Come Back

However, Jeong Hae-seong continued his businesslike conversation without showing any sign of awkwardness.

“I have personally invested a little in ENA Entertainment. It is not a large entertainment company, but it is a trustworthy company. If Go Ji-woon wants it, I will support him so that he can make a comeback after signing the contract.”

Go Ji-woon shook his head helplessly after hearing Lee Hae-seong’s suggestion.

“I’m sick of the entertainment industry now. I thought I would be successful if the powerful and rich pushed me, but… I see that no matter how much you push someone, they won’t succeed. Including me.”

He added, spinning the mug around behind a self-deprecating, bloody laugh.

“I had no talent or perseverance to begin with… so I have no regrets about it anymore.”

Hae-seong nodded concisely.

“I see. I understand. If you agree to the deal, I will edit out all the parts of the video that can identify Go Ji-woon. I will reassemble the video focusing on Jo Sung-hyun, so you can rest assured about that.”

Only then did Hae-seong let go of Choi Hong-seo, whom he had been holding to his chest with his eyes closed. In the meantime, his breathing had stabilized, but his face was still pale. Hae-seong, who was watching his dry lips tremble, spoke to Go Ji-woon.

“Would you like a glass of water?”

When Go Ji-woon poured water into another mug, Lee Hae-seong was gently rubbing Choi Hong-seo’s back. Lee Hae-seong accepted the mug as a thank you and gave Choi Hong-seo a few sips. Go Ji-woon went back to the dresser opposite, sat down with his knees up, and quietly watched the scene.

The ARA Hae-seong that Go Ji-woon actually saw had an appearance that made her cringe and feel even more scared the moment she saw him, like a gang boss. First of all, he was very tall and had a good physique, but he looked even more intimidating because he was wearing a black long coat.

If we assume that Lee Hae-seong is an actor (since he was a mask that could be used even if he was an actor), he would be more suited to the role of a gangster than a conglomerate. Not a punk who uses his fists and a knife, but an elite executive who graduated from a prestigious university. There are a lot of such settings in movies and dramas these days. However, when I pictured a scene where he stabs someone in the stomach with a knife with his clean and neat hand, it seemed like it would suit him well.

Anyway, as the grandson of Chairman Lee Kang-moon and the successor to the ARA Group, he had a completely different vibe from ordinary people who were worried about their credit card bills due next month, were saving up for a trip to Europe, and were wondering if there was a way to go camping instead of attending the wedding of a coworker they weren’t particularly close with on the weekend.

No matter how useful it is, he is someone who would pay 1 billion for a single video. With his level of understanding, he could have used not just one idol member but an entire group as his puppet. The sight of such a person putting all his effort into an idol while holding it close to his side was definitely a sight to see for Go Ji-woon.

‘Yoon Hye-an’ was also visibly completely dependent on Lee Hae-seong. She breathed as Lee Hae-seong guided her, and she gave herself over to the hands stroking her head, shoulders, and back.

Yoon Hye-an, whose face was pale, still looked tired. Well, if you saw that video, that would be a normal reaction. It would be strange for someone like Lee Hae-seong to not react at all.

Or… did you remember something after watching the video? After all, Yoon Hye-an was also sponsored by Jo Seong-hyeon. She probably went through something similar to what happened to me.

Go Ji-woon sat up straight, leaning against the dresser. Lee Hae-seong was so close that he could only see half of Yoon Hye-an’s pale face, hidden by his shoulders and arms. He felt uneasy, wondering if he had brought up the memories of someone he had forgotten and was living well.

No, who am I worried about now? They have the best understanding in the world. I’ll bring down birds and raise dead people.

Go Ji-woon, who found a mug and took a few more sips of soju, opened his mouth heavily.

“however…”

“……”

“Even if I edit it… Jo Sung-hyun will know that the source of this video is me…”

Lee Hae-seong, who was sitting with his back almost halfway turned to Go Ji-woon, and Choi Hong-seo, who was obscured by him, looked back at Go Ji-woon at the same time.

Go Ji-woon, who was speaking hesitantly, looked unstable. His impatience was evident from the tips of his fingers that were scratching the handle of the mug with his thumb.

“I told you to live quietly and with a grudge. If you even slightly offend me, I’ll release all my videos and photos. I’ll make it so you can’t even show your face at the convenience store in front of my house…”

Lifting Choi Hong-seo’s chin slightly and confirming that his complexion had somewhat recovered, Lee Hae-seong answered while keeping his gaze fixed on his lover’s face.

