Chapter 225: People Are Important (4)

You want me to go over to your house?

Yes, Id love to have you over.

What was up with the sudden invite? Ha Jae-Gun looked at the window to stare at his own reflection in a daze.

Im sorry for putting you in this perplexed situation without context.

Yes Id be lying if I werent fl.u.s.tered, Ha Jae-Gun replied slowly.

Ha Jae-Gun could somewhat guess Nam Gyu-Hos motive behind the invitation; it was definitely not business-related. It had to be something personal and related to his beloved older sister.

Um, Mr. Ha.

Yes, Im listening. Please speak.

I dont think I should tell you over the phone. Are you available for dinner tonight?

Hmm,

dinner tonight Ha Jae-Gun trailed off as he mentally recounted his schedule for the day. He didnt have anything in particular arranged for tonight, though he had planned to celebrate with Lee Soo-Hee after work to commemorate the completion of

Market Place

.

If its difficult for you to meet tonight, then maybe next time

No, its fine. I can meet you later. Ha Jae-Gun replied immediately, as it had to be something related to Ha Jae-In. Plus, he could feel that Nam Gyu-Ho was trying to muster up courage.

Where shall we meet later?

What would you like to have for dinner? Ill arrange it according to your preference.

Im not a picky eater. Youre much more experienced than I am in terms of food, so Ill leave it to you.

Okay then. Ill contact you again in a bit.

Ha Jae-Gun hung up the call and began writing a message to Lee Soo-Hee. Just then, the screen changed, and a call from Lee Soo-Hee appeared.

Yeah, Soo-Hee.

Why did you pick up so fast? Were you playing

Oscars Dungeon

?

No, I was just about to send you a message.

Ah, really? What were you going to say?

Lee Soo-Hees side was quite noisy as Ha Jae-Gun could hear overlapping voices of employees talking about planning, dungeons and characters.

Um,

Jae-Gun, I cant talk on the phone for too long. And I have to work overtime for

The Breath

tonight, so I dont think I can have dinner with you later.

I feel apologetic hearing that youre working overtime because of me.

You just have to give me a ma.s.sage next time. But I cant get the ma.s.sage tonight, either. I left the USB with the proposal at home; otherwise, I would have gone to see you even if itd be much later tonight.

We just cant meet for a day. You dont have to be sorry; just make sure you have your dinner later.

Thanks for understanding. Alright, Ill call you again later.

Ha Jae-Gun hung up and chuckled. Did Lee Soo-Hee have to work overtime because things had turned out this way? His footsteps as he headed to the bathroom felt lighter than before.

***

I apologize for asking you out at the last minute, Nam Gyu-Ho apologized as he poured a gla.s.s of alcohol for Ha Jae-Gun.

They were currently in a small room of a tuna restaurant sitting on tatami mats. Ha Jae-Gun took over the bottle and poured a gla.s.s for Nam Gyu-Ho in return.

Even I think it was a bit of a stretch thinking about it now, asking you to come over to my place out of the blue Lets drink first.

The two men shared a toast and chugged down the cold drink. Nam Gyu-Ho did not once look at the fresh and delicious-looking tuna laid out on the table before him but continued to fill their gla.s.ses. It was evident that he was feeling anxious.

Please feel free to speak your mind. Ha Jae-Gun put down his chopsticks and added, Im ready to hear what you have to say. So please dont worry and speak comfortably.

Thats very nice of you, but Nam Gyu-Ho trailed off and chugged another gla.s.s. Ha Jae-Gun took out a pair of new chopsticks and placed some tuna on Nam Gyu-Hos plate. Youll get drunk easily if you drink at this speed.

Youre so alike, Nam Gyu-Ho muttered but soon turned fl.u.s.tered as he caught Ha Jae-Gun staring back at him.

Ah,

I unknowinglyWhats wrong with me today? Im just referring to how kind both you and Ms. Jae-In are to the people around you.

Ahh,

I see

Hahaha.

Ha Jae-Gun chuckled, and a smile suffused their lips.

Nam Gyu-Ho felt a little more at ease, allowing him to go straight to the point.

Actually I was with Ms. Jae-In when we met my father coincidentally on the streets. No, I think it'll be more appropriate to say that my father caught us red-handed."

?

I went to the academy to meet her, but my father was there as well

Director Nam, please wait a moment. Ha Jae-Gun cut Nam Gyu-Ho off, surprised at what he was hearing. Im not sure if I understood you correctly, but by your father, you mean the Chairman? but why would he visit my older sister at the academy?

It seems like she hasnt told you about it. Theres a story behind this. Nam Gyu-Ho then proceeded to share the encounters Ha Jae-In had with his father. Ha Jae-Guns expression changed at every moment as he listened in amazement.

