Chapter 10

Being treated that way by Ijun of all people hurt too much.

“It’s true that things are hard for me. Even so, I’m trying to live without harming anyone else. My character hasn’t fallen apart so badly that I deserve to hear words like that from you, Senior.”

“…….”

“Maybe I was thoughtless, but it really was out of goodwill. Even so, we went to the same school, and even before that…. it’s not as if we were complete strangers. Yes. You have a social position too, Senior, so I was worried about you showing such a disheveled side of yourself to other people. Maybe it was needless meddling, but even so, being treated like this is…. too unfair.”

Even as her face had gone pale, Seoyun stood with her back straight, and Ijun only watched her in silence.

Out of many possibilities, he had deliberately chosen words that would provoke Seoyun because he wanted to see her reaction clearly.

Dealing with people and reading what lay inside them was part of Ijun’s everyday life. No matter how he looked at it, Seoyun did not seem to be lying up to now.

Then was it really as Jiho had said, that Seoyun knew nothing at all? No, the deepest and darkest thing in the world was a person’s heart. Even if she had such clear eyes and such an open face.

It was still too early to let his guard down.

“If I offended you, I’m sorry. It seems I misunderstood.”

“…I understand. In your position, Senior, everything must be something you have to be careful about. I was shortsighted too. It must have been startling for you…. But really, once I knew you were safe, I truly intended to go home. It was a mistake, not something I meant to do.”

“All right. I apologize.”

Even after Ijun apologized readily, Seoyun’s trembling did not settle easily.

She would not be able to create even that trembling. And clearly, it had a different quality from the trembling of fear.

A faintly puzzled thought came to him as well. They were not people with absolutely no connection to each other, and she could very well be upset that her goodwill had been suspected. But the reaction was too intense to be merely because her sincerity had been denied.

What was the source of that emotion? Since he could not clearly put his finger on it, his mind still did not feel settled.

Letting out a light sigh, Ijun leaned back against the sofa again. This time he looked at Seoyun more gently.

“I heard that after Song Jeonghun passed away, the company was wound up as well. How have you been managing?”

“…Just as you said, it’s hard, but I’m getting by somehow.”

Seoyun’s answer was calm. But he did not miss the weariness that passed through her eyes. Ijun felt a trace of bitterness.

K-Cell’s downfall had been caused by the failure of the new lithium battery recycling technology on which it had staked its survival. It was not that the technology development itself had failed, but rather that rival company Sehan Battery had succeeded first.

In truth, the reason the technology development had not gone smoothly was that it began when the supply contract with Daejeong Electronics, their longtime partner, had been terminated. With the loss of a major buyer, funding issues and the doubts of investors must have become obstacles to the development of the new technology.

The partnership had ended just before Ijun took charge of Daejeong Electronics. At one time, it had been a supplier trusted by Daejeong more than almost any other company.

But in business, it was only natural that profit always came first. In the end, Daejeong had likely also decided to end that long partnership after weighing gains and losses.

So while he might feel that Seoyun’s circumstances were unfortunate, it was not quite guilt.

“I think I heard you have a younger sibling.”

“Yes. He’s my younger brother, and there’s a bit of an age gap, so he’s a university student now. He’s incredibly kind and also very smart.”

“Really? Even so, it can’t be easy supporting a younger brother who’s in university too. Does he at least work part-time?”

“Uh…. No. That much is something I should do for him. He’s so talented that I want him to focus on his studies.”

When he casually brought up Jiho, Seoyun’s face instantly brightened as if someone had switched on a light. Ijun carefully watched those sparkling eyes.

“Even so, he’s an adult, and with the family circumstances being what they are, shouldn’t he help out too? Don’t you think?”

“No. It’s all right. He’s a child who’ll go so much farther than I ever could, so I don’t want his time taken away by other things. I can take responsibility for one younger brother. It’s really all right.”

A dark shadow slowly spread across Seoyun’s face. Ijun barely held back a snort of laughter.