“There will never be a case where Mr. Ko Ji-woon will be disadvantaged by Jo Seong-hyeon. I promise.”

“How do you promise that?

Go Ji-woon put down the mug as if throwing it to the ground, covered his head, and dropped his head between his knees.

This time, Choi Hong-seo quietly looked at Go Ji-woon.

Yoon Hye-an and Go Ji-woon, who wanted to have their own sponsors, and Choi Hong-seo, who was forced into prostitution after being filmed in detail during a rape scene and threatened with the footage. Their backgrounds could not be said to be the same.

But living under threat with videos or photos of yourself that you don’t want anyone to see… Living each day knowing that such information is in the hands of evil people… Choi Hong-seo knew that well. Looking back, it’s hard to believe that he didn’t go crazy and that he had gotten through those times with the hope that it would end someday.

“I know. I wonder how Go Ji-woon feels right now.”

Go Ji-woon slowly raised her head at the soft voice of ‘Yoon Hye-an’. Lee Hae-seong, who had been sitting with his back half turned away from Go Ji-woon as if hiding Choi Hong-seo, turned his body to open the space between the two. Choi Hong-seo knelt down and stepped forward a little.

“If only I could erase those materials, I would feel like I could do anything. Even though I know it’s useless, I would go back in time in my head several times a day. Should I have done this? Should I have done that? Then I would hate myself more than Jo Sung-hyun.”

Life is sometimes not made up of only clearly visible values.

If Myung Do-hoon had suggested working at a host bar from the first time they met, Choi Hong-seo would have refused. He would not have met Myung Do-hoon again. He might have continued working part-time at a convenience store and then, under pressure from his parents, got a job at a dormitory-type factory. He might have gotten involved in something worse than meeting Myung Do-hoon or Lee Seo-kyung. No one knows the life they have not lived.

Whatever the reason or situation, I had no intention of making excuses about my experience as a host. If I had resolutely sorted things out then, I could have avoided the terrible things that happened later. Why didn’t I feel such regret and self-blame? Countless times, I cursed and cursed myself as much as I cursed and cursed Lee Seo-kyung and Myung Do-hoon. You’re still a cheap bastard.

But Choi Hong-seo changed his mind after meeting and falling in love with Lee Hae-seong. He couldn’t be responsible for the terrible things that happened afterwards.

A life of being raped, filmed, and dragged around while being threatened with it.

I never that kind of life.

There is no cheap kid in this world who deserves to be treated like that.

“It’s not a shameful thing to have had a sponsor, but that doesn’t mean you should be filmed and threatened like that. I know how it feels to feel wronged, anxious, and then to hate yourself.”

“You didn’t lose your memory, did you?”

Go Ji-woon’s face, which had become more relaxed and now even friendly, turned to ‘Yoon Hye-an’, and ‘Choi Hong-seo’ answered in a calm voice.

“You don’t have to have the same experience to empathize.”

Lee Hae-seong joined the conversation, wrapping his palm around the back of Choi Hong-seo’s neck, who was sitting in front.

“How can you be sure that Mr. Go Ji-woon will not be disadvantaged?”

Go Ji-woon and Choi Hong-seo both saw understanding.

“Since Jo Sung-hyun threatened her with the video, Go Ji-woon had no choice but to listen to Jo Sung-hyun, right? Because of Jo Sung-hyun’s money and power.”

“……”

“If I threaten Jo Sung-hyun with the video, he will have no choice but to listen to me.”

Lee Hae-seong, who had been gently stroking Choi Hong-seo’s neck, grabbed the long hem of his coat that was hanging down behind him. Choi Hong-seo, who was kneeling, was dragged back to his seat.

“Even if they cry out loud to threaten others, it is the frogs that will end up getting eaten, not the eagles. There is no reversal in the ecological pyramid.”

Only then did Go Ji-woon look relieved. He realized that the image that he could not use properly in his own hands would become a powerful weapon in the hands of Lee Hae-seong. Go Ji-woon swallowed dry saliva and opened his lips as if he had made up his mind.

“Can I just hand over the video?”

“I thought about it carefully.”

After a brief exchange of words about the transaction procedure, Lee Hae-seong and Choi Hong-seo got up from their seats. Go Ji-woon also followed behind them to see off the guests.

“I think it would be best to rest somewhere quiet until the work is completely finished. Do you remember Director Kang, who I spoke to about this? Director Kang will prepare it for you.”

Lee Hae-seong, who had said that to Go Ji-woon for the last time, pulled Choi Hong-seo’s shoulder and told him to go out to the front door first. However, Choi Hong-seo hesitated, glancing at Go Ji-woon without moving.

