"Is your mom still nagging you about marriage?" Yeon-Jun signed, a hint of amusement flickering across his face as they ambled around the familiar running track. Kyung-Min couldn't help but chuckle at the irony of the situation. His mother had long been convinced that her son was overdue for a romantic relationship and needed to settle down. In her persistent quest to see him married, she had ultimately pushed Kyung-Min into fabricating a story about a girlfriend—none other than Yeon-Jun himself.
"She is," Kyung-Min admitted with a playful sigh, shaking his head. "She still thinks you're the girl I've been dating for the past two years." The thought was laughable yet undeniably ridiculous, especially considering Yeon-Jun's true identity and the pretense they had both agreed upon.
"I can see where she's coming from," Yeon-Jun signed back, his expression softening. "She worries that you'll become a workaholic forever. It's only natural for a mother to want her only son to marry and settle down." Kyung-Min's expression shifted at the mention of being the 'only son,' his discomfort evident yet unvoiced. The pressure weighed on him, but he was reluctant to show it.
"I will," Kyung-Min replied, his tone now serious and resolute. "I just want to find the right time." His glance flickered toward Yeon-Jun, who had turned his attention to Sung-Hoon, walking along the opposite side of the park's fence with Yeon-Su at his side. Yeon-Jun's face lit up as he eagerly pointed them out, quickly picking up his pace to catch up, while Kyung-Min trailed slowly behind, lost in thought.
Soon, the two pairs converged, and Sung-Hoon, with a playful gleam in his eye, wrapped an arm around Yeon-Jun, ruffling his hair affectionately. Meanwhile, Yeon-Su noticed Kyung-Min's somber demeanor and adjusted his pace to match his, concern etched on his features.
"What's bothering you?" Yeon-Su inquired, his voice filled with a mix of curiosity and reluctance. It was clear he had little desire to bring up the subject but felt compelled to nonetheless. "Are you still stuck pretending that Yeon-Jun Hyung is your girlfriend?" he teased, poking fun at Kyung-Min's situation, a grown man with teenage love problems. "Good thing she isn't intrusive; she really respects our privacy."
Yeon-Su's words struck a chord with Kyung-Min, provoking a sarcastic response. "Oh really?" he started, his tone dripping with mockery. "I wonder if she really were intrusive—how thrilled she'd be to discover that her 'second son' works for her 'first son's' girlfriend." He threw out the comment with a smirk, relishing the irony that Yeon-Jun was blissfully unaware of the familial connection.
"Oh please," Yeon-Su scoffed, halting mid-step as he glared at his brother. "Just because she calls me her son doesn't mean I am," he insisted, his eyes darkening as he shifted to a more somber topic. "My actual parent acts as if I don't exist. I'll never experience the same treatment you do. Just look at where we are now. You have the freedom to live as you please, while I'm stuck working to cover my own expenses. As if being abandoned wasn't enough of a burden." Yeon-Su's frustration seeped through as he rolled his eyes, realizing he had probably vented his frustrations to Kyung-Min one too many times. Despite Kyung-Min's attempts to fight his case with their father, he could never fully gain his acceptance.
"You rich people are all the same," he continued, pointing accusingly at Kyung-Min's chest. "Either step up and make a move or step aside. Just know that if you hurt anyone I care about, I'm coming after you, and I won't hold back." His declaration was filled with confidence, his posture rigid as he turned away, striding off into the distance.
Kyung-Min watched him disappear, his mind swirling with thoughts as he turned around to leave. "Is it that obvious?" As he walked, his gaze inadvertently fell on a car passing by, the license plate striking a familiar note in his memory. He brushed it aside, convincing himself it was enough emotional turmoil for one day, and resumed his path.
"He's going out again?" Yeon-Su inquired, observing Sung-Hoon meticulously preparing to leave. He was dressed sharply, with his hair styled to perfection, a crisp shirt hugging his frame, and a hint of expensive cologne wafting through the air. It was all too clear where he was headed that evening. "Are you going out with your friends again, or are you flying solo this time?" Yeon-Su asked, leaning against the cafe counter as he watched Sung-Hoon grab his keys.
Sung-Hoon offered a distracted nod, muttering, "With Tae-Min," as he checked his reflection one last time. He then gave Yeon-Su a brief instruction to close up after he left, clearly more focused on his appearance than the conversation.
The somewhat successful hiking trip had instilled a new sense of confidence in Sung-Hoon, allowing him to embrace the extroverted lifestyle he had long abandoned following his father's passing, without having to constantly worry about Yeon-Jun. He used to thrive on social interactions and relished every opportunity to go out and have fun. Fortunately, Yeon-Jun had worked diligently to coax him back into that comforting routine, employing a cunning strategy: blind dates. Group outings, particularly blind dates or group dates, were a perfect way to nudge someone out of their comfort zone. The commitment to a blind date meant that cancellation was not an option. If things went well, great; if not, the consolation prize was a fun evening with friends, and Yeon-Jun had successfully orchestrated this plan for Sung-Hoon.
"What made you suspect that you were trafficked?" Hee-Jun suddenly sputtered his drink, caught off guard by Woo-San's abrupt question. Observing Hee-Jun's reaction, Woo-San quickly thrust a handful of tissues toward him. The randomness of the inquiry hung in the air, prompting Hee-Jun to raise an eyebrow and ask, "What on earth made you randomly ask that question?"
