By Zephyria 
Thump, thump, thump. The doorbell and the sound of knocking on the door alternated. Hee-shin, who had been rolling around on the sofa with a hangover, barely managed to get up and check the intercom. A strange man’s face appeared on the screen. When asked who it was, the man leaned his face closer to the screen.
-Hello, CEO. I’m from the real estate agency. I’ve come to show the house. Didn’t you hear from the landlord?
Just a moment. Checking his phone in a hurry, he saw missed calls and messages. He knew the house had been put on the market, but he never dreamed they would come at this hour. After roughly tidying up his disheveled appearance, he went to the entrance and opened the door. The real estate agent smiled, his round, white face appearing through the gap in the door.
“Oh dear, I’m sorry for coming so early. I’ll just take a quick look around~”
The real estate agent, who had been greeting him affably, paused. Was it because of the beer cans rolling around the table, or perhaps the pile of cup ramen containers on the dining table? As Hee-shin hurriedly gathered them and threw them into the trash, a young couple followed behind and entered.
Excuse us for a moment.
After greeting him politely, they began to inspect every corner of the house.
The house is smaller than I thought. It’s not like we’re going to live here anyway. It’s for investment. That’s true.
“The tenant is a single man, but he’s kept the place very clean. See? There’s no mold. Since rumors of redevelopment have surfaced, properties are rare these days. Grab the opportunity while you can.”
The real estate agent rambled again about the redevelopment that might never happen. He had been like that since the moment he first came to this house. Speaking as if redevelopment were imminent, suggesting that perhaps buying the house would be better. When he had barely managed to get a lease by scraping together loans, how could buying be even feasible?
Hee-shin stood in an awkward posture until they finished their tour.
“How much are you thinking for the loan?”
“Our parents decided to help us.”
“Wow, you’re blessed. Silver spoon. A total silver spoon.”
“Not quite a silver spoon. They just have the means to help.”
“That’s exactly what a silver spoon is. Do you know how many strange parents there are these days? There are countless people who bleed their children dry.”
“Oh, come on. Are such parents really that common?”
“Why, if you look, there are plenty.”
Listening to this made his stomach churn. As someone who had a parent who bled their children dry, he wanted to say something. That it’s more common than you think. That such a person is standing right in front of you. So, consider being born to good parents a blessing and live your whole life in gratitude. Otherwise, you would have lived like him, pouring water into a bottomless pit.
After looking around for a while, the three of them left after saying they would be in touch. Once the unwelcome guests were gone, he dragged his body back to the sofa and lay down. Then, since he had regained some consciousness, he checked his phone messages one by one.
-You brat. What do you think you’re doing! Answer the phone right now.
-Oppa, are you sleeping?
-Pro Kang. Are you really going to be like this? Come to my office as soon as you get to work.
-Prosecutor. Where are you? Did you get home safely? The district office has been calling and going crazy for a while now. What on earth is happening? I’m scared.
-Oppa, are you really going to be like this? Are you angry at me for something?
-Prosecutor Kang. I know you have feelings for me, but you can’t handle work like this, can you? You knew everything, didn’t you? You passed it over knowing, right?
While reading the messages one by one with an expressionless face, a call came in from Yoon Se-na. As soon as he answered, a somewhat agitated voice flowed out.
-Oppa! Why is it so hard to reach you?
“Sorry. I was out of it.”
-What could be so busy that you can’t even take my call?
Unlike usual, Yoon Se-na snapped sharply. For a moment, he felt a sense of unfairness. He wondered why she was getting so angry over a phone call when he understood and endured everything about her.
“Didn’t the people you hired tell you? My Hyung died.”
Silence was transmitted from the other end of the receiver.
-Oppa….
“I’m listening. Speak.”
Yoon Se-na’s voice softened considerably.
-I did it because I was worried about you…. I didn’t do it with bad intentions.
“I know.”
-I swear, I stopped now! Those bastards disappeared without even answering the phone.
They didn’t just disappear; Im Gyeong had caught them and beaten them into hiding.
-Since when did you know…?
He didn’t reveal the fact that Im Gyeong had helped. Even though they were half-siblings, he didn’t want to create unnecessary conflict. In truth, he felt unpleasant. However, he couldn’t reveal all his emotions. On the surface, they might not seem different from any other couple, but between Yoon Se-na and him, there existed an invisible class system.
-You’re not angry, are you…?
