Chapter 75
Chapter 75
There’s Really Something to This
The Baeksan Arts Awards ceremony ended, and the TV broadcast went off the air. As the winners gathered on stage for a group photo, Jin Su-ho approached Yu Yeon-seo, who was about to head home.
“So, have you thought about my advice?”
What was it he had said before…? Something about telling his family. The thought of his grandmother came to mind, and Yu Yeon-seo gave a small smile.
“Thinking back, I have told a family member before.”
“How did it go?”
“Not well. It was better not to say anything.”
“Really?”
Jin Su-ho could read the pain in Yu Yeon-seo’s smiling face. Had he been needlessly nosy?
“They don’t like me anyway.”
My grandmother, that is.
Seeing Yu Yeon-seo’s bitter expression, Jin Su-ho’s face hardened with concern.
‘Is he on bad terms with his family?’
Bad terms? On the contrary, they were almost excessively doting. Everyone was busy pampering Yu Yeon-seo.
But Yu Yeon-seo’s habit of omitting the subject of his sentences led Jin Su-ho to a natural misunderstanding. He figured that, being from a conglomerate family, Yeon-seo probably had to hide anything that could be a weakness. Jin Su-ho’s sympathy for him deepened.
“Anyway, congratulations on your award.”
“Right. Thanks. I’ll see you later at the Guest House team’s after-party.”
“Okay.”
Yu Yeon-seo gave curt nods to the people greeting him and walked away with long strides. Just before he left the awards hall, he glanced back at Jin Su-ho, who was standing in the center, trophy held high.
‘Ah, my pride is wounded.’
They debuted around the same time, yet one won the Grand Prize while the other went home empty-handed. Hadn’t he said it had been a while since he was even nominated? Of course, the Yu Yeon-seo of that era was different from the one now, but being different meant a new mindset was needed.
“Hey, that’s a shame. I thought ‘Dreaming’ would get something for sure.”
“It’s fine. Have you picked out a script?”
“A script? Uh, yeah… I have.”
“Bring it to my house.”
Let’s not fool myself into thinking I don’t care about awards. I want to win.
‘I have to work hard.’
For now, my goal is to catch up to Jin Su-ho.
Chairman Yu’s eyes widened in surprise when he saw his wife watching TV in the living room.
“You watch this kind of thing?”
“You watch it behind my back, don’t you?”
On the screen, the fourth episode of ‘Welcome to the Guest House’ was airing.
“Ahem… That’s because you and…”
Because you and Yeon-seo are on awkward terms. Swallowing the rest of his words, Chairman Yu cleared his throat. He subtly sat down next to Park Geum-ju and looked at the TV screen.
‘Welcome to the Guest House’ Star-Studded Cast ‘Captivates’… Instant Ratings Hit
JSTV’s ‘Welcome to the Guest House’ Yu Yeon-seo Instantly Subdues a Pickpocket
Yu Yeon-seo’s First Regular Variety Show, ‘Welcome to the Guest House,’ Praised by Viewers for Toying with Production Staff
-Wow but Yu Yeon-seo’s pronunciation is insane
How many languages does he speak?
└ He’s at 5 so far. Articles say there’ll be more.
└ Damn that’s awesome
-But isn’t he taking it too easy?
The PD set a rule, but he just ignored it and took the items. Isn’t that a bit shameless?
└ The production team let it slide, so why are you flipping out lol
└ If you don’t like it, don’t watch
└ Everyone there likes it, why are you the only one complaining lol
-They called Yu Yeon-seo a young master in the pre-show meeting so I was worried, but he seems to do a lot.
└ He interprets, haggles like a pro at the market, and his knife skills are great.
└ But is it really his first time using a knife?
-[Guest House] Thought it would be boring but it’s hilarious lol
They run the guest house well and all the characters are distinct, I love it lol
└ Cooking King Park Seung-hwan and Machine Destroyers Kim I-jun and Choi Jun-yeong lol
└ I love Lee Yun-jeong’s easygoing personality.
