 3 million won, right?
└ What are you going to do if you know how much they pay? Get beaten up for it? Lol
└ I’m just curious. If you don’t know, then just move along.
– Hey, aren’t all the rumors about that jerk in the tabloids true?
└ What rumors? Tabloids?
└ Let’s just say he’s done all sorts of trashy things.
– Everyone be careful of lawsuits ^^ Whew, since I don’t have money, I’ll hold back.
– Isn’t Eunha Group blocking this? It’s strange.
└ They probably released it. I heard he causes a ton of trouble.
└ Isn’t he the only son?
└ Lol yes
└ He was an only son? But why aren’t they blocking it? It really is strange.
– The media companies must be terrified of Eunha Group. Lol I acknowledge your true journalism.
I turned off my phone screen after reading the article that came out in the morning. Comments were pouring in, it had already been ranking #1 in interest for a long time, and it was also heading towards #1 in the most sympathized news.
Although the face in the photo was blurred, with a little searching, one could easily find my face.
Before leaving the house, I picked up a hat but put it back down.
I had no reason to be ashamed. Ha Jin might have, but not me. I thought I’d be used to people’s whispers by now and it wouldn’t bother me… but I guess it’s still a bit hard to be cursed at?
I let out a deep sigh and left the house.
The sky was unusually blue and clear today. Too nice of a day to be getting cursed at.
I felt a lot of stares on the back of my head while walking to the lecture hall for the exam. Hearing whispers behind my back for the first time in a while felt strange.
The atmosphere in the lecture hall I entered on time was quiet, unlike before. I thought it might be because of the exam, but obviously everyone had seen the article.
Thinking that this was the last exam and it would be over after this, I pulled myself together and focused on the test.
After the exam, I tried to leave quickly but was stopped by Kim Shin. He erased his usual smiling face and expressed his concern for me with an expression full of anger.
Wow, Kim Shin is really scary. The atmosphere changes so much with just his expression.
“What’s with that photo? Why is it in the news?”
Although Kim Shin’s voice wasn’t particularly loud, the people in the quiet hallway all turned their attention this way.
“Let’s move somewhere else to talk.”
I said that, feeling uncomfortable with their attention, but Kim Shin didn’t listen to me.
“Damn it…”
I was honestly surprised to hear a curse word from Kim Shin’s mouth for the first time. Even in the most terrible situations, Kim Shin never uttered profanity. His usually smiling face was all scrunched up.
“First, calm down.”
“How can I be calm? Why didn’t you block this? Why did you let the article come out?”
What power do I have to block it? Father said to just leave it alone.
As I forcibly dragged Kim Shin out, Mi-eun and Beom-jun followed along. In the end, the four of us had an unintended trip together to the tennis club room.
As soon as the clubroom door closed, Mi-eun finally pushed Kim Shin back and approached me.
“Ha Jin, are you okay? Don’t mind the article.”
“I’m fine, Mi-eun.”
“What a shitty article to put out. Our Ha Jin could do that too.”
Could do that, huh?
Mi-eun seemed to believe that I had actually used violence. Well, looking at the photo, it’s obvious that even I would believe that. But I felt like I should let Mi-eun, who was misunderstanding that I really hit someone, know the truth.
“Mi-eun, I didn’t hit anyone. The photo was taken in an instant, but I was in a situation where I was taking away the gun.”
“Huh? You didn’t hit them?”
Seeing her surprise, she must have really believed I hit someone. I guess the image I’ve built up until now collapses in an instant like this…
“Ah, I thought there’s no way Ha Jin would do that.”
Even though she believed I hit someone until just now, Mi-eun quickly changes her stance. Kim Shin, unable to quell his anger, took another step closer to me. Seeing them standing side by side with angry faces somehow made me burst into laughter.
“You’re laughing? Ha Jin. Ha… Is this a time to laugh?”
“Are you crazy, Ha Jin? This isn’t the time to be cheeky. Can you please read the room? Why are you charming people everywhere?”
“Hey, Ha Jin can laugh too. Why are you scolding him over that?”
“What? Beom-jun, why are you here?”
“Ah, no. I’m worried about Ha Jin too.”
I barely held back my laughter and calmed them down.
“I appreciate your concern. But I’m really fine. This kind of thing just needs time. If we stay quiet, it will naturally fade from people’s memories.”
At my words, Kim Shin looks at me intently.
“Ha Jin, why didn’t the group block it?”
“It’s not a serious enough situation to go that far.”
Kim Shin furrowed his brows, seemingly displeased with my answer.
“Should I take care of it on my end?”
“It’s fine. It’s too late to gather up a photo that’s already spread.”
“Haa, really Ha Jin. Stop being so precarious. You’re driving me crazy these days. Hasn’t the chairman summoned you?”
“I don’t think he will. He probably knows the details through Secretary Kim.”
Kim Shin’s expression was still dark, as if he really didn’t like that I was taking this lightly.
When his gaze started to feel burdensome, Mi-eun separated us with her bright, loud voice at just the right timing.
“Oh come on, if it’s not Ha Jin, then it’s not. We rented out a tavern today too. Let’s go!”
“Yeah, let’s. Ha Jin worked hard again for the final exams this semester. Let’s go together.”
At Mi-eun and Beom-jun’s words, I shook my head.
If I go to a tavern in this situation, I’ll only be called more of a crazy bastard. Because then I’d become Ha Jin who beat someone up with a gun and showed up at a drinking gathering like nothing happened.
Close friends would believe me if I said I didn’t do it, but I could clearly see how others would think of me. They’d think my true nature has emerged after laying low. I expressed my intention to decline, not wanting to ruin the mood for no reason.
“I have something else to do.”
“Huh? It’s no fun if you don’t come.”
“Right. Let’s go together.”
“No. I’ll get going now. You all have fun.”
I gave a quick goodbye and tried to leave, but turned back around. It was embarrassing how all three of them were looking at me with the same worried expression. Do I look that pitiful? I’m not really bothered though…
“Have a good break.”
“Yeah, you too Ha Jin.”
“Ha Jin! Reply when I contact you. You never reply. And download KakaoTalk too. What kind of person doesn’t have KakaoTalk? Says it costs money to text!”
I just waved my hand without any particular response. Kim Shin was still silently looking at me. Seeing a serious face from Kim Shin, who always smiled with squinted eyes, felt unfamiliar. Anyways, he worries about Ha Jin’s matters like his own. What an amazing friendship, really.