Free Web NovelI walked toward Oh Hyunwoo and his family, who were standing to greet the guests.
As I approached, I first bowed to Chief Justice Oh Jungseok.
“Chief Justice. Congratulations.”
“President Kim. You came! Good, good.”
“You look radiant today. I would believe it if someone said you were the groom.”
“Haha, this fellow, honestly.”
Oh Jungseok burst into loud laughter at my joke, drawing a few glances from the people around us.
“You’re here, Muhyuk?”
Oh Hyunwoo grumbled with his lips sticking out.
“Why is your mouth sticking out like that? On such a great day. You’ll ruin your handsome face, man.”
“I’ve been greeting people here for a whole hour. The wedding is still two hours away. What kind of nonsense is this······.”
His parents poked his side sharply.
Apparently it hurt, because Hyunwoo grimaced and turned his head away.
Only then did I bow to his parents.
“Father, Mother. It’s been a while.”
Hyunwoo’s father grasped my hand and patted my shoulder.
“President Kim, thank you for coming.”
“Of course I should come.”
While I was chatting with Hyunwoo’s family for some time, another guest approached.
Seeing they couldn’t greet because of me, I quietly stepped aside.
“Then I’ll go see Minkyung.”
“Yeah, see you later.”
I finished my greetings and walked toward the building.
The security guards standing at the entrance recognized me and bowed slightly.
Most people who used this place were figures from politics, business, or entertainment.
Because of that, the security was always tight. ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm
To use most of the facilities inside the building, you normally had to go through the same verification process again, just like when entering the wedding hall.
But now, Black Secret — which had a contract with Myeongdong Hotel — was in charge of the security here.
Thanks to that, I didn’t need to go through any unnecessary procedures.
The man who looked like the team leader gave a subtle signal to the guards.
They immediately grabbed both doors and opened them at the same time.
“Please go in.”
After walking a bit inside, I saw the bride’s waiting room.
When I opened the door, I saw Han Minkyung talking with some friends — or acquaintances, I wasn’t sure.
At the sound of the door opening, she turned her head and smiled brightly.
“Wow, you look beautiful. I almost didn’t recognize you.”
I teased lightly, and she answered with an embarrassed smile.
“It’s because of the bridal makeup.”
“Friends?”
I pointed gently toward the people next to her.
Talking casually in a room full of women was always a bit awkward.
“Co-workers.”
“Oh, so they’re judges.”
“Yeah. One is a junior, the other is a senior.”
The two women she introduced smiled first and bowed.
“Hello, I’m Eon Jihyo.”
“Song Jiyeon.”
“Nice to meet you. I’m Kim Muhyuk. Minkyung and I were university classmates, and I’m close friends with the groom.”
I added that part so there would be no misunderstandings.
Judge Eon Jihyo, who seemed to be the senior, spoke to Minkyung.
“Minkyung, we’ll step outside. Talk comfortably.”
“Oh, thank you. And thank you so much for coming, sunbae.”
“No, thank you for inviting us.”
After they left, only Minkyung and I remained.
Now we could talk comfortably.
“How do you feel? Nervous?”
“I don’t know. It doesn’t really feel real yet. I never imagined I could get married in a place like this. It feels like just yesterday I entered university and was worrying about how to pay my tuition······.”
Her eyes filled slightly with tears as old memories came back.
Worried her careful makeup would smear, I took a handkerchief from my inner pocket and handed it to her.
“You’ll ruin your makeup. Careful. Can’t cry on a day like this. Your mother said she couldn’t come, right?”
She wiped her eyes with the handkerchief and nodded.
Her mother had been in the hospital for a long time. No matter what treatment she received, there had been no sign of improvement.
“What about your siblings?”
“They should be arriving soon. Jaeha said he’d bring them.”
Haven’t seen Jaeha in a while either.
I pulled a chair and sat down in front of her.
“The youngest said he got into university this year?”
“Yeah. Korea National University, Business Administration.”
“Oh, takes after you. Must be smart.”
Minkyung, who had lifted her chin slightly to dry her eyes, gave a small laugh.
“Minsoo grew up well. He’s smarter than me. He’ll do great things.”
“Yeah. Thanks to you. Studying, raising your siblings — you worked twice, three times harder than any of us. Now you can finally live your own life.”
Minkyung, the eldest of three siblings, had to tutor on the side even while receiving scholarships — all because of her siblings.
I felt bad for her, so I gave her a bit of help. And that changed her entire future.
From human rights lawyer to politician, and now she had settled in the judiciary — and was marrying Hyunwoo.
“Thank you. It’s all because you helped me.”
“No need to thank me. I only helped because I had the means. And I’m an investor. I simply invested where I saw value.”
Just then, the waiting room door opened and a pair of siblings walked in — Minkyung’s brother and sister.
“Unni!”
Minkyung greeted them with a warm smile.
“You’re here? Was it hard getting here?”
“Since Jaeha oppa drove us, what could be hard? He still treats me like I’m a kid.”
The smile on Minkyung’s face looked different from all the ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ ones she had shown earlier.
Somehow softer, warmer.
After greeting her, Han Minju bowed to me.
“Oppa, long time no see.”
“Wow, Minju, you’ve grown. Feels like just yesterday you were bragging about getting your school uniform.”
“Oh my gosh, why do you sound like an old man? Anyway, thanks for coming to unni’s wedding!”
Well, I may have been young again after regression, but on the inside I was still an old man.
While I gave an awkward smile, Han Minsoo walked toward me.
Even as he bowed his head, there was a bright smile on his face.
“Hyungnim. It’s been a while.”
“Yeah. I heard you got into Korea National University? Business Administration?”
“Yes. I applied to the business department.”
“Business Administration, huh······. Why that major?” ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm
Even Minkyung looked curious now.
