CH 306

“I'm sorry, sir?” The department store manager blinked his eyes in confusion at that unexpected question.

Kang Jin-Ho didn't respond to the manager, instead glancing at his sister. “The VIP card?”

Kang Eun-Yeong pointed to their mother. "Don't look at me. Mom's got it, you know."

“...Mm.” Kang Jin-Ho turned toward Baek Hyeon-Jeong and politely asked her, “Mother?”

"Of course, son." Baek Hyeon-Jeong took out the black VIP card and handed it over to Kang Jin-Ho. She didn't know what exactly Kang Jin-Ho had in mind, but she believed her son always did things with a plan in mind.

Kang Jin-Ho pressed the VIP card into the department store manager's hand. “How many people can I take with me into the lounge?”

“...Dear customer. Regardless of the VIP grade, the maximum number of people that can accompany you is three.”

Kang Jin-Ho narrowed his eyes in contemplation before addressing the department store manager again. “Can't there be exceptions?”

"Unfortunately, no, sir."

“Is that so?” Kang Jin-Ho nodded as if he understood the situation, then pulled out his phone.

“P-please wait!” The department store manager hurriedly intervened at the sight of Kang Jin-Ho getting ready to dial a number. For some reason, the manager got this ominous foreboding that the call could potentially lead to a serious problem. “W-who were you thinking of calling, sir?”

“The Office of Secretaries, of course,” said Kang Jin-Ho.

“I-I see. But why there...?”

Kang Jin-Ho nonchalantly replied, “If one card isn't enough, I should get another one.”

The eyes of the department store manager powerfully quaked. This young man, he... he was definitely capable of making that happen, wasn't he? Just one phone call in front of the valet parking lot was enough to make the Office of Secretaries order the store manager to issue the highest-grade VIP card right away. So, getting a 'regular' VIP card would be as easy as taking a Tazo out from a packet of snacks for Kang Jin-Ho.

However, when Kang Jin-Ho's opinion reaches the Office of the Secretaries, it would undoubtedly also reach the doorway of the Chairman's office soon afterward. The manager could already see that happening with his eyes closed!

'What should I do?'

The manager didn't believe his response in this situation was wrong, but no matter how he sliced it, nothing about this event looked great on paper. Regardless of how much he stuck to the policy, there was still the issue of 'emotions' to consider.

Even if Hwang Jeong-Hu had cut off all ties to his children, wouldn't he still feel bad after hearing about how his son was kicked out of a department store he owned?

Until now, Hwang Jeong-Hu stuck to his principles even if he didn't feel good doing it. So, he might not have a problem with this situation, but...!

'But, that is until now…'

Hwang Jeong-Hu was getting on in years. The older one became, the more obsessed they became about their family, especially regarding their offspring. If Hwang Jeong-Hu was in that stage of his life and took issues with the situation, then well... The department store manager could become a player in the first-ever incident of Hwang Jeong-Hu punishing someone for badly mistreating one of his sons.

That would definitely be a massive headache for the manager. The best thing for him, then, would be to prevent any of what happened today from reaching Hwang Jeong-Hu's ears.

“D-dear customer, please wait!” The department store manager finished weighing all the pros and cons and raised his voice. “Sir, can we talk in private over there? Please?”

Kang Jin-Ho nodded, then willingly followed the department store manager to somewhere out of earshot from everyone.

The sweaty manager smiled awkwardly. "Sir, if I'm being honest, allowing extra people to accompany you isn't a problem. Yes, I'm supposed to follow our policy, but when I need to deal with a... complicated situation like ours, I'll usually ask the customers involved not to do it again and let them through to the lounge."

“Mm...” Kang Jin-Ho slowly nodded.

“However, I'm sure you're already aware of this. That person is too much of a hot potato at the moment. If I allow that person in only for this news to reach the higher-ups... I might end up getting my head bitten off by Chairman Hwang.”

“I see. Yes, that is a possibility.”

“That's why I ask of you... Do you have to let them accompany you?”

Kang Jin-Ho turned his head to look behind him. The sight of a young child's hand holding onto the pants of Hwang Min-Su's wife was enough to reaffirm his decision. “Yes. Please let them in.”

“...But, sir.”

"I'll make sure there isn't any fallout directed your way, so you don't have to worry."

“If you don't mind me asking, why are you willing to go so far for them?”

Kang Jin-Ho quietly replied, his expression contemplative. "Even if the father isn't a good person, I didn't want his son to see the sad, broken back of his father."

