Chapter 84
Chapter 84
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 84
Chapter Title: Love's Discipline
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Kay couldn't understand Eve's order.
"Is he really someone worth going that far for?"
"Instinct."
"Pardon?"
"My gut's telling me. At least this one's not someone we can let slip away."
Kay didn't argue further after Eve's words.
Her command as the head of White Storm was absolute.
Even asking once had already been an act of rudeness on his part.
"Understood."
***
In truth, Lee Dae-hwan didn't enjoy mingling with reporters.
However, he acknowledged their necessity in manipulating the media.
Why?
Because of the "stories" created by these very people now gathered in the lounge, waiting for the scraps he would toss them.
Those stories often proved to be invaluable weapons.
And the prey Lee Dae-hwan was targeting this time was his "pet"—Lee Dae-hyuk.
Just thinking of his pet's face made his teeth grind.
Yet, despite the rage boiling inside him, Lee Dae-hwan smiled as he surveyed the reporters seated across the table from him.
"Everyone doing well? You all look great. Reporter Bae, I heard you had a baby boy?"
"Hahaha. Luckily, the kid takes after his mom a lot."
"Oh, really? That's wonderful, sir."
"You must be relieved."
The other reporters teased good-naturedly, and Reporter Bae laughed it off playfully.
"It's a huge relief. Hahaha. My boy might turn out as handsome as Director Lee Dae-hwan here."
"Oh, come on. Then I should send a little gift for my nephew."
"Really? I didn't mean it like that."
Reporter Bae waved his hands in protest.
Pretending to be hurt, Lee Dae-hwan spoke up.
"You're making me out to be an uncle who can't even give his nephew a gift?"
"Aigoo, when you put it that way, I can't say no. Heh heh heh."
As Reporter Bae let out a hearty laugh, Lee Dae-hwan pulled an envelope from his jacket pocket.
"It's just a token."
He openly handed the envelope to Reporter Bae in front of everyone.
"Aigoo, doing this in front of the others... Haha. Thank you."
Reporter Bae took the envelope with a sheepish expression.
"It's not much. Just a small gesture, so no need to feel burdened."
The envelope was stuffed thick with cash.
Judging by its bulk, around two hundred bucks.
But the reporters were waiting for the "real gift" that would follow for Lee Dae-hyuk.
That was why.
"Go on, take it."
"Senior, I'm jealous. Haha."
No one seemed upset.
The real gifts—luxury handbags packed with thick stacks of cash—were already loaded in the trunk.
Unfortunately for them, they still had to write the articles Lee Dae-hwan wanted.
In a way, these were payment for their pieces, not gifts.
After handing out the "fees," Lee Dae-hwan clutched his forehead.
"Anyway... my head's killing me."
"Pardon? Is something wrong...?"
"Are you unwell?"
The reporters buzzed in concern at his sudden gesture.
They knew full well he wasn't actually in pain.
He was probably beating around the bush to ask for some shady favor.
"Lately, something's been bothering me. Now it's genuinely giving me a headache."
"Aigoo, you can't let that happen, Director. The Daehan Group would shake."
"Exactly. You're the pillar holding up Daehan Group."
"Yeah, what's going on? If there's anything we can do to help, we will."
Lee Dae-hwan found their words laughable.
A mere reporter offering to help him?
But the tamed dogs kept wagging their tails.
Oblivious to how much their master despised them.
"What on earth has you so upset?"
"They say just talking it out helps lighten the load. Even us reporters can keep a secret to the grave, so don't worry and spill it."
"Yeah, yeah."
As the reporters fawned from all sides, Lee Dae-hwan reluctantly opened up.
"Why's it all over the papers? Chaebol heirs caught with drugs, abusing power, sexual assaults."
"……!!"
"S-sorry."
Reporter Bae bowed at a perfect ninety degrees after hearing Lee Dae-hwan out.
He himself had written plenty of such pieces to boost sales and clicks.
But Lee Dae-hwan waved both hands as if he had no idea what he meant.
