Chapter 156: Tremble in Fear (15)

h.e.l.lo, Director.

Mm, good morning.

Nam Gyu-Ho raised one hand in greeting as he stepped into the pantry. The employees c.o.c.ked their heads as they found his reaction strange. His usual response was to put his hands in his pockets and nod his head.

I need a cup of coffee.

Hmm.

Nam Gyu-Ho even lied that he hadnt had his coffee and pressed a b.u.t.ton on the coffee machine.

He had already glanced at his wrist.w.a.tch thrice while the coffee was dripping.

May I join you?

Nam Gyu-Ho ignored the other empty tables in the pantry and approached the planning team members at their table instead. The team was fl.u.s.tered yet still awkwardly moved to make s.p.a.ce for him to join them.

What? Yes, of course. Please have a seat, Director.

Whats with all of your expressions?

No, its just You usually choose to sit alone or head straight back to your office, so

Im thinking of spending more time with all of you to improve our communication, said Nam Gyu-Ho, but he looked at his wrist.w.a.tch once more. The employees had noticed it earlier, and one of them decided to ask.

Are you waiting for an important guest?

Hmm? No, why?

Because youve checked your watch a few times now...

Well, Im just checking to see if my watch is working properly Nam Gyu-Hos vague reply bewildered everyone.

Just then, Lee Soo-Hee appeared from behind him with a smile.

Thats a new watch. Its pretty, she said.

Ah,

this watch? Nam Gyu-Ho replied, and his face brightened immediately as he extended his arm to Lee Soo-Hee.

It was a gift from Writer Ha Jae-Gun.

Writer Ha? Lee Soo-Hee asked, feigning ignorance. However, Lee Soo-Hee was actually asked by Ha Jae-Gun to help him choose the watch meant for Nam Gyu-Ho.

Yeah, well He said he was thankful to me for quite a few things, and he gave me this watch as a present. Thankfully, the watchs design was to my liking as well.

Hmm.

Lee Soo-Hee bit her lip to suppress the laughter that was forcing its way out. To her, Nam Gyu-Ho looked like he was still contemplating whether to show off the watch or not.

Anyway, Writer Ha is also,

uh,

how should I say this

Hmm,

Well, I should get going now.

Yes, Director. See you later.

Nam Gyu-Ho picked up his cup of coffee and left after achieving his goal.

As soon as Nam Gyu-Ho stepped out, the team stopped Lee Soo-Hee and started clambering for answers.

Why did Writer Ha give him that watch?

Did their relations.h.i.+p get better?

Lee Soo-Hee only smiled and answered that she wasnt sure while shaking her head.

As Lee Soo-Hee returned to the office after making herself a cup of coffee, another team member said casually, Anyway, MPC seems to be in big trouble. Their market share dropped by thirty billion won.

Yeah. I feel sorry for the franchisees and investors. Lee Soo-Hee smiled bitterly in return.

News of the a.s.saulted security, who was Writer Has father, had already spread across the country. Naturally, the team who had been working closely with Ha Jae-Gun would be more interested in the news than anything else.

Whats the use of a public apology after the video was revealed? Are they performing a gag concert?

Sigh,

rich people are just too much.

I heard that hes going to sell his stocks and step down from his position. But that should just be rumors, right?

The topic of the conversation naturally switched to MPC Group. Lee Soo-Hee somehow felt uncomfortable listening as it reminded her of Ha Jae-Guns face, which had grown very thin.

The moment Lee Soo-Hee stood up from her seat

Huh? Whats this photo?! The same team member who was looking at their phone exclaimed.

The others curiously gathered around them.

What photo is it?

Isnt this Writer Has father and MPC Groups president?

Lee Soo-Hee sat back down, her eyes widened in shock.

The team member showed Lee Soo-Hee their phone and asked, Right? Team Leader Lee?

?!

Lee Soo-Hee could not believe her eyes. Jung Woo-Hyuk was kneeling before Ha Jae-Guns father. Myung-Ja and Ha Jae-In stood next to Ha Jae-Guns father. It was slightly blurry since the photo was taken from afar, but Lee Soo-Hee still recognized them.

There are more photos. The MPC president is lying on the ground here.

Wow, its true. Where did this photo come from?

Its not from the media outlets, but from an anonymous site. Its going viral on social media. Its at the top of the search portal ranking.

Lee Soo-Hee turned pale and pulled out her phone.

As her team members said, clicking on MPC President groveling for forgiveness showed countless photos and social media posts on the search results.

