BHB 94

“Are you alone?”

Although they’d greeted each other a few times, they weren’t actually close enough for casual conversation. So his approach was uncomfortable, but Yeowon couldn’t openly ignore him. Yeowon knew everyone inside was watching them. Plus, Yeowon noticed someone with a camera not far away.

“… I think someone is taking pictures.”

Rather than responding warmly to his conversation, Yeowon subtly pointed out what he’d noticed.

“I know.”

Lee Taejoo’s attitude was nonchalant. Well, now that his father had become a presidential candidate, people would be desperate to dig up flaws in the impressive eldest son of that candidate. It might be more logical for them to investigate the model citizen eldest son rather than the already notorious second son.

“… You seem used to it.” Yeowon replied dryly and took an unceremonious gulp of his iced coffee.

“I was hoping to see you anyway, so this works out well.”

Lee Taejoo naturally took a seat across from him and gestured to an employee. The employee promptly brought over the coffee mug from his table. He had such a natural way of commanding people.

“Me?”

“Both you and Lee Taegang.” Lee Taejoo took a light sip of his hot coffee with an expressionless face and continued, “I’m sure you’ve heard the talk.”

Even someone as socially unaware as Yeowon could immediately understand the subject of this abrupt conversation. There was no other reason why Taegang’s brother, with whom he had no regular contact, would recognize him and go out of his way to move to his table for a chat.

“Through the grapevine, yes.” Yeowon responded indifferently, since he hadn’t heard it directly from Taegang himself.

“Are you two still attached at the hip?” Lee Taejoo asked calmly. 

But from Yeowon’s perspective, the question felt like a sharp knife. Their family didn’t approve of him, so they would still be dissatisfied with that fact. According to them, Yeowon was someone who didn’t match Taegang’s level.

“… Why ask when you already know?”

Their family must know exactly how Taegang was living and where he was residing, despite his independent lifestyle. If Yeowon had to describe it, they were currently in a cease-fire—neither had the relationship between Taegang and his parents improved, nor had they completely severed ties. How could one easily break family bonds?

“It seems like things should be getting boring by now.” Lee Taejoo quietly clicked his tongue as if finding it pathetic and got to the point. “I think you probably know this already, but as the presidential race intensifies, Taegang will be in the media frequently. Our side will control what we can, but that kid has caused so many problems.”

“…”

Yeowon had nothing to say. After all, Congressman Lee Seungkwon, famous for being flawless, always had Taegang as his vulnerable point. Until now, they had barely managed to cover things up with their position and money, but in a presidential race, who knew what could happen.

“Well, he seems to have quieted down since starting university…” Lee Taejoo raised his gaze again as he took another sip of coffee. Behind his silver-rimmed glasses, the man’s sharp gaze pierced like a blade. His keen eyes seemed to know everything about Taegang and Yeowon. “I know you two are particularly close, so if there’s anything our side should know, it would be better to tell us now.”

“…”

“If it goes to the other side first, it will be difficult to manage.”

His words lacked detailed explanation. Faced with his abrupt demand for an answer, Yeowon furrowed my brows and asked, not understanding, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Yeowon made an unpleasant expression, feeling strangely disgusted by his implied accusation that assumed they had already caused trouble and should confess honestly.

“… If you don’t know, then never mind.” Lee Taejoo smiled slightly and substituted this for an answer. 

Yeowon felt irritation rising at what seemed like nitpicking, but he held back because he was Taegang’s brother. Yeowon just didn’t like anyone from that family. 

When he couldn’t hide his discomfort and frowned suspiciously, Lee Taejoo only let out a deflated laugh before continuing, “Given the timing, it would be best to be careful about your behavior.”

“…”

“I’ve already spoken to Taegang, but that kid is such a troublemaker that words don’t get through to him, which makes me quite anxious.”

“You’re talking as if Taegang is bound to cause trouble.”

“Even without causing trouble, the media and politicians in our country will find a way to make it seem like he did.”

“…”

“With Taegang lurking around with so much scandal potential, how could the ants not swarm?”

Yeowon knows this well, but he doesn’t particularly want to hear about Taegang from his family’s mouths. After all, it was because of his parents that he was driven to be the way he is.

“But it seems a bit unfair.” Yeowon suddenly blurted out after just listening. He knew he needed to be careful and thought so himself, but there was still something unfair about it.

