Chapter 3: A Familiar Face, A New Aura

A subtle nuance tinged Jung-hyun’s expression of admiration. Encountering Yoon Tae-yeol in the flesh, rather than through the flat screen of a video call, brought a fresh wave of emotion, and his presence felt strikingly different from how Jung-hyun remembered it.

‘He used to have a certain endearing clumsiness, a humorous side back then…’ Jung-hyun mused. ‘But then again, eight years had passed; perhaps change was inevitable.’

“But really, what happened? Nothing’s wrong, is it?” he asked, his voice laced with concern.

This time, Yoon Tae-yeol answered immediately, without hesitation.

“Something did happen, but it’s nothing bad.”

“What is it?”

“My sister called to say she’s getting married.”

“What, really? Your sister’s getting married?”

Jung-hyun’s face instantly brightened, a flush of joy spreading across his features.

Yoon Tae-jeong, Yoon Tae-yeol’s older sister, was six years older than Jung-hyun. Looking back, she was only in her mid-twenties, but at the time, that age difference had felt as vast as heaven and earth.

Thinking of her as a cool, professional older sister, Jung-hyun would always greet her with a polite, ninety-degree bow whenever he encountered her visiting Yoon Tae-yeol.

“When’s the date?”

“November.”

‘Oh,’ a short exclamation escaped Jung-hyun. He was confident he wouldn’t have been surprised even if the answer had been, “Tomorrow.”

“Still a long way off, then.”

It was a casual remark, but it seemed to carry a different weight for Yoon Tae-yeol. Perhaps sensing that Jung-hyun wanted further explanation, he added a few more words.

“I felt like I’d stayed long enough… I was debating whether to go back or not when I got the call, so I just decided to settle everything.”

“Oh, wait, you mean you’ve moved back for good?”

“Yes.”

This was an unexpected piece of good news. His sister’s marriage alone was delightful, but the fact that he wasn’t just temporarily visiting but had completely ended his long overseas life and returned was both sudden and welcome.

“That’s a great decision. Let’s see each other often from now on.”

As they chatted amicably—or, more accurately, as Jung-hyun mostly initiated the conversation and Yoon Tae-yeol occasionally responded—the car arrived safely at their destination.

It was a high-end Korean restaurant that Jung-hyun sometimes frequented for business entertainment or important appointments.

After confirming their reservation, an employee guided the two men to an inner room. When the door opened, a space appeared, not particularly large, but distinguished by its clean and antique-style interior.

The table was already set with the basic arrangements. Yoon Tae-yeol’s gaze, after perfunctorily sweeping the room, soon settled on Jung-hyun across from him.

“Aren’t you overdoing it?”

“Nah. I’m doing really well these days.”

He said it in a deliberately light tone, but it wasn’t entirely an empty boast. His shopping mall had gained significant word-of-mouth for its excellent value and friendly service, causing sales to skyrocket.

Although they had naturally leveled off since then, he was still maintaining a decent profit.

Of course, it hadn’t always been a smooth path. In the beginning, when he stumbled through numerous trials and errors, he was plagued by financial difficulties, so much so that every hundred-won coin was precious.

There was also a crisis after his initial success when he almost ruined everything by rashly expanding his business.

Still, he had no regrets about any of his choices. Jung-hyun was inherently someone who, once he made up his mind, would charge forward without looking back.

Even when he failed, he didn’t stay disheartened for long. It was only natural that life would have moments of happiness and joy, as well as dark and suffocating times like a tunnel.

Soon, exquisitely prepared and appetizing dishes swiftly filled the table. Once the employee had withdrawn, Yoon Tae-yeol reached for a pristine white porcelain bottle.

“Take some, Senior.”

Jung-hyun didn’t refuse, extending his glass. As he watched the clear liquid pour with a gentle gurgle, he was suddenly reminded of the last time he had drunk with Yoon Tae-yeol, long ago.

The memory of that bitter soju, like life itself, consumed over a small table in a cramped room.

‘Has he gotten better now?’

Nearly a decade had changed Jung-hyun a little too. In the past, he would have immediately blurted out whatever came to mind, but now he knew how to think more deeply and wait.

Thinking that it wasn’t something to bring up the moment they met after such a long time, he swallowed the words, then took the bottle and filled Yoon Tae-yeol’s glass.

“I’m not just saying this, but let’s really see each other often from now on. I know all the best restaurants in Seoul and Gyeonggi-do like the back of my hand.”

“Sounds good.”

As Jung-hyun offered the glass with a playful remark, an identical glass clinked against it, making a soft sound. After downing the clear rice wine in one gulp, Jung-hyun happily began his meal.

The conversation continued uninterrupted throughout their meal.

Pushing plates of delicious side dishes towards Yoon Tae-yeol, and not forgetting to occasionally pour more drinks, Jung-hyun enthusiastically unpacked the trove of stories they hadn’t been able to share.

Laughing and chatting, time flew by as they caught up. After finishing the last drop, the two men opened the restaurant door and stepped outside.

