Toward Taesu, Chairman Seok Jeonghyeon proposed with a calm smile.
"If we're going to anyway, wouldn't it be nice to see their faces once?"
"Mr. Jeong?"
"The others as well. We're companions who've been through hardship together; treating you to a meal isn't such a difficult thing."
"Then I suppose I should call and ask."
Rustle.
With a bewildered face, Taesu rummaged through his pocket.
But then.
Swish.
Chief of Staff Jeong Yongcheol appeared behind Chairman Seok Jeonghyeon like a shadow.
Then he whispered in a small voice.
"Just now……."
"Yes, yes. I see."
At the same moment, Chairman Seok Jeonghyeon nodded.
Silently.
Chief of Staff Jeong Yongcheol receded like a shadow once more.
Chairman Seok Jeonghyeon found Taesu, who had been watching that sight.
"Mr. Choi. Whatever shall I do—I'm sorry. It seems my afternoon appointment has been moved up."
"Then you must go. You should."
"But words once spoken aren't easily taken back."
"Not at all. I will relay what you said properly."
Taesu quickly soothed Chairman Seok Jeonghyeon's worries.
Coming all this way to see him was enough.
A meal was something they could share together anytime later.
Rather, Taesu didn't want to cause a disruption in his important schedule because of himself.
Chairman Seok Jeonghyeon also seemed distressed, perhaps because it was a matter that couldn't be postponed.
"Whatever shall I do."
"You needn't worry. Truly."
"Hmm."
His deliberation did not seem to end easily.
But that time was also brief.
Rustle.
Chairman Seok Jeonghyeon took an envelope from his inner suit pocket and held it out to Taesu.
"I had planned to give this after the meal, but I suppose it's become lunch money."
"Pardon?"
"Why are you looking at it like that?"
"Still……."
His hand did not readily reach for the thick envelope.
As if having anticipated Taesu's reluctance, Chairman Seok Jeonghyeon drove the point home.
"Did your father teach you to refuse what an elder gives?"
"No."
"Then I was an elder earlier, and now I am not?"
Swish.
At the same time as the question, Chairman Seok Jeonghyeon held the envelope even closer to Taesu.
That gesture felt more frightening than words telling him to take it.
Taesu had no way to hold out further and reluctantly accepted it.
"Thank you."
"What thanks? Your companions are right over there, after all."
It meant he should get up first.
Taesu couldn't afford to waste time nitpicking and arguing over that suggestion as well.
*Scrape.*
Rising from his seat, Taesu offered sincere parting words to Chairman Seok Jeonghyeon.
"I will take my leave first. Please complete your remaining schedule without incident, and I look forward to seeing you in Korea later."
"You said two years."
"I won't delay any longer."
"Then that's fine. Don't dawdle, take care, and be on your way."
Chairman Seok Jeonghyeon even left no room for Taesu to look back.
He seemed to want a clean parting.
Taesu agreed with that as well.
Swish.
Taesu, who had come out beside the table, bowed deeply to Chairman Seok Jeonghyeon once more.
It was a greeting wishing the elder, who trusted and waited for him, boundless longevity.
And he also lowered his head to Chief of Staff Jeong Yongcheol to bid farewell.
Only after that did Taesu turn around.
*Clack, clack.*
Whether because he left no lingering attachment in his retreating steps, he did not look back until he left the teahouse.
After Taesu had left as such.
Chief of Staff Jeong Yongcheol was present at the seat Taesu had just occupied.
Chairman Seok Jeonghyeon moistened his mouth with the cooled tea and asked softly.
"Wasn't it disappointing to only greet him and leave?"
"I said everything I needed to say on the way here."
"What did you talk about?"
When Chairman Seok Jeonghyeon showed curiosity, Chief of Staff Jeong Yongcheol answered immediately.
"We asked after each other and talked about Good Morning US and relationships. He was especially curious about the relationship with Dongseong."
"What did you answer?"
Chairman Seok Jeonghyeon's interest deepened.
But Chief of Staff Jeong Yongcheol's expression as he answered was not very bright.
"I said we had maintained the relationship continuously since before. But……. I made a slip of the tongue without realizing it."
"The prudent Chief Jeong making a slip? What kind of words?"
"It was that a certain young and enterprising friend had carried out a homeless support project. I apologize."
*Bowing deeply.*
Chief of Staff Jeong Yongcheol bowed his head deeply until the crown of his head was visible.
At the same time, the corners of Chairman Seok Jeonghyeon's mouth, which had been smiling the whole time, turned bitter.
"You didn't speak of something that never happened, so is there any need to apologize so much?"
"Still, I misspoke……"
"It's not Chief Jeong's fault, so ease your mind."
"……."
Even at that consolation, Chief of Staff Jeong Yongcheol's expression did not brighten.
Watching him, Chairman Seok Jeonghyeon added in a flat tone.
"Truthfully, I felt as if I saw that child too."
"Chairman."
"Ambition, resolve, even wit. Really, aren't they similar?"
It was a sudden question, but Chief of Staff Jeong Yongcheol understood immediately.
"A bit……. No, he is very slightly similar, but that friend is far superior."
"Don't gild my face."
"It's the truth. The youngest young master is far more astute than Mr. Choi……. Hmm. I apologize."
Chief of Staff Jeong Yongcheol was startled by his own words and apologized immediately.
Because he had mentioned a taboo word that should never be brought up before Chairman Seok Jeonghyeon.
However, there was no great change in Chairman Seok Jeonghyeon's expression.
It was merely that his mood had sunk a little more.
That Chairman Seok Jeonghyeon offered a soft suggestion to Chief of Staff Jeong Yongcheol.
"Chief Jeong, you had better watch your tongue."
"I will keep it in mind."
"You didn't speak to Mr. Choi about that child, did you?"