Woo-San shrugged nonchalantly. "I don't know, it just popped into my mind. It seems so... weird though, right? I mean, why would you think you were trafficked if you were adopted by such a wealthy family?" Hee-Jun let out a low chuckle, amused at Woo-San's naive perspective. Ironically, it was precisely because he had been adopted by such an affluent family that Woo-San's mind wandered to such a dark scenario.
"Why would a prestigious family like yours choose to adopt a random child from the countryside, especially since I had a brother?" Hee-Jun responded, a playful smile tugging at his lips as he noted Woo-San's obliviousness. "Besides, I once stumbled upon an old photograph in an album tucked away in the chairman's study—a picture of Mr. Cha with me and a bunch of other kids, my face was circled black while another's was circled red. I remember distinctly watching the chairman hand him that album, which was why I asked you to look for it. The whole scenario felt unsettling. It made me wonder if Mr. Cha had trafficked me here, especially since I have no recollection of my time in any orphanage or even living in the countryside. The only memory I have is of my brother, that too is barely a memory. I can't even make out his face. Knowing nothing about my past, it felt plausible that they had created a fake backstory for me to feel indebted—a debt I could only repay by dedicating my life to your family."
"Well, thank goodness you were a curious one," Woo-San remarked, his tone a mix of relief and disbelief. "Who would've guessed that Mr. Cha was operating a trafficking ring alongside embezzling funds and committing fraud while showing off like some saint he was? It's shocking, especially considering the chairman's involvement."
Fortunately, Hee-Jun's seemingly irrational suspicions had led him and Woo-San down a path of investigation, unearthing a deeply entrenched criminal network that stretched back to K&L Entertainment, all masterminded by Mr. Cha. "Do you think Yeon-Jun Shin may also be a victim of trafficking? What if he's your brother?" Woo-San proposed, his brow furrowed in contemplation.
Hee-Jun exhaled heavily, shaking his head in resignation. "My brother never had any speech impediments. Nor did he have any scars on his leg like you mentioned earlier." Woo-San nodded slowly, a thoughtful silence enveloping them both, the question still lingering ominously in the air. "Why was Yeon-Jun adopted?"
"I guess things didn't go according to plan," Yeon-Su observed, glancing down at his phone as he read a message that Sung-Hoon would be returning home late. He shared the update with Yeon-Jun while they began to tidy up the cafe. As Yeon-Su hung the 'closed' sign on the door and returned to wipe down the tables, an unexpected sound broke through the evening's calm: the door swung open, revealing an older gentleman leaning heavily on a cane. Following closely behind him was Joong-Ho.
"Sorry, we're closed," Yeon-Su called out, confusion evident in his tone. The older man simply smiled and walked past him, making his way to an empty table, as if oblivious to the closing hour. Joong-Ho quickly approached Yeon-Su, guiding him to a secluded area of the cafe to explain the situation regarding the unexpected visitor.
"Yui-Hyuk?Yui-Hyuk Kim? As in Chairman of K&L Entertainment Yui-Hyuk Kim?" Yeon-Su exclaimed incredulously, swiftly glancing around to ensure Yeon-Jun was not within earshot. "What do you mean? What's he doing here?" He had always maintained a healthy distance from Yui-Hyuk and his family due to complications involving his grandfather, who had warned him about Yui-Hyuk's tendency to keep a watchful eye on their family. Clearly, Yui-Hyuk recognized who Yeon-Su was, and Yeon-Su was painfully aware of Yui-Hyuk's reputation, while Yeon-Jun remained blissfully ignorant. "What if he reveals my true identity? Yeon-Jun Hyung has zero tolerance for lies." Panic began to rise within Yeon-Su, leaving Joong-Ho bewildered. With no time to entertain questions, Yeon-Su made a swift decision. "I'll go sit with them. I'll act as an ASL translator," he declared, darting off to find Yeon-Jun.
"Please, have a seat, Mr. Yeon-Jun Shin," Yui-Hyuk greeted with a disarming smile as Yeon-Jun settled into a chair across from him. Yeon-Su squeezed into the chair beside Yeon-Jun, while Joong-Ho stood nearby, discreetly capturing a shot of them sitting together. "You've grown so much," Yui-Hyuk began, his tone warm as he surveyed both young men. "You too," Yeon-Jun responded politely, stealing a glance at Yeon-Su, who was hastily signing a question beneath the table: Did he know Yui-Hyuk? Yeon-Su shook his head awkwardly, suppressing a wave of anxiety.
"I suppose you both don't remember me," Yui-Hyuk continued, breaking the silence with a knowing smile. "You were just children the last time we met. Mr. Yeon-Su Kim. Or was it Yeon-Su Lee?" His words dripped with cunning, and Yeon-Su felt the color drain from his face as panic set in. Both he and Yeon-Jun were caught off guard by the revelation. "And Yeon-Jun," Yui-Hyuk added with a mischievous glint in his eye, "I recall you were known as Hee-Jun back then. Your mother named you that."
Yeon-Jun's expression shifted dramatically, leaving him momentarily at a loss for words. An array of emotions flickered across his face—fear, confusion, and a paralyzing anxiety washed over him. The realization that someone from his past retained the memory of him was unsettling, and Yui-Hyuk seemed to revel in the turmoil unfolding in front of him.
"Here I thought you had lost your memories," Yui-Hyuk chuckled, leaning back in his seat with an air of satisfaction. "Relax, I didn't kill your parents. But I can tell you who did—if you're willing to do me a favor."