Chapter 152: Family
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 152: Family
Back when I lived in this house, I never gave the sauna much thought.
It was just a place I’d pop into every now and then to warm up and melt away the fatigue—something I took for granted.
But after a year of living on my own, I’ve realized what a blessing it is to have a bathhouse and a sauna right inside your home.
“Phew! Now this is the life!”
My second older brother—Little Hyung—let out a satisfied shout as he sank into the hot water.
I hadn't noticed it before, but with his belly sticking out more than usual, he really did look like a middle-aged man now.
“You should look after yourself.”
Big Hyung must have been thinking the same thing, as he grimaced while stepping into the tub.
Even though he must be incredibly busy in his role as Vice Chairman, his body was surprisingly fit and toned. Seeing as he was in better shape than I was—and I did home training every day—I suspected he was getting professional PT.
“Look after myself? For what? My girlfriend likes the 'bear' look. I’m putting this on for her on purpose.”
“You’re not a bear; you’re just a pig.”
“Sigh, you have no idea how much she loves rubbing my belly. Honestly, Hyung, you have zero sense.”
“Good grief.”
Deciding that Little Hyung was beyond reasoning, Big Hyung closed his eyes and let the hot water soak into his skin.
I followed them into the tub. As the heat seeped into my muscles, the exhaustion began to fade, and my cluttered mind finally found a moment of peace.
As we sat there thawing out in the water, Little Hyung was the first to speak.
“So, what did you talk about with Father? You guys fought about Yun-ji, didn't you?”
“……Yeah.”
“Man, Father is way too old-fashioned. I get why he’s bothered because of Yun-ji’s father, but it’s not like the girl did anything wrong.”
Little Hyung grumbled, splashing the water with his hands. Since he worked with Yun-ji, he seemed well-acquainted with her situation.
“He has no choice but to care,” Big Hyung countered, interjecting. “We aren't just any family; we are the sons of a corporate chairman. Because he is the father and the chairman, he cannot allow even the slightest blemish to exist.”
“What does that matter? He says he wants to marry the person he loves.”
“It’s a position where one cannot act solely on personal desire. Every single move we make can cause the households of our employees to tremble.”
“You think way too damn much,” Little Hyung muttered, slapping his forehead, but Big Hyung didn't seem interested in trying to convince him further.
“So, what do you plan to do?”
“…….”
“I’m aware you have relationships with girls other than Yun-ji.”
“Right, I heard there were about three? Is it really a problem that our youngest is so popular? Huh?”
“Sigh.”
Listening to my brothers talk made my head start to ache again.
“I have to choose, I guess.”
The answer was obvious. I had to pick one person. That was the right thing to do.
I buried my face in my hands, agonizing over it, then suddenly looked up at Big Hyung.
“I heard you had a lot of girls chasing you in college too, Hyung.”
“Oh, man! Our Big Hyung was a legend. Unlike me, girls were just throwing themselves at him.”
“It was because everyone knew I was the Chairman’s son.”
Unlike me, Big Hyung had gone through university with his identity as the heir fully known. Perhaps that was why the trace of skepticism on his face felt strangely poignant.
“Hyung, why did you choose Sister-in-law?”
To my question, Big Hyung gave a blunt reply.
“I decided she was the person who could be the greatest asset to the company.”
“…….”
“Holy shit.”
It was a very 'Big Hyung' answer, but I couldn't help but feel terrible for my sister-in-law.
“That was the reason I chose her, and she knows it. The company was everything to me.”
I’d always wondered how a guy like him managed to date, and apparently, that was how.
As the atmosphere grew a bit heavy, Little Hyung jumped back in.
“I just followed my heart. The moment I saw her on her broadcast, I felt it. I knew right then—I want to marry this woman!”
“…….”
“So I did whatever it took to get close to her. I used my brain, made it look natural, and eventually won her over with my irresistible charm.”
Little Hyung’s girlfriend was an internet broadcaster. A very famous one, at that. I’d heard that his current business was even built around her.
It was complicated. Their situations were so polar opposite that they weren't exactly helping me reach a conclusion.
“Woo-jin.”
Big Hyung called my name. He was always serious, but the weight of his voice was subtly different now. There was a kindness in the way he addressed me.
It was a tone that reminded me of the past—not the Vice Chairman striving for the company, but the considerate older brother from my childhood, before we knew anything of the world.
“Un and I made different choices.”
“…….”
“We chose opposite paths, but you could say our results are the same.”
“Hahaha! I didn't expect to hear you say something like that, Hyung.”
Little Hyung laughed, but he didn't deny it.
“In the end, we both made those choices in pursuit of our own happiness, and we achieved it.”
“Damn right. My girl and I are living happily ever after.”
“…….”
It had been a long time since I’d felt this way.
Since my brothers felt so... dependable.
“You will likely be the same.”
The faint smile on Big Hyung's face was filled with trust.
“I believe you’ll do well.”
A lump formed in my throat. Yet, at the same time, I wondered if I truly deserved that trust.
“What if I can’t?” I had to ask. “I couldn't refute a single thing Father said to me.”
