Chapter 182
Chapter 182
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 182
Chapter Title: All Parents Are Different
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All parents are different.
Plip, plop…
Raindrops began falling one by one outside the window.
Soon, they turned into thick streaks, sliding down the taxi window.
"Fuckin' hell. No umbrella, and it has to rain? Goddamn weather bureau bastards, what the fuck are they even paid for?"
The moment the irritated curse left my mouth, a shitty memory suddenly surfaced.
On the way home from school. The weather bureau had sworn it'd be clear, but instead, it poured like hell.
What's one drop on a kid? Five minutes earlier, the road in front of school was chaos with uncles and aunties huddled under umbrellas, waiting.
I was trudging through that crowd, soaked to the bone without an umbrella.
No one was waiting for me.
No one had come to pick me up.
Fuck, you gotta raise kids tough as nails...
Lost in that shitty memory, staring at the rainy Busan scenery, the taxi driver glanced at me in the rearview when we hit a red light. He smoothly held something out.
'What the?' I glanced over. Tissue.
"……"
"……"
That's when I realized something was running down my cheek.
Something goddamn salty.
Aw, fuck.
So fucking embarrassing…
I snatched the tissue and hurriedly wiped my eyes.
I hadn't brought Lee Soohee, the bodyguards, or any of the girls I fuck. For one reason only.
Chaewon.
My wife had told me to come alone.
She knew if I came here, this would happen.
[Babe, you hate feeling embarrassed. Just go alone.]
The woman who saw right through me.
Even the way she soothed my wounds was perfectly tailored to who I am.
Fuck, my wife...
Gonna have to pat that ass when I get home.
I let out a hollow chuckle and roughly wiped my wet face with my palm.
Before I knew it, the taxi was sliding up to the faded sign reading 'Busanjin Police Station.'
I blew my nose thoroughly into the tissue with a satisfying honk, and we'd arrived.
I looked out the window and couldn't believe my eyes.
In front of the station, suits with umbrellas were lined up in perfect ranks like soldiers awaiting inspection, marching around the lot.
"Whoa, shit... That's a lot."
That bitch Choi Yang, treating it like it's not her money...
I'd told her to scrape together every lawyer in Busan, but this was overkill, right?
I shook my head and grandly handed the driver a check for the fare.
Payment for the tissue earlier and his signature taciturn driving—no pointless chit-chat the whole way.
Stepping out, I headed toward the lawyer legion. One silver-haired vet who looked seasoned stepped forward as rep and gave a light bow.
"President, I'm Kim Jeonghyeon, head of Haekang Law Firm. Instructions came from Secretary Choi Yang..."
'Oh, this old guy's famous? I think I've seen him somewhere.'
I coolly ignored the old man's preamble and took in the full view of Busan police station under the rain.
Behind me stood dozens, the army that bends Busan's law to its will.
I bellowed, heedless of the rain soaking me.
"Alright, let's charge!!!"
My "Let's charge!!!" roared out, and the suits behind me snapped into synchronized motion.
The station lobby turned into pandemonium in seconds.
Panicked stares from civilians, cops yelling, and the overwhelming pressure from my lawyer squad.
I strode through the heart of the chaos like Moses parting the sea.
"Hey! Who the hell are you people? What do you want here?!"
A young uniformed officer blocked the way, but Kim Jeonghyeon from Haekang stepped up, flashing his bar badge.
"We're counsel for Ms. Go Miran. We've received reports of illegal arrest and detention. Connect us to the officer in charge."
The old man's polite but firm words drained the color from the cop's face.
Meanwhile, I'd already scanned the lobby.
And there, in a corner, huddled on a hallway bench, was a little girl.
They say blood pulls at you.
Not even a little.
Just... fuck, those eyes screaming the whole world's shit...
That unbroken, bullshit defiance shining through, screaming from her whole body, 'Fuck yeah, I'm your sister!!'
Go Yuna or whatever the fuck. The maybe-sister stared at me blankly—no, dumbfounded as hell.
Drawn by that gaze, I stepped closer and murmured low.
"I'm your brother."
In my head, the theme music kicked in.
Dum-dum-dum- dumdumdum- dum-dum-dum-
My lame joke twisted her face into 'What the fuck is this psycho?'
I liked that look.
I plopped down next to her.
Then, dropping all the playfulness, asked in a cold voice.
"So, what happened."
To my icy question, Go Yuna stared hard for a bit, then spilled the day's events like she'd given up.
Morning at the factory, amid the noisy machines, a call from the station.
Rushed over at the news Mom was nabbed, but she was already locked up.
Scraping cash for a lawyer, then a mystery call from an unknown number.
Some 'Family Finder Campaign' claiming none other than 'I' had found her mom. Bullshit story.
'Cheon Myeonghwan, you old fuck. Impersonation's a felony, and you pull this?'
