The Way to Save the Crazy Returnees Chapter 15 - A Thing Called Family (2)

 

“…Yoon-hoo hyung?”

 

“You’re here?”

 

Lee Yoo-seong looked around in surprise. For the record, all the red seizure notices that had been posted on his house were now gone. That was because Kim Jeong-hye had chosen the second option, and I had helped lift the property seizure.

 

“What the—Boss? Why are you here?”

 

Seo Do-hwan peeked out from behind Lee Yoo-seong. I replied with a smile.

 

“Do I need a special reason to be here? Anyway, here. Take this, Yoo-seong—it’s a gift.”

 

“A… gift?”

 

“Yeah.”

 

Lee Yoo-seong tilted his head as he accepted the document I handed him.

 

But his puzzlement didn’t last long.

 

“Y-Yoon-hoo hyung. T-this is—”

 

“A real estate sales contract.”

 

“I can see that, but… the owner’s name is weird. Why is my name written here…?”

 

“Well, because you’re the owner of the house.”

 

I cleared up his confusion.

 

“After all, this place was originally yours, wasn’t it?”

 

Lee Yoo-seong’s lips parted in shock. It was as if he was wondering how I knew—or perhaps as if he had just remembered something he’d long forgotten.

 

“Wow! Buying your own house at nineteen? Congrats!”

 

Seo Do-hwan slapped him on the back. Only then did Lee Yoo-seong snap out of it. His face lit up as he asked excitedly,

 

“But, Yoon-hoo hyung, what about Aunt, Jin-hyuk, and Uncle? I don’t see them anywhere—where are they?”

 

“Why are you looking for them?”

 

Before I could answer, Seo Do-hwan cut in. At his question, Lee Yoo-seong bit his lip.

 

“They may have treated me badly, but… they’re still the only family I have left.”

 

“Family, my ass.”

 

Seo Do-hwan snorted, as if he’d just heard the most ridiculous thing.

 

“Hey, Lee Yoo-seong. If you’re calling them family just because you share the same blood, then forget it.”

 

“That’s not why I call them that!”

 

Lee Yoo-seong’s voice cracked as he shouted.

 

“If it weren’t for them, I’d be dead! When I was in middle school, we went on a family trip and got into a car accident. I was badly injured…”

 

That accident had taken the lives of Lee Yoo-seong’s parents—and it was then that he became possessed by the character ‘Joo Si-hyun’ from The High School Seniors Are Too Strong.

 

“At that time, my uncle’s family not only handled my parents’ funeral but also took turns nursing me while I was in a coma. If it weren’t for them, I wouldn’t have gotten treatment. I would’ve died.”

 

“Hey, that’s—!”

 

“Enough.”

 

I cut off Seo Do-hwan’s words.

 

“I understand how you feel, Yoo-seong.”

 

Still, I couldn’t help the bitterness that rose in me.

 

Because Lee Yoo-seong still believed the accident that killed his parents was his fault.

 

He had once told me about that day in a self-deprecating tone.

 

On the way to the trip, he had been reading The High School Seniors Are Too Strong, a book borrowed from his school library. The moment he closed the last page, he found himself possessed by the character “Joo Si-hyun.”

 

But the reality had been different.

 

In truth, Lee Yoo-seong had suddenly suffered breathing difficulties and lost consciousness. Startled, his parents swerved the wheel.

 

The car veered into the opposite lane. The crash followed.

 

‘…Or so Lee Yoo-seong believes.’

 

The truth was different—but he still carried the guilt from that day.

 

Would the Lee Yoo-seong of this timeline ever learn what really happened?

 

I hoped not.

 

I slipped a note into the hand of the boy who was watching me closely.

 

“This is where your aunt and cousin are. As for Mr. Lee Hak-joon—he’s currently under police investigation, so you won’t be able to see him.”

 

“My uncle is under police investigation?”

 

“Yeah. Looks like he got caught embezzling a huge sum from the company.”

 

There was no need to mention that he had been dishonorably dismissed before being caught.

 

“I… see…”

 

Lee Yoo-seong gaped, as if unable to believe it.

 

“Yoo-seong.”

 

I spoke to steady him.

 

“Whatever you decide, I’ll support you.”

