Free Web NovelDuring the three days I stayed in Seoul, I had many conversations with Chairman Cheon. He spoke about how things could’ve been handled more smoothly, how I should’ve approached this or that.
Of course... Chairman Cheon had clawed his way up by trampling over countless people, so his advice was helpful in many ways.
In my previous life, he had never once offered me guidance like this...
On the last day.
Cheon Suhan showed up in Pyeongchang-dong with only his daughter. He was playing his hand, knowing full well that Chairman Cheon had a soft spot for the youngest in the family—Cheon Jiyoung.
“Father, we’re here. I brought Jiyoung.”
“Grandpa!”
Jiyoung ran straight into her grandfather’s arms.
“There you are, Jiyoung. Why do you look so skinny? Are you trying to grow tall? You’re eating well, right?”
“Yes, Grandpa!”
“Did you come visit so this old man wouldn’t get lonely?”
“I told Dad we should come!”
“Did you now?”
From upstairs, I watched her acting cute with Grandpa and scratched the goosebumps rising on my arms.
‘Acting all foxy even though she’s grown...’
She was the only one among my cousins I had any affection for, but seeing her play coy like that—especially in front of Grandpa or me—still sent a chill down my spine.
“What were you doing?”
“I was talking with Muhyuk.”
“Muhyuk oppa? He’s here?”
“Yes, he’s upstairs.”
“Ah!”
“Go on up and see him. I need to talk to your father. We’ll play later.”
“Okay! See you later!”
As Jiyoung came up to the second floor, our eyes met. She flinched for a moment, then beamed brightly and ran over.
“Muhyuk oppa!”
Wow... Look at her switch expressions.
“Yeah, long time no see.”
“When did you get here?”
“Three days ago. I'm heading back tomorrow.”
“Tch, you’re always leaving tomorrow.”
“We can go to an amusement park next vacation. Oh, wait—you’re not childish enough for that anymore, right?”
“Huh?”
“Wanna go play in the toy room instead? There’s lots of toys in there.”
“...No. I’d rather talk with you.”
* * *
Meanwhile, in the study, Chairman Cheon and Cheon Suhan were speaking privately.
“What happened with what I told you last time?”
“Well...”
“Don’t tell me you still haven’t handled it? Do you think I need to step in myself before you’ll listen?!”
Chairman Cheon raised his voice, and Suhan stammered in a panic.
“Big brother was being stubborn...”
“Tsk tsk. That damned ‘big brother’ again. How long are you going to trail behind him? Didn’t I specifically give you your own authority? Why are you still letting Sooman drag you around?”
Cheon Suhan fell silent like a scolded child.
Chairman Cheon clicked his tongue in disappointment.
“Because you’re not the eldest? And that’s supposed to matter? If you keep yielding like this, do you really think Sooman will take care of you after I die? In front of money, there are no brothers, no parents, no children. Don’t you get that yet?”
“But... big brother’s so capable...”
“Don’t make excuses. Think it over carefully. If you keep this up, you might end up with ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ nothing. And let me be clear—I no longer have just two options. I have three.”
“Father!”
Snapped out of his daze, Suhan lifted his head to stare at Chairman Cheon.
Chairman Cheon looked back at his son’s pitiful expression and raised a corner of his mouth in a cold smile.
“What? Isn’t Misook’s son also my blood? Why do you think you’re the only one who has a shot?”
“But...”
“I already gave you plenty of chances. You’re the one who wasted them. How many more do you expect?”
“...”
“Go home and think carefully.”
Suhan lowered his head in defeat.
“You go on back now. I’ll keep Jiyoung here for the night and send her home tomorrow.”
“Yes, Father.”
Dismissed, Cheon Suhan walked out of the study like a man carrying the world on his shoulders.
Left alone, Chairman Cheon sighed softly.
“One son is too weak... the other too greedy.”
He furrowed his brows for a moment, then suddenly called out.
“Myeonghun.”
Manager Ha, who’d been waiting outside, entered and bowed politely.
