By Zephyria “You must have been briefed on the situation through your secretaries. Right now, I’m dealing with DH…”
“I plan to go to Seoul whenever I have the chance to apologize. I’ll also be frequently visiting Washington to see Tae-hyun. That’s what I came to tell you.”
“What?”
“Of course, I’ll handle myself well, so you don’t have to worry. I don’t want Tae-hyun’s name being tossed around by people because of me ever again.”
Seo Baek-han smiled briefly, saying that he would make sure not to be photographed loitering around Chairman Joo’s main residence, but he couldn’t prevent the rumors of the Director of the Royal Hospital being frequently seen at the airport these days, so he wanted him to be aware.
A smile that barely tugged at the corners of his lips. A face that was likable but difficult to approach casually, not wearing a mask, but not seeming genuinely happy either.
As he had confidently declared, his son’s behavior was still impeccable. The habit of suddenly throwing out nonsensical words and then steering the other person in the direction he wanted was also unchanged. He was Seo Baek-han, Assemblyman Seo Hong-gyu’s flawless son, perfect in every way.
But why did he feel so unfamiliar?
It wasn’t anything new. Assemblyman Seo’s excellent eldest son, whom he had thought was tightly bound by a sense of unity towards the same goal, had become a complete stranger after Joo Tae-hyun’s divorce announcement.
“Did you think I’d just say okay and let it go if you notified me like that?”
“No. I know you better than anyone, Assemblyman.”
Assemblyman Seo’s eyes narrowed at his son’s nonchalant reply.
Right, he wouldn’t do something this reckless without any preparation. However, he was concerned that whatever measures he had taken wouldn’t be very favorable to him…
“Alright, let’s hear what you’ve prepared.”
Seo Baek-han was a spitting image of him.
He had been carefully taught from a young age to think and act just like him, as the eldest son of the Seo family. But that was only possible because Seo Baek-han himself wanted it.
In fact, Assemblyman Seo wasn’t particularly impressed by his eldest son’s exceptional intelligence. It wasn’t bad that he had excellent grades, but doing well in school didn’t necessarily mean he would do well in business. He was more worried that the child would become too engrossed in studying and want to become a researcher or professor. Getting into a decent university was something he could easily arrange with his influence, so he hoped that even if he wasn’t good at studying, he would grow into a child with the boldness to support the family.
‘I want to become the Director of the Royal Hospital. That’s my first goal.’
Fortunately, Seo Baek-han quickly realized how incredibly fortunate he was to have been born. He also naturally learned how to wield money and power.
How admirable young Seo Baek-han was when he added that he wanted to have all the youngest, first, and other such titles.
‘Well, inheriting a special assemblyman position after gaining public service experience wouldn’t be bad either.’
‘No, the special assemblyman position will end with my father’s generation. I’m confident I can get it myself if I need it.’
After that, Assemblyman Seo Hong-gyu didn’t need to give any separate instructions. His eldest son always knew how to shine on his own. He was truly his son, with the goal of moving towards even greater heights, not satisfied with the current glory.
That’s why Assemblyman Seo couldn’t quite understand Seo Baek-han’s eccentric behavior.
When he heard that he had gone to see Chairman Joo and been turned away, and even knelt down, Assemblyman Seo’s mind was filled with only one word: ‘Why?’
Why on earth?
Even if it was something he hated to see, wouldn’t he have weighed the pros and cons before doing it? But he couldn’t understand what benefit there was in groveling to Joo Tae-hyun’s family and begging them not to proceed with the divorce.
“Are you going to go with that image from now on?”
“‘That image’? What do you mean?”
“That unrealistic, purely devoted image of someone who has thrown away his life several times for a pathetic excuse like love.”
“No, it’s the opposite. I don’t care what people say about me or what image I have. I just want Tae-hyun to know my heart.”
“What?”
“It’s not an act. I genuinely love Tae-hyun.”
But Assemblyman Seo’s proud eldest son was nonchalantly spouting nonsense for the first time in his life, with no trace of efficiency or power.
“What’s the big deal about kneeling a few times? There’s nothing I wouldn’t do if it meant getting Tae-hyun back.”
“Seo Baek-han!”
“Assemblyman. No, Father. I clearly said there’s nothing I wouldn’t do.”
