By Zephyria 
Inside the fast-moving car, Secretary Park pulled a phone from his inner pocket.
Buzz— It was a call from Chief Secretary Kang. Secretary Park glanced at Han Seung-jae through the rearview mirror; he seemed lost in thought.
With his cold features, Han Seung-jae radiated a chilling aura. However, Secretary Park could tell instinctively that Han Seung-jae wasn’t in a bad mood. In fact, he was far better off than when he was heading to Haseon Hospital after hearing the doctor’s words. Since leaving lunch with Seo Yi-kyung, Han Seung-jae’s expression had become more composed.
As Secretary Park put the phone to his ear, Chief Secretary Kang spoke.
[Where are you now? The President is looking for Director Han.]
“I’m on my way back from an outside appointment. I expect to arrive at the office in 30 minutes.”
[30 minutes? I’ll pass that along. Still, you should come as quickly as possible. I trust you are aware that the President does not appreciate waiting.]
After finishing the brief call with Chief Secretary Kang, Secretary Park looked back. He was about to open his mouth to relay the conversation.
Han Seung-jae spoke apathetically.
“I heard. I have ears, too.”
Since the car was silent, there was no way Han Seung-jae hadn’t heard Chief Secretary Kang’s voice over the phone.
Secretary Park stared straight ahead and slid the phone deep into his inner pocket. The timing was bad. Until a moment ago, Han Seung-jae’s expression had certainly not been bad. But in an instant, that peaceful emotion seemed to plummet to the bottom.
The sedan pulled up in front of the Myeongjun Financial Group. Secretary Park hurriedly stepped out and moved into the building with Han Seung-jae. Throughout the elevator ride to the upper floors, he witnessed Han Seung-jae’s gaze grow increasingly caustic.
“You’ve arrived.”
The employee standing in front of the Director’s Office was already on his feet. He clasped his hands in front of him with a troubled look on his face.
“President Han is inside.”
Despite being told that Han Seung-jae wasn’t in the office, Han Yechan had stubbornly entered and taken a seat. Moreover, President Han Yechan was Han Seung-jae’s father. Thus, the employees could not have stepped forward more aggressively to stop him.
It was inevitable that the staff would be walking on eggshells around both Han Seung-jae and Han Yechan.
Secretary Park knocked and opened the door. Han Yechan, who was sitting in the seat of honor on the sofa, turned his head. He was drinking tea from a cup provided by an employee. Chief Secretary Kang stood beside him, checking the time as if to confirm.
It had taken exactly 30 minutes since the call with Secretary Park. However, Han Yechan’s perspective was different. To him, the waiting time felt long and tedious. It felt as though over an hour had passed.
“You’re late.”
Han Yechan spoke to Han Seung-jae as he entered. As if he hadn’t heard the words, Han Seung-jae took off his suit jacket and handed it to Secretary Park.
Chief Secretary Kang, who had been standing by Han Yechan’s side continuing the conversation, murmured as if to chime in.
“The President has been waiting for a long time.”
“Is that so?”
Han Seung-jae’s response was extremely brief. He turned away from Secretary Park and reached out his long arm without hesitation. Then, he grabbed Chief Secretary Kang’s head and slammed it straight into the door.
Thump!
“Seung-jae.”
Han Yechan set down his teacup and frowned. Despite being called, Han Seung-jae said nothing. Only the loud groan of Chief Secretary Kang, whose head felt as if it were being crushed in Han Seung-jae’s grip, filled the room.
“Di… Director Han. Why are you doing this?”
“Think before you speak to me.”
The eyes of Chief Secretary Kang, whose forehead was pressed against the door, shook violently. He tried to brace himself with both hands against the door to stand straight, but the more he did, the stronger Han Seung-jae’s force pushed him.
“Did I make a promise?”
“N-no, I didn’t.”
Chief Secretary Kang’s voice trembled thinly. Han Seung-jae’s voice was so low that a chill ran down Chief Secretary Kang’s spine.
“Then what are you doing in an office that doesn’t belong to you?”
