Free Web NovelI decided to be hospitalized for a few days. I said I was fine, but Manager Ha absolutely insisted—there was no room for argument.
“I won’t ask for the reason. But in a few days, you’ll need to go see the Chairman and explain. For now, focus on recovering. I’ll take care of everything else.” freewebnoveℓ.com
After leaving those words behind, Manager Ha didn’t return to the hospital even once until I was discharged.
Not long after, Grandma came to the hospital room accompanied by Myungsoo and Hyunseong.
Grandma came in crying, while Myungsoo’s reaction to the huge room was pure amazement.
“Wow! Is this a hospital room or a hotel?”
Grandma, in tears, came to my bedside.
“What in the world happened? Oh, Muhyuk, are you badly hurt? What are we going to do?”
“It’s not that bad. Grandma, I’m sorry. Don’t cry. I didn’t even need to be hospitalized, but Manager Ha insisted, so I couldn’t refuse. I’m not in pain.”
“Not in pain, huh...”
I gripped Grandma’s hand tightly, trying to reassure her.
“It’s true. It’s just a scratch. Nothing to worry about.”
“Have you eaten?”
“I had a meal here at the hospital earlier.”
“Hospital food doesn’t count. Is there anything you want to eat? I need to feed you something good.”
While looking around the hospital room, Myungsoo spoke in his usual easygoing tone.
“Aigoo, Grandma. It’s all right. Our Muhyuk isn’t the kind of guy to go around getting beat up. It’s just a light scrape. He said he checked in just in case things got complicated later.”
I discreetly signaled to Myungsoo, and he gave me a slight nod.
“She’s been so worried she didn’t even eat. I’ll take her out to eat and be back soon.”
“Would you? Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it.”
“You don’t need to stay here for me. Go ahead and eat something. I’ll stay by my boy’s side.”
“Aigo, Grandma, if you don’t eat, Muhyuk won’t be able to rest properly. Let’s just go eat and come back.”
“All right, eat and come back.”
“...Come back soon.”
“Eat a whole bunch while you’re at it.”
Reluctantly, Grandma was dragged out by Hyunseong and Myungsoo.
A short while later, Myungsoo came back alone and plopped down beside the bed.
“You’re not eating?”
“Later. You all right?”
“I’m fine.”
Myungsoo looked somberly at the gauze taped to my head.
“Sorry. And... thanks.”
“Ah, cut the crap. I should be the one apologizing. You got tangled up with those bastards because of me. Don’t worry about it.”
“Still...”
“Myungsoo. Lee Myungsoo. Aren’t we friends?”
“...”
“Enough. Go eat.”
As I waved him off, Myungsoo stood back up.
“But hey, your maternal grandfather... seems like no joke. Hyunseong was on the phone with his dad earlier, and apparently the whole police station got flipped upside down. I thought he was just some rich old man, but guess not. What does he do?”
“I’ll tell you later. Bit by bit.”
“All right. You’re really okay?”
“I said I’m fine. Go eat so I can get some rest.”
“Okay~ This hyung is off to eat with Grandma~”
Once Myungsoo left, I was alone in the hospital room again.
By now, Manager Ha was probably busy cleaning everything up. School, the police, the prosecution—he’d settle all of it and then plan our trip to Seoul.
‘So that’s why he insisted on the hospitalization.’
I stared at the hospital ceiling, lost in thought.
* * *
A blowfish restaurant in Busan.
In a private room completely cut off from the outside, three men were talking—ignoring the ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) food on the table.
“Chief Prosecutor.”
“Yes, Manager Ha.”
“Our Chairman...”
Manager Ha deliberately trailed off. Yoon Changho, the Chief Prosecutor, swallowed dryly in anxiety.
Being the Chief Prosecutor of the Busan District Office was no low-ranking title in the prosecution.
Yet even Yoon Changho was now at the mercy of not the Chairman himself, but his subordinate—Manager Ha.