 

Whether he chose to find Kim Jeong-hye and Lee Jin-hyuk or not, I would have his back.

 

“But remember one thing.”

 

I gripped his shoulder firmly.

 

“It’s okay to regret your choice. But don’t blame yourself for it. Don’t let guilt crush you. Got it?”

 

“…Yes, hyung.”

 

“Good.”

 

I gave his shoulder a pat, then left the house with Seo Do-hwan.

 

“If anything happens, call right away. You’ve got our numbers, right?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Lee Yoo-seong followed us outside to see us off.

 

“If you need anything, call immediately.”

 

“Yes, hyung!”

 

At the brightness in his voice, I gave a small nod before heading home with Seo Do-hwan.

 

“Think Lee Yoo-seong will go looking for them?”

 

“He will.”

 

He had never once failed to.

 

“Why’s that kid so nice? And yet, he’s the one who suffers.”

 

“Yeah. He’s nothing like a certain someone I know.”

 

“Why are you picking a fight all of a sudden?”

 

“I’m not picking a fight. What, did I hit a nerve?”

 

Seo Do-hwan frowned.

 

“I’m just not going to say anything.”

 

I chuckled at his grumbling and handed him the note.

 

“What’s this?”

 

“The address I gave to Yoo-seong.”

 

It was the new residence of Kim Jeong-hye and Lee Jin-hyuk. Seo Do-hwan snatched the note with the address on it.

 

“Do whatever you want—go find them before Yoo-seong does, or tear it up and throw it away.”

 

A mischievous grin spread across Seo Do-hwan’s face.

 

“Can I really do whatever I want?”

 

“Yes.”

 

I nodded, then quickly added,

 

“No killing.”

 

“Do you think I’m that reckless?”

 

…Does he even realize he’s killed me more than ten times?

 

Of course not. If he did, he wouldn’t say something like that.

 

I smiled silently.

 

“What’s with that annoying grin?”

 

“Seo Do-hwan, do you want to get kicked out empty-handed?”

 

He curled his lips in irritation and turned away.

 

“I’ll be back.”

 

It looked like he had decided to track down Kim Jeong-hye and Lee Jin-hyuk before Lee Yoo-seong could.

 

I’d figured as much.

 

“Have a good trip,” I called after him.

 

Seo Do-hwan waved indifferently and walked away.

 

“…It’ll be fine, right?”

 

The Seo Do-hwan who once lashed out and hurt Lee Yoo-seong’s family more than once was in the past now—at least, I hoped so.

 

I watched him disappear from view, then turned to go back inside.

 

That was when the phone rang.

 

It was Secretary Choi—the one who had handled both the Cheongha High School situation and the matter with Lee Jin-hyuk’s family.

 

“Hello?”

 

—Young master, we have a problem.

 

“What is it?”

 

As I listened to the voice on the other end, my pace quickened toward the door.

 

“I’ll be there immediately. Keep monitoring the situation.”

 

I hung up, grimacing.

 

Damn it.

 

Yeah, things had been going too smoothly.

 

***

 

“I’ll support you no matter what you choose. But remember this—it’s fine if you regret your decision. Just don’t blame yourself for it. Don’t let guilt crush you. Got it?”

 

In the elevator to the penthouse floor, Lee Yoo-seong smiled faintly. He never knew how reassuring it could be to have someone who believed in him.

 

“I’ll just drop this off at home, then head straight to Aunt’s place.”

 

He looked proudly at the black envelope in his hands.

 

Tonight, he planned to invite Kwak Yoon-hoo and Seo Do-hwan over for dinner.

 

‘They told me not to buy it for them, but they never said I couldn’t serve it.’

 

So it should be fine.

 

With that thought, Lee Yoo-seong left the elevator, entered the code his family had always used, and hummed to himself as he walked in.

 

“Looks like someone’s in a good mood.”

 

Lee Yoo-seong froze.

 

It wasn’t just the voice—it was the strange, slick feeling beneath his feet and the foul odor in the air.

 

Click—!

 

A sharp, unpleasant sound followed.

 

Slowly, Lee Yoo-seong lifted his head and saw his cousin fiddling with a lighter.

 

“What are you staring at? A guest’s here, so bring something out.”

