Actually, It’s a Messy Melodrama Chapter 20

“Hey, Cha Haeshin. Are you really okay?”

Just then, Inchan, perhaps worried, slightly opened the break room door and asked.

“Yeah, I’m fine. I’ll be out soon.”

Haeshin gave him a casual smile and started typing a message.

[Director Jin Youngmin knows that you came to the bar. I didn’t tell him about you coming to my house. I thought I should let you know. Have a good day!]

He thought it best to at least inform Taejun that Jin Youngmin was paying attention to his movements. That could be problematic for Taejun, regardless of Cha Haeshin.

“And it would be nice if you could pay a little more attention to me too, while you’re at it.”

Haeshin muttered in a lighter voice and got up from the sofa.

If it were before, he might have used this loop to figure out Han Taejun’s personality, preferences, and so on. Because it would be much more advantageous to make his move in the next loop based on that information.

But this loop was too precious to waste on simply gathering information. It was rare for him to regress this far back, and he wasn’t sure if Han Taejun would seek him out again in the next loop.

Han Taejun’s actions were an anomaly. That meant there was a high probability they wouldn’t be repeated in the next loop.

He wasn’t afraid of dying, but he was reluctant to miss an opportunity. Thinking that he should act more cautiously from now on, Haeshin put his clothes and phone in the locker.

☂️

“Why isn’t he answering?”

Taejun stared at his phone with a perplexed expression.

“Shouldn’t he answer my calls no matter what?”

Taejun had rarely encountered anyone who didn’t answer his calls promptly. At most, it was just his parents and grandfather.

But a bar employee? Not answering my call? How is that possible?

“Is he dead?”

Taejun’s expression turned serious. He was thinking that Haeshin must be in a life-threatening situation, or something similar, to not answer his call. He was even more anxious because the previous message was about Jin Youngmin.

How Youngmin found out wasn’t that important. There were gossips everywhere. The important thing was that in the past two loops, Jin Youngmin had killed Cha Haeshin because of Han Taejun. There was no guarantee he wouldn’t do it again.

Of course, they weren’t married yet, and Youngmin’s feelings wouldn’t be as deep yet, but there were always variables with a crazy person. Who knew if he might suddenly snap and do something rash?

“CEO.”

Secretary Choi, who had been watching him from the side, spoke.

“Judging by the time, Mr. Cha Haeshin is probably working.”

Taejun still didn’t understand.

“So what if he’s working? He can’t answer my call because he’s working?”

“Because there’s no need to upset the customers. It’s highly likely that he doesn’t have his phone with him.”

“Ah……”

“Wouldn’t there be a lot of people who pick fights over trivial things?”

Taejun blinked dumbly.

“So he has to be more mindful of those guys who hang out in that bar…… than me?”

“The person who pays Mr. Cha Haeshin’s salary is the bar owner.”

Hearing Secretary Choi seriously explain the obvious brought him back to his senses.

He remembered the information that Cha Haeshin had done all sorts of jobs, from restaurants, convenience stores, motels, bars, designated driving, and so on.

And what about the neighborhood he lived in, the state of his house? Despite working without enough sleep, Haeshin wore a worn-out padded jacket and tattered sneakers. The reality of others, a world that had been like a virtual reality to Taejun, weighed heavily on his heart.

“How much is that salary anyway?”

“Sir?”

“Find out how much Cha Haeshin’s salary is. You don’t have to do it yourself, Jungho. Have someone discreet do it.”

“Ah…… Yes, I understand.”

After Secretary Choi left, Taejun stared blankly at the message he had received.

When he first saw Haeshin’s message, Taejun felt a momentary dizziness. He was also annoyed at himself for acting so carelessly, even after being a step behind twice.

“But is this…… really such a big deal?”

Taejun muttered blankly. Let’s say he acted carelessly. So what?

Cha Haeshin was indeed a variable. Since getting involved with him, he had been facing situations he had never experienced before. But that didn’t mean Cha Haeshin was the key to ending this hell. There was no evidence of that.

He was just a small possibility worth exploring, and there was a high probability that he actually had nothing to do with Han Taejun’s hell. Therefore, Cha Haeshin wasn’t someone Han Taejun absolutely had to protect.

Then was it pity? That was even more ridiculous. One of the first things Han Taejun lost while repeating the regressions was pity and compassion.

