IWDAR Chapter 8

Those endlessly jet-black eyes didn’t leer at him, nor did they assess him like a piece of meat in a butcher shop. He simply saw Han Wooyoung, the person himself. That was incredibly unsettling. Perhaps that’s why Wooyoung, foolish as it seemed, was trying to escape this situation. 

He found it difficult to bear the sight of himself, feeling more pathetic than ever. As Wooyoung’s unease grew, his face paling even further, Tae-uk finally broke away. 

Tae-uk, tearing his eyes away from the pitifully small figure, offered Hyun-jong a loose smile.

“For someone just starting out in the entertainment business, sneaking into someone else’s event is quite the display of capability. I have high hopes for the future of Lilac Entertainment.”

“……”

Hyun-jong gritted his teeth at the blatant mockery, humiliation creeping up from his toes. Even though he was a master of groveling, Hyun-jong was, by nature, a man of pride,  making it difficult to feign a carefree smile in this situation. 

He lifted his head in frustration, his gaze meeting Mo Tae-uk, who was looking down with a bored tilted gaze. 

At that moment, President Park couldn’t help but flinch involuntarily. Comically, his burgeoning rebellious spirit was instantly. Facing those inorganic, obsidian-like eyes that revealed nothing, he remembered the strange rumor, that something anyone in the industry would have heard at least once, came to mind. 

‘I heard he’s been seeing ghosts since he was a child.’

Hyun-jong had once witnessed a shamanistic ritual as a very young child. 

Amidst the cacophony of janggu drums and kkwaenggwari gongs¹, and the brightly colored hemp ropes wrapped around her body, he’d seen the grotesque figure of a woman dancing frantically in front of an ax chopping down a thick tree. 

Even the chilling eyes of the possessed shaman he’d glimpsed then hadn’t been this cold.

Just as he felt paralyzed by that jet-black gaze, unable to move a muscle he realized the man’s attention had shifted again, away from him. Mo Tae-uk’s eyes were once again on Wooyoung, whom Hyun-jong had brought.

‘Right. I can’t forget why I came here.’

There was no one more foolish than a man who forgot his purpose. 

Hyun-jong straightened his shoulders and grabbed Wooyoung’s shoulder ostentatiously, as if flaunting his ownership of the one who had caught Mo Tae-uk’s attention. 

Tae-uk, easily grasping the meaning of Hyun-jong’s actions, suppressed a sneer.

“Actually, there was someone I wanted to introduce to CEO Mo. Look at my poor memory. Wooyoung, say hello.”

The spotlight suddenly fell on Wooyoung, who had been completely excluded from the conversation. 

Although Hyun-jong wasn’t being as forceful as usual, the hand pressing down on his shoulder was heavy enough. 

Wooyoung, feeling the pressure, understood Hyun-jong’s intentions. He bowed his head, hoping his smile didn’t look too forced.

“Hello, I’m Han Wooyoung.”

Soohee had told him to mention that he was born in the year of the rabbit if he met CEO Mo, but it wasn’t the right time. 

Wooyoung simply hoped he appeared polite. After all, CEO Mo hadn’t looked pleased throughout his conversation with Hyun-jong.

“He’s a trainee we’re focusing on developing at our agency. This is his first time at an event like this, so he seems a bit nervous. Please be understanding to him.”

Mo Tae-uk’s eyebrows rose slightly. Han Wooyoung clearly looked like he had been dragged here against his will, but his upright posture was like that of a well-bred young master.

“A trainee?”

At CEO Mo Tae-uk’s interest, President Park’s face brightened.

“Yes, that’s right! As you can see, he’s just as good as the current active idols…”

“His arms and legs… they don’t look very healthy.He doesn’t seem to have a single bone intact.”

Hyun-jong’s chattering face stiffened slightly.

“Can’t you see with your own eyes?”

Tae-uk pointed out Wooyoung’s injured arms and legs, which he had been staring at for a while now. The very injuries that Hyun-jong hadn’t even paid attention to.

