episode_0046

Hyeyoon left for Russia.

I thought Hye-yoon might be a bit squeamish before she leaves since she won’t be seeing me for a while, but that wasn’t the case.

Hyeyoon left as coolly as she usually did when going to work. She was dragging her carry-on bag.

“I’ll buy you a souvenir when I come. Don’t cause trouble and be quiet.”

Hye-yoon left those words before leaving.

What the hell am I thinking?

Wasn’t it Bin Hye-yoon who caused most of the accidents up until now? I was busy trying to fix them.

Well……. There were many times when Hye-yoon didn’t listen to me, but I still think I did my best.

After Hye-yoon left for Russia, all the things that had happened to Hye-yoon flashed before my eyes.

Starting with the time when Hye-yoon came to see me first when I was living in a studio apartment…

The attempted assassination case involving Yeonlim’s father… The trip to Anais Island… The case involving Han Hyunho…

Time really passed like a storm.

What kind of accident might happen if Hye-yoon is around…

Looking back on the past, I was worried. It seemed like Hye-yoon was destined to invite accidents and incidents.

After Hye-yoon left, I had a quick breakfast alone and was watching a TV drama when I got a message on my phone.

-What are you doing? Is Bin Hye-yoon not here?

Seolhee.

Hmm… Of course Seol-hee would know that Hye-yoon went to Russia.

Seol-hee sent a message through the messenger app that said it was impossible to track or monitor.

I thought for a moment, then touched the phone screen to send a reply.

-Hye-yoon is Russian. I am enjoying small happiness.

Yeah. Watching TV alone at home like this is a small happiness.

A reply came right away.

-Your father wants to meet you. Are you free for lunch today?

What?

Chairman Yoo Seon-ho me?

Oh my. Woo Sung-won has grown up so much. The chairman of such a conglomerate asked to meet you.

I was so shocked that I couldn’t think of anything, but since I thought the chairman of a conglomerate would be burdensome, I decided to politely express my refusal.

-Isn’t the chairman a busy person? If you meet me, you’ll be wasting your time. Haha.

Then, immediately, a reply came to Seol-hee again.

-No. My father said he really needs to meet you sometime. I made a lunch reservation, so get ready. I’ll pick you up later.

Seol-hee is also very self-willed.

I just gave up and lay back down.

Hyeyoon wanted to go to Russia and enjoy some alone time for the first time in a while… What is this?

Ugh. It’s annoying. It’s irritating.

***

Three hours later.

Seol-hee came to pick me up herself.

Since I didn’t think it would be good for the security guards guarding Hye-yoon’s house to see Seol-hee’s face, I went downtown before the appointed time. There, I got into Seol-hee’s car.

Seol-hee was wearing very neat and proper clothes, as if she was looking at a line.

Seol-hee, wearing clothes that smelled like luxury goods, looked a little nervous.

“What’s wrong? Are you nervous?”

When I asked, Seol-hee answered while pushing her hair behind her ear as she sped up the sports car.

“This is my first time introducing my friend to my father.”

“What about Chairman Yoo? Is he strict?”

“Of course. Most chaebol heads are picky.”

Um… I’ve gained some courage while spending time with Hye-yoon.

Even if Chairman Yoo Seon-ho is the chairman of a conglomerate, he wouldn’t say, “Kill him, get rid of him,” like Hye-yoon did, right?

Thinking about it that way, I wasn’t as nervous as I thought.

Anyway, Seol-hee’s sports car was running fast and arrived in front of a high-class Korean restaurant.

As I got out of the car, Seol-hee took a deep breath and called out to me.

“Wait a minute. Seongwon.”

“Huh?”

Seol-hee, standing in front of me, whispered while adjusting the position of my tie.

“Your tie is crooked. Your shirt is leaking. Your hair is a little messy. Wait a minute.”

Seol-hee came right up to me and touched me neatly here and there.

Oh….. As Seol-hee came closer, a scent came out. It seemed like she was spraying some expensive, high-quality perfume.

My eyes turned towards Seol-hee’s legs.

Black stockings.

Seol-hee is wearing black socks.

Oops. Is this the first time I’ve seen Seol-hee wearing black shoes?

She has quite attractive legs. They look long and thin.

Surely Seol-hee didn’t wear black shoes because she was trying to impress me?

Seol-hee took a deep breath and naturally took my hand and guided me into the restaurant.

