Chapter 68
by Gideon“If Min Se-hun bankrupts Namdo Apparel, my own asset value will drop. That’s the real problem.”
“You’re right about that. That guy’s brain is just… too clear. So clear, in fact, that I’d bet he wouldn’t even realize he’s gone bankrupt.”
“Two votes.”
Yundo agreed. Now that he had finally been understood, he hoped Min Sena wouldn’t miss her chance.
March was just around the corner.
Yundo left work early and took Yun-woo to a department store. He had been eating himself up with guilt for neglecting his sensitive younger brother during the chaotic end-of-year holidays—a period that would be remembered for a long time to come.
“Hyung, why are we here?”
“I’m getting you a suit to celebrate your college entrance.”
Yun-woo had fulfilled his duties impeccably, despite his health issues and the devastated atmosphere at home.
“But I already have a suit.”
“Yun-woo, this is the brand Father took me to in the States when I started college.”
Yun-woo’s eyes widened. “Really?”
It pained Yundo that Yun-woo would never have a vivid memory of their father like he did.
“Since Father isn’t here, I’ll do it for you. Pick out whatever you like.”
“Okay. What color did you get back then?”
Fortunately, Yun-woo focused more on wearing the same suit as his brother than on their father’s absence.
“Cha Yun-woo. Have you grown taller?”
Yun-woo beamed. “Can you tell? I’ve grown three centimeters.”
Yun-woo, who had always been insecure about being shorter than his twin, Yun-seok, seemed thrilled to have grown.
“But I’m still only 179 centimeters. I didn’t know reaching 180 would be this hard. I guess I’ll just have to settle for this, huh?”
“No, I think you’ll grow more.”
“Really?”
Yundo nodded. Yun-woo had become brighter and more energetic in the house without Chairwoman Kang. His complexion had improved so much it was hard to believe he’d undergone a heart stent procedure. Since he’d recently started personal training, Yundo figured he’d grow at least another centimeter.
Yun-woo had a dark navy suit, almost black, custom-made for him. Yundo ensured every detail—from the tie to the cufflinks—was identical to what their father had once provided for him. He even went a step further, upgrading Yun-woo’s laptop, tablet, and phone.
“You didn’t have to go this far… I barely even got into a university in Seoul.”
“Getting into a Seoul school after all that chaos is an achievement in itself.”
Yundo ruffled Yun-woo’s hair.
“Ah, Hyung! I just styled this!”
Yun-woo, always sensitive about his hair, finally looked like a typical teenager.
He hadn’t had the grades to apply to the top-tier universities Chairwoman Kang had been championing, including Hankuk University. Still, he managed to get into a mid-tier school, enrolling in the Korean Literature department he had always wanted. Yundo hadn’t known Yun-woo dreamed of becoming a man of letters, but he thought it suited him perfectly.
“I wish I could’ve gone to Princeton like you, Hyung. Right?”
“They don’t even have a Korean Literature department. Why would you want to go there?”
Yun-woo trailed off. “It’s not that I want to go, but…”
“You have your own life, and I have mine. Do you think my job looks fun? Want to intern with me over the break?”
“No way!” Yun-woo shuddered. “Just thinking about corporate life suffocates me.”
The thought of that damned company—the one that had killed his father and infant nephew—made his skin crawl.
“If you don’t even want to do it, why are you making things so hard on yourself?”
“But how can anyone live doing only what they want?”
“You’re the only one in this family who can live like that. The youngest is born with the privilege of doing whatever they want.”
Yun-woo tilted his head. I’ve never heard that before.
“But Hyung, you’re struggling. How can I do that? Family is supposed to help each other.”
“Did I say I was struggling?”
“You asked if it looked fun. You’re asking because it’s not fun, right?”
“It’s not all fun, but it’s not all boring either. And neither of those things is a struggle.”
Yun-woo looked puzzled. It was to be expected—he was only twenty.
“Yun-woo. Just live your life enjoying everything you can. I’ll manage our stocks well enough so you can do only what you want and never starve.”
“Then, Hyung…”
“Yeah?”
“Can I learn to paint?”