Han Seung-jae was speaking to Chief Secretary Kang, but he was clearly questioning his father, Han Yechan.
“I am sorry. I will make sure this doesn’t happen again.”
It’s all my fault. I should have contacted you in advance. Having had his head slammed into the door regardless of his will, Chief Secretary Kang was only able to break free after apologizing several times.
A long red mark had formed on Chief Secretary Kang’s forehead. He covered his throbbing, crimson forehead with his palm. As if waiting for this moment, Secretary Park opened the door to let him out.
“Good grief. That temper.”
Han Yechan clicked his tongue and criticized him. Who does he take after? Yet, even though Chief Secretary Kang was in a crisis, he didn’t budge from the sofa. For him, it was always crystal clear what took priority and who was more important.
Han Seung-jae slowly turned and took a seat on the sofa. His dress shirt draped over his broad shoulders, and his tie, held by a platinum pin, was perfectly undisturbed. As he leaned back loosely against the sofa, shadows formed on his vest.
“Who do you think I take after?”
Han Seung-jae revealed his twisted hostility toward his father.
“…….”
The corner of Han Yechan’s mouth twitched. Yeon So-jeong was elegant and remarkably taciturn. Thus, unlike her festering interior, she spent her years drinking without showing any outward sign. Therefore, one didn’t need a long explanation to know where Han Seung-jae’s temperament originated.
Step. An employee entered through the door Chief Secretary Kang had exited and placed a teacup in front of Han Seung-jae. Han Seung-jae didn’t feel like drinking tea. He asked while fixing a cold gaze on Han Yechan.
“Why are you here?”
They were not the type of relationship where people visited each other, exchanged friendly greetings, and savored the taste of tea—not even before Seo Yi-kyung became pregnant. However, after hearing from the attending physician that Seo Yi-kyung had been hospitalized at Haseon Hospital, Han Yechan had instructed Chief Secretary Kang to visit under the guise of a get-well call.
But Chief Secretary Kang couldn’t get inside. The man standing in front of the hospital room could not be persuaded by any words. He coldly blocked the entrance, repeating only that he could not enter without Han Seung-jae’s permission.
His mother, Yeon So-jeong, had also sent Butler Choi from the house to check on Seo Yi-kyung’s condition, but similarly, Butler Choi could not enter.
Seo Yi-kyung seemed to have thought that Seo Dong-hu might visit the hospital, so he had blocked everyone from entering the room from the start.
However, Han Seung-jae knew that the attending physician was relaying Seo Yi-kyung’s condition to Han Yechan. He had allowed it to happen, after all.
And the perceptive physician was asking Han Seung-jae first and seeking permission before conveying information to Han Yechan. But Han Yechan, who had no way of knowing this, spoke.
“I came because I was worried. Chief Secretary Kang said you were sleeping, so he couldn’t see your face. Still, I’m glad to hear the child in the womb is safe.”
“Did you wait in a room that isn’t yours just to say that? I thought you already knew everything since you heard it from the doctor.”
I wonder if it’s even necessary for me to tell you. Han Seung-jae retorted dryly. At that, the wrinkles around Han Yechan’s eyes deepened.
“Tell him to visit the house once he recovers.”
“He hasn’t recovered yet. Check for yourself if I’m lying.”
Wasn’t Seo Yi-kyung still wearing a cast on his left hand? That was something that could be known immediately by asking the doctor through Chief Secretary Kang.
Ultimately, Han Yechan, looking displeased that he had gained nothing, heavily stood up. As if waiting for this, Han Seung-jae crossed his long legs. He stepped forward and personally opened the door so Han Yechan could leave.
Just as he was about to step out, Han Yechan opened his wrinkled lips as if he had suddenly remembered something.
“By the way, Chae-ho mentioned that Ra-hyun says he won’t be returning home.”
Min Chae-ho had tried to confirm this fact through several phone calls. However, Chief Secretary Kang had relayed the matter to Han Yechan as if it were trivial.
“Well, he’s someone who has nothing to do with me anymore.”
Han Yechan walked out the door. As Han Seung-jae closed the door, his gaze turned sharp.