“No.”
-…Really not?
“No. But don’t do it again. It’s not pleasant.”
I understand…. A discouraged voice was heard. Whenever the usually confident Yoon Se-na acted like this, he used to feel a sense of superiority as if he had become something, but today, even that was gone. Why doesn’t she ask? If the funeral for his Hyung was handled well. If he’s feeling okay. Even if they are family who are worse than strangers, couldn’t she ask? But would anything change if she did?
-…Listen.
Lost in thought for a moment, he missed her voice.
“Yeah?”
-I called because I have good news.
“What news?”
-Dad invited you to the 50th anniversary founding ceremony.
For a moment, he was speechless. Suddenly? Wasn’t Chairman Yoon someone who avoided meetings to a stubborn degree?
-You’ll definitely come, right?
Yoon Se-na’s voice began to sound excited.
“…When is it?”
-Next Saturday.
“…….”
-You’ll come, right?
“…Yeah, of course. I have to go.”
Yoon Se-na’s voice became even brighter. After continuing the conversation for a bit, he ended the call. He was stunned. He didn’t know with what intention Chairman Yoon had invited him.
After sitting and pondering for a long time, he finally went to the room and took out an envelope containing a check for 100 million won.
Determined that he would definitely return this money today.
Help me! Please, help me! A man with his hands tied behind his back lay flat on the floor, screaming and pleading. A moment later, Tatsuki came from the kitchen, holding a black lacquered tray with both hands. On the tray, a preheated white porcelain teapot and teacups were neatly arranged. He silently lowered all the blinds on the windows, and soon after, Im Gyeong walked out wearing a robe.
The man crawled on his knees toward Im Gyeong, who was brushing back his messy hair, and begged.
“Please save me! If you just spare my life, I’ll do anything!”
Im Gyeong passed the man and sat at the table.
“I was wrong! I’ll never do it again! Never! Please just spare my life!”
The man used Japanese and Korean interchangeably.
When he tried to cling to Im Gyeong’s leg, a nearby bodyguard stepped on his shoulder to restrain him.
Im Gyeong looked at the man and smiled seductively.
“If you’re going to sell my maternal grandfather’s name, you should have done it properly.”
“I was wrong! I was wrong! Please save me! I have an elderly mother!”
“I have a mother too. Though not that elderly.”
Im Gyeong checked his watch before continuing.
“I drink tea at exactly this time.”
The man’s eyes widened. What?
Im Gyeong tilted the teapot and poured the brewed tea into the cup.
His appearance was free-spirited, but his attitude toward the tea was disciplined and full of elegance.
As he lifted the teacup, a subtle scent of grass and sweetness rose together. When he held it in his mouth, a smooth, savory taste lingered. For a moment, he thought of a man. A person reminiscent of bamboo drenched in rain. A person who would suit this tea…. He decided that if he had the chance, he would definitely serve it to him.
But since there was something else to do now, he put down the teacup and stood up.
“This is my family’s tradition.”
“…….”
“Therefore, no one disturbs this time. No one at all.”
“Wha-what does that….”
At a gesture, the bodyguard behind him brought a long sword. Sshhh, the blue blade was drawn from the scabbard, and the bodyguard grabbed the man’s hair and jerked his neck back. The man let out a gasp, his face turning white with terror. The gaze of Im Gyeong, as he checked the blade, also flashed with murderous intent.
“Please, please save me! If you save me, I’ll do anyth—”
In an instant, the long sword sliced through the air and grazed the man’s neck, creating a horizontal red line. Then, the skin split wide open, and red blood sprayed out like a fountain. Gack! The man couldn’t utter a word and collapsed forward, clutching his neck.
The man, who had been convulsing, gradually stopped moving, and before long, the floor was stained with bright red blood. Im Gyeong handed the blood-stained sword to one of the bodyguards. Then, he calmly returned, wiped the blood from his hands, and lifted the teacup again. Just as one might wonder how he could drink tea like that, the phone rang.
He looked back at Tatsuki, who was attending to him.
“It seems there’s another one who wants to die?”
However, his face upon checking the caller was brighter than ever.
“What is it so early in the morning?”
The voice answering the phone was quite affectionate. In front of him, the employees were in the process of cleaning up the body of the man who had just died. Following their movements with his eyes, Im Gyeong nodded readily.
“Right. Let’s meet. Let’s meet and have a meal.”