IPSDVS Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Yoon Noah, who had no place to rest his heart, had desperately wished for someone to be his anchor.

Whether it was a man or a woman, young or old, he had longed for someone who could fully understand him and hold onto him.

With that thought, Nahyuk couldn’t help but feel sympathy for Yoon Noah as he responded.

“I’m just… not angry today.”

If Yoon Noah’s parents had ever once embraced him, if they had ever truly tried to understand him—

If they had just listened to him, even once—

Would he still have grown up to be so reckless and ill-mannered?

A deep sense of empathy and pity welled up in Nahyuk.

Their situations were vastly different, but in the end, they both carried the same title—children who were never understood by their parents.

Perhaps that was why Nahyuk couldn’t bring himself to hate Yoon Noah, even though he had done nothing but cause trouble throughout the novel.

• Are you feeling unwell? You’re saying the strangest things today.

“…….”

• Anyway, you know about your grandfather’s birthday banquet tonight, right? No matter what else you do, you must attend any event related to him.

Yoon Noah’s grandfather, Yoon Taesik, was the third chairman of Taekwang Construction and the man who had transformed it from a mid-sized company into a full-fledged conglomerate.

He was often called “Taekwang’s Tiger.”

Even in his seventies, he was still in excellent health, yet he had yet to name a successor.

Because of that, his children and relatives were all desperately trying to win his favor—including Yoon Noah’s parents.

“Will Lee Kangil be attending the banquet?”

• Not Seo Dowoong this time, but Lee Kangil? Are you into the pharmaceutical heir now? Haah…

“It’s not like that… Anyway, should I attend?”

• Whether you want to or not, you’ll end up there, so stop complaining and just show up.

“Yes, thank you.”

There was no response.

Yoon Noah’s mother, who had spoken in a cold tone the entire call, simply hung up.

Moments later, a text arrived with the banquet’s location.

Only then did Nahyuk start getting ready—at a leisurely pace.

The problem was Yoon Noah’s wardrobe.

It was filled with extravagant clothes he had never worn before.

Everything was bold in color and flashy in design.

Thankfully, none of it looked tacky or outright strange.

After scanning through the options, Nahyuk picked the most neutral choice—a gray suit.

He made a mental note to go shopping later for more normal clothes.

Yoon Taesik’s birthday banquet was held outdoors at Taekwang Hotel.

Everything about the venue was extravagant.

The chairs, tables, tableware—every detail exuded luxury. Even the food prepared by the hotel was so high-end that it looked almost unreal.

And the guests… each and every one of them was strikingly beautiful, as if he had stepped into an aristocratic gathering.

Nahyuk couldn’t adjust to the overwhelming atmosphere.

He felt like the only discordant note in an otherwise perfect symphony.

The discomfort sat like a thorn in his throat, making it impossible to even reach for the lavish food.

This won’t do.

He decided to briefly greet Yoon Taesik, then find Lee Kangil and slip away.

Staying here any longer would only make him feel nauseous.

As he quietly lingered in a corner, keeping an eye on his surroundings, a middle-aged couple who bore a resemblance to Yoon Noah approached him.

“You should have called when you arrived. We’ve been looking for you everywhere! Come along now—you need to greet your grandfather.”

Yoon Noah’s mother spoke in a hushed voice, just loud enough for him to hear.

Then, the next moment, she effortlessly replaced her sharp tone with a pleasant smile.

Even though everyone at the banquet likely knew Yoon Noah was an abandoned son, she was determined not to let it show.

Nahyuk obediently followed her, soon coming face-to-face with an elderly man seated at the place of honor.

The old man had his white hair slicked back, giving him a distinguished look.

Yet, despite his age, his presence radiated undeniable strength.

His upright posture, sharp gaze, and impeccably tailored attire exuded an innate authority that seemed to dominate the space around him.

Feeling a little tense, Nahyuk bowed his head toward the elder.

There was no need to ask—Nahyuk could tell instantly that this man was Yoon Taesik.

“Noah, you brat. It’s been a while. What have you been up to lately?”

Nahyuk quickly recalled Yoon Noah’s most recent actions from the novel.

Obsessively chasing after Seo Dowoong.
Badmouthing Kim Daon, the main uke who had caught Seo Dowoong’s interest.
Even going as far as hiring people to harass Kim Daon.
Absolutely none of that was something he could confess to Yoon Taesik.

So instead, he decided to lean into the terminal illness card.

“I’ve been reflecting on the meaning of life.”

Of course, he hadn’t read past Episode 71, so he had no idea how much Yoon Noah had actually reflected on life.

But surely he must have regretted something.

Regretted the fact that there wasn’t a single person who would mourn his death.

Nahyuk felt the same.

Back when he had been cornered with nowhere to go, there had been no one to help him. That loneliness had been suffocating.

“Reflecting on life? You?”

