Actually, It’s a Messy Melodrama Chapter 12

“Welcome, CEO.”

Taejun observed the middle-aged owner bowing so deeply his forehead almost touched the floor as he entered, then quickly looked around. Though decorated in various ways, the place didn’t seem like somewhere fit to entertain a director of Myungjin Group. Youngmin’s tastes seemed rather unique.

“It’s an honor to have you visit such a humble establishment. Though lacking, I’ll do my best to serve you.”

The owner spoke solemnly, as if he’d been given some grand mission. Ignoring him, Taejun slowly walked inside. Secretary Choi followed, opening his mouth to speak.

“Where is Mr. Cha Haeshin?”

“Ah, yes! As you instructed, I’ve had him come to work without informing him of anything. He should be out in the hall now.”

“No other entertainment is necessary. Mr. Cha Haeshin is sufficient. I trust you understand without further explanation.”

“Yes, of course! I’ve memorized everything you’ve told me. I’ll bring Haeshin… Mr. Cha Haeshin in shortly.”

As the owner finished speaking, Taejun entered the prepared room, and Secretary Choi stood guard in front of it. Glancing at Secretary Choi, the owner retreated with hurried steps and spoke to the manager beside him.

“Quickly bring in Cha Haeshin. Check his condition first.”

“Yes, sir. But… why would Han Taejun be looking for Cha Haeshin?”

“How would I know?”

“Jin Youngmin’s frequent visits are also suspicious…”

“Forget about Jin Youngmin! Just bring Cha Haeshin quickly! What are you waiting for?!”

“Yes, yes, I’m going. I’m going.”

The manager pretended to run dramatically and went out to the hall where Haeshin was.

“Damn… I think I have indigestion from seeing such important figures all of a sudden.”

The owner rubbed his chest, which felt tight and uncomfortable. People should live within their means; those who don’t know their place won’t die peacefully.

He didn’t know what Cha Haeshin had done, but hoping that nothing would happen to him or his establishment, the owner shouted at an employee watching from afar to bring him some digestive medicine.

⍣ *

“Hello…!”

Haeshin, entering the room with his usual energetic greeting, froze as he saw the man sitting with his legs crossed on the sofa opposite him.

Han Taejun.

The man he was absolutely not supposed to meet at this point had appeared before Cha Haeshin of his own accord. Was he still dreaming? Haeshin pinched his thigh hard with the hand he had clasped politely in front of him. It hurt. It wasn’t a dream. But how could it not be a dream? He couldn’t believe it.

Taejun carefully observed Haeshin’s actions. There was nothing particularly strange about Haeshin being surprised. In fact, anyone would be if Han Taejun suddenly appeared before them.

However, the inexplicable hints of welcome and excitement in his surprised expression were definitely odd. As if he had met someone he had been eagerly waiting for. Taejun deliberately put on an aggressive expression and spoke.

“Do you know me?”

Haeshin, who had been staring blankly at Taejun, finally came to his senses. He had many questions he wanted to ask, like why Han Taejun was here, but it would be foolish to reveal his hand before understanding the situation properly.

Haeshin answered, unable to hide the tremor in his voice.

“Of course. Is there anyone in our country who doesn’t know CEO Han Taejun?”

“Is that so?”

“Naturally. Let me introduce myself again. My name is Cha Haeshin. It’s an honor to meet you.”

Haeshin bowed deeply, as if he were a loyal subordinate. A frightened or pitiful appearance wouldn’t work as a weapon here. Cha Haeshin hadn’t known Jin Youngmin for long yet.

To Haeshin, being beaten by Jin Youngmin and acting like a tragic protagonist was as if it happened yesterday, yet today he had to become a bright and cheerful Candy character. Living as an infinite regressor was this difficult.

“It seems you called me because you need something… what can I prepare for you?”

Haeshin asked, taking a polite step towards Taejun. Honestly, he wasn’t curious about any of that. What Haeshin was curious about was how Han Taejun could be here, in this place, right now.

However, he couldn’t ask directly. Haeshin had met countless people in positions similar to Han Taejun throughout his life. The difference between them and Cha Haeshin was that for him, even a single question could be considered a serious offense if it rubbed them the wrong way.

Haeshin calmed himself. Han Taejun’s actions were already suspicious from beginning to end. Since he hadn’t yet grasped what was going on, he had to tread carefully.

Then, Taejun, who had been observing Haeshin’s amiable demeanor, spoke.

