Chapter 98
Chapter 98
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 98
Chapter Title: Sudden Situation
-----------------------------------------------------------------
During the time Jin-hyuk was working at the company, Sein Group didn't have a separate vice president.
Speculation about the reason varied, but the analysis that Chairman Hong Gi-jun was wary of dispersing power gained the most traction.
'The first and last vice president.'
A man who had received full authority from the owner. In Sein Group, the vice president was essentially the chairman.
That had been Hong Gi-jun's history back then.
But when had Hong Gi-jun become vice president? His parents seemed to know, showing no surprise. They just looked proud of having such an impressive acquaintance. Look at Dad. Even now, Dad's nostrils were flaring proudly.
Hong Gi-jun, dressed in a neat dark blue suit, spread his arms wide and hugged Son Gwang-yeon.
"Ya-! Good to see you. Sorry I'm late. I've been swamped with work lately."
"You've worked hard, you rascal. We just got here too."
It was a reunion warmer than with family between the two men.
Hong Su-jeong and Son Yu-jin clung to each other, staggering as they mimicked the scene.
"Hnyanyanyanya-."
"Kahaha-."
"Princesses? Let's head inside."
If Yu Se-ra hadn't stepped in to pull them apart, the two little ones' embrace was so passionate they might have tumbled onto the lawn.
And so the two pairs held hands and left the garden, heading into the house.
Jin-hyuk, the only one without a partner, shoved his hands in his pockets and trailed behind.
A simple spread of refreshments was laid out in the drawing room.
Hong Gi-jun lamented that he had to go into work even on Sundays and couldn't stay out late playing.
"It's a shame. We could've gone out for a meal together and hit the department store since it's been so long."
"We can come again. I've got plenty to do back home too. Farmers don't get weekends off."
Son Gwang-yeon waved it off, apparently oblivious to the two women's genuinely regretful expressions. Especially Han Yu-young, who had gotten a real taste for shopping during their Hawaii trip.
Regardless, the men carried on with their bragging.
"Come to think of it, business and farming are pretty similar, right?"
"Very similar. That's why I'm planning to manage it properly."
Jin-hyuk, who had been dozing off with a sleeping Yu-jin cradled in his arms, perked up his ears.
Dad seemed about to broach the main topic seriously.
"Good thinking!"
Hong Gi-jun suddenly lit up like someone possessed and bounced in his seat. It looked just like Yu-jin jumping up and down, begging her big brother to pick her up.
"Let's set up the corporation first. Sooner the better. I'll help out."
"Shouldn't we first find a way to formally bring those guys on board?"
"Just start a security company. How about opening a branch right next to your place?"
He was talking about the security team.
Jin-hyuk, listening in, shook his head. Men's bravado was always like this. Was starting a company and opening a branch really as easy as it sounded?
'Ah, right... vice president.'
Not just any men. As vice president, it might actually be possible.
If it came to fruition, it would be a solid choice for the family.
No more need to keep it under wraps, and the agents' burdens would lighten.
"Have you talked it over with your wife?"
"Of course."
The two dads merely glanced at Jin-hyuk, not paying him much mind.
Now that it was out in the open, that was only natural.
'Give me the details!'
Even as post-meal drowsiness washed over him, Jin-hyuk kept his ears perked.
While rocking gently like a cradle to keep Yu-jin asleep.
Seeing Jin-hyuk straining despite the fatigue weighing on his eyelids, Son Gwang-yeon's lips moved slowly. Finally, something was coming.
"Jin-hyuk, take Yu-jin upstairs and get some sleep first."
"Yes......"
Pffffff-, the hot steam of anticipation vented from his upper dantian.
Jin-hyuk rose carefully, still holding Yu-jin. As a teenager, he had no choice but to follow the adults' lead. Whining and fussing didn't suit him. They probably had grown-up business to discuss, even though he wanted to hear more. Likely some serious talk about the venture.
'Guess I'll have to wait for those uncles to get in touch.'
If only he had a cell phone, things wouldn't feel so frustrating and sluggish.
Brick-sized cell phones had emerged, but widespread use was still a pipe dream. Word was, compact models wouldn't hit until two years from now.