I’d called myself trash, but in reality, I had never truly sat down to weigh the gravity of my actions. I knew I had to, but I’d avoided thinking deeply about it. It was easier to just let the current situation drift along.
“Just like Father said, I’m selfish and greedy.”
What hurt most was the fact that I had essentially proven myself to be that kind of person. I hated myself, and the guilt made me want to cut all ties and run away.
To that version of me, Little Hyung pointed a finger like a gun and winked.
“You’ve got a decent sense of humor.”
“What?”
I wondered what he was talking about so out of the blue. But Little Hyung kept going.
“The kid is surprisingly loyal, too. He looks out for his own interests, sure, but he doesn't cross the line.”
“…….”
“He’s got a sense of justice, too. It’s about average, I’d say, but there are plenty of people who don't even have that much.”
“…….”
“I’m not great with words, so I can’t really explain it well.”
Little Hyung turned his gaze toward Big Hyung. Big Hyung cleared his throat, let out a sigh, and answered.
“He knows how to protect those precious to him.”
“…….”
“Because of that, he often sacrifices himself. As his brother, I don't particularly like seeing it... but I suppose that is one of your strengths.”
“What... what are you guys trying to say? Are you trying to comfort me by saying I’m a good guy?”
“You’re not an exceptionally good guy.”
“You can’t be a purely good person.”
I frowned at their bluntness. When I asked what on earth they were getting at, they replied:
“But you aren't a purely bad person, either.”
“…….”
“No one is one-dimensional, Woo-jin.”
I thought I saw a glimpse of a smile on Big Hyung’s face.
“If you were really nothing more than what Father described... Un and I wouldn't be sitting here comforting you.”
And also.
“All those girls wouldn't have let you into their hearts, either.”
My brothers didn't say anything more. They simply fell silent, giving me time to think.
At the very least...
The fact that they had validated who I was, even for a brief moment, truly did make me feel a little better.
* * *
After finishing our bath, we all had dinner together.
Father joined us, but unlike when he was lecturing me earlier, he only left us with one short sentence and a brief smile.
“It’s been a while since we’ve all eaten together.”
I knew what that meant. It was Father’s own way of showing affection.
I’d thought about heading back to the dormitory, but I decided to stay the night.
Before I could enter my old room, Mom came to find me.
“Are you sure you’re okay sleeping alone? You’re not going to cry, are you?”
“Why would I cry? I’m not a kid.”
“You are a kid. In my eyes, you’re still a baby.”
I told her she was making a fuss and to go away, but she just laughed and patted my shoulder.
“It’s nice seeing you like this. Come by more often, okay?”
“Yeah, I will.”
“Call Mom if you get scared in the middle of the night.”
“I’m not calling you.”
With that, Mom scurried off. It seemed that no matter how much time passed, her personality would never change.
I reached for my doorknob, but then I thought of Big Hyung in the room next door.
There was something I’ve been wanting to ask him since earlier.
I hadn't been able to ask in the bathhouse, but there was something I needed to confirm with him. I walked straight into his room.
Vroom!
“Yeah, I love you too.”
I hadn't bothered to knock. I just walked right in, only to find Big Hyung on a video call.
Looking at the screen, it was my sister-in-law.
— Oh, my.
She smiled brightly and waved at me. I greeted her back, but...
“…….”
Big Hyung was biting his lower lip, glaring at me.
“I didn't hear anything.”
“Just get out.”
I offered the blatant lie as a courtesy. Honestly, I wanted to go throw up, but I was forcing myself to stand there.
— You two have a nice talk.
Click.
The call ended. Big Hyung cleared his throat to change the mood and looked at me blankly.
“What is it?”
“Are you going to act like that just didn't happen?”
“Knock before you enter.”
“'I love you too'?”
“…….”
Big Hyung shut his mouth tight.
“Didn't you just say earlier? That you chose her because she was the woman who would benefit the company most?”
When I asked that, Big Hyung sighed and answered.
“She is the woman I am going to marry. While that was the primary factor in my choice, it is only natural for emotions to provide the foundation for a long-term commitment.”
“……So, to summarize, you picked the person who would help the company most out of the people you loved?”
I’d thought he’d married without any feelings just for the sake of the company, but apparently, that wasn't the case.
“Why did you come here? Get to the point.”
Big Hyung was politely telling me to get lost. I scratched the back of my head, thinking back to the past.
“When we met at Gold One, why did you act like you were the one who made the deal with Yun-ji and did the background check on her?”
“…….”
I’d been curious about that for a while. Until I heard it from Yun-ji, I hadn't had the slightest clue that Father was involved.
At Gold One, Big Hyung had spoken as if he were the mastermind behind everything. But in reality, he had been nothing more than a messenger.
Big Hyung pondered for a moment. He hesitated, wondering if he should tell me, but his hesitation didn't last long.
“Because I didn't want you to hate Father too much.”
“…….”
“That’s all.”
“You’re sly.”
At my words, Big Hyung gave a small smile and shooed me out with his hand.
By telling me that, he was making it so that I couldn't bring myself to hate Father, even if only for Big Hyung’s sake. It was a calculated, sly move.
But I didn't mind it.