“Yes. I’ve come to realize how foolishly I’ve been living. I should have paid more attention to the people around me.”

“Oh? Foolishly, you say?”

Yoon Taesik looked at him with clear surprise.

As far as he knew, Yoon Noah was a complete disgrace.

Not just any troublemaker—a total disaster of a human being.

That was why even his own parents had abandoned him.

Yoon Taesik had assumed that if Noah ever did regret his reckless life, it would take decades for that realization to sink in.

Yet now, out of nowhere, he was admitting his mistakes?

It was almost unbelievable.

‘What kind of wind blew into this brat…?’

His sharp gaze swept over Yoon Noah’s figure.

For the first time, standing there calmly and composed, he looked strangely different.

“Well then, Noah. No matter how recklessly you’ve lived, you still carry my blood. Have you finally decided you want to inherit the company?”

Nahyuk shook his head immediately.

He had absolutely zero intention of taking over a company.

Even just managing Yoon Noah’s real estate holdings properly would be enough to let him live in luxury for the rest of his life.

Why would he willingly throw himself into stressful corporate battles?

“No, I’ll just do what I want to do. I hope you stay healthy and live a long life, Grandfather.”

“To think I’d hear such words from you, Noah…! Hahaha!”

Everyone nearby looked just as shocked as Yoon Taesik.

They were familiar with the rebellious, troublemaking Yoon Noah.

But a polite, well-mannered Yoon Noah? That was completely new.

The most surprised of them all was his mother, Jang Mi-ae.

Though her face initially froze in shock, she quickly recovered and forced a laugh.

“Father, Noah actually respects you a lot! I think he’s finally starting to mature.”

Under the weight of so many staring eyes, Nahyuk felt the urge to escape.

Hadn’t he greeted Yoon Taesik enough?

More than that, he needed to find Lee Kangil and discuss the new drug.

Just then, behind Yoon Taesik, two men walked past.

Even from a distance, their tall and striking appearances stood out.

Everyone they passed couldn’t help but steal glances at them.

And among them—

Nahyuk recognized one of them.

‘Lee Kangil.’

The man beside him was most likely Seo Dowoong.

In the novel, the two often attended events together.

Seizing his chance, Nahyuk quickly wrapped up his conversation.

“Happy birthday again, Grandfather.”

“Thank you, Noah.”

“May I go meet a friend now?”

Yoon Taesik nodded.

Though he was surprised by Noah’s unusual behavior, there were plenty of other guests he needed to greet.

‘I’ll have to call him separately later.’

Meanwhile, Yoon Taesik watched Noah’s back as he hurriedly walked away, disappearing into the crowd.

Meanwhile, Nahyuk quickly caught up to Lee Kangil and Seo Dowoong, practically rushing after them.

Since he had half-run to reach them, he was too out of breath to speak immediately.

Without thinking, he grabbed the edge of Kangil’s jacket, stopping him from walking away.

“Hah… haah… Lee—”

Just as he was about to call Kangil’s name, a sharp voice cut through the air, striking his ears.

“Yoon Noah, I told you not to cling to me.”

It was likely Seo Dowoong.

Nahyuk already knew how much Seo Dowoong despised Yoon Noah.

So, he decided to completely ignore him.

It definitely wasn’t because Dowoong’s piercing gaze on his cheek was terrifying… absolutely not.

Focusing solely on Kangil, Nahyuk looked up and spoke.

“Mr. Lee Kangil. Why did you ignore my message?”

At his question, Kangil’s gaze shifted first to Seo Dowoong.

Following Kangil’s line of sight, Nahyuk finally took a proper look at Seo Dowoong’s face for the first time.

In Even in Ruins, Flowers Bloom, Seo Dowoong was described like this:

“The Crown Prince of the Hotel Industry.”

The nickname might have sounded a bit dramatic, but in this country, everyone in the hotel business called him that.

Seo Dowoong was the heir to Hansan Group, the nation’s largest hotel conglomerate, and he had the elegant looks to match his prestigious status.

As expected, his appearance was exactly as the novel had described.

His well-proportioned face radiated refinement.

If Kangil was trendy and modern in his handsomeness, then Seo Dowoong had a more classic, timeless beauty.

His features were as flawless as a sculpture—like an Agrippa bust carved from the finest marble.

There was not a single thing lacking in his face.

And to top it off, he carried himself with an unapproachable aura of nobility.

At that moment, Nahyuk finally understood Yoon Noah a little better.

“With a face like that, no wonder he couldn’t let go.”

Seo Dowoong had the kind of presence that could captivate anyone—regardless of gender, regardless of age.

But Nahyuk was different from Yoon Noah.

Sure, he liked handsome men too.

But more than that, he wanted someone he could actually love.

And judging by the way Seo Dowoong was glaring at him like he wanted to strangle him on the spot, there was no way they could ever be together.

Besides, the reason Yoon Noah had wanted Seo Dowoong so badly was obvious.