Chapter 31

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Translator: Harry Potta
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: That Woman
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Taeseo stubbed out his cigarette and tossed the butt into a trash can before walking toward his car.

“Why did you have to resort to violence?”

With every step, Hyunwoo's nagging inevitably followed.

“You came down here to lie low, so what are you doing beating someone up? If this keeps up, our dream of returning to Seoul will be—”

“So I should just let a criminal bastard walk?”

Even after they got in the car, Hyunwoo’s lecture continued.

“No, but even if a crime was happening right next to you, you could have just reported it. Why did you have to beat the guy up…?”

Of course, Taeseo didn't back down and said his piece.

“If words worked on that bastard, he wouldn't have done it in the first place. Ah, whatever. Tell the lawyer to handle it.”

“These days, you can get into big trouble for getting involved in other people’s business.”

“Oh, right. I kind of damaged some property in the studio apartment…”

“...?”

“Yeah. It’s because that bastard committed a crime and wouldn't open the door. Take care of that, too.”

At the mention of property damage, Hyunwoo, who had just started driving, pulled the car over to the side of the road in front of the police station.

“Property… Property… You damaged property…?”

“Yeah.”

Hyunwoo remained frozen in that position for a long moment before he could finally speak.

“Sir. It’s not that you don’t want to go back to Seoul, is it…? You haven’t decided to settle down in this town for good, have you…?”

* * *

The fallout from the night's events came from an unexpected quarter.

Taeseo’s phone rang after he’d returned from the police station and finally fallen into a light sleep. Rubbing his eyes, he picked up his phone and glanced at the screen. It was a call from Hyunwoo.

After the chaos of the early morning, they had decided to take the day off. Hyunwoo had already submitted the leave request, so there were no procedural issues. Yet, the phone kept ringing.

“He tells me to take the day off, and then calls at this hour? What kind of asshole move is that?”

Taeseo forced his heavy eyelids open and answered the call.

“What? Didn't you tell me to rest today?”

- We’re in big trouble, Manager Kwon! Senior Managing Director Kwon Taejin is on his way to the site now! I think you need to get to the office right away!

The urgent voice on the other end of the line made Taeseo jolt upright.

“Really? My brother?”

The mention of his brother’s name completely woke him up.

“How far along is he? If he just left, we have about three hours, right?”

Unlike Taeseo, Taejin valued principles and rules in all matters. For him, a man who prioritized procedure, to visit the site without notice meant something serious enough to bypass protocol had occurred.

- The Senior Managing Director’s secretary said he just passed the tollgate and will arrive at the site in under thirty minutes.

“What the hell? They should’ve called when he left. What are we supposed to do with a call now?”

If Taejin saw that Taeseo wasn't there, he would suspect him of negligence and try to uncover his work conduct so far.

By anyone’s standards, Taeseo’s work ethic had been far from diligent. The site employees had turned a blind eye to his behavior until now, but if Taejin started digging, the truth would come out quickly.

“I’m on my way.”

For Taeseo, it was a bolt from the blue, a fire lit under his feet.

- Get here as fast as you can. Hurry.

Hyunwoo’s desperate voice came through the receiver.

It was understandable why he was so anxious. The timing of his return to the Seoul headquarters depended on Taeseo’s actions.

If Taeseo made one wrong move and was pushed out of Namgyeong Group's management, the lifeline Hyunwoo was clinging to wouldn't just be a rotten rope—it would be a severed one.

Taeseo felt the pressure, too. The moment his past actions reached Taejin's ears, his escape from this godforsaken place would become a distant dream.

* * *

Having barely made it to the site office before Taejin’s arrival, Taeseo checked his appearance in a mirror.

He hadn't slept properly, hadn't even showered, and had just run some water through his hair before leaving. His usually fair skin was dusky with fatigue, and dark circles shadowed his eyes.

The only saving grace was his naturally strong build, which made him look presentable as long as he wore decent clothes.

After straightening his attire, he stepped out in front of the office to a remarkable scene. At the news that the Senior Managing Director was coming from headquarters, all the office staff had gathered out front.

The rain had halted construction for the day, so even the idle heavy equipment operators were lined up with umbrellas.

When Taeseo, demoted from headquarters, had first arrived in Seongwu Township, no one had paid him any mind. But now, everyone had turned out to get on the good side of Taejin, the top candidate for the next chairman.

Taeseo walked over to Hyunwoo, who stood at the end of the crowd. In the distance, a black sedan, presumably Taejin's car, was approaching the site.

“My oh-so-great Kwon Taejin despises things like authoritarianism.”

“Sir?”

Hyunwoo looked at Taeseo, confused.

“The brother I know is a pragmatist to a fault. He loathes this kind of empty formality. The first thing he’ll say when he gets here is why everyone is standing around instead of working.”

“Oh! Should I go back inside then?”

Taeseo shook his head at the subordinate's foolish remark.

“Going along with what everyone else does is a survival skill. If you're the only one who doesn't, you'll look like a rebel.”

