RB 101

Just because it’s your birthday doesn’t mean you’ll wake up to a special world. From Eunho’s experience, it’s just another ordinary day.

But today was different. The first thing Eunho saw upon waking was seven stacked boxes on the carpet. Each box, varying in size, was tied with a pink satin ribbon. Anyone could tell they were birthday presents.

Eunho got out of bed and kneeled in front of the boxes. His hair was a mess, his face puffy, but the drowsiness had completely vanished. His heart even started pounding at the unexpected sight of the gifts.

He opened the largest box first. Inside was a cozy beige cashmere sweater. Eunho rubbed his face against it for a long time, feeling how soft it felt.

Then he opened the other boxes. A phone, a laptop, a tablet, wireless headphones, each one a recently released electronic device.

Another box held a bottle of perfume, the same brand that Choi Yeorok used. The scent of cool, calming green leaves delighted Eunho. He smiled as he imagined Yeorok choosing a fragrance that suited him.

By now, he was growing increasingly curious about the remaining gifts. Eunho reached for the last box.

Inside the flat, long box was a plane ticket to Paris, France. The departure date was nine days later, the day the trust would conclude.

After opening all the presents, the carpet was a mess of ribbons and boxes. When had Yeorok prepared all this? He only remembered shuttling around until late last night, then passing out. Yeorok must have slept even later than he did, and he left early in the morning without a trace.

Then a small envelope caught his eye. Eunho crawled to his knees and opened the envelope on the table. Inside was a card written in neat handwriting.

I’m sure there’s at least one thing you like among them.

I didn’t wake you up because you were sleeping soundly.

I hope Sim Eunho has a happy day today.

It was a rather dry message. It contained no birthday wishes or any flashy gifts. But it was a message that was perfectly typical of Ch oi Yeorok.

Eunho pictured him writing the card while he slept and quickly grabbed his phone. The new phone from the gifts was already set up. Using a stored contact, he sent the first message:

[Chairman, I love all the gifts. Thank you.]

[Good.]

He replied almost instantly, as if Yeorok had been waiting. It was short and indifferent, but Eunho couldn’t hide his smile.

He held the birthday card, reading it over and over. A birthday could be such a special day, and the joy Yeorok gave him was worth more than the presents.

Eunho headed to the annex, clutching all the gift packages. Even though he’d left the ribbons and boxes behind, it was still heavy enough to make Seo Taehwa offer help.

Together, they moved everything to Eunho’s room. Seo Taehwa didn’t ask what it was. He just smiled bitterly.

“Eunho, let’s eat breakfast.”

“Yes, I’ll wash up and come down.”

While Eunho was in the bathroom, Seo Taehwa secretly examined the gifts. He chuckled at each item. He was stunned, realizing just how much Choi Yeorok cared for Eunho.

He paid close attention to the plane ticket: the date and time, a one-way ticket to Paris. His heart ached.

Then he returned the ticket to its place, pretending nothing had happened, and quietly left the room.

After washing, Eunho went down to the first floor. Unlike usual mornings, a warm bowl of seaweed soup was on the dining table. It was Seo Taehwa’s careful touch for his birthday.

They ate quietly across from each other. Suddenly, Seo Taehwa set down his spoon and said,

“Eunho, I’ve been distracted lately, so I didn’t prepare a gift. I’m sorry.”

Eunho looked up and, taking a big spoon of soup, replied,

“Hyung, it’s been ages since I had seaweed soup. This alone is enough to move me. It’s so delicious.”

“…Eat more.”

Despite Eunho’s cheerfulness, his stern expression didn’t soften. Seo Taehwa stirred the soup he had made, muttering,

“Does Choi Yeorok treat you well?”

Eunho’s busy hands paused. He slowly raised his head. Seo Taehwa had been staring at him the whole time, as if he had been waiting for this conversation.

Though never spoken overtly, Eunho guessed Seo Taehwa knew about their relationship. He had been staying at the mansion most nights for quite a while. Eunho assumed Seo Taehwa simply ignored it.

Seo Taehwa’s gaze was blatant. He stared blankly at Eunho until he responded. Feeling an inexplicable sense of unease, Eunho straightened his back.

He couldn’t figure out why Seo Taehwa was acting like this, so he hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to say. But soon he nodded.

“Yes, he treats me well.”

“How long do you think it’ll last?”

Seo Taehwa responded with a snort. It was clearly a mockery.

“You know what? Choi Yeorok is a sociopath too. He can’t feel anything like emotions.”

“……”

“He knew from early on that he was different from normal people. But knowing it was his flaw, he controlled it meticulously. Honestly, he’s worse than Choi Yoonho. He lacks basic emotions, he sees people only as tools.”

“……”

“Ever notice he discards things once they lose value? Do you really think a guy like that can really like someone? That’s ridiculous.”

