AOA 51

Baek Yeongseop, annoyed by the hassle, insisted on meeting that night, but Baek Mugyeong firmly refused. In the end, they agreed to meet for lunch the next day and ended the call.

When he glanced down at the phone’s glowing screen and saw how long the call had lasted, Baek Mugyeong frowned. He knew the future, at least for the next two years. He especially remembered details about the U.S. economy, and in just two months, he had already made an enormous amount of money.

But gold alone couldn’t buy Daesong Group. To reach the top of a massive conglomerate entangled in countless interests, multiple conditions had to be met.

Right now, he couldn’t surpass Baek Jaehan. But if Baek Yeongseop, who strutted around calling himself the heir, disappeared, then no one could predict what would happen.

Baek Jaehan had two daughters besides Yeongseop. There was a high chance he didn’t consider them as successors. More importantly, they had both caused a lot of scandals.

The eldest had gone abroad for illegal gambling sprees and had even caused a fatal drunk driving accident overseas. The younger, still a college student, was already being talked about in tabloids for abusing her power.

His heart pounded with murderous intent.

Baek Mugyeong recalled the moment of his death. The blinding light, the deafening horn, the intense impact, and then, nothing. He had probably died on the spot.

There was no proof, but he was almost certain Baek Jaehan had orchestrated the accident. After all, he’d been on his way to meet the man, and Baek Jaehan had once told him to his face, “I won’t let you take anything from me.” He was the kind of person who could order a hit disguised as an accident without hesitation.

It hadn’t happened yet. But if Baek Jinseok announced he was handing over DS Motors to Baek Mugyeong, it could become reality at any time.

I have to act before that.

Because Jeong Minchae had manifested as an omega two years earlier than before, he had to be especially careful.

“Hmm?”

Lost in thought, Baek Mugyeong suddenly lifted his head at a scent brushing past his nose. A sweet, cotton-candy-like fragrance, it was definitely Jeong Minchae’s.

The VIP hospital room was divided into a patient space and a caregiver space. After sending the caregiver home, Baek Mugyeong had stayed in the guardian’s area, making sure Jeong Minchae was asleep.

“No way…”

Jeong Minchae had manifested at the end of November, and his first heat hadn’t come yet. The timing of an omega’s heat or an alpha’s rut varied from person to person. Still, the first time was always intense.

Clicking his tongue, Baek Mugyeong practically ran down the hallway. He had worried about Lee Jaegwang, but when Baek Mugyeong returned to the hospital after changing clothes, the man had vanished without a trace.

But if Jeong Minchae was going into his first heat, it wasn’t just Lee Jaegwang—he’d have to worry about every alpha in the hospital. Thinking about what had happened in Cebu made his blood run cold. Even in the middle of the night, alphas at the hotel had loitered around the bungalow.

Baek Mugyeong quietly entered the room. Since it didn’t have a lock, the door was cracked open. The same went for the dividing door between patient and caregiver areas, so the pheromone scent in the air was very faint.

Thankfully, it didn’t seem like a heat. But he heard something unsettling, ragged breathing, meaningless whimpers, and gasping mixed together.

Remembering a similar incident, Baek Mugyeong hurried inside. Thanks to the soft indirect lighting, the room wasn’t pitch dark. He could clearly see Jeong Minchae, frozen in place and crying.

“Save…”

That faint cry, just like the one he heard the night of their first meeting at the hotel, made Baek Mugyeong click his tongue and call out.

“Jeong Minchae. Wake up. Jeong Minchae! Jeong Minchae!”

Even after calling his name, there was no response. In the end, he had to grab the young man’s shoulder and shake him. Only then did Jeong Minchae finally snap awake with a gasp.

His face was deathly pale, drenched in cold sweat that glued his bangs to his forehead.

His eyes, unfocused, wavered in fear.

“Jeong Minchae? Are you awake?”

Only after hearing his name again did Jeong Minchae’s gaze meet his. His eyes were full of fear and desperation.

“You looked like you were having a nightmare, so I woke you up.”

Jeong Minchae opened his mouth like he wanted to say something, but no sound came out. More tears streamed down his already soaked face.

“Doctor… Jeong Minchae?”

Sensing that something was seriously wrong, Baek Mugyeong reached to call for the doctor. But Jeong Minchae grabbed his wrist tightly, preventing him from pressing the call button.

