Chapter 23: Reunion at Dusk and Shadows on the Horizon

‘Is this a retaliatory crime?’

All sorts of thoughts were already racing through my head. I had certainly stirred up a lot of trouble lately. Though, of course, I had at least secured a minimum safety measure in the form of the police smartwatch.

“Huh?”

At that moment, a voice filled with confusion came from the back seat.

“Jaejun, what’s wrong?”

“It’s just… that Starex van over there. The license plate looks familiar.”

“What?”

Finally, our vehicle came to a halt. And then…

“Brother!”

“…!”

Had they sensed someone outside? A group of people came rushing out of the house.

“You… you guys…?”

Jaejun’s mouth hung open in a daze.

“Why weren’t you answering your phone, seriously!”

“Do you have any idea how worried we were!”

“If it weren’t for you, I would’ve smacked you.”

There were four of them. Every single one had a distinct personality and striking visuals. They looked quite different from ordinary people. The moment I realized who they were, I breathed a sigh of relief.

‘They’re the Revive members.’

They must have been incredibly worried, seeing as they had arrived here before we did.

‘Knowing CEO Bang Ki-chul’s personality, it wouldn’t have been easy for them to get away.’

I wondered about that. As if reading my expression, Shin Hye-seo quietly approached my side.

“It seems Lawyer Jang took special care of things.”

“What? Me?”

Seok-gu looked dumbfounded.

“Yes. It was written in the contract. The details of the clause the prosecutor mentioned once — the one about letting those who want to leave do so without a penalty.”

“Ah!”

Only then did Seok-gu’s eyes widen.

“Key Person Protection!”

It was also known as a Non-solicitation clause. It was a phrase that frequently appeared in M&A contracts for buying and selling companies. Until the actual sale of a corporation, preventing the loss of core assets was absolutely necessary. In the case of entertainment agencies, ‘manpower’ was treated as that core asset. This was because the departure of a specific celebrity was essentially the same as a drop in corporate value.

“Now that I think about it, I did include a clause like that.”

Seok-gu muttered blankly as he pulled out his tablet PC.

[Special Provision — Key Person Protection / Non-solicitation]

Article Three: Prohibition of Contact with Affiliated Artists and Penalties.

1. From the date of signing the share transfer agreement until the closing date, the Seller shall not, for any reason, contact the affiliated artists (including all artists maintaining an exclusive contract as of the signing date) either directly or indirectly through a third party.

2. If a violation of the preceding paragraph is confirmed and results in the affiliated artist terminating their exclusive contract or leaving the company during the contract period or within six months of the closing date, the violating party shall directly compensate two times the amount of the penalty or damages arising from the termination of said artist’s contract.

3. This article shall remain in effect even after the closing of the transaction until the obligation to pay the penalty under Paragraph 2 is fully fulfilled.

In short, it meant that if you tried to sneakily poach people during the deal, your hands were going to get cut off.

“But Seojun specifically requested the details of this special provision…”

“Really?”

Shin Hye-seo’s eyes went wide.

“Yes. Basically, confidentiality (NDA) or non-compete clauses are essential in these contracts. But as you can see, explicitly stating things like the prohibition of contact or making the penalty two times the amount is not common.”

Seok-gu then turned toward me with an exhausted expression.

“I forgot about it because I thought it was just a safety measure… but did you really foresee this situation and take action?”

I shrugged my shoulders.

“It’s not like I predicted exactly this would happen. I just thought about the scumbags I’ve dealt with so far and prepared for the ‘what if’.”

“…You really are thorough, as expected of a prosecutor.”

Only then did Seok-gu let out a smirk.

“Brotheeeeer…”

“…”

However, we were forced to stop our conversation. The Revive members were already embracing each other and wailing.

“…”

At that sight, Shin Hye-seo and Min Ha-ru’s eyes turned red in an instant.

“Jaejun.”

Shin Hye-seo stepped forward quietly and pulled Han Jaejun into a hug.

“You’ve had a hard time, haven’t you? It’s going to be okay now.”

“Guys…”

Min Ha-ru also burst into tears along with them.

“Man… I can’t handle this kind of atmosphere.”

Seok-gu rubbed his forearm and subtly backed away.

“Anyway, Jaejun is lucky. Getting that much worry from such beauties.”

“I suppose so.”

“Honestly, you’re jealous, aren’t you?”

Seok-gu asked playfully, as if trying to change the mood. At that exact moment…

“UNCLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

“!”

My treasure, whom I wouldn’t trade for anyone, came running out from the main house.

“Whoops!”

I quickly scooped up Seol as she ran toward me.

“Seol. Have you been good?”

“I missed you!”

“How much?”

“A lot! A whole lot!”

