🔊 TTS Settings
chapter 47
“I’m sorry for calling you in on the weekend when you probably wanted to rest. I figured it would be even harder to find time during the week, so I chose today.”
“Thank you for inviting me.”
“Do you happen to know how to play Go?”
“No, I never had the chance to learn.”
“Oh, you mentioned you lived in Australia.”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
Dohyun noticed that Chairman Kwon had checked his resume.
“Dinner is ready, Chairman.”
“Let’s go.”
The two moved to the dining room. On the table were dishes Dohyun recognized, along with some he had never seen before—an array of colorful foods.
“I didn’t prepare much, but eat your fill.”
“Thank you.”
There were so many dishes that Dohyun didn’t know where to start.
As Chairman Kwon picked up his chopsticks, Dohyun cautiously picked some japchae. It was light and not greasy.
“Why did you suddenly come back to Korea after working at a fairly well-known company in Australia? May I ask?”
Dohyun quietly put down his chopsticks before replying.
“I came to find my biological parents.”
“Biological parents? Then the people in Australia weren’t your real parents?”
“They were my adoptive parents.”
Chairman Kwon was visibly surprised.
“……I see. Excuse me for asking.”
“No, it’s fine.”
“So, have you found your biological parents?”
“I’m still looking.”
“You’ve been in Korea for quite a while, and you’re still searching… is there a problem?”
“I found my biological mother, but I haven’t found my father yet.”
“So that means they weren’t a married couple?”
“Yes. I heard my father doesn’t even know I exist.”
“That must weigh heavily on your heart.”
Seeing the dark expression on his face, Chairman Kwon changed the subject.
After finishing the meal, the two moved to the study to have tea. When they entered, the walls were lined with shelves full of books.
“It’s like a library was brought here.”
“Your son loved books.”
Dohyun felt his heart throb. He, too, had loved books during his school years and had practically lived in the library.
As they sat on the sofa, there was a knock, and a servant brought over some Pu-erh tea.
“Go ahead. It should taste fine.”
Just as Chairman Kwon had said, it was initially astringent and bitter but gradually became smooth with deep flavor. At that moment, Chairman Kwon set down his teacup and said:
“Are you really sure you won’t accept anything?”
“Yes, really. It’s fine.”
“Then remember, if you ever need my help, just say so. I’ll do anything.”
“Thank you.”
Just then, Chairman Kwon’s phone rang. Checking the screen, he excused himself and stepped out of the study.
After confirming that his footsteps had faded, Dohyun carefully got up from the sofa and headed straight to Chairman Kwon’s desk.
He needed to secure something that could serve as a DNA sample.
He quickly scanned the neatly arranged desk. All he saw were books, framed photos, and a pair of glasses.
Anything that could raise suspicion of theft or tampering had to be avoided.
Then, his eyes stopped on a single strand of hair lying on the desk.
Dohyun put on the gloves he had prepared in advance, placed the hair in an envelope, and tucked it into his jacket pocket.
Just as he was about to return to his seat, a photo frame caught his eye.
The moment he saw the picture, it was like someone had struck him on the head with a hammer. The face in the photo was the same as the ID photo he had found in his biological mother’s diary.
A strong conviction hit him that Chairman Kwon’s son might be his biological father. His vision blurred, his hands trembled, and his heart pounded violently. The sound was so loud it nearly deafened him.
At that moment, the study door swung open.
Dohyun, startled and lost in thought while looking at the photo, hadn’t heard the footsteps.
Chairman Kwon spotted him standing dazed in front of the desk and looked at him with a puzzled expression.
“What’s the matter?”
Dohyun, hiding his embarrassment, answered calmly.
“Sorry. I was looking around without permission.”
“Oh, that’s fine.”
After a brief look of surprise, Chairman Kwon smiled kindly and sat on the sofa.
Dohyun hurried back to his seat, but his heart still raced, his fingers trembled slightly, and his mind was in turmoil.
‘Could it really be… my biological father is from this family?’
It felt as if the pieces of the puzzle he had been searching for were finally fitting together, but the puzzle was connecting in an unexpected direction, leaving him confused.
Noticing Dohyun’s pale expression, Chairman Kwon cautiously asked:
“Are you feeling unwell?”
Dohyun hesitated for a moment but then steadied himself and met Chairman Kwon’s gaze.
“I have a question… may I ask?”
“Ask anything.”
Dohyun felt his throat dry but tried to keep his voice calm.
“……The photo on your desk… is that your son?”
“Yes. A smart boy he was.”
There was a deep affection in the faint voice.
“……You must have cherished him a lot.”
A sad smile appeared on Chairman Kwon’s face.
“He was my firstborn and had never caused trouble since he was a child.”
His voice grew thinner.
“So… when my son suddenly passed away in a car accident along with his mother… I wanted to die and go with them too.”
His eyes glistened. He wiped away the tears with the back of his hand and smiled awkwardly.
“Maybe it’s because I’ve grown old… pathetic, isn’t it?”
“……Not at all.”
Dohyun bit his lips without realizing it.
Though many years had passed since the death of Chairman Kwon’s wife and son, seeing him still in pain pierced Dohyun’s heart.
A heavy silence settled between the two, both immersed in their separate grief.
After finishing their tea in the study, they stepped out to find dusk had already fallen.
Dohyun said he would leave, and Chairman Kwon, though reluctant, hid his disappointment.
“Thank you for today.”
“I should be the one thanking you. I enjoyed the meal.”
Chairman Kwon looked at Dohyun with a deep smile.
“Being with you reminded me of my son. It was truly nice.”
It was clear he wasn’t just making small talk.
Dohyun, too, realized that unlike at the beginning, he felt surprisingly comfortable with Chairman Kwon.
Then Chairman Kwon spoke carefully.
“So… if I may be so bold, could I ask a favor?”
“Yes, please.”
After a brief pause, Chairman Kwon said softly:
“If I invite you to dinner again, would you accept?”
Dohyun smiled faintly and nodded.
“Anytime, just let me know.”
Chairman Kwon’s face lit up with a full smile.
Dohyun stopped him from following him to the parking lot and stepped out of the entrance. Taking a deep breath as he left the mansion, he felt the tension in his body and a stiffness in his shoulders.
‘Now I just need to confirm it.’
He took out his phone and dialed Kim Ki-chul’s number. After a few rings, Kim answered.
[Yes, this is Kim Ki-chul.]
“Can we meet now?”
[Did you secure Chairman Kwon Jin-man’s DNA?]
Dohyun checked the short strand of hair in the envelope inside his pocket.
“Yes. Where should I go?”
[You’re home now? Let’s meet at our office.]
“I’ll come there.”
After ending the call, Dohyun headed to the Cheongun Detective Agency.
The day of the workshop in Yangpyeong
Yeonha, who disliked group activities, was not looking forward to this workshop. She desperately wanted to skip it, but the chairman’s special directive—mandatory attendance for all employees to celebrate the company’s 50th anniversary—could not be ignored.
She boarded the bus first and took a window seat. Soon after, Jinyoung sat beside her, grumbling.
“Why do we have to have a workshop on such a precious weekend? If it’s just an extension of work and we can’t skip it, shouldn’t it be held on a weekday?”
“If it were on a weekday, I’d hate the work piling up even more. I also don’t want to answer calls while trying to relax.”
Jinyoung sighed in exasperation. Yeonha chuckled and pulled the curtain aside.
At that moment, Dohyun walking toward the bus caught her eye. His tall figure made him stand out even from a distance. Wearing a black T-shirt and jeans with a bag slung casually over one shoulder, he strode toward them like a model.
