Chapter 19: Old Hatred at the Table

A tired voice rising from the bottom of her chest flowed out like sludge as she opened her eyes.

No matter the amount, the most important thing was to put out the immediate fire.

Just as she was about to take out her phone, the ringtone echoed throughout the car.

Jiheum’s heart plummeted and then bounced back, thumping wildly.

She felt a surge of anger, fearing it was Chae Youngchae calling back because she couldn’t wait a single minute, but then she realized the ringtone was different.

The name displayed on the navigation screen was Kang Haejun.

She was puzzled since there was still plenty of time until their appointment.

– “Hello?”

– “It’s me. I’m so sorry, what should I do?”

– “Why? Did something happen?”

She asked nonchalantly, but she had a strong premonition from Kang Haejun’s voice that the appointment was about to be canceled.

– “An important dinner engagement suddenly came up. It’s a meeting that’s difficult for me to cancel.”

– “Is that so? It can’t be helped, then.”

She replied as if it were nothing, but she looked down to check her attire.

She had already finished preparing perfectly to go out.

She had prepared much earlier than the appointment time because she didn’t want to stay all day in her room, where the sun barely reached.

Her plan was to kill time near the meeting place, but she had already been seen leaving by Yoon Jiyoon.

She had no desire to go back into the house she had just left after a confrontation, yet she didn’t want to force the canceled appointment, leaving her feeling lost in the suddenly empty hours.

– “Instead, I’ll buy you lunch tomorrow.”

– “Lunch? The timing might be a bit awkward to meet during lunch hour.”

– “Don’t worry about that. I’ll definitely keep my promise tomorrow.”

Kang Haejun spoke with confidence, as if he had some secret advantage.

Though a bit puzzled, Jiheum hung up after agreeing.

Silence returned to the car.

Only Jiheum, who now had nowhere to go, was left behind to let out a sigh.

****

Languor dripped from Ki Joyoon’s steps as he entered the main house of Seoanjae.

Chief Kim Hyeonjong, Ki Do-hwan’s right-hand man, greeted Ki Joyoon.

Ki Joyoon returned the greeting and got straight to the point.

“Chief Kim. Who is the guest?”

“The Chairman’s instruction is to escort you directly to the dining room.”

Chief Kim gave an irrelevant answer and turned to lead the way.

However, Ki Joyoon remained where he was, merely thrusting his hands into his trouser pockets without moving a muscle.

Chief Kim realized no one was following him and turned back.

“Chief Kim. You still haven’t answered my question.”

Ki Joyoon displayed his characteristic beaming smile.

His lips were curved favorably and his eyes were kind.

However, facing that smile, Chief Kim’s throat tightened with tension.

“…He is someone you will recognize once you see him yourself.”

Ki Joyoon’s instincts flared at Chief Kim’s hesitant, troubled attitude.

‘Ah, so this is a foul setup.’

“I’ll know when I see him myself… That means you know who the guest is, Chief Kim?”

“The Chairman is waiting.”

“Are you a parrot? Why do you keep repeating the same thing?”

His eyes, rather than his mouth, added the unspoken words, ‘You’re getting on my nerves.’

“My apologies.”

Seeing Chief Kim, a man old enough to be his father, bow so casually to him only made Ki Joyoon feel more disgusted.

He resented how Chief Kim kept his mouth shut out of loyalty to Ki Do-hwan when the matter could be easily resolved if he just gave the desired answer.

“Seeing how you can’t even speak the name, I have a feeling I know who it is.”

His gaze was as frozen as his cold, low tone.

“Go back to your work, Chief Kim. It’s not like I’m going to get lost on my way to the dining room.”

“But I was told to escort you personally.”

“Are you worried I might run away?”

“……”

“The one who should be running away isn’t me, but the guest.”

Ki Joyoon’s lips twisted upward as he headed for the dining room.

He summoned every ounce of his patience and knocked on the dining room door.

When he opened the door and entered, just as expected, a loathsome figure was seated there.

“You’ve come. Sit, quickly.”

Ki Do-hwan gestured welcomingly, offering Ki Joyoon a seat.

Ki Joyoon gave a slight nod and took his seat.

He thoroughly ignored the face sitting confidently across from him.

“Aren’t you two going to greet each other?”

“It’s been a long—”

“Aren’t we past the point of exchanging pleasantries?”

Ki Joyoon cut Kang Haejun off sharply, as if he found him loathsome.

“There’s a limit to how shameless one can be. You’ve grown quite a lot after drinking American water.”

“Ki Joyoon. You’re going to be seeing each other often now; must you be so on edge?”

Ki Do-hwan looked at him with a disapproving expression.

Ki Joyoon let out a hollow laugh, dumbfounded by Ki Do-hwan’s attitude when he was the one who should be feeling displeased.

“It’s all thanks to you, Brother.”

Kang Haejun, who had been observing the situation, replied nonchalantly.

“Brother?”

Ki Joyoon’s lips curved upward chillingly, freezing the air.