That sly fox hadn't just framed my birth mom to drag me out.
Under the fancy 'Family Finder' banner, he'd impersonated me to approach this kid and make her beg me for help.
Making it look like I'd started the whole tragedy.
Perfect theater.
'Fuck, should I sue the bastard?'
I let out a hollow laugh.
The old geezer's face flashed in my mind—the one who'd orchestrated this and dragged me into the mud.
Fuck. Suing wouldn't mean shit anyway...
Still, this old fucker went overboard.
For just buying time? Too dirty, too risky a bridge to cross.
Hmm... Something's up.
Suddenly, Han Yura's story popped into my head.
Cheon Myeonghwan bragging low-class to win her over, flexing his power.
[I'm the guy! Eating at the Blue House! Hitting saunas with the big shots! I do it all!]
Her tale of him bragging about connections like crazy.
Definitely... something there.
I inwardly cursed 'Cheon Myeonghwan you fucking old bastard' a dozen times, then put on a stern face and said gravely.
"Wait here."
Leaving the blank-staring Go Yuna or whatever behind, I stood and issued orders to the lawyer grandpa.
"Get that Go Miran lady or whoever out today."
Despite my rude, arrogant command, Kim Jeonghyeon didn't blink.
"Yes, President. No problem."
That casual directive done, I approached the still-dazed Go Yuna and tossed out.
"You eat yet?"
To my out-of-left-field question, she gawked at me, stunned.
Then, in a tiny voice, she dropped the world's most basic question.
"......What... kind of person are you?"
I smirked and answered.
"Just..."
"Just?"
"Fucking loaded. There's a pig stew joint nearby. Follow me."
No waiting for a reply, I strode toward the exit.
Behind me, the sound of the momentarily stunned girl scrambling after.
As I hit the lobby, the waiting lawyer legion stirred to move.
Kim Jeonghyeon approached for a report; I waved him off.
"Later. After food."
At my word, Korea's priciest suits froze in place.
Leaving them behind, I stepped out into the drizzling rain.
Right across the street, a shabby pig stew sign glowed.
"......"
Go Yuna or whatever trailed silently behind.
Door opened, and hot pork fat steam mixed with funky pickled radish hit my nose.
I grabbed a corner table casually.
Only then did she cautiously sit opposite.
I bellowed toward the kitchen.
"Auntie! Two pig stews here!"
Oh man... Fuck... This is goddamn good? No wonder it's Busan's pride?
I slurped the hot broth, impressed.
While I shoveled a full bowl into my gut, across from me, Go Yuna just poked at hers with her spoon.
"Why aren't you eating? Fuck, want me to buy you a pricey steak?"
"...No."
"Hm, so... factory girl?"
"Part-time... Busan Uni... I go. On leave."
"Smart as hell, huh?"
To my crude praise, she ducked her head and mumbled.
"...Your... speech... always like that?"
"Tamer than most kids raised without parents."
She couldn't continue after my self-mocking reply.
I crunched a pickled radish, then tossed a sudden thought.
"Anyway... Go? What'd your dad do?"
"...Gone. Don't remember."
Her answer made me burst into hollow laughter.
"Ha, fuck..."
So, from now on, I'm Kim Cheolsu? 'Go Cheol (High Iron)' Su (Excellent). Perfect name for a scrap dealer?
Lost in dumb thoughts, I polished off the last of the broth. My pocket phone buzzed: 'Vrrr-vrrr.'
Screen said Choi Yang.
"Yeah, what?"
[Ms. Go Miran has been released.]
I involuntarily chuckled.
'Fuck... Fast as hell...'
Less than an hour since I set foot in the station.
Yeah, in Korea, money buys everything, right?
"Yeah. Pig stew spot right in front of the station? Send her here."
I glanced at Go Yuna still poking her spoon opposite and continued.
"Oh, and. When I head back to Paju, I'm gonna dance the sword dance hard—so tell Han Yura to prep the ammo."
Cheon Myeonghwan, that old fox, had dragged me into a mud fight.
Fine. I'd dye that mud red with blood.
[Yes, President.]
Call with Choi Yang ended, I chin-nodded at the blank-staring Go Yuna.
"Your mom or my mom, she's coming soon. Eat up before the stew gets cold."
I ignored her reaction and yelled at the kitchen.
"Auntie, soju here!!!"
Soon, a chilled soju bottle settled on the table, cool mist rising.
I skipped the glass, twisted the cap, and chugged straight from the bottle.
Manly as fuck, gulp-gulp, drained it in one go. I felt her disdainful glare.
I slammed the empty bottle down with a 'thunk' and met her eyes.
Not the scared look from before—now laced with contempt and blame.
Ha, fuck... Appreciative, sure... But pissed I called her 'mom,' huh?
I couldn't help smirking.
Bullshit temper, spitting image of mine.
Fuck, definitely my sister.