And that includes my father and mother as well.
“Huh, ha ha… Are you…”
Seo Baek-han, with a moderately cool smile, was indeed the son he knew. The arrogant attitude that he would use any means to achieve his goals was exactly the way Assemblyman Seo admired him.
“Don’t worry about your incompetent son and just continue with what you’re doing. Trying to grow the New Drug Business by pulling in money from conglomerate chairmen, and using this opportunity to replace all the relevant departments with your own people… I won’t interfere with that ambitious plan to ultimately hold both the political and business worlds in your hands. As long as you leave Tae-hyun alone.”
“What’s the reason…”
“I told you? Because I love Tae-hyun.”
“Don’t give me such a nice-sounding excuse in front of me. There must be a real reason why you’re making such a fuss.”
Even if there was a valid reason, he wouldn’t help him. If Seo Baek-han became an obstacle to what he was trying to do, he would remove him without hesitation.
However, apart from that, he wanted to know the reason why Seo Baek-han was behaving so erratically. What was the trigger that made his perfect son, who had grown up exactly as he had wished, suddenly do such absurd things? What was the reason for suddenly trying to change his image like this, and what goal did he want to achieve by changing direction? He was curious about Seo Baek-han’s true intentions.
“Well, if you want me to explain it in your style… fine. I want Tae-hyun. I want to keep him by my side as my spouse and live with him for the rest of my life, like before.”
“If you just want to get back what was yours…”
“In the process, I truly mean that there’s nothing I wouldn’t do to my father or mother. I don’t particularly want to accuse my father with my own hands, so I’m telling you in advance. Stop being interested in this matter and don’t approach Tae-hyun either.”
“…What? Accuse? Are you!”
“I won’t touch problems like embezzlement or corruption. After all, it’s obvious that such charges would be buried at your level, so why would I do something that could jeopardize my own position?”
In the end, it would only tarnish everyone’s names. Seo Baek-han clearly drew the line, saying how inefficient that would be.
“There are plenty of things I can use to ruin only ‘Assemblyman Seo Hong-gyu’s’ image without causing any harm to the family. You must know that too, Father.”
Then, Seo Baek-han calmly mentioned the cards he held in his hand. Affairs, sponsors, and all sorts of dirty deeds that occurred in the process…
“If you were planning to secretly contact Tae-hyun and ask him to persuade me, I’m telling you to stop while you still can. It would break my heart to hear my father’s name being mentioned in some trashy internet media that deals with rumors, not a proper news outlet.”
Assemblyman Seo stared at his son with a blank expression. He knew he was making an unlike himself, dazed expression, but he couldn’t gather his wits.
“Is that… the truth?”
The reason why his most proud son was doing such a thing.
“Is that really all there is to it?”
“Yes.”
Seo Baek-han stood up, tapping the seat he had been sitting on. Even in the midst of all this, he was meticulously adjusting the angle to make sure it blended well with the other furnishings, which was infuriating to watch.
“I hope the world Tae-hyun will live in will be a little better.”
Wait, what? What was that about?
Assemblyman Seo couldn’t close his gaping mouth this time.
“You don’t have to worry about any other ulterior motives. If you don’t touch Tae-hyun and don’t interfere in this matter, I will always be the Seo family’s reliable eldest son.”
“……”
“I’ve told you the same thing several times, so I believe there’s no more room for confusion. Then, I’ll be going now. Take care of your health.”
The flushed face, unlike his usual self, and the shocked, gaping mouth were definitely not an act. Seo Baek-han turned away without even glancing at Assemblyman Seo.
“Director, are you alright? I heard a loud noise earlier…”
“I’m fine. Oh, Teacher Song’s paperweight was smashed.”
“Yes? Teacher Song’s paperweight?”
Through the crack as the heavy door of the assemblyman’s office opened and closed, the light laughter of people flowed in. Seo Baek-han, as always, captivated the attention of those around him with appropriate jokes. That much was not much different from the son Assemblyman Seo knew.
*
“…Didn’t you say you’d be busy for a while?”
“I am busy. Very busy.”
Seo Baek-han, who was only typing on the laptop keyboard with a piece of toast in his mouth, was more than just busy.
“Why do you come all the way to Washington every week when you’re so busy?”