“Yes, Chairman.”
“Look into what the elder one has been up to lately. I can’t trust him.”
“Understood.”
“And...”
That day, Chairman Cheon gave Manager Ha a great number of orders.
Meanwhile, after leaving the Chairman’s house, Cheon Suhan headed straight to Sooman’s office in Myeongdong.
“Hyung!”
“What is it? Why are you here without calling? Weren’t you going to see the old man?”
“I did. Hah... you wouldn’t believe the lecture. He asked about how we handled that political fund.”
Suhan dropped into the sofa across from Sooman.
Sooman scowled.
“How are we supposed to get it back after it’s already been handed over? It’s been six months.”
“I don’t know. He just kept going on about how I follow you around too much. So I just left.”
“What the hell is with that old man lately?”
“When he’s gone, you’ll take care of me, right? You won’t abandon me, right?”
“Hey, it’s just you and me, bro. Who else do I have? I’ll make sure you’re taken care of, so don’t worry.”
“You really mean it?”
But a faint unease flickered in Suhan’s eyes—and didn’t fade.
* * *
“Oppa!”
“Yeah.”
“Are you staying in Busan?”
“Yeah. At least until I get into college.”
“You’ll move up after you get in, right?”
Talking with her alone in the room brought back memories.
Back then, when I was scorned and ignored by Sooman, Suhan, and the rest of the family, unable to speak up or resist, it was Jiyoung who approached me freely.
I later realized she was a little fox, but it didn’t really change much.
Even when I lost everything at the end... she still contacted me once a month until I disappeared.
“If I visit Busan, will you show me around?”
“Hm? Yeah. Just let me know if you’re coming.”
“Okay. I’ll come soon.”
“Sure, come whenever. I’ll introduce you to my friends. They’re good guys.”
“Tch, never mind.”
“Hahaha.”
Without thinking, I started to reach toward Jiyoung’s head—then stopped myself.
I never used to hesitate like that...
But maybe because mentally I wasn’t far off from her father’s age, I couldn’t help but see her more as a little niece than a cousin.
“What was that hand? Huh?”
“Stretching! Just stretching!”
“Young master, young lady—dinner is ready.”
Thankfully, the housekeeper’s voice saved me. I slipped out of the room to avoid Jiyoung’s curious gaze.
The next morning, when I woke up, Jiyoung was already gone.
The first thing I did after arriving back in Busan was meet with Chief Prosecutor Yoon Changho.
As I got out of Manager Ha’s car, I saw Yoon’s car already parked in front of the house.
I switched cars, and Yoon’s driver exited, leaving us alone.
In the silence, the Chief Prosecutor finally spoke.
“Muhyuk... I’m sorry.”
He looked worn down—completely exhausted.
“Chief Prosecutor, you can speak freely. I’m the one who feels awkward otherwise.”
“...Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“Then I’ll do that.”
Though his tone changed, the awkward look on his face remained.
‘Getting him on my side won’t be hard.’
Still, I knew it would take time to build trust.
I kept my tone light.
“Even though things got messy, I know you had nothing to do with it. But my grandfather... well, he’s not the type to care about details like that.”
“Phew... that’s true.”
“That’s why I told him I wanted to talk to you myself. I didn’t want things to turn sour when you weren’t even in the wrong.”
Yoon’s face brightened briefly—then darkened again at what I said next.
“But I do need something to say to him, too... so, Chief Prosecutor.”
“...What is it?”
“Just once, please grant me a single favor in the future. I won’t ask for anything excessive. How about it?”
He hesitated, so I pressed the point.
“It won’t harm you. I might never ask at all. I just need to be able to say something to my grandfather. I want to get along with you. Like an uncle... or a close older friend.”
After a moment of thought, he finally nodded.
“...All right. If it’s something I can do, I’ll do it.”
“I’ll tell my grandfather, then. He may ask you for a direct confirmation or say something else entirely. But you’ll have to handle that yourself.”
“I understand. That’s fair.”
