AOA 52

“How about you, Director?”

“Me? Of course I was summoned by my elder brother. Drank too much, and now I’ve got heartburn,” Baek Daehan replied, rubbing his stomach with a cheeky grin.

“What are you going to do?”

“Report him, obviously. Why? Were you worried I’d follow my brother’s orders?”

“Yes.”

Baek Mugyeong answered honestly. If Baek Yeongseop had made a move, Baek Jaehan wouldn’t be staying quiet either. It was only natural for him to pressure someone of Baek Daehan’s standing.

“You really worry a lot, don’t you, nephew? Sure, I got an earful, but when Father told me to handle it quietly, I just told him to get lost. Like you said, if that had ended in an accident, I’d have been the one to get the axe. I’d rather keep this seat for a long, peaceful run.”

As he sipped his sweet-smelling tea, Baek Daehan let out a hearty laugh. But Baek Mugyeong didn’t laugh along.

What he’d observed of Baek Daehan suggested the man had a sly nature.

Though he was born into one of Korea’s top three chaebol families, being the fourth son and a beta meant Baek Daehan never gained Baek Jinseok’s favor. Perhaps that’s why he acted like a man with no ambition, never voicing strong opinions and always letting things run their course.

Before the regression, Baek Daehan resigned as DS Motors’ CEO and moved to Europe with his entire family. He never returned to Korea until Baek Mugyeong’s death in the accident.

But Baek Daehan wasn’t just a nice guy. He had been the CEO of DS Motors. If he had opposed it, not even Baek Mugyeong would have been able to remove Choi Jongsu so smoothly.

Contrary to his expectations that Daehan would take a hands-off approach, the man had actively stepped in this time.

Baek Mugyeong couldn’t yet figure out what Daehan was really up to. Perhaps he harbored resentment toward Baek Jaehan.

They weren’t close enough to dig into that just yet. For now, it was best to just wrap up the matter with Choi Jongsu cleanly.

“That’s the hardest part.”

“Haha. You’re right.”

As he agreed, Baek Daehan burst into another warm laugh. After a quick work-related chat, they both stood.

Daehan suggested they have dinner together with something hot and hearty, but Baek Mugyeong declined. Jeong Minchae was being discharged in the afternoon.

Rather than rushing out in the morning, they had decided it would be better to go home leisurely later in the day.

“Discharge is today?”

“Yes.”

“Well, I can’t steal a husband when his wife is sick. Go on, then.”

“How about tomorrow?”

Just as he had done with Baek Yeongseop, Baek Mugyeong made a counter-offer. No matter how much money one had, Daesong Group couldn’t be bought. That meant he had to win people over. Getting close to DS Motors’ CEO was especially crucial.

Once they settled on the next day, Baek Mugyeong left the CEO’s office. He dropped by his own office to inform his secretary of his whereabouts, then headed for the hospital.

This was his first time seeing Jeong Minchae since the night before. The thought of meeting him again, after that night of tears and nightmares, stirred a strange anticipation.

He might be flustered or embarrassed. Or pretend not to remember.

Most likely, he’ll pretend not to remember.

Given how quiet and perceptive Jeong Minchae was, he would probably act like nothing happened.

And if that was the case, Baek Mugyeong planned to do the same.

But Baek Mugyeong’s prediction was wrong.

Surprisingly, Jeong Minchae didn’t pretend. Or rather, he couldn’t.

When Baek Mugyeong arrived at the hospital room a little before 4 p.m., all the discharge preparations were already complete. The flowers from various visitors had been cleared away, and all of Jeong Minchae’s belongings were packed into a bag.

He was already back in casual clothes, and the paperwork was done. He just had to walk out.

“Y-you’re here…”

His voice trembled slightly as he gave a small bow. And when their eyes met, his cheeks flushed red in an instant. His pale complexion made the color all the more obvious.

Seeing how flustered and embarrassed he was made Baek Mugyeong fight back a grin. Whatever complicated feelings he had for Jeong Minchae, smiling now would have been rude.

“All set?”

“Yes. I just need to go.”

Jeong Minchae’s obvious relief only made it harder not to smile. The man who once looked like a withering flower seemed more spirited now, perhaps thanks to the change in fate.