Seo Taehwa quietly vented his pent-up resentment. Eunho listened to every word he said. Though somewhat emotional, it didn’t seem like Seo Taehwa was lying. Even so, Eunho had already decided what he needed to say.

“Hyung, I’d rather not hear that.”

“You need to listen to me.”

“Even if I listen, nothing’s going to change. I don’t care if the Chairman’s a sociopath.”

“I’m saying this because I’m worried about you.”

“I know. But I really don’t care.”

Eunho set down his chopsticks and took a sip of water. His calm reaction made Seo Taehwa clench his teeth.

“Why don’t you care? I told you, Choi Yeorok can’t love anyone. Don’t you realize you’re being deceived?”

“……”

“You could end up like me. Didn’t you learn anything from seeing me get thrown out? Don’t you feel any sense of crisis?”

Seo Taehwa’s tone grew increasingly impatient. Eunho stared at him silently. Seo Taehwa seemed desperate, desperate to break Eunho’s heart.

“Wouldn’t it be better to take what’s yours and leave before things turn ugly? I’m really worried about you, Eunho. I’m afraid you’ll be discarded like I was.”

“No. That won’t happen. I trust the Chairman.”

Eunho didn’t get swayed and spoke his mind. It’s true that Seo Taehwa’s remarks were shocking. Now, he finally understands the Yeorok’s cold side that he’d been feeling deepdown.

But he had chosen to trust Choi Yeorok. He believed in the side Yeorok had shown him. There was no need to be swayed by anyone else’s words. The way Yeorok looked at him, the way he touched him, Eunho was certain those were real.

“Thank you for the meal.”

Eunho bowed politely and left the table first. Seo Taehwa sat there alone, covering his mouth, staring blankly at the seat where Eunho had been.

“…I definitely gave him a chance.”

The muttered words scattered into the air, caught in his palm. His stomach churned with nausea.

But this was something Sim Eunho had brought upon himself. Taehwa thought he’d given enough of a warning, a signal to run. So there was no need to feel guilty anymore.

***

After a three-hour drive, they arrived in Inje, Gangwon Province. Located in a remote area, the psychiatric hospital was hidden deep in t he mountains, untouched by human footsteps.

Despite his busy schedule, Yeorok personally visited the hospital to finalize the contract termination. The procedure wasn’t complicated. But he read through every single line of the document before signing the last blank space.

Only then did he feel relieved. Years of effort had gone to waste, but he didn’t regret it.

Across from him, the hospital director checked the paperwork and stamped his seal onto it. Handing the termination papers back, he said,

“Well… we were thoroughly prepared, so it’s a shame. But it’s a good thing hospitalization isn’t necessary.”

“You never know what might happen.”

Yeorok smiled. It was a habitual, formulaic remark, and the director returned an awkward smile.

Preparations for the hospitalization had been proceeding without issue. The hospital had even upgraded its facilities and assembled appropriate staff to receive such a distinguished patient.

They had already received more than enough in sponsorship, so it wasn’t exactly a financial loss, but the sudden cutoff of funds still stung. The director inwardly winced at the thought.

“If you ever need our help later, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We’ll do our utmost.”

“There’s nothing good about forced hospitalization. Such things shouldn’t happen, don’t you think?”

Yeorok’s polite smile was cold. Even though he was smiling, his gaze was piercing enough to cut.

The gray-haired director fell silent, watching the much younger man cautiously. Choi Yeorok had always been difficult to deal with. Even after years, he still exuded that same intimidating aura.

With his business finished, Yeorok had no reason to stay any longer. He gathered the termination papers and stood up. His schedule was already tight.

“Thank you for your help. I wish prosperity to your institution.”

“Have a safe trip back.”

After shaking the director’s hand, Yeorok left the hospital without looking back. Outside, Secretary Hong was waiting. Once he got into the car, the black sedan sped across the gravel parking lot, wheels scattering stones as it hurried away.

A few other cars were parked here and there. Inside one of the older rental cars, Seo Taehwa sat silently, watching everything unfold.

He didn’t take his eyes off the front windshield until Yeorok’s car disappeared completely from view. His hands gripped the steering wheel so tightly they almost cramped.

After a long time, he finally made up his mind. He opened the car door and stepped out, taking a small carry-on suitcase from the trunk.

Seo Taehwa glanced at the hospital building, then walked inside.

“Hello, Director. How have you been? It’s been a while.”

At his familiar, friendly greeting, the director adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses and stared at him.

“Oh? Oh! You’re… from Haegang!”

“Yes, that’s right. We met a few times before.”

Taehwa had visited the hospital several times on Yeorok’s behalf. Fortunately, the director’s memory was still decent. The fact that he had just met Choi Yeorok also made the memory more vivid.

“Well, what brings you here…? The Chairman just came and handled everything himself. Is there some problem?”

