By Zephyria 
Son Pro seemed rattled, as he apparently went straight to the Executive Director. However, the Executive Director, knowing that now was the only chance to cut off the hidden son, was ignoring most of the contact.
“Yes. It seems he’s made up his mind? You’re doing great.”
—Yeah, hold on a second.
After a brief rustling sound, the Executive Director’s loud voice came through again.
—He’s asking if we can redo the DNA test. What should I do if he insists, Mr. John?
Every time he was called Mr. John, Gyu-oh felt like bursting into laughter, but he suppressed it and cleared his throat. After a few fake coughs, he replied quite seriously.
“Ask him why he thinks he can trust you with the test. And tell him that you, the Executive Director, will handle it personally, so just send over a hair or a toothbrush.”
—Uh. I should do it? But, if my family finds out, it might be a bit…
He wondered how a man with such a small gallbladder ever thought of having a child outside his marriage. Tsk, Gyu-oh tapped the table to hide the sound of his clicking tongue.
“Do you think I’d make you do such a thing, Executive Director? Just hand it over. I’ll—handle everything for you.”
The sound of a sigh of relief came through. Twice a day. He shared the situation with the Executive Director over the phone. The Executive Director was acting as if he firmly believed all the materials Son Pro had presented were fabricated, while Son Pro was stamping his feet in an attempt to appeal that he was indeed the biological child.
The sight of them both insisting on their own survival was quite fierce. It was a situation where the phrase ‘like father, like son’ fit perfectly.
—Then, the result will come out saying he’s not blood-related, right? Right?
He was simply asking again, but his voice was louder than necessary. Perhaps because it was on speakerphone, both of Gyu-oh’s ears rang painfully. He replied while lightly plugging his ear with his hand.
“Of course not. Just take what’s necessary and ignore him now.”
—Yeah, alright.
“Enjoy your family trip.”
After ending the short call, he sprawled out on the bed. While rubbing his tingling ears and staring blankly at the ceiling, Min-ho’s face naturally came to mind.
“……How did Hyung get close to someone with such a loud voice?”
And he hates noise so much. How on earth did he know the man for several years and even go play golf together? Truly impressive. He shook his head.
Since the Executive Director and Son Pro were in that state, they probably wouldn’t have the mental capacity to contact Min-ho. Around this time, he was likely holed up in his office, focusing on organizing the contract acquisitions alone. If he visited at a time like this, he might be able to have a fairly long conversation…
That bastard Son Pro had hired someone again, as he’d put a tail on him. Whenever he moved hotels or went back and forth in front of the Seong-tak thugs’ office to create confusion, he could feel the blatant gaze observing him. Because of that, it was a shame that he couldn’t easily go out or even make a call.
“I miss him now that I haven’t seen him.”
He muttered, then suddenly bolted upright.
“No! I don’t mean I miss him because I’m crazily in love or anything. It’s just because it’s been too long since I saw him……”
Even though there was no one listening, Gyu-oh rambled to himself, trying to deny his feelings. Or rather, rather than denying them, it was closer to refining his emotions just enough so that he wouldn’t get cursed at by Min-ho.
“I miss Mu-gyeong Hyung too, huh? And I miss that chestnut, Hong-ju. I miss Jae-hee Noona in Hawaii too. I just… miss everyone.”
Gyu-oh, who had been making gestures in the air while making excuses to himself, eventually ruffled his hair in frustration. It was ridiculous. In truth, Cha Min-ho could never be placed on the same level as the others. When did that start?
“…….”
Gyu-oh sank into deep thought. Was it from the moment he realized Cha Min-ho dated men? Or after he appeared in his dream? Or perhaps after they truly crossed the line?
No. It was much earlier than that. The barely suppressed interest, the desire to peek into and interfere with Cha Min-ho’s life, had started long ago.
From the moment he grew greedy, wanting to be closer to him than anyone else. From the moment he took it for granted that Cha Min-ho treated him specially.
“But I didn’t even know that, and what? Why get involved? Could it be anything else?”
There’s absolutely no reason it couldn’t happen. Cha Min-ho cares for Won Gyu-oh, and Won Gyu-oh cares for Cha Min-ho. Whether that emotion is labeled as friendship or love, the fundamental feeling doesn’t change.
‘It’s funny for someone as loose as me to say this… but I hate people with loose hearts.’
Well, he had shown him exactly how he didn’t trust people and how he pretended to give his heart lightly in front of Hyung. His suddenly changed attitude might seem suspicious.
