By Zephyria 
In an instant, Jeong-min’s movements stopped. On the other hand, Young-min rolled his eyes and clapped his hands as if remembering.
“Ah, Shin-woo hyung! It’s been a while since I heard that name. Didn’t he go to the US?”
“Yes, that’s right. I heard he became a doctor in the US as well.”
“Right. I know he became a doctor. So, why Shin-woo?”
Perhaps because he was the son of his father’s former business partner and his mother’s close friend—though they didn’t seem to be in touch much lately—the two parents showed considerable interest.
“I heard he’s returning to Korea. But it seems there’s some kind of problem. It didn’t sound like good news….”
“Where did you hear that news?”
“Shin-woo’s female cousin is in the same social circle as I am. She said her cousin is returning to Korea, but some trouble has arisen, and the family is in an uproar.”
Shin-woo. Yu Shin-woo…. He hadn’t thought he would hear that name again. And that he would hear the news of him coming to Korea… He had been curious about where he was and what he was doing, but he hadn’t dared to look into it. He had blocked himself off, fearing that once he heard news, he would spend his life searching for him. And yet, he heard the name like this.
“My goodness… what could the problem be? I thought he would do well when Shin-woo went to the US. He was a decent boy, so I believed things would work out for him there….”
“Mom, have you not contacted that lady since then?”
At Young-min’s question, their mother nodded.
“The last time we spoke on the phone must have been five years ago. Come to think of it, she said she was going to the US to see Shin-woo back then….”
“Hmm… I wonder what happened.”
Young-min said this, but he seemed uninterested.
“I’ll ask her next time I’m at the gathering.”
The family nodded at the second sister-in-law’s words, and soon Yu Shin-woo vanished from their conversation. However, Jeong-min continued to think of Yu Shin-woo while standing on the terrace smoking, until the very moment the tea time ended and the people from his brother’s house prepared to leave.
“Jeong-min.”
It was his eldest brother. Jeong-min quickly put out his cigarette.
“Aren’t you smoking too much?”
His brother spoke, looking at the pile of cigarette butts accumulated behind Jeong-min’s back. Actually, he cleaned them up every time, but seeing how they piled up today… he definitely seemed to be smoking a lot.
“I’m trying to quit, but it’s not going well.”
“Still, don’t smoke too much. If a doctor doesn’t take care of his own body, who will?”
“I suppose so.”
His brother patted Jeong-min’s shoulder.
“You have something to tell me, don’t you?”
“You’re quick.”
“Haha, please tell me.”
“You know Kim Ju-hwan, the son of cal front, right?”
What is today? Names he had completely forgotten were popping up one after another.
“Yes. Of course I know him.”
Actually, he was a person impossible to forget. He remained so intensely in Jeong-min’s memory that he felt angry whenever he suddenly thought of him.
“I met him a while ago, and he was asking about you. Asking if you were doing well.”
“Ah… wasn’t that just a polite remark?”
The last time they met was at that hotel. After declaring they would never see each other again, they truly hadn’t met for several years. They hadn’t bumped into each other on the street, nor had they seen each other at gatherings. He had heard rumors that Kim Ju-hwan finished all his management studies in Korea and moved to Germany. That he had begun formal successor training there. He had heard that if he ever returned to Korea, he would be a giant of an influential figure… Had he returned to Korea?
“I don’t think that was it. He asked about you in great detail.”
He’s still an unpleasant bastard.
“And he said he wants to have a meal with you. What do you think? Should your brother arrange a meeting?”
These words….
“This is related to company business, isn’t it?”
“…Sigh. I’m sorry.”
His brother patted Jeong-min’s shoulder.
“The expansion into Arabia this time isn’t flowing in such a positive direction. Too much has progressed to give up now, so we can’t abandon it, and we need to bring in some funds, which is where we need cal front’s power. While discussing that, Kim Ju-hwan entered Korea. The discussions were progressing well, and only final adjustments remained, but he kept talking about you. It felt like he wanted me to let him meet you.”