“The Chairman suddenly changed his mind…”

Taehwa deliberately scratched his head, pretending to be embarrassed. He didn’t speak hastily, only watching the director’s expression carefully before quietly opening his mouth.

“He’s usually a very cautious man, but… Choi Yoonho just caused another serious incident. This time, it seems there’s no forgiving it. He’s furious.”

“Oh dear, that’s terrible!”

“There really was no other option. But he tried to protect him because he’s family, but I think it’s become impossible.”

“So you mean he wants to proceed with the hospitalization again?”

“I’m sorry.”

Taehwa bowed, implying a yes. The director made a strange expression as he tried to not smile. The return of Haegang’s Choi Yoonho, who was a source of wealth, was good news for him.

“Mental illness doesn’t heal easily, you know. The more uncontrollable he is, the more he should receive treatment in a facility.”

“Thank you for understanding. The thing is, the Chairman was on his way back to Seoul for an important matter when this happened. It’ll probably be difficult for him to come down again…”

“Ah.”

“And honestly, he’d be embarrassed to face you again. It wouldn’t look good to take back what he already said.”

“Well, things happen in life. No need to worry about that.”

The director laughed heartily. In his view, that proud man he’d seen earlier didn’t seem like someone who’d lower his head to ask for a favor. It made sense that he’d send a subordinate instead.

It was a situation he could perfectly understand. From the director’s standpoint, there was no reason to refuse. In fact, he had to seize this opportunity quickly, he might not get another chance to maintain ties with the Haegang Foundation.

“Normally, this would be out of the question, but I’ll overlook it just this once. We’ll proceed as before. Fortunately, the old documents haven’t been destroyed yet, so we just need to void the termination papers.”

The director confidently said. Taehwa smiled politely, keeping his back straight as he continued.

“Thank you. And there’s one more favor I’d like to ask.”

He spun the carry-on suitcase beside him. When he unzipped it, bundles of yellow bills peeked through.

“The Chairman wishes for Choi Yoonho’s hospitalization to remain strictly confidential. No records in any documents or insurance systems.”

“Ah… that’s difficult. I can tell the staff to keep quiet, but as for the insurance, that’s tricky. Once medication is prescribed, it automatically leaves a trace in the national health insurance system.”

“That’s exactly why I’m asking you directly. Please, Director, help us out a little.”

Taehwa subtly pushed the suitcase toward him. The smell of money seemed to spill out from it.

“The Chairman’s reputation will soon rise even higher. If it becomes known that he forcibly committed his nephew, it’ll cause him serious trouble. That’s why I’m asking you sincerely.”

“……”

The director cautiously opened the zipper a bit more. His mouth fell open. His greedy gaze sticking to the thick bundles of cash.

“All together, it’s 11.7 billion won. I think that should be reason enough for your cooperation.”

“Ha, my goodness.”

Taehwa had gathered every bit of cash he could for this day, 50 billion won from Yeorok, plus the proceeds from selling his officetel. His remaining assets had already been liquidated. Once this was done, he planned to leave the country.

“1.7 billion goes to the hospital as prepaid treatment costs. The rest is for your discretion.”

“Really now… who hands out bribes this openly?”

“It’s too large an amount to slip quietly into your pocket.”

Taehwa smiled shamelessly.

The director let out a small, incredulous laugh. Rubbing his forehead, he looked again at the suitcase. He was only human, faced with such a vast amount of money, his resolve wavered.

And since the request came from the Haegang Foundation’s chairman, it wasn’t something he could simply refuse. Risky as it was, the potential for future profit outweighed his hesitation.

“What exactly do you want?”

“As I said, handle Choi Yoonho’s admission in complete secrecy.”

“…We’ll still need to keep handwritten medical notes. If something goes wrong, it’ll be trouble for us. But we’ll avoid uploading anything to the system, and we’ll try to keep all prescriptions uninsured. That way, the national health records won’t show anything.”

“Also, don’t respond to any outside inquiries about Choi Yoonho. Even if they claim to be from Haegang. Some reporters pretend to be staff to dig for information.”

“Yes, yes, of course. We have confidentiality clauses, you know. We take those seriously.”

“Chairman Choi Yeorok doesn’t wish to be involved in his nephew’s affairs any longer. He’s entrusted everything to me, so please contact only me from now on.”

Taehwa emphasized this point, almost harassing him with his insistence. The director finally looked weary.

“…Understood. Don’t worry. But Haegang must also keep this secret. You know this is illegal, right? If it gets out, both your side and ours are finished.”

“Of course. I know exactly how dangerous this is.”

Taehwa gave a bitter smile.

With this, he had crossed a line he could never return from.

He knew the plan he’d devised wouldn’t last long. But he wanted revenge on Choi Yeorok, just a little. Even if it meant destroying himself in the process.

“Please take good care of him. He’s someone I really care about.”

There was no other way left. Now, all they could do was go down together.