Chapter 48
Chapter 48
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 48
Chapter Title: Bringing Eun-seok Home
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Seo Ji-hyeok approached the door, unlocked it with the key, and paused slightly just as he was about to turn the knob.
Then he ordered the two men standing behind him to step aside and flung the door open.
And then...
- Wheek!
"Ugh!"
The moment the door swung open, a massive pile of shit came flying out from inside the room.
The men dodged it by the narrowest margin and instinctively let out screams.
Ji-hyeok opened the door and waited a beat, confirming no more shit was incoming, before slowly turning his body toward the entrance.
"You done?"
"Sh..."
Park Eun-seok was sitting on the floor, back slumped against the sofa.
His eyes were badly bloodshot, and compared to a week ago, he looked like an entirely different person—so much weight had he lost.
After giving Park Eun-seok a once-over, Ji-hyeok strode into the filth-reeking room without a second thought.
The instant he stepped up to where Eun-seok leaned against the sofa, Eun-seok flinched and curled into himself.
"What're you doing? Get up. Time to start."
"Fuck..."
"How many times do I have to tell you that's swearing."
"Argh!"
Ji-hyeok's casual kick grazed the inside of Eun-seok's thigh.
But even that playful jab sent Eun-seok screaming and rolling across the floor.
Any ordinary person would've felt pity at the sight, but Ji-hyeok was no ordinary person.
He didn't so much as blink as he walked toward the fleeing, rolling Eun-seok.
"Get up. Saying it again—if you stay down, it's double."
"Tell me... at least tell me why!"
"That's talking back."
"Gah!"
Ji-hyeok gave him another light kick.
And once more, Eun-seok rolled and wailed.
"Don't get up, and we start for real."
Watching Eun-seok roll about a meter away, Ji-hyeok casually rolled up his sleeves.
Then Eun-seok staggered to his feet and slowly dropped to his knees.
"Please... spare me."
"What?"
"I can't... can't take any more. Please, spare me."
"Disappointing. Park Eun-seok, is that all you've got? On your knees after just a few days? I haven't even started yet."
"Please... please..."
Eun-seok clasped his hands together in plea, tears streaming down his face.
He had finally broken.
"What's this? Weren't you the guy who lived without a care in the world? Why the tears?"
"No, that's not me. I'm not that guy. Please... huh?"
"Park Eun-seok."
"Yes..."
"Look at me."
But Eun-seok couldn't meet Ji-hyeok's eyes for even a second.
Terror.
Confirming it, Ji-hyeok slowly turned and headed for the door.
"Come out."
"Yes.... Yes?"
"Come out."
As if terrified Ji-hyeok might change his mind, Eun-seok crawled out without bothering to stand.
"Get up. Bathroom's at the end of the hall. Wash stuff's set out—clean yourself and come back."
"Yes?"
"Want me to repeat myself?"
"No, sir. I'm going. Right now."
Ji-hyeok let out a small sigh as he watched Eun-seok's filth-smeared naked form sprint toward the bathroom.
Truth be told, even Ji-hyeok himself didn't see this as a perfect fix.
But he figured it was the only way.
Park Eun-seok was a drug user.
A habitual one, at that.
And by any common sense Ji-hyeok knew, there was no real method to quit drugs in this world.
It all boiled down to who could hold out longer.
The silver lining, from watching him for a week, was that hope still lingered.
Still, he couldn't let his guard down.
Drugs were like that—the moment you gave in again, it was game over.
All that pent-up abstinence would snap back like a coiled spring, wrecking you explosively.
There were two reasons Ji-hyeok had invested a week in Eun-seok.
One was to gauge the depth of his addiction by surviving that fateful first week.
The other, to break him with primal fear of violence.
'Hmm. We've made it this far, but the road ahead's gonna be a hassle.'
Truth was, Ji-hyeok's real headache was just beginning.
He had to keep Eun-seok glued to his side.
In his line of sight, or all this effort went to waste.
Sure, after a certain period, he'd cut him loose.
Time by his side would dull the fear of beatings,
While the pull of drugs grew stronger by the day.
He might end up using again.
No—odds were heavily in favor of it.
But deep down, Ji-hyeok wanted to stretch out that grace period as long as possible.
And this whole thing? Less about family debt or burdening Kang Mi-young, more pure hatred for drugs.
Too many precious people lost to them back in Cheongnyangni.
Lost in thought, staring off in the direction Eun-seok had vanished, Ji-hyeok sensed the two men's gazes and turned.
"You two've had it rough."
"Ah... no, not really. We just stood guard at the door, ate, goofed off."
"That's exactly what I wanted—and you nailed it. Here."
Ji-hyeok held out two checks.
Spotting them, the men bowed nearly double, hands extended reverently to accept.
"Thank you!"
"Good work. So, gotta clean this dump?"
"Nah, demolition's scheduled for next week."
"Perfect."
"What should we tell hyungnim?"
"I'll handle it myself. No need to report—this is yours."
"Thank you."
From their faces, it'd look like they'd report to Jang Woo anyway.
But regardless, Ji-hyeok would ask Jang Woo straight up.