His desperate grip was reminiscent of what had happened in Cebu, although no pheromones were being released. Instead, stifled sobs echoed through the room.

This is serious.

Having never dealt with something like this before, Baek Mugyeong clicked his tongue again, flustered. Still, instead of pulling away, he stayed, playing the role of a human security blanket. It didn’t take long for Jeong Minchae’s sobs to subside and his breathing to even out.

Baek Mugyeong carefully withdrew his hand. Fortunately, Jeong Minchae didn’t react.

He sighed quietly, his shoulders rising and falling, and looked down at the sleeping young man. Curled up tightly on his side, Jeong Minchae looked pitiful and vulnerable.

Baek Mugyeong had learned about the nightmares on the night of their first meeting. Just like now, Jeong Minchae had cried out, writhed in distress, and whispered for help.

Nightmares could take many forms. One could be chased by a shapeless black monster and still sob, begging to be saved.

But Baek Mugyeong knew about his past. He had long since understood how his family had used him.

And just as he expected, he’d quickly confirmed the source of the nightmares. Being exposed to violence while isolated would break anyone in some way.

He hadn’t known before that Jeong Minchae suffered from nightmares or that Jeong Guhyeon had been violent. Only now did he understand why Jeong Minchae had later seemed almost mentally vacant. Suppressed trauma always exploded eventually.

Looking down at Jeong Minchae’s tear-stained face, Baek Mugyeong quietly swallowed another sigh. He hadn’t meant to care, but he did.

Twenty-two years old. An age overflowing with energy, when people make mistakes and get into trouble. At least he didn’t seem like a wilting flower anymore, like before the regression. Still immature and precarious, though.

Even though resentment and bitterness don’t fade easily, facing someone’s fragile and vulnerable side head-on left him feeling strange. Despite having been betrayed before, a trace of pity and sorrow stirred in him.

Baek Mugyeong continued to look at Jeong Minchae for a long time.

The night Baek Mugyeong regressed was the same night he decided on revenge.

After sending a dazed Jeong Minchae to the bedroom, he accepted the fact that he’d regressed. Then he clenched his teeth and vowed to take away the Daesong Group, everything Baek Jaehan had coveted.

It wouldn’t be a matter of one or two years. So he laid out his plans step by step.

Earning money with future knowledge was just the foundation. The first thing he had to do was take control of DS Motors.

Although Baek Daehan was officially the current CEO, he had already stepped back from the frontline. Real power rested with President Choi Jongsu.

Before the regression, a major accident due to engine failure had led to Baek Daehan’s resignation. Choi Jongsu, despite manipulating the reports and cutting ties mid-crisis, had taken over as DS Motors’ CEO.

Acting on Baek Jaehan’s orders, Choi Jongsu constantly interfered with Baek Mugyeong’s work. He kept sending him on overseas business trips to keep him out of Korea. Back then, Baek Mugyeong hadn’t cared about staying at DS Motors, so he hadn’t resisted.

But now, Choi Jongsu was just an obstacle. Preventing a terrible accident and exposing the engine issues early on, along with Choi’s corruption, was the obvious course of action.

Baek Mugyeong painted Choi Jongsu as a greedy bastard. Over the weekend, he spread rumors that Choi had known about the engine defect and still manipulated the report. And those rumors exploded like a bomb on Monday morning.

In the previous timeline, Choi had cut others loose to keep his position. But this time, Baek Mugyeong didn’t give him that option.

He eliminated the possibility of quietly resigning and sweeping things under the rug. Now all that remained was to formally hold him accountable, and decide whether to make his relative’s dummy corporation pay damages.

“You’re going to report him?”

“Word’s already spread. If people find out some scumbag embezzled and is still living large, no one will respect this company anymore.”

“But he was a loyal executive his whole life. Isn’t that going too far?”

“Even Grandfather said not to forgive people like him. And you know how cautious Uncle is.”

Baek Mugyeong left no room for negotiation with Baek Yeongseop, who was trying to smooth things over. All the justification was on his side.

As much of a brute as he was, even Baek Yeongseop understood that. Realizing it was too late to save Choi Jongsu, he scowled and cursed.

“Fuck… what a goddamn waste.”

Even though it was lunchtime, Baek Yeongseop chugged his drink and stood up. The meeting was over.

Returning to the company, Baek Mugyeong went straight to the DS Motors CEO’s office. There, he reported everything that had been said to Baek Daehan.