By Zephyria 
A glint appeared in Seo Dong-hu’s bloodshot eyes. Min Seon-woong set his half-empty glass down on the table with a thud, his brow furrowing slightly.
“Hmm. This liquor is quite strong. It seems like the kind Seung-jae Hyung drinks; you’re not imitating him on purpose, are you?”
Seo Dong-hu glared fiercely. The phrase ‘Seung-jae Hyung’ uttered by Min Seon-woong grated on his nerves maddeningly.
“How did you know the baby Yi-kyung is carrying is a boy?”
Seo Dong-hu had a fiery, hot-tempered personality, prone to flying into a rage and getting excited over small things, but he wasn’t stupid. He wasn’t so naive as to blindly trust the words of a brat he had met for the first time today.
“Where would I have heard such a thing? No one here even gives me the time of day.”
The surroundings were incredibly noisy. The sounds of drinks being exchanged incessantly and voices joking around echoed from all directions. Amidst the chaos, Seo Dong-hu asked.
“Did you hear it from Director Han?”
“…….”
Min Seon-woong neither denied nor confirmed it. He simply picked up the glass they had clinked earlier and held it out in front of Seo Dong-hu. The filled liquor sloshed slightly.
Seo Dong-hu picked up the glass and downed it in one gulp.
* * *
It was late at night. Lying in bed, Seo Yi-kyung tossed and turned. Jin Seon-yu had stayed in the painting studio longer than usual today to paint.
—At this pace, I don’t think it’ll take until the fifteenth.
As he spoke, Jin Seon-yu’s expression wasn’t entirely bright for some reason.
—Should I paint more slowly? Ah, I mean, I’ll paint more meticulously.
Jin Seon-yu quickly corrected himself while wiping the paint off his brush.
It was evident that he was agonizing over whether it would be better to finish the painting quickly or to slow down the pace. Nevertheless, he seemed determined to meet the promised deadline.
Afterward, the two had dinner together. Since the studio had been left empty for so long, Seo Yi-kyung didn’t feel right letting Jin Seon-yu go back immediately. Instead, his sense of guilt only grew.
Seeing the soup Seo Yi-kyung was eating, Jin Seon-yu stepped forward, saying he wanted to taste it too.
Watching Jin Seon-yu’s behavior, Min Ra-hyeon wore a displeased expression. Regardless, Seo Yi-kyung felt that the dinner gathering was enjoyable for the first time in a while. However, now that Jin Seon-yu had gone home and he was lying alone in the second-floor bed, Seo Yi-kyung could not fall asleep.
Click. Seo Yi-kyung left the bedroom. Still in his pajamas, he stepped into the elevator. He soon arrived on the first floor and wandered through the quiet living room.
His toes, clad in round-toed slippers, moved incessantly toward one place.
Seo Yi-kyung approached the canvas inside the painting studio. The canvas, which had been empty and void, was now being filled with a magnificent landscape painting of a winter mountain.
The winter mountain surrounded by snow was noble. It was sharp as a honed blade, emanating a chill so cold it felt freezing, making it seem as though it could neither be climbed nor possessed.
In the darkness, Jin Seon-yu’s clear voice echoed in the sunken ears of Seo Yi-kyung.
—Gi-jun says he’s buying lunch tomorrow. Do you want to come along?
—I wouldn’t be able to eat anything anyway, even if I went. Go on a date.
—It’s not like that. He says it’s a return favor because I gave him a gift for Christmas.
Jin Seon-yu added with a laugh.
—But, if I give this painting as a gift, what did you decide to receive in return?
—Giving this painting……
—Yeah.
Seo Yi-kyung turned away from the canvas. He felt he could understand, just a little, why the ‘Seo Yi-kyung’ of that night had made such an extreme choice in this place.
What would it feel like to press cold metal, which made one shrink just by looking at it, against one’s own head? And what would he do if he were in that position? He had thought about it before.
There was only one thing Seo Yi-kyung had always wanted.
—I’m going to say that I’m leaving this place.
* * *
Myungjun Financial Group, President’s Office.
From early morning, Han Yechan’s boisterous laughter echoed through the office. He tapped the armrest and gestured toward Chief Secretary Kang.
“Call Seung-jae and tell him to clear his lunch schedule.”
Chief Secretary Kang, who was standing behind him, picked up the receiver and pressed the buttons. After exchanging a few words with Secretary Park, he moved the receiver slightly away and spoke to Han Yechan.
“He says he already has a prior engagement. He mentioned he would comply if you set it for another day.”
Han Yechan’s laughter subsided, and he muttered as if offended.
“Another day, my foot. By then, he’ll just nail it down saying he can’t again. Don’t argue; tell him he absolutely must show his face today, so he should come.”
