Chapter 21: < Protect – Episode 20 – Jang Seol Hyun [1] >

The group of people gathered at the building beside Daesan Hotel in Jejudo gave awkward glances at each other.

Lee Jin, Emily, and Rachel, who were accompanying Lee Chul and Lee Mi Hyun were being friendly while using a combination of Korean and English. Yoon Chul was on the phone with either a smile or a frown, and the most awkward ones were Lee Jung Hoon and Lee Seon Mi.

What resolved Lee Jung Hoon’s awkwardness was Lee So Hye, who ran over in her school uniform. He, who was happy to see his little sister after such a long time, almost got kicked on his private parts and crouched over as a result. That situation was so ridiculous that all Emily and Rachel could do was to laugh.

“Agh! What do you think you’re doing?”

“Hmph!”

Lee So Hye could not hide her sadness after the failed attempt. As soon as Mrs. Park Ok Nam arrived, she smiled at the two siblings, and Lee Jung Hoon hesitantly approached.

“Mom.”

“That’s okay.”

She could not lift her head to the nuance of having known what he did last summer. Why is it that there’s a feeling of relief and sorrow at the same time? If he made the mistake why would he feel sorrow? It’s possible that his body was mature, but his mentality was not.

“Whatever.”

But Mom is always on my side. During the mother and son’s reunion, someone interrupted by clapping.

“The food is ready. Let’s get going.”

Oh Joo Kyung led them to a place as big as the banquet hall. They can see a huge rectangular table. Being attended by individual maids felt more awkward than familiar, but it wasn’t a bad feeling since it was a clear feeling of being served.

“Is Soo Ho coming?”

“Director will be here soon.”

Oh Joo Kyung gave Mrs. Park a sincere answer. Since the first meeting, Mrs. Park thought she was a lovely woman. She seemed like a woman raised in a good household, and she even worked at Daesan Group. These days, both couples need to bring in the bread. She was definitely a top prospective bride.

“Wh… what’s going on?”

Oh Joo Kyung felt a cold sweat after exchanging glances with Mrs. Park’s glistening eyes.

“What have you been doing, Jung Hoon?”

“What do you mean? I’ve been chasing my dreams this whole time.”

“Do you think anyone can become a celebrity? There are tons of good-looking people with nice bodies out there. Stop dreaming and get back to studying.”

Lee So Hye looked at Lee Jung Hoon with a pitiful look. He gestured for Lee Seon Mi’s help with a look that expressed the unfairness of the situation.

“That’s not true, So Hye. Jung Hoon is talented enough to…”

“Wow. Don’t try to trick me, little girl.”

“Li… little girl?”

Lee So Hye cut her off and Lee Seon Mi felt hurt by the attack at her age, but she was clearly a mature adult. She might have thought she was smiling, but other people saw an evil face.

“I think you’re too young to know this. s.h.i.+nhwa Entertainment…”

“Do I look young? I look more mature than you, little girl.”

Lee So Hye cut her off again. As soon as she twisted her upper body and positioned herself a.s.sertively, she won. It was as beautiful as when the plates of Eurasia collided and created the Himalayas.

“Ha!”

Lee So Hye’s ridicule made Lee Seon Mi feel defeated.

“Agh!”

“You little brat.”

Lee So Hye, who was destroying her out of the desire to win, screamed at the sudden impact against her head. Ahn Soo Ho exchanged gazes with Lee Chul and kissed Mrs. Park’s cheeks. The mother, who was awkward at first, was now so familiar they could exchange kisses. It’s a hug filled with an apology for not having done it earlier.

He took his seat and smiled at the surrounding people.

“I’m sure we have a lot to talk about… but let’s eat first. We do everything so we can eat and survive, right?”

As soon as Ahn Soo Ho flicked his finger, food came in. There were no formalities. Korean food, Chinese food, and any food they wanted the staff served to them. Ahn Soo Ho noticed Lee So Hye wriggling about, which made him tilt his head.

