TTD 153

–Side Story 2.1–

[Today is the confirmation hearing for Prime Minister candidate Kim Seok-hwan. It has become a hot topic after CEO Kang Il-hyun of Haewoon Group announced he will attend as a witness. It is known that CEO Kang’s late father and Prime Minister Kim Seok-hwan were close friends. It is expected that the ruling and opposition parties will engage in a fierce confrontation over the billions of won that passed between them at today’s hearing. Ah, CEO Kang Il-hyun is getting out of the car right now.]

The screen quickly zoomed in on a black car. The man who got out of the back seat stretched his long legs out and smiled leisurely at the camera. Park Tae-soo and several bodyguards followed Kang Il-hyun, who was buttoning his suit jacket as he climbed the stairs, and reporters surrounded him.

“Everyone expected you not to attend. Is there a reason you changed your mind? You said you didn’t solicit the Prime Minister candidate. Is that true? Are you sure your father didn’t have any dealings with Candidate Kim during his lifetime?”

Numerous other questions poured out, but Kang Il-hyun did not answer any of them. Comments were quickly posted under the live broadcast, but instead of focusing on the hearing, people were more interested in Kang Il-hyun’s appearance.

-He’s so damn handsome lol. Did he take over the company with his face?

-Wow, is that jawline for real?

-Shouldn’t we cover up his sins with a face like that?

-Who told him to shoot a pictorial at the National Assembly?

-You fools, don’t be fooled lol. He’s a complete psycho lol. Can’t you tell by his face?

-A face-reading fanatic has appeared.

-Damn, he puts actors to shame lol. His gaze is no joke

-Put to shame? lol. He’s just a pampered brat putting on airs.

-I hate to admit it, but he’s handsome, that’s a fact.

-Kids, get lost. Do you think this is some kind of idol fan meeting?

Ja-kyung watched the comments that were being posted in real time with an expressionless face. Soon after, the cola in the cup went down his throat through the thin straw. As he brought the hamburger in his hand back to his mouth, Wang Lun came over and stuck his face next to him.

“CEO Kang looks better in person. The screen doesn’t capture his looks.”

Ja-kyung nodded slowly, chewing his hamburger instead of answering. Kang Il-hyun occasionally appeared on TV, and people praised him as a sculpture, but seeing him in person, you realized the screen couldn’t fully capture that feeling. As he was trying to shake off his disappointment, Wang Lun put his arm around his shoulder and pointed to the other side.

“Look closely, Wei. This is what will take care of our retirement.”

The land he was pointing to was so large that it was impossible to estimate its size. And in the distance, the sea was located. They were planning to develop a hotel, a complex shopping mall, a water park, and an aquarium on this vast land.

Thanks to Wang Lun’s acquaintance, whom he had known for a long time, they were able to invest, and once it was completed, they wouldn’t have to worry about making a living for the rest of their lives. Construction had been in full swing until a few days ago, but today was a holiday, so the excavators and trucks were stopped.

At that moment, a cultivator came chugging from afar. An old man wearing a large brimmed hat was carrying a lot of something in the cultivator’s cargo bed. The old man, who was passing right next to them, stopped the cultivator and slightly raised his hat. Underneath it, the dark traces of time were revealed.

“Who are you people, and what are you doing here?”

Wang Lun shook his shoulders and acted nonchalant.

“Old man. You know that a marine tourism complex is being built here, right?”

The old man nodded slowly. “Of course, I know.”

Wang Lun looked at Ja-kyung with a triumphant expression.

“Haha. I invested in it. I guess you’re from around here? I’ll be seeing you often for a while.”

As he grinned, revealing his front teeth, the old man’s face gradually distorted.

“Haven’t you heard?”

“Heard what?”

“That it’s been called off.”

Wang Lun laughed with a dumbfounded expression.

“Hey, don’t make such scary jokes-“

“Jokes? A few days ago, a lot of people came and made a fuss. Didn’t you know?”

The smile gradually disappeared from Wang Lun’s face, and Ja-kyung spat out a curse and covered the half-eaten hamburger with paper. Wang Lun was convinced that the old man was mistaken and started calling someone. As the signal went on and the other person didn’t answer, his face gradually darkened.

“Young man, you should have checked it out properly, tsk tsk.”

The old man looked pitiful and went on his way. Watching the cultivator disappear, Ja-kyung closed his eyes tightly, and Wang Lun glared at the unanswered phone before swearing. A little later, Wang Han, who had gone nearby to run errands, also arrived, and he became furious as soon as he heard the news.

“What is it, Lun! Didn’t you check properly?”

“Hold on! Let me talk on the phone first!”