└ It’s nice how the older members step up instead of making the youngest do everything.
└ Yu Yeon-seo acts like a total elementary school kid when he’s with Kim I-jun lol
‘Welcome to the Guest House’ had gone viral from its very first broadcast. It had already garnered attention for its cast of popular actors and idols, but upon watching, viewers found it wasn’t just a calm show; it also delivered on entertainment, and its ratings were on a steady rise.
If the cast had been clumsy after going all the way to an island, they would have been criticized for being frustrating, but they were all eager to take initiative. Coupled with Yu Yeon-seo’s significant contributions, positive reviews naturally followed.
“Did you talk things over with Yeon-seo?”
“…It’s not good.”
“Is that so?”
Chairman Yu studied Park Geum-ju’s expression and fiddled with his phone. Should I force them to have a meal together…?
Having lived together for so long, Park Geum-ju could tell what Chairman Yu was thinking just by looking at his face. She shook her head.
“There’s no need for that. I’m thinking of contacting him first soon.”
“Good thinking. That kid never makes the first move.”
“Damn kid,” Chairman Yu muttered. But that didn’t last long.
(Italy? It’s a wonderful country. You can leave your luggage there.)
(Oh… you speak Italian too?)
(A little. If you have any problems, please let me know first.)
The subtitles read ‘Italian.’ Last time, when guests from Germany arrived, he had spoken fluent German, and now he was just as natural with another language.
(What is that face? Is he even human?)
(He’s the most handsome person I’ve ever seen, East or West…)
(He spoke our language so well. Did he live in Italy?)
Once Yu Yeon-seo finished showing them around and went outside, the previously composed guests excitedly searched for his name on their phones.
(Wow, a Korean actor. The grandson of Juseong’s owner… a chaebol?)
(Juseong? The Juseong I know?)
(Wow, did we just get a room tour from a billionaire?)
The guests looked at each other in shock. Why is a billionaire here?
“Did we know that boy could speak so many foreign languages?”
Chairman Yu’s cheekbones rose to the sky. It was a pleasant thing for his grandson to be so talented. And it was even better that it was being broadcast for all to see.
After guiding the guests, the cast of ‘Guest House Today’ was given some free time, and a bonfire crackled merrily. Sitting in a circle, they each held a can of beer and listened to Choi Jun-yeong sing.
(Wow! As expected of Jun-yeong!)
(Amazing!)
When the song ended, everyone clapped. Choi Jun-yeong smiled playfully.
(Yeon-seo, you want to sing a song?)
(That’s right. He debuted as a main vocalist.)
Kim I-jun hyped him up, raising expectations. Everyone looked at Yu Yeon-seo with anticipation.
(One song! One song!)
Yu Yeon-seo, who disliked being the center of attention, smiled awkwardly.
(I don’t really know many songs… I’ll just try to sing the one Jun-yeong just sang.)
(Sounds good.)
Choi Jun-yeong started playing the guitar. As all eyes focused on him, Yu Yeon-seo gave a sheepish smile and began to sing.
It was actually the first time he had sung since entering Yu Yeon-seo’s body, but the original owner’s singing talent must have been real, because he sang quite well despite having heard the song only once.
Chairman Yu let out a small sound of admiration.
“He sings well, too…”
He already knew his grandson could sing, having watched his debut stage when he became an idol. But at the time, he had been too furious that he had become a performer without permission to listen properly.
“We need to find him a good match…”
“Let the boy do what he does well on his own.”
Park Geum-ju chided the chairman, who was gearing up to dote, and silently fixed her gaze on the TV screen.
In contrast to his somber expression when he was with her, her grandson on the screen looked happy. Her own expression grew darker.
“Managing Director, aren’t you leaving work?”
“I still have some things to finish up. You can go ahead.”
“Don’t overwork yourself. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Yes. Have a good evening.”
Yu Eun-ho wasn’t the type of boss to pressure his employees, which was why they all liked him.
After sending off the last remaining secretary, the office lights were turned off. The stand lamp on Yu Eun-ho’s desk and the city lights outside the window blended, creating a calm atmosphere.
