UR Chapter 134

Chapter 134

“You look like you’re in a good mood.”

Sung-jun stepped into Beom-ho’s office, catching his breath.

The moment he entered, there was a noticeable charge of pleasant energy in the air. After startling everyone that morning, the man himself was sitting there with his phone in hand, looking peaceful—as if nothing had happened. No, not just peaceful—he was smiling, unable to hide his happiness. Even with his usual serious face, his good looks never faltered, but now the air was so saturated with his cheerful energy it was almost oppressive.

Sung-jun had worried things might turn sour after hearing the harsh words from I-bom’s grandmother. But if things had gone so well that an engagement announcement made it into the news in such a short time, clearly the situation had resolved itself without his intervention.

“Yeah. The world feels beautiful and lovely today. Do you know what the source of all things is? It’s love.”

Sung-jun eyed him sideways. Hearing this man talk about the source of all things was strange. Normally, he showed little interest in anything, let alone love. But there was no mistaking the gentleness on his face. It had to be the predator’s satisfaction at finally securing his mate. Bowing his head slightly, Sung-jun offered his congratulations.

“Congratulations.”

“Thanks.”

“But next time, for important matters that need an embargo—like engagements or weddings—please let me know in advance. The office was swarmed this morning. I thought something had happened.”

He spoke while holding out a stack of approval documents.

“Really? But the article wasn’t from me. Samho released it on their own. I’ll tell their chief secretary.”

“Yes, I’d appreciate that. And here’s a mid-report. The lawsuit is proceeding well. The law firm has filed against Kang Soo-hyun’s side, and the court has set a mediation date. For now… his father has hired a lawyer to request a settlement. They’ve said they’ll submit a written apology and reflection, but the man himself has told Donghwa Daily he plans to give them a story.”

Beom-ho accepted the documents with a nod.

“Donghwa Daily?”

He recalled Soo-hyun boasting in anger about knowing a pureblood beastman’s secret that no one else did. A faint smirk curved his lips.

“Looks like he’s plotting something amusing.”

“And about Kang I-bom’s family…”

“Family? Who—his grandmother, or his younger sibling?”

He counted them off on his fingers, then spoke calmly.

“If it’s about his younger sibling, once things settle down, make sure to look after them. They’re the closest family he has and still young, and I doubt his relatives will care for them properly.”

Sung-jun shook his head.

“The one I’m referring to is his older brother—Kang I-jun. He was apparently infamous in their neighborhood for bullying I-bom since they were kids. He’d been absent for quite a while, but for some reason, he’s shown up again recently. What should we do?”

“…”

“As you probably know, his reputation isn’t good. He’s involved with Kang Soo-hyun in a fraud case, and more recently, he’s racked up significant debt from failed coin investments.”

“…Is that so?”

With languid eyes, Beom-ho glanced out the window.

“He’ll probably try to contact us soon. That’s fine—but he’s not to meet I-bom.”

“You mean, not at all?”

“Yes. Kang Soo-hyun is bad enough, but…”

He recalled the time he’d run into Kang I-jun at the convenience store.

“Kang I-jun’s aura is worse. If he meets me, fine—but not I-bom. Strengthen security in front of Guhochae for now.”

His tone was firm.

“Now then… shall we go hear what Kang Soo-hyun has to say?”

With a sly smile, Beom-ho rose from his seat.

* * *

In front of the hotel, decorated with a sparkling signboard reading “Happy New Year,” a black sedan rolled to a stop. Staff quickly stepped forward, greeting the arrival and opening the car door, lining up to welcome the person who stepped out.

Brushing the dust from his well-tailored three-piece suit, Eun Beom-ho stepped inside the hotel’s revolving door. Perhaps it was the perfectly fitted dark gray suit that matched his slightly cold expression, but his already stern features seemed even sharper. Adjusting his neatly slicked-back hair, he walked into the lobby.

