Chapter 3 – A Gust of Wind (Part 4)

“Young Master, it’s time to get off.”

Dowook sat in the back seat, not moving an inch. He still looked extremely down. His secretary, Yoon Ki-hong, knew that there was no benefit to bothering him in such a mood, but he called out to Dowook again, “Young Master.”

He had to call him. They were right in front of Heejeongwon, and deep inside Heejeongwon, those known as the pillars of Taesan would be gathered.

It was the first family meal together after Taesan’s founder and Chairman, Choi Pil-jae, who had been bedridden for a long time, had recovered. It was a time to show the media the facade of harmony in the Taesan family, whose image had been tarnished while the Chairman was bedridden.

However, Dowook remained sprawled in the back seat with a disinterested expression. The staff of Heejeongwon were lined up in front of the car, waiting for Dowook to get out. But Dowook just chewed on an unlit cigarette and flicked a lighter back and forth between his legs. Ki-hong worried he might burn his pants.

He was no different from how he had been sprawled n*ked on the bed this morning. Next month was his start date at the company, but what if he kept behaving like this? Ki-hong had forced him into the car this morning, but now he wondered how he would get him inside Heejeongwon. Ki-hong’s worries piled up.

“Young Master.”

“…….”

“Young Master.”

“Do you know what relationship boredom is?”

How would I know that? 

Ki-hong wanted to retort, but that was the thought of Yoon Ki-hong the person. Yoon Ki-hong the secretary did not dare to judge or evaluate. Instead, he gave a respectful and ambiguous answer.

“I’m not sure.”

“She said she’s tired of everything we do together. That she’s exhausted.”

It was unclear whether these rambling words were meant for himself or Ki-hong. Ki-hong quietly opened the backseat door and gestured to the driver, Mr. Choi, to close it. The sharp Mr. Choi closed the door. It was to prevent Dowook’s personal matters from unnecessarily leaking to the outside staff.

“You’ve been together for a long time….”

Ki-hong chose his words carefully from the passenger seat. For now, getting Dowook inside the main house of Heejeongwon was the priority. It was time to appease Dowook.

“Sometimes, to improve and develop a relationship, you need time to stop and reflect.”

“What kind of thoughts?”

“…I can’t presume to know what Miss Junhee is thinking, but one thing is clear: from what I know of Miss Junhee, she would want you to fulfill your duties sincerely rather than just wasting time. She has been reminding you to prepare well for today’s family meal at Heejeongwon—”

“Do you know her better than I do, Secretary Yoon?”

Oh no, this is bad.

“Well, you’ve been working with me for about three years, so you’ve known her for about three years too.”

Three years. Ki-hong sensed Dowook’s displeasure from his tone.

Ki-hong was flustered and at a loss for words. Choi Dowook loathed any man around Woo Junhee. He had dealt with several secretly before. Ki-hong tried his best to maintain a respectful and ambiguous expression to avoid being dealt with similarly.

Their eyes met suddenly in the rearview mirror. Dowook smiled faintly, like a picture.

“I’m joking.”

Of course not.

Muttering to himself, Dowook looked out the window again. Despite seeing the staff lined up outside, he showed no signs of guilt or urgency.

Dowook rummaged through his pants pocket. Ki-hong instinctively knew he was looking for a cigarette. Heavy smoker Choi Dowook, especially when deep in thought, could smoke endlessly.

“Excuse me, Young Master… but we’re running out of time.”

“Just one.”

Dowook took out a Zippo lighter and lit it. Click, he lit the cigarette skillfully.

“Just one, Secretary Yoon.”

His slow voice scattered with the smoke. He smiled dryly, as if asking for leniency. It was a half-hearted but smooth smile. Thanks to his charming exterior, Ki-hong had no choice but to bow his head politely whenever Dowook smiled.

Dowook sank deeply into the seat and smoked leisurely. Despite the sunlight touching his hair, he still looked cold and unusually gloomy. He exuded an aloof and precarious atmosphere, like a thin glacier on the ocean.

When Dowook reached out to flick the ash, Ki-hong took out a portable ashtray and respectfully offered it.

“Fifteen years.”

“Pardon?”

Dowook tapped the cigarette.

“I first met her when I was thirteen, so it’s been exactly fifteen years now.”

The ashed embers scattered to the floor.

“Secretary Yoon, you might not know since you’ve only seen her for three years, but I really had a hard time holding onto her. It took a lot of effort to start dating her.”