Jin-hyuk climbed the stairs one careful step at a time. Clutching the world's most precious little sister tight so she wouldn't slip.
Yu Se-ra placed an LP on the turntable, while Hong Gi-jun pulled out a bottle of bourbon whiskey from the liquor cabinet.
Catching sight of the whiskey, Jin-hyuk shot it a wistful glance. Thanks to that lunatic Hong Su-jeong, he hadn't quite acquired a taste for bourbon.
'Just one sip.'
Other families would teasingly offer kids a taste.
Tsk.
Jin-hyuk's eyes, glancing back one last time from the landing, brimmed with disappointment.
Much like his little sister Son Yu-jin's glare at the empty soda fridge after going to buy cola.
The house was different from his previous visit, but this marked Jin-hyuk's second time here. He'd been invited to a cozy family dinner on Chairman Hong Gi-jun's birthday, coming along with Hong Su-jeong. That was around age thirty-three, he thought. As a contract agent back then, he'd figured all sorts of odd things happened in life but went along for the sightseeing.
Seeing the chairman summon his daughter's brand-new mentor from the company and ask him to look after her well, Jin-hyuk could guess the reason for the invite. Hong Su-jeong past thirty had often seemed expressionless and glum, but in her twenties, she'd been incredibly lively.
The excessively bubbly little Hong Su-jeong grabbed Jin-hyuk's hand and tugged him along.
"Oppa sweep in my woom."
Her pronunciation had cleared up nicely thanks to her emerging permanent teeth. Bursting with excitement over who-knows-what, Hong Su-jeong bounded up the wooden stairs, glancing back at Jin-hyuk repeatedly and grinning whenever their eyes met.
'Yeah, a big bright smile suits her way better than a shy one.'
Her adorable grin tugged Jin-hyuk's own lips upward involuntarily.
"Thanks, Su-jeong-ah."
Carrying his sister and following the little guide up to the second floor. Yu-jin preferred her oppa over Mom anyway, so bunking with her for one night should be fine.
Well, even at home she sometimes slept right outside oppa's door at dawn. Not a dog—why sleep out there instead of coming in? He'd puzzled over it plenty but never found an answer. Yu-jin couldn't even remember being there.
His parents and Jin-hyuk had worried she might have sleepwalking tendencies. But since she was only ever found in that spot, they'd concluded it wasn't the dangerous kind.
In the dry season, with her nose slightly stuffy, Yu-jin let out soft snuffling breaths in her sleep. Jin-hyuk laid her on the bed first.
He dampened a cotton swab with water and gently cleaned out her nose, careful not to wake her.
Hong Su-jeong stood ready, holding a tissue in both hands. When the booger emerged, she wrapped it up with the swab. Their teamwork from catching winter loaches that one time shone brilliantly once more.
Only once his sister's breathing settled into quiet rhythm did he relax and take in Hong Su-jeong's room.
'Total princess palace.'
It was straight out of a TV ad dollhouse. Light pink, deep pink, mid-tone pink, vivid pink, pale pink...... And topped off with a sweet fragrance—like tumbling into strawberry milk.
Dazed by the sugary scent, Jin-hyuk flopped down and stretched languidly.
No sleeping pill beat a good long stretch right before bed.
But then, in an instant, sleep flew right out the window.
'Wait, what the—?'
Hong Su-jeong had lain down right beside him.
This felt seriously off. He was basically playing nanny for the couples, watching their kid.
Undeterred, Hong Su-jeong snuggled up, claiming his left arm and giggling to herself.
"Ehehe-, oppa sweep well. Good dweams-."
After chattering on for a good while, the little one conked out.
She even slung a leg over his stomach.
"Ugh-."
Hong Su-jeong's foot nailed him right in a tender spot.
A long sigh escaped Jin-hyuk's lips.
My mighty river of peace......
Hehehek-.
They called it Pommy. A real gentle soul. Even when it crunched through its full feed bowl, or got its ears nipped, or had its tail gnawed, the thing just propped its chin on its front paws and rolled its eyes. Felt like gazing upon the big, docile son of the house, Wangwang. That one was a true dog through and through. That's why it felt so familiar.
