The Way to Save the Crazy Returnees Chapter 62 - Embargo (3)

 

 

“Then, CEO Kwak Yoon-hoo—let me start with a few light questions.”

 

Park Ki-cheon spoke stiffly, tension written across his face.

 

“It’s just to break the ice, so please feel free to answer comfortably.”

 

He’d walked in all smiles, but it seemed he had realized—very quickly—that he’d stepped straight into a tiger’s den.

 

“First, I’d like to ask what values WF Entertainment pursues.”

 

“Reporter Park.”

 

“Yes?”

 

“You’ve asked me before, haven’t you? About my relationship with Chairman Kwak Jin-tae.”

 

“What? Ah—well… yes.”

 

Catching off guard, Park Ki-cheon gave an awkward nod. I smiled.

 

“That’s correct.”

 

“CEO Kwak, I’m sorry, could you repeat that? I’m not sure what exactly is ‘correct.’”

 

He had heard me perfectly well earlier, but he simply couldn’t believe it. I let out a short, derisive laugh before replying gently.

 

“I am Chairman Kwak Jin-tae’s only grandson—and his only remaining family.”

 

“What? No, that can’t be—”

 

“I assumed you already knew that, Reporter Park.”

 

…Or was I mistaken?

 

When I added that with a tilt of my head, Park Ki-cheon’s expression soured, doubt creeping into his voice.

 

“Why are you suddenly admitting this? At the Victory showcase you clearly—”

 

“I never denied it.”

 

I smiled, lips curling.

 

“You only asked if having the same surname meant we were related.”

 

Park Ki-cheon’s mouth fell open as if stunned. Only for a moment—then his face twisted.

 

“Are you making fun of me right now?”

 

“Of course not.”

 

And really—who tried to make fun of whom first?

 

With a crooked smirk, I continued, “Soon, everyone will know that I’m Chairman Kwak Jin-tae’s only grandson and sole family. When that happens, I’d like you to be the one to write the article. I’ll contact you before the news becomes public.”

 

“Well… if you’d do that, I’d appreciate it.”

 

As if he had never panicked at all, Park Ki-cheon smiled pleasantly.

 

“But this industry is small. I’m not sure our secret will stay a secret.”

 

“If you value your life, you’d better keep it that way.”

 

I tilted my head slightly as I warned him. Park Ki-cheon flinched, then forced a laugh.

 

“Well, if I suddenly disappear or die, wouldn’t you be the prime suspect, CEO Kwak?”

 

“Then Reporter Park simply needs to make sure he doesn’t suddenly disappear or die.”

 

“…S-Sorry?”

 

“As a reporter, you have to run around constantly to chase scoops. Even if you’re just in the entertainment department.”

 

“Well, t-that’s true, but—”

 

“Reporter Park.”

 

I cut him off with a pleasant smile.

 

“Did you know people die much more easily than you think?”

 

Some people say death doesn’t come easily. But after witnessing countless deaths across 365 regressions, I knew that statement was utter nonsense.

 

Seo Do-hwan killed me. Lee Yoo-seong died right before my eyes. Kang Ye-seong drove people to kill themselves as if it were nothing. Lee Man-deuk smiled as he took lives—and lost his own.

 

After seeing and experiencing all those deaths, the life of the man in front of me felt as fragile as a candle in the wind.

 

“AMA will be keeping a close eye on you from now on, Reporter Park.”

 

Maybe it was the chill in my voice—Park Ki-cheon swallowed hard. Seeing his frightened expression, I smiled faintly and spoke in a low voice:

 

“And your every move will be reported to me.”

 

Where you go, who you meet, what you write—everything.

 

“Reporter Park.”

 

I stood and placed a hand on his shoulder.

 

“I looked into it, and it seems you have an ex-wife.”

 

“U-using her to threaten me is—”

 

“And a son.”

 

His lips trembled violently.

 

“I’m sure a smart man like you understands why I’m bringing up your family.”

 

An embargo—temporarily preventing a story from being released. He seemed to have understood that this wasn’t a subtle suggestion at all: break the embargo, and his family would pay the price.

 

“P-Please don’t touch my son!”

 

With a thud, Park Ki-cheon fell to his knees, shouting frantically.

 

“I—I got a tip! Someone contacted me saying they had information about you, CEO Kwak! I’m sorry! I trusted an unverified tip and acted rudely!”

 

As he begged, rubbing his hands together, I kept my smile.

 

“Who contacted you?”

 

“I don’t know! They called my number directly, but when I tried calling back, it said it didn’t exist!”

 

He added desperately:

 

“If you give me time, I’ll find out who they are!”

 

“And how exactly will you do that?”

 

“T-That, I…”

 

Naturally, he had no way to find them. With nothing to trace, he didn’t even attempt an investigation, though he must have been desperate to meet the informant face-to-face and hear the rest. But it didn’t matter. I already knew who it was.

 

“Reporter Park.”

 

“Y-Yes!”

 

“AMA isn’t a small company.”

 

I tightened my grip on his shoulder.

 

“Please remember that from now on.”

 

“O-Of course!”

 

He nodded frantically.

 

“Good. Then shall we resume the interview?”

 

I sat back down, smiling pleasantly.

 

“You asked what values WF Entertainment pursues, didn’t you? Our WF Entertainment…”

 

Park Ki-cheon stared blankly at me. I knew exactly why, but pretended not to.

