The crystal glass flew across the room and shattered against the wall. Kim Sun-young screamed herself hoarse, veins bulging in her neck. You useless bastard. Can't you even handle one thing properly? She tore into the young man standing before her. The man was one of those who handled dirty work for her family.
Kim Sun-young's father had long been a major player in Seoul, an enormously wealthy man with vast cash reserves. After she married, he had wanted to establish a savings bank, but struggled to get approval from the Financial Supervisory Commission. The person who had rolled up his sleeves and helped at that time was Chairman Kang. Thanks to that, her family still walked on eggshells around their son-in-law, Chairman Kang.
"How could you miss? You said he was the real deal. You said his skills were certain."
The man opened his mouth with a troubled expression.
"Well, apparently the target noticed first and dodged. Must have seen the moment the trigger was pulled."
"You useless bastard. Is that even an excuse?"
Slap. Her hand struck the man's cheek. Again, slap, slap. She struck him hard enough to turn his head, and still unsatisfied, she started throwing objects. Behind her fuming figure, Kang Tae-han shook his head while holding a teacup. To think she hides that temperament so well in front of Father.
Her grand plan had fallen apart in an instant. Tae-han wasn't particularly surprised, having expected as much. Several similar incidents had occurred before, and each time Kang Il-hyun had survived unscathed, incredibly enough.
Still seething with anger, Kim Sun-young sat down at the table. She noticed belatedly that her nail had broken from slapping him and flew into another rage before taking out a cigarette from her bag and lighting it.
"Incompetent fools can't even do their jobs properly."
Kang Tae-han moved the teacup in front of her, telling her to calm down.
"That's exactly why I tried to stop you. If only you had listened."
Her eyes sharpened. Seeing Tae-han trying to wash his hands of the matter infuriated her. Whether then or now, he was always an expert at looking out for himself. What use was a man with such small courage? Then again, that's why he ended up in a position where even his rice bowl could be stolen by a half-brother eight years his junior.
"Don't worry. This isn't the only opportunity."
"After the chaos today, do you think Managing Director Kang will just sit still? They say he's already sent drones into the area, starting with the CCTV and searching all the surrounding mountains."
She ground her cigarette viciously into the ashtray. We just need to find him first and eliminate him. We just need to find him and destroy the evidence before that vicious bastard catches and tortures someone. She had already sent people. But if they can't find him, then...
Watching the anxious Kim Sun-young, Kang Tae-han's eyes gleamed cunningly. He leaned forward.
"I have a better idea..."
"What is it?"
"Why not use Seok-ju?"
The skin under her eyes twisted.
"They're the same age, so I heard they're quite close. Wouldn't it be easier to approach him?"
Kim Sun-young didn't answer, her cheek twitching. The whole thing had been done under the pretense of protecting her son Seok-ju, but in her heart, she didn't want to drag him into this mess. Even if things went wrong, she wanted to end it herself. She didn't want her child to suffer any harm.
"There's no need to drag him into this."
"Then why did you drag me into it? Because I'm not Mother's biological son?"
"Isn't that obvious? I've never once thought of you, Managing Director Kang, and Seok-ju as the same. You all feel the same way, don't you?"
"As expected of Mother."
Tae-han laughed with a disgusted expression. Looking closely, despite not being his biological mother, he had many features resembling Kang Il-hyun. She soon started making a call somewhere. Telling them to find and eliminate him no matter what, it seemed she intended to destroy evidence.
***
After washing up, Ja-kyung looked up at the ceiling while drying his hair. As promised, Kang Il-hyun had removed the CCTV from the bedroom. Just in case, he checked once more with the detector but found no other traces. The thought that he could sleep peacefully felt like a decade of accumulated frustration melting away.
After fully drying his hair, he checked the suit on the bed. Today was the day for dinner at the main residence, so he had to dress appropriately. As he put on the shirt, the fabric hugged his body comfortably. He buttoned it up and tied his necktie, but it felt unfamiliar after so long.
After several attempts, he gave up and just made it look roughly presentable. Then, putting on his watch and glasses, he went downstairs. Il-hyun was in the middle of the living room with his back turned, talking to someone on the phone.
