Chapter 22

Every year, Chairman Baek Man Seok personally took care of Ho Rang's birthday. It began as a family event born from his desire to look after the poor child who had lost his parents at a young age, but there was always someone bound to harbor a complaint.

"Where is Son-in-law Choi?"

"He's busy."

"You think everyone gathered here has nothing better to do?"

"Just stop while you're ahead. How long is he expected to show up for his wife’s nephew’s birthday?"

"He’s squandered so much of his in-laws' fortune, yet he can't even make time for a nephew's birthday?"

At Chairman Baek's sharp words, Mi Kyung slammed her spoon down with a clatter. She then began to pour out the resentment she had been harboring.

"Father. Have you ever once taken care of our Do Yoon’s birthday like this?"

"...."

"How can you discriminate so blatantly between your paternal and maternal grandsons?"

To Mi Kyung, Ho Rang’s very existence was a grievance. Chairman Baek only had two children, Mi Kyung and Jae Wook, Ho Rang’s father, who had passed away twenty years ago. Even when Jae Wook was alive, the Chairman had only cared for his son, now, he only cared for Ho Rang, the paternal grandson. And an illegitimate one at that, a boy of unknown origin born outside of marriage.

Do Yoon was the one he had seen since birth, yet the cold-hearted man had never given him a second glance. Instead, he seemed ready to pour everything he had into Ho Rang.

"We’ve done enough for Ho Rang. I even took him in and lived with him for an entire year. So, stop telling us what to do."

Chairman Baek, who had been listening to Mi Kyung’s outburst in silence, wiped his mouth with a napkin and spoke slowly.

"I’m scheduled to meet with Lawyer Kim this evening."

"Father!"

"Grandfather!"

At the mention of meeting the lawyer, Mi Kyung and Do Yoon shouted in protest, but Ho Rang did not lose his composure.

Meeting the lawyer was a recurring annual ritual that took place every year on Ho Rang's birthday. The routine was set, have lunch at Ho Rang's house, have a massive row with Mi Kyung, and then meet the lawyer in the evening to revise the will. Chairman Baek knew all too well that this was the most effective way to shut Mi Kyung down instantly.

"It seems I only get some peace once I bring up the will."

"You’re the one using the will to blackmail us, Father."

"And you’re the one making me resort to it!"

As the argument between the two dragged on, Su Yeon, who had been assisting with the meal, interceded with a gentle voice to calm Chairman Baek.

"Father, your soup is getting cold."

"Hmph."

At Su Yeon's intervention, Chairman Baek fell silent, but Mi Kyung, still fuming, shifted her target of frustration.

"Starting next year, you take care of Ho Rang's birthday yourself, sister-in-law. Don't go dragging us back and forth for no reason."

"I never asked you to come."

That much was true. It was Mi Kyung’s side that insisted on attending, desperate to see if Ho Rang was being given anything else behind their backs.

Watching his mother suffer, Do Yoon felt a murderous hatred for Ho Rang, who remained expressionless throughout. Before that guy appeared, they may not have been an affectionate family, but they weren't at each other's throats like this.

Ever since Ho Rang surfaced, his mother lived in constant anxiety that the inheritance would be snatched away by her nephew, and his grandfather used that fortune to threaten her at every opportunity. Do Yoon considered Ho Rang the root of the family's discord. If only he hadn't appeared, the Tae Seong Group would have been entirely his.

As the meal concluded, Su Yeon brought out tea and refreshments. Despite having a housekeeper, Su Yeon wanted to prepare Ho Rang's birthday table with her own hands. She had declined help and personally attended to the guests from start to finish.

"You should come and sit down, too."

It was Chairman Baek who signaled Su Yeon to join them. Once she was seated, Chairman Baek called out to Ho Rang in a low, heavy voice.

"Ho Rang, you."

"Yes, Chairman."

"Get married."

At Chairman Baek's words, everyone’s eyes widened. In other conglomerates, Mergers and Acquisitions disguised as marriages were common, creating alliances through in-laws. But, Chairman Baek had remained quiet. Even though Ho Rang and Do Yoon were over thirty, the Chairman hadn't touched the subject of marriage, nor had he interfered with his grandsons' messy private lives.

Mi Kyung believed it was because of her late brother. An arranged marriage had soured the relationship between Chairman Baek and Jae Wook, ultimately leading to the latter's death.

And yet, now he was telling Ho Rang to marry?

"You're thirty-two this year. It's time for you to marry."

"Father!"

Mi Kyung cried out, but Chairman Baek ignored her and continued.

"I'd like to see my great-grandchildren soon. It's also time for me to retire."

"!"

At the mention of retirement, not only Mi Kyung and Do Yoon but also Ho Rang and Su Yeon looked at Chairman Baek with shocked eyes. Though he was over seventy, he was still healthy. In fact, "healthy" was an understatement for a man as energetic as him.

To speak of retirement meant he intended to hand over the Tae Seong Group to someone. Mi Kyung felt a dark premonition that the successor would be Ho Rang, not her son.

"Who is the partner, Father?"

Su Yeon asked cautiously, voicing the question everyone was dying to know.

Chairman Baek answered as if he had been waiting for it.

"The daughter of Chairman Han of HB Cosmetics."

"Father!"

When the name HB came up, Mi Kyung screamed again. The daughter of HB Cosmetics was a match she had been secretly pursuing for Do Yoon. To lose that spot to Ho Rang was unthinkable.