Only then did Yoon seem to relax a bit.
“Let’s meet next time under better circumstances.”
“Yes, let’s.”
“Then I’ll be going. I need to prepare—school starts tomorrow.”
“Oh, right. You’re a high school student.”
“Yes. You graduated from Korea University, right?”
“Of course. Isn’t that obvious?”
“I’m aiming for that school. If I get in, I’ll call you my senior next time.”
I said it smoothly, and he finally cracked a real smile. freēwēbnovel.com
“That would be nice. But are you really staying in Busan instead of going back to Pyeongchang-dong? Should I keep an eye on you?”
“I’ll be in Busan until I take the college entrance exam. But I can’t use my one favor for something that small, right? You’re getting promoted soon, aren’t you? Heading to Seoul?”
“Hahaha, probably. Got it. See you next time.”
“Yes, sir.”
I got out of the car and walked into the house—Grandma had dinner ready and was waiting for me.
“You’re back? How’s your body?”
“Grandma!”
Just seeing her again after a few days made me smile.
“What are you grinning for? Go wash up. I’ll reheat the stew. Go on now.”
“Okay, Grandma.”
The smell of her soybean paste stew hit me right in the heart.
“Ah~ There’s nothing like Grandma’s stew.”
“You little rascal. Been buttering your tongue lately, huh? Saying all the right things to make me happy.”
“Let’s eat.”
“Yeah, come eat.”
Dinner with Grandma, as always, was delicious. With her beside me, the whole mess with Hong Jinpyo felt like something from a distant past.
The next day.
Myungsoo came running from afar and smacked me on the back.
“Hey, Muhyuk! Long time no see?”
“I heard you kept my grandma company while I was gone. Thanks.”
“Don’t be stupid. Your grandma’s my grandma too. Now let’s go.”
Before long, Hyunseong joined us. The three of us walked to school together for the first time in a while.
At the school gate stood the newly appointed student guidance director—The Snake. He let us through without saying a word.
“Man~ It’s so peaceful without the Bald Eagle. Don’t you think?”
“Ugh... this guy’s been saying that nonstop the whole time you were gone. My ears almost fell off.”
“Hahaha.”
They bickered constantly, but it was the kind of atmosphere I loved.
The school had changed a lot. Teachers and students treated me differently.
The teachers were cautious. The students... more afraid of me than ever.
Whatever. I don’t even care anymore. I’ll just do my thing, and you do yours.
The only one who hadn’t changed was The Snake—my homeroom teacher since freshman year.
“Muhyuk. You doing okay? You’ve got to catch up since you missed class. If your grades drop, you know what’s coming, right?”
“Yes, sir.”
“And you got into a fight, so punishment is in order. A fight at school is still a fight. You’ll be cleaning the second floor bathrooms for a month. Any objections?”
“None. But can Myungsoo and Hyunseong help me?”
“That’s up to you. Just make sure it gets done and I check it. Got it?”
“Yes, Teacher.”
“Good. Study hard now that you’re back. See you at closing time.”
When I told Myungsoo and Hyunseong about the bathroom cleaning, Hyunseong didn’t react—but Myungsoo went ballistic.
“Are you insane?! Muhyuk! You could’ve done it alone! Why drag us into this?! Did the hospital mess with your brain? Want me to send you back?!”
“I don’t mind. If Muhyuk says so, we’ll do it. Don’t wanna? I’ll tell The Snake.”
“I’m not saying no, it’s just... why bother...”
“Sorry. But we’re friends, aren’t we? We should do it together. Right?”
“Of course.”
Whenever we were roasting Myungsoo, Hyunseong and I were perfectly in sync.
“Ugh! Why do I always end up the weird one?! Hey! Muhyuk! Hyunseong! Wait up! Where are you going without me?!”
“Puhahaha.”
Hyunseong and I burst into laughter at the same time.
And just like that, a year passed, and the day of the college entrance exam drew near.
< Just One Favor Next Time, Please. > End.