The department store manager's eyes quaked again. He slowly bit down on his lip, then slowly nodded away. “I see. In that case, please accompany them inside. I'll bear all the responsibility.”

“Thank you.” Kang Jin-Ho nodded briefly.

“No need to thank me, sir. This is my own choice, after all.”

Kang Jin-Ho smiled gently at that before heading back to his family.

The department store manager took the lead in guiding Kang Jin-Ho. “Sir, please use this entrance. Everyone, customers are entering. Please open the door.”

“Yes, manager!”

The lounge's entrance opened. Kang Jin-Ho turned his head and looked at Hwang Min-Su. "You can enter now, former president Hwang."

“I'm sorry? Oh, uh...” Hwang Min-Su slightly lowered his head at Kang Jin-Ho. “Thank you.”

"You're welcome." Kang Jin-Ho chuckled again and watched Hwang Min-Su and his family head into the lounge. Then, he addressed his family. "Mother, please go ahead first."

“Mm? What about you, son?”

“...I will be out for a minute or so before joining you.”

“Eh? Why?”

When Kang Jin-Ho failed to reply and nervously fidgeted around, Kang Eun-Yeong lightly pushed her mother in the back to urge her forward. “Come on, Mom! Let's just go inside and leave this idiot to kill himself with lung cancer!”

"Quit smoking already, will you! You dummy!"

Kang Jin-Ho could only groan while watching his two loving family members shout in his direction before disappearing through the lounge's entrance.

***

Click...

Kang Jin-Ho lit his cigarette up, then took a puff. The smoke couldn't prevent a sigh from escaping from his lip, though.

'I know I mustn't complain, but it's tough...'

Once upon a time, he thought he would do anything as long as he could see his mother again. But then... After spending time with his mother, even something as insignificant as shopping became torture to Kang Jin-Ho. Then again, other people felt the same way about shopping, so...

How fickle were humans, though? No, maybe it was the case of Kang Jin-Ho being the fickle one here.

'I should reflect on it.'

Kang Jin-Ho was genuinely stunned when his mother said she was lonely. Wasn't his number one priority after returning to the modern era living a happy, ordinary life with his family? However, this event helped him see that he was too obsessed with how things looked on the surface and stupidly missed what truly mattered to him.

Running the pizzeria with his friends was important. And the matters involving the Martial Assembly were also important, no doubt. However, what would be the point of it all if he failed to achieve happiness with his family while pursuing those matters?

Kang Jin-Ho sucked on his cigarette as a wry expression formed on his face.

'I better get smarter from now on...'

He thought he had been doing his best, yet thoughts about all those things he somehow missed kept invading his mind. Since he started cultivating and enhancing his abilities again, he figured this life would be a breeze compared to before, but he was proven wrong. Life was definitely not easy.

Kang Jin-Ho had been learning the hard way these days that happiness could not happen without concerted effort.

“Excuse me. Can I bother you for a light?”

Kang Jin-Ho glanced behind him at that question. It was Hwang Min-Su.

The second son of Hwang Jeong-Hu was looking at Kang Jin-Ho while holding an unlit cigarette.

“Sure.” Kang Jin-Ho took out his lighter and handed it over to Hwang Min-Su.

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“Thank you.” Hwang Min-Su accepted the lighter and lit his cigarette. After giving the lighter back, Hwang Min-Su wordlessly smoked for a while, then tapped it on the nearby ashtray a couple of times before looking at Kang Jin-Ho again.

He then bowed his head deeply. "Thank you for earlier."

"It was nothing," Kang Jin-Ho shook his head. "I didn't do anything deserving of your thanks."

“I managed to keep my dignity thanks to you.”

"Then, it's a job well done." Kang Jin-Ho nonchalantly shrugged his shoulders.

Hwang Min-Su continued to speak as if he wanted to make a confession. “It has been a long time since I stopped caring about stuff like this, but... But when I thought about my son looking at me, I just couldn't bring myself to stand down. That's why allow me to thank you for at least helping me keep my dignity.”

“No need to mention it.”

Kang Jin-Ho shook his head, inwardly finding this conversation rather uncomfortable.

Perhaps the reason why Hwang Min-Su was having such a torrid time could very well be due to Kang Jin-Ho's actions. If he hadn't saved Hwang Jeong-Hu back then, Jaegyeong would have gotten divided and swallowed up by the chairman's sons. Of course, it included Hwang Min-Su.