“What? Do you have something to say?”

“Yeah. Can I bring a friend over tomorrow?”

He messed up her hair following her careful request.

“You don’t have to ask me for my permission. Do as you please, little sister.”

“Really? Really, really? Can I go to the water park with my friends?”

“As long as you don’t follow guys you don’t know.”

“Okay! I promise!”

Lee So Hye would have talked back if it was Lee Jung Hoon who was treating her like a kid, but she felt no resistance against her other big brother since they had only met a few days ago. After that, she led the conversation. She talked about what happened at school, who’s dating who, and which idol groups are popular these days.

The meal ended an hour later.

Lee Jung Hoon and Lee Seon Mi had to return tomorrow for a shoot. For an unknown reason, Mrs. Park hara.s.sed Oh Joo Kyung. Lee So Hye bonded with Emily and Rachel. Ahn Soo Ho invited the Lee couple, Lee Jin, and Yoon Chul.

“You look like you have a lot of questions. Go ahead.”

“Did you approach us on purpose?”

“No.”

“But this is too much of a coincidence.”

“I understand that.”

Ahn Soo Ho let out a bitter laugh. There was something Lee Ji Heon was misunderstanding. The main reason he came to Jejudo was Mrs. Park Ok Nam, and the minor reason was to take a break.

“You happened to get caught up in my life.”

It’s probably hard to believe the truth. So it was more convenient to explain it in another way.

“So what are you going to do now?”

“As Chief Superintendent Yoon said… It’s up to Lee Jin whether Korea National a.s.sociation is reformed or left alone.”

“You will not get involved?”

“That’s right.”

Ahn Soo Ho signed with Daesan Group, not them, so their matters are none of his business. However, since turning them cold-heartedly doesn’t look so good, he would give them a little help.

“Lee Ji Heon offered me fifty billion won. I’ll hand that over to Lee Jin.”

“Fi… fifty billion won?”

“Is that too little?”

“No way! Not at all!”

Lee Jin shook his head from side to side. He has never heard of such an amount in his life. Despite their t.i.tles in the imperial family, the money they received wasn’t very much.

“Think about what you’ll do with that money.”

“Haha!”

Lee Jin walked out laughing, but Lee Chul’s face still looked stiff. Ahn Soo Ho sighed.

“I’m sorry, Chul.”

“They say you can never read a person… I’m disappointed.”

“I’m sorry.”

Ahn Soo Ho apologized.

“Explain yourself.”

“I have nothing to say. It’s all my fault.”

Ahn Soo Ho let out a bitter laugh. There was something Lee Ji Heon was misunderstanding. The main reason he came to Jejudo was Mrs. Park Ok Nam, and the minor reason was to take a break.

“You happened to get caught up in my life.”

It’s probably hard to believe the truth. So it was more convenient to explain it in another way.

“So what are you going to do now?”

“As Chief Superintendent Yoon said… It’s up to Lee Jin whether Korea National a.s.sociation is reformed or left alone.”

“You will not get involved?”

“That’s right.”

Ahn Soo Ho signed with Daesan Group, not them, so their matters are none of his business. However, since turning them cold-heartedly doesn’t look so good, he would give them a little help.

“Lee Ji Heon offered me fifty billion won. I’ll hand that over to Lee Jin.”

“Fi… fifty billion won?”

“Is that too little?”

“No way! Not at all!”

Lee Jin shook his head from side to side. He has never heard of such an amount in his life. Despite their t.i.tles in the imperial family, the money they received wasn’t very much.

“Think about what you’ll do with that money.”

“Haha!”

Lee Jin walked out laughing, but Lee Chul’s face still looked stiff. Ahn Soo Ho sighed.

“I’m sorry, Chul.”

“They say you can never read a person… I’m disappointed.”

“I’m sorry.”

Ahn Soo Ho apologized.

“Explain yourself.”

“I have nothing to say. It’s all my fault.”

