episode_0031

4 years ago.

That was before the full-fledged family moved into the share house.

“Look at him, isn’t he cute?”

“Wh, what is it?”

Behind Han Chae-yeon, who thought she was returning home as usual, was another young girl.

Should I say she was a girl, she was just a child.

“Where did you get it from?”

“I picked it up.”

As always, my question was answered with a missing answer.

Are you serious? I looked at Han Chae-yeon with that look on my face, but she was just smiling.

It was my fault for expecting a normal reaction.

The child I saw up close was very unique.

Arms and legs that looked as if they might break at any moment, cheeks that were sunken as if they hadn’t eaten well. Nevertheless, the white and smooth skin stands out.

…It wasn’t the same trivial reason.

It didn’t mean that it was unusual for him to keep a blank expression and not say a word even in this situation.

The empty pupil that showed nothing caught my eye.

“What is your name?”

I asked Han Chae-yeon, who was calmly entering the house with her child.

“Ran, this is Choi Ran. I brought you here to become a family starting today.”

It was as if he had picked up a dog or cat while walking down the street.

**

“…It’s a share house, was there such a thing?”

I was a little surprised when I had my secretary find out Ran’s whereabouts.

Government-supported share house.

A new type of welfare facility whose date of implementation is unknown.

It is said that people who have nowhere to go come together and form one family.

Until then, I only felt that it was a little annoying.

Unlike typical orphanages or facilities, the degree of closeness is different as a small number of people gather together in one house. Bringing a child who lived with you for 24 hours was bound to cause noise, whether you liked it or not.

Therefore, we deliberately took the form of a direct visit rather than an invitation.

Ordinary people tend to feel nervous even when a low-level detective comes to their house.

Especially if it’s not a detective, but a prosecutor.

But what if more people come in unexpectedly without prior notice?

Dozens of bodyguards and lawyers, each armed with non-lethal weapons, and to top it all off, he even has the title of chairman of a large corporation.

Normally, it wouldn’t be surprising if you panicked and your hair turned white.

“…I see.”

However, such common sense did not apply to the young man currently sitting across from Choi Young-cheol.

Even though he had just seen his entourage right under his nose and had personally accepted Choi Young-cheol’s business card, he never showed signs of being agitated.

He, who was with Choi Ran at the amusement park, introduced himself as Han Yu-seong.

Before coming here, I had glanced at the profiles of the people living in the share house at least once.

Unlike other people who used more than 5 to 6 pages of A4 paper because of their unique history, his history was so ordinary that he barely filled half the paper.

Therefore, I wasn’t paying much attention, but if I had known this would happen, I should have checked in more detail.

“If you look at the documents here, you will see that there is a legal basis for us to take Ran Choi…”

“Yes. It certainly seems like there is no way for me to refuse.”

Han Yu-seong, who was calmly examining a bundle of documents filled with difficult legal terms, opened his mouth.

The lawyer who was engrossed in explanation was momentarily taken aback.

It had been a long time since I had seen Choi Young-cheol’s lawyer, who had worked hand in hand with Choi Young-cheol for a long time and experienced all kinds of hardships, look so disheveled.

That’s how different a college student named Han Yu-seong was from ordinary people.

“…Are you saying you understand?”

“Yes. Of course.”

An answer full of confidence.

The lawyer’s face lit up at his words.

“In that case, I would like you to sign this memorandum.”

“Before that, there’s something I’d like to point out for a moment, is that okay?”

“…Yes, of course.”

“I only said that there was no way for me to refuse, but I never said that I would hand over the column right away.”

Han Yu-seong cut off his lawyer like a knife as he tried to take out another document from his briefcase.

“…The place where I live is a child protection facility under the Child Welfare Act. If a relative wishes to take a child who is being cared for at a facility, permission is required from the person in charge of the facility. The lawyer probably knows this too, right?”

“…I know.”

“The person in charge here is Han Chae-yeon. Go ask that person.”

“I’ve already been there. Then I heard that they would do it if Han Yu-seong gave permission.”

“…Are you passing it on to me again?”

The young man in front of me touched his forehead and sighed deeply.

As the lawyer said, Choi Young-cheol had an attendant negotiate with Han Chae-yeon in advance.

If I had gotten permission from Han Chae-yeon in the first place, I wouldn’t have done something as conspicuous as I did now.

“…From now on, you will talk to me.”

Choi Young-cheol, who was quietly watching the situation, opened his mouth.

“Chairman?”

“It’s okay. Isn’t this story about my granddaughter? I think it was right for me to bring up the story from the beginning.”