“Sit down there.”

“……Yes?”

“I’m telling you to sit so we can talk.”

This was another development Haeshin hadn’t anticipated at all.

In truth, Taejun’s mind was quite complicated right now. Seeing Cha Haeshin’s face made him uneasy. It wasn’t Haeshin’s problem but Han Taejun’s own. The image of Cha Haeshin, beaten to a pulp and painfully breathing his last, kept flashing before his eyes.

If he hadn’t hesitated in front of the house back then, if he had gone straight in instead of indulging in foolish sentimentality in the garden, could he have saved Cha Haeshin? While lost in such useless thoughts, Haeshin sat neatly on the very edge of the sofa, his hands clasped together.

“Did I… do something wrong?”

His cautious tone didn’t sound scared or intimidated. He seemed like a completely different person, his demeanor bright and lively despite being just as thin.

Struck by the strange feeling of meeting Cha Haeshin before his marriage to Jin Youngmin for the first time, Taejun shook off the feeling and spoke.

“I hear Jin Youngmin has been frequenting this place lately.”

“Ah…”

Haeshin let out a low groan. As Taejun said, Jin Youngmin had been visiting the establishment almost every day recently. Haeshin was trying to distance himself while minimizing any provocation of Youngmin’s obsessive tendencies, but perhaps because of this attitude, Youngmin seemed even more anxious.

Was Youngmin visiting Haeshin more often than usual the variable? While Haeshin was thinking, Taejun continued.

“You may not know, but I care for Youngmin quite a bit. That’s why I came here. To see you.”

“……CEO?”

Haeshin blurted out in surprise, then quickly lowered his head as he saw Taejun’s frown.

“I’m sorry. I was just surprised that you came here to see me…”

It was a makeshift excuse. Haeshin was surprised for a different reason.

He didn’t know how close the two had been in the past, but at least at the point when Haeshin met Jin Youngmin, there was little interaction between Taejun and Youngmin. He’d heard in passing from Youngmin that his older brother, Taejun, had helped him get permission to marry, but that didn’t mean Taejun was the type to meddle in every detail of Youngmin’s life.

But Han Taejun had ‘personally’ come all the way here because Jin Youngmin was frequently visiting Cha Haeshin? Whether aware of Haeshin’s question or not, Taejun continued.

“As someone associated with the Myungjin Group, it’s also my duty to prevent him from doing anything foolish.”

“Ah, yes. Of course. You’re right.”

“So, what I’m curious about is…”

Taejun paused. He had a lot of questions. Why did you look for me back then? What kind of married life did you have with Jin Youngmin? While I was endlessly repeating the same cycle, were you endlessly dying? Taejun wanted to ask these things.

“What’s your relationship with Jin Youngmin?”

“…….”

“What are your intentions? Are you planning on dating him or something?”

Taejun asked with a sneer. He wanted to see a raw reaction, and also hoped that Haeshin would realize what it meant to marry Jin Youngmin. That marrying someone rich wasn’t always a good thing.

After finishing his words, Taejun waited for Haeshin’s response. It wasn’t easy for a bar worker to decide to marry a chaebol heir. He hadn’t given up even when his entire family opposed it.

Putting aside the unfortunate things that happened to him at the hands of Jin Youngmin, Han Taejun needed to get to know Cha Haeshin a little better.

Cha Haeshin answered, his hands clasped tightly together.

“CEO.”

“……?”

“How could someone like me dare to even think about dating Director Jin Youngmin? That’s preposterous.”

“……What?”

“I understand your concerns perfectly, and I agree. But I can’t avoid him.”

“You can’t avoid him?”

“No. The owner here favors me and pays me well. The customers like me too. I have many regulars who come to see me, so I get a lot of tips. My only family is my sick mother, and if I quit this job, it would be difficult to find another one that pays this well…”

With every word Haeshin spoke, Taejun’s expression became more and more bewildered. Regardless, Haeshin continued to say what he needed to say, step by step.

“So, CEO… could you help me?”

“Me… help you?”

“Yes. You can persuade the Director, right? Tell him not to ruin his life by getting involved with a worthless person like me. Tell him Cha Haeshin is completely useless. Please?”

The more he heard, the more absurd it became. Taejun reflexively asked,

“Are you saying… that you don’t want to see Jin Youngmin either?”

“Yes.”

“Since when?”

Taejun knew he was asking a strange question, but he couldn’t control himself.