IRLPLBIO Chapter 16 Part 1

Chapter 16 #4. Backstabbing (1)

Han Yun-cheol returned to the company, not his home. It was past dawn, nearing sunrise.

When he finished a quick wash and entered the Head of Department’s office, a visitor who had arrived before him was sitting on the sofa. Han Yun-cheol, whose shirt front was slightly damp, sat opposite him.

“Uncle, what brings you all the way here?”

“Ah, I heard my nephew made an urgent trip to the provinces last night. I was curious, so I came. Water’s dripping, wipe it quickly.”

Han Yun-cheol’s eldest uncle, Han Gyeong-jin, held out a handkerchief. A faint smell of petrol emanated from the stiff handkerchief. This meant he hadn’t brought it with him but had bought it new. While pretending to have just rushed out, it actually meant Han Gyeong-jin had been preparing for several hours to approach and talk to Han Yun-cheol.

Han Yun-cheol pretended to know nothing, said “Thank you,” and wiped his face. Being new, it didn’t absorb water well, but it was enough to roughly wipe away the moisture.

Meanwhile, Han Gyeong-jin scrutinized Han Yun-cheol with eyes gleaming like a snake stalking its prey.

“So, how’s your brother doing?”

“…He’s relatively quiet. More so than when he was here.”

“So he still caused trouble, didn’t he?”

“……”

“It’s fine, no need to hide it. I expected as much.”

“It wasn’t a big deal. We handled it quietly.”

“It’s because he’s been babied too much. And even more so because he’s idolized as an Alpha, and all that…”

Han Gyeong-jin subtly rolled his eyes, gauging Han Yun-cheol’s reaction.

The emotion Han Yun-cheol felt towards his much younger brother was a kind of ‘inferiority complex.’ Han Yun-cheol had clearly stated that ability was more important than secondary gender. He had even implied that if Han Seong-cheol developed abilities beyond his own after his manifestation, he could give up his position.

However, if such a situation were to truly occur, Han Yun-cheol would never stand idly by.

Whenever Han Seong-cheol, who only had his secondary gender and nothing else, acted out, Han Yun-cheol would always go and observe the spectacle. On the surface, it looked like an elder brother covering up and dealing with his younger brother’s faults, but Han Gyeong-jin knew that wasn’t the case.

Han Yun-cheol rejoiced every time Han Seong-cheol shot himself in the foot with foolish acts. It was also a way to collect weaknesses, ensuring Han Seong-cheol wouldn’t easily target his position later.

It had always been like this until now, but this time was different. No matter how much he prodded, Han Yun-cheol showed no particular reaction.

Han Gyeong-jin subtly clicked his tongue in disappointment. His nephew, now more mature, was becoming increasingly difficult to handle.

“I used it well, Uncle. It wouldn’t be right to return it wet, so I’ll buy you a new one.”

“No, it’s fine. Just give it to me.”

Han Gyeong-jin, who had unconsciously refused Han Yun-cheol’s words, held out his hand. Han Yun-cheol’s posture lowered slightly to hand the handkerchief across the table. Thanks to that, the pen clipped into Han Yun-cheol’s front jacket pocket became visible.

Han Gyeong-jin’s eyes gleamed for a moment, and he swiftly snatched the pen. It wasn’t an ordinary pen but a voice recorder.

“You recorded it? Nephew, I’ll have a listen to this.”

“Please don’t, Uncle. I’ll tell father first.”

“What does it matter? The content won’t change just because someone else listens first.”

“Still…”

Han Yun-cheol made a few gestures of protest, then eventually nodded as if resigned.

Han Gyeong-jin’s eyes gleamed even brighter. If it was truly something he shouldn’t hear, Han Yun-cheol would have been firm until the end, but seeing him back down willingly this time, it seemed he wanted him to listen.

Han Gyeong-jin played the recorder in front of Han Yun-cheol. He skipped past the parts from their arrival at the police station to the process of reaching a settlement. He figured with DK’s lawyer and Han Yun-cheol together, they would have handled it well enough on their own.

He was the kind of person who believed he could best find an opponent’s weaknesses after the tense situation had eased and everything was settled. Sure enough, as the commotion was winding down, a voice was heard.

“—Oh, hyung-nim. It’s problematic if you bring something like this. I haven’t settled yet, have I? Don’t make me not want to settle.”

Following the youthful voice, there was a click, and the pen-shaped recorder turned off. Han Gyeong-jin immediately leaned forward, showing interest.

“Who is this kid? He noticed it was a recorder and turned it off right away. Does he know something?”

“…He’s the victim of the incident Han Seong-cheol caused.”

“A victim acting so smart? Is he not the one who threw himself into it on purpose?”

Han Yun-cheol had thought that for a moment himself. But shortly after speaking with Jae-gu, he immediately concluded otherwise. If Jae-gu had truly thrown himself into it to exploit Han Seong-cheol, the Dae-yeong Group would have been thoroughly shaken to a degree that they couldn’t even control.

He hadn’t imagined that Jae-gu, whom he had dismissed as a country bumpkin, would have his aunt Han Ga-yeon, his cousin Park Kwang-cheol, and even lawyer Im Ho-sin with him. Furthermore, the kid quickly whispered something in the moment Han Yun-cheol’s recorder was turned off.

‘It doesn’t seem like you have anything else hidden. So, hyung-nim, please make an investment for me with the settlement money you’ll give me.’

‘An investment?’

‘Minors have a lot of inconveniences, don’t they? And it’s not like I have an app…’

‘No father, you say? Even if you’re a high school student, you should be careful with such crude expressions.’

‘Ah, it’s not like that, an app, I mean, a father…’

Jae-gu muttered, then sighed “Phew” and shook his head.

‘Never mind that. Anyway, I’m asking you, hyung-nim, to invest on my behalf.’

‘Why are you telling me instead of leaving it to your aunt?’

‘Because I know you, hyung-nim, have good investment opportunities.’

Jae-gu’s voice carried a strong conviction. Han Yun-cheol himself was uncertain if his ventures would turn out well, yet Jae-gu was confident in Han Yun-cheol’s success.

This made him more suspicious and puzzled, so Han Yun-cheol took a step back.

‘I don’t understand what you’re saying.’

Jae-gu twitched an eyebrow for a moment, then shrugged. Contrary to Han Yun-cheol’s expectation that he would ask again, Jae-gu also immediately backed down.

‘Ah, well, I understand. Since you, hyung-nim, say you won’t include me, I’ll just find another route on my own.’

‘……’

He shouldn’t ask again. He shouldn’t get entangled.

Even thinking that, Han Yun-cheol ended up speaking to Jae-gu.

‘Another… route? Was there someone else you could entrust it to?’