Free Web Novel“Why aren’t you saying anything?”
“Grandpa...”
“This is a path where you can’t trust anyone. But you can’t do it all alone either. Treasure the people you can trust.”
I had no choice but to pretend everything was fine.
“I understand.”
“Good. Are you doing well in school?”
“Yes.”
“That time won’t come back. Don’t spend it only learning how to work. Try everything you can.”
The conversation abruptly stopped.
I silently looked at Grandpa’s face.
He seemed to be thinking again, then suddenly smiled at me.
“Hm? Muhyuk, when did you get here? Did I doze off?”
I smiled like nothing was wrong.
“I just got here. I finally had a day off.”
“I see. You must be busy, but you should rest when you can.”
Grandpa’s smiling face was no different from usual.
“You’ve looked a bit scattered lately. I heard you’re getting involved in politics? There’s nothing good about getting too entangled in politics. I know you’ll be careful, but...”
I held Grandpa’s hand tightly. A bit cool, full of wrinkles.
“Yes, I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Good. I know you’ll manage well without me having to say anything.”
It wasn’t much, but a pleased smile spread across Grandpa’s face.
“I’m tired. You should go. I need to rest a bit.”
“Are you very tired?”
“It’s just age. I’ve been dozing off more lately.”
“Please take care of your health.”
When I stepped out of the study, Chief Ha was standing there with a worried expression.
“Chief.”
“Yes, President.”
“No one can know about this. Not even the housekeeper. Since you’re the one bringing him meals, it shouldn’t be an issue for now, but if this gets out... who knows what could happen.”
“What about Miss Jiyoung?”
“I’ll meet with her separately and let her know in advance.”
“Understood.”
“Don’t worry too much. He’s strong. Just be even more attentive.”
“Yes, President.”
As I walked up the stairs, I looked back at the firmly closed study door.
“Chief, you’re keeping tabs on Cheon Sooman’s movements, right?”
“Yes.”
“We may have to call him back to Korea soon. Be fully prepared.”
“Yes.”
“You can go now. I’d like to be alone for a while.”
I heard the door close.
Only then did ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ I slump onto the bed, exhausted.
‘Grandpa...’
If Cheon Sooman finds out, it’s obvious what he’ll do.
As the eldest son, he’ll likely file a petition to declare Grandpa mentally incompetent.
I no longer cared about Grandpa’s fortune, but the stocks already transferred to me could become an issue.
‘At a time when I should be worried about Grandpa’s health, I have to think about this...’
I called Jiyoung.
— Oh, oppa!
Cheon Jiyoung had become much more cheerful after her debut as a singer.
I did my best to keep my voice steady.
“Are you busy today?”
— Why, is something wrong?
“There is, but... if your schedule’s packed, I’ll come to you.”
— Hold on.
I could faintly hear her talking to her manager.
— I have a lot of schedules today, so it might be hard for me to come. What’s going on? If it’s urgent, I can cancel.
“No, just tell me where you’re filming. I’ll come to you. Text me the location.”
— Okay, got it.
I left Pyeongchang-dong with Chief Ma.
The car exited busy Seoul and arrived at a filming location on the outskirts of Gyeonggi-do.
We parked some distance away, and Chief Ma got out first to find Jiyoung.
A moment later, he returned with a man.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Jiyoung’s manager.”
“Please take good care of her.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Busy lately?”
“She’s been in demand for variety shows.”
“Do you have a moment?”
“She’s about to go on break. I’ll bring her over.”
“I’ll wait.”
The manager, looking slightly nervous, bowed and rushed back to the set.
Soon, Jiyoung approached with him.
“Oppa!” fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm
“Get in the car first. Chief, make sure no one gets close. Manager, please wait at a distance.”
“Yes, sir.”
Even the driver got out and stepped away from the vehicle.
“Is something wrong?”
As soon as Jiyoung got in the car, she asked with a worried look.
I hesitated but decided to tell her everything.
“Grandpa’s condition isn’t good.”
“Huh? I saw him just last weekend... What happened?”
“...He’s showing signs of memory confusion. Talking about old times all of a sudden.”
Jiyoung’s eyes widened.
“He suddenly started asking for his sons and grandsons like he couldn’t remember recent events at all.”
“Since when? How did it happen?”
Her voice trembled.
“Chief Ha called me today. It might’ve started before he noticed. When I talked to Grandpa earlier, he kept losing track of his thoughts. He said he dozes off without realizing.”
“...”
Jiyoung just cried silently.
Her makeup was smudged from her tears, but she didn’t even notice and kept crying for a while.
I waited patiently.
I cracked the window slightly and spoke to Chief Ma.
“Chief, can you get something to clean her makeup with?”
“Understood. But the shoot will resume soon. What should I do?”
