Chapter 5: A Humiliation Wrapped in Kindness

“Are you hugging me right now, Yoon? Because you think I’m getting worked up?”

“Kwon Yiyul, I sincerely ask that you avoid causing a major disturbance. This event was specially arranged by the Director for Choi Siram. You wouldn’t want his standing to be affected because of this, would you?”

“Hmm. You’re right. It wouldn’t be very pleasant for me either if Siram’s position became awkward. But, Yoon…”

“Yes…?”

“If you keep getting looked down on while dressed like that, what do you think happens to our team’s reputation?”

Bringing his lips close to my ear, Kwon Yiyul whispered in a low voice only I could hear.

“Our Yoon can’t do much, is dirt poor, and doesn’t even have proper connections backing him up. So as the team leader, I have to step in like this to prevent you from being humiliated any further. Right?”

“Th—…”

“Yoon, if I go this far for you, you should just quietly thank me and leave it at that. What are you going to do if someone as incompetent as you also turns out to be difficult?”

His voice grated like metal scraping against concrete.

For a moment, my legs nearly gave out.

I had already expected that he wouldn’t step in purely for my sake…

But hearing it so directly made my fingertips tremble uncontrollably.

‘What was I even expecting…?’

That faint, fragile hope I had harbored collapsed completely.

“So, you’re Executive Jung Shinwoo of Taeyu Trading, correct?”

“Haha… for Team Leader Kwon to remember me, I’m honored. So, how do you intend to deal with this brat—your direct subordinate Guide? As his superior, shouldn’t you discipline him properly? For the sake of the Chairman’s dignity, at least.”

“My dignity is mine to worry about. I’d appreciate it if you stopped overstepping.”

“…W-what?”

“Ah, come to think of it, I heard my grandfather owes you a few things. Would you happen to know anything about that?”

Draping his coat over my shoulders, Yiyul questioned the old man.

The same man who had been so loud just moments ago suddenly fell silent, lips tightly shut.

“No answer? Is your reaction slow because of your age?”

“Y-you…!!”

“Haha, you look very angry.”

“……”

“If you’re that dissatisfied, try being born with a silver spoon in your next life.”

The moment Yiyul twisted his lips into a smirk, the entire hall froze.

The old man’s wrinkled face turned pale.

Despite being the one who caused all of this, Yiyul looked completely composed.

He grabbed the finger the old man was pointing at him with…

And slowly bent it inward.

The grip was so strong that the old man’s finger trembled violently, as if it might snap.

A shrill scream escaped his lips.

The man who once seemed unshakable collapsed to his knees.

“Oh dear, bending your knees like that might strain your joints.”

“I—I was wrong! Please, let go. Let’s go somewhere and talk this through calmly.”

“Ah, I’ve heard that line somewhere before. Yoon, you know it too, right? It’s what villains say when they’re cornered in movies.”

“Ahh—! Team Leader Kwon! I apologized! I said I apologized!”

Ignoring the old man’s desperate pleas, Yiyul stared straight at me with that same eerie gaze.

For some reason, it felt as if my energy was being drained.

Unable to endure it, I looked away first.

The coat resting on my shoulders felt strangely heavy.

“Ah… ahh…”

“You’re old enough to know better, yet you’re crying like this. How unsightly, Executive Jung.”

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I’ll compensate properly for this matter. Just please… don’t tell the Chairman…”

“Executive Jung, I think you’re misunderstanding something.”

At some point, the way he addressed him had changed—from “Executive Jung Shinwoo” to simply “Executive Jung.”

Yet, even in front of a man at least forty years older, Yiyul showed no change in expression as he threatened him.

“Whether or not my grandfather steps in, someone like you can be dealt with easily by me alone. Honestly, I’ve been letting it slide, and now you’re acting like I can’t do anything without a guardian. What the hell.”

“…Ah… ah…”

“Ah, I got a little too heated. If we meet again, I’ll greet you properly first. After all, I think we’ll be seeing each other quite often.”

“Te-Team Leader Kwon! Wait just a moment!”

Letting go of the old man’s finger as if tossing it aside, Yiyul calmly adjusted his clothes.

For someone who had just crushed another person without even resorting to real violence…

His movements were strangely neat.

As he escorted me, his hand suddenly wrapped around my waist.

I looked up at him uneasily.

“Yoon.”

“…Yes.”

“Before I gouge your eyes out, fix that look. I’m already in a pretty bad mood.”

“…Are you alright?”

“With what?”

Among his family, Yiyul particularly despised any mention of his grandfather.

From what I could tell, it wasn’t just dislike—it was closer to hatred.

From the moment the old man mentioned the Chairman, I could feel Yiyul’s mental state becoming unstable.

“Our Yoon is even worrying about me now. You’ve grown a lot.”

“If I made you uncomfortable, I apologize.”

“No, it’s fine. But Yoon…”

“Yes.”

Whenever his mental state became unstable like this…

Yiyul’s temperament worsened significantly.

“Did you really have to cause such a scene?”

“…I’m not sure what you mean.”

“Today’s main character is Siram. So why did you feel the need to take control of the situation like that? Drawing everyone’s attention. When you look closely, you’re quite cunning in strange ways.”

Brushing off the spot where my hand had touched him as if it were dirty, Yiyul narrowed his eyes.

Whether he was trying to provoke me or genuinely believed it…

He twisted the situation to suit his own interpretation, as he always did.

“…Are you saying I caused that incident out of jealousy toward Choi Siram?”

“Isn’t that the case? That’s how it looked to me.”

“…Kwon Yiyul.”

“Well, whether I’m right or not doesn’t really matter.”

“……”

“Yoon, you know Siram likes you, right?”

…Again, Siram.

I didn’t particularly dislike him, but hearing his name like this…

It drained me.

Everything always circled back to him.

As if someone kept telling me—

For Siram’s sake, you deserve to be treated like this.

“Yoon, answer me.”

“Yes… I know.”

“Then continue to act accordingly. Give up unnecessary desires and know your place. Wanting something that isn’t yours looks pathetic—even to yourself, doesn’t it?”

“…Kwon Yiyul, I already told you. That’s not what this was. It really wasn’t…”

It was humiliating.

So humiliating.

I had never been greedy.

I had done my best for the team, even worrying about them…

Yet I was treated worse than the man who had just insulted me.

I felt both wronged… and furious.

If only I could understand why he thought this way.

But just like Park Suchang, he dismissed me as if my opinion didn’t matter.

His gaze swept over me like that of a cold-blooded reptile.

The humiliation was unbearable.

“Don’t cry.”

“Who do you think is making me—!”

“Enough. I’ve been getting calls from Suchan nonstop. Siram is waiting in the second-floor lobby. He said to bring you along if possible. So, what will you do?”

“…Kwon Yiyul.”

“Hm, doesn’t seem like you want to go. Then I’ll go alone. You won’t change your mind later, right? You clearly said you didn’t want to go.”

“……”

“And that coat—keep it. I was going to throw it away anyway. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

With that, he brushed past me as if there was nothing more to say.

Clutching the sleeve of the coat that still held his warmth, I struggled to steady my breathing.

The frozen atmosphere of the hall gradually returned to normal, as if nothing had happened.

Laughter and smiles bloomed again around me…

Leaving only me behind in the aftermath.