This world was nothing but a hell created solely for Han Taejun. At least in this place, there was no one more unfortunate than himself. That’s what Taejun thought.

So who could Taejun possibly pity, who could he feel compassion for? He had long been indifferent to the misfortunes of others.

Then what was this feeling Taejun currently felt towards Cha Haeshin? Taejun put aside the unanswerable question and replied to Haeshin.

☂️

“Thanks for the ride.”

“Don’t mention it. You worked hard. Go on in.”

Haeshin waved to Inchan, who had given him a ride to the entrance of his neighborhood, and stared at the receding car for a while.

It took about 20 minutes to walk from the bar to Haeshin’s neighborhood. Since the buses stopped running after his shift ended, he usually walked, but sometimes, when the timing was right, Inchan, the manager, would give him a ride like today.

Only after Inchan’s car completely disappeared did Haeshin take out his phone. He actually wanted to call Taejun as soon as he saw his reply at the bar, but he couldn’t because there were people around.

Haeshin walked up the familiar uphill road leading to the stairs and checked Taejun’s reply again.

[Call me when you finish work. Doesn’t matter what time.]

Although it was just text, he could almost hear Taejun’s voice. An indifferent and cold voice.

“What if he’s asleep……?”

Haeshin muttered. Powerful people were fickle. Whether it was physical power or material power, it was the same. They changed their words easily and their attitudes shifted according to their mood. Would Han Taejun, standing at the pinnacle of power and wealth, be any different?

If he really called as instructed, he might end up poking the sleeping lion. But if he didn’t call? He would probably get yelled at for ignoring him. Those without power had so much to consider, even for a simple phone call.

In the end, Haeshin decided to send a message first instead of calling. It was a reasonable compromise.

[Hello, CEO! It’s Cha Haeshin. I finished work. Can I call you? I’m texting first in case you’re asleep!]

If he woke up and got angry at even this notification sound, then there was nothing he could do. He would simply give him a low score internally, thinking, I doubt I can achieve anything great with someone as petty as you.

“Ah, you scared me!”

At that moment, his phone vibrated loudly in his hand. Startled, Haeshin almost dropped his phone. He let out a short sigh and checked the screen.

[CEO Han Taejun]

Was he really awake and waiting?

His palms were sweating from surprise. Wiping his hands alternately on his padding, Haeshin answered the phone cautiously.

“Hello, CEO.”

—Are you done now?

“Yes. I didn’t wake you, did I?”

—That’s none of your business. Do you always finish at this time?

Haeshin started walking again as he replied.

“About twice a week, I finish before midnight.”

—How do you get around without a car?

“I usually walk, and sometimes my manager gives me a ride.”

There was a brief silence on the other end of the phone. Haeshin waited for Taejun’s next words, and when the silence stretched on, he spoke again.

“By the way, you saw my text, right? About…… I’m sorry.”

“……Yeah. I saw it. Why are you apologizing? What did you do wrong?”

“Still…… Did it cause you any trouble?”

—What are you talking about? What trouble would I have because Jin Youngmin found out? What can he even do?

At that moment, Haeshin bit his lip. A thrilling exhilaration swept through him.

Cha Haeshin had always needed someone like that. Someone to whom Jin Youngmin was nothing, someone who could crush him at any moment, someone who could threaten him with money and power, just like Jin Youngmin did to him. And at the same time, someone who would listen to him. Haeshin had searched and searched for such a person throughout his countless regressions.

Could Han Taejun be that person? Unlike those who didn’t care what kind of suffering a person forged by poverty endured, would Han Taejun listen to his cries?

—But how did you know?

This time, Taejun asked, interrupting Haeshin’s thoughts.

“Sir?”

—How did you know that Jin Youngmin found out? Did he come to see you?

“Ah, yes. He offered me a ride on my way to work……”

—What? You got in his car?

“Of course I did.”

—Didn’t I tell you not to meet him alone and to be careful?

Haeshin burst out laughing involuntarily.

“Hey, CEO! The director of Myeongjin Group offered me a ride, how could I refuse? I’m not you.”

It wasn’t sarcasm, but a genuine response. His laughter was genuine as well. Perhaps because Taejun lived with the world at his feet. He spoke so carelessly. He didn’t dislike it, but it felt rather cute, which is why he laughed. Though Han Taejun would be appalled if he knew.