“But what happened to the cat? I can’t see it…”

“A cat? Are you talking about Goliath?”

Go Ji-woon made a surprised expression as if he didn’t know how he knew that. Then he soon concluded that if Lee Hae-seong tried to find out, there was no information he couldn’t get his hands on.

“Jo Sung-hyun is a huge fan of ‘Queen.’ I heard that the vocalist there raised several cats… One day, he brought them home without consulting me and told me to raise them. At first, he raised them against my will. Later, he wanted to kill that person, but Goliath was pretty. After I ended up living like this… I sent them to my mom’s house. Because I couldn’t take care of them properly.”

Go Ji-woon, who was looking down at the floor as if feeling guilty, looked up and saw Choi Hong-seo.

“You might have been there too, the cat… remember?”

“I am healthy and well. I am trustworthy.”

Choi Hong-seo nodded and smiled slightly, just slightly. Go Ji-woon looked at Choi Hong-seo carefully.

“Your impression has changed a lot since before.”

“is it so?”

“He looks a lot like the older brother I knew. In the past, even when people said he looked similar, I didn’t think so. Now, he looks a lot like that older brother. It’s just his impression.”

The brother I knew.

I was grateful that Go Ji-woon thought of Choi Hong-seo when he saw Yoon Hye-an in front of him. To borrow Lee Hae-seong’s words, the reason Go Ji-woon thought of Choi Hong-seo now was not because of Yoon Hye-an’s facial features, but because of Choi Hong-seo’s unique scent inside her.

It was as if they had recognized me. That was what Choi Hong-seo thought.

Perhaps it was to make it easier for the two of them to talk, but Lee Hae-seong turned his back to the front door and stood there. Go Ji-woon gestured at Lee Hae-seong with her eyes and asked in a lowered voice.

“But… how long have you been dating?”

“……”

“You got divorced, but weren’t you still married?”

“Don’t you think of me as a sponsor?”

Go Ji-woon chuckled at Choi Hong-seo’s surprised question.

“Who didn’t have any sponsors?”

“……”

“What kind of sponsor in the world treats a kid they’re just playing with like that? You can tell just by looking at them that they’re dating.”

Lee Hae-seong turned his body back to face the front door. Go Ji-woon stepped back, looking at Lee Hae-seong’s expression with a stinging expression.

“You said you have no attachment to the entertainment industry, so I think it would be a good idea to open a café for you. I will connect you with a consulting firm through Director Kang. It will help you make a living for the time being.”

Go Ji-woon seemed bewildered as to why such an additional suggestion was suddenly made. Go Ji-woon did not know, but Choi Hong-seo seemed to know why Lee Hae-seong made such a suggestion. Choi Hong-seo felt good because he saw them as dating rather than as a sponsor.

As they left the front door, Lee Hae-seong reached out and grabbed Choi Hong-seo’s hand. The stairs were too narrow for the two men to walk down side by side, but they went down the stairs, almost hugging each other.

When he got into the backseat of the waiting car, the attendant in the driver’s seat immediately handed Lee Hae-seong a cell phone as if he had been waiting for him.

“Well, that’s a pretty good number. I also got some information from this side. Go Ji-woon has some good footage. It’s more valuable than I expected. I’ll share the footage right away. Did you get Jo Sung-hyun’s schedule?”

While Hae-seong was talking on the phone, the car slowly and skillfully made its way through the narrow alley. Even though it was a clear afternoon without a single cloud, the alley of the one-room apartment complex, packed close together, was dark as if it was about to rain.

“Tomorrow morning? That’s great. Let’s set it up.”

Choi Hong-seo asked Lee Hae-seong, who had finished the call with a satisfied expression.

“Is this Director Kang?”

“Jo Sung-hyun said he has a golf outing scheduled for tomorrow, so I was going to send him a small gift.”

“But what I said at that house earlier? That guy called you some kind of gangster.”

“Oh, you’re a traitor?”

“I know what you mean,” Lee Hae-seong said with a smile and nodded.

“What does that mean?”

His smiling face tilted obliquely as he turned to Choi Hong-seo. A warm hand came over and cupped his cheek. And as usual, his thumb gently stroked his skin.

“If someone trips you and makes you fall, that person will lose both his legs.”

Even as he spoke scary words, his voice was like a crispy pastry soaked with honey. Choi Hong-seo silently rubbed his cheek against the palm of his hand that covered his face. Like Tiffany. As if comforting him.

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