“Thanks for the meal, Senior.”

“Of course. Thanks to you, I ate well too.”

Jung-hyun’s voice was cheerful. The lukewarm, humid night air was irritating, but the greater satisfaction and fullness he felt made his spirits soar.

Checking his watch, he saw it wasn’t even 9 PM. Feeling it was a shame to part ways so soon, Jung-hyun casually suggested as they descended the stairs leading to the parking lot:

“Any thoughts on a second round? I know a good bar nearby.”

“……”

“If you’re tired, just go.”

Yoon Tae-yeol, who seemed to ponder for a moment, asked Jung-hyun in return.

“Do you want to drink more?”

“Just a little. Having just a taste makes me crave more.”

In truth, considering the bottle’s size, it wasn’t exactly ‘just a taste,’ but perhaps because he was in such a good mood, the alcohol went down particularly well today. And he hadn’t drunk it all by himself, either.

“It seems your alcohol tolerance has increased a lot.”

“It has increased a bit compared to before, and I enjoy it more.”

More precisely, he enjoyed the cheerful and lively atmosphere of a drinking session more than the alcohol itself. In a similar vein, if acquaintances asked him to eat or meet up, he rarely declined.

“Then let’s have another drink.”

“Attaboy, that’s a good idea.”

Jung-hyun, his mood buoyed, playfully patted Yoon Tae-yeol’s broad back. The bar wasn’t far, so they opted to leave the car in the parking lot and walk.

Their steps led them to a high-end bar operated by Jung-hyun’s cousin.

Even though they were six-cousins, a distance that often meant people barely knew each other, their paternal family was generally small, so everyone tended to know each other well.

Moreover, his cousin was an only son, quite a bit older, and doted on his Omega twin cousins like his own siblings, taking great care of them in various ways.

Thanks to this, Jung-hyun also looked up to him as a life mentor and occasionally helped out as a substitute when there was a staffing shortage.

As they walked, they soon arrived in front of the building housing the bar. “Here we are,” Jung-hyun announced, opening the door. The bar’s characteristic low-lit ambiance and moderately lively chatter welcomed them.

“Oh? Welcome, Brother.”

A nearby employee immediately greeted them. His voice carried a distinct warmth, perhaps from having worked together a few times when Jung-hyun filled in.

Standing behind the bar, the aforementioned cousin and owner, Uhm Seung-hyuk, also spoke with a relaxed smile.

“What brings you here without a call?”

“Came for a drink with a friend. It’s a weekday, but there are a lot of customers.”

At times like this, it was clear that people thought alike. The tables were quite full, seemingly because it was the perfect time for a drink.

“If two more groups had come in, I would’ve called you.”

Uhm Seung-hyuk, shrugging his shoulders and joking, displayed an extraordinary outfit today as well.

An all-black shirt that seemed to absorb all light, paired with a trio of gold accessories boasting a strong presence: a necklace, a bracelet, and a ring.

With his already robust build and intimidating demeanor, dressing like that consistently made him look unmistakably like someone involved in the underworld.

Rumor had it that some customers, upon entering the bar without much thought, were so intimidated they fled in terror.

Yet, his personality was quite different from his appearance.

While he looked like he wouldn’t bat an eye if someone died beside him, in reality, he was humane and deeply affectionate, yet boisterous enough to immediately carry a fallen person to the hospital.

It was a trait that resonated with Jung-hyun, who, despite looking like a shrewd individual, was quite clumsy.

“The person behind you, are they with you?”

“Yes. He’s my junior from high school.”

Yoon Tae-yeol, receiving the gaze of the stranger, merely gave a silent nod. It might have seemed somewhat impolite to an elder, but Uhm Seung-hyuk didn’t mind, accepting it with a smile.

“He’s handsome. Do you hear that a lot?”

The answer flowed from Jung-hyun’s lips.

“Of course. In high school, a whole truckload of kids chased after him.”

‘I was one of them, too. Well, not exactly ‘chased after,’ but still.’

“Are there any seats in the back?”

“If there aren’t any, I’ll make one. Go over there.”

A long, thick finger pointed towards the back left of the bar. It was an area known only to regulars, featuring several tables with wide spacing and high chair backs that served as partitions, structurally hidden away.

As they sat down, an employee brought over the menu. Jung-hyun unhesitatingly extended it towards Yoon Tae-yeol, asking,

“What do you want to drink?”

“Anything.”

Jung-hyun let out a small laugh at the terse reply. ‘He’s so consistent, so consistent.’

He looked like someone with a strong sense of self, yet his ‘whatever’ attitude remained unchanged. But Jung-hyun didn’t particularly dislike it. No, rather, in that demeanor, Jung-hyun felt a small sense of familiarity and relief.

Eight years of absence. While his outward appearance hadn’t changed much, he seemed more solid and mature, making Jung-hyun feel a little awkward inwardly.

But as he saw more and more glimpses that reminded him of the past, his heart gradually relaxed, thinking, ‘This is indeed the Yoon Tae-yeol I know.’