Yun-woo had grown up under Chairwoman Kang’s shadow, constantly drilled on what he shouldn’t do. Because of this, speaking his mind still felt awkward.
“Why not? Want me to look for an academy for you?”
Yundo had already received a report that Yun-woo’s therapist had recommended art therapy. At his words, Yun-woo smiled, looking relieved.
“No, I’ll find one myself.”
“Alright. Show me when you find a place you like. I’ll go check it out with your sister-in-law later.”
“Okay.”
Yun-woo smiled. People always said a younger brother thirteen years his junior would feel like a son, and Yundo found that to be true. He felt the same protective affection for Yun-woo as he did for Haetsal.
“Yun-woo.”
“Yeah?”
“Mom, your sister-in-law, and I… we only want two things from you. For you to be healthy and happy. Just remember that.”
“I know. I want Mom, you, and my sister-in-law to be happy, too.”
True family members wanted the same things.
Yundo draped an arm over Yun-woo’s shoulder. Our little one’s all grown up.
Returning to the hospital room after her physical therapy session, Hyewan found Yundo asleep on the sofa. It’s not even time for him to leave work yet, why is he like this? He was practically crumpled on the three-seater sofa, but his face looked peaceful.
“Ma’am, can I have a blanket?”
“Here you go.”
Hyewan took the blanket from the caregiver and covered Yundo with it.
“I’ll step out for a bit.”
The caregiver tactfully gave them some space. As Hyewan gently brushed the stray hairs from his forehead, he caught her hand. His eyes remained closed.
Hyewan asked softly, “Why are you sleeping here?”
“Because I didn’t want to be alone.”
Yundo squeezed her hand tightly. Had he been at peace while she endured her own personal hell? Though their locations were different, Yundo must have also spent sleepless nights just like she had.
“I took Yun-woo to the department store.”
“Did you? Did you buy him lots of nice things?”
“Yeah. I got him a suit, a laptop… Hyewan, Yun-woo says he wants to learn how to paint. I told him he could, and he smiled.”
He mumbled the words even in his sleep, his tone practically begging for praise. I did good, didn’t I?
“I see. You did a great job.”
“Yeah…”
His expression softened even more.
“Get some more sleep.”
“When you wake up, let’s have chicken feet. I’ll go buy them from that place you like.”
“Okay.”
Hyewan loved how Yundo offered to travel an hour from the hospital to that chicken feet place, even though he couldn’t even eat them because they were too spicy. Holding his hand, she fell back into a deep sleep. She cherished the warmth and peace of this moment. She stayed by his side for a long time, careful not to wake him from his sweet slumber.
March had finally arrived.
Hyewan submitted her leave of absence from law school upon enrollment.
Four months post-surgery, her leg had improved visibly, but sitting in the same position for long periods remained a struggle. Moreover, her ongoing rehabilitation and gait training meant she wouldn’t be able to keep up with the classes. With a heavy heart, she decided to focus on fully recovering her health and postpone her studies until the following year.
On the day she reached the four-month mark, she was finally cleared for discharge. She would only need to attend outpatient treatments on scheduled days.
Though the tension between Yundo and Hyewan had thawed, they were still a divorced couple. Just as much as she did, Yundo loathed even the thought of their former marital home.
Hyewan decided to live in the studio apartment Yundo had given her. Yundo, meanwhile, was living with Madam Park and Yun-woo in the house they had moved into.
“The weather’s warm today. I’m taking the bus home this evening. Want to ride with me?”
“I’d be honored.”
“I’ll be in front of your office by the time you finish work.”
Thrilled by Hyewan’s date invitation, Yundo stood by the window, gazing down at the street. He felt a pang of disappointment—it was still too early for the flowers to bloom.
Just then, Dong-yeong knocked on the office door and stepped inside. After Chairwoman Kang and Kang Deok-ho were dismissed, Yundo had been appointed CEO.
“Sunbae, when are you leaving today?”
“You can head home first today.”
“Why?”
“I have something to do.”
“So, what’s this ‘something’?”
“None of your business.”
“Hmm. Sunbae, you’re acting suspicious.”
0 Comments