Of course, Kang Jin-Ho didn't see his actions as wrong. But being thanked by someone who was harmed by Kang Jin-Ho's actions still felt wrong to him. It made him feel uncomfortable.

There was also another reason, and that would be...

'Failing to enter a VIP lounge hurts your dignity? Then, does that mean most other people don't have any pride or dignity?'

Obviously, Hwang Min-Su still had a certain status in society due to his background, so losing his cool over this matter was understandable to an extent. That didn't mean him losing his dignity for failing to enter a lounge most regular folks couldn't even dream of stepping foot inside sounded okay, either.

Kang Jin-Ho knew that he wouldn't have cared about Hwang Min-Su's situation if it hadn't been for that little boy.

Hwang Min-Su sighed. “People... need to know their place, don't they?”

“...I'm sorry?” Kang Jin-Ho narrowed his eyes.

"It's about time I accept that I no longer have the right to behave that way, but it's not easy."

“Mm...”

“Please don't misunderstand me. I'm definitely not someone who thinks he should be treated as a king. That's why I only learned about my card being frozen today.”

"I see." Kang Jin-Ho nodded. If Hwang Min-Su frequently shopped, he would have learned about his situation sooner, which would've helped him avoid the earlier scene altogether.

Hwang Min-Su continued. "We came here to buy my son some new clothes since they looked old, you see. And I thought we might as well take a break, but it seems my old habit hasn't died yet. Before I knew it, we were already by the lounge's entrance. When I was told we couldn't enter, I should've just turned around and left. But... but humans can be so..."

Kang Jin-Ho frowned slightly when a bitter smile formed on Hwang Min-Su's face. Why was this man telling him all this?

Kang Jin-Ho wasn't exactly the best person to talk at length about things like this. Not only did he not have much of a connection to Hwang Min-Su, but he was also not a fan of lengthy conversations either. As such, he was puzzled by Hwang Min-Su's willingness to talk to him like this.

Perhaps he just wanted someone to talk to, regardless of who it was? Even then, their current location wasn't ideal for that purpose.

Hwang Min-Su took another puff of his cigarette. “I didn't go inside the lounge.”

“Mm? Why not?” Kang Jin-Ho was slightly surprised by that and glanced at Hwang Min-Su.

Hwang Min-Su chuckled sheepishly. "There were... too many people inside, you see. Some of them could recognize me, so going inside might start unsavory rumors. That would have inconvenienced my father."

“Mm...”

“Seeing how you were able to convince the department store manager, you must hold a high position within the Jaegyeong Corporation. If you don't mind me asking... How is my father doing these days?”

Kang Jin-Ho cocked his eyebrow.

'I heard that Hwang Jeong-Hu has severed his ties to his kids, but...'

To think a son had no idea about how his father was doing.

This was beyond the level of severing ties. It could only happen when the people involved blocked all communication channels out of fear of Hwang Jeong-Hu's fury.

“...He's doing well,” Kang Jin-Ho cautiously replied.

"I'm relieved to hear that. If possible..." Hwang Min-Su was about to say something, only to shake his head with a soft sigh. "No, please don't mind me. There's no point in delivering a message like this, anyway."

“No, please speak.”

Despite Kang Jin-Ho's urging, Hwang Min-Su just smiled wryly.

“No, it's fine. Trying to deliver my message could only lower my father's opinion of you.”

"Well, you can say it without asking me to deliver the message. I have enough sense to read the room and beat around the bush, so don't worry and tell me."

Hwang Min-Su's eyes trembled a little. He seemed to mull something for a while before cautiously addressing Kang Jin-Ho. “My grandfather and uncles all passed on from various cancers. Considering my family medical history... Please tell my father to look after his health.”

“Is that all?” Kang Jin-Ho narrowed his eyes.

“Yes. Well...” The wry grin on Hwang Min-Su's face deepened. “What can an unfilial son like me say besides that? He could get angry if you mention I said those things. Losing one's cool at an advanced age isn't good for his health, so... I'd like you to omit the part about running into me if you can. Well, then... Thank you for your time.”

Hwang Min-Su bowed his head a little, then turned around to leave.

Kang Jin-Ho wordlessly observed Hwang Min-Su's back.

'Families, huh...'

The closest relationship, which also happened to be the hardest to maintain sometimes... was the one between family members.

'Indeed, it's not easy at all.'

Then again, nothing in life was supposed to be easy anyway.