KTC | Chapter 44

As the prayer finished, they stepped off the escalator. Choi Seonwoo led the way, with Seo Jihan following closely, mulling over the meaning of what had just been said.

“So, it’s like that unfortunate time I accidentally left fingerprints on Mr. Gu’s chest?”

He had almost been smacked for suggesting they do the same to him not too long ago.

Stopping at a stand, Choi Seonwoo started browsing through stacks of jeans, which prompted Seo Jihan to tease him with a hint of surprise.

“So your head isn’t just for decoration?”

“I was actually pretty good at school, you know?”

“Talk is cheap. You could build the Great Wall with words.”

Seo Jihan, admitting defeat with a laugh, snatched an odd pair of jeans Choi Seonwoo had picked up and put them back on the rack.

“Why are you even looking at something so tacky? Don’t rely on your pretty face, and don’t just wear anything. Come here.”

Seo Jihan moved past the rack into the store and picked out a pair of light-colored jeans with a stylish wash.

“These look good. Try them on.”

Although the light color seemed a bit chilly for the approaching winter, Choi Seonwoo, who always wore dark clothes, could use some brightening up. Without any complaints, Choi Seonwoo headed into the fitting room.

While he was changing, Seo Jihan glanced outside the store.

The men who had been following them had disappeared. Maybe it was just a fleeting curiosity, as Choi Seonwoo had suggested.

“Oh, about that man…”

Kim Youngchan, who had been deep in thought, leaned closer and lowered his voice.

“He looked oddly familiar, and I kept thinking about where I’d seen him. Turns out, I saw him a couple of times at Chairman Seo’s house.”

“At Grandfather’s house?”

Given that this man was connected to his grandfather, it wasn’t likely his hands were clean. This piqued Seo Jihan’s curiosity immediately, prompting an urgent response from Kim Youngchan.

“It’s been a while, but you might remember too. About eight years ago, when Chairman Seo was liquidating his private financial subsidiaries, one of the accountants embezzled nearly 2 billion won and fled.”

“Oh, I remember.”

It had been a while, but the chaos it caused at home was vivid in his memory. Chairman Seo, who generously rewarded his employees but never forgave theft, was furious.

“The guys who set her up were caught in Incheon. And the head honcho in Incheon at the time was that man.”

“So, a gangster.”

The woman hadn’t lasted three days before being caught. Ironically, she had borrowed money from another loan shark and, unable to repay, suffered greatly before being hired by that loan shark to embezzle the money.

The loan sharks were all in their early twenties. They had started the loan shark business, charging exorbitant interest rates to raise initial capital for a ‘proper gangster enterprise,’ realizing that employees could embezzle millions and escape without being reported.

“How did it all end?”

“The woman was forgiven, being pushed into it without much choice, but those who orchestrated it really fell into ruin. It was probably that man who dealt with them directly.”

Choi Seonwoo had once answered Seo Jihan’s question about why there are so many who commit sins yet live well. “Vengeful spirits don’t punish people themselves. They perpetually fan the flames of corruption and draw evil spirits by offering themselves as sacrifices. To those who have become evil spirits, vengeful spirits mean nothing. That’s why it gets passed down through generations. The reason you, Brother John, keep ruminating about the past and suffer is because you’ve never given in to those countless temptations.”

It might have been easier if he had just given in, he had added.

“You’ve held up well.”

Although it slightly annoyed him to be petted like a dog, surviving had its rewards.

“Keep a close eye if someone’s following us again.”

“Yes, yes.”

Kim Youngchan said this and pretended to browse through clothes again. The other bodyguards did the same, occasionally glancing our way from nearby stores.

Our secret protection isn’t so secret today. They just won’t listen when I tell them to openly follow me. They must be enjoying playing at being secret agents.

“Wow, that suits you well!”

Seo Jihan turned toward the fitting room as a clerk complimented Choi Seonwoo. Smiling to himself about his own impeccable taste, he saw Choi Seonwoo in the slim-fit light blue jeans that perfectly complemented his slender, sharp physique.

“See? You look even prettier when you listen to me.”

Seo Jihan approached Choi Seonwoo, who looked nonchalantly at himself in the mirror.

“I don’t like this color; it gets dirty too easily.”

“…Is that why you always wear black?”

“Black is so much easier. If you don’t sweat, you can wear it again the next day.”

Seo Jihan gazed at Choi Seonwoo’s reflection in the mirror and handed his card to the clerk. Leaving the choice of clothes to him seemed essential, as he’d likely just pick out stuff suitable for a funeral otherwise.

“Are you really buying just one?”

“I don’t go out often; why do I need many?”

“You really are a born priest, living a contented and honest life of poverty.”

Choi Seonwoo chuckled at the ridiculous statement. Even if he devoted his entire career, his salary wouldn’t reach 200. It’s true; one must be free from material desires to be a priest.

Choi Seonwoo ended the shopping with a white inner tee, a cream-colored sweater, and a black coat that went down to his knees. Seo Jihan, who had wanted to play dress-up with the Choi Seonwoo doll, was quite disappointed.

Seo Jihan, feeling somewhat depleted, wandered through various stores and bought enough items that one of the bodyguards had to go down to the parking lot twice to store them in the trunk.

After over two hours of lavish spending, Choi Seonwoo was nearly exhausted.

“I don’t think I could have dealt with a shopping-loving partner even if I hadn’t become a priest. Why is this so tiring?”

Leaning against the elevator, drained without having done much, Choi Seonwoo murmured. Seo Jihan chuckled and then suddenly looked curious.

“Have you ever been in a relationship, Father?”

“Do you think?”

“You do have the face for it.”

“I’m naturally not very interested in people I don’t consider my own. I’ve never felt romantic feelings.”

“That sounds almost psychopathic.”

“I’m empathetic, so don’t say that.”

If he lacked empathy, he might have been a unique psychopathic criminal capable of producing killers without leaving a trace. How fortunate that the Yunseul Village incident led to his reform.

Perhaps he was born a real devil, but he got too good at playing the angel.

Choi Seonwoo introspected abruptly until the elevator stopped at the parking level.

“So, are we done for today?”

“Don’t be silly. We still need to eat. I’ve booked us an Italian restaurant.”

Seo Jihan slung an arm around Choi Seonwoo in a friendly gesture, causing him to stagger slightly under the unexpected weight. There was no telling how he had bulked up so quickly and perfectly.

“Oh, I forgot how delicate you are, Father.”

Seo Jihan playfully withdrew his arm, teasing but clearly enjoying the moment. Just then, Kim Youngchan stopped in his tracks.

“Hey, didn’t you feel someone following us?”

Kim Youngchan turned around with a furrowed brow, his angry gaze targeting a bodyguard who had carried the shopping bags to the parking lot.

“That… I’m sorry.”

The men stationed in front of the cars seemed to form a defensive line.

“Sorry? What if that bastard was a terrorist and planted a bomb under the car?”

Too harsh.

Choi Seonwoo listened to Kim Youngchan’s scolding while pulling Seo Jihan behind him. Then, the man with the scar, surrounded like a screen by large men, fixed his gaze sharply on Choi Seonwoo. Although no murderous intent was felt, a definite sign of caution was present.

“Stay here, please. I’ll handle this gracefully,”

“Forget it. He probably came to see me. Please, Brother, stay here.”

Choi Seonwoo left Seo Jihan behind Kim Youngchan and walked confidently towards the man. Just as Seo Jihan attempted to follow, Kim Youngchan stopped him. Choi Seonwoo looked back with a warning.

“Listen, Brother. Unless you want a brawl right here.”