“Manager Ha, Chief Yoon didn’t know. He’s not the type to knowingly get involved in something like this. Please, speak to the Chairman for us.”
Attorney Moon Sooho spoke up in Yoon’s defense.
Catching Moon Sooho’s gaze, Chief Yoon repeatedly bowed his head to Manager Ha.
“I really didn’t know. I didn’t even know the Chairman’s grandson was in Busan, or that he was involved with Deputy Prosecutor Hong.”
Manager Ha looked down at the top of Yoon’s bowed head and asked,
“What will you do about Deputy Prosecutor Hong?”
“I’ve already suspended him from duty and started an internal audit.”
“Headquarters will be sending people soon. I trust you’ll cooperate fully. And not a single letter of the young master’s name can appear anywhere. Understood?”
“Yes, of course.”
“We’ll see how you handle this. Then I’ll consider what to report to the Chairman regarding you.”
“Thank you.”
“Well then, let’s eat.”
Finally, they picked up their utensils.
“By the way, what will you do about the teachers at the school? I hear some of them were in bed with Deputy Hong.”
Manager Ha asked casually between bites. Chief Yoon’s mind started spinning fast.
“I’ll take care of it.”
“All right. I’ll trust you on that. Eat up, Chief Prosecutor. You’ll be coming to Seoul, right?”
“Yes, yes.”
* * *
During the week I was hospitalized, Grandma never left my side. Being a VIP room, it wasn’t uncomfortable for her, but still...
Myungsoo and Hyunseong came by every day after school like clockwork. On days when Hyunseong had sports practice, Myungsoo would come alone and share every bit of school gossip.
“Hey! The Bald Eagle and the Vice Principal got dragged off by the police. Got caught taking bribes. Ha! That bastard’s face turned beet red as he screamed—it was the most satisfying thing ever.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, the Principal just stood there dumbfounded. School’s in chaos. All the kids who had issues with you submitted withdrawal forms. You knew?”
“No.”
Looked like Manager Ha had worked his magic.
“What about Cheolgu? That bastard dropped out too?”
“No... he didn’t say anything. Said he wasn’t involved from the beginning.”
“Good, that’s a relief.”
“When are you getting discharged?”
“Tomorrow? I’ll probably head to Seoul, then come back next week. Visit Grandma often while I’m gone so she doesn’t get lonely.”
“Don’t worry. She’s my grandma too.”
“Haha, yeah. Our grandma.”
We looked at each other and laughed.
No more of that crippled Myungsoo from my past. That alone was enough.
While we were still chuckling, Manager Ha arrived at the hospital.
“You’ll be discharged tomorrow morning and we’ll head straight to Pyeongchang-dong. We’ve explained everything to your grandmother. Just bring yourself. I’ll come pick you up in the morning.”
“Yes. Thank you, sir.”
“No need for thanks. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
He said just that, bowed, and walked out.
“Wow, that guy only says what’s absolutely necessary. He’s not a robot, he’s practically a machine.”
“He’s a good man.”
“Anyway, with the Bald Eagle gone, school’s fun again. I’m so happy.”
“What about the Snake?”
“The Snake’s still the same. Word is he might become the new student guidance director.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah, well, wouldn’t it be nice if he became a kind teacher?”
“For the Snake, that’s pretty kind already. I mean, taking bribes is one thing, but at least he doesn’t beat people for no reason. You just do stuff that deserves a beating.”
“Yes, yes, Saint Kim Muhyuk. Must be nice to be you.”
The next day.
Early in the morning, after completing the discharge paperwork, I left the hospital with Manager Ha. The hospital director and several doctors came out to greet us... It was a bit embarrassing with everyone staring.
“Thank you, Director. The Chairman will probably reach out soon. Until then, goodbye.”
“Yes, thank you. We look forward to seeing you again, young master.”
The doctors all bowed in unison. I bowed back and got into Manager Ha’s car.
A short drive later, we arrived at my grandfather’s house in Pyeongchang-dong. The housekeeper was nowhere in sight—only Grandfather was waiting.