- Just whats happening? I think this is fake? How can someone like the MPC President be groveling for forgiveness?

- Is he asking for a beating in the second photo???

-Fabrication? Thats bull. Hes obviously MPCs President.

- The person whose back view is the only thing that can be seen in the picture is obviously Ha Jae-Gun. Im his fan, so I can tell right away.

- If this is real, then Ha Jae-Gun is awesome. Kekekeke. He could even make MPCs president kneel and ask for forgiveness kekekeke.

- Is Ha Jae-Gun that great??? What kind of family does he have??? Just who is he???

- Wow, the s.h.i.+vers;;;; His dignified aura is;;;; I peed in my pants;;;;;;

- You dumba.s.ses, cant you distinguish between reality and drama? This is definitely fake. Regardless of how famous Writer Ha Jae-Gun is, does it make sense for someone like MPCs President to grovel at him like that???

- I dont think this is fake.

The comments section was flooded with netizens speculations. In fact, more and more comments appeared while Lee Soo-Hee was reading the old comments.

Did some reporter take a picture and leak it? Because they couldnt upload it immediately with an article?

It was the only conclusion she could come up with. Worried, Lee Soo-Hee stepped outside and called Ha Jae-Gun.

Yeah, Soo-Hee.

Did you see the articles?

Yeah, Yeon-Woo showed it to me.

Just what happened?

Im not sure either. There was a reporter who came to our house. His names Joo Sang-Yeol, from the local online news agency. Did he secretly take that picture?

Ha Jae-Guns voice didnt sound as grim as she had expected. Lee Soo-Hee was slightly relieved and asked, How about you? Are you okay?

Yeah, well, Im a bit surprised, but its fine.

Thank goodness Yeah, dont worry about it. What are you doing now?

Im at the writers office to work. Ill see you later in the evening.

Yeah, okay. Good luck then.

***

Beep!

Ha Jae-Gun let out a sigh after hanging up the phone.

BesLee Yeon-Woo was still scrolling through the webpage with shock evident on his face.

Jae-Gun hyung, is thisreal? Lee Yeon-Woo gulped nervously, looking curious while waiting for an answer from Ha Jae-Gun.

Ha Jae-Gun only smiled bitterly before standing up.

Im sorry, but I hope you wont ask anymore.

Okay, hyung Im sorry.

You dont need to apologize. You havent had breakfast, right? Its kind of late, but lets go out for breakfast.

Sure. Shall we have ox bone soup?

The two stepped out and headed to a nearby restaurant.

On their way over, Ha Jae-Gun looked down, lost in his thoughts. Lee Yeon-Woo noticed it, and he got worried for him, but he couldnt bring himself to ask about it first.

Even after they grabbed seats at the restaurant, the silence continued. Ha Jae-Gun didnt speak even a single word aside from when they had to order. The two of them didnt share even a single conversation even after they finished their meal.

Ah, Im so bloated.

Lee Yeon-Woo scrunched his face and rubbed his belly. It was also the first time he had eaten in silence with Ha Jae-Gun around. It felt like he couldnt digest his meal properly because he was so worried for Ha Jae-Gun.

Thanks for the meal, hyung.

Lee Yeon-Woo, shall we take a walk? Ha Jae-Gun suggested, pointing to a quiet road.

Lee Yeon-Woo smiled and nodded. I wanted to take a walk as well. Im feeling a bit bloated.

I think its because of me, Im sorry.

No, hyung. Its because I ate too fast.

The road led to the library, so it was relatively deserted. Looking at the trees by the road swaying in the winds, Ha Jae-Gun spoke, Please understand, I have a lot going on in my mind.

Of course. Dont say it like that.

Lee Yeon-Woo looked up into the sky in anger, and he clenched his fists tight.

Argh,

seriously. If he were in front of me, Id stuff gla.s.s noodles down his throat and turn him into blood sausages. How dare he touch Ha Jae-Gun hyungs father?!

Ha Jae-Gun smiled softly and looked up as well.

The clear blue sky filled his eyes.

He hoped the world would be as peaceful as the clear skies.

Just then, a crisp noise echoed, breaking Ha Jae-Guns peace.

Argh f.u.c.k! Who left the cart here, blocking the road! an angry driver yelled as they rolled down the car windows. The driver seemed to be in his early forties. The car was obviously a luxury export, and a shabby-looking cart was blocking the road.

Aigoo, Im sorry. Ill finish in thirty seconds, so I left it there. I didnt know a car would pa.s.s by in the meantime, an old man apologized in a hurry while carrying a huge stack of waste paper.

