Chapter 156
Chapter 156
The Great-Uncle
“Senior, another sedan just pulled up.”
“Who is it this time...”
The reporters, who had parked in front of the Juseong Art Museum, kept their cameras glued to their eyes, snapping photos nonstop. Another reporter was typing up an article in real time.
“Is that Minister Park? Wasn’t his eldest son-in-law a former prosecutor general?”
“Not really surprising. At this point, hasn’t everyone but the president shown up?”
“...Isn’t that a former president?”
“Where? Whoa, you’re right.”
Political heavyweights, including former presidents, prime ministers, and ministers, filed into the Juseong Art Museum. Members of the National Assembly were, of course, also present. The funny thing was, even assemblymen who rarely showed their faces in the National Assembly made an appearance for Juseong’s 80th anniversary.
“Ha, what is this place, the Blue House? The National Assembly?”
“It’s Juseong. I heard some royal family from the Middle East even sent a congratulatory gift.”
“What was it?”
“Let’s see... A solid gold statue modeled after Juseong Tower, they said. As tall as a person.”
“Crazy.”
The reporters chattered away, their shutters clicking without rest. Every person who entered was at least someone they had seen before. A few celebrities were spotted, but they were outside the reporters’ main interest, so they only got a couple of shots.
“That person is... Chairman Kim of Cheonyu Group. Didn’t he hand the company over to his son and go into seclusion?”
“After the National Assembly, it’s the Federation of Korean Industries.”
The figures from the business world were all titans of industry as well. But considering the host of the event was Juseong, it wasn’t particularly surprising.
As the reporters busily took photos and uploaded articles, they sensed something unusual as suited attendants suddenly lined up at the entrance.
“Huh? Senior. That car...”
“It’s Chairman Yu!”
“Get it, get it!”
Chairman Yu and Park Geum-ju got out first, followed by Yu Geon-min, Choi Yu-jin, and Yu Eun-ho from the car behind. Then, the families of Yu Min-jeong and Yu Seon-yeong also exited their vehicles and entered the museum. The Chairman’s entire direct family had made an appearance.
“But Yu Yeon-seo isn’t here.”
“Isn’t he coming separately later?”
“Maybe?”
He had been diligently attending family events lately, so they had naturally assumed he would come with them. A photo of Yu Yeon-seo with his family would be worth good money, so the senior reporter let out a small sigh of disappointment.
“Did they have another falling out?”
“Over what? Seeing as he’s still acting, didn’t they give their tacit approval for his entertainment career?”
“You know, because of him inheriting Choi Yu-jin’s side of the business?”
Choi Sang-jin, the president of Ajin Ilbo and Choi Yu-jin’s older brother, had a sex scandal, and his son, Choi Ji-hun, was in and out of jail for months over a drug scandal.
Choi Sang-jin, who had been favored by his father for being the eldest son, completely lost all credibility, as did Choi Ji-hun. Naturally, Choi Yu-jin solidified her position and was said to be in the middle of the succession process.
“If that were the case, he wouldn’t have been doing the volunteer work at all. Besides, would Chairman Yu really let him inherit his business so easily?”
“They say he’s soft on his grandchildren.”
Just then, the loud roar of an engine, different from the other cars, was heard from a distance.
“What’s that?”
“Whoa, that’s a limited edition...”
“Don’t tell me...”
“He’s driving something that costs as much as a house,” someone muttered.
Most had arrived in luxury sedans, so the flashy sports car seemed out of place. As far as they knew, there was only one person who would show up in a car like that.
“Wow... No wonder he’s been so quiet lately.”
“Hurry up and take pictures. You’re getting video too, right?”
“Yep.”
As Yu Yeon-seo, dressed in a perfectly tailored suit, stepped out of the car, Im Seung-hyeon, who had been waiting for him, fell in behind.
“Young Master. That was a close call.”
“Is everyone here?”
“Yes.”
“I’m going to get an earful again.”
“...Are you all right?”
Im Seung-hyeon remarked tactfully, having noticed the subtle change in Yu Yeon-seo’s complexion. Yu Yeon-seo paused for a moment and looked at him. This is why perceptive people are... He coughed quietly.
“Let’s just hurry inside.”
If Im Seung-hyeon could tell, then his parents and older brother would know the moment they saw him... Already feeling a headache coming on, he irritably brushed his bangs back.
Making his grand entrance, Yu Yeon-seo strode into the museum with his attendant in tow. The reporters watching let out sounds of admiration.