"You must have misunderstood. I'm not upset about that. I'm not that petty. Haha."
"B-but still..."
"You wrote facts as articles—why apologize? I only brought it up because I could use your help."
"Oh... I see."
"Yes, got it."
"Go ahead. We're all ears."
Was it the bonus?
Fire sparked in Reporter Bae's eyes.
And.
'Money really is the best.'
Lee Dae-hwan barely suppressed his surging disgust as he met that gaze.
Luxury handbags, a few hundred in cash once or twice a month.
Selling out their professional integrity for pocket change like that.
In Lee Dae-hwan's eyes, Reporter Bae was nothing but a bug.
But without betraying his inner thoughts, he smiled and began sharing his "worry."
"Sigh. My little brother's been giving me grief lately."
"Your brother... which one?"
"The youngest, Dae-hyuk."
"Ah...."
"How so...?"
"He seems to be up to... the kinds of things I just mentioned."
"Ah... Are you asking us to bury any stories? Don't worry, we'll pull some strings...."
"No."
Lee Dae-hwan cut Reporter Bae off.
"Pardon? Then...."
"A kid who messes up needs to be punished. If you're a real brother, sometimes you have to give him a good whack out of love, right?"
"Uh, then...."
Reporter Bae stammered.
He was shocked by Lee Dae-hwan's unexpected response.
And he wasn't the only one.
The other reporters stared at him with wide eyes.
"......"
"......"
"So, could you reporters step in and give my foolish brother that loving whack on my behalf...?"
The reporters' faces paled at his counter-question.
Writing stories like this was harder than killing them.
Of course, if what Lee Dae-hwan said was true, it would blow up eventually anyway.
But screwing it up could mean falling out with Daehan Group—their big advertiser.
That was why desk editors pressured their reporters to delay such chaebol scandal pieces as much as possible.
Delaying was their way of showing consideration.
And yet here was Lee Dae-hwan, not only okay with it but begging them to wield that "loving rod."
"......"
This time, not even Reporter Bae could respond easily.
'Ah... what do we do.'
'This is awkward.'
The reporters' eyes darted restlessly.
Hesitation born of fear.
Someone finally broke the heavy silence.
Reporter Bae again.
"...To report, we need hard evidence."
When Reporter Bae hit the nail on the head, Lee Dae-hwan replied.
"Isn't a person's word evidence enough for something like this? I'll tip off the cops too, so you all go together and do your jobs."
"Our jobs?"
At Reporter Bae's follow-up, Lee Dae-hwan nodded.
"Cops arrest, reporters write—that's everyone's job, right?"
"......"
The gathered reporters felt uneasy at his words.
One article like this, and they'd be enemies of Daehan Group—their careers over that day.
But once more, Lee Dae-hwan eased their fears.
"Soon, I'll be chairman of Daehan Group. And anyone under me will be taken care of, one way or another. ...Should I put it in writing?"
With his firm guarantee, the fear faded from the reporters' faces.
A sliver remained, of course.
But refusing now would mean falling out of his favor.
In the end.
After a brief silence, Reporter Bae spoke for the group.
"Yes. I've raised kids myself—I know sometimes you need that loving whack. So, when and where do we deliver it?"
Lee Dae-hwan beamed at Reporter Bae's question.
***
The evening of the 23rd, the day before Christmas Eve.
The streets bustled with people.
Families hurrying along in groups of three or four.
Couples and spouses walking arm-in-arm, pressed close.
Seeing them, Lee Dae-hyuk felt a twinge of loneliness.
No word from Yoon Tae-ho or Kim Mi-jin—they must be enjoying time with their daughter.
'Will I ever... have a family of my own?'
Dreaming of life after revenge, Lee Dae-hyuk shook his head without realizing it.
He still couldn't picture it clearly.
The idea of himself married, with a family.
Still, inexplicable things happened in life that people couldn't even imagine.
Look at him: he'd died, regressed fifteen years, and taken over someone else's body.