“You always show your lack of upbringing. Someone might think we’re actually on the same family registry.”

“……”

“A bastard who will never be on the registry in his life shouldn’t just spout whatever comes out of his mouth.”

The corners of Ki Joyoon’s eyes twisted fiercely.

Because of that damned registry, many lives had been lost.

All because of a fixation to put that bastard on the registry and a determination to stop it.

Kang Haejun sat silently as if he hadn’t heard a thing.

Since he had anticipated this kind of cold reception, he struggled to maintain his composure.

If they were going to see each other often anyway, it was a reaction he had to get used to.

“Do you think everything is forgotten just because time has passed? You’ve grown thick-skinned enough to crawl in under me.”

“…I’m not stupid enough to let an opportunity slip away,” Kang Haejun replied in a monotone.

Sweat pooled in his clenched fists as he tried to hide his tension.

He had come to this seat after agonizing between Yoon Jiheum and Seoanjae.

Therefore, he couldn’t just take the hits and leave without a fight.

“So you’re determined to show up at the office.”

“Because there’s no reason why I shouldn’t.”

“No reason?”

Sparks seemed to fly in Ki Joyoon’s eyes.

Or perhaps it was an illusion.

His eyes, which had sunk into a deep, dark blue beyond black, looked infinitely cold.

“Those aren’t exactly words that should come out of a murderer’s mouth, are they?”

“Ki Joyoon!”

Ki Do-hwan slammed his fist on the table and shouted.

Kang Haejun’s shoulders flinched, startled by the Chairman’s intensity.

Ki Joyoon, the actual target of the thunderous shout, didn’t even blink, and he didn’t hide his gaze of loathing toward Kang Haejun.

“Ah, I forgot. There was someone else who would feel pricked by the word ‘murderer’.”

When Ki Joyoon turned and gave a bright smile, Ki Do-hwan’s fist trembled.

“You…! You…! You…!”

Ki Do-hwan couldn’t find his words, his voice trailing off.

With the sound of a chair screeching back, Ki Joyoon stood up.

“I’ll be going now. I’ve shown my face, so I’ve kept my promise.”

“Ki Joyoon. Are you really going to leave like this?”

Ki Do-hwan’s voice, which had been filled with rage just moments ago, now trembled with regret.

“I hope I never have to face you again for something like this, Chairman.”

Ki Joyoon smiled brightly, putting emphasis on the word ‘Chairman’, and walked out of the dining room.

****

“Wow… damn, Kang Haejun. I didn’t think he was like that. How could he do something that would be found out so quickly?”

Kwon Seungji grumbled as she set a heavy paper bag down on the dining table.

She felt somewhat hurt that he had tried to see Yoon Jiheum alone without her, especially when she always looked out for both of them together.

“I guess he didn’t realize you’d be upset. But anyway, I ended up getting stood up too.”

Yoon Jiheum laughed, saying it was no big deal.

After hanging up on Kang Haejun, Yoon Jiheum had stared blankly at the garage wall.

Unable to bear the thought of returning to her room, she had called Kwon Seungji.

Kwon Seungji, who said she was at her family home, told her to come over to her studio apartment once she returned.

It was a strong demand, as if Yoon Jiheum absolutely had to come.

Thanks to that, she didn’t have to wander the streets and told her she’d go straight there.

“Do you think Kang Haejun is interested in you?”

Kwon Seungji muttered as she pulled side dishes brought from home out of the paper bag.

Yoon Jiheum replied as she approached the kitchen.

“I doubt it. Why would someone stand up a girl he’s interested in?”

“You never know what people are thinking.”

“That might be true, but… wow, green onion kimchi!”

Yoon Jiheum, glancing at the side dishes Kwon Seungji pulled out, quickly changed the subject.

Kwon Seungji’s green onion kimchi was exceptionally delicious, and it was a side dish Yoon Jiheum loved.

“This is great. Do you want to eat before you go later?”

“Should I?”

“My mom packed a ton of it even though I said I wouldn’t take it. She told me to eat it with you, Yoon Jiheum.”

Yoon Jiheum quickly grabbed chopsticks and tasted the green onion kimchi.

“Mmm. It really is delicious! Be sure to tell your mother how good it is.”

Yoon Jiheum smiled at Kwon Seungji, giving her a thumbs up.

****

“That was a great meal.”

Yoon Jiheum smiled broadly.

It was the first time in a while she had enjoyed a home-cooked meal.

Since her meals at home always felt like she was eating under scrutiny, this simple dinner was more satiating than any grand feast.

“My mom would feel so accomplished.”

“Of course, it’s the best. Seriously. I want to buy this green onion kimchi separately.”

Yoon Jiheum was about to gather the empty dishes and stand up when she heard the ringtone that had become familiar recently.

Yoon Jiheum’s head turned with a flinch.

The matter she had been trying so hard to ignore suddenly popped up like a jack-in-the-box, triggered by the sound of the bell.