This was what happened after she saved my father, who collapsed on the streets from a myocardial infarction.

Wow, I never knew.

Im ashamed to face you, Mr. Ha. I should have introduced her to my father before all this happened. Nam Gyu-Ho frowned deeply, blaming himself for the situation he had put them in.

Ha Jae-Gun stared at the light reflected in the gla.s.s absent-mindedly, recalling the tears on his older sisters face a few nights before while they had drinks. How much did she suffer silently without being able to tell her own younger brother?

I think having you around would be of great help in persuading my father.

Ha Jae-Gun looked up.

Nam Gyu-Ho puffed his chest and continued confidently. Mr. Ha is a writer who has achieved unrivaled status in Korea. This is unprecedented, plus you have achieved all of your current wealth and honor without any help from your family.

Nam Gyu-Ho did not give Ha Jae-Gun a moment to respond. Ms. Jae-In is an amazing older sister to you as well. Youre not a normal family, and shes not a normal older sister. Even if she doesn't end up with me, she can still become the daughter-in-law of a

chaebol

[1] family. This is just my opinion, but I must be right.

Nam Gyu-Hos voice rose as he spoke with excitement. He pulled out his phone and opened the ebook for

Foolish Woman

before continuing. I still read this novel whenever it comes to mind. The female lead in the novel is exactly like Ms. Jae-In.

"It was the biggest blessing in my life that I had met someone like her, and just being around her makes me Nam Gyu-Ho trailed off as he began choking up.

Ha Jae-Gun was so shocked that he kept himself sitting upright the entire time. Nam Gyu-Hos words were overwhelming.

She made me a better man. Nam Gyu-Ho muttered. He chugged another gla.s.s of cold alcohol. Nam Gyu-Ho didnt come off as the heir of a large corporation but as a man in love. Ha Jae-Gun was moved to see him being so honest about his feelings.

Id love to marry Ms. Jae-In regardless of what it takes. I cant imagine how my life would be without her.

Please calm down. Nam Gyu-Ho's perfect image was crumbling.

But thanks to Ha Jae-Gun, he was able to understand his more humane side, which he had never fully understood before. Of course, it was unclear whether it was a good thing or not.

Ill definitely provide my a.s.sistance if you need me. Ha Jae-Gun smiled and raised his gla.s.s with his heart feeling full. There was no way he couldn't smile here. He could tell how much Nam Gyu-Ho loved his older sister, and he was happy to know it.

Please dont worry too much. Everything will be fine. And thank you for telling me everything.

Im just feeling sorry for not telling you this earlier.

The two men shared a toast and continued drinking. They only belatedly realized how sweet the alcohol was that night.

Ughhh

, Mr. Ha. Lets go for round two.

Youre very drunk now; lets end it here tonight.

Ha Jae-Gun supported Nam Gyu-Ho as they walked down the busy streets of downtown. If one were to drink beyond their limit, the alcohol would drink one rather than the other way around.

That was how Nam Gyu-Ho looked in Ha Jae-Guns eyes right now...

Director Nam, Ill hail a taxi for you. Ill send you straight to your house before leaving.

No, Mr. Ha. Im not drunk at all. Look at me, Im sober.

Hicc

. I enjoyed myself tonight for the longest time, thanks to you. Ill resent you for the rest of my life if we end the night here.

Ah

What should I do. Ha Jae-Guns mind quickly turned into problem-solving mode as he held onto Nam Gyu-Ho. One wouldn't stray far away from their nature even if they were drunk. Seeing that itd be hard to persuade him otherwise, Ha Jae-Gun thought it would be better to just go along with it and go for round two.

Director Nam, how about going to my house instead?

Mr. Has house?

Hicc

.

Its not too far from here, and I live alone, so its not much of an inconvenience.

Its my honor,

hicc

. Please, if you dont mind.

Ha Jae-Gun headed to the bus stop immediately and hailed them a taxi. Nam Gyu-Ho kept talking about different topics throughout the drive.

Im only saying this now, but I was quite fl.u.s.tered when I first met you, Mr. Ha. Its inevitable to meet people from all walks of life when running a business, so I did have some data in hand, but

Wahahaha!

It was my first time meeting someone like Mr. Ha, so I couldnt grasp what kind of personality you had~!

Yes, you said this earlier as well.

Ah,

really? Im just too happy today

Wahahaha! Oh,

mister, Im sorry for disturbing you while youre driving. Im just too happy today.

Nam Gyu-Ho turned his attention to the driver and continued triumphantly. Theres a woman I love; shes extremely pretty, clever, and nice. I might get married to her soon, too.

Really? Congratulations.

And if we get married

Hicc

, this man here is a very famous writer, and he will become my brother-in-law. Right? Brother-in-law?

