129 – AC

Because a class had been canceled, Eun-won was waiting for Cha Se-jin at a cafe. He momentarily tensed when the phone he had placed on the table began to vibrate. His expression remained stiff, fearing it might be the Madam, until he saw the name Yoon Ji-woon appear on the screen. Eun-won answered the call and told him the location of the cafe.

“…….”

Half a month had already passed since that day, but there had been no word from the Baum family. He didn’t know the exact details because he had intentionally avoided asking, but he knew that Cha Se-jin had met with his father and the Madam. He didn’t know what was discussed or how it ended, but after that, the Madam’s contact had ceased completely.

Even though she no longer reached out, Eun-won still tensed every time his phone rang. It was because he knew that even if it wasn’t right now, she could contact him again someday.

Still, things would gradually get better. He had Cha Se-jin, and he had Se-jin’s family, who always treated him warmly. And he had a friend who would run toward him while waving his hand vigorously like that.

“Ugh, it suddenly got freezing.”

“Why are your clothes so thin? You should have worn something thicker.”

“I didn’t know it would be this cold.”

“What do you want to drink? Get something warm.”

“I want an Iced Vanilla Latte.”

“I thought you said it was cold.”

“Cold is cold, and ice is ice.”

Watching Yoon Ji-woon smile and give a thumbs-up, Eun-won smiled back and went to the kiosk to order an Iced Vanilla Latte. As he returned after entering the buzzer number, Yoon Ji-woon picked up the phone from the table and shook it.

“Phone call. It’s your father.”

“…Huh?”

Surprised by the unexpected caller, Eun-won quickly checked the screen. The word ‘Father’ was written there.

“…….”

Until now, his father had almost never called him directly. His father was always behind the Madam. Whether it was delivering news, calling for him, making a request, scolding him, or offering comfort, his father always added a short comment from behind the Madam, or only appeared at the very end. Only at a decisive moment, when the Madam’s power alone could not resolve the matter.

It was the same when he was brought back home. At that time, the Madam had come to find him first, and when that didn’t work, his father had come personally to the convenience store to pick him up.

Even so, he had felt fluttery and happy back then. The simple thought that they had come back for [visit our site]him and that he [unauthorized copy]now had a family made his heart race.

But not anymore. Now, he knew what this phone call from his father meant. The situation had become urgent enough that he had to call him directly.

“Aren’t you going to answer?”

“Huh? Ah….”

Lost in thought, he forgot to answer, and the call disconnected. As he stared blankly at the screen showing a missed call, the phone rang again. After telling Yoon Ji-woon that he would take the call, Eun-won left the cafe and stepped into the emergency exit inside the building. He took a deep breath and answered.

“…Hello.”

-Eun-won.

His father’s voice over the receiver sounded exhausted, unlike before. More so than the last time he had heard it at home.

-Can we talk for a moment? Do you have time?

“…Yes.”

-I feel bad bringing this up to you again, but… about this matter.

“…….”

-Could you, just once, really just once, put in a good word for me with Executive Director Cha?

Though he had expected it, Eun-won quietly closed his eyes at the sound of the same request.

-I have no one else to ask but you now. You know. What this company means to me. If Baum collapses like this… there will be nothing left for me, or for you.

He felt suffocated. Eun-won slowly inhaled and exhaled, thinking of Cha Se-jin. If it were Cha Se-jin—if Cha Se-jin were by his side right now—he would have slowly rubbed his back and helped him breathe. Recalling that touch, his suffocating mind seemed to clear up instantly.

“…….”

The reason his father sought him out today was all too clear. That he was someone who could reach Cha Se-jin. That was the only reason. Eun-won no longer had the heart to be swayed. Because they were no longer his family. The reason he had leaned in and tried to listen was because his father had been his family. But not anymore. He had no need for a family that did not consider him family.

“Father.”

-Yes.

“I don’t want to say those things to the Executive Director.”

For a moment, there was silence on the other end of the line. Without fearing that silence, Eun-won continued with what he wanted to say, what he had to say. That he didn’t want to, that he had no intention of doing so.

-I admit we did something wrong. I won’t deny it. But it’s not something that should collapse all at once like this. I’m asking you one last time, throwing away my pride and even my dignity as a father, how can you…

At the mention of throwing away his dignity as a father, Eun-won took another deep breath. His fingertips trembled slightly and grew cold, but his heart did not soften. He felt that if he didn’t do it now, he would never be able to. So, Eun-won wanted to voice the words in his heart and tie the knot himself. So that he would no longer tense up when his phone vibrated.

“…Even so… I was happy when you came back for me, Father.”