“Okay. Let’s go. Father will be here soon.”

I followed Seol-hee and sat down at the spacious table.

The ticking sound of the clock on the wall was unusually loud.

Seol-hee was nervous and kept drinking the water in her cup.

After about fifteen minutes had passed.

“Miss. The chairman will be here soon.”

An employee who appeared to be a secretary suddenly entered the restaurant and announced this.

Seol-hee jumped up from her spot. I, too, stood up in surprise, following her.

***

Behind this person.

Chairman Yoo Seon-ho appeared.

I know you’re almost 70 years old… but you look younger than your age.

Is it natural that he is well managed as the chairman of a conglomerate?

Chairman Yoo opened his mouth in a detailed voice, pointing to the table with his hand.

“Sit down.”

After hearing Chairman Yoo’s words, Seol-hee and I sat down on the chairs at the same time.

As soon as he sat down on the chair, Chairman Yoo stared intently at my face.

What is that? What is on my face? Why are you looking at me like this?

When I smiled innocently, Chairman Yoo smiled warmly and said.

“Are you tired these days? Because of that bratty mafia girl?”

It’s something that is said in a friendly manner… It’s a joke, but it gets to the point.

I answered, laughing awkwardly, haha.

“Well, there’s nothing I can do. I have to take good care of Hye-yoon. She’s so self-willed.”

“Hye-yoon?”

Chairman Yoo seemed curious about the title.

Huh? Did I say something wrong?

When I made an embarrassed expression, Chairman Yoo opened his mouth with a hollow laugh.

“I think you’re the only one in our country who can call the world-famous Bin Hye-yoon like that. Bin Hye-yoon is known for being very difficult to handle.”

“Ah. Yes. I just have a personal relationship with him… Even without that, his temper makes everyday difficult.”

I answered like that and glanced at Seol-hee.

Seol-hee sat with a tense expression, her mouth tightly shut, and stared intently at the teacup in front of her.

Soon the food menu was placed on the table.

These were freshly prepared, hot Korean dishes.

It looks like there are more than forty side dishes. Aren’t the table legs going to break?

We didn’t say anything until the food was served, and then we started talking again once all the waiters had left.

“Bin Hye-yoon is really wild these days. If you don’t listen, she threatens, intimidates, kidnaps, and kills you……. I’ve known mafia for a long time, but I’ve never seen a mafia like this.”

Chairman Yoo said that.

Ugh… How should I react?

“Sorry, sorry.”

In the end, I ended up apologizing.

“No. No. You don’t need to apologize. That’s Bin Hye-yoon’s problem. You may not believe it, but I highly regard Bin Hye-yoon.”

“Yes?”

“Bin Hye-yoon is a smart and clever woman. If she were my daughter, I wouldn’t be afraid of the world.”

Seol-hee’s face turned pale when she heard those words.

It seemed like he was trying hard to suppress his feelings of anger and inferiority.

Um… I think this chairman said something unnecessary. Why would he say something like that in front of his own daughter?

Chairman Yoo continued talking, picking up some vegetables with his chopsticks and chewing them loudly.

“But if you keep acting like a wild horse like you are now, even Bin Hye-yoon won’t live long. I don’t want Bin Hye-yoon to die young. I wish you would stay by her side and control Bin Hye-yoon well.”

“Yes?”

“No matter how much Bin Hye-yoon flies and crawls, in the end she’s just a mafia. Do you understand what I mean?”

“Huh? Oh. Yes. Yes. ”

Chairman Yoo smiled warmly again and continued speaking.

“Bin Hye-yoon is a human being outside the boundaries of the law. Up until now, Bin Hye-yoon has benefited from that position. However, on the other hand, Bin Hye-yoon herself can fall because of that position. I don’t think Bin Hye-yoon is foolish, but……. Black Emily’s boss seems to take the world too lightly. She’s overconfident.”

“Isn’t that the fate of the mafia?”

“Fate. Yes. Fate.”

Chairman Yoo smiled again and said.

“I think I know why Bin Hye-yoon likes you. You’re so witty.”

“, thank you.”

“Are you going to marry Bin Hye-yoon?”

A question that suddenly comes to mind.

Seol-hee, whose face turned as pale as a blank sheet of paper, stared at my face without even picking up her spoon.

Hmm… Is this why the chairman called me in to ask this?