Ahahahahaha!

At the end of his laughter, Nam Gyu-Ho's head tilted and drooped.

Ha Jae-Gun quickly caught his head.

Soon, soft snores started to pervade the car, as Nam Gyu-Ho had fallen asleep.

Im sorry for being so noisy while youre driving, mister. Ha Jae-Gun apologized as things grew quiet in the car.

The driver smiled as he looked at Ha Jae-Gun through the rearview mirror. No, hes quite the quiet drunk. But are you Mr. Ha Jae-Gun?

Ah, yes. Thats me.

The driver grinned. He was glad to see Ha Jae-Gun.

He lowered the volume of the radio and said excitedly, My daughter is a huge fan of yours. Shes in year three of high school this year, and she kept going on about how she wants to become a famous writer like you. Im sorry but can you take a photo with me before you alight later?

Yes, of course.

Thank you. I want to hang it up in my car. I just got this taxi just last year, and Im hoping that I can get some luck from you.

Hohoho.

The driver revealed a friendly smile.

Ha Jae-Gun smiled and looked out the car window to see the outside world enveloped with street lights.

Nam Gyu-Ho slept soundly while snoring.

~

The next morning

Director Nam is absent from work today?

Absent? Are you sure its not because hes been working outside and decided not to come into the office today?

What do you mean? We have a planning meeting for

The Breath

later today.

Wow,

it is a surprise to hear that the great Director Nam Nam Gyu-Ho is absent.

The team members from the planning department were gathered in the lounge, chattering amongst themselves.

Their topic of conversation was Nam Gyu-Ho, who was absent despite the meeting for

The Breath

scheduled for today.

Team leader Lee, what if he's just sick?

Huh?

Mm

But he looked quite healthy yesterday. Is he down with a cold? Did his immunity go down after a trip to Taiwan?

Im not so sure about that. Lee Soo-Hee glossed over her reply and took a sip of her coffee. She could still hear Nam Gyu-Hos dry voice over the phone from earlier.

Ill leave the meeting for

The Breath

in your hands, Team Leader Lee. I was going to leave the project for you to oversee anyway. Plus, you do a better job than I do. Excuse me while I go back to rest.

Gosh, what happened to Director Nam

Lee Soo-Hee was equally surprised to hear about Nam Gyu-Hos absence. While she was still in a daze, her phone rang, and a call from Ha Jae-Gun came in.

Yeah, Jae-Gun.

You're free, right?

Yeah, dont worry about it. Did you sleep well? I was so tired yesterday that I only left you a message and fell asleep right afterward. Lee Soo-Hee said as she stepped out of the lounge and into the corridor. I was about to send you a message. Did you get a good rest?

No, I actually met Director Nam last night.

What?

We drank till late, and I brought him back to my place. Hes still asleep in the room now.

Lee Soo-Hees jaws dropped. So Nam Gyu-Hos absence wasnt because of a cold or flu but because he drank too much last night.

Ill tell you more when we meet. I called just in case you're worried. I was so busy that I couldnt look at my phone last night and fell asleep immediately.

Mm,

alright. You must be tired, so you should sleep more then. Ill call you again later during my lunch break.

All right. Have a good day at work.

Lee Soo-Hee hung up the phone. She was still dumbfounded, but she was grinning at the news. To think that Ha Jae-Gun and Nam Gyu-Ho would spend the night together. She couldn't stop laughing, just imagining what the two were like while completely drunk

Team leader Lee, were ready for the meeting.

Okay, Ill be there soon. Lee Soo-Hee headed toward the meeting room for the meeting related to

The Breath

.

Nam Gyu-Ho was right. She was confident that she could run the meeting better than anyone else in the room due to her affection for the creator of the original work.

***

Yu-Na, are you ready? We should get going soon.

Yes, oppa. Im wearing my shoes now! Han Yu-Na put on her shoes in a hurry and stepped out of the house.

Today was the day for both her and Lee Chae-Rin to record the song for their upcoming unit debut, C.Y.

She had been running on tight schedules recently and hadnt been able to get a good nights sleep, but she didnt feel tired at all. Everything was going smoothly, like a dream. She even offered a prayer of grat.i.tude to a G.o.d for the first time in her life.

Bzzt!

Just as her manager hopped onto the vehicle, her phone rang. She was stupefied to see the name on the caller ID. However, she didn't answer the call and put her phone away into her pocket.

Who is it?

Its nothing. Lets go, oppa.

Her manager stepped on the accelerator, and they began driving off. Han Yu-Na kept ignoring the call that continued ringing throughout the ride. However, she didnt expect that the person calling her was already waiting for her at her destination.

1. Term that refers to large family-owned business conglomerates.