S Chapter 84

‘Come to think of it, last time it was on the cheek.’

Back then, he had only thought of it as a secret cute gesture.

‘Hmm. Is it any different now?’

…Well, a kiss is a kiss, whether on the cheek or the lips. Don’t people say ‘nice to see you’ when they meet?

As he tried to understand his younger brother’s actions, his confused mind began to calm down.

‘Right now, he’s still high on the aftermath of battle, so his excitement hasn’t completely subsided. So it must have been expressed more intensely than usual.’

To him, a thirty-year-old, Yang U-dam was just a young, cute younger brother, so he inwardly assented, without even recalling how other siblings typically interacted. In his mind, a kiss was simply a cute gesture.

His steps as he left work were light, as if he could fly. He was so overflowing with composure that even when he saw a car cut him off rudely, he just laughed it off, thinking, ‘They must be very busy.’

There were many reasons for his light heart. An on-time departure sweet as honey? Hmm. Of course, that helped, but most of all, it was because his younger brother’s progress was going smoothly.

Shin Jukyeong recalled the day again, pulling the corners of his mouth up high in a smile. His fingers, tapping rhythmically on the steering wheel, seemed to dance with joy.

The only regrettable thing was that his younger brother couldn’t come with him. Shin Jukyeong glanced at the empty passenger seat.

‘This is why dorm life is so annoying.’

On a day like today, how nice would it be to eat late-night snacks together and strengthen their brotherly affection all night?

Shin Jukyeong sighed deeply and pressed the accelerator. It truly was a shame.

“I’m home.”

As he took off his shoes and stepped inside, Kang Seo-oh came out to greet him, as always. Shin Jukyeong habitually handed over his coat and bag.

But Kang Seo-oh was acting strangely. He couldn’t keep his body still, fidgeting restlessly as he received the items. On closer inspection, his complexion was also pale. When Shin Jukyeong asked what was wrong, Kang Seo-oh finally spoke in a voice mixed with tears.

“Why did you come home so early today?”

…Huh? What is this? Is it a new type of harassment? Or does he dislike me leaving work early enough to make him tear up?

‘Even I would be hurt by that, no matter who I am.’

Shin Jukyeong slowly blinked, wondering what kind of situation this was. A loading icon appeared above his head.

It was precisely then, as his thoughts flowed slowly. A familiar face appeared in the distance. It was his father’s secretary. Dressed in a classic double-breasted suit, he walked towards Shin Jukyeong and spoke.

“You’ve arrived. The Chairman is waiting.”

At that, Kang Seo-oh, who was standing in front of Shin Jukyeong, let out a pained groan.

Ah. So this is why…?

Shin Jukyeong subtly exchanged glances with Kang Seo-oh. The two conversed with just their eyes.

‘Why, what’s wrong now?’

‘I don’t know. The atmosphere in the house is chilling. You should have gone back out before the secretary arrived.’

‘Why didn’t you tell me sooner?’

‘You work late every day, so when you suddenly came home early, I was flustered.’

‘You have messaging, too. Don’t you know how to text, you young punk?’

‘Ah… Um? But I’m older…’

‘What.’

‘Really rude.’

“Young Master? The Chairman is waiting.”

Their secret conversation was abruptly cut off by the chief secretary. He tilted his head, looking back and forth between Shin Jukyeong and Kang Seo-oh. His eyes asked what they were doing, not going in.

In the end, Shin Jukyeong had no choice but to nod, pretending to be nonchalant, and follow the chief secretary.

‘If this is how it’s going to be, I’d rather work overtime.’

His plan to take a leisurely half-bath and then write his ‘younger brother praise diary’—a hobby of sorts—was brutally cut short. He didn’t know what he had done wrong to anger his father, but he would probably be reamed out for about an hour.

…Damn it, he was already tired. His exhausted body screamed loudly to be taken to bed, but there was no other way. How could he resist when the master of the house called him?

Shin Jukyeong entered the Study, passing through the door the chief secretary held open.

“I’m home.”

He bowed at the waist to greet him. But there was no reply. Even though he had called him in, he was being treated like a ghost. He probably meant, ‘Reflect on your actions,’ or something similar.

‘…Uncomfortable.’

Cold sweat ran down his hands, clasped behind his back. Shin Jukyeong slowly clenched and unclenched his hands, trying hard to relax. But his stiff body wouldn’t relax. Why was he so nervous just seeing his father? An awkward laugh escaped him for no reason.

‘Is this truly the relationship between a father and son?’

Shin Jukyeong glanced at his father’s back. What kind of expression was he wearing?

‘It definitely wouldn’t be a pleasant one.’