He would have to put down the waste paper in his arms to pull the cart out of the way, so he placed them on the ground.

Ah,

just hurry up!

Yes, Im sorry. I need to put this down first

Argh, f.u.c.k this, seriously. Stupid things have only been happening to me today,

kyaak, twe!

The driver spat beside the cart after his long curse-out.

The old man could only pull his cart away without protest.

Just then, the wordsone-way trafficthat was blocked filled Ha Jae-Guns eyes.

J-Jae-Gun hyung?

Ha Jae-Gun strode up to the cart. He helped the old man with the cart and said, Please dont be upset, sir. Theres too much trash that cant be recycled in this world.

The gaze in the drivers eyes changed. There was no way he wouldnt understand Ha Jae-Guns words unless he was a fool. The mans face readlook at this punk?

Afterward, he got out of his car and rushed toward Ha Jae-Gun.

What did you just say? Did you just call me trash?

Ha Jae-Gun let go of the cart and turned around. While Lee Yeon-Woo ran over and helped push the cart away, Ha Jae-Gun calmly replied, You got it right away, huh.

How old are you?

I dont think its a question worth hearing from someone who just cursed at an old man. And cant you see this? Ha Jae-Gun pointed at the sign that readone-way trafficbefore pointing at the mans b.u.mper.

The drivers face reddened in anger.

You busybody! Dont stick into other peoples business and just go on your way! If you step up like this, you might just grow old picking up trash like him. Keep your head straight if you want to make a living.

Lee Yeon-Woo stepped up, looking fierce. Ha Jae-Gun raised his hand to stop the latter and said, Im living quite well, so you should just keep to yourself.

Ah,

seriously. You dont want to lose,

huh?

I dont earn much, but I still earn fifty million per month, alright? And how much do you earn?

I earn five hundred million per month at the very least.

The driver was stunned. His boast of earning fifty million per month was just overwhelmed by Ha Jae-Guns words.

Huh,

are you joking with me right now?!

Argh!

Slam!

The driver kicked the cart out of anger. The cardboard boxes that the old man had painstakingly stacked up collapsed instantly.

Lee Yeon-Woo could not take it any longer and pushed the man roughly.

Ho,

did you just push me?

I cant explode before hyung, you know? So just drive away quietly, now.

This rude b.a.s.t.a.r.d! The driver grabbed Lee Yeon-Woo by his collar.

Lee Yeon-Woo did not back down either and confronted the man. Seeing that things could lead to a fight, Ha Jae-Gun took out his phone.

Just then, a few policemen appeared from a distance like a miracle.

What are you guys doing?! the driver yelled at the top of his lungs when he saw the police running over.

Eventually, the group was brought to the nearby police station as the situation could not be controlled or resolved on the spot.

Sir, youre at fault. Why did you enter a one-way street and make such a fuss?

Argh

, how many times do I have to say that I was busy?! Cant I just pay a fine and go? Ill pay for the cart and the waste paper, too. Is five hundred thousand enough?

Ugh

, piece of s.h.i.+t!

The policemans eyes widened in surprise after checking Ha Jae-Guns identification card. He looked up and down between the photo on the card as well as Ha Jae-Gun himself multiple times before jumping out of his seat.

Mr. Ha Jae-Gun? Everyones attention turned to Ha Jae-Gun at the young mans words.

Even the old police chief signaled with his eyes, asking the policeman about Ha Jae-Guns ident.i.ty.

Youve seen the movie

There Was A Sea

. Writer Ha Jae-Gun is the author of the original novel. He even won the Best Screenplay Award in the Baeksong Arts Awards! the young man exclaimed in excitement.

The police chief looked quite welcoming as well, despite his large physique.

Ahh,

really?

Ah,

Mr. Ha Jae-Gun. I enjoyed the movie a lot, it was great. My wife and daughter like your novel a lot as well.

Thank you for your compliment. Ha Jae-Gun smiled in return.

The driver was left bewildered by the sudden turn of events. His face soon turned pale upon realizing that he had seen Ha Jae-Guns face on TV before.

Argh, f.u.c.k I-it wasnt a bluff!

The mans face turned red immediately afterward, and he looked down, keeping quiet as Ha Jae-Gun stared at him.

Should I thank him?

Ha Jae-Gun wondered as he looked at the trembling man. The incident involving his father had been making him panic, and he had just experienced another act of tyranny.

However, Ha Jae-Gun was enlightened by both experiences as to what path he should take going forward.