Jeong-min hadn’t changed his contact information since then, nor had he blocked that bastard’s number. If he wanted to contact him, he could have. To do it this way… was clearly a form of pressure. Why on earth was he applying this kind of pressure? Ah, if it’s Kim Ju-hwan, it’s possible. This is a game. Just a game where he wants to put him in the palm of his hand and roll him around.
“Then it can’t be helped. I’m not of any help to you usually, Hyung… if this can be of help, I should do it.”
“I’m grateful you say that. There’s nothing to be gained from making an enemy of cal front. For your own sake, it would be better to maintain a good relationship with Kim Ju-hwan.”
It was already far too late for that… but since he was someone who knew nothing, he could say such things.
“Yes, I understand.”
His brother thanked him once more and went down to the first floor. Watching his brothers leave the house, Jeong-min took out a new cigarette and put it in his mouth. Either way, the timing was impeccable. Kim Ju-hwan and Yu Shin-woo. It felt like a storm was about to rage over a land that had been quiet for a while, and then Jeong-min laughed. Surely. Could such a thing happen? Too much time had passed, and too many things had changed. He couldn’t go back to that time.
✽✽✽
Two days later, he received a call from his brother informing him that an appointment with Kim Ju-hwan had been set. The man did not contact Jeong-min directly even if he were to die; he arranged and proceeded with all appointments only through the brother. The meeting place was the restaurant of the hotel where he had last met Kim Ju-hwan, and the time was set for dinner.
Upon arriving at the hotel, with the help of a manager, he sat at the prepared table. Usually, such appointments seemed to be set in private rooms, but for some reason, this was in the middle of the hall, an open space where one could see everyone entering and leaving the restaurant.
While drinking a glass of water and looking out the window, he heard a commotion near the entrance. He didn’t even have to look to know who had arrived. The atmosphere changed in an instant. This Extreme Alpha’s intimidation is as strong as ever.
The heavy, crushing sound of dress shoes approached Jeong-min. Soon, the manager pulled out a chair, and a man stood before Jeong-min.
“It’s been a long time, Sunbae.”
It was a voice that felt slightly more mature than the one he remembered. A voice with a deep bass, yet not merely low, greeted him with clear pronunciation.
“It’s been a long time.”
The face he looked up at to greet him was, as expected, more vivid than what was in his memory. A beautifully handsome appearance and deep eyes. A height that seemed to exceed 190cm, supporting broad shoulders and a solid body, was enough to dominate the space.
Kim Ju-hwan did not sit in the chair but extended his hand to Jeong-min.
“Let’s shake hands.”
What is he doing now? Jeong-min sighed, stood up, and shook his hand.
“Sunbae, there’s nothing left of how you looked when you were young.”
“You’ve aged a lot too.”
“Haha.”
Kim Ju-hwan laughed heartily and sat in the chair. Soon, servers approached and poured champagne.
“I pre-ordered the dishes when I made the reservation, I hope that’s alright?”
“Sure.”
Jeong-min simply wanted to eat quickly and leave. In his heart, he wanted to stand up and say, ‘I’ve seen your face, so that’s enough, right? I’m leaving now,’ but he endured it for the sake of his brother’s face.
“Don’t make that face like you’re enduring something, Sunbae. It’s disappointing.”
“When did I?”
“If not, then that’s a relief. It’s been a while since I’ve seen my Hubae; don’t you have anything you’re curious about?”
“I don’t know. I figure as long as you’re alive, that’s enough.”
“If I had died, would you have come to the funeral home?”
“I would have done at least that. But I never wished for you to die.”
“Wow, I thought you were completely indifferent to whether I lived or died since you cut me off so sharply after that. I almost misunderstood. You could have contacted me at least once; how cold.”
He wanted to tell him to think about what he had done… but fearing that he might accidentally recall the situation of that day, Jeong-min held it back. No matter how much time had passed, the wound from that situation itself had not disappeared. It was one of the things he still didn’t want to remember.
“I saw your interview in a medical magazine a while ago. I saw your paper was published too… I’m glad that the work seems to suit your aptitude.”
“I find it rewarding.”
Dishes began to pile up on the table. He didn’t know what incredible things had been ordered, but plates kept coming out incessantly.
“Why did you order so much?”
“I ordered everything you like for starters. Am I not a good boy?”
Crazy bastard.