RB 142

“As I have told you, I have no ulterior motives. On the contrary, I view Mr. Choi Eunho’s transformation favorably. I intended to handle the article in the most positive light possible.”

“I have no intention of letting Eunho become the subject of public gossip yet.”

Yeorok slowly took a sip of alcohol. His eyes, fixed straight ahead, did not blink even once. After his Adam’s apple bobbed slightly, he delivered a statement that amounted to nothing less than a declaration.

“It does not matter whether it is a favorable article or not. I forbid it all.”

“I am a reporter. No matter who you are, Chairman Choi Yeorok, you cannot suppress the freedom of the press. For the sake of the public’s right to know…”

“How valuable is an article dealing with private life? Doesn’t it seem a bit cowardly, even to you, to bring up the public’s right to know here?”

“…….”

Reporter Kang pursed his lips. The hurt was clearly visible on his face. However, since the opponent was such a heavyweight, there was no room for rebuttal. Besides, to some extent, it was true.

Yeorok leaned back against the backrest of his chair. Seemingly unconcerned with the somber atmosphere, he gazed at Reporter Kang’s face with a more relaxed expression.

“Let me make this clear. Do not approach Eunho. Reporter Kang, you are the first and last person I will personally warn. There will be no next time.”

“I… understand.”

Reporter Kang nodded sluggishly. He had no idea what kind of fate awaited him if he went any further. No, he should rather not even imagine it.

However, there was one thing he could not understand. That someone of Choi Yeorok’s stature would go to the trouble of meeting a mere reporter like him in person just to intimidate him and block his coverage.

“…So you really didn’t want to make contact.”

After thinking for a while, he cautiously reached a conclusion.

Choi Yeorok cherished his nephew considerably. No, the word “considerably” was insufficient. He was devoted enough to personally fend off even a single fly buzzing around. Regardless of their past relationship, it was obvious that, currently, his nephew was Chairman Choi Yeorok’s most precious possession.

Reporter Kang looked up to ask if his guess was correct. Yeorok met his gaze and responded with a charming smile.

Reporter Kang emptied his glass. His lips felt parched, and his tongue tingled. It had been only a minute or two since he had been warned, yet his damn curiosity was uncontrollable. It was a chronic illness.

“Chairman Choi Yeorok.”

He began speaking in a serious voice. Reporter Kang straightened his shoulders and assumed the most polite posture possible.

“I promise you. As of this moment, I will completely step away. I will not approach your nephew, nor will I stir up trouble in the surrounding area. If I break this promise, I will gladly accept any punishment. You are welcome to ostracize me from the industry.”

Reporter Kang clenched his fists tightly on his knees.

“However, there is something I am personally curious about. Since I can’t sleep when I have questions… if it is not too much trouble, may I ask you about a few matters?”

Yeorok let out a short, wry laugh.

“Sure.”

As permission was granted, a glint flashed in Reporter Kang’s eyes.

“What is the reason he changed his name to Choi Eunho?”

Yeorok slowly swirled his glass. His eyes, gazing at the whiskey rippling in the glass, became serious once again.

“Should I say that the name was tainted with bad luck? Or should I say that he felt disillusioned?”

“…….”

“Choi Yoonho is just unlucky.”

Yeorok swallowed a sip of his drink with that brief reply. Reporter Kang swallowed nervously in response.

“Has he really come to his senses?”

“He is very kind and diligent.”

“Then, is there a possibility that Mr. Choi Yoon–no, Mr. Choi Eunho–will rise to the forefront of Haegang’s management in the future?”

“If he wants it, I intend to support him wholeheartedly.”

“This is my last question.”

Yeorok let out a hollow laugh.

“It feels just like an interview.”

However, he didn’t seem to mind and gave a generous look. Encouraged by this, Reporter Kang asked the question he had been holding onto.

“I am curious why you have come to embrace your nephew again, whom you hated to the point of disillusionment.”

“…….”

Yeorok didn’t immediately respond. Between the lines of the conversation, his straight index finger traced a zigzag pattern across the smooth surface of the glass.

The answer itself wasn’t difficult. He could have easily come up with a plausible response. However, Yeorok pondered it carefully. Eunho’s existence was taking shape in his mind as well.

“Eunho is my child now. He is my bloodline and my nephew. He is the being I cherish and love the most.”

The words resembled a heartfelt confession in some way. It was his true feelings, spoken for the first time to someone other than Eunho.

“Indeed, nothing is as deep as blood ties.”

“Because it is an inevitable relationship.”