The glass window shattered by bullets had already been restored, and the house was peaceful as if nothing had happened. But beyond the window, security guards were walking dogs, monitoring inside and out, several drones were visible, and the number of guards had doubled from usual.
Finishing his call, Il-hyun turned around and paused.
"You look splendid."
He had been watching intently, and now Il-hyun walked forward. Before Ja-kyung could react, he reached out and instantly undid his necktie. Flustered, Ja-kyung watched as he retied it. His long fingers skillfully created a knot just below the collar. Standing close enough for their chests to nearly touch, his scent was strong.
"Are you okay?"
"With what...?"
"You must have been quite shaken. You can rest at home today. The appointment can be postponed."
"No... Chairman Kang personally invited me... It wouldn't be proper etiquette."
After fixing the necktie and pinning it in place, Il-hyun smiled with satisfaction. His gaze swept slowly from bottom to top. Their eyes met, and Ja-kyung gave an awkward smile.
"Much better."
"Thank you."
Il-hyun extended his hand.
"Shall we go, then? Your Highness."
Ja-kyung shook his head with a troubled expression. He was starting to get a little used to this man's jokes. Il-hyun laughed and patted Ja-kyung's back instead of taking his hand. Let's go. It's rush hour in Seoul, so we should hurry. The hand on his back bothered him, but he didn't bother to remove it.
As he said, the traffic wasn't just congested but completely gridlocked, barely moving. Ja-kyung looked out the window. Lights reflected off the Han River, mixing with the ripples and floating like jewels. He had lived in Seoul as a child but never came here until he was ten.
Kang Il-hyun also remained silent, looking out the window. The cars repeatedly stopped and started, and when they finally escaped the gridlocked section, they could breathe more freely. Upon arriving at the main residence, staff came out to greet them. Getting out of the car, Ja-kyung followed behind Il-hyun through the main gate.
Chairman Kang's residence was more modest in size than expected. Aside from a well-maintained garden and a pond on one side, Il-hyun's house actually suited a chairman's residence better. Entering the foyer, an elderly man greeted them formally.
Il-hyun introduced him as Butler Yang. His hair was white with age, but his eyes shone as brightly as a young person's. Following his guidance, Ja-kyung looked around the house. The first thing that caught his eye was a large family portrait hanging prominently. Everyone was smiling, looking like an ordinary family.
Guided to their destination, a long dining table awaited. Candelabras and flowers decorated the table, and staff bustled about serving food. He thought he had arrived on time, but some family members were already there.
"Managing Director Kang and Jang Ian have arrived."
Conversations stopped as all eyes turned toward them. Kang Yu-jeong was the first to rise and approach. Just like yesterday, she spread her arms and hugged Ja-kyung, patting his back.
"Welcome. Seeing you again after just a day makes me happy."
Unlike yesterday, she wore a neat suit, but still carried a pleasant fragrance. Though he was no eighteen-year-old boy, his heart fluttered unnecessarily. Uncharacteristically shy, Ja-kyung briefly met Il-hyun's eyes. For some reason, he was smirking.
Feeling exposed, he quickly wiped his expression clean.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Kang Tae-han. Il-hyun's older brother."
A thin man wearing glasses introduced himself as Kang Tae-han. His eyes held a serpentine, vile quality.
"Hello. I'm Jang Ian. Nice to meet you."
"You take after your mother exactly. What a pity. If you were a woman, you'd be quite a beauty."
He grinned as he made his joke. The woman beside him nudged him with a glare. She seemed to be Kang Tae-han's wife.
"I'll apologize on his behalf. His jokes sometimes go too far."
She was clearly a much better person than her husband at first glance.
"Not at all. I'll take it as a compliment."
Just then, a sound came from the stairs.
"The Chairman and his wife are coming out."
Everyone turned in that direction, and all the staff lined up on both sides and bowed at the waist. Acting like a king and queen appearing—what a spectacle. The imposing man descending the stairs was Kang Il-hyun's father.
Even in his age, he radiated authority, his eyes like a tiger's. The woman holding his arm must be Kang Seok-ju's mother. Sure enough, Seok-ju followed behind them. The fellow rode on the tiger's back, yet his eyes were filled with fear. He always put on airs whenever they met, but in this house, he was nothing more than a feeble herbivore.