Chapter 143
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 143
Chapter Title: After the Drinking Bout
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“Miss, it looks like they're done.”
Secretary Jang bows his head deeply, not wanting to reveal his pitiful gaze. Han Aebom, who had been calmly reading a book in her late brother's room, glances at the clock hanging on the wall.
[2:14 AM]
“It took a little longer than I expected.”
“Yes... you're right.”
Thud. Han Aebom closes the book and stands up. She navigates the vast mansion with familiar ease, a place that would leave any guest hopelessly lost. Secretary Jang follows quietly behind her, then... his footsteps halt abruptly.
The spot where she stopped was the door to the room where Han Serong and Kim Hyunwoo had held their epic drinking battle.
“Mind if I go in?”
“Of course, miss.”
Creak!
As she carefully opens the door, a wave of hot air rushes out, carrying the pungent scents of various liquors. Han Aebom wrinkles her nose slightly. The alcohol stench is so overpowering that just inhaling it feels like taking a light sip.
She waves her hand to clear the air and surveys the room.
Empty bottles scattered everywhere. The table is covered with side dishes that remain untouched, pristine as if freshly prepared.
“......”
Grandfather slumped in a chair, head bowed, snoring away. Kim Hyunwoo awkwardly curled sideways on the sofa, fast asleep. And her father sprawled flat on the floor in a starfish pose, out cold... wait, what?
“Why is Dad here?”
“Ah...”
Secretary Jang glances inside and explains.
“He barged in partway through. Not just anyone, but when he heard you'd brought a man into the house, he flew into a rage...”
“He crashed the party midway and was the first to pass out?”
“Yes, most likely...”
“Sigh, Secretary Jang, could you take care of Dad?”
“Understood. Nngh!”
As Secretary Jang nods and drags Han Aebom's father out, Han Serong—who had been snoring loud enough to wake the dead—trembles his eyelids.
“Keuk, krrng... damn it.”
With a massive snort, Han Serong massages his brow and speaks.
“Aebom, what time is it?”
“2 AM, Grandpa. Are you okay? You're not exactly young anymore.”
“Damn it. Only 2 AM and I passed out? I'm finished.”
“At your age, drinking like this and still being so lively—you're probably the only one in all of Korea. Rest easy. But just in case, you should see a doctor.”
“Ridiculous! Even rotting away in old age, I'm still Han Serong! One sip of honey water and I'll be good as new.”
“You're being stubborn for no good reason. Sigh.”
Letting out a sigh, Han Aebom lifts Kim Hyunwoo's arm, adjusting it this way and that. As she finds the best position to support him, Han Serong chimes in.
“That damn punk's stamina is freakishly monstrous. Pounding drinks into a kid who doesn't even know booze, and he still fought to the bitter end with everything he had.”
“I didn't expect him to hold out this well either. His stamina and strength just keep improving day by day. Even his capabilities as a person.”
“Capabilities my ass. Seeing him shake like a leaf in front of me, he's got a long way to go.”
Even amid their earlier bickering over Han Aeshin, Han Aebom and Han Serong's conversation flowed with easy familiarity, as if nothing had happened. They knew exactly when to air personal grievances and when to set them aside.
“Ughhh, krrng...”
As Han Aebom hoists him up, a groan escapes Kim Hyunwoo's lips, followed by a stream of drool. The saliva soaks into Han Aebom's clothes, but she pays it no mind. Han Serong's eyelids twitch at the sight.
“If what that girl said was truly from the heart, then like it or not, that guy's gonna be crossing paths with me a lot from now on. You know that, right?”
“Yes. I do. And I don't mind it at all, Grandpa. I'm only digging in my heels because it's about my brother.”
“Tsk, who'd you get that bullheaded stubbornness from?”
“Who else but you, Grandpa? You fussed over me so much because you know exactly who I take after most.”
“Ugh, can't even talk to you...”
Han Serong fiddles with his glass while eyeing Kim Hyunwoo, who remains dead to the world, slumped against Han Aebom's shoulder. He itches to hurl it at the kid's face.
“I told that punk to help with your novel, but you're gonna have to help him too. The kid's seriously lacking—seriously!”
“I know.”
“And next time, we're not drinking in some dump like this. I'm taking him straight to 'Hwamong.' Keep that in mind. If he slips up there even once, he's out—out. Don't forget I haven't acknowledged him yet.”
“We'll see how it goes. Hyunwoo still has a lot of naive sides to him.”
“Yeah.”
A brief silence falls, and Han Aebom bows first.
“Then I'll head back, Grandpa.”
“Scram. ...Oh, wait.”
Han Serong calls her back just as she's turning to leave.
“Seeing you go this hard, there must be someone pretty noteworthy among those kids crammed in your tiny studio.”
“......”
“Don't let them get the upper hand. Even if you've run off from home, no Han family member loses to anyone—ever. Got it?”
“Of course.”
With one final bow, Han Aebom exits the room with Kim Hyunwoo in tow.