“The biggest problem makers are them, aren’t they?”

Taegang became the troublemaker he is because of his parents who had abused him since childhood. Taegang was a child whose lip was split open even at just 8 years old. Yeowon remembered that most clearly.

“Isn’t it a problem for someone like that to become president?”

Yeowon casually spun his straw and dropped the comment as if discussing someone else’s business. Then he spread his legs wide like a low-class thug and looked at Lee Taejoo impudently. 

Lee Taejoo briefly looked him up and down before letting out a light laugh. “You’re more presumptuous than I thought.”

Finding a child’s audacity quite amusing, he chuckled with a low laugh.

“Well, I’m a citizen of the Republic of Korea too.”

No matter how careful Yeowon needed to be, he had no intention of living quietly like a criminal. It was his own way of showing that if they tried to oppress them, they wouldn’t just sit back and take it.

“You’ll regret that attitude.”

“Please stop trying to intimidate me.”

“Haha. Interesting.”

The man laughed out loud. Yeowon didn’t find it funny at all.

“I understand I need to be careful, but don’t use that to manipulate Taegang.”

“He’s not the type to be manipulated.”

“He’s been going to the family home more frequently lately. I wonder if that’s why.”

“That’s not my concern.”

“Anyway, I’ve understood your warning.”

Yeowon wanted to end this unpleasant conversation quickly, so he cut it short. Lee Taejoo seemed to find him quite impertinent—his eyebrow twitched briefly in displeasure, but he quickly composed himself. Then suddenly, he pulled out a business card case from his blazer’s inner pocket. It was a high-end case with a luxury logo embossed in gold.

“If anything happens, contact me through this.”

“…”

“Damage control is only possible when you know about it first.”

Lee Taejoo finally stood up. As he moved as if his business was finished, the guards standing near him followed his movements. The man returned to the table where his partner was and politely smiled at the woman he had left alone, as if asking for forgiveness. 

Ugh. 

Yeowon pretended to gag and picked up the man’s business card with his index and middle fingers, wearing a sour expression. The prosecutor’s office logo along with the three characters of Lee Taejoo’s name were clearly embossed.

Yeowon briefly considered throwing it away, but suddenly changed his mind and stuffed it into his pants pocket. Then he stirred his coffee again with the straw, taking in scenery that didn’t even register in his vision. He had come here to refresh his mood, but only ended up more troubled.

As the salesperson had promised, the car was ready by early evening. He listened to a brief explanation and immediately drove the sports car through the heart of Seoul. He particularly liked how imposing the engine sound was. He drove to Do Yeongjae’s school, picked up Yeongjae and Jo Suchan, and drove straight down the Han River road. His driving was clumsy—occasionally slamming on the brakes or crossing into the center lane—but at least no one got hurt.

It was midnight when they finally stopped after driving around excitedly as if relieving stress. Looking back, Do Yeongjae in the passenger seat was clutching his seatbelt like a lifeline while glaring at him, and Jo Suchan was reciting prayers in the back seat.

“What are you guys doing?” Yeowon asked, amused by their pale faces. 

Yeongjae spoke first, “What do you think? We nearly died, so we’re thanking God and Buddha for barely surviving.”

“What? You’re exaggerating.”

“Exaggerating? Exaggerating? Do you know how many honking horns I heard today?”

As Do Yeongjae started nagging in a shrill voice, Yeowon found it too annoying to listen and unbuckled his seatbelt to get out of the driver’s seat.

“You can’t even drive well, why a sports car?”

“I drive well!”

“Bullshit!” Suchan, who seemed carsick and was dry heaving, shouted.

“You were excited enough when you got in.”

“Of course I was excited! When else would I get to ride in a car like this in my life!”

This time it was Yeongjae who spoke up while rubbing his solar plexus as if getting carsick. Yeowon couldn’t tell if they liked it or not. Yeowon shook his head and handed the car keys to the valet parking attendant.

After spending the evening driving at high speeds, they finally stopped in front of the club that Kim Myungjoo had mentioned was preparing to open. Since they were having a VIP pre-opening before the official launch, they stopped by both to congratulate him and to refresh our mood.

“Where is this?”

Suchan, who had followed his footsteps into the building, asked while looking around nervously, intimidated by the imposing appearance of the building.