“...He really is handsome.”
“His inner attention-seeker is still alive and well. Seriously.”
“You think he did that on purpose?”
“Could be.”
Arriving late and alone to get all the attention. Considering the old Yu Yeon-seo, it wasn’t that far-fetched. Then again... he’s been pretty tame lately, but a leopard doesn’t change its spots. The reporter called ‘senior’ lowered his camera and leaned back comfortably in his seat.
“I got plenty of pictures, so I’m taking a break. Get the article up, quick.”
“Uh... Aren’t you going to shoot anyone else?”
“The big shots have pretty much all arrived. And one shot of Yu Yeon-seo gets more clicks than all the people we’ve photographed so far.”
Unable to argue with that, the junior reporter silently tapped away at his keyboard.
Yu Yeon-seo Arrives in a Flashy Sports Car
Yu Yeon-seo, a Royal Family’s Late Arrival... A Stride of Elegance
[Photo] Yu Yeon-seo Attends Juseong Group’s 80th Anniversary Charity Event
...JSENM executive director and actor Yu Yeon-seo enters the Juseong Art Museum to attend the Juseong Group’s 80th-anniversary charity donation event.
└ That sharp, sensitive vibe ㅠㅠ
└ But why is he going in alone?
└ Holy crap, he’s driving a car that costs as much as a house in Seoul
└ Freaking stylish
As expected, the immediate reactions and comments were on another level.
“Huh?”
The senior reporter, who had been lying back with his arms crossed, shot up and peered outside intently. He tapped his junior on the shoulder.
“Hey, wait a second.”
“Yes? I’m busy right now.”
“That... that person...”
He didn’t even finish his sentence before raising his camera. Jackpot. This was a scoop.
“When is this kid going to get here?”
“It’s probably because of the volunteer work out of town, sir.”
“Didn’t I tell him to keep his schedule light today?”
“He was probably there today, too, granting everyone’s requests.”
Yu Chang-ho seemed displeased by Yu Eun-ho’s answer, but he said nothing more. He was well aware that public opinion had improved significantly thanks to Yu Yeon-seo’s dedicated fan service during the anniversary volunteer events.
“He’s here.”
Spotting his family, Yu Yeon-seo walked quickly toward them. His grandfather’s expression was grim. Judging from past memories, it was best to bow his head quickly in these situations.
“I’m sorry.”
“You’re late.”
“The traffic was bad.”
Seeing his grandfather’s expression soften slightly, Yu Yeon-seo let out a small breath. He looked disheveled as if he had rushed over, but Yu Eun-ho saw things differently.
“Hey, you...”
“It’s nothing.”
“You call that pale face nothing?”
“I said I’m fine.”
When Yu Eun-ho looked toward the back, Im Seung-hyeon gave a slight shake of his head as if to say he didn’t know either.
“If you’re not feeling well, go home immediately.”
“You know I can’t just leave in the middle of things today, hyung.”
As the brothers whispered closely, more eyes were drawn to them. The one staring most intensely was, of course, Yu Geon-min.
‘Maybe I shouldn’t have synchronized today.’
The problem was that he had accepted the memories, hoping another clue might surface. In the end, he found nothing, and all that was left was his family’s nagging.
“Chairman!”
“It’s been a long time.”
As soon as Yu Yeon-seo joined them, people flocked over as if they had been waiting.
“Yeon-seo, you say hello too.”
“Hello.”
Yu Yeon-seo followed his grandfather’s lead while discreetly glancing around. Standing next to the chief of police with his arms crossed, Baek Seo-jun looked like a bodyguard because of his build.
He gave him a small nod. Baek Seo-jun raised a hand in return. He would probably come over to greet them when it was his turn.
“Your grandsons are so handsome...”
“His popularity these days...”
He didn’t feel well because of the synchronization, but like a true actor, he maintained a smiling face without letting his expression falter. This kind of greeting was only temporary anyway; soon, the focus would shift to Yu Geon-min and Yu Eun-ho. I’ll just play along for a bit and then slip away to a corner.
“Elder Brother!”
The man who rushed out eagerly without a care for his dignity was the former chairman of Cheonyu Group. For that man to call him Elder Brother... who is he?
“...It’s our great-uncle.”
“What?”
At Yu Eun-ho’s murmur, Yu Yeon-seo whipped his head around. An old man with the ordinary appearance of someone you might pass on the street was nodding to those who greeted him. Chairman Yu shot up from his seat in surprise.