“This bastard, seriously! You said he was a trustworthy person!”

“We’ve been like brothers for 10 years! Do you think he would scam me?”

Wang Han rubbed his face in disbelief, and Ja-kyung sighed and looked up at the sky. He knew something was up when things were going so smoothly. He should have cut it off when Wang Lun was trying to get him to invest. Or would things have been different if he had asked Kang Il-hyun? The only good thing was that he hadn’t invested that much money himself. But Lun had put most of his assets into it.

After thinking for a while, Ja-kyung finished the rest of his drink and headed to the driver’s seat.

“Wei, where are you going?”

Ja-kyung answered Han’s question.

“I’m going to catch those scammers.”

At those words, Wang Lun, who had been in a daze, shouted.

“How do you know where they are?”

“We’ll find them. Get in. There’s no time to be crying like a fool.”

“Who’s crying!”

“Lun. Wipe your tears and talk.”

“These aren’t tears, it’s sweat!”

As the two bickering men got into the car, Ja-kyung turned the steering wheel. The black car started to run on the muddy dirt road. It started to rain, and soon the car was covered in mud. When he turned up the radio volume, the news about the hearing was playing. As he focused on it, the car was already on the road.

*

“You can head home.”

“Aren’t you going to your residence, sir?”

“I have an appointment.”

Park Tae-soo seemed to know who Kang Il-hyun was meeting. As expected, when they took the executive elevator to the underground parking lot, a black motorcycle parked next to a pillar came into view. It was none other than Lee Ja-kyung, leaning against it and looking at his phone.

Kang Il-hyun was still madly in love with Lee Ja-kyung.

Even if he didn’t say it, anyone could tell by his actions and eyes.

“I don’t know whose lover he is, but he’s hot. Right?”

Kang Il-hyun made a playful joke and waved his hand lightly. “See you on Monday.” Even with an unusual greeting. As he strode closer, Lee Ja-kyung, who had been looking at his phone, looked up. Looking at him smiling made him feel like the fatigue of the day was melting away.

He spread his arms and hugged him tightly.

After taking him out of his arms, he looked down at his face and cupped his cheeks.

“Your cheeks are cold. Did you ride this here?”

Instead of answering, Ja-kyung opened the seat and handed him a helmet. Kang Il-hyun laughed with a dumbfounded expression. This year, Ja-kyung had given him a ride on a motorcycle on his mother’s memorial day. He had only pretended to be sad to get attention, but he had taken him all the way to the East Sea.

“Did you come to cheer me up?”

“Of course. Who else would cheer you up if not me?”

Il-hyun naturally moved his hand to Ja-kyung’s butt.

“You can cheer me up with something else. Huh?”

Ja-kyung slyly took his hand away.

“You can do that later. Put on your helmet now. It’s pretty cold outside.”

Ja-kyung sat on the seat and grabbed the handlebars, and Il-hyun put on his helmet, not caring if his carefully styled hair got messed up. Then he sat behind Ja-kyung and hugged his waist. He smelled a subtle fragrance from his body. As soon as he realized that it was the skin he had chosen for him, excitement rushed in. He wanted to kiss his neck, but it was impossible now because of the damn helmet.

“We’re leaving. Hold on tight.”

The motorcycle went straight out of the parking lot. The speed gradually increased as he dodged the cars. After driving for a long time, they arrived near a lake on the outskirts of Seoul. Before he could wonder why they had come here, the motorcycle stopped.

Ja-kyung took off his helmet and swept back his messy hair. Then he burst out laughing when he saw Kang Il-hyun. His uncharacteristically messy hair felt cute. Come here. When he beckoned, he obediently lowered his head. He ran his fingers through his hair, and it roughly fell back into shape.

“Weren’t you cold?”

He cupped both cheeks with his hands, just like he had done earlier. He just laughed at the sight of him obediently entrusting his face like a well-behaved puppy. Who would think that this person was the man on the screen?

“Not at all. Thanks to you, the stress is gone.”

“Were you stressed?”

“It would be a lie if I said no.”

Kang Il-hyun, who was always relaxed, sometimes revealed his inner thoughts like this. He thought Kang Il-hyun had almost no emotional fluctuations, but he found it cute that he was only honest with him. Kang Il-hyun put his hands in his coat pockets and looked at the dark lake. It was almost impossible to identify anything at night.

“Why did we come here?”

Ja-kyung pointed to the darkness with his hand. There was something there. Before he could figure out what it was, he took out a small remote control from his pocket and handed it to him. “Press it.” When he pressed the ON button, a light flickered on the other side. Kang Il-hyun found a camper decorated with light bulbs and shook his head and laughed.

“You finally caused trouble again.”