“…Ah, this was just a sudden incident…”

“Are they fractured?”

Mo Tae-uk cut Hyun-jong off and asked Wooyoung directly. 

Due to their significant height difference, Wooyoung had to crane his neck to look up. Perhaps noticing this, Mo Tae-uk bent down slightly at the waist and asked Wooyoung again, 

“I asked if they were fractures.”

“…Uh, yes. They are.”

Wooyoung’s cautious reply reached Tae-uk’s ears softly. Tae-uk, who had been staring at Wooyoung, straightened up. 

Choi Do-hoon, who had been serving Tae-uk for a long time, expected him to completely cut off this pointless, unproductive conversation. 

In fact, the mere fact that Tae-uk had wasted this much time engaging in such frivolous talk was already out of character.

‘If he were an ordinary person, he’d be concerned about that boy’s state…’

Unfortunately, Mo Tae-uk was a man who had grown up with most of his emotions suppressed. He wouldn’t feel pity or sympathy for a boy he had just met for the first time today. 

Listening patiently to the entertainment CEO with his obvious ulterior motives must have been a mere whim. 

Just as Do-hoon was about to contact the driver waiting outside, Tae-uk spoke.

“So, I’m curious why you’re introducing this precious gem, whom you supposedly cherish so much, to me in this state.”

The most surprised by this question was not Hyun-jong, but Do-hoon. He was bewildered that his prediction had been so wrong. 

‘This is it!’

Hyun-jong thought his chance had come. Mo Tae-uk was clearly interested in Wooyoung. Han Wooyoung usually caused trouble and made a fuss, putting him in difficult situations, but Hyun-jong had always believed there would come a time when that pretty face would be useful. That belief was now bearing fruit. 

Clang, clang, clang— 

The sound of kkwaenggwari gongs from the shamanistic ritual long ago seemed to ring in his. Ignoring the strange chills creeping up his neck, President Park Hyun-jong leaned closer to CEO Mo Tae-uk and whispered, 

“This boy was born in the Year of the Rabbit, CEO Mo.”

A silence fell upon the surroundings at that one whispered sentence. While others were enjoying the event, the air around Tae-uk seemed to shut everything else out.

“…Born in the Year of the Rabbit.”

Tae-uk, who had been silent, finally spoke. His cold eyes flicked between Hyun-jong and Wooyoung. But Hyun-jong, as if possessed, couldn’t stop talking.He assumed Mo Tae-uk had completely grasped his intentions.

“I heard you’re in a rather difficult situation due to a personal matter. This boy will be of great help, so please contact me for further details…”

“Haha.”

A low chuckle cut Hyun-jong off. It was a dry laugh devoid of any amusement. Hyun-jong flinched involuntarily at the sound that was closer to a sneer. 

Mo Tae-uk casually slipped the business card he had been rolling between his fingers into President Park’s breast pocket. President Park’s face was filled with bewilderment at the smooth, natural gesture.

“I don’t know where you heard it from with your impressive ‘capabilities,’ but one thing is clear.”

The corners of his mouth sunken and dark as the ocean floor, curled up faintly as he spoke in a low, chilling voice.

“You seem to find me quite amusing.”

“…N-no, CEO…That’s not it!”

The man’s sharp features were completely transformed by the smile he wore, but everyone present must have realized one thing: Mo Tae-uk was not in a good mood.

“I think there’s been a misunderstanding. I simply wanted to sincerely offer you my help, CEO Mo…”

Hyun-jong, witnessing it up close, looked ridiculous for his bold approach. He could only gulp, his breath hitching as he struggled to speak, unable to utter a proper explanation.

Mo Tae-uk took a step and brushed past President Park. Wooyoung, who had been standing there dumbfounded, involuntarily looked up at Tae-uk. 

But Tae-uk walked away without a word. His demeanor was cold, as if the previous gentleness he had shown when he bent down and asked about Wooyoung’s injuries had been a lie. 

Wooyoung clearly sensed contempt in the man’s eyes.