"Ho Rang and Do Yoon are the same age. If it’s time for Ho Rang to marry, then it’s time for Do Yoon too! Why do you only ever look after Ho Rang?"

As her shrill voice echoed hysterically through the house, Chairman Baek glared at her with fierce eyes.

"If you want me to play matchmaker for your son, then control his behavior so he stops dragging my name through the mud!"

"!"

Both Mi Kyung and Do Yoon fell silent. Do Yoon’s colorful private life was infamous in their circles. He was well-known for preying on everyone from top actresses and models to idol trainees who had just stepped into the industry.

"Did you think I didn't know because I kept my mouth shut?"

Chairman Baek had been waiting for things to quiet down before looking for a suitable match for the boy. But, seeing them attack him without regard for logic or pride over a single sentence made them look utterly contemptible.

"I won't say it twice. I'll set a date soon, so just go meet her for now."

Strangely, Ho Rang didn't answer. The man who usually lived with the words "Yes, Chairman" on his lips was suddenly acting like a mute who had eaten honey.

"Ho Rang, you should answer him."

Su Yeon urged from his side.

Only then did Ho Rang open his mouth.

"I’d like to focus on work for now."

At those words, Do Yoon smirked. For some reason, the woman he had seen earlier, the one called a secretary, came to mind.

"Work can wait until after you're married. Marriage provides more stability for work anyway."

"Even so, I..."

"Enough! Since when did you start talking back to me?"

Chairman Baek roared over Ho Rang's words and stood up. His waiting secretary immediately followed suit.

"I’ll set the date and contact you. Be prepared."

"....Yes."

The only response Ho Rang could give was one of affirmation. Just as he had done for the past twenty years.

Once Chairman Baek left, Mi Kyung stood up as if there was no longer any reason to stay.

"When your grandfather tells you to go on a blind date, you should just say yes. Where are your manners? It’s like you’re showing off the fact that you grew up without a mother."

"Aunt!"

Su Yeon tried to stop her, but Mi Kyung ignored her and continued.

"You should pay more attention to him, sister-in-law. You're his mother, even if he's not your biological son. You're being too indifferent."

"..."

"Let's go, Do Yoon."

As Mi Kyung walked away, Do Yoon leaned in and whispered to Ho Rang.

"What are you going to do about that woman from earlier if you're going on a blind date?"

"..."

"You shouldn't let a woman hold a grudge. Keke."

Su Yeon followed Mi Kyung out, leaving Ho Rang alone to frustratedly ruffle his hair.

Others might receive congratulations on their birthdays, but for him, there was no day more hideous. He loathed his birthday because of the family members who showed up every year to hurl giant stones into his peaceful life.

Looking outside, the sun was already beginning to set. Evening was approaching. Checking his smartwatch instinctively, Ho Rang suddenly thought of Bo Bae.

She would have been outside for hours, unable to even enter the house.

Ho Rang tried to call her, but he only heard the ringing tone. When he stepped out into the yard, he heard the sound of Bo Bae's phone ringing from inside the container. It seemed she had left in such a hurry that she hadn't even taken her phone.

"Damn it."

Ho Rang hurried out.

~~~~

He was worried. He had lost track of the date and hadn't expected his family to burst in today. Had he remembered, he never would have left Bo Bae at the house. Then, she wouldn’t have had to endure those insulting words. It weighed heavily on his heart that she had been subjected to such treatment because of him.

"Where could she have gone?"

She couldn’t have gone far looking like that. She had rushed out in her house clothes and slippers. Yet, no matter how thoroughly he searched the neighborhood, there was no sign of her.

After circling the perimeter of the house several times, he was about to start another round when he spotted her. Bo Bae was crouching in front of a convenience store. She looked as though she had been sitting there for quite a while, as her head was nodding in a doze.

Ho Rang approached her, took off his cardigan, and draped it over her shoulders. Waking up at the touch, Bo Bae blinked and gave him a bright smile.

"Oh? You're here, Mr. Baek Ho Rang?"

"Why are you out here like this? You should have gone into a café at least."

"I ran out so fast that I realized I didn't bring my wallet."

If she didn't have her wallet, she must have been starving all this time. Since she didn't have her phone either, she wouldn't have been able to call anyone.

"Let's go. Let's go home and eat."

As he turned to lead the way, Bo Bae called out to him.

"Mr. Baek Ho Rang. Wait a second."

"What is...."

Ho Rang turned back, but the words died in his throat.

Bo Bae was standing there with a bright smile, holding a Choco Pie with a single candle stuck in it.

"I had exactly two thousand won in my pocket, so I scraped it all together to buy this. I heard it’s your birthday today?"

Among the family members who came every year under the guise of celebrating his birthday, there wasn't a single person who truly congratulated him from the heart.

"I’ll sing the birthday song for you, so blow out the candle and make a wish. Okay?"

There had never been anyone who lit a candle for him and told him to make a wish.

"On the birthday of Lord Tiger, the hero of the mountains, all the animals gathered in the park and a ball was held!"

[TL/N : 호랑 (Ho Rang) means Tiger.]

There had never been anyone who sang this song, his favorite, for him.

Just where did this woman come from, and why was she making his heart ache like this?

He felt like a man sitting minding his own business who had suddenly been struck by a massive bolt of lightning. A bolt of lightning named Na Bo Bae.