TIN 39

Where should I start correcting him? Shouldn’t I say that the corpse was fake, so his father didn’t actually kill me? No, saying that would probably lead to an even worse outcome. It was best to avoid that.

“You don’t even know why your father is looking for Yoon Ji-soo. What if she owes him money or something…”

“I know.”

“…What?”

His brief answer left me momentarily at a loss for words. Joo Do-hwa asserted without moving his face muscles, his expression still the same.

“I said I know why he’s looking for her.”

Our gazes seemed to overlap for a moment there. Joo Do-hwa, keeping his eyes trained on me, calmly opened his mouth.

“Yoon Ji-soo is my father’s first love.”

“…”

First love? How could such a romantic term be appropriate? Especially between Chairman Joo and Yoon Ji-soo of all people.

“Pathetically, at his ripe old age, he’s going around looking for an unfulfilled first love.”

I felt dizzy from the overload of information. I had just heard news about Yoon Ji-soo, whom I had been searching for my entire life, but before I could even celebrate it, shocking revelations kept coming up over and over again.

“My father needs to experience losing someone precious too.”

I couldn’t point out his use of the term “someone precious.” As he continued to speak such unfilial words, my anxiety deepened. The statement that Yoon Ji-soo was Chairman Joo’s first love sounded more like a threat to my ears than Joo Do-hwa’s declaration to kill her.

‘I’ll come back in a week.’

“…”

‘If you can’t do it by then…’

I still remembered the face of the person who said, “Just kill him.” Someone who treated a nine-year-old child in such a way couldn’t possibly be gentle to a woman who rejected him. I didn’t know what he intended to do when he found her, but it certainly wouldn’t be anything positive.

“So if you’re thinking of trying to stop me, don’t. Even if you’re my hyung, you don’t have the right to interfere this much.”

Joo Do-hwa concluded the conversation with a distinctly displeased air. By his standards, this was quite a kind explanation. Probably because I was his “hyung.”

“…”

Perhaps due to the initial shock just now, my mind gradually cooled down. Having reached its peak, it plummeted just as quickly. The urgent feeling completely disappeared, and instead, I suddenly decided there was only one way to overcome this situation.

“What’s the big deal about killing a long-lost first love?”

“…”

Joo Do-hwa froze in place. This time, he glared daggers at me with sharp eyes. I could even sense a hint of killing intent, but I couldn’t back down now.

“I don’t know your father, but…I’m sure he’d get over that level of shock quickly.”

In front of the public, Chairman Joo was a thorough and perfect person. Befitting his status as the head of Sae Group, he was known for his cold temperament and complete lack of sympathy. So what’s the big deal if someone he hasn’t met in a long time dies?

“And?”

Joo Do-hwa first asked back in a calm voice. Though his expression had cooled somewhat, it was as if he was giving me one more chance to convince him. I took a shallow breath and managed to maintain a calm tone.

“Why don’t you try finding Yoon Ji-soo and persuading her instead? Tell her to hurt your father.”

If Joo Do-hwa’s goal was revenge, the means didn’t necessarily have to be murder. So the best approach at the moment was to suggest a suitable alternative to him.

“I think I’d feel more hurt by betrayal than loss.”

“…”

“That would be more shocking too…Don’t you think?”

Dead people remained as memories, but those who betray others couldn’t do the same. Even beautiful memories would be tainted, so wouldn’t this be optimal for causing pain in the end? Although it required the premise that Chairman Joo trusted Yoon Ji-soo, this was the best I could come up with.

“Betrayal…”

Joo Do-hwa, opening his mouth slowly, drew out the end of his word. His lowered eyes seemed to be lost in thought for a moment. Just as I was feeling relieved, the corners of his pretty mouth curved up slightly.

“You really don’t know her, do you?”

Interest gleamed in his golden eyes. He looked at me with languid eyes and smirked.

“If we do that, that woman will die by my father’s hand.”

“…”

I clenched my fists tightly under the table. Unaware of my agitation, Joo Do-hwa finally brought over a glass of water with a slight smile.

“You’re right, threats might work too.”

I told him to persuade, not threaten. I wasn’t sure if he properly understood me, as he leisurely took a sip of water.

“Since you insist so much, I’ll think about it. I owe you that much, hyung.”