“Haa…”
Tired, Yu Eun-ho was pressing his eyes shut when he felt a vibration from his phone and opened them.
“Hey, Seo-jun.”
(…Hey. I looked into that thing you asked me about.)
Yu Eun-ho, who had been slouching, sat up straight. Baek Seo-jun’s voice was unusually serious.
“What happened?”
(It seems like there’s really something to this.)
“What?”
Yu Eun-ho raised his voice in surprise. Baek Seo-jun whispered as if sharing a secret.
(The case file is missing parts. Like someone intentionally removed them.)
“What’s missing?”
(I’ve never seen it before, so I don’t know exactly what’s gone. But I have a feeling it was the testimony of a servant who was there at the time…)
At the time of Lee Hui-seo’s accident, digital systems weren’t in place, so everything had been written by hand.
Baek Seo-jun had initially planned to just pretend to look into it. But now that evidence was missing, he couldn’t just look the other way.
(Is there any way you can look into it on your end? A list of the people employed back then, or something…?)
“Someone who would know… the Head of the Strategic Planning Office would, but if I were to ask him…”
(It would get back to the Chairman.)
“Exactly. Grandfather can’t know about this yet.”
(Right.)
The Head of the Strategic Planning Office had served as Chairman Yu’s chief of staff in his youth. Though past retirement age, he had moved to Strategic Planning and remained one of the company’s most loyal executives. His presence alone gave the Strategic Planning Office more power than the Chairman’s Secretariat.
The Head was completely Chairman Yu’s man. This had to remain a secret between Yu Eun-ho and Baek Seo-jun until they had concrete evidence.
‘It would be great if I could persuade him…’
If he could present it as something beneficial to Juseong, the Head might keep it a secret for a time. Of course, it would have to be something big… Yu Eun-ho decided he had to at least try to sound him out.
“I’ll do my best to look into it on my end. Thanks.”
(…Yeah. But how did your brother even come to suspect this?)
Yu Eun-ho, who was about to end the call, paused.
(He must have had a reason to tell you… Don’t you think you should ask him why he was so suspicious?)
“…”
(Never mind. Give me his number. I’ll ask him myself.)
At first, he had questioned believing that crazy kid, but now that such conspicuous evidence had been found, Yu Yeon-seo was a key witness in Lee Hui-seo’s suicide case.
“…I’ll handle that myself.”
(Suit yourself.)
Hearing the edge in Yu Eun-ho’s voice, Baek Seo-jun let out a hollow laugh. It was absurd how his attitude changed completely when it came to his brother. Was this coddling why Yu Yeon-seo’s personality had become so rotten?
(I’m hanging up.)
“Okay.”
After ending the call, Yu Eun-ho stood up and gazed out the window. He knew his brother was recalling bits and pieces of the past, but he still didn’t know how much he remembered.
“So it was true…”
Yu Eun-ho sighed softly. He had hoped it wasn’t. But for parts of a case file to be missing from the restricted archives of the police agency? Something was being covered up.
“It was true…”
He lowered his head.
Being the eldest son, Yu Eun-ho had a stronger attachment to Lee Hui-seo than Yu Yeon-seo did. Was it a relief to find out she hadn’t taken her own life because she hated her family…? But the fact that he now had to suspect that very family weighed heavily on his mind.
‘How did Yeon-seo know?’
No one had delved too deeply into Yu Yeon-seo’s amnesia. Partly because his personality had changed for the better, but also because everyone in the family was cautious, afraid that dredging up the past might trigger another seizure.
[Hyung, listen to me. Back then…]
[Don’t talk nonsense. It’s time to forget about Mom.]
And if his brother were to regain his memories of that time, he was afraid of the resentful gaze he might receive.
‘Now, it’s up to me.’
Just as his seven-year-old brother had shielded him from their mother’s horrific end, uncovering the culprit had to be his responsibility alone. Only then, he thought, could he be free from the guilt of not believing him that day.