But wouldn’t Cha Min-ho know? That the number of people who give their true sincerity is few and far between. And that Cha Min-ho holds the largest share of that for him.
“Hmm.”
Perhaps it’s because the other person doesn’t have an easygoing personality. He was harder to crack than anyone else. Still, this Won Gyu-oh prefers the hard road over the easy one, doesn’t he?
He would definitely see the sight of Cha Min-ho accepting him, even if it was as if he couldn’t help it. And he would fix all those strange habits himself. On nights spent with Won Gyu-oh, the nightmares that plagued Min-ho would not be able to set foot.
“First, I have to do the job right. That’s the only way he’ll listen to me.”
He pulled the laptop that was sprawled at the edge of the bed. Thanks to the reporter and the errand center employee they had captured, there was quite a bit of useful data. There were twelve folders alone containing things Son Pro had requested. He spent a long time examining them carefully, pondering what could provoke the Executive Director’s anger.
As the old saying goes, the dog covered in dung scolds the dog covered in chaff. The Executive Director and his son were exactly like that. Despite having cheated on his family and fathered a child in the first place, the Executive Director went absolutely ballistic upon learning that Son Pro had conducted a background check on him. How dare he dig into his past.
Seeing him tremble so excessively, Gyu-oh thought that he was only acting so boldly because he had nothing else to be anxious about.
“We’ve roughly put together some photos on our end.”
“……Such technology exists?”
The Executive Director pushed his glasses up to his eyebrows and pulled the photos closer. Even if he were told they were composites, ten out of ten people wouldn’t be able to tell.
“You should assume there’s nothing I can’t do, right?”
The only photo Son Pro held showed the Executive Director, a young woman, and a young boy. This was Son Pro’s family photo and one of the proofs of his bloodline. Gyu-oh had composited the Executive Director’s wife and other family members into it. At a glance, it looked as if they had taken a photo together with many family members.
“With this, he won’t know even if he wakes up from the dead.”
The Executive Director replied with a bright smile. The old man is quite lucky. If U-won had targeted the Executive Director instead of Son Pro, he wouldn’t have had time to smile like this. Since winning the contract that way would hurt the Hyungs’ pride, he would keep U-won’s involvement a secret until the end. Even after removing Son Pro and solving the Executive Director’s problem, he would never claim the credit.
“Hmm? What did I say?”
He shrugged and made a nasal sound. He knew he sounded obnoxious while saying it, but he had to pretend he’d spent time abroad, so it couldn’t be helped.
“Right. Anyway, that insolent brat, I can really screw him over.”
He still seemed furious that the man had gone as far as hiring an errand center employee to tail him. Although they were proceeding with a DNA test due to Son Pro’s pleading, the result was obvious even without looking.
“Actually, huh? Because he kept playing matchmaker with construction companies, I was quite uncomfortable here and there. If I partner with this place, there’s a fuss over there. If I partner over there, the other side screams about why we’re tossing them aside. Ugh.”
“That’s why I told you that taking backdoor money to work makes things a headache.”
“It’s not backdoor money, that guy just kept whispering in my ear, that’s why I did it!”
That’s exactly what backdoor money is. He clearly knew he was taking money and did as he was told, and now he’s pretending to be the victim.
“Anyway. Don’t work with companies you’re entangled with like that. It’s the perfect recipe for rumors.”
He didn’t forget to subtly drop words that were advantageous to U-won.
“I suppose so, right?”
Watching the Executive Director hurriedly tuck the photos into his inner jacket pocket, Gyu-oh folded the edge of a paper bag that smelled strongly of hamburgers.
“Yes. I’m being tailed, so I can’t stay long. See you soon?”
“Yeah, Mr. John. Bye-bye.”
Leaving behind the Executive Director who waved a small hand in greeting, he walked out with the packaged hamburger. The fifteen minutes spent waiting for the packaging was the maximum amount of time they could talk. Since they had to meet specifically for the photos today, he needed to be a bit more careful.
To ensure the tail was completely focused on him, he didn’t return to the hotel immediately; instead, he played a claw machine and ate a couple of fish cakes at a street stall. After wandering for a long time and returning to the hotel, he munched on the cold hamburger alone.
“I wonder if Hyung ate well.”
There was no particular contact from the baldie, the youngest, who stayed by Min-ho’s side. This likely meant that Min-ho was holed up in his office and not coming out. Suddenly, his appetite vanished again.
“……Am I getting lovesick?”
Setting aside the half-eaten hamburger, he found himself consumed by a worry he had never experienced in his life.