Actually, It’s a Messy Melodrama Chapter 44

“Ah….”

Having finished his morning part-time job, Haeshin let out a short groan at the familiar face waiting for him in front of the store. It was Jin Youngmin, greeting Haeshin with an awkward expression.

It wasn’t surprising. In fact, he had anticipated that Jin Youngmin might come looking for him around today. The man who shamelessly shows up even after causing such a scene, the man who doesn’t give up despite Han Taejun’s warning—it was the same Jin Youngmin that Cha Haeshin knew.

“Hello, Director.”

Haeshin greeted him in a stiffer tone than usual. Suddenly, the situation of having to watch his every word and action, being careful of every single thing to avoid pressing Jin Youngmin’s ‘buttons’, felt incredibly exhausting.

From the very beginning until now, Jin Youngmin had never not been the perpetrator, and Cha Haeshin had always been the victim, yet he couldn’t understand why Cha Haeshin alone still had to be the one to be wary and careful around him.

“Yes, Mr. Haeshin. Have you… been well?”

Youngmin lowered the corners of his eyes, putting on a very apologetic expression. Haeshin struggled not to gag. It was feigned and disgusting. He felt a renewed sense of sorrow at his predicament of being unable to even spit a single curse in the face of the man who had threatened him for no reason.

What is money? What the hell is money to do this to a person.

“Yes….”

Haeshin barely managed to answer. In the past, he would have tried to say more. No matter who was at fault, it did no good to provoke Jin Youngmin.

Moreover, he had already lost his reason once in this round. A dam that has broken once crumbles more easily and more often. As dirty and cheap as it was, humoring him was the best option for now. He knew that, yet the words didn’t come as easily as before. Even though saying things he didn’t mean was what Cha Haeshin did best.

“Mr. Haeshin, last time, I… I was really sorr—”

“Director, I’m really sorry, but I have to go to work right now. Can we talk next time?”

In that instant, Haeshin’s heart dropped. Cutting Youngmin off like that wasn’t a very good choice. His mind was already a mess, and he genuinely detested the very existence of Jin Youngmin to the point of being sick of him, so the words had slipped out unconsciously.

He was debating whether he should apologize now, but Youngmin spoke first. What followed was something Haeshin hadn’t expected at all.

“Ah, I came to find you so thoughtlessly. I’m sorry. I couldn’t get in touch with you, Mr. Haeshin, and I thought it would be rude to show up at your house again… I wanted to meet you and apologize somehow.”

“Ah….”

Flustered, Haeshin blinked. He had expected nothing good to come out of it, having blatantly bruised Youngmin’s pride, but contrary to his expectations, Youngmin readily admitted his mistake.

Is this moment the real dream? Should I pinch my thigh? While Haeshin was seriously contemplating this, Jin Youngmin continued.

“When are you free? I’ll apologize formally. I’m sure you were very surprised and upset, but would you give me just one more chance?”

His voice was gentle and soft. It was the same gentleness that had once made Haeshin mistakenly believe Jin Youngmin was a good person. Haeshin clenched his fists tightly under his padded sleeves.

“I… could you give me a little more time? I was so shocked back then, too… Of course, I’m really grateful that you’ve apologized like this. Actually, this alone is enough, but anyway… please just give me a little time.”

Haeshin fabricated a much softer tone of voice. The priority was to get away from this spot safely. Even if Youngmin was acting like a normal person for now, he didn’t know when he might snap.

However, contrary to Haeshin’s worries, this time too, Youngmin accepted Haeshin’s refusal without any trouble.

“Yes. I understand. Just know that I am truly sorry. I’ll wait for your call. I’ll be going now.”

Youngmin didn’t add any more words, gave a clean and concise farewell, and turned away. Haeshin stood with a dazed expression, watching Youngmin get into his car and drive away.

“What is happening, this is….”

This was the first time that Youngmin, after having lost his temper once, had become docile again. Sooner or later, Jin Youngmin, once he revealed his true colors, would always rapidly deteriorate from that point on.

Frankly, Haeshin had been preparing countermeasures in his head, even imagining Jin Youngmin forcibly putting him in the car as if kidnapping him. He had been weighing whether screaming or running back into the store and locking the door had a higher chance of success.

But Jin Youngmin had really left in his car. He didn’t get out midway, nor did he come back to grab him by the hair. It was a situation he couldn’t believe even after experiencing it, making him wonder what was going on. One hypothesis naturally flashed through Haeshin’s mind.