Moments later, Han Serong gazes down at her from afar, helping Kim Hyunwoo into the car parked at the mansion entrance. He speaks.
“Secretary Jang.”
“Yes, Chairman.”
“Start the car. Heading to the hospital... Guess I'm getting on in years. Might not last as long as I figured.”
“Don't talk like that—it doesn't suit you. You'll stay fit at least until you pass the group to Miss Aebom.”
“Heh, damn right.”
Nodding, Han Serong takes a sip of warm honey water and adds,
“And that Ilha Group pup.”
“Yes.”
“Get him to the hospital. Right now.”
Secretary Jang bows his head silently.
In the dead of night, a sleek luxury Japanese sedan pulls up in front of Hanban Hospital. The secretary hops out of the driver's seat, rushes to open the rear door, and bows.
“We've arrived, Vice Chairman.”
“Good.”
Oh Hanam, who seldom sighs, is off his game tonight.
“Sigh, let's go in. Curious what that senile old tiger wants with me.”
“Yes.”
Oh Hanam proceeds to the VVIP room with just one secretary in tow, flashing warm smiles at everyone they pass—staff, nurses alike.
“Wasn't that Oh Hanam, Ilha Group's Vice Chairman, just now?”
“Oh my god, he's so sweet.”
“Smiling all kindly even at this hour. Wonder what brings him here?”
“Heard something about Hanban Group...”
They arrive at the VVIP room.
Knock knock!
“Sorry I'm late. I am Oh Han—, Vice Chairman of Ilha Group—”
“You little shit, when an elder summons you, you come sprinting—not crawl in. You think you know what time it is?!”
Oh Hanam's eyelids twitch. A faint creak emanates from his trademark single glove.
Yet he swiftly regains his poker face and bows.
“My apologies. I couldn't face Hanban Group's Chairman looking unkempt. It took a bit to freshen up.”
“Tsk, you kids and your endless excuses. Especially you. Never liked your methods from the start—and now it reaches my ears?”
“......”
Oh Hanam quietly raises his head to regard Han Serong in his patient gown. Impressive as ever, no matter the angle.
'How the hell hasn't he changed a bit since he was way younger?'
Eating his years like a champ—does Hanban's Chairman hoard some secret elixir? Thought he was a washed-up tiger, but still not one to underestimate.
“My handling of things... I do have words on that.”
“What? Talking back already?”
“Times have changed. Can't just sweep injustice under the rug because someone's 'young.' You critique my methods, Chairman, but mine are clean by comparison. Loose ends? Rare. Yours?”
Oh Hanam smirks, his gaze dripping with arrogance as he eyes Han Serong.
“How many filthy deeds have those hands racked up? You got lucky being born back when Korea's security, laws, and public awareness were in the gutter. These days? Even you couldn't bury it all.”
Words that would make anyone else explode, yet Han Serong just bursts into laughter.
“Puhahaha! You punk. That's exactly why the higher-ups hate your guts, you selfish prick.”
“......”
“Our generation lived dirty, sure. But we sacrificed, handed even scum a sliver of hope. You? You strangle 'em outright and puppet the corpses. Punk like you runs a company? It booms, sure—but the country rots from within.”
“So what? Eat well, live well—that's enough. Everyone's doing it these days. Next generation? Who cares, as long as I'm happy now...”
“You goddamn traitor!”
“......”
Oh Hanam's eyebrow twitches; he clamps his mouth shut.
“Tsk tsk. Looking at you, that half-baked kid from earlier seems way better. Brains and talent mean jack if your head's rotten. Trash who spits on the country that birthed and raised him.”
“That 'loyalty,' 'romance,' 'devotion'... those don't pay bills anymore, Chairman. Your era, maybe you saluted the office on the way in. Now? Better offer, gone in a day. Company full of quitters.”
“That's your view.”
Can't reason with the bastard.
Oh Hanam's eyebrow twitches again. Old folks loathe him—and truth be told, he can't stand them either. No logic.
“Anyway. That half-baked punk I mentioned? Better not pull any stunts on him.”
Oh Hanam tilts his head with a smile.
“No idea who you mean, but if Hanban's Chairman says so, naturally...”
“Kim Hyunwoo. The one shacked up with your little sister right now.”
In an instant, Oh Hanam's unflappable public facade cracks.
Han Serong grins.
“Tsk tsk. Now you look human.”
“Driver, mind pulling over here?”
“Pardon?”
The driver, who had reflexively eased the car to a stop at Han Aebom's words, tilts his head. Her studio apartment is still a good distance away.
“Feels like a good spot.”
“Ah, miss.”
“Thanks for the ride, driver. Nngh!”
[LoveLove Hotel]
The driver stares blankly at the building as Han Aebom grunts and drags Kim Hyunwoo inside.
“Shouldn't have given her that 200,000 won tip.”
At that moment, the driver genuinely regrets not being a hitman instead.