Whether they'd reported the cash they'd taken from him.
These were Jang Woo's trusted guys.
No report?
That'd be a massive red flag.
Once a gangster gets a taste for kickbacks, loyalty to the crew hits rock bottom.
Moments later, Eun-seok shuffled out of the bathroom, hands cupped modestly over his privates. Ji-hyeok tossed him the backpack he'd brought.
"Clothes and shoes inside."
Eun-seok moved like lightning.
Ever wary of a sudden change of heart.
Once dressed in underwear, socks, tracksuit, and sneakers, he slunk along, stealing glances at Ji-hyeok.
"Let's go."
Ji-hyeok led Eun-seok outside.
Eun-seok let out a faint groan at the sudden sunlight, but it wasn't like he'd been in total darkness, so he adjusted quick and trailed obediently behind.
"Get in."
At Ji-hyeok's word, Eun-seok scrambled into the passenger seat.
A short drive later, they pulled up at Taesung Gardens.
They parked and stepped out, and Eun-seok shot Ji-hyeok a lost look, clueless on what to do next.
"Just so you don't get ideas—they all know everything. No making a fuss. The second you do, you're right back there. And trust me, round two won't be as quick."
"Ah... got it."
"C'mon."
A staffer waited at the golf cart's driver's seat, but Ji-hyeok planted Eun-seok there instead.
Then climbed into the back himself.
"Drive."
"Yes..."
From the back, Ji-hyeok could read Eun-seok's thoughts plain as day on the back of his head.
Why me driving when there's staff right here?
He was definitely thinking it.
"Your mom handed you over to me. Your job from now on? Driving my car. Treat it like practice. No schemes."
"Gasp!"
How shocked was he?
Eun-seok screamed and slammed the brakes.
Guess he'd figured the nightmare ended once they got home.
Ji-hyeok lurched forward from the jolt, but a razor-sharp voice cut through.
"Drive straight, or next time you get nothing. Got it?"
"Yes! Yes! Loud and clear!"
"Drive."
"Yes!"
Taesung Hall's entrance loomed ahead, Manager Kim waiting out front.
"Chairman says to come up."
Everything moved at warp speed.
Can't even play dumb anymore.
Ji-hyeok clicked his tongue and eyed the fidgeting Eun-seok beside him.
"Let's go."
"Me... too?"
"What, no hello planned? First time home in a week."
"Ah... well..."
"What? They tell you to skip greetings?"
"...Yes."
"Follow."
As Ji-hyeok led Eun-seok inside Taesung Hall, Manager Kim subtly blocked the way.
"Young Master Eun-seok..."
"Outta my way."
"Pardon?"
"Who the hell are you to block me? Who said you get a say in family matters?"
"Young master, that's too far. It's the chairman's orders."
Kim wasn't yielding easy—his face hardened, voice dropping low.
But his opponent was Ji-hyeok.
"Hilarious. Do's and don'ts, chairman's will! Save that servant talk for each other."
"Young master!"
"Chairman's will? Pull that crap one more time, and you'd better be ready. Move!"
Kim flinched at the icy tone, face paling as he stepped aside.
Ji-hyeok marched right in, Eun-seok on his heels.
Trailing far behind came a beet-red Manager Kim and two staffers, scurrying to keep up—but Ji-hyeok paid them no mind.
He led the group up the right staircase to Chairman Kang Wook's study and called out.
"It's Ji-hyeok. With Eun-seok."
"Come in."
The study had sliding doors, so well-maintained they glided open smooth as silk at his touch.
Inside was serene and subdued.
Warm sunlight streamed through floor-to-ceiling windows; faint music soothed the air.
At center, Kang Wook sat in a rocker, thick glasses perched as he read.
But Ji-hyeok frowned faintly at the sight.
"Grandsons are here—mind looking up?"
Irritation laced his voice; Kang glanced up, meeting his eyes.
"Spit it out. Hate interruptions at this hour."
"If you're gonna do whatever you please, why build Taesung Gardens? To live with family, no? Living together means sucking up some hassle."
"Cheeky brat. Fine. What is it?"
"I'll be keeping Eun-seok with me."
"Not my place to meddle in your crowd."
"Putting him in the Future Strategy Office."
"No reason to stop if you're owning his screw-ups too. But like I said—you're on trial. You know that, right?"
"Taking that as approval then. Rest up."
Ji-hyeok turned to go.
But after one step toward the door, he spun back to Kang Wook.
"Can't talk nicer? Far as I see, grandpa's the worst in this house at separating business from family."
He lobbed that and left without waiting for a reply.
Eun-seok, who'd been trembling like a rain-soaked kitten before Kang Wook, bolted after him.
And then...
"Hoo..."
A soft sigh leaked from Park Eun-seok behind him.
"What was that sigh? You weren't scared?"
"...Just acting."
Ji-hyeok smirked at the utterly deflated Eun-seok and headed out of Taesung Hall once more.
And the next stop with Eun-seok?
Mi Residence.
Wonder what hidden side our youngest aunt's got.
Eun-seok had been a side quest.
Kang Mi-young was the main one.
Time to dive into the real mission.