“Well······.”
Minsoo glanced at his sisters and then spoke.
“Growing up, our family was dirt poor. I chose business because I want to earn a lot of money. In the end, money is everything.”
“Hey!”
Minju smacked his back loudly.
“You haven’t even entered university yet, what money talk are you doing?”
“But it’s true. Don’t you remember how we lived when we were kids?”
Unable to argue, Minju pouted.
“You can’t buy happiness with money, but without money it’s hard to be happy. Unni earned money while in college so we lived a bit easier, but deep down I always felt bad. If it weren’t for us, she could’ve done even better.”
They didn’t know I had helped her financially.
They thought the living expenses came from her tutoring.
“Minju, you were always in your rebellious phase back then, weren’t you? Meanwhile I was delivering newspapers without telling you guys.”
“What?”
“What did you say?”
Both Minkyung and Minju looked shocked.
“I didn’t go out to study. I was delivering newspapers. I wanted to earn even a little spending money. And earning money is really hard.”
Tears filled Minkyung’s eyes again.
This wasn’t something I should listen to. Time to leave.
“Talk among yourselves. I’ll go be with the others.”
Before she could say anything, I slipped out of the bride’s waiting room.
As I was about to step outside, Yoon Jaeha came in.
“What? Why are you already out?”
“Let’s go. I stepped aside so the family could talk.”
“I wanted to see Minkyung’s face though.”
“Later.”
I dragged him outside.
We sat in a quiet corner and talked.
“How have you been lately?”
Jaeha gave a dry laugh.
“Me? Same old. Court, law firm, home. Just running on a wheel.”
“Doesn’t it feel suffocating?”
“You’re one to talk. You’re the biggest workaholic among us. Since school days. Have you ever taken a proper break?”
Hard to argue with that. I just laughed awkwardly.
“Knew it. Anyway, Myungsoo and Hyunseong said they’ll be here soon. Ten minutes maybe? Looks like they’re coming together.”
“Yeah?”
“Oh, and my father will be here soon too. He said he has something to discuss with you.”
“Your father? About what?”
Jaeha shrugged.
“How would I know? Does he ever tell me anything? He works me harder than the partner attorneys.”
To learn how to run the firm, Jaeha joined as a full-fledged junior attorney, working even harder than the others.
Because of that, people treated him without prejudice, and he built a good reputation.
When he eventually inherits the firm, everything he’s built will become a huge asset.
“What could your father want? He hasn’t contacted me in a while.”
“Probably something important. Wants to say it face to face.”
He then suddenly brought up Myungsoo.
“By the way, Myungsoo bulked up like crazy. Seems to be the most successful among us. Rumor says he’s one of the key figures in the current administration.”
“Ha. He may be a joker, but when he’s serious, he’s more serious than anyone.”
“That’s true.”
We continued chatting.
“Hey, they’re here. And his wife came too.”
I turned my head — Myungsoo, Hyunseong, and Kang Mijin were heading toward Hyunwoo.
Jaeha stared at Mijin with his head tilted.
“Isn’t she pregnant?”
“What?”
I snapped my head toward her.
“Look, she keeps covering her stomach when she walks. Pregnant women tend to do that. Her belly isn’t showing yet, so must be early.”
Now that he mentioned it, all her attention seemed focused on her stomach.
“If that’s true, that’d be great.”
“That stoic Hyunseong — first among us to get married and now the first to have a kid. Sigh, where’s my match?”
I patted Jaeha’s shoulder playfully.
After greeting Hyunwoo’s family, the group walked toward us.
“Muhyuk.”
Hyunseong called my name with the same blunt voice as always.
“You came?”
“Yeah. Good to see you too, Jaeha.”
“Same here. We barely see each other these days. Only gather for weddings or funerals.”
It was true. Life kept everyone busy.
“Muhyuk-ssi. It’s been a while.”
Kang Mijin smiled brightly.
“Good to see you too. Have you been well?”
“Yes. Always the same. And you?”
We exchanged warm greetings.
Then suddenly, Jaeha cut in.
“By the way, I’ve been wondering — are you pregnant?”
Seriously? He was asking that directly?
Even Myungsoo stared at him in disbelief.
But Mijin and Hyunseong’s reactions were strange.
“Right? I noticed you kept covering your stomach while walking.”
“Wait, seriously? Really?”
Now even Myungsoo began pressing Hyunseong.
Jaeha and I stared at him too.
Under everyone’s gaze, Hyunseong scratched his head awkwardly.
“Uh, she’s six weeks. I found out yesterday.”
“What? And you didn’t say a word? You bastard!”
Myungsoo smacked his back hard, then turned to Mijin with a polite bow.
“Congratulations.”
“Thank you, Myungsoo-ssi.”
Jaeha congratulated her happily, and so did I.
“Congratulations.”
“Hehe, thank you.”
“Wow, Hyunseong, congrats. You’re going to be a dad.”
Hyunseong just scratched the back of his neck shyly.
We talked for a long while about the pregnancy.
“I’m going to take Mijin to see Minkyung.”
Hyunseong walked toward the building with her.
Just then, Yoon Hyungmin approached us.
“President Kim.”
“Father. It’s been a while.”
I bowed slightly.
He extended his hand first, and I shook it.
“Jaeha, I need to speak with President Kim. Give us a moment.”
“Yes, Father.”
Jaeha led Myungsoo away.
Once the kids were gone, Yoon Hyungmin spoke quietly.
“President Kim, I have something important to consult with you about.”
“Consult?”
“We’ve received a case request. A fairly large one. I wanted your opinion.”
This wasn’t ordinary. Judging by his attitude, it was something far bigger.
“What is it about?”
“Do you know an asset management company called Sovereign?”
From his mouth, the word Sovereign came out.