“Could it be because of Han Taejun?”

The only special thing about this round was Han Taejun. Nothing else had particularly changed besides Taejun entering his life. This was evidence that Taejun’s intervention was changing Jin Youngmin.

Goosebumps prickled up his spine. The countless struggles that had always ended in failure flashed through his mind. After experiencing painful and miserable deaths over and over, Haeshin felt, for the first time, like he was seeing a light at the end of a long tunnel.

He suddenly felt like crying, so Haeshin tried hard to compose himself. This was just the beginning. It was too early to get excited. From now on, he had to act even more carefully. He’d come this far; he couldn’t go back because of a single momentary mistake.

Haeshin took several deep breaths before resuming his halted steps. In the biting cold of the winter wind, he suddenly missed Han Taejun terribly.

☂️

“You’re saying he doesn’t seem to be in that house?”

“Yes. The landlord says he’s still living there, but there’s no one inside. The person said to be his mother hasn’t been seen either.”

At his secretary’s report, Youngmin rubbed his chin with a serious expression. He had acted too harshly towards Cha Haeshin, and he had been lying low for a while to observe various situations, but that didn’t mean Youngmin had been sitting idly by.

First, it was a priority to investigate Cha Haeshin’s suspicious situation. He had a bad feeling.

“Did he secretly move him somewhere without my knowledge?”

His train of thought naturally led to Han Taejun. Logically, it was incomprehensible for Taejun to even be interested in Cha Haeshin, so for him to be this proactive was nonsensical.

But was that the only thing that didn’t make sense? Han Taejun personally visiting the place where Cha Haeshin worked was already an absurd event.

Honestly, until now, Youngmin hadn’t felt particularly anxious even though Cha Haeshin didn’t give in easily. On the contrary, he found it enjoyable and interesting. He was even more drawn to the purity of someone who didn’t try to use him, despite living a life where he could be sold off for money.

He had been able to enjoy Cha Haeshin’s ‘playing hard to get’ because he was confident that, in the end, he would become his.

But now, the situation had changed. Of all people, Han Taejun had interfered. He couldn’t yet figure out his intentions, but one thing was certain: he was trying to get in the way of him and Cha Haeshin.

Youngmin felt anxious and bit his nails. He had thought that obtaining Cha Haeshin was a set outcome, whenever that might be, but with Han Taejun, of all people, in the picture, he could no longer be sure of the result.

Whether Taejun had feelings for Cha Haeshin or was simply trying to stop him, Youngmin didn’t have the power to oppose Han Taejun.

“But why can’t I give up?”

Youngmin muttered, regardless of the puzzled look his secretary waiting in front of him was making. Honestly, if Han Taejun went so far as to visit his parents and pressure them, giving up would be the right thing to do.

Taejun’s power was even more absolute internally. As long as Chairman Han was protecting him, there was no one who could beat Taejun. Even if it was unfair and infuriating, he had to obey.

And what about Cha Haeshin? To oppose Han Taejun to obtain someone who would clearly be a hindrance rather than a help? It was literally a crazy thing to do. It wasn’t that Youngmin didn’t know that.

“Give the landlord some money. Tell him to honestly say everything he knows, even if it’s nothing much.”

After a short deliberation, Youngmin gave his secretary instructions. The thought that Han Taejun had even moved Cha Haeshin’s residence to hide him from him only fueled his passion further. He wanted to have Cha Haeshin, no matter what it took. If that wasn’t possible, he wanted to make sure Han Taejun couldn’t have Cha Haeshin either.

Youngmin had always lived a docile life. He followed what the family elders told him to do and had never once rebelled, even during his adolescent years. It wasn’t that he was forced into submission either. He knew that being docile was ultimately good for him, so he had no particular complaints.

That Youngmin, for the first time in his life, had started something that neither Han Taejun nor anyone around him would welcome. He wanted to get his hands on Cha Haeshin, whatever the price.

The moment he decided not to give up, his heart fluttered with an unknown thrill. It seemed he liked Cha Haeshin much more than he had thought.

☂️

“Yeah, Mom. Is there anything you need? Uh-huh, I got it. I’ll come by tomorrow or the day after. I’m doing fine at work, so don’t worry. Okay. I’m hanging up.”

After finishing the call with his mom, Haeshin looked down at his phone and let out a long sigh. The situation was clearly better than in any previous round, and yet, his mind was so complicated.