Even now, he was putting on a brave face and pretending to be fine with all his might. His eyes, swollen in the morning, were back to normal. There was no trace of the tears he’d shed the night before.

“Let’s go.”

Baek Mugyeong didn’t say anything more and moved. The woman who’d been taking care of Jeong Minchae was already sent home. The driver who had come with him carried the bags.

They didn’t speak a word on the way home. Silence was familiar.

“Oh my, you’re back!”

At home, Kim Juhyun greeted them warmly, saying she’d made all his favorite dishes for dinner. Ignoring her, they headed upstairs.

“Excuse me.”

Baek Mugyeong opened the door and entered Jeong Minchae’s room. At a glance, he saw that it hadn’t changed at all since it was first furnished.

There were almost no items showing the occupant’s personal taste. It meant he didn’t view this place as a safe space to rest.

The atmosphere was oddly similar to his own room, making Baek Mugyeong click his tongue inwardly. A couple in a loveless marriage shared the strangest things in common.

“Did you need something?”

Jeong Minchae asked, tilting his head, a habit Baek Mugyeong had only recently noticed, and thought suited him well.

“I’ve scheduled a counseling appointment.”

“Pardon?”

“Next Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. It’s within walking distance from your academy. Here’s the card.”

“Wait, I…”

Baek Mugyeong took out the business card he had prepared and handed it over. Though confused, Jeong Minchae accepted it.

“Once you go once, it’ll get easier from there.”

“I was actually looking into it…”

“I wasn’t going to bring up last night, but your condition isn’t normal. Don’t just look into it, go.”

“…Okay.”

Jeong Minchae stared down at the card, eyebrows and shoulders drooping in defeat like a scolded puppy.

“I’ll be checking. If you skip it, I’ll personally drag you there.”

“Got it.”

Watching Jeong Minchae avoid eye contact, Baek Mugyeong clicked his tongue inwardly again. He knew he was pushing. But left alone, the kid would probably never go.

After a light farewell, Baek Mugyeong left the room. Though it was much earlier than usual, he didn’t go out. Instead, he changed clothes and sat down in front of his laptop.

He had paid close attention to security when assigning a contractor for the interior of their new home, provided by Baek Jinseok. Unlike before the regression, he’d discreetly installed motion-sensing CCTV in various parts of the house.

Kim Juhyun, the housekeeper, had been sent by Baek Jaehan. When the house was empty in the mornings, there was no way to know whom she might be letting in.

More than anything, Kim Juhyun had a habit of stealing. Before the regression, she had stolen several of Jeong Minchae’s belongings. This time, if he had solid proof, he could kick her out early.

The bracelet he had recently gifted Jeong Minchae was an enticing bait. She might not take it right away, but there was always something else to tempt her.

Once a week, Baek Mugyeong reviewed CCTV footage of the walk-in closet he shared with Jeong Minchae. The young man rarely stayed in there long, so even a full week’s worth of footage was only a few minutes.

Kim Juhyun, however, spent longer inside when dropping off laundry, often poking around.

“Hmm?”

While reviewing the footage, Baek Mugyeong let out a small hum at an unexpected scene. It showed Jeong Minchae doing something in one corner of the closet.

Fortunately, the CCTV was positioned just right, and it captured his actions clearly. After wandering around the closet, Jeong Minchae placed something inside a shelf. Then he looked at his phone a few times, fiddled with something unidentifiable, and left with a satisfied look.

Baek Mugyeong frowned. He couldn’t see what exactly had been installed, and he couldn’t guess. This was the first suspicious behavior since they returned from the honeymoon.

Then, like a bolt of lightning, it hit him.

“No way…”

It seemed like Jeong Minchae had installed a surveillance camera.

***

For someone who had died to return two years into the past and live again, it could only be called a miracle. If the truth got out, there was a very high chance he’d be taken somewhere and experimented on. So he hadn’t told a soul. Instead, he prepared for the future.

He didn’t aim to become unbelievably wealthy or to take over the world. His hopes for the future were simple: earn enough money to escape his biological father’s control, treat his younger sibling, get revenge on Jeong Guhyeon, and safely divorce Baek Mugyeong without dying. If possible, he also wanted to avoid being used like a fool again.