Chairman Cheon, with his usual stern expression.
“Hello, Grandfather.”
“Hm.”
As I approached, he gestured with his hand.
“Sit down. Ha should wait outside. I’ll call him in later.”
“Yes, sir.”
Once Manager Ha left, only the Chairman and I remained in the living room.
“Speak.”
“About what, sir?”
“Everything. From the beginning to the end.”
“...Yes.”
I told him everything plainly, without embellishment.
Chairman Cheon listened without changing his expression once.
“They tried to crush me with force, so I turned to you for help.”
“Couldn’t you have avoided it? Why handle it that way?”
“If they had only come for me... I would’ve done what you said. But they used the people around me. That meant it wouldn’t have been resolved by avoiding it. If you can’t avoid it, you have to crush them so they never come back. That’s the way I’ve lived—and the only way I’ll survive going forward.”
“Hm...”
“I don’t want the people around me to suffer because of me. My grandmother, my friends, even you... I want to protect those I call family.”
“Family, huh...”
He looked at me with a complicated expression.
“If that means asking for your help, or doing something even worse, I’ll do it. I’m sorry.”
“What if I hadn’t helped you? Were you just going to let it end there?”
“...Then I suppose that would’ve been the end of our relationship. If someone who could’ve helped me chose not to... then I wouldn’t have called you family anymore.”
“...”
Chairman Cheon was silent for a while. I didn’t avert my gaze.
Then suddenly, he burst out laughing.
“Hahaha! You make my twilight years interesting. Yes. A man should never run away. Use whatever you can.”
What I said was honest—but also aligned with his philosophy.
It must’ve struck a chord. He nodded repeatedly.
“If you can’t avoid it, crush them so they never try again. Never forget that. If you handle it half-heartedly, they’ll just come back. If you want to make someone yours, embrace them completely. If not, destroy them thoroughly. Well done. I like it.”
“Thank you, Grandfather.”
“Ha! Come in.”
Manager Ha must’ve been nearby, as he entered immediately.
“How’s the cleanup?”
“Deputy Prosecutor Hong is under internal investigation. With all the bribes he took since his days in public security, and the torture and fabrication charges, arrest is likely. As for the Busan Chief Prosecutor and Police Chief, they’re waiting for your decision.”
“And the school?”
“The vice principal and student guidance director who were tied to Hong have been arrested. They took too many bribes—it was easy. All students involved were processed with withdrawal forms. We also talked with the parents and wrapped it up.”
The Chairman glanced at me.
“Are you satisfied?”
“Yes, but... Grandfather. I have one request.”
“A request?”
“Could I be the one to handle the Chief Prosecutor and Police Chief?”
“Why?”
“Those two must be losing sleep by now. Instead of making a big deal out of people who weren’t even directly involved, wouldn’t it be better if I forgave them and left them in my debt?”
At that, the Chairman scoffed.
“It’s different if you forgive them versus me forgiving them at your request. I want to use this to turn them into my people.”
“Heh. You already know how to make people yours. Fine, try it. But remember—half-baked efforts are worse than nothing. Got it?”
“Yes.”
Chairman Cheon turned to Manager Ha.
“Myeonghun, you heard him. Let’s go with that. Set up a meeting with the Chief Prosecutor. The Police Chief’s rank is too low—he’s yours to handle.”
“Understood.”
“Hahaha. Thanks to my grandson, my later years are fun. I wonder what entertainment you’ll bring me next.”
“You won’t be disappointed.”
This Chairman Cheon was like a completely different man from the one in my memory. Had he changed because I changed, or was he always like this but just never bothered with me before?
“Hahaha, this is fun. I thought my child-raising was a failure, but Misook left me one hell of a final gift.”
But I mustn’t let my guard down.
Because Chairman Cheon... is a terrifying man.
I quietly observed his hearty laughter—while hiding my own expression.
< Leave it to me. > End.