Dowook reclined back into the seat and gazed out the window, as if retracing a moment from the past.

“I’ve been abandoned several times before, but she always came back to me in the end. So, I know she will this time too.”

“…….”

“But it doesn’t make it any less unpleasant each time.”

What should I do? 

He laughed as if he had reached enlightenment or was in trouble. But in the end, he settled into a cold and indifferent expression.

“I have a favor to ask. Check Woo Junhee’s account transactions and movements over the past six months to see if there’s anything unusual. Also, review the movements we previously overlooked. Investigate my mother’s account transactions as well.”

It had been a long time since someone had been assigned to track Woo Junhee, so confirming her movements wouldn’t be difficult. However, reviewing six months of records would take considerable time. There were already many tasks to handle, so when would he get to all this?

While contemplating the plan, Dowook opened the door and got out. Ki-hong quickly gathered himself and followed. The staff lined up at Heejeongwon bowed deeply to Dowook.

One of the staff approached Dowook and informed him about the internal dynamics of Heejeongwon. She was a woman Dowook had planted in Heejeongwon to act as a sort of informant. From her, Dowook learned about the atmosphere between his father and uncle, his mother Song Yeong-joo’s position, his grandfather Choi Pil-jae’s mood and health, and any special remarks made.

Receiving the report, he strode through the main gate. The vast lawn of Heejeongwon spread out, and the rich scent of pine wafted through the air.

Dowook instructed the woman on when and where to present the North Korean-style rice cakes he had prepared for the meal. He also told her what to say to the Chairman when presenting them.

All Ki-hong could see now was Dowook’s firm back. He was exceptionally tall. His physique reminded one of a soldier or a special forces member. But he was dressed in a dark navy suit, not a military uniform.

His well-groomed black hair, sleek limbs, impeccable posture, and elegant yet arrogant gaze were something more special than that of a soldier. Watching him, one felt an overwhelming sense of distance unique to Choi Dowook.

It had been three years since Ki-hong started working under Dowook, but he was still in awe. He couldn’t imagine the lifeless, unmotivated figure sprawled in bed this morning or the one slouching in the car just a few minutes ago.

The moment he stepped out of the car, he had changed his mask. He was a man with multiple masks. Sometimes he seemed like the laziest loafer, other times like an arrogant and wild rogue, sometimes like an innocent and passionate boy, but now he was a meticulous member of Taesan.

Ki-hong had heard from the previous secretary that Woo Junhee had crafted the social mask Dowook wore during public events. She had tamed the raw, uncontrollable Dowook over a long period.

He had even been advised that working with Woo Junhee’s help would make things easier.

For Ki-hong’s sake, he hoped that Woo Junhee and Choi Dowook’s relationship would remain stable. 

Why had she broken up with Dowook? 

Ki-hong also found it puzzling.

Though Dowook was arrogant, capricious, sometimes rude, and possessive, he had always been considerate and cherished Woo Junhee.

Listing those shortcomings, he realized there were quite a few. But still, were they that significant? Despite everything, he was handsome, had a great body, and was wealthy. Woo Junhee was also attractive, but finding a man with such conditions in Korea wasn’t easy. Spending over a decade together could make one weary.

After all, no matter how precious an item is, if you keep it in your house for ten years, it will become mundane and boring. People are no different. Breaking up after a long relationship is a common story. It’s so clichéd and ordinary that it’s not even used in dramas or movies these days.

But the other party was Choi Dowook. Even if Woo Junhee had broken up for such reasons, Ki-hong couldn’t understand her. If it were him, he would have pretended not to be tired.

Ki-hong was well aware of Woo Junhee’s family circumstances. No matter how pretty and smart she was, compared to Woo Junhee, Taesan’s Choi Dowook was a heaven-sent opportunity for social ascension that might not come even after three generations of good fortune.

From what Ki-hong observed, Woo Junhee was a calm, sincere, upright, and persistent woman. Just the fact that she got into Korea University and law school from such a poor environment showed her grit.

But no matter how much Woo Junhee achieved, it would pale in comparison to what Choi Dowook of Taesan had accomplished and would accomplish.

It was hard for Ki-hong to understand a woman who would throw away a position everyone envied and desired just because she was tired.

His chain of thoughts was interrupted by a sweet female voice.

“It’s been a while, oppa.”

It wasn’t Woo Junhee’s voice. The woman coming out of one of Heejeongwon’s annexes, Building B, was Sim Hye-joo, daughter of the CEO of Hankyeong Ilbo.