"Absolutely not. I swear."
Even resolve could be felt in Chief of Staff Jeong Yongcheol's answer.
Chairman Seok Jeonghyeon gently soothed that tense atmosphere.
"There's no need for that. Rather, I'm sorry. I'm a pathetic father still clinging to a departed child, causing Chief Jeong undue hardship for no reason."
"I am more sorry."
"Let's stop that talk. Let's enjoy this splendid scenery with a sip of tea and then be on our way."
With those words, Chairman Seok Jeonghyeon turned his gaze out the window.
It was not merely words suggesting they drink tea.
It meant he needed time to soothe his wavering heart.
As the situation had begun with his slip of tongue, Chief of Staff Jeong Yongcheol followed his meaning with a heavy expression.
Meanwhile, Chairman Seok Jeonghyeon's gaze was directed somewhere.
Far away, Taesu, Jeong Minsu, Kim Hyeokkwon, and Brad Kim were mingling.
Laughing and chatting about something pleasant, they were heading deep into the bustling streets.
At the center of them all was Taesu.
Watching for a moment, Chairman Seok Jeonghyeon felt someone overlapping with Taesu's figure.
"Jaeseong, truly, it feels as if I'm seeing you from that time."
Chairman Seok Jeonghyeon murmured to himself.
And he gazed endlessly until that Taesu disappeared from sight.
The reason he was drawn to Choi Taesu?
Chairman Seok Jeonghyeon vaguely guessed it.
Around evening.
The guest room door opened, and Taesu and his party entered.
The most noticeable among the party was Kim Hyeokkwon's appearance. The smile did not leave the corners of his mouth as he held a toothpick between his lips.
"Keuk. Oof, this is good. Thanks to that Chairman, we've feasted all day today."
"Even if the budget is ample, how could he take us to such expensive places……."
"Doctor Kim. Idle money runs away if you save it. The right answer is to spend it when you can."
"That's why we've stocked up so much for winter."
Swish.
Brad Kim held up plastic bags filling both hands high to show them.
While the two were bickering.
Taesu kept looking at Jeong Minsu, who had been subdued.
"Do you still feel strange?"
"He's someone I've never met even once; I didn't think he'd readily make such an offer."
"You just gave him your personal information when he asked. Doing this after that—isn't that inconsistent?"
"Still, I didn't know he'd deposit it so immediately."
Jeong Minsu's face was full of absurdity.
That was something Taesu acknowledged as well.
"I knew Chief Jeong was a man of action, but he was fast indeed."
"How is it, Taesu, that only unique people surround you?"
"You included."
Taesu returned the words with interest.
Unable to deny that point, Jeong Minsu looked away.
"Ahem. Shall we drink some water?"
*Slide, slide.*
As Jeong Minsu moved away talking nonsense, Taesu shook his head.
"That guy is really funny."
Kim Hyeokkwon immediately jumped in at those words.
"Right? What did you say earlier?"
"He asked if you were trying to sell his personal info. Even so, he answered every question diligently."
"To think you trust each other so little."
"Is it me? It's him who has none."
Just as Taesu pointed that out clearly.
A strange screech from Jeong Minsu was heard from the table area.
"Heeek."
At that sound, Brad Kim slightly frowned and spoke.
"What the heck is that noise like a pig being slaughtered?"
"Come here, come here for a moment."
"What is it?"
"I said come quickly."
Jeong Minsu's agitated voice showed no sign of dying down.
Perhaps because the reaction was unusual, Taesu, Kim Hyeokkwon, and Brad Kim quickly headed that way.
*Pat, pat.*
The moment they rushed over, the sight of the table—which should have been completely empty—filled to the brim caught their eyes.
"Huh?"
Surprised, everyone quickly went to the table.
And seeing what was laid out on the table, they dropped their jaws.
"This is……. Soju glasses."
"Kimchi? Beef bone soup? Spicy beef soup?"
"There's tuna and seaweed too."
"Huh? There's a note here, Doctor Choi."
*Swish.*
Brad Kim picked it up and immediately handed it to Taesu.
Taesu received it in a daze, and as soon as he read the first line, he understood why it had been given to him.
- Teacher Choi Taesu.
I wonder if this surprise gift will be to your liking. The Chairman said it must be about time you missed Korean food and had this prepared. Please enjoy to your heart's content, and I hope to see you smiling after achieving your determined resolve.
It was vigorous handwriting with a lively pen tip.
The sender was not written, but Taesu recalled Chief of Staff Jeong Yongcheol's face.
When had he done this?
He had a rough hunch.
It seemed he had left it at the front desk in advance before calling Taesu over.
Taesu's heart was moved by the meticulous consideration.
"This……. Damn."
"It's nice, so what the hell kind of 'damn' is that?"
When Kim Hyeokkwon quibbled, Taesu replied gruffly.
"They go and make me emotional in the strangest ways."
"So what are you going to do about it?"
"What do you mean, what. Let's get this started."
"Feisty, I like it. Come on, let's prepare."
"Ooh."
Everyone cheered and pitched in to quickly spread out the food.
A short while later.
Four people sat around the table.
Even though their stomachs were already full, their mouths watered at the food filling the table.
It was actually Korean food.
It was food they missed so dearly it ached; no further words were meaningful.
Before each of them sat straight glasses. And in the middle, an entire box of soju packs occupied its place.
They could tell it had been brought over by plane.
Brad Kim winked at Taesu and proposed.
"Still, shouldn't the protagonist who received the gift show his generosity for the first glass?"
"Shall I do the honors?"
"Of course. Let's see Doctor Choi pour us a glass."
*Swish.*
He immediately held up his straight glass.
Kim Hyeokkwon and Jeong Minsu did the same in turn.
Without delay, Taesu quickly opened the soju pack and filled all the glasses.