I glanced at Jiyoung.
Her shoulders were still shaking—there was no way she could film right now.
“What’s the shoot for?”
“A Goldstar mobile phone ad.”
“Call the president of Goldstar. Ask them to delay filming a few hours. Book a decent restaurant nearby and treat the staff and cast to dinner.”
“I’ll handle it.”
A security guard Chief Ma had sent returned with tissues.
I wiped some of her tears, but she’d definitely need to redo her makeup.
“Are you feeling a bit better?”
“Yeah...”
“I’ve delayed the shoot a little.”
I hadn’t planned to interfere with her work anymore, but there was no way she could film like this.
“Even if you’re busy, make time to visit Grandpa often. We don’t know when he’ll lose his memories for good. Don’t end up regretting it. Got it?”
Tears welled up in her eyes again.
“Even if he says strange things, don’t be surprised. Just go along with it. Don’t let it show.”
“Okay...”
“And...”
I let out a deep breath. Now came the important part.
“Don’t tell anyone about Grandpa’s condition. Not even your mom. Got it?”
“Huh?”
I hadn’t wanted to drag Jiyoung into this, but if she didn’t know, others wouldn’t leave her alone.
It was better to be upfront with her.
“If word gets out, there’ll be a mudslinging war. They won’t care why they were disowned. They’ll just say Grandpa’s mentally unfit and try to sue. His health doesn’t matter to those people.”
“No way...”
She was still too young to fully grasp it, but I spoke firmly.
“You think I’m lying? You’ll find out soon enough. But I don’t want Grandpa to see us fighting while he’s still alive. Do you understand me?”
“...”
“Don’t trust anyone.”
If even Jiyoung disappointed or betrayed me, I wouldn’t be able to trust anyone again.
Just like Grandpa said—I’d be left alone.
“Think about it. Has anyone contacted you recently asking about Grandpa?”
Jiyoung looked a little puzzled.
“After my debut, Jiwon oppa and Jisoo unni reached out to me.”
She said it was only natural for people to contact her again after seeing someone they know on TV.
“A while ago, Jiwon oppa did ask something about Grandpa. But it was just in passing...”
Maybe he was just being polite, asking about an old man he hadn’t seen in a while.
But if that were the case, he could’ve called Chief Ha directly.
Anyone with half a brain would know that Chief Ha would be more up-to-date on Grandpa’s health.
Jiyoung hadn’t realized, and probably told him everything as-is.
“And then?”
“I said he mostly stays in the study and that there didn’t seem to be any issues. I didn’t know Grandpa’s health was that bad until you told me.”
Well, I only found out today too.
“Don’t tell anyone about Grandpa’s memory problems. Trust only me. No one else.”
“...But would they really go that far? He’s still their father.”
“I wish they wouldn’t. But reality isn’t a drama. Don’t expect too much.”
Jiyoung stopped crying.
The tears had dried, but her face was a mess.
“Your face is a disaster. Better just wash it off and redo your makeup.”
“You’re seriously saying that right now?”
You’re the one filming the commercial.
Jiyoung shot me a glare.
“Don’t worry too much. I’ll handle it. I’ll visit Grandpa often.”
“Okay. I’ll be in Pyeongchang-dong when I don’t have anything scheduled.”
“Thanks.”
“You don’t have to thank me. It’s what I should do. You know how much Grandpa adores me.”
She lifted her chin proudly.
Though, with her panda eyes, it wasn’t very convincing.
“Alright. The staff and cast probably went to eat. Go apologize to them.”
“Got it.”
We got out of the car together.
Her manager ran over.
“Whew... You really need to fix your makeup. Good thing no one saw.”
“Sorry.”
“It’s fine. Hurry and fix it.”
“Okay.”
Jiyoung waved to me.
“Oppa, I’ll call you.”
I watched her small frame as she ran off.
“President.”
Jiyoung’s manager cautiously approached me.
“Can you tell me what’s going on? If it’s something I need to keep an eye on...”
“It’s a family matter. Best you don’t get involved. You understand?”
The manager flinched and waved his hands.
“I-I’ll pretend I didn’t hear anything.”
“Please take good care of Jiyoung. If anyone suspicious approaches, contact me.” ƒreewebηoveℓ.com
“Understood. Don’t worry.”
“You can go.”
I silently watched him walk away through the window.
“Chief, look into the manager.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Let’s head back to Pyeongchang-dong. I just want to rest today.”
I leaned back in my seat and closed my eyes.
A few days passed.
“Boss.”
As I stepped out of the bathroom after washing up, Chief Ma was waiting.
He looked the same as usual... but something felt different.
“There’s something urgent I need to report.”
That unpleasant feeling?
It hadn’t been wrong.