Reporter Kang nodded, as if he understood a little better. It was a well-known fact that Choi Yeorok’s family history was anything but ordinary. In fact, his family tree was shattered. His only remaining blood relative was his nephew.

“Well… now that he has come to his senses, I don’t think there will be any need to worry about the future. When I actually met Mr. Choi Eunho… hmm, he seemed like a very upright young man. As if he had completely erased his past.”

Although their interaction was limited to merely asking for directions, the impression he gave from the few words they exchanged was that Choi Eunho was calm. The Prince of Haegang, who had once been a one-of-a-kind scoundrel, had transformed into a completely different person.

At those words, Yeorok smiled. It was because Eunho’s image was vividly etched before his eyes.

“The day will come soon when Eunho stands before the world. And I’m confident that image will suit Haegang perfectly.”

“I am looking forward to it.”

“When that time comes, you may cover him to your heart’s content.”

Reporter Kang’s eyes widened at the unexpected answer.

“Ah, not now, but then…”

“You shouldn’t disturb a student preparing for exams. You must know that, Reporter, this is the most important time in their lives.”

Yeorok scrunched his nose and grinned.

Reporter Kang let out a hollow sigh. It was beyond absurd; he felt his energy drain away.

So… So you’re saying the decisive reason you blocked coverage of your nephew was that he was a student preparing for exams?

***

It was 11 PM when he crossed the front door; it wasn’t exactly a late hour.

Yeorok walked down the quiet hallway and took off his jacket first. He carelessly tossed the jacket, which was soaked with his scent, onto the sofa and loosened the tie that was constricting his neck.

Then, he sat on the armrest of the sofa and looked around the house. It was a quiet, cozy place with a warm scent. This space, where he lived separately with Eunho, felt more like a sanctuary than the mansion of Haegang where he was born and raised.

He unbuttoned his cufflinks and rolled up his sleeves. He stretched his legs and headed toward the kitchen.

Yeorok emptied a 500ml bottle of lukewarm water right where he was standing. The thin plastic bottle crumpled in his hand. He let out a sigh. His tie knot was loose, yet his neck felt constricted, and even after drinking water, his thirst wasn’t satiated.

Yeorok ruffled his combed bangs. There was only one solution. His halted steps led toward Eunho’s study. Not wanting to disturb him, he stood with his back to the wall instead of knocking.

He waited quietly. Leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, Yeorok fully endured the time of patience allotted to him. He hoped that the first thing Eunho would see when he opened the door and stepped out would be his face. He wanted to hug him the moment he saw his face, without wasting a single minute or second.

Just as he was staring at the closed door, he heard footsteps from inside, and the doorknob clicked.

Eunho didn’t seem particularly surprised. As if he had anticipated Yeorok standing guard, he looked directly at him the moment the door opened.

“Why are you coming out so early?”

Yeorok asked, tilting his head slightly. The eyes that usually gazed at the world with weariness and emotionlessness opened wide with joy at this moment.

“Because I missed you.”

“…….”

“I can’t concentrate because I wanted to see your face.”

From the moment the front door opened until the footsteps trotting through the house, Eunho heard everything. It felt as though Yeorok’s scent could be subtly felt through the single door. There was no way he could concentrate on his studies.

Eunho walked over staggering. Yeorok opened his arms wide and embraced him. His body heat made him feel alive again. Only when he held Eunho in his arms did his thirst finally vanish.

“…You smell like alcohol.”

“Does it smell a lot?”

“I like it, though. I like all the smells coming from you, Chairman.”

Eunho sniffed like a puppy. He buried his face in Yeorok’s chest, and as if that weren’t enough, he inhaled the scent between the collar of his shirt, on his neck, and even on the back of his head.

Yeorok chuckled softly and tightened his grip around his waist. It was inevitable that the distance between their upper bodies would disappear and their lips would stick together.

“For an uncle, I do love my nephew a bit too much.”

Yeorok murmured as he pressed his lips against his. Even he thought it was excessive affection. Although he was skilled at lying, he doubted he could truly hide his feelings amidst the public eye.

Eunho’s eyes widened.

“…Are you drunk?”

“Just pretend I am.”

Yeorok cupped Eunho’s chin and pulled him closer. He parted the moist lips and entered, filling the lacking affection with soft flesh and warm saliva.

The kiss bordered on obsession. Even Eunho, who would normally have gently pulled away, accepted Yeorok’s persistent kisses today. The sounds created as their tongues intertwined were lewd enough to arouse excitement. The hands wrapping around each other and pulling closer were also poignant.

This is family? That’s ridiculous.