It seemed his tolerance for “hyung” was higher than I thought. This was in consideration that he was letting the matter slide that I eavesdropped on their conversations, whined childishly, and even gave such impertinent advice.

‘My father should lose someone precious too.’

I belatedly realized what that meant—that he too had lost someone precious to his father. That the brother his father killed meant that much to Joo Do-hwa.

“…”

What was I to you?

A flood of questions washed over me right then, but I had to swallow them. I knew I couldn’t take responsibility for them right at this moment. Since I didn’t intend to tell him everything either, it might be greedy to expect to hear everything from him.

If so, wouldn’t it be better to just enjoy what I could in this moment?

“…And I have a favor to ask.”

“Anything.”

Joo Do-hwa replied readily and took a sip of water. Knowing full well it would seem suspicious this time, I swallowed dryly and opened my mouth. Although this would mean I couldn’t leave within two days, I intended to do what I could in the meantime.

“I want to go to that party too.”

***

A high-rise building in the heart of downtown. 

The lavishly decorated hall was filled with enormous chandeliers and dazzling lights. In the center stood a champagne tower made of crystal glasses, over which flowed an expensive liquor that even Oceans couldn’t afford, and the sight of the overflowing liquor resembled a waterfall. The bubbling carbonation and light reflecting off the glasses sparkled like jewels, flaunting their splendor.

It wasn’t just the decorations that sparkled dizzyingly. From women in colorful dresses to men in formal suits, everyone attending this space adorned themselves with luxury brands and jewels as if they were peacocks. It was a rare sight enough to make one’s eyes spin, but my impression of it was just this:

“…It’s overwhelming.”

Pffft, Joo Do-hwa next to me burst out laughing. Of course, his ears were sharp too. I thought I had spoken quietly, but he must have overheard. Joo Do-hwa chuckled and replied teasingly, “I told you it wouldn’t be to your taste, hyung.”

‘I want to go to that party too.’

When I said that, surprisingly, he immediately agreed. He did ask why but seemed to accept my excuse about not wanting to be alone at home. Of course, judging by his big laugh, he probably didn’t really believe it.

“You hate crowds, so why did you want to come out to a party like this?”

His voice was full of mischief as if he was about to call me a house cat again. Yet the way he bent down to meet my eye level seemed to be his way of showing affection.

“Do you want to go home now?”

His hair, which he usually left messy, was now neatly styled and swept halfway back. With his forehead exposed from beneath his bangs, his golden eyes were also fully visible.

He stood out distinctly among the party attendees, even though he wasn’t dressed particularly extravagantly. I’d often seen him in suits before, but it was my first time seeing him in a full three-piece suit with a pocket square.

“If it’s too much, let me know. I’ll call Henry for you.”

“…It’s fine. It’s not that bad.”

I didn’t dislike people as he suggested, nor did I intend to go back after coming all this way. If there was a problem, it was that the clothes felt a bit awkward, but that was tolerable compared to the Oceans’ uniform. Besides, if I went back now, my plan would be ruined.

“I’m just feeling a bit awkward, that’s all.”

The plan was simple. Attend the party with him, then find Yoon Ji-soo before he does. Up to this point, there was a possibility of failure, but as long as Joo Do-hwa didn’t kill that person, there would be multiple chances. After that, I could escape with that person or something.

“I see, you must be really nervous.”

Joo Do-hwa spoke gently as he grasped my wrist. His touch slid down and forcibly unclenched my fist.

“Why are your hands so cold?”

“…”

I flinched, my fingers trembling. The body heat where we touched felt much hotter than usual. Joo Do-hwa, firmly holding my fingertips, asked with apparent concern.

“You’re not cold, are you?”

“Uh…I’m not cold.”

Cold? I’d be lucky if I wasn’t sweating from nervousness.

My fingertips kept getting colder at the thought of meeting that person. My heart was pounding so hard I felt like I might hiccup at any moment now. What should I say when we meet, what if they didn’t recognize me? Wrapped up in needless worries, I even lost sleep last night.

“Relax. They’re all unremarkable people anyway.”

Despite speaking kindly to me, Joo Do-hwa looked around the room with bored eyes. Whenever his gaze fell on them, people who had been glancing this way startled and blushed. It was clearly an expression of attraction, but he indifferently ignored them and whispered to me.

“You’re the prettiest one here, hyung.”