Pommy was bigger than Choi Mi-kyeong human's mangy mutt Nurungi, so he'd figured it was older. But it was two years younger than General. Let's see—General was over seventy months old, so this guy was barely four?
Hehek-.
Hohoho, a younger pup. So soft and squishy, perfect for General to toy with endlessly. Long, fluffy fur—even when General charged and slammed into it, it just flinched, never yelping. General mounted its back, howling like a queen in triumph. Of course—the mighty General, sovereign over every mutt in the neighborhood.
Tosas, Jindos—they all rushed General only to taste the fury of its core chompers.
Besides being a pushover unworthy of its size, Pommy had another peculiar trait.
No matter how much he sniffed, it didn't smell like dog. Sniff sniff-. Was this culture shock?
Hehehek-.
Incredible—Seoul dogs didn't stink of cow dung!
Somehow un-doglike, yet reminiscent of a dog's natural scent.
General spent the late night excavating every corner of Hong Su-jeong human's garden, marking his territory meticulously. Whether Pommy trailed him to surveil or out of curiosity about other dogs, sniffing at his rear—General paid it no mind.
Pababak—he tore at the grass, digging with paws and snout.
No cow dung whiff even in the soil—what a barren, desolate world. Still, a dirt bath was mandatory. That's how you shook off the day's stiffness and slept soundly.
General was a smart dog; he knew these things.
Maybe the Seoul dirt stripped away the dung scent—he peeked at the feed bowl, wondering if he'd try some, when Pommy thrust its long snout right up to General's rear and started sniffing.
The classic dog ploy.
Hehehek?
This punk dares? A move General forbade every mongrel breed. He bared his teeth and growled to assert his dignity.
Grrrrr-.
But then—General yelped in shock.
Grrrr-, he'd thought Pommy was growling a warning too, but no—it nipped his nape. Just a graze. Ah, a bolt-from-the-blue even the bold General couldn't ignore.
Got too comfy with the gentle type. General figured Pommy was finally warming up. But from the yelper's side, he had no choice but to face facts.
Kiiing-. My bad, let my guard down.
Drrrrk-.
General and Pommy both startled and whipped their heads around.
From the big doghouse where the humans clustered, a massive transparent door suddenly slid open. Rowdy chatter from the adult humans spilled out.
"Alright—kids are asleep, so adults cheers, cheers!"
Hehehek-. That was master uncle Sonwoofwoof's voice.
"Feels bad drinking without the ladies, huh?"
Hehehek-. Hongbarkbark uncle's voice.
Tracing the sound, calculating distance—they weren't coming out.
Hehehek-.
Hey, no sweat. Carry on.
Grrrr-.
Amid the human voices seeped slow, slithery music.
The tune weighed his eyelids down, half-closing them on their own.
Body swaying to the sticky rhythm, eyes half-lidded behind sunglasses—an exotic vibe.
Stepping into the hotel cafe, Shin Sang-yeol spotted his contact without needing to scan the room. Proving how out-of-place he was, a sturdy-built man with sharp eyes was already fixed on him. Without those dark-brown-tinted shades, his legs might've buckled under that gaze.
Shin Sang-yeol approached cautiously.
"Uh, you're Mun Seok- from the phone call?"
"That's me. Sit."
The gravelly voice carried raw intimidation. Air felt stagnant, breathing labored. Shin Sang-yeol licked his lips and took the seat opposite.
As he raised a hand to order, Mun Seok-il's low growl snagged it.
"Last time it was a woman."
The initial client had been a woman calling herself Director Baek. The contact info was the same, but the handler had changed—so Mun Seok-il was probing warily.
No big deal for Shin Sang-yeol. The answer was scripted.
"There was an accident."
He delivered the curt reply and clamped his mouth shut.
Internal matter—don't pry. Mun Seok-il gave a subtle nod, eyes still boring into him.
Mun Seok-il's lips twitched.
"Taken care of."
He flipped the photo sprawled on the table and slid it toward Shin Sang-yeol.
A tanned, strikingly handsome man grinned broadly in the shot.