“Then you have to give Uncle a kiss for how much you missed me.”

*Smooch-smooch-smooch-smooch-smooch!*

A barrage of kisses rained down on my cheek.

“Hehehe.”

I smiled brightly and glanced to the side. Look at this guy. He had a poker face when talking about beauties, but now he looked like he was dying of envy.

“Commoner. What did you just say to this noble one?”

“…You jerk.”

“Pardon? What was that? I can’t hear you very well.”

“You son of a… Argh! I can’t even swear in front of the kid!”

“I guess calling someone livestock is a compliment where you’re from.”

“Live alone for the rest of your life, you meanie.”

Hey, that was a bit harsh.

“I don’t want to. I’m going to live with our Seol forever.”

“Me too!”

“Ha… damn it.”

Seok-gu let out a sigh, his face full of defeat.

“Seol, Uncle loves you very much.”

“Yes!”

Once again, it was my victory.

***

After entering the house, I rolled up my sleeves.

‘Since there are more mouths to feed, I should prepare a feast.’

It was dinner time, after all.

‘But before that…’

I headed straight for the main house.

“I’m back.”

“You’re here?”

As soon as she saw me, my mother greeted me warmly.

“I’m sorry. There are a lot of guests because of me.”

“I actually prefer it being lively. The house is too big for just us to live in anyway; we should have some fun like this.”

I immediately shifted my gaze to the side.

“Where’s Father?”

“Well, now that he has more hands to help, why wouldn’t he be happy?”

Oh!

To think my father had such ambitious plans. Honestly, this was something even I hadn’t thought of.

‘So all the guests who came today are labor?’

I was just getting ready to prepare the stock for Segyeong Department Store. Should I actually use some help this time? As the saying goes, he who does not work shall not eat.

‘Then I should feed them even better so no one complains later.’

While I was having those devious thoughts…

“But how long is Seol going to stay like that?”

“Ah.”

My mother noticed Seol clinging to my leg and spoke.

“Seol. Don’t stay there like that, it’s uncomfortable. Come to Grandma.”

“No.”

“Hmm?”

“I like it here.”

Our Seol was sticking to me like glue. Of course, I didn’t mind.

“Up you go.”

I immediately picked Seol up and said, “I’ll take Seol and sleep with her today.”

“Won’t you be uncomfortable? You must be tired after coming all the way from Seoul.”

“It’s nothing. You and Father must have had a harder time with Seol and the guests.”

My mother smiled broadly.

“How does my second son say such pretty things?”

“Of course. Look whose son I am.”

“Hohoho. Right. Then I’ll leave it to you. If I try to separate Seol from you now, she’ll probably start crying and making a scene again.”

“Just leave it to me.”

Before leaving the main house, I looked at my father again.

“Father.”

“What?”

“I’m back, and I love you.”

“…”

As expected, my father’s face contorted strangely.

“Why are you doing that again? Do you need pocket money?”

“I just… like seeing you again.”

“Stop talking nonsense…”

“Father.”

“Why do you keep calling me!”

“But a son who expresses his affection often like this isn’t so bad, right?”

He paused.

My father stopped moving entirely, and a faint smile appeared on my mother’s lips.

“…Are you worried about what your mother said?”

“Pardon?”

“About me being unhappy because you quit being a prosecutor.”

Well, it would be a lie to say I wasn’t worried at all…

“I like the way things are now.”

“!”

“There hasn’t been a single moment in my life when I wasn’t proud of you. That’s true even now.”

Perhaps he felt embarrassed after saying it, because my father immediately turned away.

“Go. Put Seol to sleep before it gets any later.”

“Father…”

My eyes grew slightly misty. To think I would see this side of my blunt father.

“I really love you.”

“Stop making my skin crawl and go hit the hay!”

“Yes, goodnight. You too, Mother.”

“Goodnight, son.”

I quietly closed the door to the main house. I hoped this kind of end to a day would last for a very long time…

***

“…Huh?”

Returning to the guest house, I tilted my head in confusion. In the vast yard, a table was already overflowing with food. And around it, people were huddled together.

“Ah, Prosecutor!”

Min Ha-ru immediately waved toward me.

“Were you surprised? We showed off our skills today!”

“…You did, Ha-ru?”

“Huh? What’s with that look? I’m starting to get offended.”

“I didn’t say anything.”

“Hmph.”

Min Ha-ru puffed out her cheeks just like Seol.

“You might not know about my skills, but Hye-seo has lived on her own for over ten years, you know?”

“Ha-ru. What if the prosecutor doesn’t like my cooking…”

“Even if the sky falls, that won’t happen!”

Min Ha-ru shouted confidently.

“Try a bite! Here, say ‘ahh’!”

