“It’s been a while.”
Lee Du-seok welcomed Hyunseung just as soon as he appeared.
“You looked frantic with work for quite a while. Are things finally wrapping up?”
“Yes, so I came to catch my breath.”
“You come to ‘catch your breath’ on the eve of a match? No sense of tension at all.”
“Hardly.”
They had exchanged the odd greeting, and Lee had heard every bit of release news, so he had waited for the busy schedule to die down.
He spent most of each day with go stones in hand, playing alone, all for the day he could face Hyunseung.
Tak!
At last, today was the day.
After that long, patient training, he could show the strength he had honed.
Something’s odd…
Lee glanced at the board and clicked his tongue in displeasure.
“Hmm.”
Lifting his eyes to Hyunseung, he spoke gently.
“Your style seems completely disordered.”
“Does it?”
“As if a typhoon is raging inside you.”
Hyunseung gave a faint laugh and put the stone he held back into the bowl.
Clatter.
“Your experience is frightening. Since you’ve read my very heart, I’ll concede this game.”
He bowed lightly.
“A good match.”
Lee disliked that the game he had awaited so eagerly ended in such futility.
More than that, he was worried. The Hyunseung he knew was always calm, quiet, seeing far ahead and placing stones with precision.
A man in his early twenties, yet adept at forcing mistakes, with ability superior to most pros.
Today, though, his opening was full of holes; he even committed an illegal placement he would never normally make.
Almost… like a courtesy game.
Why was the normally composed, formidable young man unable to settle?
Who or what had rattled someone who feared nothing?
“If you don’t mind, how about a leisurely cup of tea while we talk?”
He had to know.
“Tell me why you came today.”
“Your perception is too quick, sir.”
“Age doesn’t come for free.”
Smiling softly, Hyunseung let his gaze wander to the crepe myrtles blooming outside.
“I have one younger sister.”
“Does she look like you?”
“Somewhat in the face. Her personality is the opposite.”
“That’s fortunate.”
Startled, Hyunseung asked what that meant, but Lee only smiled and motioned for him to go on.
“My sister is endlessly bright. If she were a season, she’d be a warm spring sun; if water, the sparkle of summer waves.”
“You must love her greatly.”
“Yet, to her, I’m a sinner.”
“With such affection clear, why?”
Hyunseung searched the memories of his previous life.
I really was worthless.
Because of an unsociable nature, he’d never spoken a warm word, never yielded an inch of himself.
Success, money, fame… He chased only those, thinking bringing home cash fulfilled his duty.
After moving out, he never once phoned. His sister always cared for their deaf father.
Unable to leave their father alone, she, in that life, reached nearly thirty without marriage or even proper dating.
As “star composer Min Hyunseung’s sister,” she lived with no privacy, tormented daily by trolls yet unable to sue lest it harmed her brother’s image.
Finally, a doctor who cured others fell ill herself, and only then confessed it all. Yet even then she told them not to worry, that she’d deal with it.
A girl ridiculously devoted to family.
How festering must her heart have been to leave?
“I owe her so much.”
He sometimes wished she were a bit more cunning. The world is harsh and breaks wildflowers.
But temperament does not change easily. If she could not, he had to protect her.
“So I resolved to be a real brother, to try to be devoted, but it isn’t going well.”
He hesitated.
“And some creep seems to have made her cry.”
He clenched his fist to quell the boiling anger, remembering her sobbing under a blanket because a music video was “too sad.”
May she, at least in this life, laugh often and seldom cry.
Even if he couldn’t promise lifelong happiness, he’d block misfortune with all he earned.
“Worse, that kid’s mother told my sister our families ‘aren’t on the same level’ and ordered her to break up.”
That family had crushed his resolve.
Half her tears belonged to them.
“My kind sister probably obeyed instantly and is bearing the pain alone.”
Though outwardly calm, flames raged inside him.
Listening silently, Lee found this side of him unfamiliar.
Family, clearly, mattered beyond reason.
He spoke quietly.
“Not on the same level? How grand is that family?”
“The mother runs a salon in Cheongdam called Charom, tied to LS Entertainment.”
“So that’s her basis? Seems your sister kept silent about you.”
“Since I work anonymously, she must have.”
“A good sister. So what would make her happy?”
“I don’t really know. One thing is certain: I want the people who upset her to be miserable.”
Lee nodded slowly.
Hyunseung sipped tea, his voice calmer.
“I didn’t come to ask favors. I just wanted to talk with an elder.”
“Of course, I’ll listen.”
“I’m not sure how to treat her without hurting her. If she were a brother, maybe it’d be simpler?”
“Love for a sibling doesn’t change by gender; you’d still struggle.”
“Wise words.”
He looked again at the orange crepe myrtles which are the symbol of devotion. Among the blossoms, he saw his sister’s bright smile.
“I’m afraid even helping her might make her resent me.”
“Unnecessary worry, unlike you.”
“So I came here to play go, talk, and regain peace.”
Lee patted his shoulder, shifting the subject.
“Some may call it tactless, but I’m thrilled. I finally beat you.”
“Strictly speaking, I lost on purpose.”
“Then let me repay that courtesy.”
Before he could refuse, Lee cleared the stones.
“A small token to ease your mind.”
“How could you do that?”
“Perhaps you don’t know me well.”
He mixed black and white stones and began replaying the game in reverse.
“Long ago…”
Tak!
“…I was a fierce typhoon.”
Tak!
“Given a single justification…”
Tak!
“…I could ruin a person’s life completely—”
Tak!
“Even…”
Tak!
“…even if that person was one of my own.”
Tak!
Taking the lead, Hyunseung placed a stone.
“Then spend your later years repenting with me: playing go, sharing tea.”
But Lee’s eyes flashed.
“Make no mistake: one justification is still all I need.”
Hyunseung sensed things were growing larger than planned. Yet, in truth, this was half the picture he’d hoped for.
“I don’t understand. Let’s pretend I heard nothing.”
He sipped tea calmly.
“Good. You know nothing.”
Yi nodded.
“That salon will close soon… without a whisper linking back to you.”
Ah. Perhaps this gentle elder was fearsome after all.
“Oh yes.”
Setting down his cup, Lee added hastily, “You also don’t understand this.”
Quick on the uptake, Hyunseung nodded.
Afterward
“Seriously, places like that still exist?”
Manager Kim kept pestering about what he’d done with Lee, so Hyunseung finally told him the gist of Hyuna’s trouble but omitting Lee’s promised “repayment,” of course.
“And that mother barged in to judge ‘levels’? What’s wrong with your family’s level? Charom’s annual sales probably equal your three-month royalties!”
“Why are you angrier than I am?”
“How can I not be! If it’s your sister’s issue, it’s my sister’s too!”
After fuming, “Fine. I’ll go to Charom today and have a word.”
“No, it’s okay.”
“What’s okay? If it’s your sister, it’s mine!”
Just then his phone chimed.
[URGENT: Executive meeting in CEO’s office. All key managers please attend immediately.]
He leapt up, grabbing his jacket.
“Emergency meeting, gotta run. Don’t worry about Charom. Leave it to me!”
Indeed, “Daddy Kim” overflowed with zeal today as well.
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