A heavy, uncomfortable air settled in the room. A cold breath escaped Shin Jukyeong’s thin lips. With the sensation of his heart being tightly squeezed, Shin Jukyeong’s Adam’s apple bobbed noticeably.

After a long silence, his father turned around.

“That thing caused trouble again today, I hear.”

That thing… Now he openly refers to him like that.

‘There weren’t even any outside reporters, yet the news travels fast.’

Did he tell me to monitor him, yet also plant other confidants? Given his father’s personality, it was highly likely. He’s someone who doesn’t even fully trust his own biological children.

‘But why is he so hard on U-dam…?’

It was then, as he slowly sank into deep thought. His father suddenly roared.

“Shin Jukyeong!!”

A thunderous roar, unlike his usual reserved demeanor. Shin Jukyeong’s shoulders twitched and rose. Even if he tried to deceive himself by pretending it wasn’t true, pretending to be fine, pretending to be indifferent, he could feel his heart pounding erratically.

It was anger he had experienced countless times, he was an adult, fully grown… yet he still couldn’t help but feel suppressed. As if he had become a child who saw a goblin.

“…”

Shin Jukyeong sucked in a ragged, empty breath. He had to answer, but his lips merely trembled with fear. Regardless, his father was busy venting his anger.

He approached closely and roughly grabbed Shin Jukyeong’s chin, forcing their eyes to meet. His dead, black eyes stared at Shin Jukyeong as if to devour him.

“What exactly are you doing? That fox-cub is already making an impression everywhere! Didn’t I tell you to report everything without exception? Do you think your father’s words are a joke?”

“…”

“Do you think I poured all my effort into raising you just so you could be some lowly Hunter Academy Management Department employee? If you can’t satisfy me, you should at least put in the minimum effort!”

U-dam’s achievements at the Hunter Academy clearly irritated him immensely, as his anger did not easily subside. Every word he spat out was sharp. He constantly compared him to U-dam, intimidating him by saying U-dam’s position was rightfully Shin Jukyeong’s.

If Shin Jukyeong hadn’t regressed in time, he would even develop hatred for U-dam.

“Pathetic bastard…”

He released Shin Jukyeong’s chin as if throwing it away and finally walked to the glass cabinet. Then, picking up the thickest and most formidable Cane, he commanded in his usual cold voice.

“Take them off.”

Shin Jukyeong clenched his fists. The word ‘no’ rose to the tip of his throat. Besides his brothers, he too needed to escape from his father’s shadow. Yes, he knew. He knew it in his head, but putting it into action was incredibly difficult. Look, his legs were already trembling.

‘I need to tell him to stop.’

He should, but ironically, the closer his father came, only a learned sense of defeat surged up.

He was an irrevocably tamed dog. A stupid dog that, despite having sharp teeth, only knew how to tuck its tail when its master raised a whip.

‘Damn it.’

Shin Jukyeong gritted his teeth and lowered his head.

“Mr. Shin Jukyeong.”

“…”

“Mr. Shin Jukyeong!”

“Ah, yes. I, I apologize. Is there anything you need me to do?”

“You’re zoning out more than usual today? Are you sick?”

His senior colleague asked Shin Jukyeong, who was standing by the copier. She tilted her head and added that his complexion wasn’t good.

“I tossed and turned a bit.”

Shin Jukyeong rubbed the back of his neck, replying in an embarrassed tone.

It wasn’t a lie. He had stayed up all night, not because of his wounded legs, but because of his complicated feelings. He was so pathetic that he couldn’t sleep at all. Even with his eyes closed, he was busy blaming himself for not resisting even once.

“Why? Is your lover giving you trouble?”

“What? No. Someone like a lover…”

She pressed down on Shin Jukyeong’s shoulder, saying, ‘Oh, really?’ Her lips, rounded into an ‘O’, and her narrowly opened eyes were the face of someone who had found good prey to tease.

“Senior. It hurts.”

“Aww. Tell me everything, huh? I’m good at relationship advice. I bet your love story will be interesting, Mr. Shin Jukyeong. What kind of girl is she?”

“No, I mean, it’s not that kind of thing.”

It seems she’s severely misunderstood. Lover, what the heck kind of lover…

‘I’m so busy I can’t even get a moment to myself.’

Just as he was about to push her away, looking troubled, the back door opened.

“The instructor asked me to pick something up.”

A casual, almost indifferent tone, and his unique languid voice. The one who entered was Yang U-dam.

“Ah, right! That thing? Just a moment. It should be at my desk.”

As the senior clapped her hands, turned, and disappeared, Yang U-dam, who had been standing by the door, approached. Shin Jukyeong was about to greet him warmly, but Yang U-dam was a step faster. He met his gaze with a sulky face and parted his lips.

‘Lover?’