“No, I can eat it my—!”

Come to think of it, I didn’t have a spare hand right now. Seol was in my arms.

“Ah.”

I had no choice but to open my mouth and accept a piece of kimchi pancake.

*Munch, munch.*

“…Wait.”

What the?

“Why is this so good?”

“!”

Shin Hye-seo, who had been looking anxious, beamed with a bright smile.

“See! What did I tell you!”

Min Ha-ru pumped her fist.

“To celebrate our safe return, shall we all have a toast!?”

“Yeah!”

Everyone responded to Min Ha-ru’s shout.

“Can I join too?”

“Of course, Counselor!”

“Us too!”

Not just Seok-gu, but the Revive members also raised their glasses. In the meantime, I quickly laid the sleeping Seol inside and came back out. By then, the drinks had already gone around several times.

“But do you think CEO Bang will just step down quietly?”

The youngest, Hye-seong, muttered with a look like a frightened fawn.

“Well, with that nasty personality of his, it wouldn’t be strange if he tried to drag us back even by threatening us.”

The main rapper, Liu, sneered coldly.

“Let’s stop worrying. You saw the contract earlier.”

The sub-vocalist, Jin-woo, gently comforted the members. Right then…

“That’s right. Don’t worry about a thing, everyone.”

Shin Hye-seo, whose face was already flushed from the alcohol, stepped into the middle.

“We have a reliable Superman by our side, don’t we?”

“…”

A sudden silence fell.

“Wow… Superman is a bit much…”

“Isn’t our CEO still in his twenties?”

“Technically, yes.”

“Is this the generation gap…?”

“I think Iron Man would’ve been better.”

Shin Hye-seo’s already red face turned as bright as a ripe tomato.

“You guys! Are you going to keep making fun of me!?”

“Hahahahaha!”

A burst of laughter erupted. They laughed and chatted under the pouring starlight for quite a while.

“Wow… but maybe it’s because the tension broke. I’m already getting sleepy.”

“What? Really?”

Jin-woo was surprised by Liu’s words.

“Then shouldn’t you buy Hannam The Hill for the prosecutor’s parents?”

“What? Why are you suddenly bringing that up?”

“Didn’t you say if someone fixed your terrible insomnia, you’d succeed and buy them Hannam The Hill?”

“Oh, right.”

Liu, remembering late, clapped his hands.

“Wait, but Ha-ru isn’t enough!”

The important thing was that I happened to hear that conversation too.

“If I cure your insomnia, will you really buy Hannam The Hill?”

“Pardon? Oh, of course! If anyone could just fully cure my insomnia, I will definitely buy it, staking my honor as a rapper who will one day be the best in Korea!”

At that moment, Shin Hye-seo, who was listening nearby, wore a meaningful expression.

“You’re going to regret saying that…”

Uh-oh. This lady was trying to rain on my parade. My father said you should never let a sucker pass you by.

“What Jin-woo said. Everyone here is going to be a notary, right?”

“A notary?”

“Basically a witness.”

“Oh, of course!”

That answer was decisive.

“Good. This makes me feel like showing off my skills.”

I quickly walked toward the kitchen. Using the ingredients selected by the Snowflakes, I would cure him properly. So he could never take back his words.

“Hey, stop lying.”

But what on earth were those two talking about so suspiciously?

“I’m not capable of lying.”

“Still, that doesn’t make any sense.”

“Seojun doesn’t talk about the scar on his wrist, does he? That guy is scarier than he looks.”

“No matter how you look at it, how am I supposed to believe he fought ten gangsters and won?”

…Let’s pretend I didn’t hear that conversation.

***

“…What did you just say?”

CEO Bang Ki-chul looked stunned.

“Didn’t you say the name of the person you wanted me to look up was Baek Seo-jun, whose family home is in Goseong, Gyeongsangnam-do?”

“That’s right. Is nothing coming up? He definitely introduced himself that way…”

Before CEO Bang Ki-chul could even finish, the Yongsan Police Chief sitting across from him let out a sigh.

“Something comes up. The problem is that it comes up too well.”

“What?”

“If you’re curious, search for him yourself. This is as far as I can tell you.”

“Wait, hold on!”

CEO Bang Ki-chul urgently called out to the Yongsan Chief as he tried to leave.

“Did you just say search? An internet search?”

“Yes.”

“No, there can’t be just one Baek Seo-jun in Korea, so how…”

The Yongsan Police Chief shook his head.

“The Baek Seo-jun mentioned most on the internet lately.”

“!”

“The person you’re looking for and that man are likely not different people.”

As if he had nothing more to say, the Yongsan Chief left the room. He left CEO Bang Ki-chul frozen in a daze.

“What the hell kind of nonsense is this…?”