“What do they see in you to trust you like that?”

It’s something that can’t be understood.

“Are you going to shake up Korea National a.s.sociation by using Lee Jin?”

“Once the situation becomes vague, a traitor is bound to come out.”

Even though 50 billion won isn’t a small sum of money, it’s not a large amount when if they took the scale of Korea National a.s.sociation into account. However, if it’s 50 billion won all in cash, that’s a different story.

“Lee Ji Heon could overturn the settlement if we find out the truth.”

“Whether or not he overturns it, it’s up to Daesan Group and Vice-Chairman Kim Dae Chan now. The old man probably doesn’t want you taking part either.”

“Ha.”

This was like the hostage situation 3 years ago. It was Ahn Soo Ho who started the whole thing, but he avoided all the attention. Ahn Soo Ho changed the subject.

“Did you say Soo Jung is a producer at a broadcasting station?”

“She’s with Korea Broadcast’s culture division.”

Kim Soo Jung was a cla.s.smate from the Naval Academy. When the Naval Academy’s culture changed in 1998, the first 21 female cadets entered for the first time in history, and Ahn Soo Ho and Yoon Chul were in the center of that history.

“Are you going to call them?”

“Yeah.”

It’s been way too long.

“Has it been nine or ten years?”

Time has flown by since they last saw each other.

******

Ahn Soo Ho followed Lee Jung Hoon and Lee Seon Mi to Seoul after their shoot.

“It’s nice to meet you. I’m Kim Yoo Seon.”

s.h.i.+nhwa Entertainment’s CEO Kim Yoo Seon looked as hardworking as he did in the picture. He has the face of someone who doesn’t attempt schemes, but working hard and having a good heart are two sides of a coin.

“Let’s skip the preamble.”

“Haha!”

“Soo Ho!”

Lee Jung Hoon and Kim Yoo Seon’s faces changed at Ahn Soo Ho’s remark. Kim Yoo Seon laughed while monitoring the man in front of him.

“If you quit an Ivey league school to come back, you should work your a.s.s off.”

“It’s not all about working hard here. You don’t even know anything, ugh!”

“You b.a.s.t.a.r.d.”

He took out his hands and grabbed his little brother by the lips.

“Ah, ptooey!”

“I warned you to be careful of what you say.”

“I am being careful.”

“You two are brothers after all.”

Kim Yoo Seon looked at the two brothers with a face of surprise. From what Lee Seon Mi told him, they’ve only met a few days ago for the first time, but seeing their behavior proves they’re real brothers.

“What do you think of my proposal, CEO Kim?”

“Hm. That’s a difficult question.”

Ahn Soo Ho sent over a new proposal through Lee Seon Mi before he came to Seoul.

“You will surpa.s.s GS Entertainment…? Are you in your right mind?”

GS Entertainment was the top entertainment agency in Korea. He expected him to be a third generation heir or a foolish upstart, but Ahn Soo Ho’s first impression was unique. He was confident he had a keen eye for people.

“But… I don’t know.”

He doesn’t know if he likes it or hates it, or if he’s happy or sad.

“You don’t trust me.”

“Mm. It’s not that…”

Ahn Soo Ho took out his phone since he kept changing the subject.

“Hey, it’s me, Seol Hyun. I need your help. Okay, cool. Come here as soon as you can.”

After ending the call, he gave Kim Yoo Seon a meaningful smile.

“Are you ready to sign with Seol Hyun?”

“Wh… who?”

“Don’t you know Jang Seol Hyun? Asia’s Star.”

“Gasp!”

Lee Jung Hoon threw a fuss.

“Soo Ho! How do you know Seol Hyun?”

“Don’t act so tacky.”

Ahn Soo Ho sat on the couch and lifted his head with confidence strong as steel. The others thought the tip of his nose was as high as Mount Everest.

“Don’t we all know at least one superstar?”

< Protect – Episode 20 – Jang Seol Hyun [1] > The end.