 

“…Jin-hyuk.”

 

Lee Yoo-seong stammered, tense out of habit.

 

“I–I was actually on my way to see you.”

 

“Why? To show up and mock me?”

 

‘Mock him?’

 

“Why would I ever do that?”

 

“Then why were you coming?”

 

Lee Jin-hyuk’s voice was sharp and hostile. Lee Yoo-seong clamped his mouth shut—provoking him now would only make things worse.

 

Lee Jin-hyuk shoved his shoulder and continued.

 

“Hey, Lee Yoo-seong. Did you know? I’ve always hated this house.”

 

Lee Yoo-seong nodded quietly. Lee Jin-hyuk had often said he wanted to burn it down.

 

“I’ve hated it since I was a kid. Every time I stayed over for the night, my mom and dad would fight afterward.”

 

Over money.

 

“So when my parents took this house from your family, I wasn’t happy about it at all.”

 

“…Took it?”

 

“Hah! You really don’t know anything, do you?”

 

Lee Jin-hyuk burst out laughing.

 

“Hey, you idiot. How do you think a family like ours—scraping by—suddenly got rich?”

 

“Because… Uncle’s business took off—”

 

“Everything he touched went under. Business success my ass.”

 

He scoffed, his face twisting.

 

“The inheritance that should’ve gone to you—my parents stole it. You idiot.”

 

And then, almost casually, he added,

 

“Oh, and about your parents’ car accident? Ever wonder if it happened because my mom and dad tampered with the steering wheel? You know—so they could kill your parents and take the money.”

 

Lee Yoo-seong staggered back.

 

“Th–That’s a lie…”

 

“Even when I spoon-feed you the truth, you still won’t believe it?”

 

Lee Jin-hyuk let out a loud, mocking laugh.

 

“Hey, you idiot.”

 

Idiot. Moron. Dumbass. Fool.

 

They were words Lee Yoo-seong had been hearing constantly—not just since his parents died, but ever since the day he returned to the world he had once lived in. They spun chaotically through his head.

 

“Want me to tell you something even more interesting?”

 

There was laughter in Lee Jin-hyuk’s voice, and in that instant, Lee Yoo-seong’s mind went strangely still.

 

No.

It wasn’t clarity. Not really.

What had gone cold was the rational part of him—frozen solid.

 

“Your parents.”

 

Click—the lighter lit.

 

“They were still alive when the accident happened.”

 

Whoosh!

 

That frozen reason ignited all at once.

 

“Ahhh!”

 

Lee Jin-hyuk’s body suddenly flew backward, slammed into the veranda, and rolled across the tiles.

 

“What the hell?!”

 

Lee Jin-hyuk snapped his head up in panic,

 

“F–Fire! Fire! The place is on fire!!”

 

Like a madman, he flung the window open. Outside, the penthouse burned, flames racing across the floor where gasoline had been spilled. The blaze had started the moment Lee Jin-hyuk dropped the lit lighter.

 

“Is anyone there?! Fire! Help!”

 

His shouting cut off with a muffled cry as an injured hand clamped over his mouth.

 

“Mmph!”

 

“Lee Jin-hyuk.”

 

Lee Yoo-seong’s voice was low, almost unrecognizable.

 

“They were alive?”

 

My parents?

 

“Then why did they die?”

 

The paramedics had said both had stopped breathing by the time they arrived.

 

“But they were alive?”

 

How could Lee Jin-hyuk know that?

 

Lee Yoo-seong released his cousin’s mouth, grabbed his collar, and hauled him up from the floor.

 

“Tell me, Lee Jin-hyuk.”

 

“Aaaah! Sa–save me! Save me!”

 

Dangling above the ground, Lee Jin-hyuk screamed in terror. The dizzying drop below made him feel like he might lose his mind at any moment.

 

But Lee Yoo-seong was right in front of him.

 

“Tell me! Before I kill you!”

 

It was as if Lee Yoo-seong had already lost his mind, and Lee Jin-hyuk couldn’t bring himself to answer.

 

“Help me! Yoo-seong, please! Please save me!”

 

Spare him?

 

Lee Yoo-seong’s face twisted in rage—

 

“Yoo-seong!”

 

A voice rang out urgently through the flames.