I thought for a moment, smiled brightly, and answered slyly.

“I don’t think it’s the right age to think about marriage.”

“I didn’t ask how old you were. I asked if you were thinking of marrying Bin Hye-yoon.”

“Not yet.”

“Not yet?”

Chairman Yoo chewed over my answer and muttered while scooping up some seolleongtang with a spoon.

“That’s an ambiguous answer. What about Bin Hye-yoon? Has she ever told you that she wants to get married?”

“I don’t think I can answer that.”

“Why?”

“It’s personal.”

Chairman Yoo smiled brightly.

My answer was honest. I had no choice but to answer honestly.

It’s a personal matter and I haven’t set a future yet.

“Yeah. That’s a personal thing. Anyway, I’m glad I can talk to you. If you were a lowly bastard, you would have thought of using Bin Hye-yoon to get a piece of the action. But that’s not the case. I think you’re too naive to live as a mafia lover.”

The Mafia’s Lover? Me?

Well… I admit I’m naive.

Chairman Yoo wiped his mouth with a napkin and continued speaking.

“Bin Hye-yoon is a human being without a family. You are the same. Please help Bin Hye-yoon go in the right direction even a little more.”

“Yes, I will do that.”

“Honestly, I want to bet on Bin Hye-yoon.”

“Yes??”

When I reacted in surprise, Seol-hee was also surprised and looked at Chairman Yoo’s face.

“If Bin Hye-yoon is still alive in a few years, I will join hands with Bin Hye-yoon. If Bin Hye-yoon dies before that, everything will be over. In a way, Bin Hye-yoon’s fate may be in your hands.”

“…….”

“Because you can change Bin Hye-yoon.”

Um… that’s the story.

In the end, does Chairman Yoo think highly of Hye-yoon and wish for her not to die?

I didn’t answer, I just smiled. There was no answer for me here.

Chairman Yoo put down his spoon and asked again.

“What do you think of my daughter Seol-hee?”

What?

Seol-hee heard those words, her face turned bright red, and she opened her mouth for the first time since she sat down here.

“Ah, ah, father. What, what, what are you saying?”

This is the first time I’ve seen Seol-hee stutter like this.

It sounds like a question asked by an old man from a rural village who brings his daughter whom he wants to marry off.

Seol-hee… Well? What should I say?

“You are a wise and beautiful daughter. You are a wonderful person. But why are you asking me such a thing…….”

When I answered like that, Chairman Yoo smiled and answered.

“This was a personal question I wanted to ask. Seol-hee said she made a good friend recently. Every time Seol-hee talked about you, she smiled brightly.”

Seol-hee’s face turned bright red, she put her hands on her knees and bowed her head.

Chairman Yoo looked straight into my face and said.

“Can I give you some advice?”

“Yes?”

“If you get involved with the mafia, it won’t end well. If you go all the way with Bin Hye-yoon, you’ll end up unhappy.”

What is this guy trying to say?

You said earlier that you would take good care of Hye-yoon, but that doesn’t make sense.

When I looked dumbfounded, Chairman Yoo smiled meaningfully and said.

“The advice I just gave you was only advice for your life. Don’t feel bad about it.”

***

The meal is over.

After lunch, Chairman Yoo left in a limousine for his next schedule.

“Oh my. Dad too… What kind of nonsense is he saying…….”

He muttered that while fanning himself with his still red hand.

I had a good feeling about Chairman Yoo Seon-ho.

He doesn’t seem like a bad person. Maybe Hye-yoon won’t suffer any harm by listening to Chairman Yoo Seon-ho’s advice.

“Chairman Yoo seems like a good person. I guess it’s his experience or his experience.”

When I opened my mouth like that, Seol-hee smiled faintly.

“Right? Well, my father is a great man. Even if I die and wake up, I won’t be able to keep up with him.”

We came out of the restaurant.

As summer draws to a close, the weather becomes a little cooler.

From a distance, the loud, buzzing sound of cicadas could be heard.

“What are you going to do now?”

Seol-hee asked.

“Go home, clean up. Lie down and watch TV. Take a nap,”

“What is that?”

“This is my honest schedule.”

Seol-hee smiled brightly as if she found my answer amusing.

Seol-hee, who had been laughing like that for a long time, asked again with her face slightly red.

“Uh, over there… You know. Do you want to go for a drive with me after a long time?”

drive?