Marriage and a happy home weren't impossible either.
A new resolve(?) formed, but he was glad he had no one he loved right now.
It would be a weakness in his revenge.
Lee Dae-hyuk reined in his sentimental thoughts.
The one who sent him back was a god—or something close.
Even that being wanted his vengeance.
'Right. Dealing with Yoo Jae-man comes first.'
Catching his breath while watching the passing crowds, Lee Dae-hyuk started running again.
Happy-looking people zipped by.
Some eyed him sweating buckets on this winter evening.
But Lee Dae-hyuk ignored the stares and dashed toward his destination.
Twenty minutes later.
"Huff... huff!!!"
He arrived home, panting heavily.
'Peaceful.'
Wiping sweat from his brow with the back of his hand, Lee Dae-hyuk gazed at the night sky.
The moon and stars shone peacefully.
Bitterly, he knew this calm—like the hush before a typhoon—wouldn't last.
But before he could savor it, the peace shattered.
Step-!
"Dae-hyuk."
An unexpected guest appeared out of nowhere.
Lee Dae-hyuk turned at the voice from behind.
"......?"
A handsome man in a sharp suit stood before him.
The bodyguards nearby weren't stopping him, so they must know each other.
'Who is it? Ah.'
Racking his memory, Lee Dae-hyuk's mouth fell slightly open.
Flash-!!
The recollection hit like lightning.
The man's name was Jung Soo-chang.
Eldest son of Jung In-seok, president of Daehan Foods and a vassal of Lee Myung-guk.
And his friend.
'Friend?'
It felt odd.
Jung Soo-chang was a high school classmate, but he'd always kept his distance.
Probably because of his status as a bastard son.
'Everyone in Daehan Group knows the story.'
Lee Dae-hyuk gave a wry smile.
But what could he do?
When he became chairman of Daehan Group, the whole world would know.
No need to sweat it.
What mattered was why he was here.
"Long time."
Lee Dae-hyuk smiled casually.
Jung Soo-chang looked puzzled by the smile.
"You look a lot better. Doing well?"
His face lit up, but the reaction felt off.
Probably because he looked nothing like the Lee Dae-hyuk in his mind.
Lee Dae-hyuk sensed the awkwardness but played it cool and kept talking.
"Doing great. Working out hard, staying healthy."
"Yeah. You really seem different. Why didn't you pick up my calls?"
"Ah, been way too busy lately."
Lee Dae-hyuk brushed off Jung Soo-chang's question with a laugh.
He had called a few times, but he'd ignored them.
Not just because he was busy, but he didn't want to waste time on someone with a history of betrayal.
'Even though that Lee Dae-hyuk isn't me... it doesn't feel good.'
Even now, with Kim Gun-woo's soul absorbing Lee Dae-hyuk's memories, he felt a strange alienation.
But the original Lee Dae-hyuk's emotions were vivid.
The weak-hearted guy had longed for people, and Jung Soo-chang had been a rare friend, if briefly.
But in time, even that "friend" had turned his back.
Likely wary of the bastard son label.
That abandonment had deepened Lee Dae-hyuk's depression.
But he couldn't nitpick past grievances with Jung Soo-chang now.
Putting aside the resurfacing memories and feelings, Lee Dae-hyuk said.
"So, what's up?"
"Can't I just visit a friend? End of the year, thought of you, that's all."
Lee Dae-hyuk scowled at Jung Soo-chang's retort.
A real friend like that would've come sooner.
With distrust plain on his face, Lee Dae-hyuk said.
"Yeah. Good seeing you."
He had no time to waste on this scheming punk.
Better to do a few more push-ups.
Lee Dae-hyuk turned to head inside.
At that moment, Jung Soo-chang hurriedly blocked his path.
"Hey, hey! You're just gonna go in like that? No goodbye?"
"You said no reason."
As Lee Dae-hyuk drew the line, Jung Soo-chang's eyes twitched.
Bewilderment mixed with desperation.
As expected, there was a reason for the visit.