 

“Reporter Park, what are you doing? Are we not continuing the interview?”

 

“A-Ah…! I-I will! Of course I will…!”

 

He hurried to start typing.

 

***

 

—CEO, Reporter Park Ki-cheon has been sent off.

 

The interview had dragged on for more than an hour. Park Ki-cheon had wanted to wrap it up quickly, but I didn’t allow that. As soon as I answered his final question and ended the interview, he practically bolted out of the office. Naturally, I wasn’t about to let him slip away that easily.

 

“Reporter Park.”

 

I stopped him.

 

“I look forward to working with you.”

 

I shook his hand, silently conveying that this wouldn’t be the last time we met. His expression at that moment was… honestly, priceless.

 

“Reporter Park, you don’t seem very eager to see me often?”

 

When I teased him, he looked as if he might collapse on the spot. His hand, still gripping mine, trembled violently.

 

—CEO? Are you listening?

 

Ah. I’d gotten lost in the memory.

 

“Yes, I’m listening. Good work, Team Leader Hong.”

 

I quickly replied to Hong Ha-jin and continued:

 

“I’ll trust you to handle the matter regarding Employee Jung Sang-hwa.”

 

—Yes, CEO. I’ll take care of everything on my end today and report back tomorrow. You must be tired—please rest.

 

“You too, Team Leader Hong.”

 

After ending the call, I looked out the window. The sun had already gone down. Watching it sink between the buildings, I grabbed my coat. It was already 6:47 p.m. Half a day spent at the office on the very day I was discharged.

 

‘That wasn’t the plan.’

 

I clicked my tongue softly and pushed aside the tasks I hadn’t been able to finish because of the interview. I’d take care of them first thing tomorrow morning. If I brought work home, Seo Do-hwan would definitely blow up.

 

‘Wait—come to think of it…’

 

Hadn’t I said I’d call Seo Do-hwan before leaving work?

 

‘If I call now, he’s just going to yell at me.’

 

But if I didn’t call, he’d be even angrier. With a sigh, I grabbed my phone.

 

—Hello.

 

He picked up after only a few rings—and more importantly, he was already angry. His stiff tone made me apologize without thinking.

 

“Sorry. Work took longer than I expected.”

 

—Don’t you think you should apologize to Lee Yoo-seong?

 

“To Yoo-seong?”

 

Why was Lee Yoo-seong suddenly being mentioned? I tilted my head in confusion, and Seo Do-hwan continued.

 

—An hour ago, he said he was going to pick you up. He came straight home from school and went to WF Entertainment. He’s probably waiting in front of the building.

 

“What? Are you serious?”

 

—Whether I’m serious or not, why don’t you see for yourself?

 

At his words, I looked out the window…

 

‘He’s really here.’

 

I could see Lee Yoo-seong pacing in front of the WF Entertainment building. I hurried out of the office, frowning.

 

“Why are you only telling me this now?”

 

—You didn’t ask.

 

His sharp reply made me pinch the bridge of my nose.

 

“Seo Do-hwan.”

 

—Busy. Hanging up.

 

He ended the call before I could say anything.

 

“…He’s really mad, huh.”

 

I’d assumed he’d come pick me up anyway, so I’d taken my time.

 

“It can’t be helped.”

 

I’d just go home with Lee Yoo-seong. I wanted to think quietly about Ji Geon-hyuk, but at this rate, Lee Yoo-seong might get heatstroke. It wasn’t quite summer yet, but the weather was hot. Then again, if it was Lee Yoo-seong, the heat probably wouldn’t bother him.

 

‘Still… you never know.’

 

Especially with that huge variable called Ji Geon-hyuk.

 

‘I wish I could contact him.’

 

But there was no way. Even Grandpa had said that contacting the High-End Group might not even reach Ji Geon-hyuk. And flying to the U.S. myself? Grandpa would never allow it.

 

‘What should I do?’

 

There were so many things I wanted to explain to Ji Geon-hyuk. And even more I wanted to ask.

 

‘He probably doesn’t even want to talk to me…’

 

Even so, I needed to try.

 

That I never wanted to kill him, that I remember him—the version of him from the previous regression—and that he knows it as well. He must be wondering, isn’t he? Why the two of us came back to this moment in time.

 

The six other returnees, aside from myself. I wanted to tell Ji Geon-hyuk the truth about my regression—something I had never revealed to any of them. Even if it sounded like an excuse. 

No—because it was an excuse. 

 

But I still wanted to say it. I wanted him to know that I never, not even once, wanted to kill him. And it wasn’t just Ji Geon-hyuk. If I ever had the chance—

 

“Yoon-hoo hyung!”

 

All of the other returnees… I wanted to tell them that too.

 

“…Yoo-seong.”

 

“Congratulations on your discharge!”

 

His bright smile made me smile back.

 

“Yeah, thanks. You left home an hour ago, right? When did you get to WF Entertainment?”

 

“I haven’t been here long!”

 

Lee Yoo-seong said with a bashful grin.

 

“Let’s hurry home!”

 

“Yeah, let’s go.”

 

Chatting lightly with Lee Yoo-seong, I went home for the first time in a while. The moment I opened the door, what greeted me was—

 

Pop!

 

A party popper went off.