I extended my hand to the thoughtful lawyer and indicated that it was okay.

Choi Young-cheol also decided to admit it.

A person named Han Yoo-seong is not someone you can easily get over.

“What are the conditions that Yoosung wants? Let me listen.”

Doctor of “ran.”

“…That must be difficult.”

As soon as I heard it, I was in tears.

He is now only a 10-year-old child.

The family at the facility who I have lived with for over 4 years, and the people from my father’s side whom I have never seen since I was born.

It was obvious even without looking who I would choose.

“Then I have nothing to say either.”

“Isn’t negotiation about coordinating what each party wants? Don’t rush, let’s talk calmly.”

“I don’t really want anything from the Chairman.”

“10 billion.”

“…”

If “ signs the parental rights transfer agreement, I will immediately give you 10 billion won in cash. If we had that, wouldn’t we be able to live comfortably with other children in a bigger house instead of this shabby apartment?”

Han Yu-seong was silent.

It didn’t mean I was surprised, but rather the feeling that it wasn’t really worth responding to.

“…I would appreciate it if you could stop saying such trivial nonsense and tell me why you really want Ran.”

“…”

This time it was Choi Young-cheol’s turn to keep quiet.

Have you ever said anything harsh like this to anyone since you became president?

It was so shocking that the lawyer next to him was shocked.

“…That’s it. Okay, let me be honest.”

Choi Young-cheol told the truth about Ran to the man in front of him.

The background of Ran’s birth, the current status of Choi Sang-hyeon, her father, and the situation where the family line was on the verge of being cut off.

All information, including information that could be considered trivial.

“This is also for my granddaughter. Even if I graduate from this facility and leave, all I can see are prejudiced views of me as an orphan. Wouldn’t it be better to follow in my footsteps and be happier in my future life?”

“…In the end, you are saying that you are not looking for a family, but a replacement.”

That was Han Yu-seong’s impression after hearing Choi Young-cheol’s story.

Nowhere in his words did he show any concern or love for Ran.

All that can be seen is the company’s safety from now on.

“I will also refuse. I don’t think he would be very happy if I sent a column to the chairman in such a situation.”

“Do you really need to go to court? I will tell you, it will cost hundreds of millions of dollars in attorney fees, and since it is a parental rights lawsuit, Ran will have a very difficult time for a very long time.”

“That means the risk will be greatly increased. It’s a story about the granddaughter of the chairman of a large corporation. Wouldn’t it probably keep appearing in the news?”

“…”

“…”

I got stabbed again where it hurts.

Are you really a normal college student?

Just looking at what he said, he was no different from the other snorkelers that Choi Young-cheol had dealt with.

“You can pay the lawyer’s fees, and if Ran is having a hard time, you can help her as a family. However, as the Chairman said, there will be no way to make up for the continued decline in corporate image and stock during the long litigation period.”

The seemingly ordinary man in front of me was talking.

If you have more cards, take them out.

He said he couldn’t convince himself with this.

‘Huh, indeed.’

Before he knew it, he came to his senses and realized that everyone around him, including himself, was being caught up in Han Yu-seong’s actions.

Even his title as chairman and his reputation as a top-notch lawyer became infinitely smaller in front of this man.

What is it really?

“If you have nothing more to say, leave now…”

Do you know the secret that “Ran holds?”

Han Yoo-seong, who was about to give an order to congratulate the guests, was cut off mid-sentence.

This was something I didn’t really want to reveal.

“…is it a secret?”

“Actually, that child can read the minds of people he comes in contact with.”

“…”

“It is still an area of speculation, but I am more than 90% sure.”

A strangely abnormal reaction of a young girl seen at an amusement park.

What happened from the moment the arms touched gave credence to his guess.

“Are you reluctant?”

“No.”

The answer came back right away.

The reason Choi Young-cheol brought up this story was simple.

Because I hoped that Han Yu-seong would be afraid of or reluctant to run after knowing this fact.

A person who can read people’s minds.

That meant that no secrets could be hidden from that person, and fleeting desires could not be hidden.

Reading all the different types of things that everyone thinks about at least once was more terrifying than I could imagine.

In fact, there was one thing even more surprising than that calm face.

“…Can you believe this story?”

“There is no reason for you to lie to me.”

Han Yu-seong immediately accepted the crazy story that even he dismissed as crazy.

That was a bigger shock to Choi Young-cheol than anything else.

“…You’re not normal either.”

“I’ve often experienced similar things in the past. Maybe you have developed a tolerance.”

His meaningful words.

Regarding “…, I will ask the child directly. I will answer later.”

“I’ll be waiting for a good answer.”