Clenching his trembling fingertips, Eun-won bit the inside of his lip before continuing. Fortunately, his voice did not shake and flowed more calmly than expected.

“For a short while, I thought I could go back to how things were. I thought you… thought of me as a son and a family member again. So, although I felt sorry toward Mom… I was excited because I liked the idea of not having to be alone.”

-…….

“But… I don’t think that’s the case. I’ve never been family to you, and then, as now, I’m still just a link to the Executive Director.”

His father did not give any answer. Whether he wouldn’t or couldn’t, Eun-won didn’t know, but he expected nothing and waited for nothing.

“…I’m going back to stolen contenthow I was before you found me. To the unauthorized copytime when [stolen content]I was okay without you.”

Still, no words came. Before hanging up, Eun-won added one last small remark.

“Stay healthy.”

And the call ended. Letting out a small breath at the disconnected call, Eun-won looked down at the blackened screen for a while. It would be a lie to say his heart didn’t ache at all. However, he didn’t feel suffocated or so pained that he cried like he used to. Exhaling, Eun-won checked the messages that had arrived while he was on the phone.

[Husband: You’re on a call?]

[Husband: Who are you talking to for so long?]

[Husband: Ah, is it too scary if I ask things like this?]

[Husband: But I’m curious, what can I do]

[Husband: Who is it, who are you letting hear your voice for so long? Only I should hear it]

[Husband: I’m leaving now. I heard you have a canceled class, so I left a bit early too]

[Husband: It’ll be a disaster if Hyung finds out]

The lips that had been sighing just a moment ago curved softly into a smile. With Cha Se-jin, who waited for him, wanted to hear his voice, and was cutely jealous, everything became okay in an instant.

The sadness that had been thinly layered over one side of his heart, and the emptiness of letting go of something he had held onto for so long, all slowly faded away after facing Cha Se-jin. Eun-won looked down at the screen for a moment and typed a reply. He knew Se-jin wouldn’t see it immediately since he was driving, but he wanted to convey it now.

[I’ll be waiting]

[I miss you, Executive Director]

Clutching the phone with both hands, Eun-won left the emergency exit with a step much lighter than when he had entered.

Waiting for the only person he could always return to, waiting for love.

[Exclusive] Baum Construction Suspected of Swapping Materials and Submitting False Reports for Sewon Resort Project… Investigation Launched

Investigative agencies have launched an inquiry after circumstances were uncovered suggesting that Baum Construction used lower-grade materials than those approved during the construction of the Sewon Resort and submitted false reports to conceal this.

According to industry sources, Baum Construction is suspected of replacing high-durability waterproof materials and some drainage facilities, which should have been used in coastal areas, with low-cost materials and then forging documents to make it appear as though they met the relevant performance standards.

Furthermore, it has been reported that circumstances were identified [stolen content]where funds were leaked externally through a paper company involved in the material supply process. It is [visit our site]said that some of these funds flowed into borrowed-name accounts unauthorized copyand shares linked to internal officials at Baum Construction.

Sewon has sent a notice demanding the suspension of work and the preservation of data, and is currently reviewing the termination of the contract and a claim for damages.

Seo Jun-hyeok, President of Baum Construction, has stepped down from his position as CEO, and Yeo Hee-jin, an internal director of Baum Construction, is also under investigation regarding allegations of concealing funds and borrowed-name shares.

Investigative agencies plan to expand the investigation, focusing on the circumstances behind the creation of the false documents, the flow of funds, and whether the parties involved conspired.

Eun-won stared quietly at the article. He hadn’t looked for it on purpose, but it was on the main page of the portal site, and he had clicked it without realizing.

The article appeared two days after his father had called him, saying it was his last request, that there was no other way, and asking if he could just once speak to Cha Se-jin.

Because he was afraid of this, afraid of it being revealed to the world, his father must have called him. Because once it’s known, everything is truly over.

It didn’t feel pleasant to see such an article. He would probably feel similarly whenever he encountered stories about his father in the future.

But even so, he didn’t want to stop every time. He didn’t want to stand there, digging up old memories and hurting again, just because he faced unwelcome news.

By learning to pass by like that once, then twice, he would eventually be able to move past it with a truly settled heart, simply and calmly.

The professor entered the classroom. Eun-won closed the window with the article and put his phone visit our sitein his pocket. In the past, unauthorized copya thought that had stuck once would have clung to his mind the entire time, but not anymore.

His mind wasn’t complicated, and he didn’t feel suffocated. He didn’t even feel that he should have done something for the people in the article. He simply felt that it was now truly over.

Eun-won took a very slow, deep breath in and out. And then, he returned to the place where he belonged.