Click, click. The sharp sound of his shoes echoed until he stopped at the hotel café tucked inside the lobby. The warm Christmas atmosphere from when he first met I-bom had now been completely replaced with New Year decorations celebrating the start of the year.

He looked at the back of a brown-haired head seated inside and approached at an unhurried pace. Lowering his gaze coolly, he tapped the table with his fingers. At the sound, the messy brown hair jerked up, the owner turning around abruptly. The man started to rise with one corner of his lips lifted, opening his mouth to speak, but Beom-ho cut him off, dropping into the seat.

“Why did you call me here?”

“Director.”

Kang Soo-hyun sighed at Beom-ho’s cold attitude and placed a document envelope on the table.

“You’re really too much. We have a connection…”

His eyebrows drooped, eyes downcast, lips jutting out in a pout. Beom-ho looked at him expressionlessly and repeated his words.

“A connection?”

“Well, I was the one who agreed to go on the blind date. That’s a connection too.”

Soo-hyun spoke shamelessly.

“You filed a lawsuit against me, didn’t you? Do you know how scared I was, losing sleep over it? Haa… You really went too far.”

Biting his lower lip slowly, Soo-hyun looked worn out. With his family in business, his father likely sensed how frightening it was to be sued by Samho. His eyelids were puffy and swollen.

“Once you’ve been through it, you’ll realize a lawsuit is the most lenient way of dealing with you.”

Beom-ho’s voice was icy. Frankly, Soo-hyun’s situation was no longer any concern of his. He had been patient enough, and he was never a merciful being inclined to spare humans from their own consequences. Trust and humanity were separate matters to him. If not for I-bom, he wouldn’t have cared at all.

“You called a busy man here for this? I have nothing more to say. Speak to my lawyer.”

Leaning back in his seat, he crossed his arms. It was a far cry from the gentle expression he showed I-bom. If I-bom saw him now, he’d be bewildered by the difference. But remembering the bitter, tearful voice and the warmth of tears soaking into his chest as I-bom clung to him only hardened his expression further.

It was good to show mercy at times, but some people only realized their faults after being harshly taught a lesson. And from Beom-ho’s perspective, dealing with him legally was already the mildest course of action. Sometimes arrogant humans failed to understand that, flailing in outrage. Such people rarely met a good end.

“So… you’re going to keep acting like this?”

The pitiful act vanished from Soo-hyun’s face, replaced by a sharp glare. To see such a weak creature—one that would be unable to even breathe properly if he released his full energy—daring to look at him like that was absurd. With how quickly he could change expressions, perhaps acting would have been a better career.

“Eun Beom-ho. I happen to have some connections at Donghwa Daily, you know? Are you sure you want to do this?”

“Is that so.”

Beom-ho looked down at him, already aware that the newly appointed intern in Donghwa Daily’s business section was a friend of Soo-hyun’s. Watching him puff himself up over such a trivial link drew a cold, mocking smile from Beom-ho.

“Not worth hearing.”

“…!”

“Unless you apologize to Kang I-bom, there’s no negotiation. I’ll be leaving now.”

He stood abruptly. Soo-hyun, who had been sitting with smug confidence, widened his eyes at the unexpected move, then quickly grabbed the hem of Beom-ho’s jacket.

“W-wait!”

“…”

“I… I know you can’t just treat me however you want. I’ve heard pureblood tigers have a weakness.”

He stammered under Beom-ho’s frigid gaze. The tiger’s aura spread, brushing against him, constricting his throat. The wrathful energy of a tiger beastman was not something one could bear lightly, yet Soo-hyun stared back as if oblivious.

Instinct warned him of the danger creeping closer, but he ignored it, lips trembling and cold sweat trickling down his temples.

Under his breath, he muttered a curse.

“Damn… Am I catching a cold? Why do I feel chills all of a sudden?”

“Is that so?”

Beom-ho, who had been set on leaving, turned back at those words. Soo-hyun clenched his fists, his brow twitching, then lit up at the reaction.

Ha… so it’s true.