It seemed she was deeply attached to her younger brother. To his eyes, the two of them looked like nothing more than people floundering in a swamp. How exactly did this thin, weak-looking girl, who did not even seem particularly strong-willed, think she was going to take responsibility for her brother?

Did she perhaps believe that the supposedly brilliant Jiho would someday recognize her hard work and sacrifice? But what could she do. Song Jiho’s future was now in his hands.

That innocent affection was so absurd that it was almost irritating.

In any case, now he had no choice but to admit it. Just as Jiho had said, Song Seoyun clearly knew nothing.

“If you ever need my help, or, ah…. need a job?”

“Ah, no. It’s all right. I’m somehow managing even now.”

“All right. If you need help later, tell me. As repayment for your goodwill, I can do at least that much for you.”

As if he had finished what he needed to do, Ijun rose from his seat and fastened the buttons of his jacket.

“Thank you for coming out today. Go home carefully.”

There seemed to be a breeze in the wake of his back as he left the room without a shred of lingering attachment. Seoyun stared blankly at his smooth retreating figure until the very end.

On the way out of the hotel.

When the outside air touched both her cheeks, Seoyun came to herself as if suddenly waking from a dream.

Ijun’s offer had been sweet and bitter at once. If she became an employee at any affiliate of the Daejeong Group, she would probably be able to live a more stable life. Even so, she did not want to do that.

When she might have to become Go Changseok’s second wife at any moment, what pride did she possibly think she was preserving?

Even so, she did not want to be indebted to him. She did not want help given as though it were charity. It felt as if the feelings she had hidden away so carefully would wear out and become shabby.

Even if, instead, her entire life became one of desperately hoping that on a rare chance, like today, she might see his face even briefly.

Even today, Ijun still made Seoyun’s heart flutter. His face, those fierce eyes, even his dry voice.

Like Cinderella when the clock struck twelve, it was now time to return to everyday life.

She needed to hurry if she did not want to be late for her part-time job.

Seoyun sniffed once and then set off again with firm steps.

***

Korea University College of Engineering Building 9.

In the second-floor hallway, where the computer engineering department room was located, a line of lockers used by students stood side by side.

Pulling a black cap low over his head, Jiho looked around and opened the door to his locker. His spine prickled. Back over there stood the two men who had brought him to the school, staring at him without even blinking.

It was when he was deliberately pretending to rummage through the locker and stalling for time.

“Oh! Hey, you bastard Song Jiho!”

“Well, would you look at that. So you did show up at school after all?”

The hands smacking Jiho across the back and the back of his head belonged to Jaehyeon and Jaeyun.

“Uh…. uh-huh.”

“Why’s your phone turned off? Are you crazy?”

“What the hell’s wrong with you? Why do you look like you’ve got the face of someone dying from diarrhea?”

Turning toward his friends, Jiho forced an awkward smile. Then he quickly rolled his eyes and glanced at the men standing farther down the hallway.

The men were dressed in jeans and T-shirts so they would not stand out too much on campus, but their unusual builds and the air about them still felt out of place.

At that moment, they were staring at Jiho and his friends with a threatening look, as if ready to rush at them at once.

Deliberately, Jiho smacked Jaehyeon lightly on the shoulder and raised his voice.

“Hey, sorry, but I don’t think I’ll be able to come to school for a while.”

“What? What are you talking about?”

“Then the Bunker…. Ack! Are you insane, you bastard? Why the hell are you stepping on someone else’s foot?”

“Oh, sorry. Was that your foot? Anyway, there’s something going on at home. So don’t look for me for a while.”

“Hey, hey! Where are you going? You’re not coming to class? Wow, that bastard’s ignoring me.”

Jiho stopped Jaeyun from mentioning their hideout by stomping hard on his foot. Then, patting Jaeyun on the back, he quickly came out into the hallway.

It was fortunate that Kim Jaeyun had come wearing a hoodie again today. He could only hope the men had not noticed the note he had slipped into the hood while pretending to slap him on the back.

As Jiho went down the stairs and came out of the engineering building, the men followed after him at a quick pace.