“Chang-ho, it’s been a while.”
“Elder Brother!”
The succession had been peaceful, but there were many rumors surrounding Juseong’s second chairman, Yu Seong-won, and the current chairman, Yu Chang-ho. The prevailing rumor was that Chairman Yu Chang-ho had a hand in the sudden accidents that befell Yu Seong-won’s two sons.
Seeing the two old men looking friendlier than expected, the onlookers began to whisper. What? Weren’t they on bad terms? Even the relatives looked bewildered. That was how little interaction they had with their great-uncle’s family.
“This is the first time I’ve seen our great-uncle.”
“Me too.”
Yu Yeon-seo crossed his arms, echoing the words of Park Seon-woo who stood beside him.
‘They seem to get along so well...’
He was one of the people who had been mindful of the rumors. Besides the relatives, he was the most likely candidate for the ‘mastermind.’ But you couldn’t tell just by looking. Even if they acted this friendly, no one knew what schemes might have been plotted behind the scenes.
“I didn’t come here for you. I came to see my sister-in-law.”
“Brother-in-law. It’s good of you to come.”
The people who had been about to offer greetings stepped back to watch the reunion. After a brief exchange about their well-being, Chairman Yu gestured slightly. The children and grandchildren, who had been waiting for the adults to finish, drew closer.
“This is my family.”
“My goodness... I can hardly tell who is who anymore.”
Yu Seong-won patted Yu Geon-min’s shoulder a couple of times and smiled brightly.
“My... our princesses are already...”
“Princesses? That was so long ago.”
“You should have visited more often.”
He seemed particularly close to the aunts. Having only two sons of his own, he must have doted on his nieces.
‘Huh?’
Yu Yeon-seo’s eyes narrowed at the look that flashed across Yu Seong-won’s face for a fleeting moment. Not having appeared at events like this, the situation could be overwhelming for him. But it wasn’t that kind of feeling.
‘He seems uncomfortable.’
His body was relaxed, so it wasn’t the place or the situation that made him uncomfortable. It was a person. Who had he shown that discomfort towards? The people whose position and greeting timing matched his gaze were Choi Yu-jin and the uncles-in-law.
The greetings with Yu Seong-won continued down to the grandchildren. His eyes sparkled as he looked at Yu Eun-ho, praising him, saying he’d heard he was the future of Juseong. Even though he had stepped down from the front lines, it seemed he still kept up with the news.
“Hello, I’m the second son of the eldest.”
“Won’t you introduce yourself properly?”
As his turn came, Yu Yeon-seo bowed his head and spoke. Chairman Yu barked at his somewhat insincere-looking greeting.
“What? Haha!”
But Yu Seong-won showed no signs of displeasure.
“I thought this would be more comfortable for you. My name is Yu Yeon-seo, Great-Uncle.”
“Right, you’re...”
Yu Yeon-seo read pity, guilt, and more in Yu Seong-won’s eyes.
‘What is this?’
Before he could process the strange feeling, Yu Seong-won was already greeting the other cousins and had gone off somewhere with Chairman Yu. They probably went to see the corporate chairmen he had been close to during his active years.
“Wow, that felt like a storm just passed.”
Lost in thought, Yu Yeon-seo was late to notice the presence right behind him. He habitually raised his arm to grab the person by the collar, but stopped when he recognized the face.
“Don’t just sneak up behind me like that.”
“Whoa, man... Isn’t that a bit of an aggressive greeting?”
“Sorry.”
Yu Yeon-seo casually straightened Baek Seo-jun’s disheveled collar. Baek Seo-jun’s heart pounded at his swift movement.
“What’s with those reflexes?”
“I’m just that good.”
“Ah, is that so?”
Baek Seo-jun looked at him with surprise. I’m a cop and a black belt, so it makes sense for me, but what’s with him? His instantaneous movement and the glint of killing intent in his eyes... It hurts my pride, but if I’d been any more relaxed, he would have gotten me. And from what I heard from Yu Eun-ho, Yu Yeon-seo has never trained in martial arts.
“But what kind of martial art did you learn?”
“I go to action school for my acting.”
“Action school teaches you to this level?”
“I don’t use a stunt double.”
“...Is that so?”
Still suspicious, Baek Seo-jun took two glasses of champagne from a passing staff member and handed one over. That wasn’t the important thing right now.
Their gazes were fixed on Yu Seong-won. Baek Seo-jun gave a short nod in his direction.
“...You think it’s him?”
“We don’t know yet.”