“Then what am I supposed to do…?”

“Just stay put.”

Just then, Taejin’s car arrived in front of the site office. The employees' faces were visibly tense as they watched the car stop.

A moment later, a door opened, and a pair of gleaming, polished shoes stepped onto the ground. As Taejin, dressed in a bluish suit, emerged from the car, his secretary, who had gotten out of the passenger seat, handed him an umbrella.

Holding the umbrella, Taejin stood still, observing the employees lined up before the site office. The site director hurried over to him.

“Welcome, Senior Managing Director. I am Jo Seokjin, the director of the Seongwu Township Golf Resort site.”

“Ah, yes. Director Jo. It’s been a while. But why is everyone out here instead of working?”

Hearing this from a few steps behind, Taeseo let out a smirk.

“See? Told you so.”

Despite Taeseo’s comment, Hyunwoo remained frozen and silent.

Taejin scanned the lined-up crowd, searching for someone. His gaze stopped on Taeseo’s face. A cold voice escaped his lips.

“Kwon Taeseo. I need to see you.”

The stark difference in his tone compared to when he greeted the director made the employees standing in line flinch.

Some of them were aware of the Namgyeong second son’s poor work ethic after being sent down for causing trouble. A few even squeezed their eyes shut, as if to say, ‘it’s finally happened.’

“The meeting room is still empty, right?”

The site director nodded at Taejin's question. As the one who received the initial reports about Taeseo’s truancy, his face was a mask of despair.

Taejin walked past the director and approached Taeseo, his expression stern.

“Follow me.”

“Me? Why?”

Taeseo shrugged as if he had no idea what was going on, but Taejin simply said his piece and walked toward the meeting room attached to the site office.

Feeling awkward, Taeseo made a joke to Hyunwoo standing beside him.

“See, I told you he wouldn't like us standing here like this.”

Hyunwoo couldn't manage a smile and instead pushed Taeseo’s back.

“Just get to the meeting room.”

From Hyunwoo’s perspective, he had tried his best to plug a leak on the outside, but in the end, a leaky bucket is a leaky bucket, and the story had reached headquarters.

Taeseo turned away from Hyunwoo, whose face looked like the world was ending, and sauntered toward the meeting room his brother had entered.

* * *

As Taeseo opened the door and entered the meeting room, Taejin, who was already seated, shouted.

“Do you have a brain, or don’t you?”

Taeseo replied nonchalantly.

“About what?”

“If you had a brain, you wouldn't come down to a site and beat a local to a pulp!”

“That bastard was in the wrong first. Mind your own business.”

“His wrongdoing is his problem, but you beating him up is your problem!”

“Ah… So you came rushing down here, trembling in fear that rumors would spread about the second son of Namgyeong causing trouble at the site?”

Taeseo looked at Taejin with an expression that said he knew exactly what was going on. He was brazen, acting as if he didn't see the issue.

“I’m not in the mood for jokes. Father is furious, saying he’ll send you to study abroad or whatever right now.”

“I can’t speak a word of English. Study abroad my ass.”

Taejin sighed at Taeseo’s words. He was shamelessly admitting his lack of English, but it was the truth.

He had never studied English outside of his required university courses.

Taeseo’s mindset was that he would never need to use English, and if he did, he could just hire an interpreter.

“Are you proud of not studying when everyone else did?”

“Studying is for smart people. Is it news to you that I’m a blockhead?”

Taejin pressed his temples as if his head was aching. Seeing this, Taeseo grinned.

“Looks like the old man sent you down here in a rage. Go back and tell him for me. If he sends me abroad, I’ll do drugs, gamble, and really let loose.”

“You little bastard.”

“Perfect. I hated it here anyway. I can party as much as I want where you and Father can't see me. If you want to see that happen, go ahead and send me.”

“Are you going to keep living like this?”

“You’re the one who’s always going on about studying abroad. I didn't care for studying in college, so what am I supposed to learn now, in a place where I can’t even speak the language?”

“Then! You should have lived properly!”

“What did I do that wasn't proper?”

“Pack your bags now. Pack up and go wherever Father tells you to, whether it’s America or England.”

“I said I’m not going. Shit, what am I supposed to do in a town where I can’t even communicate? I’m the kind of person who doesn't even go overseas for vacation. Because nothing goes my way there. Got it?”

“You really…”

“I’m handling my work here just fine, so you can spare me the lecture.”

“A guy who’s doing fine causes property damage and commits assault?”

“You must have heard everything from the police station’s witness interview. If it comes to it, I have someone who will testify to my innocence, so stay out of it.”

Of course, he had no intention of making Yuna testify, even if things got complicated. Doing so would force her to relive the memory of almost being sexually assaulted.

So, this was purely a bluff to pressure Taejin.

But upon hearing his words, Taejin’s glare grew even fiercer.

“This person who will testify for you—is it that woman who was almost sexually assaulted? I’m sure a woman who settled an attempted rape case for one million won will be more than willing to testify for you.”