Chief Secretary Kang held the receiver to his ear and relayed Han Yechan’s words exactly. Then, he lightly placed the receiver back in its spot.
“Are you really that happy?”
Min Chae-ho, who had been listening until then, asked. He had had the exact same conversation over the phone the previous day. And today, he had come with a gift to see Han Yechan in person, partly to offer his congratulations.
And as if he never grew tired of it, Han Yechan repeated the same words he had said over the phone the day before.
“Of course I’m happy. Given that boy’s temperament, I thought he’d hold out saying he didn’t even need a child. To think he’d actually hand me a grandchild.”
Han Yechan’s laughter grew louder, filled with emotion. Looking at him, Min Chae-ho laughed along. However, before long, Chief Secretary Kang whispered something into Han Yechan’s ear. Since he covered his mouth, Min Chae-ho couldn’t hear it.
“Oh, is it already that time? Why don’t you head out now? You must be busy with company work. You shouldn’t be away from your post for this long.”
Just as Min Chae-ho was about to speak, Han Yechan skillfully cut him off.
“Congratulations in advance on your son’s wedding. I don’t think I’ll be able to attend as I have a lot of work. I’ve already instructed Secretary Kang to send a very large wreath. Don’t forget to send it.”
“Yes, President.”
After Chief Secretary Kang bowed, he guided Min Chae-ho out the door. Then the door closed. Chief Secretary Kang approached Han Yechan’s side. A gift box sat on the table next to the teacups. Without even thinking of looking inside, Han Yechan waved his hand.
“Clear it away.”
There was no need to waste energy checking the gift. No doubt it wouldn’t be worth the effort. Chief Secretary Kang picked up the carefully wrapped box. Han Yechan picked up the teacup in front of him and took a sip.
“Send the wreath in your name. And from now on, don’t let Chae-ho into my office. Yesterday, I was too flustered and just transferred calls to anyone.”
Han Yechan repeatedly moistened his dry throat. Chief Secretary Kang filled the teacup and spoke.
“You still seem very happy, though.”
Han Yechan had been keeping his distance since Seeum Global Trading Company, where Min Chae-ho worked, began struggling with financial difficulties. Seeing that Min Chae-ho had contacted him despite that, wasn’t it obvious? Han Yechan looked up. He acted as if he were sharing a secret with Chief Secretary Kang.
“As you know, Seung-jae resembles my younger days far too much.”
Han Yechan struck the armrest repeatedly.
“Bold, and with a thick skin like mine, he has no fear. And now, to think that blood has passed down to my grandchild……”
* * *
“Has he gone senile?”
Han Seung-jae closed the approval documents and handed them to Secretary Park. Receiving them with both hands, Secretary Park replied.
“I think it would be best to attend today. You’ve rejected his lunch invitations several times now.”
“Since when did we ever have meals while looking at each other’s faces?”
As he spoke, Han Seung-jae moved his hand. He felt he knew why his father was suddenly being so affectionate in wanting to see him.
Without a doubt, he must have contacted him the moment he heard the child in Seo Yi-kyung’s womb was a boy. He looked at his wristwatch to check the time.
After some time had passed, Secretary Park approached.
“It is time to depart.”
Finally, Han Seung-jae stood up. Secretary Park brought and held out his coat. Han Seung-jae slid his long arms into it and left the Director’s Office.
After traveling by sedan, they arrived at a traditional Korean restaurant. As Han Seung-jae entered, a staff member led him to a pre-reserved inner room. Shoes left in front of the room caught his eye.
The staff member opened the door and murmured.
“Here it is. President Han has not arrived yet.”
As the door opened, a man sitting inside scrambled to his feet. He was Seo Yi-kyung’s attending physician.
“O-oh, you’ve arrived, Director Han.”
Han Seung-jae stepped inside. Secretary Park took his coat and stepped back. Han Seung-jae sat down and spoke.
“I didn’t know there would be a guest who arrived first. I’m not usually late for appointments.”
“Ah, I came because President Han called me.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes.”
The physician, nodding emphatically, turned his gaze toward the door. As the door opened at the sound of someone approaching and a staff member entered holding teacups, the physician’s eyes shook anxiously. Secretary Park took them instead.
“I’ll handle this. You can serve the meal once President Han arrives.”
At Secretary Park’s words, the staff member replied that he would do so and left the room. Secretary Park picked up the teapot and filled two cups.
“Sit.”
At Han Seung-jae’s words, the physician bent his knees slowly, as if hesitating whether he should sit or not. Having unexpectedly encountered Han Seung-jae first, it felt like sitting on a bed of nails. His eyes repeatedly darted back to the entrance in desperation.
Han Seung-jae spoke with a void, expressionless gaze.
“How much did you get from my father?”